After playing an integral part of the wildly successful reality TV series “L.A. Ink,” Corey’s existence over the last 6 months has been cathartic. These days, we find a post-L.A. Ink-Miller very excited to lend his artistic talents to everything from album covers to a new bottle design for Tuaca, vanilla citrus liqueur, bottles. Corey’s drawing of Travis Barker is on the cover of a recent issue of Modern Drummer and he is now experimenting with the new (to him) technique of wood burning on a custom guitar for Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx.



I had the inspiring opportunity to spend the day with Corey and his family. We talked about motorcycles, how his artistic mind sees the world in broad brushstrokes connected together by the smallest detail and that no topic is singular. All things are woven together with the fabric that is art.



Corey had the San Gabriel Mountains in his backyard and been riding them since he was a kid. His first bike was a 1978 Yamaha YX80. At 20, he wanted a chopper and spent several days in what he called a really scary house with very bad characters doing bad things. “That would have cured any normal person from a career in tattooing, but with a couple grand and a lot of tattoos later, I rode away with my first Harley,” Corey says. “It was a ‘57 rigid Frankenstein with a ‘73 Shovelhead engine, bad welds, rusted parts, straight pipes, and no turn signals or speedo. Each side of the Fatbob tanks was painted different colors. I remember sitting at a stoplight thinking how badass I was and a cop pulled up behind me. The light went green and I made some lame hand signal and my helmet flew right off my head and bounced down the intersection. I saw the cop looking at me just shaking his head and laughing at my stupid ass as he drove away. That was the beginning of riding choppers… it was awesome.”




While at a bike show in the early 2000’s, Corey eyeballed the Jesse James “Diablo” chopper and voiced his honest opinion while, unbeknownst to him, Jesse was right next to him. “Jesse must have found it refreshing,” Corey reminisces, “because he was always very respectful of me and really liked my art. I ended up tattooing the infamous hundred-dollar bill on his back. I called it his family crest. I traded Jesse for a CFL frame and some West Coast Choppers parts to start building my own bike. I traded another local builder, Hellbound Steel, for a huge Dragon painting for the front end and wheels, I did a few shirt designs for Ron Simms for some Performance Machine parts, and then went back and traded Jesse some more artwork for a tank and rear fender.





I remember picking those up from Jesse, and in his usual bravado was all ‘I actually hand pounded that tank and rear fender.’ I thought “So what, dude? That’s what you do,” but I was naive because Jesse was really blowing up. The next time I saw him he had a factory of workers and told me that was one of the last tanks he hand pounded…





I finally pulled everything together and met Mike Lambertson here in Ontario. He is an awesome pinstriper. I had drawn out the image and he nailed it gold leaf and all. I bartered almost everything on this bike for tattooing or artwork except the S&S 113 motor. It’s not a WCC bike; I pulled together all the elements I wanted for a Corey Miller original.” This bike was completed in 2005 and this is the first time his chopper has ever been featured right here on Bikernet.






Before the show L.A. Ink, Corey was always very private, keeping his personal life out of the limelight. Corey is a family man with three young children and lovely wife Kat. He has always prioritized family, and then came Dev… a new son – a new 25-year old son. They met for the first time only months ago. It started with a private message on Facebook from a girl he had met 25 years ago, and her last sentence said that she had his son. Corey immediately tracked him down and they met. In one of their first meetings with his newfound son, Corey asked, “So now what we do?” Dev’s response, “I was hoping we might go for a motorcycle ride,” and that’s just what they did.



That’s what we all did; we saddled up and went for a ride in the San Gabriel Mountains, Corey on his Husaberg, Dev on his Yamaha 800 and me on a Triumph Rocket III. The two interacted as if they had known each other their whole lives. We owned the road that warm Wednesday afternoon. As we rode I thought about ‘Nature vs. Nurture,’ that motorcycling isn’t something everyone just does. In fact, only a small fraction of us actually have an M1. Watching them talk about riding, about bikes and music, and finishing each other’s sentences was uncanny. Nature and genetics had definitely overruled nurturing.




Corey on LA Ink: “Look man I do what I do, I never had an agent, manager for all those years, and I suppose I should have but I was just a tattoo artist. I had no idea about television. I just stayed totally focused on the detail of each customers tattoo and always tried to be true to myself…I remember in the opening credits of the show, they wanted me to wear a Marlon Brando “Wild One” hat. I said” No way” you guys want me to look like the Village People? (laughs) Sometimes that show became an artistic distraction, but it was great exposure for me and for tattooing itself. Aside from some cool licensing deals and notoriety, the best thing that ever came from that show was finding my son Dev. There’s no reality show actors’ union, SAG, no royalties, no residuals, just exposure.”



