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. NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) FEDERAL AGENCY SEEKS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON NEW MOTORCYCLES IN THE U.S. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that all new motorcycles built for road use in the U.S. have anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control as standard equipment. The federal safety agency says that ABS has been required on passenger cars since 2000, and electronic stability control has been required since the 2012 model year, but the technology has lagged for motorcycles and requiring it would save lives. The NTSB voted unanimously 5-0 during their September 11 open board meeting to make the recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has authority to impose regulations. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) determined that anti-lock brakes could reduce motorcycle fatalities by 31%. “That is a sizeable safety benefit that the U.S. is leaving on the table, leaving on the pavement, actually,” he told the Associated Press (AP). Eric Emery, the NTSB’s Safety Research Division chief, said anti-lock brakes would allow riders to use maximum braking force without fear of the wheels locking up and skidding, improving the chances of keeping control of bikes in an emergency. Anti-lock brakes are currently standard on 8.9% of U.S. motorcycles and are optional on 13.3%. Anti-lock brakes were required in Europe starting in 2016 on motorcycles with engines larger than 125 CC, agency officials said. Other countries are discussing or requiring it, including Australia, Japan, China and Brazil. NTSB ISSUES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO “IMPROVE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY” Safety issues surrounding the causes of motorcycle crashes, and the prevention of crashes through better integration of motorcycles in crash warning and prevention systems and the use of advanced braking and stability control systems, were the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board meeting conducted Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 in Washington, D.C. During the public hearing, staff from the Office of Research and Engineering and the Office of Highway Safety presented findings and recommendations from the “2016 Motorcycle Crash Causation Study” on select risk factors associated with the causes of motorcycle crashes, which were adopted unanimously by the five-member board. Among 10 recommendations included in the report, “Select Risk Factors Associated with Causes of Motorcycle Crashes,” are calls for all new on-road motorcycles sold in the United States to be equipped with antilock braking systems and that the federal government establish performance standards for electronic stability control on motorcycles sold in the U.S. Additionally, the report recommends that motorcycles be fully incorporated in the development of technology for on-board crash prevention and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems. It also calls for further study and strategies regarding alcohol and drug use on rider crash risk, and to evaluate the effectiveness of motorcycle licensing procedures. The NTSB does not typically investigate motorcycle crashes, but it conducted a motorcycle safety forum in 2006 and issued recommendations as a result. It has been more than 10 years since the NTSB has issued new recommendations “to help reduce motorcycle crashes and improve safety.” ENDING CARB The Trump Administration has announced plans to revoke a special waiver that currently allows California to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions differently than what the federal government mandates, which would eliminate California’s more stringent greenhouse gas standards imposed under CARB (California Air Resources Board). CARB’s stricter smog standards have been adopted in thirteen states and the District of Columbia, representing nearly 40% of the nation’s new vehicle sales. SIKH HELMET EXEMPTION GRANTED IN ONTARIO ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS This winter, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation says Sikh riders will be exempt from the province’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law due to the wearing of turbans. The possibility of an exemption has been a contentious topic for years throughout Canada, with some arguing that it would pose a safety risk, but now Premier Doug Ford says he will make the change in recognition of Sikh motorcycle riders’ civil rights and religious expression. The change, if it goes forward, will see the province of Ontario fall in line with Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba, where exemptions are already in place. Helmet exemptions in other provinces have also proven to be controversial, with safety being a sticking point for some. In Alberta, the exemption went into effect April 12, and the insurance industry is taking a wait-and-see approach to the exemption, with insurance providers unsure if the new risks would translate to higher insurance premiums for Albertans. EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE SALES ON THE RISE As a tariff-burdened American motorcycle industry struggles, the European market boasted a 7.2% growth in nearly all its two-wheeled sectors in the first half of this year. In an industry that supports 156,000 employees throughout Europe, it’s good news that the overall two-wheeled sector continues to gain traction. Within the first 6 months of 2018, new motorcycle ownership across Europe increased by almost 42,000 over the same period in 2017– from 526,889 to 564,851. Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of the European motorcycle industry association ACEM, said: “Our latest registration figures for the EU show, once again, the importance of two- and three-wheeled vehicles as a solution to the mobility needs of people, particularly in large urban areas that suffer from congestion problems.” “The latest increase in sales, particularly in the motorcycle segment, is a very positive development. Newer and more environmentally friendly vehicles are being added to the European vehicle fleet, which according to our estimations is now close to 36 million units.” SELF-RIDING MOTORCYCLES BEING DEVELOPED BMW Motorrad recently demonstrated a completely autonomous motorcycle at their testing facility in the south of France, when an R-1200 GS independently drove off, accelerated, circled a winding test track and automatically slowed down to a stop, dropping neatly onto its kickstand. BMW says it is “by no means aiming for a completely independent motorbike,” but the technology is being developed to further improve safety systems, especially those around riding dynamics – how a bike behaves in certain situations on the road and how it can help the rider in an emergency situation,” according to a Motorrad spokesperson. The autonomous bike is also a testbed for V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communication and digital networking. So in the future, when your Smart Bike is plugged into the sensors and networked information sources that will be here soon, it will be able to step in and prevent a much wider range of accidents…with data from a self-driving car in a blind turn ahead of you, your bike will ‘know’ that a possible impact is ahead and warn you to take action. Plus, a very advanced set of safety algorithms may be able to step in when riders make errors of their own — like panic-braking mid-curve or not leaning over enough to get round a tight corner. If your bike knows exactly where it is, what’s around it, and what it’s doing, it can predict a situation and take over — leaning the bike farther, reducing engine torque, applying some rear brake, etc. So why are BMW and other bike firms working on smart, autonomous, self-riding ‘robot bikes’? Because self-driving cars and smart highways are coming — sooner than you think, and whether we like it or not — and there’s currently little regard being paid to the needs of motorcycling, and how it will fit into the infrastructure of the future; so if the manufacturers don’t provide an answer to ‘how will bikes become safer and work with other autonomous vehicles’, no-one else will. FEMALE BIKERS UNITE IN WORLDWIDE RELAY As the name implies, the Women Riders World Relay aims to unite lady bikers with one aim; passing a baton around the world on two wheels, across even the most remote of locations. WRWR, as it’s now known, was formed at the end of August by Hayley Bell from Warrington, England, in an attempt to wake the motorcycling industry up to the sheer number of female riders on the road. “I want to unite women riders globally, do something that’s never been done before, and to show the industry the force behind the market that is so blindly overlooked,” the 27-year old said. Hayley set up the WRWR Facebook page just weeks ago and has already gathered more than 5,700 members, from as far afield as Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa. Australia is by far the most heavily represented country on the page, followed by the U.K. Hayley aims to have got at least 17,000 women bikers on board by December 2018, with a plan to launch the world relay in Spring 2019. BATTERY BUYERS IN ENGLAND COULD FACE CHARGES Laws in the U.K. regarding motorcycle batteries have changed to help counter terrorism. A new law states that anyone purchasing a dry motorcycle battery with a separate acid pack will now require a valid Explosives, Precursors and Poisons (EPP) license. The ruling, effective July 1, 2018, means that anyone purchasing a battery of this kind without the correct license could be charged with a criminal offence and comes as part of a larger British counter terrorism initiative. Battery acid packs contain sulfuric acid, which could be used as a precursor to the production of explosives. The change in the law is expected to have huge implications for the motorcycle battery market, with many retailers already deciding to end the sale of dry batteries in their stores and online. NCOM BOARD MEETING AND REGION V SEMINAR The Board of Directors of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) will meet on November 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee, in conjunction with the Region V Meeting of NCOM Member Groups from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee (NCOM Region V). Following the conclusion of NCOM business in an open board meeting, attendees will gather from throughout the Southeastern region to discuss motorcycling matters unique to or occurring in their states. This is a FREE event and all motorcyclists are invited to attend on Saturday, Nov 10, 10am-6pm at the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport, 1112 Airport Center drive, Nashville TN 37214 tel:615-889-9090, or contact NCOM at (800) ON-A-BIKE for additional information. RIDER BUSTED AFTER COPS VIEW 120MPH FOOTAGE ON SEIZED HELMET-CAM He came to police attention after rear-ending a taxi in Southampton, England, leaving his female passenger with minor injuries. Officers seized his helmet-mounted GoPro as part of their investigation into dangerous driving charges; on which they found footage of him riding at 120mph along a major highway just four days earlier, as well as 105mph on another busy thoroughfare. The footage was shown during a two-day trial, and the 19-year old motorcyclist was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving and sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid community service, and he was also disqualified from driving for 15 months, after which he will have to pass an extended re-test before he is allowed back on the road. ~ John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), philosopher and economist –Photos and images from the Bob T. collection–

