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MOTORCYCLE SAFETY TIPSFOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND RIDING– With 64 percent of motorcycle fatalities alcohol-related and 50 percent taking place at crowded intersections, both motorcyclists — and the auto drivers who can hit them — need to be particularly cautious during holidays.
So says Keith Code, the world’s top motorcycle instructor, who has trained more than 125,000 motorcyclists at his California Superbike School in 12 countries to date. His bestseller books are in five languages and recommended reading for all riders enrolling in Norway’s national motorcycle operator’s licensing program with applicants directed to visit his Website, www.superbikeschool.com
During holiday weekend riding Code recommends the following:Booze and bikes don’t mix.
Next to alcohol-related deaths, intersection collisions are still the major source of accidents, when a car makes a left in front of the motorcycle. A motorcyclist has to take safety precautions at an intersection other than eye contact. ”A driver may look right at you and not even see you,” Code said.
Let a car run interference for you at an intersection. If you have a choice,run off the rear right fender of the car in front of you. Other autodrivers are geared to look for cars, not motorcycles which have a muchsmaller profile to the eye.
Use your front brakes. They provide 90 percent of the stopping power. The tendency in a tight situation is to use your rear brakes only, but they are 20 percent as effective and can actually cause accidents from misuse. Stopping with your front brakes is much more reliable and effective.
Code says that riding defensively can make motorcyclists even more invisible.”That means you’re going to have to have 360-degree vision, and knoweverything that’s going on around you,” said Code, “Assume cars neversee bikes because ‘it’s not their job’.” He advocates aggressivemaneuvers–speeding up and slowing down, moving back and forthwithin a lane–to create visibility. “I don’t mean ride illegally, Imean use your advantage of maneuverability to put the bike whereyou want it and do it in a positive manner that lets drivers know youare there,” he said.
Code also cautions riders not to rely too heavily on wearing brightcolors–or installing loud muffler pipes. “There are too many thingsin the environment that compete with bright clothes, including brightlycolored cars,” he said. “But a rider with a brightly colored top andloud pipes who’s moving around in his lane, is going to improve hischances of recognition.”
2005 INDY BOOGIE–For those interested in attending the 25th annual “BOOGIE” ,next year, save the third week-end in July. Sponsered by ABATE of Indiana, it’s in Lawrence county, at the Lawrence County Recreation Center. Highway 37 south out of Indy, about 25 miles south of Bloomington. Follow the signs.
It’s well marked. Or follow the bikes. They’re all headed to the same place. You can find event listings, bands scheduled, and all pertinent information at their webb site. www.abateofindiana.orgSee you at the party!
The 1953 K Model
READER TECH QUESTION–I have been reading your web site for awhile and like it alot. I am sending this e-mail in hopes that you may be able to help me. If not, that’s cool too. I have a ’73 Sportster that I am building from the ground up for my wife. I would like to do away with the chain drive. My question is, do you know of any companies that build the parts for the belt drive conversion?
–Bobby Epling
bepling@eng.auburn.edu
LATEST CATALOG FROM COLONY– COLONY MACHINE is a distributor to the wholesale trade and its latest catalog features the continually expanding range of products.
The company’s main specialty is hardware and it has a selection of fasteners for Harley models from 1911 up to present day.Colony Machine can supply bulk hardware, or fasteners packaged as kits.
These have specific applications and contain all the necessary parts to secure individual parts, or sub-assemblies, to a particular model.
Many catalog items are offered in chrome-plated finish, including dress-up kits of fasteners for later models.
As well as regular hardware, the catalog lists a range of engine components as well as many small but essential parts such as mounting brackets.
COLONY MACHINE
Brunswick, Ohio, USA
Tel: 330 225 3410 (Toll Free 800 321 3412)
Fax: 330 225 9412
E-mail: info@colonymachine.com
www.colonymachine.com
IDAHO STATE VETERANS FUNERAL FOR SPC. BRANDON TITUS–More than 130 motorcycles roared onto the grounds at the new Idaho State Veterans Cemetery Monday afternoon for Spc. Brandon Titus’ funeral. Tom Titus, Brandon’s father, is active in Run for the Wall , a motorcycle ride to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
About Idaho’s Veterans Cemetery
? Dedicated: July 31. Idaho was the last state in the nation to get a veterans’ cemetery.