Corey on Family Matters: “Having kids totally changed me. I suddenly became concerned about lasting, about being around to see them grown. I grew up with the punk rock music scene of the early ‘80s, and lasting wasn’t a priority to me. I never saw my son Dev grow up, and he never knew about me either. Ironically, he’s just like me. He’s a musician, artist and motorcyclist.” (Dev sings for the L.A. based band MOMENTEM)




What Corey really rides: “I grew up right here at the foothills of the San Gabriel’s. I love riding the mountain roads and trails. I rode my Harley to L.A. Ink and what a freakin’ nightmare. You almost die ten times a day in that traffic. I recently bought a Husaberg 570 Super Motar from Malcolm Smith in Riverside and I love the thing. It’s ugly bright blue and yellow but at 240 pounds it rides itself through these mountains.”



Corey’s Band: ‘Powerflex 5’ includes Steve Alba, the legendary skate boarder who plays guitar and Corey plays drums. “Its instrumental surf-punk, rock electric gumbo if you will. I always tell people it’s kind of like a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack, it’s just fun good time music,” Corey beams.




Tattooing Today: His shop “Six Feet Under” has been in the same location in Upland for 15 years. “We get customers from every walk of life. Just as the popularity of tattooing has grown, so has the number of amazing talented artists. People aren’t afraid of walking into a Tattoo shop anymore and I guess you can thank shows like L.A. Ink for helping with that.”







Corey’s art is currently on the cover of Modern Drummer, he just finished an album cover work for Face to Face, designed a guitar for James Hetfield and a signature drum set for Ludwig Drums. He is featured in the upcoming motion picture documentary Tattoo Nation, which will hit the theaters in 2013. His shop Six Feet Under is teeming with activity. He hosts art shows and is involved in his community.



Tattoos, motorcycles, music and art are at the core of Corey Miller. Art is a very personal; people don’t buy art they hate to put in their living room and look at every day. At least you can change that, because putting art on your body for life is the ultimate commitment, and the artist you pick to do that is critical. Its obvious Corey Miller is art driven, putting his heart into his work and his family.

We’ve been after this tech for months. We still don’t have all the answers, but we’re closer. Since I never build any motorcycle the same as the next one, I run into issues every time I haul brake components to Baker Precision on Signal Hill for another set of lines. It’s always a roll of the dice, finding out whether my selected lines work with the calipers or master cylinders, or if they are long enough or too long.

I took a quick trip down to the new BDL headquarters in Orange recently. Since BDL acquired GMA brakes, they have become well-versed in custom motorcycle brake technology. BDL has one of the finest 45,000 square foot manufacturing facilities in the industry, and they carve out products for several well-known industry names, such as Arlen Ness, Performance Machine and Rivera/Primo, in addition to their constantly expanding product line and Jabsco pump products.

Steve Yetzke and his team operate over 50 CNC milling machines, CNC lathes, screw machines, and gear broaching. They even have a foundry. Here are some GMA brake improvements. They have developed a Softail replacement brake system. It works twice as well as stock (four pistons instead of the stock two-piston arrangement), fits better and is easier to work on and bleed. We will bring you a tech on this brake, which is capable of fitting over 10 years of Softail Harley models.

They have angled their banjo line landing area on GMA calipers for a more secure line placement. It’s easier to reach, and they designed hydraulic brake line guides into the caliper designs to help builders align brake lines securely.

They tested all types of crush washers, aluminum, copper, and O-ring. The O-ring style is by far the best sealing washer with the least amount of torque at the fitting. There is a drawback to O-ring crush washers, though, according to Darlene Baker at Baker Precision. If you use DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, it can corrode the O-ring material over time. “I only stock aluminum crush washers,” Darlene said.

BDL was working on all new brake bleeder technology when I visited their plant. The notion is to incorporate the bleeder into the line junction for more positive bleeding, and fewer chances of a leaking. Plus they are adding a radius to the bleeder shape for a more positive mating surface. They are also eliminating any use of metric threads in lieu of the common 3/8-24 threads, except the new bagger (GMA500DD) and Softail (GMA525M) brakes, which are 10 mm 1.0 metric thread so the stock H-D banjo bleeder combo will fit also OEM part#41783-08.

Their calipers are shipped with fittings for An-3 fittings or you can run a banjo without a concave or convex fitting. They have injected new technology into their ductile rotor material. They are double disc ground and Blanchard ground for the absolutely best surface mating with brake pads.

