CONTENTS
A dvertiser I n de x
FEATURES
H-D Baltimore Open House Freedom To Ride 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 Timonium Bike Show Pirelli Angel ST
American Tattoo 22 Big Falls 38 Bikers Point 26 Blue Collar Cycles 41
___
Columns
Budwieser 14 Candice Clough Insurance 7 Cavanaugh Law Office 9 Charm City Choppers 1
__________ 3 4 15 46 47
REPORTS
Boomers Sports Bar 31 Cactus Club 22
12 20 39 44 46
DEPARTMENTS Page 3 Girl News Hottest Bike Nights BTR Kids Rides,Runs and Destinations
Against The Wind 40
18 24 27 32 36
Women’s World Motorman’s Test Ride Craven Moorehead Motorman’s Mean Streets CMA
Issue #1 May 2010
Dan Grinde Cycles
10
Dave’s Trailer Sales 28 Elite Bail Bonds
23
Excape Club 30 GK Construction
16
H-D Baltimore FC,19 H-D Shenendaoh 23
____________
Hotseat Q&A ABATE Laying Down The Law Iron Order On The Run Shop Talk Biker Movie Review Ride Across Maryland
7 8 9 17 35 41 42 48
ON THE COVER
_______________________
Harley-Davidson of Baltimore (410) 238-2003 www.HDStore.com
John Grason Turnbull III 26 MAWMR 10 Mid Atlantic Motorcycle Hearse 38 Oasis Bar 16 Performance Machine IBC Renegade Classic 16 Resort Motorsports 10 Ride Across Maryland BC Shaffer’s Motorsports 31 Sisters of Chrome WMC 11 Speed FX 45 Sport Bike Services 26 TY’s Cycle
31
Verizon Wireless IFC Viridian Energy
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The information contained herein is provided by Born To Ride Magazine or by its advertisers. BTR makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information in the issue. Born To Ride Magazine does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information throughout this magazine. Use of such information is voluntary on your part, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after your independent review. Reference herein to any specific manufacturer, company, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement of or recommendation of said by Born To Ride Magazine.” “Born To Ride Magazine (including its employees, contributors and agents) assumes no responsibility for consequences that may result from the use of the information herein, including the use of the information oabtained at www.borntoride.com and it’s linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information, including (but not limited to) errors or omissions, the accuracy or reasonableness of factual or scientific assumptions, studies or conclusions, ownership of copyright or other intellectual property rights, and the violation of property, privacy, or personal rights of others. BTR Magazine is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. No guarantees or warranties, including (but not limited to) any express or implied warranties are made by BTR Magazine with respect to such information contained throughout the site.” No part may be copied without written permission of the publisher, Born To Ride, Inc. P.O. Box 3021, Brandon, FL 33509. 888-795-5779, Fax 813-689-2996.
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SeeourAdonPage16
Letter from the publishers
Welcome to the new Born To Ride Delmarva magazine covering the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia area. We would like to introduce ourselves my name is Mitch Jordan and my Co Publisher is Steven Baldwin. We are proud to be a part of the Born To Ride family. Steven and I both love the motorcycle lifestyle and we both ride every chance we get. Steven has been riding for over 30 years; I have been riding for 5 years now and we both share the passion for the open road. We would also like to thank Ron and Debbie Galletti the founders of Born To Ride for this amazing opportunity. As the new co publishers of Born To Ride Delmarva magazine we would like to thank all of our new readers for picking up a copy of the magazine and hope you enjoy it. It is our goal to be the number #1 choice for the motorcycle enthusiast. So please don’t hesitate to tell us what you would like to see in your magazine. Your opinion is very important to us. During the 2010 riding season we will attend as many motorcycle events as we can – and we hope we see you all there. If you see us please feel free to say hi and get your picture taken and who knows you might be in the next edition of the magazine. We plan to give our readers great stories of the open road; and a Woman’s World column for all of our female riders. We’ll be out on the road to bring you comprehensive event coverage— with the hottest bike nights in your area. Motorman offers the latest test ride on the hottest newest bikes. Our shop wrenches will give you tech tips to keep your bike running like new; and the Phantom will give you his perspective on biker movies. This is just the beginning; we promise to bring you new and exciting articles every month, so make sure you pick up the newest edition at a location near you. We would also like to thank all of our vendors that support us, without their support we would not be able to bring you this great publication. In return, we urge all of our readers to please support these vendors who support us so we may continue to be your #1 Motorcycle resource for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia area. Mitch and Steven
Welcome bikers of BTR Delmarva. Mitch and Steve are ready to deliver a quality magazine every month to you the biker community. As the national publisher I would like to say BTR is about the life and times of motorcycles and the people who ride them. We are bikers who understand the needs of the industry and look foward to helping your business grow! Please support the advertisers who support BTR. Ron Galletti
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born to
welcome to born to ride magazine from steven baldwin and mitch jordan
May celebrates women riders month
Women riders make up more than a third of the motorcycle population and it’s the fastest growing part of our industry. We are proud to feature women riders in Born To Ride Magazine every month. We always will be looking for interesting stories on women who ride. Check out Women’s world on Pg.12 and read a wonderful story. Lets not forget that May is also the month of Mother’s Day and we wish happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there.
Join Harley-Davidson and the rest of the world in honoring women who have taken life by the handlebars. During May, H-D® dealers from across the globe are hosting rides and parties that celebrate women riders. Check out the Women’s Event Calendar or contact one of your local H-D® Dealership for details. And if you can get to Milwaukee, catch the event May 22 – 23.
It’s a video that’s landed one man in serious trouble with the law. As Kelly McPherson reports, police are now going after the man with the camera. It was a highway confrontation caught on camera. “Get off the motorcycle, get off the motorcycle. Get off the motorcycle, state police,” yelled the officer involved. The video is causing a stir online but also with state police and now the Harford County state’s attorney. Fitted with a helmet camera, Anthony Graber was recording his ride when an unmarked trooper car pulled him over for speeding. “I was afraid. I thought the person, at the time I didn’t know it was an officer, was going to shoot me,” said Graber. The father of two and Air National Guardsman could go to prison for recording the audio of the traffic stop ultimately because he posted it on YouTube. “I posted it on YouTube because my mom was worried about the legality of it, and she was upset that a police officer pulled a firearm on me because I’m not a criminal,” said Graber. “When that plain clothed trooper witnessed
this, initially he got out of his car, he held that gun at his side, momentarily when he saw the situation was under control he quickly put it away. He never pointed it at the individual. We think he acted appropriately,” said Greg Shipley, Maryland State Police. State police saw the video online, reopened the investigation and turned Graber’s traffic ticket into reckless and negligent driving charges. “Anybody driving over 100 miles per hour on one wheel up Interstate 95 ought to expect to be pulled over,” said Shipley. Maryland is a two-party consent state. That means you can’t record somebody without telling them. It’s a felony to break that law. That’s exactly what state police told the motorcyclist when they came to his house more than a month after he’d been pulled over. “I don’t want to go to jail. I haven’t really done anything wrong. It wasn’t a violent crime. No one was injured. No one was hurt,” said Graber. That ultimately is to be decided by a judge. By Kelly McPherson
traffic stop video in maryland is spreading across YouTube
Check Out The All New Events Page at BornToRide.com
ride news
hines rides harley v-rod to nhra drag win in houston
BORN TO RIDE Delmarva Magazine 209 Eastern Blvd. Essex, MD 21221
National PUBLISHER Born To Ride Inc. Ron Galletti rgalletti@borntoride.com
Delmarva PUBLISHERs Mitch Jordan mitch@streetthrottle.com Steven Baldwin steve@borntoridedelmarva.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Susan Hurst
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jesse Williams content@borntoride.com jwilliams@borntoride.com
EDITOR AT LARGE Scott Odell
ART DIRECTOR
Nick Betlow nbetlow@borntoride.com
ART DEPARTMENT
Nick Betlow, Frankie Schell, Chip Deitrick art@borntoride.com
Director Of Photography Jesse Williams
HOUSTON, Texas – Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines prevailed in a battle of class champions to win the Pro Stock Motorcycle competition at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Riding the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson® V-Rod®, Hines defeated defending class champion Buell rider Hector Arana in the final round of eliminations to claim the 19th Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of his career. “This was not only a great win for HarleyDavidson, but also for Vance & Hines,” said Andrew Hines. “This is the first time this organization has ever
won at Houston. We’ve never won here with Harley. My brother Matt never won here, and my dad and Terry Vance never won here. It goes back a long way so we are really excited.” Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
CREATIVE CONSULTANT Jim Miller
WEB MASTER
Nick Betlow info@borntoride.com
BTR KIDS DEPARTMENT Tyler Baldwin
Contributors
Neale Bayly, Paul Garson, Rouge, Craven Moorehead, Jim Miller, GearBox Greg, Chip E. Fresh, Eileen Katrick, John Chaney & Drivetrain Jane
Photographers
Steven Baldwin, Mitch Jordan, Chip Deitrick, Cathy Gootee, John Chaney, TJ Morgan, Neale Bayly, Scott Odell, Cara Bien
Sales Department
Deleware State Wide Chip Deitrick (302) 299-6612 Virginia State Wide John Chaney (540) 679-0137 Mid MarylandEileen L. Katrick (443) 829-5290 Eastern Shore Cathy Gootee (443) 829-5290 Northern Maryland Chris Adams (301) 257-5726 South Western Maryland Eric Price (301) 536-3857 South East Baltimore Debra Kinnear (410) 812-2888 Metro Baltimore Shakira Del Fresno (410) 935-2509
Sales Office
CALL: (410) 497-RIDE FAX: (410) 686-2427
Born To Ride Inc. Corporate Office
Send in your News to content@BornToRide.com
CALL: (888) 795-5779 FAX: (813) 689-2996
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Rick Raus
It’s not every day we get to sit back and talk shop with the marketing gurus in the motorcycle industry. Rick Raus has been in the industry over 35 years and currently owns V-Twin Marketing. He’s seen builders and products come and go; we caught up with Rick during Bike Week in Daytona and ask him to give us a little insight about the current market and what he sees for the future.