? Where: North of West State Street, off North Horseshoe Bend Road. Take North Horseshoe Bend Road to Dry Creek Cemetery. The address is 10101 Horseshoe Bend Road.
? Size: 77 acres. The cemetery has room for close to 9,000 graves and cremation sites, including a place to scatter ashes.
? Officially opens: In October. An exception was made to allow Titus to be buried before the official opening.
–from Rogue
BIKERNET TECH RESEARCH ON OIL FILTERS– Pre Twin Cam big twins (EVO) and Sportsters can use the same oil filters. Dynas use that long filter, EVO’s only. The Dyna filters are good for Sportsters pre ’04 and “Tube” frame Buells for added capacity. Twin Cam filters have a finer filter meduim, Orange in color. Evo color is black.
Then we have the V-Rod, Buell (cast frame), and the Buell Blast. Buell firebolt and Blast use the same filter. V-Rod has it’s own filter also.
Oh yeah for the Chromosexuals. The plain black finish is better than chrome on an oil filter for what it’s worth.
— Pablo
See the Sportster Filter article in the Sportster Department for more info. Our research is on-going.–Wrench
INDIAN LARRY TRIBUTES–As a request from family, crew and friends, rather than flowers please make donations on his name to the following charities:
www.ASPCA.com and /or
National Council of Alcoholism
1675 White Horse-Mercerville road, suite J
Hamilton, NJ 08619
tel (609)689-0121
I talked to Paul, and he said Larry would be honored if I built a bike tribute to Larry.
–Jose
BIKERNET HISTORIC RESEARCH–A chicken and an egg are lying in bed.The chicken is leaning against the headboard, smoking a cigarettewith a satisfied smile on its face.
The egg, looking a little ticked off, grabs the sheetand rolls over and says,
“Well, I guess we finally answered THAT question!”
–from Skooter
THE STEALTH REPORT–This past week has been a tough one. I looked forward to going to the Liquid Steel Bike Show. The first time I got out since my back surgery, and I was really looking forward to being around people and the bikes.
On Thursday I received a phone call from my brother Gary back in Virginia telling me that we had lost a friend in an accident. His best friend Tim had lost control of his bike in a curve and went into the ditch and hit a drain pipe. This hit home hard. Our friend Tim was only 35 years old. I was not able to attend the funeral since I can’t travel long distances right now. Tim, I hope you are riding the highways in the sky right now.
I was still looking forward to the Liquid Steel Show. The “Meanest” arranged for a wheel chair and we planned on going Sunday. Saturday afternoon I got another call from my friend Phil, telling me that Indian Larry had an accident. At the time no one knew how serious the accident was or what his condition was. When we arrived at the show everyone was telling us what had happened and it was apparent that it was not good. Everyone at the show was concerned for Indian Larry and everyone was hoping and praying for the best.
All of the local TV channels had coverage of the accident on the news and it seems that each one would over emphasize how he was not wearing a helmet. That was his choice and his style. He would not have done it any other way and that is what the news people did not understand.
By now everyone knows it didn’t turn out as we all hoped. I had the pleasure of meeting Indian Larry this past spring at Daytona Bike Week. To me he was friendly and genuine, nothing fake. He was the real deal.
Because I love old school bikes, Indian Larry’s bikes were my favorite on all the bike build-offs. I am glad I told him that while in Daytona.
With the loss of Indian Larry we all lose. He was bigger than life. I think he lived life to the fullest and got the most out of his time. It reminds me of a saying I heard, “You plan your life like you are going to live forever, but you live your life like today is your last day!” Life is precious and fragile!
From everyone here in the Charlotte area, our thoughts and prayers are with Indian Larry’s family.
I don’t want to end on a down note so I would like to mention that I had the pleasure of meeting Deacon from the Choppers Only show in Hawaii. It was fun to eat lunch together and talk. I also got to talk to Crazy Horse for a few minutes. There were top name builders at the show and the bikes were cool.
In closing, a suggestion for the weekend. Everyone go for a ride as tribute to Indian Larry in honor of the way he lived. Think about it!
