BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 S Division Grand Rapids, MI 49548-5730 616-530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.com
SAVE up to $2,500 Offer is restricted to new, unregistered model year 2014 BMW K 16000 GTL motorcycles (auction units do not qualify) retailed through an authorized BMW dealership. Savings may be used for new BMW gear and accessories or as a purchase price reduction on a qualified BMW motorcycle. Ask your salesperson for details. Offer can be combined with other deals except as prohibited. Savings cannot be used towards tax, title, licensing or destination charges. Offer ends February 28, 2015.
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2015 Victory Magnum Envy comes standard. Life goes fast – make a lasting impression on the new Victory Magnum, our boldest bike to ever roll off the line. This big wheel bagger has the performance to turn heads, along with the style and sound to make people stop, stare, and listen. It ’s got a 21-inch wheel, slammed back-end, custom paint, and our best performing sound system ever — EVER ! Even sitting still, the Victory Magnum is never idle. Wherever it goes, it can’t be ignored. Base MSRP: $21,999
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Touring motorcycle riders are rolling up the miles on the innovative Cross Country Tour from Victory Motorcycles. It has the most storage space of any motorcycle in the world, unmatched comfort, superb performance and distinctive style. Pack everything you need, take to the road and relax for weeks. Base MSRP: $21,999
1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI One mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.ridemotorcity.com TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles 3
IN THIS ISSUE…..
Columns 5 7 8 8 12 13 cc media publications
This Month’s Contributors: Contributing Editors Patrick Armitage Nicole Espinosa Emily Flinkstrom Franz Hoffer Jay Wilgus plus
Vince Consiglio, Pat Francis,
Publisher/Managing Editor
14 17
To Our Readers Motorcycling and Law: FOIA Requests by Dondi Vesprini King of the Road by Pat Francis What is ABATE of Michigan? by Vince Consiglio Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle: When Serendipity Rides Pillion by Nicole Espinosa Live It Right Dream Ride: A change of Plans by Emily Flinkstrom & Jay Wilgus What to do When You Can’t Ride by Jason Waechter The Preacher Speaks About... A Classic - 1965 H-D Electra Glide by Franz Hoffer
Features, News & Reviews 6 15 18 18
The Bucket List Tour, Part 1 by Patrick Armitage 2015 Reader Survey New Harley-Davidson Red Brake Caliper Stop with Style Burst Performance Air Cleaner Advances SinisterDark Custom Style
Resources 5
Advertiser Index
Cover photo: Pat’s Gold Wing in the northern California redwoods druing his Bucket List Tour. Photo by Pat Armitage. Small cover photo: Jay and Emily in Central America during their Live It Right Dream Ride adventure. Photo by Jay and Emily.
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4
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February 2015
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Harley-Davidson .....................18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ....18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Bent Wheels Competition Club.................5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW Motorcycles of Detroit..................5, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW of Grand Rapids..........2, 5, 16 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW, SE Michigan..... .........8,9 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Brighton Harley-Davidson .......18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 C & S Harley-Davidson ...........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Capitol Harley-Davidson ..........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Classic MotorSports........,.........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Cycle Conservation Club ..........................7 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Diamond Gusset Jeans ...........................6 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Disorder Studio..................................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Gildner’s Harley-Davidson ........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Grand Rapids H-D................. ...18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Great Lakes Dual Sporters ...................7 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Great Lakes Harley-Davidson........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson ..........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Harley-Davidson dealers ..............18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..20 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Live It Right Dream Ride........................13 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Harley-Davidson ...18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Underwriters ......................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motorcity Motorcycles.................3, 17, 20 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 MC Sport Touring Association..........7, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 No Thru Road, Clement Salvadorii..........16 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Perry’s Harley-Davidson ..........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Retail Warehouse ................................4, 6 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sweet Trikes ...........................................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Tecumseh Harley-Davidson .....18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Town & Country H-D................18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D..............18, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012
Advertiser Index
Event Listings are FREE
The Bent Wheels Chapter of the CCC is looking for new members. BWCC has a long history of promoting events of all kinds and in preserving our ORV trail system. We are a family orientated, working club and ride the trails almost every weekend. If you’re looking for good times with great people - check us out. Contact Billy Vanderhoff by email at bentwheelsbilly@gmail.com. TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
Thank you for reading. We have a terrific issue this month with awesome work from Patrick Armitage, Nicole Espinosa, Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus, Vince Consiglio, Dondi Vesprini, Pat Francis, Franz Hoffer and Jason Waechter. We hope you enjoy this issue. Included in this issue is our 2015 Reader Survey. It has been at least a decade since we last asked you to provide us with some specific feedback about how we’re doing. The survey focuses primarily on your motorcycles and your riding habits. There are a couple of demographic questions but none too personal. We think we’re doing a good job in putting together this magazine but we don’t want to deceive ourselves. We want you to tell us what you like, what you don’t like and/or what you would prefer to read/ see. We would very much appreciate it if you would complete the survey and send it back to us by March 31, 2015. The names of those readers who complete the survey and return it to us will be entered into a drawing for $100. Any information you share with us is confidential and will not be given or sold to any other person or organization in its detailed format. We will use the general summary of the survey in conversations with our advertisers but will not disclose the details of who you are. The print version of the survey can be found on pages 14 and 15 of this issue. If you prefer to submit your survey electronically, you can visit our website at www.MidwestMotorcyclist.com and directions are included in the 2015 Reader Survey box near the top of the page. Admittedly, the electronic survey is a little clunky in its function but has been tested on both PCs and Macs and works if the directions are followed. If you
TRAILER SALES, RENTALS,
have any problems or questions about the survey, send me an e-mail to publisher@MidwestMotorcyclist.com or call me on my cell phone at (810) 923-8738. Thanks again for reading. I’m looking forward to getting your feedback and making the changes needed to make Midwest MotorcyclistTM / Michigan Motorcyclist® a more informative, entertaining and valuable publication for you.
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Friday, February 27 from 7:30 - 10 p.m. West Michigan’s premier wine tasting event at The Public Museum in Grand Rapids. Guests will choose from more than 300 international wine selections from around the world. In addition, they will tempt their tastes with over 25 tables of select gourmet foods provided by D&W Fresh Market. Attendees will enjoy these tastes as classical music by professional performers drifts through the halls. The event also includes 2040% discounts on wines ordered during the evening.
Michelin Tire Seminar Saturday, February 28, 2015 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ron Bowen from Michelin will be on hand to to discuss motorcycle tire contruction, performance, wear and maintenance. This is a fascinating seminar that will surely help you extend the life of your tires. No charge for the seminar. We will have food and refreshments.