 

The first day after the only day of rest for the group brought long miles, cooler weather, and an upset in standings. Most riders spent the day off the road wrenching and prepping for higher elevations and more grueling miles, so there was no rest for the already weary travelers as they journeyed across Wyoming and Montana’s Big Horn Mountains and past the Custer Battlefield National Monument before arriving at Beartooth Harley-Davidson for an evening dinner in the parking lot in Billings, Montana. The group will spend the next two days traveling across the Big Sky state.

The day’s big news was that Chris Tribbey’s little Excelsior “that could” decided to take a break by throwing an exhaust valve early in the day and finished with 149 miles out of the 299 routed. First-time competitor, Chris Tribbey has slipped to 66 place, leaving Dean Bordigioni, a four-time racer, as the only Century old classification, Class I rider with a perfect score. Also moving up in rank is Byrne Bramwell, in second, Fred Wacker in third, and the always smiling Andrea Labarbara in fourth place. It is, of course, still anybody’s game since things change quickly along the back roads and there’s no predicting what might happen. Other riders who suffered engine catastrophes are #22, Jeff Lauritsen, who is on his second engine and wrenching to get back on the road after 130 miles, #20 from Connecticut, Denis Sharon who held a perfect score until the engine of his 1916 H-D seized after 129 miles, and everyone’s favorite Georgia rider, Doug Jones, who came off the road after 137. We’ll keep an eye out for them all at the green flag as riders head out for Stage 11.

Also being watched closely will be rider #15, Mike Carson. After he and his son, Buck, were involved in a crash back in Indiana, Carson has been nursing several broken ribs, a broken clavicle and is in need of surgery. Early on he announced that he would ride again after the day of rest, despite doctor’s orders, and the news that he was out of the race was published here. That was proven quite wrong during Stage 10 after Cason arrived at the finish line with a perfect score of all 299 miles. Never say never.

Stage 11 is predicated to be cold and wet and will involve 248 miles before riders pull into Big Sky Harley-Davidson in Great Falls for a hosted dinner, so come on out and cheer the road warriors on. Who knows what the day will bring!

Click on the picture below to visit the Cannonball’s site and get up-to-date news.

Nashville recording artist J.D. Shelburne is excited to announce the official video for “One Less Girl” – the first single from his newly released album, Two Lane Town – has made its premiere on CMT today. The video will air 8 times today on CMT’s 24/7 digital music channel, CMT Music, and CMT.com between 6-6:30 am ET; 9-9:30 am ET; 12:30-1pm ET; 3-3:30 pm ET; 6-6:30 pm ET; 9:30-10 pm ET; and 12-12:30 am ET; 4-4:30 am ET the morning of Sept. 19.

“I moved to Nashville 10 years ago to chase this dream. One of my early goals was to land a video on CMT,” said Shelburne. “I grew up watching their network. To finally say I have achieved that goal and will premiere on CMT on Tuesday is a dream come true. I am thrilled for this!”

Shot and recorded in both Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee, the “One Less Girl” video gives the viewer a personal look into the emotional reflections, and post-breakup memories that linger from a relationship that no longer exists.

J.D. has high hopes and expectations for his new music. “One of my goals is to play the Grand Ole Opry. I’ve been on the verge couple of times, but have never been asked to play. I am also looking to propel into national success. I would love to guest on a national TV show like Today, where I can introduce my music to a national audience overnight. I want to try to get on a national tour and spread my music and my name to places I’ve never played. I think I’ve got some great songs on this record, and I think so many fans will relate and be drawn to this new album. I still have a lot of ground to cover and I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.”

