The breakfast is held every year to honor people who have made a difference in motorcycling. There are numerous categories just like the things that make up the wonderful life of motorcycling.

The event was held at the Lodge at Deadwood on Wednesday August 7, 2019 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

It was a pleasure to see these people inducted as they are all deserving.

I had intended to write a more personal article about the inductees but something happened and time does not allow without holding-up the article, and my photos leave a lot to be desired. If honoring these people were not so important I probably would not even post this. These things do happen from time to time, but The Inductees Deserve To Be Recognized For Their Accomplishments. 

The Sturgis Hall of Fame supplied the information about the inductees and some of the photos.

This Year’s Inductees were

As an 11-year-old in 1970, Danny Fitzmaurice’s neighbor Ron Helms opened a new Harley-Davidson dealership. The business was small with many challenges, and it did not take this kid long to figure out an opportunity to volunteer was possible. From this point on, most of Fitzmaurice’s life going forward revolved around motorcycles. He wanted to know how to develop and make more power from all the great people he would encounter.

“We had this great plan that I think was probably developed by my influence of watching Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner,” Fitzmaurice said. 

They were blessed with plenty of customers building and tuning street and track engines, many for dirt and asphalt drag racing. As the U.S. economy was improving, business was growing and fans wanted to attend and ride to racetracks to see the action. Because of the continued growth of Zipper’s, and commitment to customers and staff, by 1995 Danny Fitzmaurice and Dave Zehner started to scale back racing, selectively attending events to compete in. They were lucky to race during a time of great competition and the ability to compete against and learn from some of the best in the industry. 

At the time, they set many records and pursued championships, racing in six different sanctions. Today, these records are long gone with progress of new machines and innovation as they should. Fitzmaurice remains grateful for the impact that so many people made on his experiences of racing.

“It’s been a great journey and we’ve had some of the best teachers,” Fitzmaurice said during the ceremony. “I just can’t thank everyone enough for being there for us, because it’s been a great ride and we have a lot more to do.”

Terry Rymer

Ron Paugh

For the past 50 years, Paughco, Inc. has been providing the custom and restoration Harley-Davidson market with the most diverse, highest quality line of products available.

Paughco’s success is due in no small part to the fact that it is, and always has been, a true family business. Ron Paugh began riding dirt bikes in the San Fernando foothills as a 13-year-old like many did. When Paugh was a junior in high school, he bought his first Knucklehead basket for $75. Paugh started hanging out at D&D Cycle. Boyd Defrance was the owner of D&D Cycle and became a good friend of Paugh’s. DeFrance asked Paugh if his father’s tool and die company could reproduce the early Harley-Davidson inner primary covers. Paugh and his dad made 500 inner primaries and put 100 in the trunk of a 1969 Cadillac his dad leased. Paugh’s dad told his son, “We can’t go selling parts with an old pick-up truck.” 

That was just the beginning. One part led to another and in 1969, Paughco, Inc. refocused with the sole purpose of producing the finest in custom and replacement parts and accessories. With the husband and wife team of Robert and Ruth Paugh at the helm, and Ron Paugh heading up the product design and development, Paughco was on the move. By the late 70s, the company was manufacturing thousands of unique products, becoming the No. 1 choice of bike builders worldwide. After completion of Paughco’s new world headquarters, Bob Paugh took his final ride in 1987, and all operations were transferred to Ron Paugh. 

As Paughco celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company remains dedicated to the production of an ever-expanding line of products.

“What a great, unbelievable moment,” Paugh said. “I only wish my parents could be here to enjoy this moment with me. … They would be so proud of what the name Paughco has meant to so many people.”

Mondo Porras, owner of Denver’s Choppers also presented Paugh with a special appreciation award for 50 years of quality service to the motorcycle industry.

“It says, ‘Ron Paugh, 50th anniversary, thank you from the industry, we couldn’t do it without you,’” Porras read from the award custom designed to look like a miniature motorcycle gas tank. “Me personally, I couldn’t do what I do; a lot of people in the industry couldn’t do what they do without this man here.”

