I hate to preach on Motorcycle safety. BUT…… I just learned something new from an article I read. We know there are many things to watch out for when we are riding. Just the other day I avoided a run in with a Semi by watching his front wheels. I was going North and he was heading South. When I got about 15 feet from him I noticed he had his wheels turned for a left turn into lumber yard he was going to make a delivery to. He was trying to find his gate, and didn’t see me. Good thing there was no curb but about 12 feet of level grass to my right. I braked and slid my bike in the direction of the grass and was able to come to a safe stop. When the truck driver realized what had happened he apologized. No Harm. No Foul. Then I happen to read a news story about a motorcyclist who was killed when a motorist in an SUV backed into him. Seems the SUV driver, was looking for a friends house. When she realized she had passed the address given to her; she shifted to reverse and started to back up. When she looked in the rear view mirror she saw an explosion. The motorcyclist was traveling about 40-45 mph. (There was no mention of the speed limit.) When he crashed into the back of the reversing vehicle. If the accident happened at night one should be able to see the backup lights work. If it was day it could be another story. Perhaps the backup lights weren’t working. The thing I learned is to add watching for backup lights, on slow or stopped vehicles. I know in some of the larger cities you may have bumper to bumper traffic with a 45 mph speed limit. In these cases I see many vehicles, including motorcycles bunch up closer than the usual interval. So even if he saw the backup light he may not have had time to avoid the collision. But at the same time why would one decide to backup in such a situation. I don’t know all the details, as they were not given in the story. So add backup lights to your list of things to watch for. That Is How I See It. find find find Views: 145
Tag: Motorcycle
Motorcyclist Has Tree Branch In Cheek
While flipping through the TV channels the other day a teaser, (a short blurp of an upcoming story), A motorcyclist walked into the ER with about a 5 foot long 1 1/2 inch tree branch sticking through his helmet shield. This was on DHF; Discovery Health & Fitness channel. I figure they will have it on again, if you want to catch the full story. A young man riding his motorcycle lost control of his motorcycle, and as he said, “…luckily a brush pile broke his fall….” He righted his motorcycle, hopped back on and headed to the ER. When he came in he proceeded explaining what happened and came to the ER because he was hot, and couldn’t get his helmet off. He was very nonchalant about the whole thing. Like this happens everyday. The motorcyclist was wearing a full face helmet, with shield. The branch punctured the shield, and proceeded through the cheek into the neck. The doctors had to borrow pruners from the hospital maintenance crew, cut the branch about 4-5 inches up from the shield; just so they could remove the helmet. They proceeded to pull the branch out. Checked for further injury, sewed him up. He left the ER just as if nothing unusual had happened and rode his motorcycle home. The reason I wrote about this is to demonstrate, that although we take precautions and do what we need to do; protective clothing, helmet and shield; and aware of our surroundings. we are still at the mercy of the unexpected. I don’t know, but I suspect his injuries might have been greater if he had not had his helmet on. But what I want to say is protect ourselves as we might, a freak accident can still sneak in on you. Just be careful, and enjoy your ride. That Is How I See It. Views: 159
Sign Helps Aid Safety For Motorcycles
As we all know the number one reason given for auto/truck and Motorcycles is, “I didn’t see it.” I know this to be true. Even as a rider myself, (and I’m sure I’m not alone here), I watch out for motorcycles everywhere I go even during the winter months, just in the event there is a winter rider. But I find I sometimes do not see bike. Sometimes they just pop up over a hill, and sometimes they are hidden by another vehicle, and sometimes they decide to pass just as they approach an intersection. And I admit sometimes I just don’t see them the first time, That is why I take a second, and third look. But I think what I have recently become aware of a sign some cities and areas are posting along the streets and highways. I only wish more of these signs that alert drivers to the presence of motorcycles were posted in all areas. For a start they