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
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Latitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382
5
The Bucket List Tour, Part 2
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Retail Warehouse Phone: (269) 651-2464 Fax: (269) 651-8767 1640 S. Centerville Road (M-66 South) , Sturgis, MI
We accept all major credit cards Call (269) 651-2464 now or visit our on-line store at www.ridewild.com
6
14 days, 18 States, 2 National Parks, 6,938 miles By Patrick Armitage
The morning in Three Forks, Montana (MT), was 61º and clear. At the exit from I-15N to 287N, I found a grocery store and stopped for my first food resupply. By rearranging things and putting some things in the trunk, I made it all fit. I also bought a painkiller to try to stop a nagging pain below my right shoulder blade that had been bothering me for days. Later, when I stopped for my first fuel fill of the day and checked at the sky, things looked bad. The weather app on my I-phone confirmed that I would be riding in the rain and it was not going to be light. I put on my raingear. A few miles down the road, I ran into the rain. I rode for miles in a chilly downpour. Just south of Browning, MT, the rain let up and revealed a cow on the road. That could have been a bad encounter in that downpour. I passed more cows on the shoulder with a couple of cowboys herding them. When you see a sign out west that says “open range,” pay attention. Pulling into Browning after the rain stopped, I considered getting a room. Finding that a nothing-special room at a Mom and Pop-style motel was $100, I opted to continue towards Glacier National Park thinking that there may be more rooms there. That section of Highway 89 had loose, crushed gravel on the paved surface everywhere but the wheel tracks. Riding that section of road was a bit stressful. I passed a sign advertising rooms at The Duck Lake Lodge for $99 and mentally filed that away, just in case. I arrived early enough that I considered entering the park, but there was a visible storm with high winds at the entrance of Going to the Sun Highway (GTSH). The only rooms at the entrance to the park looked expensive so I rode further north finding nothing but another sign to the Duck Lake Lodge. Taking that turn, I found the lodge at the end of a gravel two track. It is a hunting/fishing lodge with bedroom-style rooms with two twin beds and a lamp; the bathroom and shower were down the hall. The room was $99 plus a $12 “bed tax” levied by the Blackfoot Indians. (The Lodge is located on reservation property.) After awhile, I began to appreciate these accommodations. I got out and walked the property. A lodge dog walked with me down a two-track trail into the woods. The proprietor told me that a Grizzly had been hanging out around the lodge so I packed a .38 revolver I carried in my bag for protection. I hoped not to have to use it on the bear. If the noise didn’t scare it, a .38 is pretty small to be effective on a big bear. The dog followed me about halfway to the end of the road before turning around. I hoped this was not a bad sign. At the end of the road, I found a beautiful log
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home and a spectacular view of the storm still sitting over GTSH. The storm was easily a mile or more away. The sky above me was clear but the high wind was blowing rain on me from the distant storm. I walked back to the lodge without a bear encounter. I left the Duck Lake Lodge at 6:30 a.m. the following day. The morning was overcast and 41º. I put on all of my gear and turned on my heated grips to stay warm. The high wind still persisted and with it, a light rain. I arrived at the park visitor center at 7 a.m. but it didn’t open until 8. The storm hadn’t moved much which meant that, in order to ride the GTSH, I would have to deliberately ride into a winter storm. I promised my Wife that I wouldn’t do anything stupid on this trip. Riding into a winter storm would be stupid. My I-Phone could not get a signal so my weather apps were useless. I backtracked to a hotel where they printed me a weather report that said I might be able to get into the park by 10:00 or 10:30. This was too long to wait and I had to reluctantly admit to myself that I was not going to do Glacier this trip. I talked with another rider on a V-Strom 650 who had a trip planned to Alaska but was turned away at the Canadian border because of a 30-year-old DUI conviction. His trip of a lifetime was cancelled. That cancellation provided a different perspective on my missing Glacier. I also talked with a couple on a Goldwing trike returning from the Arctic Circle. They told me about a room in Alaska that had two bunks in an old meat locker that cost $350; the Duck Lake Lodge was a deal. I got back on Highway 89 south, another section covered in loose gravel. This time it was raining and very windy. The wind blew me onto the gravel in the center. The bike squirmed but I recovered. It was a very stressful ride! I turned west onto Route 2. The road climbed in altitude, the wind and rain increased, the temperature hovered in the low 40’s and the road ran along cliffs without guardrails. I thought 89 was stressful! If the road was that bad, GTSH would likely be worse. It was a good decision to avoid it. My heated grips were turned all the way up - almost too hot to hold - and I was still cold. I rode in these conditions for about two hours, at the edge of shivering the whole time. Just before I pulled into a restaurant in Essex for a coffee and a warm up, I looked up and spotted a Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep on a cliff edge. At about 1:30, the sun came out and the temperature warmed considerably. At 195 miles, the low-fuel light came on with no fuel in sight. I start getting anxious when I get more than 220 miles on a tank. At 264 miles, I pulled into a gas station and put Continued on page 11
February 2015
Motorcycling & Law
FOIA Requests
Sport Touring is Our Middle Name!
We Ride!
by Dondi Vesprini As we move further into the New Year, it is always interesting to see how many people are still complying with their New Year’s resolution. I was discussing New Year’s resolutions with a colleague of mine recently and he shared with me that his resolution was to make an effort to be more informed in the New Year. This conversation with him served as the backdrop for this month’s topic, which is about a tool that one can use to keep him/herself informed as to certain matters in the New Year. That tool is a freedom of information act (FOIA) request. Michigan law provides that all persons (except those incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities) may make a request for full and complete information regarding the “affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees� consistent with the law governing FOIA requests. Some people that I have talked to were under the mistaken belief that only an attorney or law enforcement official could make such a request. However, anyone can make such a request. Requests may be directed seeking records of a public body which includes any body which is created by state or local authority or which is primarily funded by or through state or local authority. Such requests in my line of work as a motorcycle accident attorney include traffic crash reports, photos/videos taken by the police during their investigation, notes and statements taken by police during their accident investigation, records from road commissions or the department of transportation regarding the upkeep and maintenance of the roadway (in highway defect cases) and
regarding complaints that people may have lodged regarding the roadway (in highway defect cases). Requests are usually directed to the FOIA coordinator who has been designated by law to accept and process requests for public records under the law. The law allows the public body to charge a fee and copy costs for any records they produce in response to your request and there are a variety of reasons that the public body may lawfully deny your request. Some of the most common reasons I have come across are if disclosure of the records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of an individual privacy, interfere with law enforcement proceedings, disclose law enforcement investigative techniques or procedures, or endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel. However, if your request is wrongfully denied, the FOIA gives you the right to go to Court for the Court to decide whether the request was properly denied. If the Court finds the denial improper, it has the discretion to award you reasonable attorney fees, costs and punitive damages if the public body has arbitrarily and capriciously reused or delayed providing the requested records. FOIA requests can be a great tool to gain information and to stay informed in the New Year. As always, if anyone has any questions or if I can be of legal assistance to you or anyone you know who has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I deal with these types of issues on a daily basis on behalf of injured motorcyclists statewide. Give me a call at (248-569-4646) or shoot me an e-mail at Dondi@buckfirelaw.com.
...All Makes of Bikes ...All Over the Country ...On Back Roads ...On Racetracks ...At Novice-Advanced Levels ...In Our Sleep! Our members come from all across the Midwest (and beyond) and we ride many makes of street bikes - including: • Aprilia • BMW • Buell • Ducati
• Harley-Davidson • Honda • Kawasaki
• Suzuki • Triumph • Yamaha ....and brands in between
We travel to great riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to be better riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion: The Passion To Ride!
For information about membership, meetings, events or rides, contact the MSTA group in your state: In Indiana, contact: Donald “Moose� Parish mooseparish@sbcglobal.net
In Kentucky, contact: Gary Dehner g.dehner@insightbb.com
In Michigan, contact: Gregg Mitchell mi_hsta@voyager.net In Ohio, contact: Doug McPeak coach-mac@columbus.rr.com
• MAINTAINED TRAILS
In Wisconsin, contact: Alan Tesch al_lynn_t@yahoo.com
N O N - C O M P E T I T I O N
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Let’s Go Trail Riding!