Rick, first let us say thanks for taking the time to chat with us, we know you’re a very busy man. So tell us what you do in the industry?
Q:
A: I consult companies in the motorcycle
industry; trying to make sure that things come out good for my clients —from a marketing standpoint I have to stay on top of the industry. I love it, it’s my passion, it’s also my life. You
can have the best product in the world and if you don’t have proper marketing it’s not going anywhere. Also, you can have the worst product in the world and with the best marketing it’s going to succeed; but you’re only going to fool somebody for just a short time. Q:
How important is a marketing plan?
A: You have to take care of your core audience, which are the motorcycle enthusiasts. You have to be able to reach them through vertical publications (motorcycle magazines and magazines that cater to motorcycle enthusiasts). Every year requires new marketing techniques; as a matter of fact a friend of mine has taken his company to a whole new level just changing his marketing strategy.
How is it to work with Performance Machine (PM)?
Q:
A: PM is one of the most professional
organizations that I’ve dealt with. It’s part of a gigantic conglomerate, which is MAG owned. They own about 10-12 of the largest companies
in the industry. PM has been in business for 40 years now; they make by far the best product.
How is the industry and marketing these days?
Q:
A: The craze has slowed down a little bit
because all the people who thought that they were rich when they had equity in their home, and now they don’t. But the market is back to normal and steady growth.
What can a smaller shop do with a small budget?
Q:
A: A small dealer can do things— put together a program for public relations in their area, put on rides, put on events, get behind charities in their location. Small dealers have various opportunities to market themselves in their local communities. Find a good media partner like Born To Ride!. If you would to contact Rick Raus email content@borntoride.com
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN – Sharon Keaton
The 2010 General Assembly session has wrapped up for now, they will re-convene to hammer out a state budget in April. There were a total of 2,964 bills introduced, 1,598 bills were passed by the House and the Senate, 1,093 bills failed. Keep in mind this all happened in a matter of 60 days, your rights in jeopardy every minute of those action-packed days in Richmond. Here is the outcome of some of the legislation introduced effecting motorcyclists. HB 1267 Motorcycle helmets; reduces penalty, provides for a $25 civil penalty for motorcycle helmet violations, without imposition of any court costs. (Currently a helmet violation ticket can cost you $250 or more with court fees, and may increase your insurance premiums) The committee hearing got canceled due to snow. It was re-scheduled for the following Friday. At the last minute the committee scheduled a make up day and heard the bill without even telling the patron about the change. Defeated in Militia, Police and Public Safety 14-Y, 18-N (Would modify current state code § 46.2-910) SB 321 Motorcycles; allows police officers to ride two abreast while on duty. Passed, approved by the governor. This particular piece of legislation is a huge thorn in my side. We tried to repeal the
side-by-side law in the past. When attempts at repeal were unsuccessful, we asked for a reduced penalty, which also failed. Currently citizen motorcyclists in Virginia who are ticketed for riding two abreast are subject to up to $2,500 in fines and a reckless driving 3-point license penalty. Police officers claim to be highly-trained, and therefore safe to ride side by side. There are 48 states that do not have a law against riding two-abreast and no statistics exist to back up committee members claims that this manner of riding is unsafe. In my opinion, this law remains on the books because law enforcement does not want to lose any lawful reason to stop and harass motorcyclists. HB 752 Traffic lights; allows motorcycles, etc, to proceed through intersections showing steady red signal. Failed - Passed by in Transportation committee with letter by voice vote 2010 is year three for submission of this proposal. There are many intersections where the weight of a motorcycle does not trip a red light to change. South Carolina ABATE recently successfully passed similar legislation, nine other states as well. We’ll keep trying. HB 297 Civil penalties for violations of noise ordinance. Authorizes the governing body of a locality to adopt civil penalties for violations of noise ordinances. Civil fines will not exceed
$250 for the first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense. Passed For obvious reasons, we opposed this bill, which passed overwhelmingly. My understanding is that this means county officials can pass traffic noise ordinances, enforce, and penalize travelers in any manner they see fit. Motorcyclists traveling across Virginia may discover varying noise ordinances and interpretations from county to county. HB395 Helmet use; exemption removal: operators and passengers riding on motorcycles with wheels of 8” or less. Failed Left in Police and Militia Committee This bill would strike language exempting rides of motorcycles with “wheels of eight inches or less”, basically meaning moped and scooter operators would be required to wear a helmet. We oppose any additional helmet-use mandates. While the House was looking at the current helmet mandate, we were hoping to have additional language changes added in committee that would have allowed freedom of choice for riders over 21. The bill died before the preferred amendment could be proposed. HB 579 Motorcycles; required to use muffler system in good working order that meets federal standards. Failed A House sub-committee recommended reporting, left in Transportation This was another bill we opposed and were pleased to see did not progress from committee vote. There were a number of other proposals with potential impact on Virginia motorcyclists; this is only a summary of some of the important threats to road riders in our commonwealth. Please note that VCOM, the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists, plays a critical role in helping us all muddle through the complicated legislative issues each session. VCOM founder, Tom McGrath, VCOM attorney, Matt Danielson, and the VCOM Director, Jim Cannon, all do a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes political work on our behalf. Also note, any place this article says “we” – I mean VCOM and ABATE concerned enthusiasts inclusively. We are working on strategy for next year’s legislative agenda – membership input is always welcome. Sharon Keaton, Executive Director ABATE of Virginia, Inc
Put Your Product in a Direct Market. Advertise Call (410) 497-RIDE btr 8 |borntoride.com
Check Out Born To Ride.com to read more ABATE Articles.
LAYING DOWN THE LAW With Brian A. Cavanaugh, Esquire To the readers of Born To Ride Delmarva magazine, let me first say hello and let you know a little bit about myself. For the past 20 years I have been a practicing attorney here in Maryland, dealing with a wide array of cases and situations. Motorcyclists encounter many unique situations on the road from specific laws to the ever so unfortunate accidents. As an attorney, I have represented motorcyclists in all phases of the law, including as Plaintiffs and Defendants. My understanding of the laws as they pertain to motorcyclists goes further though, as I myself
am one of you. As a cost saving measure, and I admit for some degree of fun, I exclusively rode my motorcycle as I attended college and law school, including riding through Maryland winters. Although I parked my bike several years ago, my love for riding will never leave me and I feel that in my position as an attorney, I can give back to the motorcycling community by helping to keep you aware of the ever-changing legal landscape as it pertains to motorcyclists and their unique concerns. In the upcoming months, I will be updating
you here in “BTR” about the new developments in the law to help keep you safe and within the limits of the law. Every state has their own set of motorcycle laws and safety regulations, and my goal is to help keep you, the Maryland rider, informed. Next time, I will talk about the latest updates to laws passed in these years’ legislative session in Annapolis and how they apply to you, the Maryland motorcyclist. In the meantime, be safe out there. Brian A. Cavanaugh, Esq. 410-2850022.
put your business in a
Direct market! Advertise now (410) 497-ride
Check out Born To Ride.com for more articles. Comment at content@borntoride.com
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WOMEN’S WORLD
Ginny and Critter Austin A Love That Goes Beyond Motorcycling
I am so thankful that I have a great relationship with my mom. She may not totally agree with everything I do in my life, but that’s what mom’s are allowed to do. She worries when I’m on the road all the time, when I’m at bike shows, and if my health is where it should be. The questions still come; am I eating the right things, am I getting enough sleep, and am I taking enough time for Susan. I must admit there are times that I get frustrated with the constant questions and worries. But it all boils down to one word - love. It’s unconditional love that she provides to me 24/7. There is absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for my mom. She’s the only mom I have. Moms come in all shapes, forms, attitudes, and interests. I am lucky that my job with Born To Ride allows me to meet all kinds of btr 12 |borntoride.com
interesting people. Today, I was the lucky one by meeting Ginny and Thelma Austin, a mother/ daughter team. Thelma Austin is a tiny little woman with spirit, determination, and a love for life that makes the crankiest person around her come alive with joy and elation. Her small stature garnered her the nickname, “Critter.” Critter’s daughter, Ginny, is the force behind her mom getting involved in the motorcycling world. “Mom is my best friend and my biker buddy. My life is all about mom and seeing that she enjoys every day. I got her involved in riding on my motorcycle with me after dad passed away 12 years ago. I didn’t want her to sit home alone. So, I got her out on the bike and it’s just been one fabulous adventure after another with her!” Ginny decided to put a trike kit on her 1991
Harley so their long trips together would be more comfortable for both of them. With that, she got a little pull behind trailer that they use to put their tent and camping supplies in. “When we go on our longer trips, we pull the Toy Hauler behind our truck and load the motorcycle in that along with the rest of our camping gear. We truly enjoy our camping and motorcycling activities.” One of their favorite places to go is the Great Smoky Mountains. “We park the Toy Hauler, set up camp, and from there we are on the motorcycle for days on end.” In September 2008 Critter and Ginny took a memorable 3300 mile trip north to her late husband’s army reunion in Ohio and surrounding states. This year they are planning their new adventure to San Antonio and New Mexico, checking out the Carlsbad Caverns as well.
