Hey, We are loading the 5-Ball Racing Van for the run to somewhere in Ohio to pick up the Captain America and Billy Bikes. I’ve ridden to the Smoke Out several times in the past, but I don’t believe I’ve been through some of the states I’m headed into. We are going to visit some friends along the way back. We might stop at a dealership and maybe a college to show off the bikes. Get this, I’m due to receive a video kit today. I get two days to learn how to use it. Then I’ll video portions of the return trip. At first I was going to ride the Captain America bike, but there’s just three of us going. Jason and Jackson, the father/son team and instigators of this event and me. Jackson, a young man has, with the help of the redhead put together all the Billy gear, including the Hat and jacket. Jason is wearing the captain jacket and helmet. I’m the director and videographer. You’ll see the mess we make of this on the Easyriders YouTube Channel. Let’s hit the news  The Bikernet News is brought to you by our resilient team: The Redhead, Wayfarer, Danial James, Sturgis Vicky, LA Laura, Palma, Freak Show and Sturgis Prospect Kendra. THE LONG ROAD ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SMOKEOUT 26-– I want to start off by saying I’ve become aware of a glitch in my work’s e-mail system. It may have caused a number of past riders to miss my initial e-mail I sent in December about this year’s ride. I’m hoping it doesn’t affect rider numbers too much as I was trying to give really early notice for those who had to book holidays or wanted to plan their summer. I have many riders e-mail addresses grouped together by the year they first rode from the years 2012 to 2018. Other years, I grouped together when there weren’t many new riders. With my old Yahoo email, when I sent info out in bulk, if someone’s email addy didn’t work, I would get a message telling me so, but it still sent the email to others. It appears my work e-mail, if there is an error in one of addys, it doesn’t send the e-mail to anyone in that group. I’m in the process of trying to rectify this. I can only get into my old Yahoo e-mail on my phone, which is less than ideal to do this stuff on. I may hunt for another email service soon. This year’s ride info and a delay: My initial e-mail stated what started as a joke between Mike Allen, myself and a couple of others about the dreadful start we had in 2016 in the northern Adirondack mountains near Tupper Lake NY, turned into deciding to start there this year. Back then, the ride was in the 2nd week in June, when the weather is unpredictable. This year, we are meeting in that area on Sunday September 6th. Chrissy and I have been there in late August and it was 90F all week. I’ve been having some issues with a campground I’ve been trying to line up for the past month or more. It looks to be ideal with tent camping and at least rustic cabins. If this place falls through, I’ll be looking in the area east of there or possibly into northwestern Vermont, but it does look pretty positive. Once I get the start point cleared up, I can then establish the first stop after we meet which looks to be either south central NY state, or the western side of the New England states. From there, we will be heading into central PA to Godspeed Events on Tuesday Sept 8th, where they have beautiful facilities that riders can decide whatever type of accommodations they want from tent camping to a private room in the lodge or a group room. From Godspeed, we will head to a campground in northern Virginia on Wednesday, then on to The Roadhouse Thursday the 10th, where again, we will be able to enjoy the hospitality of John and Tracy Devonshire, for a night around the fire, or just hanging out around the “world famous” and legendary Long Road Lounge! Friday morning, we will head out and travel 90 easy miles to The Smoke Out! I hope to nail down the first two stops this week, and from there, I will put together and e-mail with all the details, and God willing, will have this e-mail situation sorted, hopefully by the end of the weekend. If any of you are in regular contact with other past riders, can you pass the word on about this year’s ride please? Thanks! –Uncle Ben Rebels With a Cause: What It Means to Ride With a Mission We all know the movie stereotype of motorcycle riders portrayed as lone wolves, criminals, or bad boys/girls. But those of us in the riding community know the truth: our fellow riders are some of the most compassionate and dedicated people we know. Especially when it comes to supporting a positive cause. Across the globe, motorcyclists—from casual weekend riders to dedicated club members—prove that two wheels aren’t just for fun, they can also be a force for good. Sometimes, the rumble of an engine is the sound of people coming together for positive change. This shirt is available at Easyrider.com THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT–This Week’s Schedule Shows Several Policy Pressure Points A few hearings stand out for organizations that operate in transportation, health care, small business, rural development, veterans policy, technology, and civil liberties. First, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment has scheduled a hearing titled “Rules of the Road: Examining Legislation to Modernize the Clean Air Act’s Mobile Source Requirements.” That should get the attention of anyone involved in transportation policy, vehicle choice, aftermarket equipment, emissions regulation, state-federal authority, motorcycle advocacy, and rural mobility. Clean