Jill Parhman

It is rare that a husband and wife can work closely side by side in the same business. In 1979, Jill Parham helped expand company focus from swap meets to mail-order parts sales. After working two jobs for more than 10 years, and now seeing some family income from J&P Cycles, Parham quit her job in 1991 and moved to J&P Cycles full time. Eventually, J&P Cycles became the world’s largest retailer of after-market motorcycle parts and accessories. In the period of the industry’s greatest growth, Parham became a pioneer in the motorcycle industry, one of the early women leaders in a historically male-centric industry. Parham continues to inspire women in the motorcycle industry and comments on her contributions to J&P Cycles, ”relationships were very important to John and me, and I did very well establishing some of those.” Parham says one of the events which really brought growth and expanded the J&P Cycles customer base was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

It is fitting that Parham is honored in 2019 as it marks 40 years of her dedication to motorcycling and motorcycle riders as well as the 40th anniversary of the company she co-founded, J&P Cycles. This induction is on behalf of John and Jill Parham’s many great friends, the thousands of employee riders of J&P Cycles over the past 40 years, and its millions of customers. 

“When John had the idea to start a motorcycle business in 1979, his mother called me up and said, ‘You need to stop him from doing this,’” Parham said. “I didn’t stop him, I supported him and together we created a legacy. Let’s keep moving forward and keep the world on two wheels forever.”

Ron Finch

The focus of Ron Finch has always been from the perspective of “Art of  Motion.” His ability to fuse together mechanical design, brilliant paint, and functionally establishes him as one of the premiere builders of this era. Labeled as “too extreme” by some, his work appropriately proclaims the freedom and individualism that is so often associated with the motorcycle lifestyle. 

The artistry of Ron Finch is not limited to metal sculpture, it is also expressed in paint. In 2008, Finch was awarded the House of Kolor Prestigious Painter Award for his work on “Finicky,” which has a rainbow of colors on the right side, and a blend of red and orange candy on the left side. Named for its fins, Finicky is a 2006 Shovelhead that features extended fins on the heads, a finned four-gallon gas tank under the seat and Finch sculpture throughout. 

Finch motorcycles have been featured in hundreds of magazines, museums, galleries, and shows in the United States, Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands. One of his proudest moments was having the opportunity to display 12 custom motorcycles in the Milwaukee art museum during the 105th Harley-Davidson anniversary in August of 2008.

Finch celebrated his 80th birthday in march 2019 and continues to work  from the studio painting and building custom motorcycles and art.  Labeled as “too extreme” by some, the work of Ron Finch appropriately proclaims the freedom and individualism that is so often associated with the motorcycle lifestyle.

“I’ve always had that freedom to do what I love for 80 years,” Finch said. “It’s just a gift that I’ve been given by God and the journey’s been great, y’know. And I think the journey’s going to continue to be great.”

Frank Fritz

As a youngster, Frank Fritz wasn’t interested in extracurricular activities. He was interested in motor bikes and collecting beer cans, stamps, and all the “staples.” As Frank got older, his step-father told him that if he wanted something, he had to work for it. Frank attended summer school every year and worked in the afternoons. By Fritz’s sophomore year in high school, he was making $7 an hour and he was finally able to buy a 1959 Harley-Davidson Sportster. After all, according to Fritz’s father “you can get killed on a 350 Honda or a Harley.” Fritz could be seen and heard riding his Sportster to school while other kids were getting dropped off by their parents. Fritz still has his 1959 Sportster today. 

Fritz said he appreciates the freedom he feels owning, working on and riding motorcycles. For many years, Fritz would ride his 1959 Sportster to the south side grounds in Sturgis for the Rally. At the farthest, he would go to Deadwood. Fritz recalls making laps up and down Main Street from sun-up to sun-down. Now people are amazed that Fritz still rides to Sturgis and camps in the same spot. Fritz doesn’t roll up in a motor home or fly in to stay in a hotel, he does what he has done for the last 30 years. 