No place to ride? Michigan is home to the largest organized network of off-road trails in the world - more than 3500 miles of marked, maintained ORV trails for the entire family to enjoy! Since 1968, The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan has led the charge to assure continued access to public lands for motorized recreation by working closely with state and federal government. Membership in the CCC offers organized trail rides, a map CD of the entire trail system, a subscription to the Great Lakes TrailRider Magazine and a host of other member benefits! Call us today at 517-781-4805. The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan PO Box 486 t $PMEXBUFS .* t XXX DZDMFDPOTFSWBUJPODMVC PSH
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
7
King of the Road by Pat Francis It is difficult to look cool on a Cushman scooter but I tried my best. When I posed on this 1950 Road King model, I had no idea it was going to fetch a staggering (to me) $6,000. Perhaps the buyer phoned in his/her bid and thought he/she was getting a bargain on a Harley-Davidson Road King. If there was ever an optimistically named vehicle, this is it. Road King indeed! I have seen windshield assemblies on a Cushman before but this one just looks absolutely ridiculous. Notice all the chrome items - chrome mirror, chrome rail bumpers, chrome seat hand holds, chrome kick stand and chrome front springs. It is worse than a Vespa or Lambretta owned by a London Mod in the Swinging Sixties. It is difficult to see the mirror but it is there on the left handlebar. Of course, no self-respecting Mod would venture out without a matching right-hand mirror. The more affluent scooterists adorned their scooters with multiple mirrors. The seller had the auctioneer point out the colored handlebar grips, handlebar streamers and rubber Cushman floor mat and it seemed to have impressed someone. Or was it the wide (by
UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday Seminar Series January 24 January 31 February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28
An Afternoon with a BMW certified Master Technician NO SEMINAR. Our bus trip to the Cleveland Motorcycle Show GPS Tips and Techniques An afternoon with the Michigan State Police BMW Ambassador and Factory Test Rider Nate Kern Track Days, what to expect and why they are important to road safety
Spring Open House - May 29, 2015 Always a good time. Stay tuned for details.
Track Day - Saturday, June 1, 2015 The day costs $175, which includes track time, class room instruction and lunch. All makes and models of bikes are welcome to attend our track events! To register, or if you have any questions at all regarding our track events please call Audrey at (734) 453-0500
BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com
Cushman standards) whitewall tires, custom hand painted pin striping, and custom Pearl Green paint? Everett and Clinton Cushman started the Cushman company in 1903 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Cushman began production of their four-stroke Husky engine in 1922. It was used in farm equipment, pumps, lawn mowers, and boats. In 1936, they added scooters to their list of products to increase the sale of Husky engines. They made scooters until 1965. If Cushman scooters were available in England in the Mods and Rockers era of the sixties, this is what they would have looked like. (A Cushman scooter model used in Europe during WWII was designed to be dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops.) The Cushman scooter is the opposite of what one associates with American automotive history. Perhaps that is what makes them so interesting and sought after by many people today. Would I pay six grand for one? Perhaps... if it was gold plated. Or I had it on very good authority the proceeds of a bank robbery carried out by Bonnie and Clyde when their flathead Ford V-8 was in the shop was stashed under the side panels. Otherwise, probably not.
What is ABATE of Michigan? by Vince Consiglio, President, Abate of Michigan
ABATE is a motorcycle-rights group dedicated to the freedom of the road. All types of motorcycle riders and motorcycle owners are members. ABATE is currently most well known for the repeal of the Michigan mandatory motorcycle helmet law in 2012. Most people have no idea of how much and how tough that struggle was. It was a classic David vs Goliath struggle. Mere motorcycle riders fighting for what they believe against the biggest, richest lobby in the state of Michigan. Despite the terrible odds and many nay sayers, the law has been repealed and legal adult motorcycle riders have freedom of choice. During the helmet fight, ABATE has stressed motorcycle accident prevention instead of a mandatory helmet law. ABATE’s alternative to the mandatory helmet law has been motorcycle safety, tougher motorcycle licensing, and motorcycle awareness. Several times in the last 30 years, ABATE has saved the public motorcycle rider training program from falling apart. In the Detroit area alone, more than 80,000 students have taken the public motorcycle safety courses. Motorcycle licensing is an important safety tool. Since 1989, each and every year, 40% of all the motorcycle fatalities in Michigan didn’t have a valid motorcycle license. That’s right, four out of 10 riders, each and every year for the last 25 years, were not legal. Motorcycle Awareness is not a new concept. The idea is simple, Make car drivers aware of motorcycles. Signs, billboards, radio ads etc... aimed at getting car drivers to look for cyclists. In 2014, ABATE was successful in the passage of two bills in Lansing. The TIP bill, limiting the number of Temporary Instructional Permits for motorcyclists to two per ten years. The Awareness Bill, aka Nathan Bill, requires motorcycle and bicycle awareness in driver’s training classes. We’ve been busy. > > > Freedom isn’t FREE < < <
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Continued from page 6 - Bucket List Tour 6.459 gallons into a tank Honda says holds six gallons. Wow! A new record. I must have been down to my last teaspoon. I got onto I-90 and rode into Idaho (ID) and then Washington (WA). (WA was #47 on the bucket list.) The ID section of this road is curvy and scenic; in WA, the road cut through mostly high desert plains. I stopped in Ellensburg, WA for the night. As I left Ellinsburg the next morning, I realized that I had not yet eaten in a restaurant on the trip. Carrying food had saved me a lot of time and money. I hoped I was also meeting my weight loss goal. I had yet to find a scale to prove anything, but my belt was looking good. I rode into Seattle just to look it over and stopped for a bit at the waterfront. I then rode to the coast. I rode the coast to the mouth of the Columbia River, stopping in the area where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter before their return journey. My father was a traveler. One of the places he wished to visit, but never did, was the Columbia River Gorge. Since his death, I have carried a small container of his ashes in the trunk of the ‘Wing, so, in a
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sense, he was still traveling with me. Today he made it to the Columbia River and I left some of his ashes there. The rest still travels with me. At that point, I had wanted to see Mount St. Helens but the weather was poor and predicted to stay that way. Unfortunately, I left another place unchecked on the bucket list. I crossed over the Columbia River and entered Oregon (OR). (#48 on the Bucket list.) I was looking at Tillamook as a potential stopping point but passed a motel advertising rooms for $50.00 in Rockaway Beach and stopped there. They gave me a room in a “Guest House;” sort of a self-serve bed and breakfast where they provide the food if you are willing to cook it. That was the end of my first week on the road. I was behind schedule, but had extra days built into my plan to compensate. So far, I had done most of what I set out to do. It had been a great experience. Traveling alone had its benefits. I do what I want, when I want, without compromise with anyone. It certainly makes eating like I have easier. Carrying a smart phone is very helpful in many unanticipated ways and e-mail makes contact with home easier. The ability to take a photo and send it to others interested in my trip is a great thing that I hadn’t even considered before I left. I met Continued on page 16
Now in West Michigan
This club is like none other - no politics, no B.S. We travel to great riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to be better riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion: The Passion To Ride!