Two Lane Town Track Listing:
1. Born For This (J.D. Shelburne, Ryan Broshear)
2. Good Ol’ Boy Good Time (Mark Nesler, Jim McCormick)
3. She Keeps Me Up Nights (Mark Nesler, Marty Dodson, Carson Chamberlain)
4. One Less Girl (Mark Nesler, Andrew Dorff, Blair Daly)
5. Young Again (Brian Kolb, Brian Davis)
6. Stuck In My Memory (J.D. Shelburne, Ryan Broshear)
7. Lovin’ On A Dirt Road (J.D. Shelburne, Bob Stewart)
8. Superman (J.D. Shelburne, Mark Nesler, Marty Dodson)
9. Make It That Far (J.D. Shelburne, Mark Nesler, Carson Chamberlain)

J.D. Shelburne On Tour:
SEP 19 Timber Pointe Golf Club – Poplar Grove, Ill.
SEP 20 Bourbon, Bluegrass and Bluejeans Event – Chicago, Ill.
SEP 21 Hurstbourne Country Club, Bourbon, Boots & BBQ Concert – Louisville, Ky.
SEP 23 Ole Red – Nashville, Tenn.
SEP 27 SIP + SEE @ Marriot Hotel – Louisville, Ky.
SEP 28 The GOAT – Louisville, Ky.
SEP 30 Ole Red – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 05 Keeneland Race Track, Lexington, Ky.
OCT 05 Anjay’s Kids Charity Event @ Kentucky Castle – Versailles, Ky.
OCT 07 TBA – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 10 Tin Roof Broadway – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 13 Harvest Homecoming – New Albany, Ind.
OCT 14 TBA – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 15 Private Event – Louisville, Ky.
OCT 16 Private Event – Louisville, Ky.
OCT 19 Waylon’s Feed & Firewater – Louisville, Ky.
OCT 20 Bourbonanza Street Fair – Frankfort, Ky.
OCT 20 ClarksFest – Clarksville, Ind.
OCT 20 Halloween Bash, Private Event – Simpsonville, Ky.
OCT 21 TBA – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 24 Levee at the Riverhouse – Louisville, Ky.
OCT 26 Kentucky Derby Museum @ Winstar Farm Gala – Louisville, Ky.
OCT 28 TBA – Nashville, Tenn.
OCT 30 The Wahlberg Foundation Event @ Freedom Hall – Louisville, Ky.
NOV 01 Puckett’s Franklin – Franklin, Tenn.
NOV 09 The blind Squirrel – Louisville, Ky.
NOV 21 Levee at the Riverhouse – Louisville, Ky.
NOV 24 The GOAT – Louisville, Ky.
NOV 30 Opry City Stage – New York, N.Y.
For a complete tour schedule, please click here.

Pastrana really pushed the limits further, breaking Knievel’s famous car and Greyhound bus jump records before completing the epic Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel grasping for his life 50 years ago. Shortly after Pastrana took a celebratory dive into the Caesars Palace fountains to cap off the night, #EvelLive trended at #1 on Twitter. Read more.

Phantom Foot Controls

Available in chrome or gloss black finishes, Phantom foot control components are constructed from premium aluminum alloy with durable EPDM rubber pads that will not harden, crack or wear over time. Signature design cues include pass-through styling and sleek angular housings that complement a variety of bikes.

Phantom Driver Floorboards are direct replacements and give the classically styled Indian Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster and Springfield models instant attitude. A sweeping tapered design delivers a modern look and offers riders ample foot room and a solid foundation for stability, traction and vibration-dampening comfort. Complementing the aggressive look of Kuryakyn Phantom Floorboards is the Phantom Brake Pedal Pad, also a direct replacement for Indian big twin models.

Phantom Mini Boards and Phantom Footpegs both accept Kuryakyn’s wide range of model-specific splined adapters for fitment on a variety of Harley-Davidson, Indian, Victory, Triumph and metric models. Phantom Mini Boards can be used in both rider or passenger footpeg mounts and offer forward, middle, and rear mounting locations for the splined adapters so riders can dial in preferred placement. The Phantom Shift Peg is available as a replacement for the stock shift lever on all Indian big twin models, and can also be used to replace the shift peg and rear brake peg on all Scout models as well as select Victory Cruisers.