I left the BDL factory with a new heightened level of respect for their manufacturing capabilities. The next week, we loaded our van and Kendon trailer and peeled to the Bonneville Salt Flats. We came within a pinch of a vintage class record, and then I was on a plane to Milwaukee, then back in the van and cutting a dusty trail for Las Vegas Bikefest.

So I peeled through a month before I could return to the hydraulic brake tech file. I reached out to Goodrich regarding ordering recommendations. They didn’t have any. I even left a message with sales, they finally called but basically rely on dealers and distributors to help customers. One of their offices is only 10 miles from our headquarters. Then it dawned on me, and I called Baker Precision on Signal Hill. When I need brake lines made, I run up to Darlene’s small facility on the edge of the oil wells.

Growing up in Long Beach, my dad, a master machinist, tool designer, and whip-cracking shop manager, worked on Signal Hill for 40 years. The damn place was covered with oil derricks. Now it’s home to the best coastal views in Long Beach and I’ll bet the new homeowners bitch about the few scattered oil wells around the hill. No more tall wooden derricks, though. They’re all gone.

I dropped everything, grabbed a cup of joe and peeled to Baker Precision. It’s a small shop tucked into a strip of condo-looking industry shops on a small, tree-lined street. I’ll bet you can lease one of these, run a small shop downstairs and live upstairs. Darlene predominately services the performance car and boat markets in and around Long Beach. About a third of their business is mail order. They sell high dollar fittings, hoses, and fluids for race boats and hot rods, but of course, motorcycles fit into this mix, and I’ve been a Bonneville and bike-building customer for several years.

So I strolled into the shop carrying a note pad, a camera, and a Bonneville book. Darlene wasn’t busy and her glass counter was scattered with various fittings and connectors. We started by discussing ordering and length dimensions. “Some asked for the distance from the collar, or even just the hose distance,” Darlene said. “I prefer the distance from the center of the caliper fitting opening to the master cylinder opening, since collars and fittings vary in length.”

We discussed the line coatings from clear coat to basic stainless and black-coated lines. From time to time, I will run shrink tubing over brake lines for a classic look. “My experience with coatings hasn’t been that good,” Darlene said. “The clear coating protects the line from harming paint, but it discolors, and the black is tacky and hard to work with.” Keep in mind Darlene uses production hose companies, not high-dollar companies like Goodridge from Biker’s choice. I’ll bet their coatings are higher quality.

She started to point out various guides and clamps designed to protect lines and paint. I checked on line and J&P carries several fittings and line styles. They carry what appear to be black anodized lines and fittings.

Recently, while preparing for Bonneville, I measured the line distance, but then I hauled all the components to Baker, since my master cylinder was Japanese, and the brake caliper Performance Machine. More recently, I ran a system with an ISR handlebar master cylinder (built in Europe and distributed by LA ChopRods), and a stock caliper, which was metric. ISR components are tapped to 10 mm 1.25 threads, which is a slightly different thread pitch than the GMA brakes (1.0) mentioned above. It’s a different thread pitch and they are not interchangeable. That’s one of the benefits of using banjo fittings.  

“Japanese systems use 10 mm threads,” Darlene said. “Most American systems are 3/8-24 and European systems are all over the place.” Then you have AN-3 fittings, which are flared either convex or concaved. Note what Wikipedia says about AN fittings:

The AN thread is a particular type of fitting used to connect flexible hoses and rigid metal tubing that carry fluid. It is a US military-derived specification that dates back to World War II and stems from a joint standard agreed upon by the Aeronautical and Navy, hence AN.

AN sizes range from -2 (dash two) to -32 in irregular steps, with each step equating to the OD (outside diameter) of the tubing in 1/16-inch increments. Therefore, a -8 AN size would be equal to ½-inch OD tube (8 x 1/16 = 1/2). However, this system does not specify the ID (inside diameter) of the tubing because the tube wall can vary in thickness. Each AN size also uses its own standard thread size.

AN fittings are a flare fitting, using 37° flared tubing to form a metal-to-metal seal. They are similar to other 37° flared fittings, such as JIC, which is their industrial variant. The two are interchangeable in theory, though this is typically not recommended due to the exacting specifications and demands of the aerospace industry. The differences between them relate to thread class and shape (how tight a fit the threads are), and the metals used.