could post at city limits. Park entrances, and areas where motorcyclists tend to gather. I know in our little town we have a “watering hole” where you will find more motorcycles than cars, or trucks. Maybe to get things rolling this business could purchase the signs and petition the state, (as it sits on a state highway, and would need their permission to put the sign up) There is another place about 15 miles south which is frequented by bikers. I intend to talk to these establishments and our town about putting up these signs. Below is picture of the sign. Will you help in your areas. Perhaps it could be a club project. That Is How I See It. I recently became aware of some cities posting signs to remind motorists of the presence of MOTORCYCLES. I wish more cities and areas had these signs posted. became find find find Views: 235
Drivers Beware In Gary Indiana
We all have believed Cops have had quotas for traffic stops. After all they have to bring some money in to help pay their salaries. Finally a City which is not ashamed to admit their police officers, have quotas. they have not stated what the consequence is if you don’t meet the quota. ” What is the quota?” you ask. The quota is at least one “1” traffic arrest an hour. Gary’s Traffic Commander, mothy Tatum said this quota will remain in effect as long as he is “COMMANDER” . His actual edict says 10 traffic arrests per officer assigned to his traffic division per shift per day. Good Luck holding your job Timothy. I understand the prosecutors are already protesting your quota. They can always decide to NOT PROSECUTE. The voters probably will not appreciate your move. I’m not sure one cop can write 1o citations a day. I’m thinking what you are creating is an aura of “I have to meet my quota, so I’ll write up this poor guy driving the old car. He can’t afford to protest the stop, and pursue it in court”. Or “I’ll stop this guy, he’s from out of our area, and will just pay the fine.” Then, of course, there is the wealthy who will pay just because it is such a trifling amount it is not worth the time to go to court. Kind of sounds like everyone could be a victim of this QUOTA. I hope the traffic officers have enough pride in themselves to not make up violations to meet their quota. Or that an unreasonable stop does not end with injury to the cop or citizen. I know I will do my best to avoid Gary Indiana, and there goes my money I may have spent there. After all I’m sure they don’t need my money in this haven of high employment, and economy. It seems to me the “Quota” would be a valid defense, in court. But I’m not a Lawyer, or Judge. Hats off to Gary for admitting they have a traffic citation quota. Most places would not. That Is How I See It. UPDATE: UPDATE: Just in. Gary Mayor Rudy Clay Says Quota’s are over. Police Administration says never existed. Don’t know if Gary’s Traffic Commander, Timothy Tatum, is still Commander they have Views: 101
It’s Motorcycle Season Part Four
Sorry to take so much time on this but I do love my motorcycles, and I have a point to make. Being a single parent I didn’t have a lot of time to ride. But I still felt the need to ride. As mentioned before many years ago I met my lifelong mechanic. One day he called to let me know he had a 1973 Honda 350 that he had for sale because the owner had not paid or picked up the bike in the specified 90 days. I paid him $250.oo for it. It was OK it got me to work and occasionally when my sons were visiting their mother, my girlfriend and I would take off for a day trip. It rode really well and we had all kinds of fun on it. Then after 10 years on the job I got laid off, and had to sell it, in order to pay the rent. I sold it for more than I paid for it. Here again I was bikeless. When I got back to work I purchased a 1978. The bike was only 1 year old and only had 1500 miles on it. The bike was a Yamaha 650 Special. The year I bought it was 1979. I paid it off in a year. But the bank never sent me the title. They claimed they did. The bank was sold several times. and in 1999 I received the title. I still had the bike and was riding it daily. At the time it came the closest to looking like a Harley of any bikes. I can’t tell you how many miles I put on it. I put it in the shop in 2000 and had the motor rebuilt as I had stored it a couple of years. and the motor had locked up. I had special pipes put on it that made it a little louder. My youngest son wanted it so I gave it to him. He immediately messed up the carbs by putting in old stale gas. Then my oldest son wanted it and said he would get it fixed.. I never saw him ride it so I asked