Is that a motorcycle or what?

I love motorcycles and most of what is accociated with them. I enjoy my version of the lifestyle and spending time with like minded people. I consider the time that I wrench on a bike to be a pleasure, not work. The time I spend on the saddle is all about therapy for me. This past weekend I went to the Atlanta Easyrider motorcycle show. I saw some friends at the Limpnicke lot and we spent some time catching up with each other and talking about the projects we each have going on. These guys had thier bikes on display and the banner above them was correct. "The next Generation of cool". These bike builders have figured out that cool comes in many shapes and styles.
I took a walk around the show to see what others were doing in the bike building universe and I was amazed. The first thing that cought my eye was the back of a Harley Davidson that had some fiberglass or plastic on it that had been molded to resemble the claws of a bird. WTF..? As I walked to the side scratching my head, I was amazed to see that the builder had continued the bird motif with some 3 foot long molded feathers and paint. The detail was very impressive. I got to the front of the bird to find a reproduction of an eagles head sticking 18 inches out from the fairing. I got a bit of vomit in my mouth as I considered the volume of mind altering acid that a person would have to take to consider any part of that thing to be cool. This was not the exception but the rule. I saw some shit that didn't even come close to being cool. I saw what must have been a 32 inch front tire on a bagger. I saw a thing that had a chrome skull headlight and a chromed skeleton of a backbone and ribs mounted above a gas tank. And I saw enough LED lights placed on bikes to burn a fellers eye balls.
I am no athority but I know what I like. Cool to me can be covered with just the basic of parts. It is the builder that can take those basic parts and do something special with them that embodies cool to me. So go ahead and build your theme bikes and pay for the Orange County Choppers t-shirt, Wrap it in all the LED lights you can get your hands on. Dress in all the newest fashion and a set of leathers in the 100 degree heat. Stand beside your bike and act like you have made it to the world series. I'll stand back and watch. With a smile on my face and a chunk of last nights dinner easing up my throat, I will give you what you are do, Nothing. PEACE & GREASE.

The greatest wreck of my life.

The end of August, 2010 I sat out on an epic journey that would place me in 16 states over a three week period. I left out of middle Tennessee with a first destination of Milwaukee. Some crazy cats that I had met at Sturgis were having their semi-annual Shed party and I felt inclined to introduce them to some of the finest Tennessee moonshine white liquer I have ever made. I spent an afternoon at the Harley Museum and then two nights partyin' with some of the greatest people on planet earth. The moodshine flowed like wine and there were some friendships that were forged by the time we shared together.. Next stop, Minniapolis to see a man called Kevin (Teach) Baas. a few beers, some good conversation and a good nights sleep was just what my body and soul needed. In the morning, I went to Kennedy High school where Teach works with a class of kids building some fine chops and bobs. It was good to see the setup that was teaching the next generation of coolness. The cold was setting in so I decided to reroute my trip. Originally, I was planning on heading west and carving up the Black Hills but because of the temp. drop I decided to blaze my trail south.. Next stop, Kansas City. I met a man at the 2010 Big Mountain Run named Wes Hackett whom lives in K.C. We have spent alot of time and miles together this year. Dinner,drinks and some legend building with Wes and his lovely wife then a couch nap and I was ready for the Santa Fe Trail. Next stop, Dodge City, Kansas then on to the Contenental divide for the fourth time this year. Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado was in full color and a short stop at the top reminded me of how cold colorado snow is. on through Durango and the loop around the four corners it was time for me to start making tracks to meet up with some people in Phoenix. Long Jon and Pinky Barwood are two of the greatest people on planet earth. I have spent time this year with them in Montana, South Dakota, Ohio and two weeks at my house in Tennessee. I stayed with them until Shelly, my wife, flew in for her fall break from teaching. Me and the wife decided to take a quick trip up to the Grand Canyon. Riding through Prescott, Jerome and Sedona on our way to Flagstaff was some of the finest riding that I have ever exsperienced. The Grand Canyon was, well Grand but we hit it like the Griswalds and shagged back down to Phoenix for a bike night we were to meet some more friends at. Our weekend plan was to ride to Tombstone for Helldorado days. Ten of us loaded up and headed south. When we hit Tucson we were assaulted by the worse dust storm I have ever been in but this group of hooligans pressed on. We arrived at Tombstone to be greeted by George The Painter standing on a four lane road stopping traffic and directing us into The Porn Compound. Our digs for the weekend. Somehow, that night, we consumed over 2 gallons of moonshine and learned all kinds of new things about each other.. We rode, We ate, We drank, We talked. We hugged and laughed. We sang and we danced. After a great weekend with good friends and some of the coolest bikes known to man, it was time to head back towards Phoenix. Interstate 10 exit 263 northbound. our group of 9 hit a pothole in the road. My first indication of a problem was when I saw Robert Pinner and his knucklehead bounce 18 inches above the ground 30 feet in front of me. The next thought that went through my mind as I was sliding down the exit ramp on my stomach at 65 mph was, "I need to get Shelly out of the road befor she is run over".What a helpless feeling it is when someone you love is getting hurt right befor your eyes.Our friends took ove our lives at that point. ALL THINGS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. Let me explain. As we lay in the trauma unit, our friends arainged for Jack Shit to bring a Trailer to get our totalled bike and trailer. All of our gear was secured. Our daughter was called and comforted. They even called the airline to get an exstension on my wifes flight ticket. I can tell you, I know some of the greatest people on planet earth. We were released from the hospital and Jack took us to his house where he and his lovely wife, Diane, gave us aid and comfort for 2 days as we got our bearing. My wife flew back home to Tennessee and I stayed in Phoenix with Long jon and Pinky for a few more days. I ended up renting a u-haul and driving all my broke shit back to Tennessee. We are healing. I have issues with my right shoulder and both my ankles but we both know that we have been blessed to come through this with no more than the severe beating that we sustained. Some non riders that we know asked if we are going to sell the bike and went so far as to say that they were sorry that the wreck had ruined our trip.. And my lovely wife said.... " That was the greatest wreck of my life".