Holy shit! I looked at the associated chart and AN-3 fittings are SAE 3/8-24 threads, or 1/8-inch 27 pipe thread or NPT. What the hell? If you try to run a 1/8-inch pipe fitting into 3/8-24 threads, you’ll run into problems. I spoke to Lee Clemens at Departure Bike Works and he added to the mix. “If you’re in a jam with 1/8-inch pipe threads, you can tap them to 3/8-24 and use a banjo fitting, but you must have a machined surface for the crush washer to seal.” Lee also mentioned that until 2002, H-D used 12 mm threads at the top of the line, and 10 mm at the bottom. After ’02 all H-D brake lines are 10 mm. So if you are installing an aftermarket front brake master cylinder on your H-D you will need to think 3/8-24 at the top and 10 mm at the bottom.

We discussed banjo fittings and Darlene suggested them for tight spots and harsh bends. “But they can be more prone to leaking due to the multiple surfaces and size of surface,” Darlene said. She also suggested always replacing both lines if you have multiple lines in a stretch, since good tight -3 lines provide very positive braking. “It’s all about pressure, not volume.”

I asked her about 1/8-inch pipe threads. “Only a few proportioning valves come with pipe thread,” Darlene said. Most automotive applications use 7/16 threads, whereas all performance and aircraft applications use 3/8-inch threads. “Very few folks use the old brass auto junctions anymore; they usually replace them with aircraft type AN fittings. Some 99 percent of the fittings we use are convex (male) AN fittings.” The concave fittings are also referred to as inverted flair.

Okay, so here’s what we can recommend. Measure the length of the cable from the openings, center to center. Make sure you note the angle of the cable departure on both ends carefully.

“Most guys don’t think about the direction of the cable,” Lee said. “We usually lay out the cable on the counter at the shop, and then take the customer through the position of the master cylinder and the caliper to determine the angle of each fitting. We want them to go home and just bolt the line into position.” Also note any flex or slack needed for movement such as swing arms or forks. You may also need a junction to a flexible line, if motion is constant or severe. I would always suggest dragging all the components to a shop or fitting store for the most positive results.

BDL and GMA Brakes

Baker Precision
562-427-2375

Performance Machine

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is pleased to be the new home for an all wooden motorcycle built by wood artist Mike Sohn of Hannibal, Missouri. The bike, which is modeled after a 1909 Harley-Davidson Twin took a year and a half to complete. The artist estimates there are at least nine different kinds of wood in the creation.

“We are so excited to have this piece of art in our museum,” said Christine Paige Diers, Executive Director of the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. “I’m completely amazed by the detail of this motorcycle – everything, down to the springs on the seat is a true work of art.

I’m always excited to add new items to the museum’s collection, and am thrilled that Mike thought the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum would be the right home for this piece for the next couple of years.” Sohn delivered the motorcycle to the museum this summer, and despite being professionally crated for the trip, Mike still had to make some minor repairs once it was uncrated and set in place.

 

Mike Sohn is a long-time wood artist based in Hannibal, Missouri. Sohn’s passion for woodworking began at a young age and developed over time. The self taught artist has produced many small scale pieces such as a jalapeño pepper titled “Running Hot” and a light bulb dubbed “Lighten Up.”

Now retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Sohn has been able to direct his attention towards much larger projects. He selects his projects based on what happens to strike his passion or interest. Sohn often finds himself inspired by everyday objects especially automobiles. Examples of some of his more accomplished work include an American Chopper motorcycle, and 1909 Harley-Davidson and a Model T car. Some of Mike’s work can be seen at his website at http://www.planettees.com/mikesohn.php.

 

I knew Kevin and Mona Alsop when their primary business was the Chopper-in-a-Box, build-it-yourself kits. Buyers ordered them by the dozen and actually built ‘em themselves. I thought that was so cool. Big Bear Choppers pioneered that concept. Suddenly, custom American choppers became the gold standard for cool worldwide and BBC was in the eye of the storm. The storm became Hurricane Katastrophe, washing away everyone. From the worlds largest chopper manufacturers to Ma & Pa chopper builders, no one was immune. BBC rode the wave but like everyone else was drowned in the undertow.

Choppers died with the economy. Then came Born Free 3 and Born Free 4 and a new generation of riders taking old Harleys, cheap English, and Japanese motorcycles, chopped the hell out of them. That’s exactly what us old farts did in the ‘70s, Kevin Alsop, the Big Bear boss included. Low, lean, less is more ball bustin, back breaking sissy bars, hard-tailed choppers will rule again, it’s awesome. If you’ve ever built or ridden a true old skool chopper you know what I mean. Then we got older and wanted something that still reflected the spirit of our youth, but we could actually ride to Sturgis. Big Bear Choppers built a bike to do exactly that.