him where it was. He said a friend had it doing the repair. That was 10 years ago. He doesn’t know where his friend or the bike is. I still have the title. Next I bought a 1978 Honda Gold wing 1000. This one I paid $500.oo for. It was a bare bones bike. running, but no extras. I put a fairing, radio, saddlebags, and Air Horns on it. My girlfriend would take short weekend trips and I rode it to work. worse part about the Gold Wing was its stability on wet pavement. I sat pretty high. While sitting in the break room, at work, one day. An older fellow sat down and we started talking. He was telling me in his younger days he had an Indian motorcycle, but hadn’t ridden in years. We talked a lot about the fun I was having riding. The next thing I know he is asking me about the written and skills tests. I had no information for him on the test as I had grandfathered the new requirements. But he took the tests and passed. He borrowed a moped for the skills test. Soon he and his wife and I and my girlfriend were riding out to eat and just sight seeing. (He had bought a Gold Wing 1200. A really nice bike.) Soon another guy we worked with decided he wanted to ride with us. He passed his tests, and bought a really sharp Gold Wing 1100. Sometime later a friend of the first man who had gone to school with him bought a Gold Wing 1200. I met an older fellow who was giving up riding, due to health problems. I sold my Gold Wing for $800.oo and purchased his 1983 Kawasaki Voyager, for $2500.oo. [Just for the record I paid $200.00 for the Honda, and sold it again for $500.oo.} The Voyager was the ULTIMATE motorcycle. It came from the factory with fairing, removable saddle bags, an adjustable trunk. It would slide forward or back to make more room for the passenger. Queen/King seat. Air adjustable shocks with built in air compressor. AM-FM- Cassette player, CB Radio, intercom system. Fog Lights, Air Horns, cigarette lighter, and a compass. Head light adjuster at the flick of a switch. Individually adjustable (two piece handlebars). Computer to give mpg, miles before needing to refuel, miles traveled between stops, and I can’t remember all the things it would give you. And held the road much better than the Honda. It had a fuel injected in line six cylinder. No end to power. I know on one trip we were hitting 110 mph with a trailer on. (Don’t recommend this.) We talked about one day riding all the southern states during the winter and the northern states during the summer. We sometimes took weekend trips to other states just to say we had ridden in that state. We never got to take the southern and northern state trips. He retired and died one year later. One of the guys. knees went out on him and he couldn’t hold the bike up at stop lights. The other retired and moved to Florida. With no one to ride with I found myself riding less, and the 900 pound bike was getting a little harder to hold up at stop lights. My girlfriend wanted a truck so I traded it for a really nice truck. She drove it 2 times in 2 years. I was wanting to get another bike. But my place of employment had shut down. No work for me. No money. Then in October of last year the fellow we rode with that had moved to Florida located me. He had sold his farm up here, and wanted to know if I would look after his… Continue reading It’s Motorcycle Season Part Four
It’s Motorcycle Part Three
My second bike was Kawasaki 350 R. The R stood for Racer. How I came about getting this bike was a fluke. A friend was moving out of state. He had a Chevette that was pretty rough, and the Kawasaki that he wanted to sell. He was asking $300.oo for the Chevette, and $350.oo for the Kawasaki. The Motorcycle was in great shape, but the Chevette was pretty rough and planned to sell it for parts. As it turned out a mechanic friend of mine was looking for a parts chevette parts car to repair customers car. The parts he needed were in good shape. He offered me $550.OO for the Chevette. I told my friend about the offer and he told me to give him $50.oo and I could keep the Kaw. Great luck there for me. The Kaw was a 350 R. Supposedly the R stood for Race. All I know is the bike would be real slow until you got the RPM’s up Then if you weren’t careful you would pop a wheelie. I rode this bike for a couple of years. Itook my boys for a ride on it. A short ride. But my youngest who was about 2 years old enjoyed most. Years later while attending college he was asked his earliest memory. His answer was riding the bike with me. I had a picture of him on it with me, I dug it out and gave it to him. I only wish I had a copy. Somewhere during his