JOIN US Disclaimer: This ain’t your mamma’s pokey bar hoppin’ motorcycle club. It also isn’t a squidly club. We ride and we ride well. You are expected to ride within your limits. You are expected to wear appropriate safety gear, ride a safely maintained machine, and follow reasonable group riding etiquette. We welcome riders of all skill levels, ages, genders, and marques. You will likely find like-minded members who ride at your level of skill. The MSTA and Michigan MSTA assume no responsibility for your safety, state of mind, average lean angle, or degree of rockin’ fun that you’ll experience with us. Just motorcycle enthusiasts getting together to ride.
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Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle When Serendipity Rides Pillion by Nicole Espinosa There seems to be a strange phenomenon that happens quite often when adventure riders set off on long excursions. It usually takes at least three months to start shaking off the familiarity of home to ease into this road experience. How quickly this new rhythm impacts their psyche also depends upon their route. Jumping right into foreign lands from the start can almost guarantee that the adventurer will ease into this new road world closer to launch. But, there’s one important note about the jealous passenger—serendipity only rides pillion full force when you’re solo. This mysterious word serendipity has been gaining momentum in a grand way only recently, but has been defined since 1754 as, “the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident.” This concept has woven itself through tales of travel since the beginning of time, but the word itself was born from the Persian fairy tale, “The Three Princes of Serendip.”
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In this tale, the king sends his three sons out into the world in search of richer education. Once on the road, these princes mask their royal connection to live like common men to avoid special treatment. As a result, they find hardship. It is from these struggles that they also unexpectedly discover greater good in the most unlikely of situations, places and people. Upon their return home after a number of years of travel, the king rewards their new education of depth
and commemorates it with the word “serendipity.” It was only this last year that I opened my home to world-traveling adventure motorcyclists for longer periods of time. When I did this, I also gave myself one parameter to follow as a host—”Don’t control the timeline.” When I allowed these visits to unfold organically with no cap on length of stay, I opened myself and my kids up to an exchange that was unparalleled. In return, we found ourselves learning about new cultures that carried new languages, new cuisine, and always a common heart. The summer particularly opened up for us as a revolving door for travelers when we found ourselves spending much time on the oak-shaded patio eating delicious fare and swapping fabulous road stories. And as the riders came and went, there was one common theme woven through every tale—”When you let go of control and overplanning, beautiful things happen.” This, in a nut shell, is serendipity. One particular German couple, Daniel Rintz and his girlfriend, Joey Flohr, on the Americas tour of their round-the-world (RTW), stood out as a shining example of this type of mystical road experience. It all started in Germany in 2008, when Daniel and a buddy began their RTW with little planning, and an even smaller budget. Within a month, they ran out of money and began an arduous road life of working to ride. After six months, this way of life proved to be too hard for Daniel’s riding partner, so he left Daniel to continue this dream solo. And that’s exactly when the beauty of the adventure opened up. Immediately, Daniel found
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himself in one of the worst predicaments he could have ever imagined while crossing war-torn regions. His mid-1980’s BMW R80 broke down in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border when he was down to his last $10. He pushed and pushed to try and get himself out of there quickly, but a delay in receiving parts forced him to stew in circumstance. It was when he finally let go to serendipity that everything changed. He found himself invited to stay with a family in a home with partial walls, no roof and very little food. It was in this refuge that Daniel found beauty in humanity and a common love of family and brotherhood. This changed his life. From then on, Daniel found it easier to surrender to this bigger-thanlife way of the road that always led him to great experiences, answers, and growth. In fact, not only did he find deeper meaning in his life on this soulsearching journey, but he fell in love, too. It was on this trip that he met Josephine Flohr, or Joey, who was out traveling the world by backpack. Now, their paths have merged and Joey is on her own bike exploring the world with her new love. Daniel has documented this odyssey of his in a creative, heartfelt way and has given this gift to the world as his film called, “Somewhere Else Tomorrow.” Continued on page 16
February 2015
big deal for us and was not made in haste. It meant ourselves at Cacao Jungle Lodge, a mile from a delaying our arrival at the ultimate goal: Tierra del natural swimming pool called The Blue Hole. We Fuego. It meant going against our nature to make a arrived that day planning to spend only one night, plan and stick with it to the end. It meant delaying then head on to the next country, again keeping in our return to the comfort and security that close mind our timeline and ultimate goal. The “permanent” jobs and a home can provide. It meant owner of our lodge, however, quickly convinced us having to rethink and replan the next year of our to stay just one more day. He explained that the lives. It meant needing to find jobs this summer that mountainous ride to the southern coast past will let us leave again in December to resume our Dangriga and into more remote Belize was not to by Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus travels. It meant resisting the gravitational force that be missed. We hemmed and hawed a bit before I’ve always been a goal-oriented person. keeps pulling us back toward a more “normal” deciding that one more night wouldn’t throw us off Finish undergraduate degree, check. Gain a few pattern of life. That being said, it too much... years of work experience, check. Complete also meant leaning more earnestly Fast forward a few days to graduate school, check. Get another job, check. into a lesson that Jay and I find January 1st, New Year’s Day. We were Ever since I declared to my mom as a oneourselves continually re-learning: sitting at a cafe in Flores, Guatemala year-old, “All done diapers,” I’ve been working life is not to be rushed. overlooking the lake that separates the toward the next thing in my life. This personality Years ago, I bought Jay a book called island from its neighbor, Santa Elena. trait can be very positive and in fact has led to “Slow is Beautiful: New Visions of Situated just 45 minutes west of Tikal, many successes in my life of which I am quite Community, Leisure, and Joie de we still had quite a bit to explore in proud. The fact that Jay and I were able to plan and Vivre” by Cecile Andrews. In it, the Guatemala alone. Our conversation execute this southward adventure is owed partly to author describes the frantic pace of that morning centered on where we our shared dedication to reaching a goal and modern life and suggests a would go next. While not a new topic looking forward to the future. The yin to this profoundly simple solution: slow (we ask ourselves this question essentially every particular yang, however, is my constant struggle down. As we rethink our next year and slow to a pace night), this time it was different. We both knew to slow down and enjoy the present. This struggle that will let us experience more of the incredible that the time had come to make a decision: speed has bubbled to the surface a few times during our landscape, culture, and people that lie between us and up to get to our ultimate destination before winter trip and recently came to a head. the ultimate destination, we will try to keep Ms. or slow down and alter our plans. As usual, we As many of Andrew’s advice at the forefront of our consciousness. didn’t decide in you know, our We will forget. We’ll remember again. And the the moment. ...a lesson that Jay and I find ourselves plan was to ride pendulum will swing us back toward balance. We waited to our motorcycles continually re-learning: life is not to be rushed. see which way For now though, with our new plan in mind, from Ann Arbor, we must start looking for jobs. We’re thinking we’ll the energy - Emily Flinkstrom Michgan to Tierra del return to the States from May to December’ish so we moved us (we’re Fuego, the southernmost tip of South America in can attend a couple weddings and return to Patagonia really good at putting off decisions). just under a year. To do this, we set ourselves a during their summer months. As usual, we’ll keep On January 4th, the answer emerged at a tentative itinerary that had us arriving in Ushuia, you updated as the adventure unfolds. junction in central Guatemala. East toward Argentina in March, at the end of their fall, If you’d like to hear more stories from the Sacapulas and the Western Highlands or south therefore avoiding the chilly, snowy conditions of road, visit our website: toward Guatemala City and the El Salvador border? winter riding. During our planning process we The former meant another week or so in www.liveitrightdreamride.com examined maps, read blogs and books written by Guatemala, which would make it even more other overland riders, and calculated mileage so as unlikely for us to reach to inform our timeline. We had our goal and took Patagonia before winter, off in July excited to check off yet another