Fritz says his greatest achievement as a person was always working hard, seeing what he wanted and working for it, and hanging onto life-long friends, who he sees regularly. As a motorcyclist, Fritz considers one of his greatest achievements keeping his first bike and still riding today. Many friends got Harley-Davidson tattoos and had bikes here and there but motorcycling has never left Fritz’s blood. 

“I’m so flattered and humbled just to be on stage with all these amazing people,” Fritz said. “This is an honor that I will proudly talk about for the rest of my life.”

LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

GLORIA STRUCK

While Gloria Tramontin Struck came from a motorcycling family, she didn’t originally have any burning desire to ride. 

“I remember the day that my brother, Bub told me he was going to teach me how to ride,” Struck recalled. “I stamped my foot, and I said, ‘No you’re not, because I don’t want to ride a motorcycle and I’m not going to do it.’ Well I’ve been riding ever since that day in 1941, 78 years ago.”

Struck was born in 1925 behind her family’s business, Lexington Cycle Shop, in Clifton, New Jersey. The business had been selling bicycles and Excelsior-Henderson motorcycles since 1915. 

In 1946, at age 21, Struck joined the Motor Maids that had been established in 1941. Struck is the longest standing member still riding. 

Struck has logged more than 500 thousand miles, riding all 48 continental states many times over. 

“I often wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t ride,” she said. “Well, I’m 94 years old now and normally I probably would be baking cookies for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, knitting afgans for my friends and family, and looking forward to my weekly bingo games. But, hell, that’s not me. I’d rather be on two wheels riding around the country meeting old friends and new friends. Isn’t that what motorcycles are for?”

Struck ‘s family shares her love of riding. Her daughter, Lori, also is a Motor Maid and can always be seen riding with her mother. 

“I want to thank the Sturgis Hall of Fame, and everyone responsible for recognizing me in this way,”

“I want to thank the Sturgis Hall of Fame, and everyone responsible for recognizing me in this way,” Struck said, accepting the award. “They have given me many happy memories throughout the years, all these friends, so I’m a very lucky person. I thank my brother for not taking my ‘no’ for an answer. … This is for you Bub.”

FREEDOM FIGHTER
VINCE CONSIGLIO

A true Detroit product, Vince Consiglio worked his way through college working at the Big Three at the time: Chrysler, GM, and Ford. However, when Consiglio’s factory jobs laid him off, he took his first cross-country motorcycle ride from Detroit to Las Vegas; traveling Route 66 with just $20 in gas. Riding free in California, not in Michigan, threw Consiglio in court in 1974. This experience, and his love of riding motorcycles, drove Consiglio to ABATE of Michigan in 1975. After several years of battling legislation, a number of ABATE directors became the motorcycle safety foundation (MSF) instructors in 1979 with the goal of establishing motorcycle education programs. Consiglio’s MSF programs helped lead to legislative success in motorcycle education. Today, the Detroit-metro regional program is run through Schoolcraft College and is celebrating 100,000 students being trained from 1981-2019.

Consiglio holds firm that helmets do not prevent accidents. Rider education, tougher licensing, and motorcycle awareness are the keys to reducing motorcycle fatalities in Michigan. 

“I’d like to have everybody here that’s ever taught somebody how to ride a motorcycle, please stand up,” Consiglio said. “Because that’s what’s going to keep this industry going. It’s a great honor to be here and let those that ride, decide.”

PAPPY HOEL AWARD

IN MEMORY OF LONNIE ISAM JR

The mindset that old bikes should be entombed in shrines has shifted quite dramatically over the last decade, due in no small part to the efforts of one very quiet, unassuming antique enthusiast. Sturgis resident, Lonnie Isam Jr. sparked a worldwide age of enlightenment with his opinion that old motorcycles should be allowed to live out their time here on Earth as they were intended: in the wind. He set about sharing that view with riders around the world and now, every other year since 2010, antique motorcycle owners take their ancient machines out on America’s back roads to prove their mechanical marvel’s mettle and that of themselves, as well during the Motorcycle Cannonball.