many moves to colleges and jobs he lost it. Siomeone gave me a Honda Scrambler, and I traded the Kaw for a dune buggy. I could get both boys in it. Later a guy who rented one of my bays in my garage to open a bodyshop. Butwas rusty after 20+ years being out of the business. I helped him catch up on techniques and the new paints. About a year later he moved to a bigger shop. But one day he called and had a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria he said he had $500.oo cash (not counting his time) in it and to thank me for the help I could have it for $500.oo. I sold the dune buggy for $500.oo. When I got home the next day and was going to get the car, I found a new refrigerator in the kitchen. My wife had taken the money to buy a bigger refrigerator. Bye, Bye Car. The Honda scrambler was ok for a while I only had about a mile to ride to ride to work. But I had to tune it every day before I could ride it. One night, (by this time I had divorced) I came home to find my Honda missing. All the cops did was say ask the neighbors if they saw anything. About a year later the boys came home from visiting their mother and told me they saw my Honda in pieces in her basement. Apparently her boyfriend wanted it but knew nothing about bikes. Any way I bought my next bike. A 3 cylinder 750 Yamaha. Fun bike to ride. I took it to a Yamaha dealer for a tune up and overall check. Worked fine for about a month. Then had trouble starting it. If I put old plugs in it started fine, just didn’t run so good. I traded it for a ford window van. Had some fun with it. But it wasn’t a motorcycle. More to come later. Remember it isn’t what you ride. It’s that you ride. That Is How I See It, Views: 136
Motorcycle Season Part Two
I have never owned an Indian, Triumph, BSA, or Harley. These would be my favorites in order. My early riding years included riding these brands, but they belonged to friends, My one friend, whom I rode with most of the time, had a Triumph and his father had a Triumph. So by age 14 we rode together quite a bit. I would ride his bike and he would ride his fathers. So that is where I found a fondness for Triumphs. My parents would not allow me to own a motorcycle, and I had to keep them from knowing about my riding adventures. Most of which was on the country roads. After graduating from high school. (You didn’t think I got that far did you.) I was earning $66.oo a week pre-tax. Another friend of mine’s Dad bought him a basket case Harley. He had been working on it for 2 years and was still not riding. I was impatient and wanted to ride NOW. It was a 15 mile drive to work everyday. I did have a 1960 Chevy Convertible but I wanted to ride a bike. At the local truck stop, the owner began selling a new brand of motorcycle. I test drove one and really enjoyed it. This bike had a revolutionary new concept. It was a 175 cc, 2 stroke two cylinder, with oil injection. This meant you did not have to mix the oil to the gas and gave you a better mixture. A rotary valve engine, with a rotary transmission. This meant you could go through the gears in two ways. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Then return from 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and back to 1at. OR, you could go 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 1st. Without having to work your way down. There was also a lever on the left side of the transmission, you could reach down and shift it, now you had a 5 speed transmission, but the rotary was locked out. Oh yes it had a kick start. Which meant sometimes several minutes of wearing down your right leg trying to start it. (I sometimes cheated and pushed it as fast as I could, popped the clutch and away I went. The price for this motorcycle was $695.oo. This meant I had to borrow the money to buy it. Not having any credit history I had to have my brother, (remember he is 10 1/2 years older than me) co-sign the loan. If you remember I never liked buying anything I could not pay cash for. But I could not wait that long. I remember my payments were a whopping $50.oo a month. (About a weeks pay.) This bike was very versatile. Friends with their Hondas would get together for a small hill climb event. (Pretty small hill). I could beat them up the hill and had my girlfriend on the back. On the interstate, we could travel 105 mph with the two of us on it. And it would run all day like that. The first night I had it I made surprising discovery. The night I picked up my bike my friend, with the Triumph, and I went for a ride. We were doing about 60 on a country road, when we found ourselves approaching a busy