Check Out Born To Ride.com to read more Women World Articles.
Happy Mother’s Day! Ginny added, “We visit anything in between our initial destination and everything on the way back home.” Ginny got started into motorcycling by watching her brother ride his bike. “I’d always watch him start his Eagle. It was a great bike and it even had a suicide shift. I asked him if he’d show me how to ride and he said no. So when he wasn’t home, I hot-wired the bike, rode it around, and fell in love with motorcycles. Since then, I haven’t been without a bike.” Critter will be turning 91 on May 19. I asked her how she maintained such an active and calendar-filled lifestyle. “I take NO medications! I wear NO glasses and I have all my teeth except seven. I volunteer once a week at a local Tampa hospital. I love to hunt, camp, fish, and
travel. In fact, 46 years ago I had heart trouble but my health just kept improving so I stopped taking medicines and I’ve been fine.” Critter loves to be with people. Ginny makes sure that her mom gets as much out of a trip – be it local or a long-distance trip – as much as she can. Just watching the two of them mingle among fellow bikers and friends is remarkable and heartwarming. When the music starts playing, watch out! You may find yourself dancing with Critter! She loves to dance and party with everyone! Ginny added, “Mom has friends all over the country. We have met so many people from all walks of life at the major biker events. In fact for her 90th birthday party, people came from all over the USA to Tampa to celebrate mom’s birthday.”
What is her philosophy for maintaining such a great attitude and look on life? “I don’t argue and I won’t argue. If someone is nasty, don’t hold it against them. Instead, feel sorry for them that they aren’t as nice as you are.” I had such a pleasant time talking with Ginny and her fabulous mom, Critter. I thought about how lucky I was to have my mom and how lucky Ginny is to have her mom as well. The memories that we share are plentiful and beautiful. In closing, Ginny said, “You only have one mom. Appreciate her.” Until next time, Ride safe and free… Susan Hurst
Do you have a great story to share? Please drop me a line at: btrwomensworld@yahoo.com
Did you know: The US recognized Mother’s Day as a holiday in 1914 following a campaign led by Anna Jarvis.
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Hottest BIKE NIGHTS
M O N DAY
Advertise to get your Bike Night Listed!
T U E S DAY Trader Lees
West Ocean City, MD • Rt.50 & Rt.611 • 410-213-200
W E D N E S DAY Smitty McGee’s Raw Bar
Selbyville, DE • 102 Bayville Shopping Ctr. • 302-436-4716 Hooters
New Castle, DE • 194 South Dupont Hwy. • 302-326-2526 Excape
Baltimore, MD • 10025 Pulaski Hwy. • 410-574-7941
T H U R S DAY Hooters
Rockville, MD • 1584 Rockville Pike. • 301-230-2134 Hooters
Waldorf, MD • 360 Crain Hwy. • 301-638-9464
F R I DAY Cactus Club
Salisbury, MD • 200 Columbia Dr. • 410-546-3599
S AT U R DAY Hooters
Rockville, MD • 1630 East Joppa Rd. • 410-769-9464 Hooters
Laurel, MD • 14707-B Baltimore Ave. • 301-362-5668
S unday Buck’s Store
Princess Anne, MD • 33594 Dublin Rd. • 410-957-6518 Oasis Bar & Grill
Whaleyville, MD • 7539 Old Ocean City Blvd. • 410-641-2100
Get your bike night listed!
ADVERTISE WITH BORN TO RIDE
Call 410-497-RIDE Responsibility Matters borntoride.com |btr 15
Iron Order MC
July of 2004 Iron Order MC was founded in Louisville, KY. Iron Order MC is dedicated to Brotherhood and the experience of sharing the road together. They believe and live the traditional MC lifestyle of the 50s and 60s. They believe strongly in their rights and freedoms and will not let anyone stand in the way of their beliefs. They are a law-abiding MC and have members from every walk of life and career. There are 70 + chapters in the USA and there are some international chapters also. They don’t support any other clubs and are not a 1% club. The Eastern Shore Virginia Chapter recently just celebrated their 1st year anniversary. The pictures show they had a great time—and had several other chapters come celebrate it with them. If you would like to know more and or contact them, you can go on their website @ www.ironordermc.com. Check Out Born To Ride Magazine Online to read more Reports
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Open House
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Visit Harley-Davidson of Baltimore at 8845 Pulaski Hwy. or call 410-238-2003
Motorman’s Test Ride
For 2010, the Motor Company introduced 10 new models. One of which, the Ultra Limited, is the subject of this review. In addition to the long lists of standard features of the regular Ultra, some of which include a CB radio, CD player, four speaker stereo and cruise control. The Ultra Limited adds the 103 motor from the police bikes, standard ABS brakes, heated grips, tour pack power supply, custom two-tone paint schemes and a tour pack luggage rack. All of this adds up to an MSRP of $24,699 and
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$24,899 for the two available custom twotone colors, Merlot Sunglow—Cherry Red Sunglow and White ice Pearl/Black Ice Pearl. If the price seems high, consider if you added these items to the Standard Ultra. It would cost even more and you still wouldn’t have the custom paint job. The fact is, the Limited fills a niche between the Standard Ultra and the Screaming Eagle Ultra. The styling of the Limited remains unchanged. It is after all a true American classic. Underneath, remember the chassis was completely redesigned in 2009? That redesign turned the touring line into a state of the art motorcycle. The new chassis
“The 103 motor gives the Limited considerably more torque than the 96 motor and a few more horsepower as well.”
allows the Ultra Limited to be capable of a 33 degree lean angle to the right and a 31 degree lean angle to the left before metal parts hit the tarmac. For comparison sake, the Standard Fat Boy offers only 27/26 degree lean angle. That means on your favorite winding road, this 900 lb touring bike will leave the Fat Boy as well as many other cruisers and touring bikes in the dust. The new chassis also makes the Ultra Limited, as well as all of H-Ds touring line, very smooth. At idle, the Limited is 50% smoother than pre ’09s and at least 30%
Check Out Born To Ride Magazine Online to read more Motorcyle Reviews
2010 Harley-Davidson electra glide ultra limited smoother at speed than previous years. Also new for the 2010 model year is a Helical cut 5th gear which effectively eliminates the 5th gear whine of all previous six-speed Harleys. The 103 motor gives the Limited considerably more torque than the 96 motor and a few more horsepower as well. In side by side roll-ons with the 103 and the 96, the Limited will walk right away from the smaller motor in every gear at all speeds. The 103 along with the oil cooler, was used in Police Motors since 2007—so it is tried and trued in severe conditions. Personally, I think the 103 should be
standard or at least optional across the touring line. Out on the open road the Limited is pure delight. The rider’s seat is comfortable for allday rides. The passenger too has an extremely comfortable perch as well with the supportive and adjustable backrest/tour pack. Cruising down the Interstate at 80 mph in 6th, the rider is enveloped in a virtual cocoon. If more air is needed simply open the adjustable vents on the fairing and the lowers and catch a breeze. Crank up the four- speaker stereo, communicate with the passenger via the
Did you know: A 1973 film starring Robert Blake as a motorcycle cop was called “Electra Glide in Blue”.
intercom system and just enjoy the ride. As mentioned earlier, you can even enjoy your favorite winding road with the excellent handling the Ultra Limited provides. The Ultra Limited provides every luxury feature the touring rider needs. Of course if you want a little more the most extensive OEM accessory catalog in the business is available at your local dealer. For a closer look and a test ride, head over to Harley-Davidson of Baltimore at 8845 Pulaski Highway, Baltimore, MD 21237. Call and ask for Jerry Towns at 410-238-2003 and don’t forget to tell them you saw it in Born To Ride. -Ride Safe... Ride Like a Pro Team
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FREEDOM
W
TO RIDE
A TRUE AMERICAN HERO
hen you look at a motorcycle during a bike show or passing on the street, do you look at the bike and think, “man that’s a nice bike” or do you wonder if there is a story behind it? In this case, there is a huge story behind the 2005 Harley Softail of Debbie Higgins. I believe it starts with Honor. A soldier’s Dream of creating a memorial paying respect to his fellow ‘fallen’ soldiers; and soldiers before them that gave it all. United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal James Higgins Jr. envisioned a btr 24 | borntoride.com
monument that is real and has a huge purpose. To create an existing monument that would keep an account of our fallen heroes in current time is magical. Do you realize the power of a monument this incredible, it would grab a hold of our politicians, in government, by the heart and not let go. Why do we wait many years before we memorialize our loved ones who have passed during war? Whether you are for the war or against the war, know one thing, James was for you. During a mission in the Al Anbar Province, Fallujah Iraq, his convoy encountered
sniper fire; the young Marine was shot and fatally wounded at age 22—one week before he was to go home. That day his dreams were taken from him ... but not from us. Days before his assignment—James spoke with his mother Debbie for over 3 hours; describing in detail his plans for the soldier’s memorial. Debbie made him a promise; if anything should happen to him before he returned home she would follow his plans for the memorial. Now comes the Respect. Debbie, an avid rider has memorialized her son in a special and
Do you know an American Hero? Please send us your story email content@borntoride.com.