For his efforts, Isam was awarded the J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Award posthumously.

The award is reserved for individuals who have played a special role in the founding, maintaining and/or promoting the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

“He did not seek attention, he did not seek acalades. Here we’re trying to give it to him and probably post mortum is the best way, because in life I don’t think he would have appreciated it,” said Jeff Dekker, accepting the award on Isam’s behalf.

I was using the 2019 Official Sturgis Publication put out by the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum to make sure I had information correct in the article I was doing on the Hall Of Fame Induction Breakfast.

If you went to Sturgis, I hope you picked up a copy, if not you may want to contact the museum and see if they have any left. www.sturgismuseum.com

 

Well to my Surprise on page 37 is my photo on a Collector Card Hot Damn, Made my day.

 

It appears that the Motorcycle Museum and Hall Of Fame has decided to create a way to further share the accomplishments of people in motorcycling by producing these Collector Cards.

 

Contact them for more information on the publication and or the card collection.

 

 

Designed under the largest product development project in company history, the new bikes compared to prior year models feature a stiffer and significantly lighter frame built to harness the pulse-quickening torque of the new dual-counterbalanced Milwaukee-Eight® 107 and 114 engines. With high-performance dual-bending valve front suspension and an easily adjustable hidden rear mono-shock, the aggressively styled 2018 Softail models are faster, lighter and better handling than any of their Big Twin cruiser predecessors.

“The new Softail models are the result of the most extensive research and development program in the company’s history,” said Paul James, manager of product portfolio, Harley-Davidson. “Thousands of hours of research and testing were put into the complete ground-up design of these new cruisers. We focused on taking the total rider experience to a higher level, where authenticity, heritage and soul meet the modern edge of technology for a ride that must be felt to believe.

NEW CHASSIS

The handling of a Softail motorcycle enters a new era with a lighter, more rigid frame that elevates form and function to a higher plane, while maintaining the classic look of a hard tail and delivers a thoroughly modern ride. Benefits of the new chassis include increased lean angles, sharper turn-in response, quicker acceleration, nimble flick-ability, lighter weight, and easier side-stand liftoff than predecessor Softail and Dyna models. The steel foundation of the next generation of custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles has been forged.

Frame / swingarm

A new high stiffness carbon steel tubular frame forms the core of the 2018 Softail chassis. The completely redesigned frame and swingarm significantly increase the rigidity of the new chassis. The frame itself is 65 percent stiffer than the 2017 Softail frame, which leads to a 34 percent increase in overall chassis stiffness. The frame design achieves reduced complexity with a 50 percent reduction in component parts and a 22 percent reduction in welds. There are two unique swingarms, one for narrow and one for wide rear tires. The wide chassis is 15 percent lighter (13 pounds) and the narrow chassis is 20 percent (18 pounds) lighter than the 2017 Softail frame. The swingarm transfers rear wheel movement to the under-seat mono-shock while maintaining the pure, classic lines of a hard tail frame.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION

All-new front and rear suspension components are calibrated to match the dynamics of the new chassis, wheels and tires to enhance the comfort, control and performance of the 2018 Softail® motorcycles. The new high-performance dual-bending valve front suspension, which was first introduced on 2017 Touring models, delivers damping performance that is similar to a cartridge fork but with improved, more responsive damping characteristics. The suspension is optimized for both comfortable cruising and spirited riding with 130 mm of bump-devouring travel. Retuned and optimized rake and trail also enhance the motorcycles’ handling performance.

The new mono-shock rear suspension preserves the classic hard tail look while revamped geometry improves ride quality, traction and control. The new easily adjustable mono-shock enables a 240 pound range of payload capacity for increased passenger comfort and enhanced dynamic handling compared to 2017 Softail models.