Suddenly BBC came up for air. On February 18, 2012 one of BBC’s dealers announced it had purchased all their assets. Simon Scott, Owner of PT Ragehard Choppers, Indonesia announced the opening of a new motorcycle manufacturing facility in San Bernardino, California. The plan called for producing and marketing an extensive range of Motorcycles including a full range of Big Bear Choppers. I rode out to their new facility, rode the new bikes, and it reminded me of the good ole days.

Simon also retained the services of Kevin and Mona Alsop, the creators of Big Bear Choppers, and some key staff, like Mike the Greek. I visited them and was very excited to see that the blood and guts of American choppers wasn’t gone.

Yeah, they are excessive, loud, and expensive, but that’s why we love choppers. Early on, Kevin was aware of international interest in custom American choppers, and back in 2007 Big Bear was the first custom chopper to obtain international certifications. He set up dealers across the globe and this was perhaps his saving grace. Beyond the collapse in the US, Simon recognized the international demand. Under the stewardship of Simon, BBC now have dealers in 12 countries.

While visiting BBC, Mona told me pointed out 30 bike crated and ready for international shipping. An additional 25 more were being built in the shop. “Our dealer Motorbarn in Dubai ordered their first four Bikes,” Mona said. “They are shipping out this week to make it to the Gulf Bike week 2012 in Dubai. We just shipped out seven bikes to our dealer Custom Culture in Ukraine. Two BBC bike kits left yesterday to Ample Motorcycle Company in Taipei. Frames tanks and fenders are heading to our dealer Wildcard Customs in Australia next week. There are bikes on order for our Importer Gooddrive in Switzerland and a couple of domestic sales.”

Domestically OMG Motorsports in Gresham, Oregon has BBC Bikes on his floor. Yes, the new BBC also embraced their roots. They are shipping kits. For 20K you can purchases a BBC in a box and build it yourself.

The BBC chopper I rode was based on BBC’s most recent creation the Bear Bones. Actually, it’s my personal favorite because it’s based on the Misbehavin platform, which has the shortest wheelbase and less rake of all others in the BBC line, so it offers superior handling. It’s available in a black matt version or all gussied up with fancy paint. The entire line of Big Bear Choppers is now available for purchase.

Keep an eye out for a BBC bike sporting one of the most stunning and fluid production chopper paint schemes.

Both Kevin and Mona are picking up the pieces of their lives. With their house foreclosed and all assets auctioned off by the banks it was time get up and fight. “We understand that the chopper heyday slid away with the economy, and it may or may not become what it was, but it’s what we love to do,” stated Kevin.

Currently Big Bear Choppers have dealers in Switzerland, Australia, the UK, Dubai, Austria, Indonesia, Taipei, Ukraine, Canada, Hawaii and Oregon.

Choppers will never die. They expensed themselves out of the dying market, but the notion of choppers and hot rods represent the very core of American freedom. When the economy returns so will metal flake, chrome, and long front ends. Choppers forever, forever Choppers.

NEW TOOL FROM JIMS–JIMS Twin Cam Piston Ring End Gap Tool. Introducing another unique JIMS tool by master tuner and multiple land speed world record holder Hiro Koiso! Designed to test ring gaps with a unique proprietary cutout feature, the flanged shape allows the piston ring to fit squarely into the cylinder bore every time.  Simply install the tool into a cylinder bore and place your piston ring onto the tool. You can view the ring end gap in the “Key Slot” and use JIMS Feeler Gauge Tool No.908 to determine your exact end gap measurement. JIMS Twin Cam Piston Ring End Gap Tool works for 95”, 103” and 110” H-D engines with 3.875” or 4.000” bore and 120”, 131”, and 135” JIMS engines with 4.125” or 4.310” bore. Made in the U.S.A. and backed by a lifetime warranty, please visit us at www.jimsusa.com, find us on Facebook or call 805-482-6913 for more! –Chad Frank JIMS Marketing/Sales www.jimsusa.com Advertisement

SOLID BRASS ACORN NUTS FROM MR. LUCKY–MK731: 110-Piece Solid Brass Acorn Nut Assortment Tray.  Mr Lucky Sez……brass is class! The most popular UNC & UNF nut sizes, in Solid Brass, all in a convenient assortment tray! Add some finishing Brass touches to your retro ride, and really make an old-school statement!  The heavy-duty Tray has 12 compartments, holding a 110 piece assortment of 12 different sizes of UNC or UNF Solid Brass Low Crown Acorn nuts; 10 each of 6-32, 8-32, 10-24, 10-32, 1/4-20, 1/4-28, 5/16-18, 5/16-24, 3/8-16, 3/8-24 and 5 each of 1/2-13 & 1/2-20 sizes. Individual sizes are available in bags of 5 or 10 separately. Buying the assortment is priced cheaper than if you bought the various sizes separately, plus you’re getting the tray Free…………..a smokin’ deal! Made in USA by Mid West Acorn exclusively for Mr Luckys, and can be purchased online at www.mrluckys.biz as part # MK731. Check out this, as well as the full line of classic inspired parts crafted in brass & copper being released at Mr Luckys!  MK731 110-piece Solid Brass Acorn Nut Assortment Tray Ret $74.99 Mr Luckys, 6411 Saffron Hills Dr. Spring, TX 77379 USA Ph: 832-559-8560, info@mrluckys.biz Advertisement