respectful way, herself. She has put over 250 hours into customizing her motorcycle in James’ memory. Her Harley has an amazing paint job created by Chris Nicholson from Toxic Art in Frederick, MD. The first thing you see when you look at the bike is the great portrait of her son in uniform and the American flag. (What a strong image.) Chris’s father-in-law assisted with some of the customization work. Of particular note, he made the exhaust for the bike from the header of his prized ’54 Chevy. The seat on the bike is “one of a kind” and the centerpiece of it all. The seat is fabricated from the door panel to
the Hummer unit James was with during his last battle. (His blood is still on it under 12 coats of paint.) The words Honor, Freedom & Respect are decorated around the bike and “Semper Fi” on the air filter, telling us all to be always faithful. The black, red, white marine colors are evident, with lots and lots of chrome. Debbie is very active in the biker community and is involved with many bike runs to benefit the National Fallen Heroes Memorial. Please look for ongoing events in support of this project, including bricks for sale to be installed in the walkways and visitor center of the memorial.
Many people are needed to help Debbie achieve the monumental goal of building this memorial. It will commemorate not only the Iraq war, but all fallen heroes in the 27 conflicts since Vietnam. We will follow Debbie’s activities and progress in this magazine so stay tuned for many events in the Delmarva area. To learn more about Debbie’s promise or if you would like to contribute to help build the New National Memorial visit www.NationalFallenHeroes.org. By Chip E. Fresh
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I
t’s easy for me. I’ve been wearing naked standard tinted glasses since I watched old KZ900s and GS1000s roaming the earth in the late ‘70s. Personally graduating to a Laverda 1200 by the early ‘80s, after a spotty youth in England on smaller displacement dualpurpose bikes, my path to man hood also saw a stint on a Honda CBX550. (Think early GPZ550 and you get a mental image of this European import) With high unemployment and ridiculous gas prices, we had no choice but to embrace the concept of owning one bike that did it all. It certainly made for a lot of seat time, and riding this style of motorcycle is hard wired into my motorcycle soul. We raced them through the lanes, took girls out on dates, and rode them to work on the rare occasion we had a job, or strapped our meager possessions onboard and took off traveling whenever we could. With no money for anything that came on four wheels, our motorcycles had to do it all. The situation is, and has always been, a lot different here in the States. Motorcycles are rarely anyone’s sole transportation, and ownership typically is more focused on the hobby side of the equation than the practical. To me, this is one of the reasons that this style of motorcycle has never gained the cult status it enjoys in Europe. It’s not for lack of choice either! Triumph has the well-respected Speed Triple, Ducati the wild Hypermotards or more
Did you know: Kawasaki introduced the Z1 motorcycle in 1972, four years later they introduced the Kz900.
civilized Monsters, Yamaha the FZ1 and so on. All fantastic motorcycles but still not one of them has taken this niche to it’s full potential. Kawasaki joined the mix with the first Z1000 in 2003, which I personally found to be a fantastic motorcycle. Able to get around a racetrack at a pace that was capable of embarrassing a few sport bikes, it was also mighty comfortable for sport touring and around town duties. Apparently the American motorcycling fraternity didn’t share my enthusiasm, since the bike was discontinued. The good news is Kawasaki wasn’t prepared to give up on this class of motorcycle and have addressed the issues that were raised by bringing out the all-new 2010 Z1000. Styling of the new 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 is definitely going to provoke some conversations at your local bike night. The first time I saw one in the flesh I was very undecided, and it took me a full day with the bike in California to say, “Hey, this thing looks really cool.” It is more of a naked sport bike than a naked standard, although the lines are definitely a little blurred here, but whatever your opinion it’s going to turn heads. Invited to Kawasaki’s headquarters in Irvine, California recently, I had the chance to spend an interesting day in the saddle and came away with a very favorable impression. With a long-term Speed Triple in the Bayly garage, and a recent test of the new Ducati Hypermotards, borntoride.com |btr 27
“Kawasaki
immediately wins the sophistication award, with its silky smooth 136 horsepower engine and roomy ergonomics.”
it was a great opportunity to test the new Z against a pair of other naked standards. As the four-cylinder representative in this group, the Kawasaki immediately wins the sophistication award, with its silky smooth 136 horsepower engine and roomy ergonomics. The other two just feel more raw and unrefined, and there’s nothing wrong with either if that’s the experience you are after. But the Kawasaki is just so much smoother and even though it’s a bigger, heavier bike, it’s more maneuverable at low speed. This is due to a low and narrow seat, and faultless throttle, clutch and gear operation. Super light and easy to modulate controls, this combination gives so much confidence in traffic or navigating crowded gas stations it’s easy to quickly feel at one with the big Z. On first look you could be forgiven for thinking that Kawasaki just made some modifications to the exiting Z1000, threw on some new bodywork and called it a new model. Dig around under the aggressive and uniquely styled bodywork and you quickly see nothing could be further from the truth. Calling it a “Supersport-Type” engine, the Z’s power plant is not derived from either the old Z1000 or the current ZX-10R. Displacing 1043cc, it’s 90cc up from the previous model and nearly 50cc bigger than the 10R. Obviously it has more power, but for the new Z the goal was to make this more manageable. To achieve this aim, the new engine uses a slightly smaller bore, with an increase in the stroke size. This not only increases power, but also adds torque to give the bike a more muscular feel with the new figures hitting 136 bhp, it was the bike’s level of usability that impressed me most. There is never any sense you are on a ticking time bomb waiting to explode if you are not careful with the throttle. On a full-blown liter bikes, it’s easy to get caught napping and be way over the speed limit with out any sense of how you got there. (Honestly officer) With the Z1000, the power is always manageable and delivered smoothly and predictably without any unnecessary sensitivity during the throttle application. This smoothness is also in part due to the new Keihin 38mm throttle bodies that use oval-type sub btr 28 |borntoride.com
throttles to keep things as narrow as possible and give sharper throttle response and better low and mid range performance. It’s hard to tell without riding the old model with the new back to back, but there are no complaints from me about how strongly the bike pulls from low rpm. It actually is one of the easiest bikes I’ve ridden in a while in traffic. With the light clutch, and wide bars aiding the silky smooth engine, it is not difficult to modulate the controls to make progress when battling slow moving cages in the city. Even the dimensions of the new engine are different this year. The crankshaft has been lowered to allow the longer stroke, and this has allowed it to be very close to the size of the original big Z. The engine is also smoother thanks to an additional secondary balancer that rotates in front of the crank.