Ride and handling agility

NEW POWERTRAIN

All 2018 Softail models get a new heartbeat from the most powerful engines ever offered in Harley-Davidson® Big Twin cruisers, the new Milwaukee-Eight® 107 and 114 V-Twins.

ICONIC LOOK

Milwaukee-Eight engines retain the iconic 45-degree V-Twin cylinder angle with a broad-shouldered top end accentuated by a single camshaft design that tapers to a slim bottom end for a muscular contour. The new Softail frame’s rigid engine mounting is engineered to tightly package the engine and reinforce the chassis stiffness.
SMOOTHER RUNNING & PURER SOUND

– Milwaukee-Eight engines for Softail models feature a refined dual internally counter-balanced system that reduces engine vibration while maintaining the familiar Harley-Davidson feel.

– Harley-Davidson’s trademark “potato-potato-potato” sound comes through strong with less intake and mechanical noise.

TWO ENGINE DISPLACEMENT OPTIONS

Milwaukee-Eight107 Engine

(107 CID; 1746cc) Standard on all models

100 mm bore and 4.375 inch stroke with 10.0:1 compression ratio
0-60 mph – 10 percent quicker acceleration than the High Output Twin Cam 103
60-80 mph/5th gear – 16 percent faster acceleration than the High Output Twin Cam 103
Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine

(114 CID; 1868cc) Optional

Available on four models: Fat Bob® 114, Fat Boy® 114, Breakout® 114, Heritage Classic 114
102 mm bore and 4.5 inch stroke with 10.5:1 compression ratio
Ventilator Intake with 114 graphics and badging
Standard ABS
0-60 mph – Nine percent faster acceleration than the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine
60-80 mph/5th gear -13 percent faster acceleration than the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine
MODERN STYLING & DESIGN

Interpreting Harley-Davidson’s history, authenticity and styling DNA through a modern lens, the eight new Softail models feature all-new designs that strongly differentiate them from their predecessors and each other. From a new base of style, comfort and performance, the next generation of factory custom cruisers are ready for riders to take even higher with their own personalization.

EIGHT new SOFTAIL MODEL KEY FEATURES:

FAT BOY®

The legendary Fat Boy motorcycle that defined contemporary custom style for decades has outdone itself. Ripped and refined satin-chrome finishes deliver a bold, muscular styling statement showing off its powerful engine and new and improved ride and handling.

Aggressive, steamroller stance and front end design
– Modern-day interpretation of the classic headlight nacelle

– 160 mm front tire, the widest-ever on a Harley-Davidson production model, wraps the solid Lakester front wheel

31-pound weight reduction to previous model
Standard ABS
240 mm rear tire with solid Lakester rear wheel

HERITAGE CLASSIC

Design cues evoke the blacked-out styling of vintage ‘50s Harley-Davidson models updated with a modern edge.

New detachable windscreen
New rigid, lockable, sealed, water-resistant saddlebags
Taller suspension with increased passenger and cargo payload capacity
32-pound weight reduction to previous model
Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine

LOW RIDER®

Inspired by the individualism of the ‘70s custom chopper era that birthed the original, the new Low Rider model is lighter and faster with corner-carving handling unimaginable back in the day.

Throwback-style dual tank-mount speedo and tach gauges, headlight visor and fuel tank graphics
19-inch front and 16-inch rear Radiate cast wheels

SOFTAIL SLIM®

Stripped to its essential elements, the Softail Slim model pays homage to post-war custom bobbers with a narrow rear end, trimmed front fender, solo seat and minimal chrome.

Dark finishes adorn the laced wheels, Hollywood handlebar, and all-new front-end design
Low-slung tuck and roll seat
Bold and smooth new front nacelle and fork cover styling
35-pound weight reduction to previous model
DELUXE

A classic hi-line showstopper that stands out on any boulevard, the Deluxe glistens with bright chrome while delivering the ride of a seriously modern machine.