Lost camera bag

Anyone that was at the Lone Star Rally and was at Yaga’s last night, we need your help. Chris Callen- editor- of this magazine lost his camera bag. It is very important that we can get this bag back in his hands. If you know where it is, please contact Chris at cyclesource69@comcast.net right away. His business card is in the bag.

Please repost this on your sites. Thank you!

This was just sent to me. This should apply to Motorcycle Stops as well.

A civil liberties group filed a federal lawsuit
Thursday challenging the use of "stop and frisk" searches by
Philadelphia police, alleging that the policy is violating the rights
of blacks and Latinos who have done nothing wrong.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit
on behalf of eight men – including a state lawmaker – it says were
subjected to illegal searches since the city started using "stop and
frisk." The searches have been a controversial element of Mayor
Michael Nutter’s first term.
In the lawsuit, the ACLU cites city data showing that 253,333
pedestrians were stopped last year, compared with 102,319 in 2005.
More than 70 percent of the people stopped last year were black and only 8.4 percent of all stops led to an arrest, the ACLU said.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, seeks unspecified
damages and a court injunction. It also alleges that police
Commissioner Charles Ramsey has failed to train and discipline
officers.

Using "stop and frisk" to reduce crime can be legal, but officers must have a reason for suspicion, said Mary Catherine Roper, an attorney for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
"Our belief is that people are being stopped because of their race and not because of any individual activity that should raise any suspicion by police," said Roper, adding that stops were made by both black and white officers.
The use of stop-and-frisk searches has been a focal point of Nutter’s campaign to slow violent crime, which is down since he took office in 2008.
The police department and Nutter’s office did not immediately comment on the lawsuit when contacted by the Associated Press.
In New York, civil rights advocates have also challenged the use of
stop and frisk; a lawsuit filed against the New York Police Department by the Center for Constitutional Rights is pending.
Darius Charney, a staff attorney for the group, said 85 percent of the people stopped in New York over the past six years have been black or Latino.
Of those 575,000 pedestrian stops, about 6 percent have ended in an arrest and 1.5 percent have resulted in the recovery of a weapon, said Charney, who said it was an example of "over-aggressive policing."
Officers "target communities of color. They really behave as if they
are occupying forces in a community," Charney said. "New York is by no means the only place where this is a problem."
In Philadelphia, the lawsuit filed Wednesday tells the stories of
state Rep. Jewell Williams, a 52-year-old Philadelphia Democrat, and seven others who said they were stopped without reason by Philadelphia police. In March 2009, Williams said he was handcuffed and pushed into a police vehicle after asking questions during a traffic stop involving two other men. Ramsey later apologized to Williams.
Another plaintiff, Mahari Bailey, a 27-year-old attorney, said he was stopped on four occasions over 18 months; the only charge against him, driving with tinted windows, was thrown out in traffic court, the lawsuit said.
- Associated Press

Rogue

Sturgis Freedom Fighters

Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005

Technology

I have officially been drop kicked into The Technological Age. I now am completely plugged in to this planet by way of Facebook, a Tweeter account and my very own blog. Amazing. I will make you this promise.... This social thing ain't gonna keep me from twisting my throttle and going out to be social face to face. Those of you who know me know that I put a large number of miles on my bike and if this little social box can keep up than its welcome to come along. You will often see me typing in a plural sense. ( I say we alot). The reason I do this is because there is usually someone else involved in what I'm doing. Quite often that person is my lovely wife. She fills many rolls in my life but the one I cherish the most is being able to call her friend. With that said,,, I want to tell ya, We got alot of stuff planned for the coming year, some 2 wheel, some 4 wheel and some that ain't got no wheels. The future, I promise, will be better than the past.
I want to take a moment to thank Lisa M. Ballard for all her help and support getting me into this age of communication. Thanks, my friend. I AM DON WOOD

Gypsy Biker Bed Rolls

Check out our Gypsy Biker Bed Rolls - they are weatherproofed and travel easily on your bike. Perfect for all you old school bikers who just want something to throw down on whatever patch of ground or floor is available.
We are currently working on a website and will have the link up shortly.