Air Act mobile-source policy does not stay confined to Washington. It can affect what vehicles are sold, what parts are available, what standards states adopt, what manufacturers build, what consumers can afford, and how much discretion agencies have to shape the transportation market. For motorcycle organizations, off-highway vehicle advocates, rural businesses, repair shops, aftermarket manufacturers, and working-class vehicle owners, this is not a remote environmental hearing. It is a hearing about who controls the future of mobility. Second, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet has scheduled a hearing titled “Medicines and IP: Balancing Innovation and Access.” That hearing matters to independent pharmacies, patients, employers, health plans, rural communities, and policymakers concerned with access to medicine. Drug pricing and access debates often get reduced to slogans. In practice, they involve patent policy, market exclusivity, generic competition, pharmacy reimbursement, PBM practices, federal purchasing power, and the ability of patients to obtain medicine close to home. A hearing on medicines and intellectual property is not just about pharmaceutical companies. It is about whether the legal structure surrounding medicine serves patients, local pharmacies, and the health care delivery system. Third, Congress is spending time on artificial intelligence from several angles. One hearing focuses on higher education in the age of AI. Another addresses frontier models, agentic AI, coding tools, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure. Another examines federal comprehensive privacy and data security law. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has a hearing on pending nominations. Nominations can look procedural. They are not. Personnel choices shape how agencies behave. Veterans policy is not only written in statutes. It is implemented through claims processing, benefits administration, health care access, appeals management, rural outreach, workforce decisions, and agency culture. Who leads matters because leadership determines whether congressional intent becomes practical service delivery or administrative delay. Most People Are Already Special Interests The phrase “special interest” is often used as an insult. That framing misses the point. A special interest is usually just a group of people who understand that a government decision will affect them. Veterans are a special interest when Congress debates VA access, disability benefits, transition services, rural transportation, or claims reform. Motorcyclists are a special interest when lawmakers discuss vehicle standards, road design, emissions rules, profiling, safety funding, or insurance classifications. Independent pharmacies are a special interest when policymakers discuss drug access, PBM practices, reimbursement, compounding rules, pharmacy benefit structures, and intellectual property. Small businesses are a special interest when Congress examines benefits cliffs, tax policy, labor rules, procurement, access to capital, and regulatory compliance. Parents are a special interest when lawmakers debate education, privacy, online safety, school funding, or health policy. Rural communities are a special interest when Congress debates wildfire, public lands, agriculture, broadband, health access, transportation, and federal grants. Gun owners are a special interest when lawmakers discuss civil liberties, public safety, due process, agency enforcement, and constitutional boundaries. The problem is not that special interests exist. The problem is that many people only recognize the other side’s special interests. They fail to recognize their own. If government action can change your cost of doing business, your ability to travel, your right to organize, your access to medicine, your benefits, your property use, your compliance burden, your customers, your professional license, your insurance, or your constitutional rights, then you have a policy interest. The only question is whether you are organized enough to defend it. That question is not limited to bills. It includes committee hearings. Agency budgets. Federal oversight. State rulemaking. Local ordinances. Procurement standards. Licensing boards. Federal grant conditions. Enforcement priorities. Litigation trends. Guidance documents. Political pressure campaigns. A restaurant may think it has no federal policy exposure until labor, immigration, food safety, alcohol licensing, tax, zoning, or payment-processing rules change. A motorcycle organization may think it only needs to watch helmet bills until emissions policy, road design, automated enforcement, insurance, event permitting, profiling, and public-land access become the issue. Bill tracking tells you what has already been introduced. Policy tracking tells you what is forming. The Practical Test Organizations should not monitor everything. That is a waste of time. They should triage. The right question is not, “Did Congress meet this week?” The right questions are: Does this hearing involve an agency that regulates us? Does it involve a statute that controls our industry or membership? What to Watch This Week Based on this week’s committee calendar, several issue areas deserve close attention. Transportation and vehicle policy advocates should watch the Clean Air Act mobile-source hearing. Independent pharmacies and patient-access advocates should watch the medicines and intellectual property hearing. Technology companies, schools, local governments, and employers