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

FATALITIES FALL IN MICHIGAN AFTER HELMET LAW REPEAL
“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Vince Consiglio, president of ABATE Michigan, in announcing a decrease in motorcycle deaths since the state repealed their mandatory helmet law. Despite dire predictions to the contrary, motorcycle fatalities actually have dropped by 7% based on statistics obtained from the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Secretary of State.

On April 12, 2012, the requirement for motorcycle helmets was amended to allow adult choice for bikers 21 and older, providing they completed an accredited motorcycle-safety course or had a minimum of two years riding experience.

According to an ABATE press release, from 2011 (pre-amendment) to 2012 (post amendment) motorcycle fatalities dropped from 89 to 85 in Michigan, a 4.5% reduction. During the same time period, the number of motorcycle registrations increased from 261,658 to 266,589, so ABATE concludes; “If the fatality rate is adjusted to the total of motorcycle registrations it shows that the fatality rate has decreased from 0.034% to 0.031% since the helmet-law amendment – a seven percent reduction.”??”This data proves conclusively that the helmet-law amendment had no adverse effect on motorcycle safety,” Consiglio told The Detroit News.

DEER TAKE DEADLY TOLL ON MOTORCYCLISTS
“When a deer collides with a vehicle that weighs a couple of tons, the fragile animal almost always gets the worst of it. When a deer meets a motorcycle on the roadway, both the rider and the deer may suffer the same fate,” stated the Washington Post in reporting on research by AAA that found that seven of the eight people who died in crashes involving deer over a three-year period in Maryland and Virginia were motorcyclists. Nationwide, the auto club said, about 70% of deer-crash fatalities involve motorcycles.

“Because they are riding on two wheels, motorcycle riders and their passengers are especially vulnerable when they smash into a deer,” said John B. Townsend II, an AAA spokesman.

The deer mortality rate becomes most evident this time of year, as the mating season has more deer on the move. Their carcasses by the roadside attest to the danger that the lure of romance poses for them and for drivers.

In 2010, the latest year for which there are national statistics, 403 people were killed in accidents involving deer.

MOTORCYCLE THEFTS DECLINE
A total of 46,667 motorcycles were reported stolen in 2011, and 17,199 of them were recovered, according to a report released today by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That compares to 49,791 stolen bikes in 2010, a decrease of 6%.

California, the most populous U.S. state and the one with the most stolen motorcycles since the NICB began collecting data in 1996, retained its top spot with 5,927 thefts last year. It was followed by Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana. The state reporting the lowest number of thefts was North Dakota (21) followed by Wyoming, South Dakota, Vermont, Alaska, and Montana.

Recoveries of stolen motorcycles were largely proportional to thefts, with California the leader in recoveries (2,085) followed by Florida (1,334), Texas (965), Indiana (769), and North Carolina (725). The overall average time of recoveries was 31 days.

July and August were the biggest months for thefts in the U.S. last year, with more than 5,000 each, compared with 2,147 in February, the report shows.

Whereas the number of thefts increases dramatically in the warmer months, the day of the week seems to be of no significance. On Mondays, the day of the largest number, there were 6,962 bikes stolen. The number on Sundays, the day of the lowest number, there were 6,422.

More than 500 motorcycle makes were among those stolen last year, but the highest percentage of bikes stolen were of the Honda brand, at 24%. Yamaha was next (19%), followed by Suzuki (16%), Kawasaki (11%) and Harley-Davidson (7%).

“UNFAIR” TICKETS LEAD TO PROPOSED FREE MOTORCYCLE PARKING IN NYC

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), an avid Harley-Davidson rider, is pushing for legislation that would make motorcycle parking free throughout the five boroughs. “We get tickets a lot,” Vallone said of motorcyclists in the Big Apple. “That is unfair.”

At issue are muni-meters; “There is no way for a motorcycle rider to affix a muni-meter (receipt) to their bike in a way that it won’t blow away and it won’t be stolen,” Vallone said.