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With less vibration from the motor, Kawasaki’s engineers were able to make the frame more rigid and this gives the bike better handling and a more relaxed ride. The engineers also put some cool innovation into the intake system. It’s not ram air, and there’s no performance gain, but it sure does sound cool. There is a pair of cool air ducts on each side of the fairing routed through the frame, and they take the air into a resonator chamber inside the air box to give the bike a more muscular sound. It makes a lot of sense, with ever tightening emission laws pipes are so quiet these days, with this new system you get the intake growl right under your chest when you yank the throttle cables. You get the sensory stimulation but your neighbors don’t, so full marks to the engineers for this cool innovation. On the subject of exhaust systems, the new Kawasaki uses a unique looking four into two
into two lay out, with a pre chamber under the bike that allows smaller canisters. They are a modern rendition of the old Z900s four into four set up and are a more attractive evolution of the previous Z’s system. I have included a photo of the Roaring Toyz custom Z1000 with the photos, as it comes with a very tidy looking Brocks Performance exhaust to show what the bike looks like when fitted with aftermarket equipment. With the new engine up over ten horsepower from the last model, Kawasaki designed a new aluminum frame. Dubbed a “Supersport” styled chassis, it uses five piece construction and is 8.8 pounds lighter, while boasting 30% more torsional rigidity. The new result is a more stable machine with better side-to-side handling and better ergonomics. During the press brief, this new improved handling was mentioned a number of times— and during our ride there was
Did you know: The first generation of the Z was a success, and now resides in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
no disappointment. The bike has an all-new aluminum die cast sub frame, where the previous model used steel, and it features removable three-piece construction. This new sub frame is a fantastic feature that eliminates the need for side covers, loses weight and makes it easier for the rider to put their feet on the ground. A great frame needs quality suspension, and there is a set of 41mm inverted forks up front with full adjustment options. The compression-damping feature is the addition for this year and the forks are very compliant over rough surfaces, without sacrificing stability at higher speeds. They don’t exhibit too much unsettling dive under heavy braking, are a very good compromise between handling and comfort, and add sophistication. The rear shock is a horizontal back-link unit with both shock and linkage living above the swingarm. It has pre load and rebound adjustment options, and is easy to adjust if needed. With the bike’s increased performance it’s no surprise to find a ZX-10R style radial brake set on the new Z1000, a pair of opposed piston calipers work with 300mm Wave rotors, and take fluid from a radial master cylinder. Action at the lever is precise and progressive, with no unsettling bite. There is a single piston caliper out back, with a smaller 250mm Wave rotor and the caliper is hung underneath the swing arm to accentuate the new five-spoke cast aluminum wheel. The new wheels have machined edges and a two-tone custom mag style for a high quality appearance. With its do all ability, I might not be able to get anyone to go on a riding date anymore, but I could certainly throw on some soft luggage and take the new Z1000 on an adventure. And I certainly wouldn’t have any objections to running around town on business, heading to the drag strip for a few passes or throwing on some race compound tires, dialing up the suspension and heading to a track weekend. Available in either Metallic Spark Black, or Pearl Stardust White the big Z is available for $10,499, visit St.Pete Powersports to ride your Kawasaki Z1000. Neale Bayly
Tell us what you think of the Kawasaki Z1000 email us at content@borntoride.com
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Timonium bike show plows
T
IMONIUM, MD - The 2010 Timonium Motorcycle Show took on the twin blizzards, the largest snowfall in the MidAtlantic states since records were kept and still delivered another great bike event to a packed house. “We plowed for 36 straight hours during and after the storm so that 90% of the available parking was clean and clear for the thousands of two-wheel enthusiasts who flooded the show site on opening day,” said Show Manager, Rich Kohles. Snow goers, who spent hours digging out of their neighborhoods, were rewarded with the largest displays of new, custom and antique motorcycles they had ever seen. “Even though the back to back three foot blizzards denied us another record crowd, it did weed out the lookers btr 32 | borntoride.com
and tire kickers and brought in a super high quality motorcycle attendee,” said John Leach, owner of Pete’s Cycles, who recorded a 12% increase over last year’s sales. The Timonium Bike Show was also loaded with internationally known bike builders who were eager to show off their latest creations to adoring fans. Celebrity builders included Dave and Jody Perewitz, Vince ‘Nobody’ Doll from Redneck Engineering, Jeff Kessel from ICE (Independent Cycle East) and Copper Mike from Gravesend. Other great builders with impressive custom bike shop displays were: Travis from Bio Hazardous, Mark Brown Studios, Dave from Brunson’s Customs, Roy from C & C Cycle, Bill from Connolly Custom Cycle Services, Brian
from Charm City Choppers, John from Custom Cycle Studio, Sean from Cycle Connections, Ron from Cycle Finish, Dave from Davz Customs, Frank from Death Row Motorcycles, Lee from Departure Bike Works, Tim from Eastern Performance Cycles, Brian from Kundratic Kustoms, Justin Alt Custom Designs, Krys from MSP, Kenny from MRP, Larry from McCullough Customs, Mike from Pin Point Customs, Angel from Sparkling Image, Diego from Triple Plate Customs and Wayne from ‘In The Weeds’. Discovery Channel’s hot new motorcycle series producer and co-host Jay Barbieri was on hand with camera crew shooting footage for upcoming April episodes. Norm with Eastcoast Biker, Alfredo with Hardcore and Srinivas with
Photos provided by Timonium Bike Show and Born To Ride.
through twin blizzards
Our Trip Videos were also shooting footage and interviews all weekend for their on-line shows. The stage was full of excitement throughout the show with Hooters’ girl competitions, biker apparel shows, frozen t-shirt contests, Harley Davidson ‘Baltimore Ravens’ bike give-a-way, Valentine’s Day lingerie shows, tattoo and bikini contests and more. J-Woww, star of MTV’s new hit TV series ‘The Jersey Shore’ was on hand for the TV show’s look-a-like contests. Super model Coco was signing her calendars, meeting and photo oping with her fans that showed up by the hundreds. Playboy model Dj Kay Jay provided the
background music for many of the exciting events on the entertainment stage by spinning her favorite customized tunes. Over 260 motorcycles entered the 2010 Custom and Antique Bike Competition from all over the eastern United States. “The reason we continue to attract so many awesome bike entries is the quality and experience of our judges, the amount of time we take to inspect each bike and the fairness and honesty of the entire 26 hour judging procedure,” said Show Competition Coordinator, Lisa Shackelford. The top winners of the Custom and Antique Bike Competition were: Judge’s Choice Best of Show, Jeremy Cupp with his ‘08 Triumph, People’s Choice
Did you know: Powered StreetLuge established World Speed record at 145.17mph.
Best of Show, Gary Sharp with his ‘08 Honda Gold Wing, Best Display of Show, Jeff Hall, Bev and Wayne Nowicki with their Dungeon Display, Best Handcrafted Parts, Shane Ramey with his ‘09 LC Fabrications – Birmingham Bee-Liner, Best Paint of Show, Jim Kirby with his ‘02 Dyna SuperGlide and Best Antique of Show, Kevin Grubb with his 1913 Rudge. Next year’s show is set for February 11, 12 and 13, 2011. For more information, show photos, video and a list of the over 40 first place class winners, check out cycleshow.net. By Chip E. Fresh
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On The Run by Chip E. Fresh Sara Foxwell Benefit
The riding season is finally here – with the warm weather we have all been waiting for. Bike runs and bike shows are in full stride; you have to decide if you are going to take part and help out some great causes. Which rides to attend? I am going to make it easy on you each month by covering and promoting bike runs all over Delmarva so check back monthly. On April 17, the Oasis Bar and Grill in Whaleyville, MD hosted the Benefit Run for Sarah Foxwell. As many of you know 11-year old, Sarah Foxwell was kidnapped from her home three days before Christmas ... her body was found on Christmas day. (Over 3,000 people showed up at the Shore Birds Stadium in
Salisbury, MD on Christmas Day to help search and hope to find this little girl.) I am deeply saddened by her story; looking at her precious face and wonder why some people are so sick just breaks my heart. This tragedy made an impact on the biker community, also. There were over 400+ bikes in attendance and supported by numerous bike clubs and groups. I hung out with the folks from B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse), they are heroes in my eyes. The run generated funds which will be donated to the Sarah Foxwell Scholarship fund and the Child Advocacy of Wicomico County. The event was packed; the line for Whitey’s BBQ “I believe” wrapped around the whole
planet twice ... well, not that long but those of you who were there know the beer line was way shorter! A great solo singing performance from Willie Walker was an amazing start and the live music got things hopping later on. The atmosphere was friendly, almost too friendly. Mary, who was working the door, also worked the camera, “thanks Mary.” I took notice of a lot of nice custom bikes and met a ton of new great friends. It was a successful event and thanks to all of you who came out. Keep our kids safe, aware and educated by donating in Sarah’s honor to the Sarah Foxwell Scholarship Fund.
View Police Department, my home town, will carry the torch. Thank you, Ken and all The Mighty Marlins, from Born to Ride Magazine. To find out more information on becoming involved with the Special Olympics or making a charitable donation contact John Bubzy 302-831-3484 To get your Motorcycle run or benefit featured in ON THE RUN contact Chip E Fresh chip@streetthrottle.com or call 302-299-6612.
The second run was held on April 18, 2010 “Ride to the Tide IV” The Delaware Blue Knights – Chapter 1 organized this law enforcement fund-raising run. The run was sponsored by Jake’s Seafood restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE and FOX 21 News. The police escorted ride involved hundreds of bikes joining up from Newark, Smyrna, Seaford or Lewes, in support of the Special Olympics and ending at Jake’s for lunch. What are the Special Olympics you may wonder? The Special Olympics Delaware is an organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual
disabilities – through year-round sports training, athletic competition and related programs conducted for nearly 3,300 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Delaware builds sports skills, confidence, strength, motivation and self-esteem; not just for athletes but for everyone involved. So, I got involved and so can you. While at this event I had numerous incidents happen. To be involved with bikers from The Blue Knights, The Red knights, Legion Riders, Buffalo Soldiers and other riders who supported the event was a great pleasure. The police escorted run was a large turnout with huge packs of bikes coming in waves. The kids were watching as the bikes rolled in and excitement was definitely in the air. Multiple parking lots were overfilling with bikes and the riders were blessed to take part in helping out the Special Olympics. I would guess the numbers topped 2009s run of 428 bikes with 182 extra passengers, raising over $13,000 dollars for the previous year. As I spoke with Bert Littleton, President of The Blue Knights – Chapter 1, founded in 1993, I had no idea the commitment and dedication our officers give back to the Special Olympics and community while not on duty, as much as they do, year round. The Delaware Law Enforcement for Special Olympics supports the Olympic torch run and this year Ken McLaughlin, from the Ocean
Ride to the Tide IV
Check Out Born To Ride Magazine Online for more event coverage.