should watch the AI, privacy, cybersecurity, and data-security hearings. Veterans organizations should watch the Senate Veterans’ Affairs nominations hearing. Rural communities, outdoor recreation groups, land-use advocates, and wildfire stakeholders should watch the Forest Service, federal forests, agriculture, and rural development hearings. Small businesses should watch hearings on benefits cliffs, industrial base policy, prudential regulators, Treasury oversight, and labor policy. Civil liberties organizations should watch hearings involving citizenship, denaturalization, DOJ oversight, DHS budget oversight, privacy law, and surveillance-adjacent technology questions. The point is not that every hearing demands a public campaign. The point is that every serious organization should know which hearings matter before the policy consequences arrive. The Bottom Line Government does not only act when a bill passes. Government acts through hearings, budgets, oversight, nominations, agency pressure, rulemaking, grant conditions, procurement standards, and enforcement priorities. Committee schedules are not paperwork. They are signals. For citizens, businesses, nonprofits, and associations, the lesson is direct: if you wait until the vote, you are already late. The organizations that win policy fights are usually not the loudest at the end. They are the ones paying attention at the beginning. That is where the work starts. –Copper Dome I WENT AHEAD AND DID IT— I have been thinking about going to three wheels for some time. I have researched sidecars and trikes and all the pros and cons. What I finally decided on was the Roadsmith Trike Conversion for my 2022 Harley Ultra. https://lnkd.in/e27pb3-x   Harley-Davidson Softail R-Body Conversion Kits | Roadsmith Trikes  I had thought about doing the conversion myself, possibly have one of the local shops do it But ended up sending it to the factory in White Bear Lake MN. Gave serious thought to riding my bike there and even trailering it But eventually ended up having Haul Bikes do it. The basic kit has a fully Independent Rear Suspension with a belt drive, I had the Steering Kit installed (Raked Tripple Trees), Accuride Air Suspension, Performance Sway Bar, and Auxiliary Three Gallon Gas Tank and the Blacked-Out Kit, and ABS Brake Kit. Since I already Had a Baker Reverse Transmission in the motorcycle that was covered. I opted not to add the parking brake or running boards. They matched the paint to my factory paint and did a great job. The whole experience was not without some issues with the time I expected it to take But very understandable. Jim McGurran at Roadsmith and Jeff Loyd with Haul Bikes and all in their employ  did a Great Job I am putting miles on it and making a few minor adjustments that the rider does to the air ride suspension for their personal preference before heading on my ride to the Pilgrimage. –Rogue Article From The Vintagent Built 123 years ago, this 1902 Clément Autocyclette is one of the first overhead-valve motorcycles ever built, and is a rare and coveted machine.  It also has about the lowest bar for entry into the fascinating universe of Pioneer motorcycles, and is an original survivor from one of the oldest bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers in the world, founded in 1876.  Adolphe Clément was a pioneering bicycle racer and started his first business building bicycles in Bordeaux at age 21, then the following year in Lyon (1877), and finally Paris, where his A. Clément et Cie thrived.  By 1880, he had 150 employees, and by 1890 was the top bicycle factory in France. By then, he had licensed the Dunlop pneumatic tire patent for France, and made a tremendous amount of money – enough to begin making his own motorized vehicles, both cars (1895+) and motorcycles (1902+). France was at the leading edge of motorcycle technology in the late 1800s, and most of the world’s motorcycle industry is founded on the high-speed engine design of DeDion-Bouton.  That engine featured an F-head, with an inlet valve on top of the engine and a side exhaust valve, usually with a solid cylinder barrel and head casting, with a screw-in inlet port to give access to the valves.  This is how Harley-Davidson and Indian were originally designed, as clones of the DeDion design, which they used until 1914 (Indian) and 1930 (Harley-Davidson).  BUT, the Clément engine is a different animal: it’s an overhead-valve motor with a detachable cylinder head, which is a far more advanced design, and was clearly going to be the future of the motorcycle industry. See the whole story at the Competition Distributing website. –CD AFT HEADS TO NASHVILLE–The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, resumes this weekend with the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades at Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track in Hohenwald, Tennessee, this Saturday, June 6. It’s not just the first-ever stop at the venue formerly known as Tennessee National Raceway, this weekend will mark the Grand National Championship’s first visit to the Volunteer State in 17 years. It’s a welcome return for America’s Original Extreme Sport® considering the state’s proud motorsports heritage along with its extensive collection of some of the finest motorcycle roads to be found anywhere in the nation. Meeting the Moment The early-season advantages that Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) stacked up on Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) have nearly vanished.  