State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights), a fellow motorcyclist who recently received a $65 parking fine, has joined with Councilman Vallone in supporting a law to give motorcyclists a free ride. Due to what he calls “a faulty system,” DenDekker said making parking free for some 38,000 motorcyclists in New York City would put the brakes on the problem while being an environmentally sound move because motorcycles generate less pollution, need little space and use minimal gas.

“It would be a great idea to encourage other alternate forms of transportation like we’re doing right now with bicycles,” DenDekker said. “We also need to do that with motorcycles.”

Joe Sessa, director of New York City Harley Owners Group, said the parking situation in the city is only getting worse, and American Brotherhood Motorcycle Club president John Cartier said bicyclists get help from the city, while motorcyclists don’t. “We pay $42.50 in registration fees and pay our taxes, too. We make our contribution and we’re not getting anything back. We just want a level of equality.”

R.I. SALES TAXES HIGHER FOR MOTORCYCLES THAN CARS
Normally, if you’re buying a new car and you have a trade-in, you will only be charged sales tax on what you pay. But Rhode Island riders are roaring mad about an old law that forces motorcycle buyers to pay taxes on the full price of the bike regardless of the value of your trade-in.

Richard Unsworth of North Scituate, RI complained to a local news station that he was burned by $600 in excess sales tax when he traded in his old bike on a new Harley-Davidson. “When I went to the registry I expected to pay about $1,100 in taxes,” he said. “When I got done, it was like $1,700!”

That’s because Unsworth was charged sales tax on the full price of the motorcycle, even though he had a trade-in valued at $7,500. “My trade-in was taxed back in 1999,” he added. “I’m paying again for the same $7,500! I don’t believe it’s fair.”

An investigation by WPRI-TV Call 12 For Action uncovered a law in Rhode Island that only allows passenger vehicles to get a reduction in sales tax for the trade-in. Passenger vehicles, according to the law, do not include motorcycles or pickup trucks.

“This was a law that was actually passed in the 1940s when pickup trucks were mainly used by farmers and motorcycles weren’t that popular,” said RI Tax Administrator David Sullivan. “Now that it’s 2012, things have changed, but clearly the law hasn’t.”

According to Sullivan, the revenue hit would be about $5-10 million a year if the General Assembly were to change the law to include all vehicles. That’s not expected to happen in the near future. Although there have been several attempts by legislators to make the change, but it’s been shot down every time.

LEGAL BATTLES CONTINUE OVER MONGOLS CLUB COLORS
An unprecedented federal government effort to seize the Mongols Motorcycle Club’s trademark has quietly become a quarter-of-a-million-dollar headache for the Justice Department, reports McClatchy Newspapers. Four years after prosecutors grabbed national headlines by seizing the Mongols’ logo, an appellate court must now sort out what the federal government might owe the club’s attorneys.

It could be a lot, in a free-speech case that’s also a cautionary tale about aggressive federal use of forfeiture to seize private property.

“What they did was an outrageous violation of the First Amendment, and an absolute abuse of forfeiture and trademark laws,” American Civil Liberties Union attorney David Loy told the paper. Rebuking prosecutorial overreach, a federal judge in Los Angeles ordered the Justice Department to pay $253,206 to Loy and Alan Mansfield, an attorney with Consumer Law Group of California, who successfully challenged the prosecutors’ attempt to seize the Mongols’ trademark.

Forfeitures are big business for the federal government. Last year, the Justice Department seized some $1.8 billion worth of forfeited assets. Typically, these are ill-gotten gains from drug trafficking, financial fraud and other criminal activity.

Los Angeles-based prosecutors claimed a huge haul in October 2008 when they announced mass indictments of Mongols MC members, and in addition to physical assets such as motorcycles, firearms and other property, prosecutors sought to claim the Mongols’ trademarked name and logo. “If any law enforcement officer sees a Mongol wearing his patch, he will be authorized to stop that gang member and literally take the jacket right off his back,” then-U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien declared at the time. But a judge in Los Angeles ruled last year that prosecutors had gone too far. The judge reasoned that the trademark belonged to the organization, not to individuals, and therefore unindicted club members should still enjoy the right to use it.

Last February, another federal judge added that the Justice Department had to pay for the trademark fight because the government “violated settled First Amendment and trademark law.” “The novelty of the government’s position did not make it substantially justified,” U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled. “Rather, it took unlawful action based on an ungrounded and unsubstantiated legal theory, and without sufficient factual support.” Because the complex case “arose at the intersection of forfeiture, trademark and First Amendment law, “ Carter added, attorneys deserved the fair-market rates of between $525 and $650 an hour for the 461 hours spent challenging the government.