We followed the news: Nitro Circus and Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, announced that Travis Pastrana will be jumping an Indian Scout FTR750 when he looks to pay tribute to Evel Knievel, the founding father of motorcycle stunts, and surpass America’s most iconic daredevil. “Evel Live”, an unprecedented three-hour live event premiering Sunday, July 8th at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT on HISTORY in partnership with Nitro Circus.

We will see Travis Pastrana attempt three of Knievel’s most famed jumps on the Scout FTR750, including jumping the length of 52+ crushed cars, 16 Greyhound busses, and the ill-fated Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel grasping for his life.

If successful, Pastrana will be the first individual to complete all three jumps in one three-hour timespan and on a motorcycle similar to those Evel used.

The Indian Scout FTR750 is a flat track racing motorcycle designed to push the boundaries of speed and redefine control with two wheels firmly on the ground. Rewinding time, you find the motorcycles Evel jumped were designed for similar purposes. However, neither were intended for jumping.

“It was extremely important to use a motorcycle similar to the ones Evel jumped. The Indian Scout FTR 750 is just that, a modern-day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past,” said Pastrana. “It has the power I need and handles well, but I’m only going to have a few days to get comfortable on it, not to mention I’ve never jumped a V-twin before. I’ve got my work cut out, but we’re used to going big at Nitro Circus, so we’ll make it happen.”

The Indian Scout FTR750 is far different from the lightweight motocross bikes you would typically find Travis Pastrana jumping. The engine of the FTR750 features a powerful 750cc 53-degree V-Twin and utilizes 43mm conventional front suspension with an adjustable Ohlin’s mono-shock on the rear.

Introduced in the American Flat Track racing series in 2017, the Indian Scout FTR750 secured 14 victories along with the manufacturer’s and rider’s championship in its first year of competition. So, they reached out to Roland Sands from Roland Sands Design, who is an experienced racer and amazing builder and an Indian fan to dial in these bikes for this historical event.

“We stayed with the stock forks but Jimmy Wood dialed them in for jumping with stiffer springs and a re valve,” said Roland. “We replaced the rear shock with a reteach shock that had an inch more travel, which on a bike with only three inches of total rear wheel travel made a big difference. We had to make a few changes during testing as we bent some swingarms after bottoming we found the limit and further stiffened the shocks.”

If you watched the History Channel show, you know the wild outcome.

“Dirt bikes have far more travel, up to 14 inches,” said Roland Sands. “The Scout has, I think, 4 inches of travel in the front. With a bike that weighs over 100 lbs more than a dirt bike with far less suspension it makes for a dangerous combination if it’s not set-up right. The margin for error is thin even when you have it set up perfect. Mistakes were not an option.”

LAS VEGAS (Sunday – July 8, 2018) – Sunday night, in front of an estimated 25,000 fans watching in-person from Las Vegas and more tuning in live on television across North America, action sports superstar Travis Pastrana celebrated Evel Knievel during the unprecedented HISTORY live event, “Evel Live.” Produced in partnership with Nitro Circus, “Evel Live” saw Pastrana pay homage to Knievel’s legacy as he set out to recreate three of the American legend’s most iconic jumps.

Pastrana pushed the limits even further though, breaking Knievel’s famous car and Greyhound bus jump records before completing the epic Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel grasping for his life 50 years ago. Shortly after Pastrana took a celebratory dive into the Caesars Palace fountains to cap off the night, #EvelLive trended at #1 on Twitter.

“I’m thrilled to have had this opportunity to honor Evel Knievel, whose guts and showmanship created the foundation for action sports,” Travis Pastrana said afterwards. “Evel pushed himself and flew further on a motorcycle than anyone thought possible. So with this modern day tribute we wanted to bridge generations.”

In just three hours and under the pressure of a live TV broadcast, Pastrana first topped Knievel’s 1973 jump over 50 crushed cars by soaring more than 143 feet in the air over 52 vehicles.