What had been point differences of 26 and 22 in favor of Kopp and Daniels, respectively, now stand at just nine and two. Bauman has completely flipped the script with his recent run of form and must be considered the pre-race favorite heading into any given round shorter than a Mile until proven otherwise. He comes into this weekend with three consecutive wins in tow, a streak that has elevated him into a tie for sixth all-time on the career wins list alongside Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., at 37. And he’s quickly zeroing in on the top five with the legendary Ricky Graham now just two wins away. Don’t expect Bauman to ease up now. The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track stands as the sixth of seven STs on the calendar, and the Rick Ware Racing star has dominated the discipline as of late.  With 13 Short Track wins to his name, Bauman boasts four more than any other rider in Grand National Championship history. That unprecedented tally has been assembled in large part since first throwing his leg over the Harley-Davidson XG750R at the start of 2025, having won eight of the last 11 STs dating back to early last season. While momentum is quite obviously on Bauman’s side, the padding Kopp and Daniels earned over the opening three rounds served its purpose, as Bauman still ranks third even with three successive wins on his side.  They will have used the extended layoff granted with the rescheduling of the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile to regroup and reset. And this weekend in Nashville represents an ideal opportunity to meet the challenge that’s been presented. It’s new to all involved – a stark contrast to Williams Grove where Bauman has shined in previous stops – making it as good a place as any to make a stand. All Aboard “Freight Train” Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/RVR KTM 790 Duke) has been on an upward trajectory this season, boasting both his career-best Progressive AFT Main Event finish (eighth at the Ventura ST) and a top-ten Mission AFT SuperTwins championship ranking. McGrane stepped up to the premier class in 2024 with relatively little Progressive AFT experience under his belt, having qualified for just four KICKER AFT Singles Mains with no top-ten finishes. That doesn’t mean he was lacking professional race experience or success, however, considering that McGrane is a four-time World Championship ICE Racing Series champ. Ironically, McGrane may have enjoyed his biggest leap yet in terms of the average fan’s estimation of his abilities despite leaving Budds Creek with a 14-place finish – his worst Main Event result of the ‘26 season. By the time the Main Event rolled around, he’d already won – literally and figuratively. McGrane accomplished that by earning a front-row grid position and entry in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Once there, he didn’t back down despite lining up next to Daniels, Bauman, and long-time multi-class ace Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07). The opposite in fact – McGrane stormed past Daniels to claim the upset win, and then turned around to let ‘em know. Besides bolstering his own reputation, McGrane also did well to honor the memory of a fellow Pennsylvanian, the late Ryan Varnes, whose legacy he represents on the RVR KTM 790 Duke. VDK Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) will be back in the mix this weekend after making his season debut at Budds Creek where he rode in place of the injured Brandon Robinson on the Mission Roof Systems Harley. Despite his absence to start the season, few have forgotten about VanDerKooi’s skills. Those few who did were reminded at Budds Creek, even if somewhat obscured by rust and mechanical misfortune.  Until getting struck down by a late-race bike issue, “VDK” was all set for a sixth-place ride despite still in the process of shaking things down.  With some more seat time and a bit more luck, a return to the podium is not beyond his reach.  The Roller Coaster  Nine points separate first from third in the Mission AFT SuperTwins points. 43 points separate third from fourth. That difference is largely down not to outright speed but consistency. Consider the following collection of premier-class contenders: Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) All six of them have finished inside the top five this year, with podiums for Fisher, RoosEvans, and Cose. On the flipside, all six have also finished outside the top ten or failed to qualify for a Main Event. Those swings have arguably been most pronounced in the case of Fisher – who is routinely as quick as Kopp, Daniels, and Bauman but also burdened by a pair of 15th-place finishes, multiple trips to the LCQ, and without a remaining provisional start. And what about Cose? His best finish of the season was a 13th until he blasted his way to third last time out to pick up his first premier-class podium since achieving his first-ever premier-class podium some eight seasons back. The depth of talent lining the Mission AFT SuperTwins grid this season has created the conditions that have led to increased volatility. Even making the Main can be a struggle, let alone breaking into the top ten. Regardless, the top three are out of sight at this point. It would take some massive happenings indeed for anyone else to work their way into genuine Grand National Championship contention. However, fourth is ripe for the taking should any of the above manage to start stringing together strong results with increased frequency. Life In the Fast Lane The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades is a unique collaboration between Progressive AFT and Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed racing series, a vintage flat track competition inspired by the board track racing era of the 1910s and ‘20s.  