The Justice Department is appealing the judge’s order to pay, however, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals likely to hear the case next year.

PALESTINIANS CRACK DOWN ON MOTORCYCLES
Lawmakers in Gaza have continued their draconian campaign against motorcycle usage, taking the bold step of banning the import of spare parts for motorcycles into the ancient Palestinian city.

Interior Ministry official Hassan Akashed has admitted that the move aims to directly reduce the number of motorcycles, which he claims are a main cause of car accidents.

According to visordown.com, motorcyclists in the city have been subject to an ongoing crack down, banning them from riding after midnight, and restricting women from riding. The Interior Ministry recently announced that it was banning women from riding bikes or being pillion passengers, to limit accidents and “protect community values.”

Israel’s blockade of Gaza has meant that parts for cars have been impossible to get hold of and the cost of maintaining them has become unsustainable for most. As a result, motorcycles have seen a huge surge in popularity. Just five years ago there were only about a dozen or so motorcycles in the city, but the number of motorcycles in Gaza had grown to around 15,000 by 2010.

EUROPEAN BIKERS PROTEST VEHICLE-INSPECTION PLAN
Thousands of motorcyclists rolled into Belgium to protest an EU proposal for regular mandatory bike inspections. The law would be “expensive and useless,” said representatives from the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Association (FEMA) who met with European Union officials EU headquarters in Brussels as more than 4,500 motorcycles roared through the city’s streets, protesting the proposed law that would introduce mandatory EU-wide road-worthiness tests for motorcycles.

The new EU-wide regulations would supersede national safety inspection rules for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles, and FEMA said the law would offer “no benefits expected in terms of safety, as proven by several independent studies.”

Members of Belgium’s Federation of Angry Bikers (FBMC) turned out in large numbers for the protest. “Only 0.3 percent of motorcycle accidents in Belgium and 0.6 percent in Europe are due to technical problems,” FBMC head Joe Verrecke told the Belgian news agency Belga.

–Orson Scott Card (1951-), American author and political activist

THE ULTIMATE WHEEL BALANCERS FROM BIKER’S CHOICE–Biker’s Choice now offers Centramatic Wheel Balancers. They are a unique line of “On Board” Balancing Systems for tires and wheel’s that maximizes tire life and smooth’s your ride and that’s Centramatic’s primary goal. They mount between the brake disc and the wheel hub and require no service what so ever. Centramatic Balancers will balance the tire and wheel every time you ride. These increase tire life by 35-50%, reduce vibration, increase stability, improves braking and lowers tire temperatures. They are made of 304 polished stainless steel and a high tech combination of balancing media. The center hole measures 2.265” and the bolt hole pattern measures 3”.  Fits Harley Davidson models (except V-Rod, Buell, Screaming Eagle with cone shaped brake rotors and custom wheels.) Quality and reliability are of utmost importance, which is why Centramatic backs their Balancers with a Five-Year Unlimited Mile Warranty. Over 1,000,000 Balancers have been produced and many are still in service with more than one million miles of operation. Made in the U.S.A. MSRP starts at $98.95 to $289.95; visit your local Biker’s Choice® dealer for application information and pricing. Happy Riding! –Carmen Advertisement

There is no shortage of Bike Shows during Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach. Though they all offer something different to the sunburnt folks entering them and also to those attending. Some are more popular than others. Some represent stock-bike ride-in shows, others are more big-buck glamour choppers shows, then there’s the blue collar Tropical Tattoo old school show for grizzly bikers young and old. Can you tell how I’m leaning?

This is an old school ride-in show from Noon to 4:00 PM on Thursday and open to everyone. “Old School” is a term often heard to describe it and it fits. Gray Beard and New Generation Bikers hanging out together because they like each other’s company.

The bikes in the show fill the parking lot and in some cases overflow out back where there is also music, food and adult beverages and all over the place plenty of women.

Numerous bike classes give everyone a chance to win. Industry leaders such as the paint mastermind Dave Perewitz judges paint. The staff even let me pick out my favorite bike. That’s not an easy chore, depending on my adult beverage consumption (not allowed currently, doctors orders), the redheaded distraction level, the barbecue out back and the weather. It comes down to whatever I like at that specific moment. It could go any direction…

Throughout the day my friend Roadside Marty handled the Master of Ceremonies and at the close of the show announced the awards. He is a show within himself with some very colorful language and playfully picking on some of the people in attendance.

As the awards are announced the trophy girls present them to the winner and pose for photos.
If you want to get in on the fun at the next one check http://www.tropicaltattoo.com/ for more information.

–Rogue