major life whereas the latter could have accomplishment. conceivably kept us “on We have departed on our 15-month journey Our original plan had us in Mexico for 6 track.” Our friend Marko, to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. You can help support the weeks, crossing into Belize on December 19th. with whom we had been adventure by buying a stylish t-shirt or sticker. Stop by our online December 19th came and went though and we were travelling since departing store today. Follow our journey at www.liveitrightdreamride.com/. still exploring the beautiful mountains of Chiapas. Chichen Itza in the northern Thank you for your support! We decided to spend Christmas on the beaches of Yucatan, chose the latter Tulum and cross over a few days later. “It’s okay,” because he is determined to we told ourselves, “We’ll just go through Central reach Tierra del Fuego by the Live It Right Unisex T-Shirt America a little faster than we had planned.” end of March so as to With a 50/50 cotton/poly blend this When we did cross into Belize and continue onto South Africa. comfortable, yet durable shirt is great for discovered its unique culture, incredible diversity We chose the former, both men and women. Spread the in both the land and the people, and the welcoming reminding ourselves that this message to Live It Right while supporting and friendly nature of Belizeans, the last thing we trip, for us, is about our Dream Ride and looking stylish! wanted to do was speed through. We spent our everything that lies between $20 + s&h first night at a cabin situated on a lagoon in the Ann Arbor and Tierra del middle of Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (after Fuego, not simply the end some slippery mud riding). The following day we points. set off to explore more of the jungle and found This decision was a
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What to do when you can’t ride by Jason Waechter, Esq. I know it’s cliché to talk about the weather, so let me just say this: It’s winter, and for most motorcyclists, it seems like forever since we put our bikes to bed for the season. Some of us have other hobbies to keep them occupied during the long winter, but for the rest of us the off-season can seem endless. I recently polled my social media readers to find out what they do to distract them from the crippling cold, and I thought I’d share some of their answers with you this month. I’d like to start with a suggestion of my own: take some time this winter to review your motorcycle insurance policy. I know it’s not exciting, but are you sure you’ve got the right coverage? Are you carrying enough insurance on your bike? Do you have custom work that might require a special rider? These are the types of things you want to look for. As most of you know, I always recommend that motorcyclists keep their bikes fully insured year-round; the risks of cancelling your insurance during the off-season far outweigh any cost savings you might find. Did you know your homeowner’s policy does not cover your motorcycle? Talk to your insurance agent or shop around for a new one, and make sure you and your bike are fully and properly insured so you’ll be ready to ride as soon as the weather gets good again. Now that the subject of insurance has been covered, let’s look at some other ideas for how to keep motorcycling in your life during the off-season. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember what life was like before the Internet. Certainly, most bikers could spend a good chunk of the offseason browsing the web, watching stunt videos, learning riding techniques, planning motorcycle upgrades, gear purchases, or even long-haul trips for the coming season. YouTube is the obvious choice for motorcycle videos, but Pinterest is absolutely full of videos, photos, project ideas and plans, tutorials, how-to’s… Anything you can imagine doing to your motorcycle, you can probably find it on Pinterest. There are also some great sites and apps to help you plan, budget, and track your progress on all your motorcycle projects. Many of our readers cited winter as the season for tune-ups, upgrades, and custom work. A lot of bikers like to do their own tinkering; working on their bikes during the off-season means they can spend more time riding them once the weather warms up. A lot of motorcyclists rely on licensed professionals for their upgrades and custom work; some spend the off season learning how to work on their own bikes from the experts. By the way, that’s another idea: spend some time learning how to do basic repairs and maintenance on your bike this winter. Check out your owner’s manual and then head on over to the bike forums to ask questions and learn more. You never know when the
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knowledge and skills you pick up during the winter will come in handy. A few readers suggested taking riding skills courses; unfortunately, a lot of the practical skills courses won’t get rolling again until spring, but it never hurts to look around. If nothing else, you can register in advance to ensure you get a spot once the classes start later this year. In the meantime, I suggest taking the Bystander Assistance Course, or any other class offered by Accident Scene Management, Inc. (ASM). The Bystander Assistance Course teaches motorcyclists what to do at the scene of a crash, from basic First Aid to managing the crash site to properly lifting a motorcycle off an injured rider, to name a few. To be clear, there is no affiliation or partnership between myself / my firm and Accident Scene Management, Inc.; but I think their classes contain so much valuable information that I am always glad to spread the word about them. I also provide space for the Bystander Assistance Course at our Southfield, MI, headquarters several times a year, and I assisted our Marketing Specialist, Debbie Parinello, in becoming a certified EMT so she can teach the ASM courses. To learn more about these valuable classes, visit the ASM website or contact Debbie via our office. Another way to keep motorcycling in your life during the off-season is to get involved with a local motorcycle club. Motorcycle clubs are made up of like-minded people who share a passion for the open road, and they can be a great way to get involved in the biker community. Most clubs run events year-round, many of which are aimed at raising funds for local charities; win-win, right? In addition, a lot of motorcycle clubs are involved in promoting motorcycle awareness and safety campaigns, which is important for every rider. I encourage everyone to help promote motorcycle awareness campaigns: tell your friends and family, and use social media to remind drivers to “look twice, save a life”. Whether you’ve got other hobbies to occupy you or not this winter, the fact remains that we’ve still got a ways to go before the riding season gets underway again. Hopefully, the list above will help give you some ideas for keeping motorcycling in your life this off-season. If you have an idea for beating the winter blahs that I didn’t cover, find me on Facebook and let me know! Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorney specializing in the areas of motorcycle and motor vehicle injury litigation. Mr. Waechter has collected millions of dollars in settlements, awards and verdicts for his motorcycle clients over the past 20 years. Jason feels a duty to give back to his community. A portion of each case settled goes to educational resources for bikers, funds to help bikers while their cases are being litigated and our motorcycle accident prevention campaign. Call Attorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877BIKER LAW. Or visit www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com Legal disclaimer: The law is very fact dependent and there are many nuances and exceptions depending on your particular circumstances. Therefore, given the limited space, it is impossible to cover everything. Do not rely on the short article to protect your rights.
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Complete Our Reader Survey You could win $100 Thank you for reading Michigan Motorcyclist / Midwest MotorcyclistTM. Our team works hard to create and publish a magazine that matches the topics and information you most want - a magazine you value and seek out each month. In order to achieve that objective, we need your input and feedback. Please complete the survey on the following page. You can submit your completed survey in one of two ways. 1. Answer each question on this form and return it to me via snail mail to Ray Peabody, c/o cc media, 709 Fall Street, Spring Lake Michigan 49456. 2. Go to our website at www.MidwestMotorcyclist.com and click on the “Reader Survey” link at the top of the home page. Complete the form and then click the “Submit by Email” button to send it to us. By completing all questions of this survey and returning it to us, your name will be entered into a drawing to win $100. Surveys must be received in our office by Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in order for the respondent to be entered in the drawing. The person whose name is drawn will win $100 and have a profile of him / her published (at his or her discretion) in an upcoming issue. The winner will be notified as soon as the drawing is held and his/her name will be published in the May 2015 issue. cc media employees, contributors, advertisers and their family members are not eligible to win the $100 prize in this drawing. You must be 18 years old or older to participate. The information you provide is confidential and the details, including your name, contact information and responses, will not be given to any other person or organization. We will use your feedback internally to help us improve the quality, content and appearance of our publication so it better matches your needs. Thank you for reading and participating in our survey. We look forward to publishing an even better magazine for you in 2015.