Signature all-LED lighting from front to back: headlight, running lights, Tombstone taillight and blade-like turn signals
Signature pull-back handlebar
33-pound weight reduction to previous model

BREAKOUT®

With more lean angle and agility than ever imagined in a bike carrying so much dragster attitude and style, the all-new Breakout model takes long, lean muscle to a modern edge.

New smooth-top 3.5-gallon fuel tank
Long and wide with low-slung raked out 49 mm front forks
18-inch rear (240 mm tire) and 21-inch front (130 mm tire) Gasser-style gloss-black powder coated cast aluminum wheels
Distinctive Daymaker™ Signature LED headlamp
Low-profile, riser-mounted digital instrument screen
35-pound weight reduction to previous model
Standard ABS

FAT BOB®

Asphalt-eating traction, pothole-devouring suspension, agile cornering, and a blacked-out take-no-prisoners look make the Fat Bob® model a groundbreaking motorcycle that could only come from Harley-Davidson.

2-1-2 upswept performance exhaust with a custom finish
Largest aggressively treaded tires from the Motor Company:150 mm front and 180 mm rear
Dual disc front brakes
3.6-gallon fuel tank
33-pound weight reduction to previous model
Inverted 43 mm cartridge style front forks

STREET BOB®

A bare-bones bike with go-anywhere DNA, the all-new Street Bob motorcycle has a fists-in-the-wind attitude with nothing extra to weigh it down.

Smooth-top 3.5-gallon fuel tank
Black spoke wheels with chopped fenders
Low-profile, riser-mounted digital instrument screen
17-pound weight reduction to previous model

NEW TECHNOLOGY FEATURED ON EVERY SOFTAIL MODEL

Unique Daymaker™ Signature LED Headlamps on all models
Improved electrical system charging, more than doubled at idle speeds
Easily adjustable rear shock pre-load settings (method varies by model)
– Under seat spanner wrench: Softail Slim®, Street Bob®, Low Rider®

– External hand adjustment knob: Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Breakout®

– Under seat socket adjustment: Deluxe, Heritage Classic

Steering head mounted USB charge port
New instrumentation
Keyless ignition and security system standard
New fuel tanks
*Varies by model.

BIKER LIVES MATTER is a new safety organization formed to help lower injury and deaths of motorcyclists on the highways.  I recently became the Arkansas Ambassador for this important and much-needed group.  John “Rogue” Herlihy is the President who has spent many years working at EASYRIDERS and was a founding member of ABATE while working with other motorcycle advocacy groups to fight for the rights of riders.  He was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame as a Freedom Fighter in 2005!

Motorcyclists face unique challenges when compared to other drivers because they are smaller and less visible than other vehicles, plus a motorcycle offers almost no protection from outside forces.  Drivers on their cell phones, either talking or texting, are the biggest concern to motorcyclists and are the most common reason for distracted driving crashes and collisions.  It is estimated that 40%-66% of all motorcycle crashes with four-wheeled vehicles involve the driver using a cell phone.  According to research, distracted drivers kill at least nine people each day.  That equals 3285 people A YEAR dying to be seen!!!

Another common and dangerous situation is when vehicles make a left-handed turn in front of the motorcyclist.  Statistics show that these irresponsible turns account for 42% of collisions but it’s hard to say, if not impossible, to also include that these same drivers might have been on their phones WHILE making a left turn.  Rogue started this organization after his son was struck and almost killed on his motorcycle by a vehicle making a left turn in September of 2018.  He ended up losing a foot.  Rogue and some friends decided too many people they knew were getting injured or being killed while travelling on motorcycles.

Most drivers never think about motorcyclists while driving.  Someone must teach upcoming and current drivers to look for motorcyclists at all times. BIKER LIVES MATTER hopes to increase efforts with education and awareness to both drivers and riders, promote campaigns that encourage drivers to pay attention, and support legislation that will help keep motorcyclists safer on the road.  Research shows that current laws don’t do enough to combat distracted driving and that we need stiffer penalties for those fatalities caused by distracted driving.