Then he surpassed Knievel’s 1975 jump over 14 buses, flying nearly four stories high and covering a jaw-dropping 192 feet to clear 16 modern-day Greyhound buses.

“We gusseted the swingarms,” said Roland, “where we had some failures. The frames stayed Indian factory stock.”

Afterwards the first two jumps, Pastrana took to the streets with a police escort to ride to the Caesars Palace jump site. Fans quickly lined Las Vegas Boulevard, exchanging high-fives with Pastrana from taxis and the side of the road as anticipation for the finale built. The motorcade quickly closed The Strip.

Then Pastrana faced the Caesars Palace fountain jump that nearly took Knievel’s life a half-century ago after his infamous crash. As if that wasn’t daunting enough, given the expansion of Caesars Palace since Knievel’s ill-fated attempt, Pastrana had only a 200-foot run-in to accelerate to the 70-mph speed necessary to clear the fountain.

Pastrana also had to contend with stifling heat reaching 102 degrees and, just before the event, potential thunderstorms.

“Dirt bike weights vary anywhere from 220 to 250 pounds,” said Roland. “The FTR he jumped weighed a little over 350. Evel’s bike would have weighed about the same as the FTR.”

Even in ideal conditions and if he hit his speed marks perfectly, Pastrana would land with just a few feet to spare.

“The 2-into-1 pipe was the right pipe for the mapping and acceleration we were looking for,” said Roland. “The bike never had to sustain high speeds, but it had to accelerate like a beast to get Travis up to speed on the fountain jump. The run up was short-short and the bike isn’t a drag bike, it drops off pretty hard out of the gate until it gets the revs up, then it’s a beast.”

But, after arcing over the fountains, Pastrana touched safely down on the landing ramp to the roaring crowd and a flash of pyrotechnics.

“We’re proud to of been apart of the project,” said Roland. “It really felt like a defining moment for motorcycling and for Travis and as a result of the success a great moment for us as well. There was a lot riding on the jumps, primarily the life of my friend (Travis) who we sent over those gaps. It was a huge relief when it was over. Anything can happen and sometimes does, so we were ecstatic it all happened like it was supposed to.”

This electrifying event paid tribute to Evel Knievel in every possible detail. From Pastrana riding a Indian Scout FTR750, a modern day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past — and very different from the modern-day dirt bikes Pastrana usually rides – to the white leather suit and helmet decked out in American stars and stripes just like Knievel’s classic livery, these specifics illuminate how much Knievel achieved and the impact he has had on generations of fans.

“The moto cross seat we did with Saddlemen was really neat,” said Roland. “The TT foot controls, which make the foot controls the same on both sides (they are staggered for flat track) were seriously helpful, if your not riding a flat track. All the mods were to make Travis comfortable. They wouldn’t be mods you would make for riding around in a circle. Outside the paint job by Airtrix which would look good on just about anything.”

Spiegler brake lines

“The wheels are the exact wheels you can purchase from RSD for flat track racing,” said Roland. “They are the same wheels that came on the FTR with no modifications outside of the TT front brake set up. Normally a flat track bike has no front brakes.”

Paint by Airtrix

The weary road warriors have arrived in Sturgis, South Dakota and promptly set about celebrating their success thus far. With an astonishing 54 perfect scores, the goal to make every mile has turned intense. Today’s one day of rest is an opportunity to twist wrenches, tune and time the tired old iron and prepare for higher temperatures and elevations and the journey takes the fearless riders out into the western half of America. Cornfields and soybeans will be replaced by vast spans of open range and roaming animals as the caravan ventures into Montana tomorrow. Class I riders, Chris Tribbey and Dean Bordigioni, in first and second place respectively, are about to find out how their simple singles likes the higher elevations through the Montana mountain ranges and beyond. The top four positions on the score board are all held by different marques: Tribbey, who is employed by Harley-Davidson, is riding and Excelsior while Bordigioni, a California winemaker, is atop a Harley-Davidson. Third and forth place riders, Bryne Bramwell from Canada and Fred Wacker from Illinois, are on 1913s, one is a Henderson, the other an Indian.