State Highway. I released the throttle, but the bike did not slow down. It maintained it’s rpm’s and speed. Finally I panicked and clamped down the front brake. I went tumbling over the handlebars. Not really it just seemed like it, The bike nosedived and I went down. Not injured. I was about ready to take the bike back, and demand my money back. That is when I found out the little knurled knob I was playing with was a sort of cruise control. How it worked was by turning it you locked the throttle. It did take me a while to gain confidence in using the front brake again. I had this bike for about 4 to 5 years.before I sold it. I had gotten my money’s worth out of it. It was time to move up to a larger bike. Before I go I have to tell you this story. Being a youngster with this bike. At this particular time there was an outlaw motorcycle gang, I only use this term for your reference. They preferred to be called a club. Anyway some of the members were riding their Harley’s and I passed them like they were standing still. Suddenly one of the biggest bikers I had seen caught up to me, and pulled me over. He asked, “What you got there?” “You passed me so fast I thought my bike had stopped and started to get off” I told him it is a Bridgestone 175 twin. He kind of laughed. We talked a while. The last thing he told me was this. “Pay no attention to others who may try to put you down because you aren’t riding a Harley, the main thing is you are riding.” I saw these guys in town for a couple of weeks, while the trial was going on. They remembered me and would stop to talk. After that I never saw them again. Oh yes, they did get a kick out of one friend I occasionally road with. This friend was about 6 foot 3 in. tall, and weighed over 300 pounds. He road a Honda 165 dream. (not the same one mentioned earlier). But it was a comical sight. They never gave him a hard time either. He was riding. This is also the time I met my lifetime mechanic. He had taken over the Bridgestone dealership. He has owned 13 Harley’s but even though he hasn’t sold new motorcycles since the Bridgestone days. He does not recommend Harley-Davidson to anyone. He even refuses to work on them. WHY. I don’t know. Bridgestone 175 Twin (almost a BSA, It had the BS only missed the A) Bridgestone went out… Continue reading Motorcycle Season Part Two
It’s Motorcycle Season
Finally it is MOTORCYCLE SEASON!! Living in the northern part of the country we look forward to the time we can get our motorcycles out and ride, ride, ride. Yes we do ride during the winter. I usually get mine out and ride if the temperature reaches 30-35 degrees and the weather is agreeable. No Snow, Ice, Sleet, etc. It may be a short ride of only 3-5 miles, but at least it is a ride. Some people ride anytime. One of the guys I used to ride with many years ago, rode in snow, rain sleet, it didn’t matter. The reason was this. He worked part time for his father, (my boss). When he had his 16th birthday, his Dad wanted to take him out to buy him a car or truck. He knew how much I enjoyed my motorcycle, and opted for a motorcycle. I tried to talk him out of this choice, knowing how cold and snowy it gets around here. He wouldn’t listen. His Dad bought him a brand new Honda 165 Dream. He rode it in snow 4 inches deep. Just to get to school. It was about a 3 mile walk to his school. They didn’t send a bus around then. I guess you could say I started riding fairly young. Being a late baby. Most of my cousins were 10-15 years older than me. In fact I have 2nd cousins my age. My first experience I remember was behind cousin on his Harley-Davidson 74. I was about 5. I was never sure if my brother, who is 10 1/2 years older, actually had a motorcycle or if he just rode friends bikes. I know it had to be a secret when he took me for rides on an Indian Motorcycle. Perhaps that is why I have a soft spot for Indians. I almost bought one once. It was a heck of a deal. I had been out of work for about 6 months. I just started a construction job. Not really knowing anything about construction, I was only making $1.65 an hour. I had a wife and two boys. Next door to the construction site was an old Indian Cycle shop. The old guy who owned the shop I remembered from trips there with my brother. He vaguely remembered my brother and he and I would talk sometimes after work. One day he took me to back his shop. He still sold parts and occasionally repaired an Indian. Any way in the back of the shop he still had a couple of Indians in crates. I don’t remember the model that caught my eye, I only remember it was GREEN. He told me I could have it for $300.oo. But he was closing shop and moving to Florida, so I had only 2 weeks to come up with the money. I never was one to buy anything I couldn’t pay cash for. Now looking back I wish I had asked my brother to loan me the money. But I didn’t. One of my second cousins father drove a Borden’s milk truck. One Sunday they were having motorcycle races at a local track. He was a Harley rider and some of the stories he and his wife (my 1st cousin) could tell about riding in the 1940’s and 50’s. I only heard some of them a few years ago). Like the time he got to the next town before he realized she hadn’t gotten on, and had to go back to get her. Any how he would sneak us in while making deliveries, then pick us up when he came back to pick up the empties. It was a real treat, to watch the men race around the kidney shaped dirt track. I have owned only 4 brands of Motorcycles in my life. But I am running longer than I planned so I will stop here and pick up with Motorcycle Season next post. Remember April is “Get out and Ride” month. It isn’t what you ride. It is that you ride’ That Is How I See It. Views: 131
Seasons of the Year
I have just come to realization. We have SPRING which brings us BASEBALL. Warmer weather, not too hot nor really cold. We can get our Motorcycles out and enjoy a few rides. We have SUMMER, which brings us GOLF , hot weather, my least favorite, except I must admit I am partial to bikinis, and we can still enjoy swimming and of course riding our Motorcycles. Then come Fall. Which brings us FOOTBALL . A very nice time of the year, very similar to SPRING. Remarkable. Two season SPRING and FALL. SPRING which starts off Cold and Warms up. FALL starts off Hot and cools down. We can still ride our motorcycles. But we are getting to the point of having to winterize them. Then comes our Biggest Season. WINTER. Winter brings us BASKETBALL. Basketball is such a HUGE season we have to have Winter twice a year. WINTER, the only season we have two times a year. Now let me see. If I move South far enough…… I could still ride my Motorcycle, hmmmm. That Is How I See It. Views: 83
Gas Prices
Try as we might, the consumer can never figure when to buy gasoline. I play this game every week. Do I fill up Monday or wait for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or is Sunday going to give me the best price. Whatever day I pick I the price will go down the next day. But I have an SUV, a Pickup truck. a sports car, and a motorcycle. (Don’t misunderstand my truck is 23 years old, My SUV is 16, my sports car was a gift for me to fix, and occupy my time, and the motorcycle was given to me by a friend who at age 77 decided it was time to quit riding). So I buy gas on one day then go back the next with the other 3 vehicles. (I at least can save a little money on 3 out of 4 vehicles). The gas companies have conspired to raise the price of gas to $3.00 a gallon ever since they reached $2.00. They drove to get the price to $2.00 ever since they attained $1.00. They always have an excuse. We didn’t produce enough gas. Crude oil prices are up. (which I feel they control to an extent). We had an oil spill. The demand for gas is too high. The gas demand is too low. And my favorite. It’s a Holiday. Whatever other reason they can think of. It is always “NOT MY FAULT” with them. A year or two ago our government was saying “we must curb our driving habits to cut down on gas consumption. Then when they realized the loss of tax revenue from our driving less,; using less gas. They wanted to raise our gas tax if we didn’t pick up our usage. We are in a catch 22. Not all us are able to go out and buy the electric cars that government is pushing. (They really don’t look that safe to me.) For city driving they may be okay, For those of us who live in a rural area and have to drive 50 plus miles to reach a city big enough to support charging stations. Retirees? Sometime they purchase one last car as they retire, knowing they can’t afford new car payments, taxes, plate fees, and insurance on a new car. Gasoline companies your days are numbered keep raising prices and you force people to switch to electric cars, bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds. We once had steam cars and they could get us from point A to point B quite effectively. Horses worked pretty good for a long time. I could see a time when mini cities will spring up with all the things people will need can be shopped, bought and delivered to my house. The bygone (in some areas) trolley car can be revived to take people to anywhere they want within the mini city. That Is How I See It. Views: 134
