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- On the ground at the rally
- Easyriders Issue 602: what’s inside
- Legal developments: federal court and firearm rules
- VA launches psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression
- Publishing in the age of AI
- Web traffic and the rise of bots
- Motorcycle industry notes
- Bonneville, neon and a David Mann raffle
The rally week was equal parts chaotic and productive: fundraising records were set, art sold out, and small victories mixed with the kind of on-the-ground mishaps that make these events memorable. Amid a cough and a spilled can of gas, staff and volunteers kept a steady pace, helping riders and keeping the show moving.
On the ground at the rally
Organizers report a busy, sometimes messy run of events. The Museum posted its largest fundraising haul to date, artist Danial James moved more work than ever, and unexpected sales—like an oil can that fetched $200—kept spirits high.
Triumph Bonneville T40: 398cc single-cylinder powers the 2027 T40
Bikernet releases pre-rally weekly newsletter dated July 23, 2026
Teams pitched in with repairs, spectators circulated, and people from across the country converged on the main street. The editorial crew behind the weekly wrap-up includes The Redhead, Wayfarer, LA Laura, Viscous Vickie, Danial James, Freak Show Team, Sturgis Prospect Kendra, Paul Davis, Agent Zebra and Berry Wardlaw.
Easyriders Issue 602: what’s inside
The September/October 2026 Easyriders is now available. Highlights in the issue include coverage of the Lone Star Rally, a feature on Frisco Choppers, and international events such as England’s Helter Skelter run.
- Features: Lone Star Rally; Frisco Choppers; Helter Skelter 101 Run
- Profiles: Darren Burrow’s jewelry and engraving; Hoss Fly’s V8 barstool racer
- Market coverage: The state of the American big-bike market
Also inside: a David Mann tribute, stories on custom builds and racing, Route 66 coverage, and a look at Paul Clark’s Evo and GSX choppers.
Legal developments: federal court and firearm rules
A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that certain National Firearms Act requirements for registration and approval of suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns exceed Congress’s constitutional authority. The decision follows legislative changes that removed the NFA’s transfer and making taxes on those firearms, a central point raised in the case brought by the NRA.
Klock windshield dispute in Sturgis
At a Sturgis stop on Harley-Davidson Way across from the Bandshell, former state senator Dave Zien says he was stopped by local police over a low windshield. Zien told officers he had been slumped in his seat and briefly raised his head to check traffic; officers warned him the windshield obstructed his view.
He says a second officer later cited the South Dakota statute but declined to issue a ticket because of workload. Zien provided his business card and asked for a citation to be mailed. He also called for a legal exemption for Klock Windshields and offered to testify in support of changing the statute: “Brian Klock your statute needs to be changed to allow Klock to be exempted from this legislation! It would be an honor for me to testify at State Legislative committee & Floor action hearings!”
—Dave Zien
former State Senator
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VA launches psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression
The Department of Veterans Affairs is starting a clinical study to test psilocybin for major depressive disorder in Veterans, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder. The trial, named Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression (PIVOT), will randomize participants to two dosing levels and measure depression outcomes, side-effect tolerability and patient-reported changes.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the department is exploring “all avenues to evaluate new treatments” and noted the trial follows a presidential executive order focused on accelerating research for serious mental illness. The study will run at five VA sites: Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in Alabama; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia’s Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center; and VA Puget Sound in Seattle.
Officials emphasized the trial will use pharmaceutical-grade drugs, follow protocols developed with the FDA, and include psychological support in a controlled clinical setting.
Publishing in the age of AI
In publishing, a high-profile advance recently collapsed after an agent withdrew a $2 million deal amid concerns that the debut novel may have been produced or substantially shaped by AI. Industry observers say this is at least the third major case where alleged AI assistance has derailed a contract.
Writers and commentators have convened to discuss the implications. A group post featuring John Paul Brammer, Kathleen Schmidt, Lincoln Michel and Danya Issawi examined the fallout and the larger question of how the industry will police AI use while preserving legitimate research and collaboration.
Inside the community, opinions vary. One editor warned that new technologies have repeatedly prompted alarm, naming historical examples from the automobile to the internet. The debate continues over what constitutes permissible assistance and how publishers should verify originality.
Web traffic and the rise of bots
Cloudflare data indicates that automated agents now account for a majority of webpage requests worldwide—about 57%, according to CEO Matthew Prince. He had forecasted that AI-driven browsing could overtake human traffic by 2027; the shift appears to have accelerated.
For publishers, the trend raises practical questions. AI agents browse at scale and can generate thousands of requests in the course of research, inflating traffic numbers without producing proportional human engagement, ad views or conversions. That divergence presents a measurement and monetization challenge: increased activity may not translate into revenue or audience relationships.
Motorcycle industry notes
Harley-Davidson is navigating tighter operating margins and tariff pressures while promoting stripped-back models such as the Deadwood, which evokes post-war styling. Global rivals like Royal Enfield continue to press on market share, and Japanese brands remain prominent in U.S. registrations.
On the racing front, the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally included headline events and American Flat Track action. Dallas Daniels extended his lead in the Progressive AFT championship with back-to-back Grand National wins, while Mathew Scholtz secured a dramatic MotoAmerica Superbike victory at Mid-Ohio.
Thunderbike also held its annual Rumble & Thunder meet on August 15, 2026, blending V8 hot rods, lowriders and custom choppers on the Thunderbike grounds.
Bonneville, neon and a David Mann raffle
With Bonneville just days away, staff held a Main Street event that included neon repairs, a visit to a local shop established in 1962, and a stop at Michael Lichter’s exhibit. Artist Danial James unveiled the centerspread for Easyriders 602—a portrait of David Mann—and the group raffled a limited print. Danial produces only 11 prints of that image, and the winner was allowed to choose a favored number.
Rally organizers and participants described the weekend as an energetic mix of industry leaders, longtime fans and the kind of small moments that make bike culture communal.