 

After I emailed all of my friends introducing them to BIKER LIVES MATTER, I received a response from Ron Jungbauer, a member of FORR (Freedom of the Road Riders) in Missouri.   He told me about his best friend Scott Lambert.  Ron writes, “We took this first picture of Scott on June 29th, and it was the last time my wife Louise and I would ride with him. 

 

 

Let’s not allow Scott’s death or anyone else’s to be meaningless.  Let’s work towards getting legislation passed to increase the industry standards of keeping motorcyclists safe.

Until the government or car manufacturers enact the technology to block phone signals for drivers; education and legislation is the only form of action that we have.  BIKERS LIVES MATTER believes that all driver courses should teach motorcycle awareness and that riders should have the skills to avoid crashes when possible while riding defensively.   Another weak link and something that needs attention is getting riders AND bystanders trained on what to do at a scene of a crash or collision.    

BIKER LIVES MATTER is partnering with some other well-known people, companies, and organizations.  The more people we have, the louder our voice will be.  We ALL have to do our part to keep each other ALIVE!  It is free to join BIKER LIVES MATTER and you do not have to own a motorcycle to sign up-https://bikerlivesmatter.com/

 

 

 

The next day we made it to Beat-0n house. A couple of days later we headed west until Ole 79 had an engine issue on the turnpike and they knew the trip was over for them. I have done a lot of miles with that old boy and he usually does well.

 

 

Rogue will tell you more about the event in one of his articles.

Got to Tim and Helen’s, got settled in checked over, a bath and Back Tire checked. Yep time for a new one. I like Black Hills Harley and have sent other motorcycle there before and all were satisfied so I got there early and they took me right in.

 

 

I am still sitting on the lift because there is more rain coming something call a hurricane. Rogue told me when it was over, we would go for a ride to Alabama and see some friends that are making a movie. Now that sounds like Fun, I might even get a little Dirty Again LOL.

Unfortunately for bike owners, stealing a motorcycle is much easier than stealing a car, and it is very profitable too. Motorcycles are prime targets for criminals of all kinds, which can cost you dearly. There are two types of motorcycle thieves: opportunistic thieves, looking for an easy score; and methodical criminals, who plan and approach each theft strategically.

Motorcycle owners have several options to deter both types of thieves, and common sense goes a long way in fending them off. But bikers have certain habits that leave their beloved bikes vulnerable to criminals. Leaving bikes unlocked and exposed for quick stops, parking them in a driveway with no locks whatsoever, and not having proper safeguards against theft are only a few of the reasons why bike theft is rife around the world.

– Never leave your keys in the ignition. Another common biker mistake is leaving the keys in the bike. Most people tend to think ‘What can happen in 30 seconds?’ Well, a lot: you can come back to a space instead of your beloved bike in a very short period.

As motorcycle owners, we have to be cautious and smart about our daily habits to prevent becoming the next target for opportunistic thieves. However, all the care in the world couldn’t stop a determined and well-prepared thief, this is where the more advanced security systems come in. Since you can’t sleep or work next to your motorcycle, you will have to leave it alone for long periods from time to time. To ensure your bike is fully protected during these times, you will need a secret weapon that can prevent attempted theft or delay the thieves until help arrives.

Tracking devices offer reliable protection and the unique benefit of aiding recovery of a stolen bike. No other security system on the market can assist the safe return of a motorcycle. Geo-fence zones create a virtual fence around regular parking spots, and the tracking device notifies the owner whenever their bike enters or leaves a specific area and informs them of any suspicious movements. Sensors can also act as an early warning system in case someone tries to move or start a motorcycle. Ignition and movement alerts are great deterrents and allow people to interfere with theft and stop the criminals before they can work their skills on a motorcycle. Even if a thief somehow manages to steal your bike, a tracking device allows you to locate its exact position within minutes. By reporting the incident to the authorities promptly, police officers can recover the bike unharmed. So, no matter how experienced or prepared they are, the criminal has to get past the security measures in place first.