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Pirelli Angel ST Tire ...
You can’t hide your true nature for long!
M
aking our way through the mist-shrouded mountains of North Carolina with heavy rain hammering down with vengeance, Pirelli’s latest tag line for their new Angel ST sport-touring tire certainly rings true. Riding for the second day in succession, all of the journalists present had the opportunity to stay back at the Grove Park Inn for the day luxuriating at the Spa and stuffing their faces on the Pirelli corporate account. Yet, with the exception of one, all of them opted to jump in the saddle of the Triumph motorcycle of their choice and go play in the puddles. Some of us were just born to ride. Cracking my visor a tad to clear the fog, the rain is bouncing in every direction possible and going inside my helmet. My pants have decided today’s the day they quit being waterproof and my gloves are filling up from the inside out. Streams of water are running across the highway, and the low hanging swollen clouds seem to be moving in on us. Somehow none of this seems to matter as I watch with complete fascination how the bike ahead of me is leaving an almost dry line. Plumes of water fly up from the tires, and all the tech talk we listened to earlier about how the front tread pattern more efficiently clears water to allow the rear to have better grip is being proven in real life. Not to mention that Pirelli Pr Guru Peter Jones is setting a very brisk pace up front, and for such wet conditions we are really flying. The confidence the new Pirelli Angel STs evoke is settling. Obviously we can’t push the tires to their limit on a public highway, as the penalty for finding it would mean falling down, but we have certainly pushed them to a much higher pace than is normal for road riding. A pace that has come nowhere close to finding their limit. Making our way back to the Grove Park for lunch on the streaming wet technical roads around Asheville, this is a very comforting feeling, and the levels of grip available are wonderful. All new this year, the new Angel ST replaces the Diablo Strada that has been with us since 2004. With the new Angel ST being in development for close to two years and undergoing the most incredibly stringent testing program imaginable, expect to see it in production for a similar amount of time. This testing program includes 300 dry behavior tests, 25 wet behavior and braking tests, and more than 155,000 miles of testing in all weathers and conditions. These have all been conducted on a total of twelve different motorcycles, and the new tire has already set seven FIM 24-hour endurance world records. How does averaging 132.9 mph over this time with tread to spare sound? It also has increased lean angle performance btr 36 |borntoride.com
when compared to the previous tire, the best braking performance in its class, and the profile has been developed to maintain its profile when it starts to wear. Pirelli is also quoting higher mileage and a lighter construction to take this new tire to the next level. Throw in a neat Angel pattern in the center of the tread that will wear off after around 600 miles or so to reveal the Pirelli demon, and it’s not hard to see why Pirellis is such a highly successful company. During the parts of our ride when the roads were clear and dry, we also put the new Angel ST’s handling to the test with some very spirited riding. Obviously not testing back to back with another tire on the same bike it’s hard to make a comparison,
“ How does
averaging 132.9 mph over this time with
tread to spare sound? “
Did you know: Pirelli formerly made scuba diving re breathers.
but with my long-term Speed Triple coming on original equipment Dunlop Sportmax Qualifiers, I opted for one of the Speed Triples available to see what, if any, difference were noticeable. Almost immediately rolling out of the parking lot and twisting down into Asheville, the new Angel STs gave a markedly different feel. In the same way a more aggressive race compound tire or racing slick turns into the corners compared to a street tire, the Triumph tipped into the corners with more ease. The bike felt lighter and more composed, and overall gave a feeling of more confidence when ridden on the sporting end of the envelope. It is supposed to be better under braking and accelerating duties, and I have no idea if the improvement I felt was mental or physical for me at this point. The front tire can handle some hard braking without protest though, and no matter how hard I exited the corners, the rear stayed where it was supposed to. Talking with the Pirelli staff this is intentional.
They realize that Sport Touring riders are riding faster and more powerful bikes these days, and a lot of them are very serious about the sport side of the equation. In fact, at times during our ride, I seriously doubted that you could make any more time on a sport bike, and there is no way it would be as comfortable. And the best part of this is the new Angel STs have been built to give you higher mileage as well, so you can go faster longer. Pirelli has invented a short acronym for this (EMS) Extended Mileage Sport, and this is going to be a big selling point for those in the market for new tires. With Pirelli having the incredible World Superbike Series as an ongoing program for their tire development, those who opt to install the new Angel STs, next time it’s time for tires, will definitely enjoy the fruits of these labors. They will also be coming as standard fitment on certain new models and are available in a variety of sizes to cover most modern sport touring machines. Prices vary from $170 for the
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front tire, to between $212 and $247 for the rear, depending what size you want. The good news is there is a 190 series available for those with bikes in ZX 14 category, as well as smaller sizes for lower capacity machines. With progress marching on, horsepower figures rising, and expectation increasing, it’s good to see Pirelli is keeping pace with these demands. A lighter, better handling tire that last longer sounds like a simple formula on paper, but it has taken years of research and development, and some of the most vigorous and intensive testing you can imagine. The net result to us as end users is a better, safer tire, and out there on the mean streets of the real world, I for one will take any extra advantage I can get by Neale Bayly Photos by Sir Tom Riles
Check Born To Ride.com News for more photos from Neale Bayly
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CRAVEN MOOREHEAD
I don’t even know why I try to go to Daytona Bike Week every year. I’ve been going there for years and years, and admit that it used to be fun. Especially when you could ride over there with just a little money in your pocket, sleep on the beach, and party with people that just came there to be part of the action. Gas was cheaper, the scene was freer, and beer was only a buck or so. There was never a lack of hot looking girls, and most of them were eager to ride and party with any nasty looking scooter tramp that could kick start a Harley. I can remember back as far as when they used to not issue tickets for the girls displaying the magical orbs on the street for all to see! Hell, the cops would even pose for pictures with the girl if she was packin’ 36 or better and not sagging. Man, those were the good ol’ days alright. … Maybe all good things come to an end, but I just can’t see why. Commercialism I suppose is ultimately to blame. Nowadays it just seems that there are more and more expenses involved with having a good time. First of all, it’s difficult entering or leaving the area without getting some sort of traffic citation. You would think that the city and the surrounding areas would make enough money off the visiting bikers without having to
give you the gift that keeps on giving. No, I’m not talking about VD here, but that in itself is another opportunity for misery, and another story altogether. But seriously, it’s a mystery to me why after paying five bucks for a beer, and a hundred bucks for a roach infested hotel room, insult has to be added to injury by the local authorities in the form of a traffic ticket. Ahhh yeah, but the good ol’ days aren’t even a foggy vision to me anymore. Someone told me that the local news had reported that the cops had issued over seven thousand traffic tickets during the 10 days of the event. I guess that’s some pretty good income for the city as the average fine on most of those tickets is in the area of one hundred fifty bucks! Crap, I couldn’t afford to be out there for more than 4 days, and after having to pay an additional fee in the form of a ticket, I have ruined my budget for the return trip for Biketoberfest. Enough of my bitchin’ for now, I’m sure you would rather hear what happened when I returned to the trailer park. It’s always exciting here. It’s like living right in the middle of a lower middle class sit-com that you could only see on cable because of violence, nudity, and adult language. But what do you expect? No one here has a decent job, or a pot to piss in. Really I am fortunate enough to have a pot, or actually a joint compound bucket, but everything else out here is a vivid display of a region gone to hell. Dreams lately have turned into nightmares for some of us, and I have learned lately that the situation is pretty bad all over the country. I have lived in the trailer park for most of my life, so I had to learn to be creative. Some of my trade secrets have been recently revealed here in the magazine however, like last month when Spyke let everyone in on my Jacuzzi fashioned from a discarded bath tub and a fire pit. I am also credited with the invention of the original ‘beer bong’ when most of the bottles of beer exploded in the cooler, and instead of just wasting the beer, I rigged a piece of heater hose to the cooler drain, using a discarded piece of panty hose as a filter, and sat the cooler up on the back of the pickup to get elevation. I used a set of vice grip pliers to stop the flow when needed, and every drop of beer sans the broken glass and ice was joyously consumed by me and my friends. I’ve learned how to get free electric service, telephone service, and cable, and who
could forget the riding lawnmower I created from an old bicycle and a reel mower. When the economy failed, and foreclosures were abundant in the park, I was the original guy who would move dancers and strippers into the empty trailers and charge them rent! I know ya’ll saw that other dude on the news being arrested for the same thing, but he was just following my lead. Hell, I still have several happy strippers paying rent on trailers I don’t own, and since I was never destined to be famous, well - I’ll let the other guy have all the credit for that idea. Besides that I don’t particularly like jail. And on that subject, I guess it will be ok for me to reveal one of my better plans to all my dedicated readers. A shocking revelation came to me when I was watching the TV the other day. In all of his infinite wisdom Obama forces his will on the AmeriKan public with his brand new health care bill. Yeah, I know he overstepped his boundaries by forcing us to purchase something that we can’t afford, and the face of the government has certainly changed should this be allowed to happen, but wait - there’s more! I just figured out that we don’t have to worry about it at all! It’s so simple. If you don’t buy the forced healthcare, then the government will fine you. If you couldn’t afford to buy healthcare, then you certainly couldn’t pay a fine, so then the government will have to stuff your broke ass in jail. This is where it really gets good. You see, while your in jail you get FREE healthcare! WOW! What a great idea. Free lodging free food, and free healthcare. Seems to be pretty easy, and just think of all the free sex. … But I wonder if the revolving door will hit us all in the butt. How long do you think you can stay in jail for such a ridiculous charge? I mean, how can they keep you for a significant period of time for not having the money to pay for a fine for not having healthcare? Probably not too long, but maybe just long enough for you to get healthy! Remember, after they let you go, you still won’t be able to find a job, or pay the fine, or buy any healthcare, so you can hang out for a while, and plan on cosmetic procedures that the government will pay for when they stick you back in the slammer. I seem to have the perfect solution for everything, right? Too sad that it’s all so true. ….