Complete the survey online at www.MidwestMotorcyclist.com. Click on the “Reader Survey” link at the top of the home page. Complete the form and then click the “Submit by Email” button to send it to us. February 2015
Reader Survey - Begin Here About Your Involvement with Motorcycling 1. Do you have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license? Yes ___
No ___
2. How long have you been riding motorcycles? ___ Years 3. Have you taken a Rider Training course? ___ Yes
___ No
If yes, which course(s)? _________________________
12. How many members of your household, including you, ride a motorcycle? ___ 13. What brand of motorcycle do you own? Select all that apply. ___ Aprilia ___ BMW ___ Buell ___ Ducati ___ Harley-Davidson ___ Honda ___ Indian ___ Kawasaki ___ Moto Guzzi ___ Norton ___ Suzuki ___ Triumph ___ Ural ___ Victory ___ Yamaha ___ Other Brand ( identify)_____________________ 14. Are you planning to buy a motorcycle in 2015? ___ No ___ Yes
4. Have you participated in a track day? New or used? ______________________________ ___ Yes
___ No Which brand / model? ________________________
5. Have ever raced (road, drag, cross country, motocross, trials, etc.)? ___ No
___ Yes
If so, which type(s) of racing? ____________________ 6. Have you ever attended a motorcycle rally? ___ No
___Yes
If so, which rally/rallies? _______________________ 7. Approximately, how many miles do you ride each year? ___________ miles On what style of motorcycle(s) (cruiser, sportbike, naked bike, adventure, dual sport, off-road, trike, sidecar, etc.)? _______________________________ 8. Do you belong to a motorcycle club or riding organization? ___ Yes
___ No
If so, identify the club(s)? ________________________ 9. Do you attend or participate in any of the following? ___ Charity rides ___ Poker runs ___ Motorcycle shows ___ Road races ___ Club rides
___ Dirt track races ___ Open houses ___ Swap meets ___ Motocross races ___ Stunt riding
About your motorcycle ownership 10. How many motorcycles do you own? ____ 11. What type(s) of motorcycle(s) do you own? Select all that apply. ___ Cruiser /Custom ___ Sportbike ___ Adventure ___ Scooter ___ Cafe racer ___ Touring
15. What types of accessories for your motorcycle or gear for you are you planning to purchase in 2015?
___ Dual sport / Enduro ___ Naked bike / Standard ___ Supermoto ___ Motocross ___ Vintage ___ Sport touring
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GPS ___ Tank bag ___ Windscreen ___ Saddle bags / Panniers ___ Luggage rack ___ Larger fuel tank ___ Heated Gear ___ Helmet ___ Gloves ___ Leather Jacket ___ Boots ___ Leather riding suit ___ Chaps ___ Textile riding suit ___ Onboard camera (example: Go Pro) ___ Other _____________________________________
About Michigan Motorcyclist® & Midwest Motorcyclist™ 16. Where do you get your copy of Michigan Motorcyclist® / Midwest Motorcyclist™? ___ Dealership ___ www.MidwestMotorcyclist.com ___ ISSUU.com ___ Friend ___ Subscription ___ Event ___ Swap meet ___ Club meeting ___ Other (identify) _________________________
___ Motorcycling and Law by Dondi Vesprini ___ The Live It Right Dream Ride Adventure Journal by Emily Flinkstrom & Jay Wilgus ___ The Preacher Speaks About.... by Franz Hoffer ___ Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle by Nicole Espinosa ___ Jason Waechter’s untitled column ___ Event Schedule 20. Which topics do you most want to read about? Please rank from most to least with 1 being most and 10 being least. ___ Touring ___ Sportbikes ___ Adventure travel ___ Cruisers ___ Racing (type: _________________) ___ Commuting ___ Scooters ___ Motorcycle tests ___ Product/ gear reviews ___ Event reviews ___ Book reviews ___ Rider profiles/interviews ___ Bike Shows ___ Women riders ___ Rider Education ___ Motorcycle legislation ___ Motorcycle trips ___ Club news ___ Event schedule ___ Other ___________
About your recreational activities 21. Which of the following recreational activities do personally participate in. Check all that apply. Attended race ___ ATV riding ___ Backpack/Hike ___ Bicycling ___ Camping ___ Fishing ___ Canoe / Kayak ___ Gambling ___ Hunting ___ Photography ___ Writing ___ Running / Jogging ___ Other ____________________________________
About you 22. What is your age? ___ 18-25 ___ 36-45 ___ 56-65
___ 26-35 ___ 46-55 ___ 65+
23. What is your gender? 17. How many people read your copy of Michigan Motorcyclist® / Midwest Motorcyclist™? ___ 1 ___ 3 ___ 5 or more
___ 2 ___ 4
18. Have you ever responded to an ad in Michigan Motorcyclist® / Midwest Motorcyclist™? ___ Yes
___ No
19. Thinking about the regular columns in Michigan Motorcyclist® / Midwest Motorcyclist™, rank the following in order of which columns you like most with 1 being the column you like most and 9 being the column you like least. ___ The Skinny On... by Pedro Gregorio ___ Dr. Cycholl by Patrick Armitage ___ Random Ramblings of a Rare Bird by Michael Mekinda
___ Female
___ Male
24. What is the highest level of education you have completed? ___ High School ___ Bachelors degree
___ Some college ___ Post graduate degree
Name: ______________________________________ Phone number: _______________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Thank you for participating in the Michigan Motorcyclist® / Midwest Motorcyclist™ survey. Feel free to add additional comments and/or suggestions on a separate page. Again, the information you provided in this survey is confidential and will not be given to any other person or organization.
15
Continued from page 11 - The Bucket List Tour, Part 2 many interesting people along the way and haven’t felt alone or unsafe in any way. I would not hesitate to do another long trip alone My second week on the road. I departed Rockaway Beach at 7 a.m. in a light drizzle at 60º. An hour later, I entered Tillamook, Oregon. As I approached town, a large building loomed in the distance with “Air Museum” painted on its huge roof. Another guest staying at the previous night’s accommodations recommended that I see this place. The museum is housed in a World War II (WWII) era airship hanger originally designed to house eight, 252foot-long airships (blimps). I arrived at 8 a.m. but the museum didn’t open until 9 a.m. I found the door open and explained to an employee that I was on a motorcycle trip and didn’t have time to wait. They opened early just for me. The museum is about 90% WWII-era planes but includes some others. They also have a large number of engines on stands with plaques explaining the
No Thru Road: Confessions of a Traveling Man
types of aircraft that used them. Have you ever seen a 28-cylinder radial engine? It is essentially three, 9cylinder radials connected by a common crankshaft. WOW! It is a nice museum with many interesting things I hadn’t previously seen. The coast of Oregon is scenic. The road has big sweeping turns that can be ridden fast. I pulled off at many scenic turnouts for photos and stopped for lunch at Cook’s Chasm, a particularly nice one. That section of coastline is much more accessible than the coast in Washington and is beautiful. Later, at
By Clement Salvadori Now available through Amazon, Whitehorse Gear, or Aerostich. Order today!
