Youth Motorcycles Endangered

 

Future Sale of Youth Cycles Uncertain

Most parents are thrilled when they can interest their children away from the television or video games long enough to participate in an outdoor sport. Youth sports like dirt biking can teach independence, safety awareness, sportsmanship, mechanical know-how, and can build self confidence, not to mention the benefits of getting outdoors for fresh air and exercise. Aside from these things, time spent at the dirt tracks is usually excellent family bonding time and an opportunity to meet and develop lifelong friendships with some really nice people. So why would a sport that offers so much to our youth be in jeopardy?  

Flawed Attempt by Congress to Get the Lead Out

In August of 2008, Congress enacted what is called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that will ban all products for children under the age of 12 that may contain lead beyond a specified amount. This Act was drawn up in reaction to the toys and other products made in China that contained known harmful levels of lead. With the wording of the Act as it currently stands, motorcycles and ATVs geared toward use by children will also be affected, and a motorcycle industry already suffering under the hard-hit economy will take an even more damaging blow.  The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the Motorcycle Industry Council, including independently-owned shops, are pleading for a common sense revision to the Act, so that halt to the sale of youth motorcycles or ATVs, which began on February 10, 2009, will be reversed. Imagine motorcycle showrooms without Honda CRF50s, 70s, 80s, 100s, Kawasaki KX 65 or the KLX110 that your children are so anxious to check out? Visit a Honda showroom after the 10th, and you won’t have to imagine. They’re gone. And if your child already rides and owns one of these bikes, forget about getting replacement parts, either.

Don’t Chew That

While it’s true that oversight may be needed for the production of children’s toys to ensure a lowered risk of lead exposure, it seems that once again poorly and hastily written legislation may unnecessarily harm an already suffering industry. The Act (CPSIA) states that consumer products are not allowed to have greater than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part for a product intended for sale to children under the age of 12.  The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the Motorcycle Industry Council are requesting emergency relief from the provisions of this Act which went into effect on February 10, 2009. They are seeking an exemption for ATV and motorcycle parts, which is where the largest concern lies.  It’s not so much the bike, but the parts that may contain lead in higher amounts than allowed by the Act. To most reasonable-minded people, it would be safe to assume that except for the rarest of rare circumstances, none of these motorcycle parts would ever get anywhere near the mouth of a child much less be ingested.

Show Support to the Sport and the Industry

We urge you to contact your Senators and Congressman ASAP and tell them to fix this broken law, so that motorcycle stores might return their inventory to their salesfloors and our children may continue to enjoy the sport of dirt biking. You can also visit the website of Missouri State Representative Tom Self, at www.tomself.com, who is actively working to resolve this matter. Let him know you support and appreciate his grassroots efforts.

Dakar 2009!

The Paris-Dakar Rally is really not a rally in the conventional sense of the word, but instead the most brutal and dangerous off-road endurance race ever conceived.  It is comprised of about 80% amateur and 20% professional lunatics prepared to absorb incredible punishment, constant pain and the ever-present chance of sudden death. Better known simply as "The Dakar," this race was first held in 1979 and ran from Paris to Dakar in Senegal.  Open to off-road vehicles including motorcycles, cars, trucks, and quads, the Dakar is  the most demanding race in the world.   The terrain these riders  face includes dunes, mud, rocks, camel grass, erg, and more.  The race is divided into stages which has them travel distances up to 500-560 excruciatingly exhausting and perilous miles in a day. It’s not only the dangers of the routes that have become a concern for Dakar participants, there have been increasing threats from political unrest and terrorism, particularly the last few years.  Finally, last year (’08)  the race had to be canceled as a result of threats of terrorist attacks.  This year, the race was moved to another continent altogether and for the first time since the Dakar began, Argentina and Chile hosted the 2009 races.

The 2009 route for the Dakar Rally included some 3,700 miles of "specials" to be traversed in 15 days, or stages, starting on Jan 3, 2009. Out of those 15 days, only one day of rest (1/10/09) was scheduled. The race course began and ended in Buenos Aires and went to Patagonia, the Andes Mountains, and the Atacama Desert, which is the world’s driest desert. Tragically, only two days into the race, 49-year old French Yamaha rider Pascal Terry, who’d always dreamed of riding in the Dakar, ran out of petrol and sometime after receiving fuel from another rider suffered an as yet unidentified medical emergency, dying before help could reach him. This was the only fatality in the ’09 Dakar race, but a sad loss for the racing community. What was especially disturbing was that Terry had activated his distress beacon on January 4th and a lack of communication between the Paris HQ and field HQ delayed the rescue efforts which may have prevented this tragedy. 