Check out Born To Ride.com for more articles from Craven . Comment at content@borntoride.com
Craven Moorehaead
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SHOP TALK BLUE COLLAR bullshit here and Steven will keep you and your bike out of trouble and safe if you listen to what he tells you,” says Pat Amend of Dagsboro, DE. I can only believe every word ‘true’ as three of blue Collars last customers were unfortunate customers of a less quality shop and came here for help.
Blue Collar Custom Cycles I know most of you, like myself, have searched and searched for a reliable and affordable place to get you bike pampered. Well thanks to the biker community in Delaware for leading me the right way, I have found all your answers ... Steve Baker, owner of Blue Collar Custom Cycles in Selbyville, DE has been giving back to fellow riders since 2003. This is a real bike shop, where you have the feeling of being right in your own garage. The one man machine does all work, from oil changes to full blow custom engine rebuilds and everything in between ... himself. While I waited to talk with Steven on a busy Saturday, I learned almost more from his customers than from Steven himself. “I wouldn’t go nowhere else to customize my ’07Harley ultra-glide, you get no
Chip BTR- So, Steven what was your idea behind leaving a stable paycheck, working for Indian Cycles and going on your own? Steven- Well I got to the point where I was overseeing everything for Indian of Dover and I just felt the timing was right. I was tired of seeing everyone else get paid from my hard work and I thought, if I’m gonna work nonstop and still be broke, I might as well be the boss.
the most?
Steven- Well, Harley-Davidson is my specialty, but I am finding every kind of motorcycle coming in for something. For example I am going to be repairing or replacing an extended swing-arm on a CBR900 sport bike that another shop made a disaster of. I am familiar with every motorcycle out there and will fix or customize them all. Chip BTR- How do you see your company growing or expanding in the future? Steven- I am at the point now where I am doing
Chip BTR- What was your vision on customer
and making as much as possible. If I grow and hire more people I will lose the quality that I put into my work; and if I get into a bigger shop that means higher rent, which would mean higher prices to my customers. So this is where my shop will stay.
Steven- I wanted an open atmosphere shop. I
Chip- Do you have a favorite quote you tell your competition?
service you wanted to create when you opened?
wanted my customers to feel they were included in the work I am doing to their bike. No walls to block your view from the repair work, no rush service, and a real motorcycle shop feel.
Chip BTR- What type of bikes do you service
Check out Born To Ride.com for more Shop Talk. Comment at content@borntoride.com
Steven- Oh yeah ... “Don’t tell me what you’re
gonna do ... show me what you’ve done.” Dale Earnhardt By Chip E. Fresh
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BIKEr FILM rEVIEW
Mini-Skirt Mob:
This month Born To Ride reviews the MiniSkirt Mob, another in a series of horrible old biker films for your entertainment. In some cases “the older the more horrible” comes to mind when dealing with these movies. This one was produced in 1968, and rates right (down) there with the best of the worst! The plot bears more than a few similarities to Satan’s Sadists (which I have previously reviewed for BTR). In this case, it’s Shayne, the psychotic female leader of The “Mini Skirts” played by Diane McBain and her hair-do, stalking the innocent young couple along with
her ‘gang’ members. It seems that “Jeff” the man she’s after used to be “her guy,” but he got wise, dumped his rodeo/biker buddies and married some hot brunette girl from the local bank. This in my opinion was a weird mix. The connection involving ‘biker’ girls and rodeo guys never seemed to materialize. It looked more like a ‘hippie’ flick than a poorly made biker film. Anyway, here’s my best shot at explaining the plot. … Just as Jeff was preparing to apply the pork to his new bride “Connie,” all his old pals and the “Mini-Skirts” arrive at his camper trailer to party. This of course leads to a major fistfight, where Jeff and his new bride suffer the worst of the melee. Later Shayne the maniacal jilted blonde (and her hair-do) convinces the other ne’er-dowells to hang around with her, and continue to torture Jeff and Connie. As they chase them up a mountain road Jeff swerves and runs “LG” off the road crashing his motorcycle into a deep chasm. They return to find him dead, and decide to leave, but some boy scouts see all the action. The cops come later, and haul LG off. (You don’t see too much of the cops in this one oddly. ...) Later on, the gang finds Jeff and Connie camped out, and a couple of the guys rough Connie up while Jeff is out walking around. More psycho-babble from Shayne leads the gang to keep the couple trapped in the trailer with a rifle. That only works for a while, as Jeff tries to rig something up with the propane bottle, and the stove in the camper. As usual in these films one of the members turns on the other. In this case it’s Shayne’s sister, who wants to release Jeff and his bride and return to town. She knocks one of the rodeo rednecks out, and hatches a plan with Jeff and Connie. As she dons Connie’s clothes, the couple escapes while she fires at the
gang from inside the trailer. The gang retaliates with Molotov cocktails, leading to one of the ubiquitous gags where a stunt man wears a fire suit and runs around the desert while flaming away. Anyhow, I’m not sure where the beer (or the empty bottles) originally came from, but the blast from the exploding propane kills Shayne’s sister. In the end two of the gang chase Jeff and Connie through the desert, and Shayne’s motorcycle slips on the edge of a ravine and crashes down several hundred feet. Shayne is holding on to the edge for dear life and begs Connie to save her. Connie grasps Shayne’s hand but well you know … she kinda lets go as Jeff approaches, and the couple watches as Shayne tumbles to her death. As typical in these old reels, most of the actors were totally unconvincing. I found myself thinking- these aren’t real bikers or rodeo dudes! These are simply bourgeois B-movie Hollywood types earning a living at ruining their future careers. I think that during most of the viewings however. Biker exploitation? No. Waste of good Mylar? Probably. You watch it and decide for yourself. I can only recommend this piece if you have a burning desire to see hot Sixties chicks in mini-skirts, go-go boots and huge hair. I did like the old Honda and Triumph motorcycles, and of course since there was Budweiser, (still not sure where it came from) it got one star. It runs 82 minutes, is available on DVD from MGM’s ‘Midnight Movies’ series, and I can only (in my right mind) give it 2 stars because there was a glaring lack of nudity. (The second star appears because I LOVE cat-fights!) So grab a Bud and some popcorn, and we’ll see ya next month! Phantom
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Let us know what movies you would like to see reviewed.Email content@borntoride.com
MEAN STREETS Saftey Check I bet many of you up are really dying to get out and ride. That means you may be so anxious, you might forget to do a safety check on your bike that’s been sitting for so long in the garage. At the very least, check the tires for proper pressure. Don’t just look at the tires, squeeze them or kick them, check them with a gauge. Also, look at the wear indicators. If you’ve got spoke wheels, make sure they are tight, all of them. Check the headlight, both high and low beams. Make sure the signal lights and brake lights are all working. After starting the bike, turn the bars from lock to lock making sure the idle doesn’t rise or lower. If it does, check your throttle cables. Of course, check your fluids as well. If everything checks out, remember as you pull out of your driveway your tires as well as the pavement will be cold. That means a reduction in traction. Once out on the street, weave back and forth a bit to warm up the tires. Test the brakes by applying some pressure on both the front and rear. Gradually at first, then do a few quick stops and starts. Keep in mind rider skills are perishable. If you haven’t been on the bike in a few months, you’ll be rusty. Find an empty parking lot and spend at least half an hour doing
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a few quick swerves, U-turns, circles and side to side quick transitions. Increase your speed gradually. Once out on the road, remember to keep your head and eyes up and look at least 12 seconds ahead of your bike. Watch out for sand, salt or wet spots on the road. Keep in mind also that the cagers are even less likely to notice a motorcycle than usual. So, cover your brakes at all times. I just got back from Daytona Bike Week. More than half the people there were from northern cities and states and probably hadn’t been riding in months. That would account for some of the amateur mistakes I observed. Turning wide from a stop and crossing the centerline caused more than a few crashes. I also saw a couple of riders attempting a U-turn on A1A and running right into the curb they were staring at. If these riders can’t turn their bikes in 40 feet, what chance do they have when a car turns left in front of them? Remember, most crashes occur at intersections and at less than 20 mph. Consequently, everyone should practice their low speed skills on a regular basis. Till next month, get out there and practice. -Ride Safe... Ride Like a Pro Team Jerry Motorman Palladino www.ridelikeapro.com • Copyright2010
Check out Born To Ride.com for more Mean Street articles from the Jerry Motorman Palladino
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLists ASSOCIATION
I write the following words at the end of my column: “Keep those tires on the road and the wind in your face. Whenever you get a chance, look up. Ride Safe!” Why do I write that? Hey when we ride a motorcycle (especially a touring bike like I ride) it a good idea to keep the tires on the road. Things get a bit squirrelly when you don’t. Just the other night I watched a car come off a side road into the lane of the car next to btr 46| borntoride.com
me. Horns started blowing and I felt bad for the guy being cut off. Then I saw the car still coming over to the left into my lane beside me. I accelerated and moved as far to the left as I could – keeping my tires on the road, but he kept accelerating as well, coming at me until I was forced onto the median. He had not only forced me off the road but cut my son off on his bike as well. I found it’s hard enough trying to keep an Electra Glide up when you can see everything in the daylight riding on soft sand and grass, but a night it’s even worse. As I accelerated, so I could get past him and back on the pavement, he continued accelerating. I managed to get ahead of him and back onto the road, but it was a wild ride. This is the third time I’ve been forced off the road. That’s one reason I write ‘keep those tires on the road.’ I have also written “When you get a chance look up.” I’m reminded of what it says in the Bible, in Psalm 121:1-2 “I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven,
and earth, and mountains.” When I look up I am reminded that my strength comes from God. Later in the same Psalm in verse 7-8 we read “GOD guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.” I’m a firm believer in the fact that God watches over me. When I feel the wind in my face and feel the heat of the sun on my back I am grateful because it reminds me of God’s love and His faithfulness to me. If you desire to more about this God who watches over us, the next time you see a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association ask them and they will be glad to share with you. Ask them to pray over you and put a blessing on you and your bike. Until next month, God Bless you. Keep those tires on the road and the wind in your face. Whenever you get a chance, look up. Ride Safe! I hope to see you on the road. Dave (PK) VanderKlay
Check out Born To Ride.com for more articles from CMA.