Continued from page 12 - N. Espinosa
In 2011, I first found out about Daniel through the Ted Simon Foundation where voyagers apply to become “Jupiter’s Travelers” who are encouraged to explore the world and come home to share their new found truth through different media. As an advisor for the foundation, I found myself in a wonderful position to hear stories of travelers coming home to the heart and soul after opening themselves up to circumstance, places, and people. Daniel was sitting in front of me describing his vast road stories of excitement and beauty in person, where our connection would be woven into that life tapestry further down the road. I, myself, have experienced serendipity in its purest form on all four of my longer solos lasting two weeks or more. I love opening myself
another turnout, I met three young guys from Montana going north on Kawasaki KLR 650s. Their bikes were highly modified for longdistance touring. We talked a bit and took photos for each other. One of their group was complaining about his seat and saw my seat cushion. He offered to pay any price I named for it. I told him I wasn’t even halfway home and he didn’t have enough money to buy it. However, I told him it was his lucky day. I had an extra piece of memory foam in my trunk that he could have for free. They went north. I continued south, stopping just short of the California border at Brookings, Oregon, a short day. Ride Safe, Pat Armitage Patrick Armitage is a veteran-touring rider, riding motorcycles since 1972. He was a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor from 1989 to 2008, and a certified Harley Davidson “Rider’s Edge” Instructor from 2000 to 2008. He estimates that he has taught more than 2000 people to ride or, to ride better. As of 2008 he no longer teaches MSF or Rider’s Edge. His current ride is a 2003 GL1800A Honda Goldwing. Comments: parmitage4114@wowway.com
up to whatever may happen, which keeps me from having the desire to over-plan any trip. Running into strangers who would change my course became a common occurrence, and something I began to look forward to as I rounded the next bend of the journey. Breakdowns and fires became invitations for me to rise to occasions or make myself vulnerable and open up to help along the way. If there’s one thing I can count on the most when it comes to climbing on my bike with a big load strapped to the back—it’s that I’ll leave a trail of glitter as I encounter the latest “road magic.
Nicole Espinosa is Mom to two great kids, founder / owner of www.ruggedrider.com, ContributingEditor of Adventure Motorcycle magazine and soon-to-be RTW motorcycle adventurer. Communication welcome for Nicole: nicole@ruggedrider.com
Pre-Owned Motorcycles 2005 BMW K1200LT, Graphite, 44,248 miles, Very good condition, $9,450
2012 Ducati Hyper Motard SVO, Red, 3,472 miles, Very good condition, $9,450
2007 BMW K1200R Sport, 26,141 miles, Very good condition, Silver, BMW Side Cases, GPS, $6,950
2012 Triumph Tiger 800, 18,896 miles, Excellent condition, Black, $8,950
2012 BMW K1300S HP, 2012 BMW K1600GTL, 2011 BMW R1200RT, 2011 BMW F650GS Low, 2009 BMW R1200RT, 2009 BMW K1200LT, 2007 BMW F800ST, 2007 BMW F800S, 2006 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2004 BMW R1200CLC, 2001 BMW R1100RTP, 2000 BMW R1100RT, 1992 BMW R100RT,
White/Blue, 2,243 miles, Blue, 17,000 miles Polar Blue, 5,224 miles Silver/Black, 17,000 miles, Silver, 38,565 miles, Black, 72,585 miles, Blue, 13,815 miles, Yellow, 31,192 miles, Graphite, 62,692 miles, Red, 34,198 miles, Red, 71,000 miles, Grey, 55,655 milkes Silver, 19,183 miles, Black/White, 116,805 miles, Black, 72,000 miles, Green, 50,029 miles,
$8,950 $17,450 $13,950 $7,950 $10,950 $9,950 $6,450 $5,450 $8,450 $8,450 $7,950 $7,950 $5,950 $2,500 $4,250 $4,750
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids, 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI (616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.com 16
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
February 2015
The Preacher Speaks About...
A Classic... 1965 Electra Glide by Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer tweaked and upgraded for the As I write next 18 years. this article, I look out The 1965 Electra Glide the window and see was the first big Harley to nothing but snow feature push-button electric and ice….it’s -12º starting, along with the with the wind-chill required 12-volt electrical taking it to around system, upgraded from the 20º. In the garage, earlier six-volt systems. The my 2011 Road Glide motorcycle weighed a little Ultra sits on a stand, more than 700 pounds, quiet and cold as if considered heavy for the time. hibernating with a The Electra-Glide became a battery tender popular touring bike and the hooked up and the electric starter entire bike protected solved the by a cover. I try not to get depressed. I look at the problem of having to kick-start a big calendar and - Alleluia! - only about six weeks to go V-twin — not an easy task. till March 20th, the first day of spring. I’m starting to All that being said, it still get excited. had a kick-starter as a back-up to the I love old bikes and some bikes are instant electric starter since managing/ classics. By classics, I mean bikes that influence the charging your battery was still entire industry; not just one manufacturer but all of something motorcycle manufacturers them. They leave a legacy that you see for years. didn’t think about a whole lot. In The 1965 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide, the addition, the 1965 Electra Glide had a last production model that had the famed Harley choice of either hand or foot shifting. Panhead power plant, fits that bill. (I’d love to have a suicide shifter on The ’60s was a decade of change; not only my bike.) Harley was betting that the socially but in the motorcycle world as well. foot shifter would appeal to riders Japanese brands were making great strides in the because foot shifters were already U.S. market with small, lightweight bikes offering available on the Japanese, German, great performance and utility. It seemed like and British bikes and seemed to meet everyone had a Honda 350. But the hard core with rider’s approval. In addition, the motorcyclist was still into big cruisers/touring foot shifter had become very popular bikes and the Harley-Davidson Glide line was a with police departments. Harleyperfect example of Harley’s cutting edge design and Davidson is always aware and engineering prowess. Harley was the bike to ride; a conscious of their heritage and, even symbol of freedom and rebellion. The Motor back then, introduced upgrades to the Company had the corner on the big bike market in marketplace in a controlled, managed those days with virtually zero competition. way so as not to upset or alienate The 1965 FLH Electra Glide came with the their hard-core base of riders. tried and true 74-cubic-inch (1,200cc) “Panhead” motor. It got that nickname from its pieDon’t miss our pan-shaped rocker-arm covers. The reliable and well-respected Panhead engine was February 14, 2015 used as the main power plant for big Harleys, including legendary models such as the Hydra Glide and the regular price of parts and accessories successor Duo Glide, for a little more than 20 years. In 1966, the Company introduced the Shovelhead motor, a design that was considered cutting edge at the time. The 1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI Shovelhead design One mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd. would be improved,
The 1965 Electra Glide was the perfect bike at the perfect time. It was the Company’s “shot over the bow” that Harley would not go quietly into the night in an emerging and changing market being flooded with foreign competition. Fast forward to 2014 and Harley-Davidson is betting that their new liquid-cooled, computer-controlled, ABS-mounted, stability-enhanced, computer-equipped, GPSintegrated bikes will do the same for it as did the 65 Electra Glide: propel it forward in an increasingly fast-paced, competitive industry. The memory of the 1965 Electra Glide can still be seen on just about all big cruiser/touring bikes. It’s a design for the ages.