Marc Coma, riding a KTM, ended up as the winner of the motorcycle division of 2009 Dakar. At the finish, Coma said: "I can’t describe the feeling - happy doesn’t even come close…" Coma was also the winner of the 2006 Dakar. Out of 235 riders that started the motorcycle division of the Dakar, there were 109 riders that made it across the finish line.

 

Economy Impacts Motorcycle Industry

 Economic Pains Affect Motorcycle Sales

It seems like every time we turn on the news, there’s another industry belting out the bad economy blues. The motorcycle industry, widely supported by recreational riders using discretionary income, is not the exception. High gasoline prices seen throughout much of 2008 caused an increase in scooter and dual sport bike sales, true, but off-road, street, and custom bikes numbers took a savage dive. Off-highway motorcycle sales and ATV sales were hardest hit,  showing around a 25% drop in sales over the previous year. Street bike sales were only down 2.1%, and scooters enjoyed a healthy 50.6% increase. These numbers are through 3rd quarter 2008.

Motorcycle Industry Reacts

Honda was one of the first companies to react to the economic downturn for the motorcycle industry. Early in 2008, Honda made an announcement that it would be halting U.S. production in 2009 and would be returning its Honda motorcycle production once again to Japan. This decision by Honda is expected to affect some 600 workers at their Marysville, OH, plant. While Honda assured these workers that they would be relocated into automobile plants in the area, one has to wonder whether Honda can make good on that claim, considering the condition of the auto industry.

In September, Big Dog Motorcycles, a high-end motorcycle company based out of Wichita, also announced layoffs of nearly 50 employees to occur by the end of ’08. Paul Hansen, Big Dog marketing director, says, "The layoffs are a consequence of economic problems, which no motorcycle company has been immune to this year (’08)."

Most recently, in reaction to poor sales in ’08 and plummeting stock numbers, Harley-Davidson made the announcement that it would be eliminating 1,100 jobs over two years, would consolidate several of its plants, and close some others.  Jim Ziemer, the chief executive for Harley-Davidson, also retiring in 2009, stated in an interview that about 650 of the jobs cut would be in Wisconsin, more than 400 would be made in the New York facility, and around 85 cuts will occur at the company’s Kansas City, MO, motorcycle plant.  Further turnover at the upper management level also is taking place as the CFO Tom Bergmann is temporarily replacing Sy Naqvi, formerly head of financial services.

Some Motorcycle Rallies Cancelled

One of the things motorcyclists look forward to each year as the icy roads thaw and riding season returns are the many motorcycle rallies, rides, shows, and other events. Thousands of bikers take to the road each year to attend these events, many of which have become biker tradition. No doubt riding a motorcycle is one of the most exhilarating of all ways to get from place to place, and spending a day or more at a rally with fellow riders who "know why dogs hang their heads out of car windows"  is worth the long winter’s wait. 

Over the years there have been increasing number of rallies added to the calendar. Some are small and last only a day, and some have grown into mega-events that last an entire week. These rallies take months of  planning, long days of preparation and, as one might expect, they take more than a little money. While the 2009 rally calendar has remained pretty full, there are a couple of well-known and highly anticipated rallies that have had to announce their cancellation.

The Honda Hoot, which had been ongoing for 15 years and had some 16,000 attendees in ’08, has announced the ’09 rally will not take place this year.  And while the economy has sucker punched a number of rallies, this year both the The Hollister Rally, which has been ongoing (on and off) for over 60 years and drew a crowd of over 130,000, and  Myrtle Beach Bike Week were canceled after a series of vicious sissy-slaps delivered by the pantywaist members of these city councils.