Rides, Runs, and destinations Delaware
Saturday, May 1 • Georgetown - Broke Jokers Benefit Run, American Legion Post 28 – Starts 11:00 am – 302-249-3282 Sunday, May 2 • Seaford - Colonel’s Camp Barnes Chili Bike Run - Registration beginning at 9am - 302-337-8253 or 302-834-2620 • Wilmington - Four Seasons M/C Club May Day 2010 - Boston Market Prices Corner - Registration 10am Saturday, May 15 • Wilmington - NCC ABATE 1st Annual Ride In Bike Show - From 11am until 5pm - 302-252-8778 Sunday, May 16 • Lewes - Ride to benefit the National Autism Association – 12:00pm - 877251-8639 Saturday, May 22 • Dover – Nam Jam – From 2:00 – 10:00pm - 302-242-2232 or 302-242-0794 • New Castle & Smyrna - 1st annual Wheels for the Wall – 9:00am - 302-6588800 Saturday, June 5 • Smyrna - Mike’s Famous Harley Davidson Open House – 10:00am - 302-659-6400
Maryland
Saturday, May 1 • Baltimore – Renegade Classics of Baltimore Open House – 10:30am – 6:30pm – 410-574-7433 • Ocean city - 2nd Annual F.O.P. Lodge 10 Poker Run – Registration 10:00am 410-520-5330 Sunday, May 2 • Cambridge - Mid Atlantic Blessing of the Bikes – Registration 9:00am - 443-5210835 or 410-228-4757 • Perry Hall - Spring Fever Poker Run and Fish Fry - 9am until 5pm - 410-686-8981
Saturday, May 8 • Frederick - Rolling Thunder, Inc.’s “Salute Our Troops” - 11:am to 5:00pm 410-346-7880 or 301-694-8177 Saturday, May 15 • Laurel - 1st National Freedom Ride, Old Glory Harley Davidson – Registration 9:00am - 410-340-5349 • Whaleyville – “Rock & Box” Oasis Bar & Grill – 11:00am – Dusk – 410-641-2100 Saturday May, 22 • Hagerstown - Poker Run for the Cure, Cancun Cantina West – Registration 9:30 am - 301-606-5818 • Rosedale - The Blue Collar Riding Club’s 2010 Strip Poker Run – Registration 12:00pm - 410-679-4498 • Williamsport - CASA, Inc 1st Annual Benefit Ride – Registration 9:00am - 301964-1545 • Wingate - Poker Run and Pig Roast – Registration 9:00am - 443-995-4933 or 410-397-8489 Friday, May 28 • Gaithersburg- The Memorial Weekend Ride-In Movie - Beginning at Sundown 301-948-4581 Saturday, May 29 • Gaithersburg - Cook-Out and Concert – 12:00pm - 301-948-4581 • Reisterstown - Jillian Ride, Full Moon Pub and Grill – Registration 10:00am 443-324-1582 Sunday, May 30 • Ft. Washington - The Police Escorted Ride for Rolling Thunder XXIII – 9:00am 301-248-1200 • Gaithersburg - Remembrance Ride – 7:00am -301-948-4581 Friday, June 4 • Conowingo - The 2nd Annual Maryland Trauma Teddy Bear Rally - June 4th, 5th & 6th, 2010 - 443-559-6305 Saturday, June 5 • Columbia - Dick Gelfman’s Ride Across
Maryland – June 5th, 6th & 7th, 2010 410-992-9999
Virginia
Saturday, May 1 • Suffolk - Second Annual World’s Largest Poker Run – Registration 8:30am - 757288-7939 Sunday, May 2 • Poquoson - 3rd Annual Relay for Life HOPE Ride – Registration 11:00am - 757714-8827 or 757-570-2209 Saturday, May 15 • Fishersville - Ride for Ride with Pride – First bike out 10:00am - Sunny@ ccusa08.org • Madison - Madison Senior Center Second Annual Poker Run - 540-9484131 or 540-948-5045 • Palmyra - Palmyra Volunteer Fire Co 4th Annual Poker Run – Registration 9:00am - 434-589-5777 Sunday, May 16 • Portsmouth - The Spring Car and Bike Show, Bayside Harley-Davidson, - 757397-5550 Saturday, May 22 • Front Royal - Poker Run for Warren County Wrestling Team - 540-692-2050 • Palmyra - Knights of Columbus Poker Run – Registration 8:00am - 434-9622888 or 434-589-6158 • Bedford – Bedrock Tattooz Run for Pets – Registration 9:30am – 540-586-2445 Sunday, May 23 • Spotsylvania - Frazier-Mason Some Gave All Memorial Motorcycle Ride - 540548-2090 Friday, May 28 • Fairfax - The Ride of the Patriots to Rolling Thunder – May 28th, 29th, 30th & 31st - 703-966-8515 Visit BornToRide.com for more Events
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Dick Gelfman’s 10th Annual ride across maryland
On June 5, 2010, over 1,000 motorcyclists will rev up their engines and take to the road for an annual motorcycle ride and 3-day event in Ocean City, MD. These motorcycle riders, their passengers and others (in cars, trucks, mini-vans, etc.) will be participating in the 10th year Anniversary of Ride Across Maryland, founded by former Channel 13/WJZ-TV (Baltimore) anchor/reporter Dick Gelfman and his family, to raise money for the ongoing fight against breast cancer. In the past 9 years, the Ride Across Maryland Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, has donated nearly $1.7 million to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Maryland Affiliate. This year, our goal is to break the $2-million mark in donations to the fight against breast cancer! When the Ride began in 2001, the idea was to combine Dick’s love of motorcycles with a fundraising event that would benefit families affected by breast cancer. Dick sums it up: “It’s a winning combination. Bikers have a chance to… enjoy an amazing ride and spend their time and money to stamp out a disease that affects so many people.” The event will kickoff from several departure points around Maryland. The Mall in Columbia, the main departure point, will feature food, coffee, music, special appearances, and well wishes from WJZ-TV personalities and government officials. The 1,000+ motorcyclists leave The Mall en masse with a full police escort to the Bay Bridge – it’s a spectacular sight as they cross over the bridge in one huge group! The Ride is scenic and beautiful from every departure point, on every route traveled. Everyone ultimately meets at the Francis Scott Key Resort in Ocean City. The 3-day event features live entertainment, lots of food, vendors, give-a-ways, prizes, contests, exploratory rides, a Poker Run ride, etc. There is also a Grand Prize drawing of a motorcycle trip for two! Participants (riders and passengers), as well as people who want to come to the event in cars and trucks, pay a registration fee of $30.00 and raise additional money from family, friends, and co-workers to sponsor them. They receive premiums based on how much money they raise. This year, fundraising continues to be easy – you can have your own page on the Ride’s website, including a photo and an explanation of why you are riding. You can send emails to anyone about the Ride, ask for donations, and watch the contributions grow online as they are credited to your account. You can form or join a TEAM (different sizes) and compete for combined prizes. And, of course, you can collect donations in person and mail (or bring) them in to the Ride office, or to the Francis Scott Key Resort on the day of the event. Any questions, just call 410-992-9999 or log onto the Ride Across Maryland website (rideacrossmaryland.org), Check Out Born To Ride Magazine Online to read more Reports
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