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NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON RED BRAKE CALIPERS STOP WITH STYLE Eye-Catching Red Caliper Kits Available for Many Harley-Davidson Models MILWAUKEE (December 16, 2014) Make a bold, highperformance statement with new Red Front and Rear Brake Calipers ($249.95 to $499.95) from Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories. A direct replacement for Original Equipment calipers and manufactured from the same components, these calipers are finished in brilliant red high-temperature paint that looks great on a stock motorcycle, or adds the finishing touch to a bike equipped with custom wheels, a black or chrome front end, or chrome brake rotors. Specific kits are available for most late-model Harley-Davidson motorcycle models. Brake pads are sold separately. See your local Harley-Davidson dealer (next page) for fitment details.
Thinking of a trike? Now is the time to buy!
BURST PERFORMANCE AIR CLEANER ADVANCES SINISTER DARK CUSTOM STYLE Burst Collection Reveals Machined Aluminum Through Deep Black Finish the satin aluminum finish below. The billet cover conceals a one-piece cast back plate with integral breather and mounting bracket that
MILWAUKEE (December 16, 2014) Add performance and Dark Custom™ style to 2008-later Harley-Davidson® Softail® and Dyna® model motorcycles with the new Screamin’ Eagle® Burst Collection Performance Air Cleaner Kit (P/N 29400178, $374.95) from HarleyDavidson® Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories. Styled to complement the other accessory elements of the Burst Collection, this low-profile air cleaner features a tuxedo black surround that has been expertly machined to expose
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Starting at $24,999 Hot rod-inspired style and a smaller, easy-handling size make the new Freewheeler™ model unlike anything else on the road. Confidence comes instantly in this saddle.
We stock:
We have the full line of 2015 Harley-Davidson® motorcycles - including the Project Rushmore touring models - in stock and available for immediate delivery. It’s cold and snowy now but spring is right around the corner. The 2015 models have been selling fast. Don’t miss your chance to own your dream bike. Stop by our store today to find the Harley® of your dreams.
Hamilton Harley-Davidson® 68951 White School Road (US-12) Sturgis, MI
269.651.3424 www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com 18
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all tires installed by us.
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Freewheeler
promotes smooth air flow into the throttle body. The exposed highflow, reverse-cone synthetic element is washable. The complete kit fits most 2008-later Dyna and Softail models and includes the Burst Collection trim, backing plate, air cleaner element, and all required installation hardware. Installation requires ECM calibration (priced separately). See your local HarleyDavidson dealer (next page) for fitment details.
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However... if a new Harley-Davidson® is not in your budget, your local dealer (see next page) has a wide variety of pre-owned Harley® s from which to choose. This really is the perfect time to buy a pre-ridden Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. These excellent buys will be gone by the time the 2015 riding season rolls around. Don’t wait! February 2015
What are you waiting for? The 2015s are here now! 2015 Road Glide®
The Road Glide®!® Starting at $20,899 Back with a vengeance... The choice of the high-mileage road warrior is back, loaded with attitude, modern style and Project RUSHMORE features for the long haul. The all-new Road Glide® motorcycle.
Special Harley-Davidson®
Financing Programs Harley-Davidson® and your local dealer have arranged special financing programs to help you buy your new motorcycle. Stop by one of the local dealers (below) is arrange your best deal.
1. Battle Creek
4. Brighton
12. Lapeer
BATTLE CREEK HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5738 BECKLEY RD, BATTLE CREEK (269) 979-2233, www.battlecreekharley.com
BRIGHTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5942 WHITMORE LAKE RD., BRIGHTON (810) 225-2915, www.brightonhd.com
RAY C’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 1422 IMLAY CITY ROAD, LAPEER (810) 664-9261, www.raycsh-d.com
2. Bay City
5. Cement City
13. Mt. Pleasant
GREAT LAKES HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 3850 S. HURON ROAD, BAY CITY (989) 686-0400, www.greatlakeshd.com
TOWN & COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON® US 12 & US 127, CEMENT CITY (517) 547-3333, www.cementcity-harley.com
C & S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 4741 E PICKARD, MT PLEASANT (989) 772-5513, www.candssportcenter.com
3. Birch Run
6. Farmington Hills
14. Muskegon
SHIAWASSEE HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 11901 N. BEYER ROAD, BIRCH RUN (989) 624-4400, www.shiawasseeharley-davidson.com
MOTOR CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 34900 GRAND RIVER AVE., FARMINGTON HILLS (248) 473-7433, www.motorcityharley.com
HOT ROD HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 149 SHORELINE DRIVE, MUSKEGON (231) 722-3653, www.hotrodhd.com
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7. Fremont
15. Sturgis
SANDY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® SPORT CENTER 11940 N. MAPLE ISLAND RD, FREMONT (231) 924-3020, www.sandysharleydavidson.com
HAMILTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 68951 WHITE SCHOOL ROAD, STURGIS (616) 651-3424, www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com
8. Gaylord
16. Tecumseh
ZIP’S 45TH PARALLEL HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 980 S WISCONSIN AVE., GAYLORD (989) 732-8000, www.zips45thhd.com
TECUMSEH HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 8080 MATTHEWS HIGHWAY, TECUMSEH (517) 423-3333
9. Hudsonville
17. Traverse City
GRAND RAPIDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 2977 CORPORATE GROVE DR., HUDSONVILLE (616) 896-0111, www.grandrapidsharley.com
CLASSIC MOTOR SPORTS HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 3939 S BLUE STAR DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY (231) 943-9344, www.classictc.com
10. Kalamazoo
18. Waterford
PERRY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5331 SPRINKLE ROAD, KALAMAZOO (269) 329-3450 www.perryharley-davidson.com
A.B.C. HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD (248) 674-3175, www.abc-harley-davidson.com
11. Lansing
19. West Branch
CAPITOL HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 9550 WOODLANE DRIVE, DIMONDALE (517) 646-2345, www.capitolhd.com
GILDNER’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MOTORCYCLES 2723 S M-76, WEST BRANCH (989) 345-1330, www.gildnershd.com
For more information, visit www.mhdda.com TM
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MOTORCYCLE WRECK? Call the MOTORCYCLE LAWYER!
1-877-BIKER-LAW
WE TAKE AUTO & TRUCK CASES TOO! Hurt in a crash? Call Jason Waechter - The Motorcycle Lawyer
1-877-BIKER-LAW
www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com
Pre-Owned Motorcycles 2013 Harley-Davidson 2008 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail FLSTSB Cross Bones, Classic, 22 miles, Black, 13,459 miles, $15,999 plus tax & title $13,499 plus tax & title
2012 Honda CBR 250R, Red, 1,163 miles, ONLY $2,999 plus tax, title
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX -14R Blue, 6,739 miles, NOW $9,999 plus tax & title
2007 BMW R 1200 R, SILVER, 72,357 miles, $5,999 plus tax & title
2011 Harley-Davidson FLHX - Street Glide Mileage: 13,658. Red, $17,999 plus tax & title
2012 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide, 7,627 miles, $26,999 plus tax & title
Looking for New? 2007 Harley-Davidson VRSCAW - V-Rod, Black, Mileage: 12,791, $9,999 plus tax & title
2002 Yamaha XV16A Roadstar, Mileage: 23,010, $3,499 plus tax & title
2015 Victory Gunner
1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI One mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.ridemotorcity.com
We carry the full lines of Indian and Victory motorcycles. If you want to buy American but don’t want to follow the pack. Stop by our store today to see the motorcycles with style, class AND performance.
2015 Indian Chieftain
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