Lane – who will serve as the event’s Grand Marshal – is renowned for his innovative and evocative designs at Choppers Inc, his iconic appearances on “Biker Build Off” and “Monster Garage,” and his passion for pushing the limits of speed and style.  With four decades of custom bike building experience behind him, Lane founded Sons of Speed to pay tribute to the daring early years of American motorcycle racing when Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Pope went bar-to-bar on massive wooden board tracks all across the nation. Sons of Speed has exploded in popularity since its 2017 debut, and Progressive American Flat Track fans will have a perfect opportunity to find out why for themselves. The weekend will feature a full slate of Sons of Speed competition featuring the raw power and style of vintage 1000cc V-twins and 750cc American flatheads. The vintage heats are scheduled for Thursday with finals on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Progressive AFT action. Ticket Options Galore Standing Room Only tickets are available for just $37 including fees ($18 for kids 12 and under), while General Admission tickets are $49 ($22.50 for kids), with Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand seating available for $59 ($26 for kids) and $70 ($31 for kids), respectively. Military/First Responders and Students can purchase tickets for just $30 at the door with valid ID. The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience includes GA seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line – photo ops included – a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $150 ($64 for kids), along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options. And no matter what ticket option you select, pit access is included, providing fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams. To purchase tickets for the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/nashville-short-track-186630. Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Watch the action FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. REGULATING PFAS PARTICLES–New Mexico Finalizes PFAS Rules Affecting Industry New Mexico’s final rulemaking implementing the state’s PFAS Protection Act includes exemptions for motor vehicles regulated under federal motor vehicle safety standards, including off-highway vehicles such as ATVs and side-by-sides. However, manufacturers of exempt products may still face labeling and disclosure requirements under the new rules. The final rule exempts covered vehicle categories from New Mexico’s PFAS product prohibitions, reporting requirements, and currently unavoidable use provisions. Those exemptions are particularly significant because the law begins phasing in PFAS-related product prohibitions and reporting requirements for non-exempt products in January 2027. “The vehicle exemptions are important, but manufacturers should not assume that an exemption from product prohibitions or reporting means there are no compliance obligations,” said Rachel McCarthy, Manager of State Affairs for the Motorcycle Industry Council. “New Mexico’s rules include labeling requirements that may still apply, so companies should review the final rule carefully.” –MIC THAT’S NEVER THE END–I just reached out to Dan, our local Sturgis Photographer with a studio adjacent to his Boulder Canyon home. He currently has three exciting assignments on his plate. You’re going to love these. Matt Olsen, some bros and his wife are riding across the country on exclusively 1936 Knuckleheads, the first year of the Knucklehead. They are going to swing through Sturgis and we hope to grab a feature with Dan’s help. Next, Vinnie, the Blade, a member of the Uglys has a wild collection of Kidney belts and Foss, the museum prez called the other day. He has this girl out at the Full Throttle who wants to pose for Easyriders. We are planning a shoot with Sara and the Kidney belts. This could make a terrific Easyriders Magazine cover. And finally, something truly historic is happening in the Black Hills soon. Slave Dave, one of the original Satan Slaves from the San Fernando Valley in California is riding out here to have Irish Rich put a belt drive in his 1940 80-inch flathead bobber. Then Dave and his partner are going to ride coast to coast later in the year. He’s 84 and figured it would be his last ride. We are going to take a portrait shot of Dave, his partner and Irish Rich. Danial James will be on hand to direct the shoot and then he will paint a Centerspread from the photograph. It will be amazing and capture three historic biker characters. Jim Wear built this classic bobber and started with only a set of engine cases. New T-shirt art coming soon. Sorry the news is sorta short today, but that’s what floated across my Panhead desk, and I need to clean the van, pack, work on travel plans, wait on FedEx, the video equipment, go see a doctor, meet with Laura the bean counter, find some cash and pack my shit. I need to adjust the chalks in the trailer, you name it, it’s on the list. So, quick ride fast and free forever and never give up. –Bandit The post THE TRAVELIN’ BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS—for June 4th 2026 appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.