Until next week!
Later!
–Stealthman
BIKERNET DRUNK DRIVING TEST– A Pennsylvania State Trooper pulled a car over on I-81 about 2 milesnorth of the Pa/Md State line. When the Trooper asked the driver why he was speeding, the driver answered that he was a magician and a juggler andhe was on his way to Harrisburg to do a show that night at the ZemboShrine Circus and didn’t want to be late.
The Trooper told the driver juggling fascinated him, and if the driver would do a little juggling for him that he wouldn’t give him a ticket. The driver told the Trooper that he had sent all of his equipment onahead and didn’t have anything to juggle. The Trooper told him that he hadsome flares in the trunk of his patrol car and asked if he could jugglethem.
The juggler stated that he could, so the Trooper got three flares, litthem, and handed them to the juggler.
While the man was doing his juggling act, a car pulled in behind the patrol car, a drunk got out and watched the performance briefly, he then went over to the patrol car, opened the rear door, and got in. The Trooperobserved him doing this and went over to the patrol car, opened the door andasked the drunk what he thought he was doing.
The drunk replied, “You might as well take my ass to jail, causethere’s no way in hell I can pass that test.”
–from Skooter
BIKERNET DUNGEON INFO–The United States incarcerated 2,166,260 persons over the past twelve months. This total represents persons held in:
Federal and State Prisons 1,361,258
Territorial Prisons 16,206
Local Jails 665,475
INS Facilities 8,748
Military Facilities 2,377
Jails in Indian Country 1,912
Juvenile Facilities 110,284 Rogue
HOLLEY CARB CONNECTION–TERRY COMPONENTS– Web site is http://www.terrycomp.com/ Phone is Toll free 1-866-388-3779 and the shop is 1-605-642-5300
Darrell was talking about a Holley and I have never used one because somany people have had problems with them. Weber’s are another story. I have run them for years and have a bunchof info on them. Smitty at Spirat is good with them also.
Tell Darrell good luck.
–ROGUE
BIKERNET SPORTING NEWS–
The Englishman’s wife steps up to the tee and, as she bends over to place her ball, a gust of wind blows her skirt up and reveals her lack of underwear. “Good God, woman! Why aren’t you wearing any knickers?” her husband demanded.
“Well, you don’t give me enough housekeeping money to afford any.”
The Englishman immediately reaches into his pocket and says, “For the sake of decency, here’s $50. Go and buy yourself some underwear.”
Next, the Irishman’s wife bends over to set her ball on the tee. Her skirt also blows up to show that she is wearing no undies.
“Blessed Virgin Mary, woman! You’ve no knickers. Why not?”
She replies, “I can’t afford any on the money you give me.”
He reaches into his pocket and says, “For the sake of decency, here’s $20. Go and buy yourself some underwear!”
Lastly, the Scotsman’s wife bends over. The wind also takes her skirt over her head to reveal that she, too, is naked under it. “Sweet mudder of Jesus, Aggie! Where the frig are yer drawers?”
She too explains, “You dinna give me enough money ta be able ta affarrd any.”
The Scotsman reaches into his pocket and says, “Well, fer the love ‘o Jasus, ‘n the sake of decency, here’s a comb. Tidy yerself up a bit.”
–from Skooter
WOMEN RIDERS WEBSITE– My friend Petra in Carson City has what is probably the best website on the net for women and new female riders.Everything from how to keep your hair looking nice under a helmet, to how to pick a bike up.
http://www.vtwinmama.com
My wife is a ex-motorycle instructor in Sydney she has some advice for Layla.
–Jaqhama
jaqhama@yahoo.com
QUOTE OF THE RACECAR DAY:“Auto racing is boring except when a car is going atleast 172 miles per hour upside down.”
– Dave Barry
THAT’S IT–Life is nuts. We send our thoughts to Larry’s family. Then this crazy world continues to turn. Shortly we’ll have Sturgis Reports up, a Buell top end tech from Jett who sent the report on Sportster oil filters. And tomorrow we wake up to a wild Labor Day Weekend.
Be careful out there, will ya, goddamnit.
Ride Safe,
–Bandit