The Cannonball ladies are not only enjoying themselves, they are also running strong. Three of the four gals are first time Cannonballers and holding perfect scores. Cris Sommer-Simmons is a 4 time competitor and her 1915 H-D, Effie, is familiar with the routine but likes to give Cris grief every now and then and spent two days with less than perfect scores. Commercial airline pilot, Andrea Labarbara, is in 5th place on her 1913 Henderson. Land speed record holder Jody Perewitz left Maine with a goal to be the first woman to complete all the miles with her 1926 Harley-Davidson JD. She currently holds 40th place. Kersten Heling, on a 1922 H-D, is being torn between the thrill of the ride and the love of her family that consists of three little boys, the youngest of which is not even 1 year old. Kirsten started the run with a contingency plan to leave if she missed her children, but she shared yesterday that she’s decided to stay with the run until the end. “My husband took the boys and went home yesterday and I had a good cry since I’m going to miss my family, but the Cannonball has become like family, too. They really have..so I’m going to finish. I’m hoping that someday my kids look at my doing this and say, “My mom is a badass.”

Tuesday’s ride will cover 299 miles and end with a hosted dinner at Beartooth Harley-Davidson in Billings, Montana.

More information about the Cannonball if you hit the image below.

The day started out overcast and misty as riders made their way out of Cedar Rapids, but it warmed up quickly as the group puttered across miles and miles of cornfields to find themselves motoring through a small Amish community. School children gathered at the fence to wave at the passing riders as adults trotted horse-drawn buggies along the roadsides. Lunch was served by the gracious folks at Mason City Harley-Davidson before Cannonballers headed off into the windy flatlands of Iowa.

Flat tires continue to plague the riders who are running clincher tires. Though frustrating, the blowouts failed to cost Georgia rider #96, Doug Jones, any points. Doug managed to ride his flat into the mechanics bay of Mason City Harley-Davidson where lunch was being served for Cannonball riders. Depsite the time spent changing 2 more flat flat tires over the course of the 274-mile day, Doug is ranked 7th in perfect scores. Mark Lowen, however, was not so lucky. The frustrated Californian has set his own Cannonball record by suffering 5 flats in one day.

Sweep trucks picked up 9 broken bikes over the course of the day before arriving for a parking lot party in Spirit Lake, Iowa, home of the Indian Motorcycle Factory. Riders and the public alike gathered to check out the old bikes and poke around the Indian factory. Tours were offered and several riders found themselves wondering what it would be like to own a model from the historic brand.

Saturday will be the longest day of the entire transcontinental run. Riders will cover a whopping 314 miles before arriving for a dinner in Steamboat Park hosted by the city of Pierre, South Dakota. So come to the park to see what a bunch of functional antique motorcycles looks like.

Hit the image below to visit the Cannonball’s Website and view up-to-date results.

Stage 6 was kicked off by a broken and battered Mike Carson manning the flag duties to wave off the enthusiastic racers. It was an incredible day of sunshine, warm temps and even warmer hospitality as riders were treated to lunch at Workman Harley-Davidson, Rock Falls, Illinois where the place was rocking with enthusiastic folks who just wanted to see the old bikes as they made their way through the area before crossing the Mississippi River. The 229 mile route wound through cornfields and backwater towns before delivering riders to the National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa, Iowa. After dinner at the museum, riders were allowed to trailer their bikes the remaining 25 miles to Cedar Rapids for the night.

The grind of riding and wrenching is starting to wear on the competitors as they work their way towards their one day of rest scheduled for Sturgis, South Dakota on Monday, which is still 882 miles away. Tomorrow’s day will be spent knocking out 274 miles of that with a lunch scheduled at Harley-Davidson of Mason City, Mason City, Iowa before dinner at the only Indian Motorcycle facility visit on the trip. You can visit the riders at the Indian Motorcycle Factory and Experience Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa on Friday afternoon.

Hit the picture below to visit the Cannonball’s website and view this stage’s complete results.

CLIMATE DEBATE CONFIRMED—We confirmed our answers. Okay, let’s see if we can make the Climate Debate simple:

Alarmist: Watch out for Global Warming!
Facts: Oops, sorry it’s not warming but actually cooling slightly. And no, we are not going to face an ice age tomorrow because of something man made. Read more.