Still there are lots of great rallies, races, runs and other events scheduled for ’09. Since their future depends on support from the motorcycle community, hopefully, those who are able to attend one or more of these events will. And for those city councils who’ve made the decision to turn away bikers in ’09,  we hope the millions of dollars that the bikers would have spent there will help the economies of the cities where bikers are welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evan Tanner Dies While Motorcycle Camping

Past UFC middle-weight champion, Evan Tanner’s body was found in the Palo Verde area of California. According to some reports he had run out of gas and was attempting to walk out of the area in the 114 degree heat when he collapsed and died from heat stroke. Some of Tanner’s friends became worried when they didn’t hear from him and called authorities who began a ground and air search for the missing fighter. Prior to the trip he had said, "And to think, there are still places in the world where man has not been, where he has left no footprints, where the mysteries stand secure, untouched by human eyes. I want to go to these places, and sit, letting silence and solitude be my teachers." When some of Tanner’s friends tried to dissuade him from going he said, “So my plan is to go out to the desert, do some camping, ride the motorcycle, and shoot some guns. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. A lot of people do it. This isn’t a version of Into the Wild. I’m not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife, to try to live off the land. I’m going fully geared up, and I’m planning on having some fun.” Evan recently wrote on his blog "I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life," wrote Tanner on the adventure in August. "I’ve been doing a great deal of research and study. I want to know all I can about where I’m going, and I want to make sure I have the best equipment." His motorcycle was found parked at his campsite.

Hells Angels Frisco Mark “Papa” Guardado funeral procession

This video shows the huge number of participants in Papa Frisco’s funeral procession. It’s a good video despite the pin head making comments towards the end.

Frogg Toggs

The Frogg Toggs website says their rainsuits are breathable, yet 100% waterproof. According to their literature this is because the waterproof fabric they are made of has pores 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water. The pores let moist body vapors escape while keeping the raindrops out. I decided to test their claims to see if this was true. I got their most popular rainsuit, the Pro Action (PA 102) to test. My test showed their claims to be true and the product to be a very good value. The first thing that I noticed about the Frogg Toggs when I opened the box were how thin and light they were. They weigh less and fold up smaller than my polyurethane and nylon rainsuit. In the interest of visibility and in the interest of following my own advice about riding in the rain, I got the orange set. Because they are a mottled orange and white pattern, they look a little more pastel than I had expected. My wife assures me that I do not look like a giant peach, but I think if I would have known how pastel they are, I would have ordered a different color. While I may not like the color that much, the comfort and the small amount of space they will take up in my saddle bags more than makes up for it. I ordered the 2X size and there is plenty of room inside to slip these on over other riding gear. They also have a zippered leg which will allow one to get them on over one’s boots. I have to admit, testing this pair of Frogg Toggs during a drought presented some challenges. I waited and waited for some rain, but it just never happened. Not to be deterred by a lack of inclement weather, I put them on over my clothes, turned on the shower full blast and hopped in. I stayed in there for about five minutes and for a good portion of that time had the shower hitting me full blast in the chest. I’m pretty sure that a person would have to be standing in a hurricane to get anywhere near that much water on them, but that makes the test that much better. When I took off the rainsuit, was I completely dry? No, not completely, but I think that was my fault rather than the rainsuit’s. As it turns out, the material around the zipper is not made out of the same waterproof material as the rainsuit itself, and if exposed to a direct stream of water it will absorb some of it and pass it through to the other side. However, I neglected to close the velcro backed flap that covers the zipper and provides a barrier that protects the zipper from water. As a result, the zipper got soaked. Even so, it left a "damp" strip down my shirt, not a soaked strip. On top of that, I don’t think that anyone would encounter that much water aimed directly at one’s chest during the coarse of a normal rain shower, or even if one were travelling at highway speeds in a severe thunderstorm. So is the material 100% waterproof? Yes, it is. Another thing that I quickly noticed was how cool they are, compared to my other rainsuit. I imagine that’s due to the material that the Frogg Toggs are made from. It truly seems that the breathability of the fabric actually works to keep you comfortable and dry not only from the outside in, but from the inside out as well. It feels more like you are wearing a shirt and pants than like you are wearing a rainsuit, and I like that a lot. The only complaint I have, from a motorcyclists point of view, is that because they have a hood that’s rolled up inside the collar, the neck cannot be cinched up tightly around the neck. I would imagine that some rain could find its way inside as the water comes pouring off of one’s head or helmet. I don’t think this would be as much of a problem with a full face, or even half helmet, but for those wearing a shorty, this may allow some water inside the rainsuit. With the minor issue of the loose-fitting collar, I think this rainsuit is going to perform very well and the price is right. If you want a very light-weight rainsuit, I think you’ll be very happy with these. Meanwhile, if you are riding in the rain through Georgia and you pass a guy that looks like a giant peach, that will probably be me. Uzi Rider

Jaffrum Sissy Bar Bag Review

Jafrum Sissy Bar Bag

I bought a Big Sissy Bar Bagrecently. I’ve got to tell you that I was skeptical that I would get a decent bag for less than $100. However, I figured I wasn’t risking a lot of money and if it lasted for more than one season I would have gotten my money’s worth out of it. Well let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised by what I received. The bags are made of very thick and apparently durable leather and the stitching looks very sturdy. It looks like these bags should last for years. They have plenty of capacity for several days clothes and incidentals and will tie securely to any sissy bar. They also come with a plastic rain cover that will cover the bags completely in the event of inclement weather. I think these bags were really a bargain, and I’m a very hard man to please.