 

 

If you are interested you can see his article on it at:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FARGO — A longtime rider affectionately refers to it as “the disease,” but one that people don’t mind catching.

John van Dam, 69, of Fargo, said once a person has been bitten by the motorcycle bug, it’s pretty much over.

“Basically, there’s no cure,” he said, with a laugh.

Motorcycle fans in the Fargo-Moorhead area have countless ways to practice their pastime, and it’s clear patriotism, philanthropy and socializing are at the core of many events.

 
On any given summer weekend in the region, riders can find vintage bike shows, pub gatherings, group rides and fundraisers to benefit a variety of causes, including suicide prevention, homeless people, sick children and veterans.

Harley-Davidson of Fargo holds its Stars and Handlebars Weekend on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14, at its West Fargo store.

Jim Bolluyt, 44, of West Fargo, organized the summer’s final FM Classic Bike Night on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Drekker Brewing Company. He said he doesn’t need another excuse to ride, but will use one whenever possible.

“It’s nice that somebody benefits from it, outside of just you having fun,” Bolluyt said.

Years back, riding may have had a bad rap, partly due to the prevalence of motorcycle gangs like the Hells Angels and Outlaws.

Jim Moe, 61, of Fargo, who rode one of his bikes to the Drekker event, said he’s familiar with those gangs, having worked as a bail bondsman for 20 years.

People who ride today represent a broader cross section of the population, including professional types, blue-collar workers, retired folks and women.

Alexis Engelking, 28, of Fargo, is the marketing coordinator at Harley-Davidson and just bought her first motorcycle a few months ago. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 has a custom pink paint job.

“It has a lot of sparkle,” she said.

Who rides, what they ride

Engelking wants more female friends to get involved because she said they’ll find riding is easier and more fun than they’d think.

When she took a motorcycle safety course, there were more women than men learning to ride. “All of us passed,” she said.

There’s even a female riders club in the Fargo-Moorhead area — the Red River Valley chapter of Women in the Wind.

Some motorcycle clubs tend to organize exclusively around certain brands, but Moe doesn’t discriminate, as an owner of Honda, Norton, Triumph and Harley bikes. “The circles I run in, we run the gamut,” he said.

When asked about the number of bikes he owns, Moe said, “If you know how many you have, you don’t have enough,” but later divulged that he has more than 20 bikes.

He’s quick to say which bike is his favorite.

“The one I’m on today,” Moe said, a smile poking out of his long gray beard.

For van Dam, as a teenager in the mid-1960s, the sight of a friend’s Ducati 175 motorcycle was all it took to get hooked. “That thing got me,” he said.

Others were introduced to bikes by their fathers.

John Rogers, 69, of Fargo, said he remembers riding with his dad on the tank of a Harley. “He’d always let me run the throttle, which may have been a bad idea,” Rogers said, laughing.

Jim Syvertson, of Fargo, said his dad rode an old Indian motorcycle. “He kind of got me started, and I’ve just ridden forever,” Syvertson said.

Moe said his draw to motorcycles came through a natural childhood evolution — from the tricycle on. “We get a motorcycle, we can travel the world. And I wanted a motorcycle,” Moe said.

The exploration aspect is a big reason van Dam rides motorcycles. “You see a road and say, ‘I wonder where that goes?’ And just take it,” he said.

Senses are heightened and certain smells “come at you right away,” van Dam said, unfiltered by any car ventilation system, and the temperature can drop 15 degrees when going from sunlight into shade.

Perhaps the biggest appeals of riding mentioned are the sense of freedom it brings and the similarity to flying. “If you can throw in a couple of nice hills along with some nice curves, it’s hard to beat,” Syvertson said.

Dan Jacobson, 65, of Moorhead has raced motorcycles professionally much of his life and has a son who does the same. The elder Jacobson also organized the American Veterans Motorcycle Show, held Sept. 7 in downtown Fargo, which included a ride to the new Fargo National Cemetery.

“It’s very interesting where it takes you,” Jacobson said of his lifelong passion.