Featured Campground

Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge

Our featured motorcycle campground is the Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, North Carolina. This fantastic motororcycle lodge and campground is nestled along Stecoah Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is just a short ride to the legendary Tail of the Dragon which is more properly called Deals Gap along a stretch of Highway 129. This excillerating and challenging stretch of highway features 318 curves in just 11 miles. Other great motorcyling roads nearby are the Cherohala Skyway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The lodge has a nice fireplace and delicious home cooked meals are served daily. You can choose to sleep in a private room with private bath, private room with semi-private bath, the bunkhouse, or camp out under the stars in a tent near the creek. A clean bathouse is available to all campers.

New Harley Sport Bikes?

Is this a picture of a new Harley Davidson sport bike? Well, yes it is — sort of. The picture is an Brutale 910 made by the MV Agusta motorcycle company in Italy. It produces about 6,000 motorcycles a year and sells about one-sixth of those through importers in the United States. Are they cool? Well, Bruce Banner will be riding one in the upcoming Bat Man flick, "The Dark Knight" so you be the judge. Why did I say it was a Harley Davidson? HD recently purchased the company for about $109 mil. Many think that this will give the Harley Davidson "instant credibility," both abroad and here at home in the sport bike market. It appears that the MV Agusta motorcycle company had started falling on hard times, due to the weak U. S. dollar and otherwise weak sales. Smelling a good deal Harley snapped up the company. Around $70M of the $109M purchase price is targeted at paying of MV’s existing debt, which means that it gets to restart as a zero debt company. While the news may be great for motorcyclists interested in sport bikes, the news wasn’t well received by HD shareholders. On the news, HD stock (HOG) dropped to a 52 week low and closed at $32.33 on Fri., July 11.

Motorcycle Wisdom

[editor: A collection of Motorcycle Wisdom] Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul. Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle. Life may begin at 30, but it doesn’t get real interesting until about 60 mph! You start the game of life with a full pot o’ luck and an empty pot o’ experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck. If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. Midnight bugs taste just as bad as noon time bugs. Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they can hold everything you need. It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed. The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror. Never be afraid to slow down. Don’t ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise. Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of fuel before you can think straight. Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you’ll ride alone. Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town. Never do less than forty miles before breakfast. If you don’t ride in the rain, you don’t ride. One bike on the road is worth two in the shed. Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived. Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and go. A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it. Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night. Always back your bike into the curb, and sit where you can see it. Work to ride & ride to work. Whatever it is, it’s better in the wind. Two-lane blacktop isn’t a highway - it’s an attitude. When you look down the road, it seems to never end - but you better believe, It does! Winter is Nature’s way of telling you to polish. Keep your bike in good repair. Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking. People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently. Sometimes, the best communication happens when you’re on separate bikes. Good coffee should be indistinguishable from 50 weight motor oil. The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome. The twisties - not the super slabs - separate the riders from the squids. When you’re riding lead, don’t spit. A friend is someone who’ll get out of bed at 2 am to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you’re broken down. Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary. If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can’t stop at every tavern. There’s something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer. Don’t lead the pack if you don’t know where you’re going. Practice wrenching on your own bike, first. Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don’t. Some can’t. Don’t argue with an 18-wheeler. Never be ashamed to unlearn a bad habit. A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of fuel. If you can’t get it going with bungee cords and electrician’s tape, it’s serious. If you ride like there’s no tomorrow, there won’t be. Bikes parked out front mean good chicken-fried steak inside. There are old riders. And there are bold riders. There are NO old, bold riders. Thin leather looks good in the bar, but it won’t save your butt from road rash” if you go down. The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside. Always replace the cheapest parts first. You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze. Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling. Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window. There are two types of people in this world, people who ride motorcycles and people who wish they could ride motorcycles. Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you. Gray-haired riders don’t get that way from pure luck

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