June 2014 issue by Midwest Motorcyclist

The 2015 Victory Gunner.

Coffee & Cycles every Saturday morning. Join us!

An outstanding cruiser motorcycle. An urban cruiser delivering an unmatched combination of style, performance and power that can only come from Victory Motorcycles.

Now in Stock

1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI

MSRP: $12,999

on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles

One mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.

248.920.2000 • www.MotorCityMotorcycles.com

Proudly Sells Based in Spearfish, South Dakota, Lehman Trikes are proudly made in the USA and feature our 3-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Factory and dealer support for our products has earned Lehman an exceptional reputation. Lehman Trikes is proud to have established the kind of customer relationships and loyalty that can only be earned through years of dedication and integrity.

Stop by our store today!

Committed to the Three Wheel Experience...

Three Lehman Trikes in stock from which to choose.

2012 Honda GL1800 with premium audio package, $36,999

2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom $17,999

4405 Jackson Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-769-9815 • Toll Free: 800-825-5158 www.nicholsonfun.com

2013 Honda GL1800 F6B $34,999 Stop by our dealership today to check out the new Nicholson’s Motorsports.

Springtime is Sportbike Time. We have a great selection of the S 1000 RR, critically acclaimed as the best sportbike in the world.

2014S 1000 RR Base MSRP: $15,150 including ABS

FREE trackday with Sportbike Track Time and 15% off sportbike riding gear with the purchase of a new BMW S 1000 RR.

BMW Motorrad Dealer of Excellence BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187 734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Redefining your motorcycling lifestyleâ&#x20AC;? SM * Visit BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan for details. Always ride safely and wear proper protective gear. TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

IN THIS ISSUE…..

Columns 5 6 8 10

cc media publications

This Month’s Contributors: Contributing Editors Patrick Armitage Nicole Espinosa Franz Hoffer plus

Dondi Vesprini, Jason Waechter, Jay Wilgus and Emily Flinkstrom

Publisher/Managing Editor

Ray Peabody publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.com rpeabody@sbcglobal.net

Advertising Sales/ Web Master / Distribution Ray Peabody publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.com rpeabody@sbcglobal.net

Cover Design

13 18 19 20 22

To Our Readers The Live It Right Dream Ride: The Challenge of Picking a Bike by Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus Dr. Cycholl The Preacher Speaks About... Tech Talk and E85 Ethanol by Franz Hoffer The Skinny On... Cure for the Polar Vortex by Pedro Gregorio Ohio Motorized Trail Association: Personal Responsibility is Key to Safe Riding by Matt Mesarchik Motorcycling and Law: Medical Coverage on a Bike; Confirming What It Covers by Dondi Vesprini Taking the Pulse on Safety: GHSA Releases Statistics on Motorcycle Fatalities by Jason Waechter Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle: First Ride - 2014 Suzuki V-Strom DL 1000 ABS by Nicole Espinosa

Features, News & Reviews 7 9 9 13 14 15 17 18

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan Moving Getting Your Motorcycle to Wisconsin in a Hurry Correction: E-15 vs E-85 Erik Buell is Back! Charity Fashion Show Continues Success Spring Run Brings Crowds Tired of Winter New (Motorcycle) Math: Women Conquering the Road on Two Wheels in Record Numbers Adventure Motocycle Magazine Launches New Website

Large cover photo: A long line of riders joined the Muskegon Motorcycle Club’s Annual Spring Run. Photo by Ray Peabody. Small cover photo 1: Paul H. Smith aboard the new Suzuki VStrom 1000. Photo by Nicole Espinosa. Small cover photo 2: The Erik Buell Racing 1190 RX is in the market with a dealer network of more than 60 in the U.S. Photo by Ray Peabody..

Pre-Owned Motorcycles

Julie Kirkendoll

2004 BMW R 1150 R How to contact us: 709 Fall Street Spring Lake, Michigan 49456 (810) 923-8738 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com Copyright 2012-2014 cc media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, or electronically transmitted without the expressed written permission of the publisher. Advertisers, their agents, contributors of event information, freelance contributors and/or editorial contributors will defend, indemnify and hold cc media and RTP Enterprises, Inc. harmless in any claims of libel, copyright or trademark infringement, plagiarism, violation of local, national, or international privacy laws and any other claim or suit that may arise subsequent to publication of said advertisement, stories, event information, and/or editorial. Submission of material for consideration for publication in Michigan Motorcyclist/Midwest Motorcyclist, American CycleRider either solicited or unsolicited, constitutes agreement to these terms. Except for the Publisher and Managing Editor, all writers are free-lance contributors. Any and all opinions expressed are those of the authors, and don’t necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Red, Good cond., 11,445 miles, Vstream w/s, BMW side cases, Heated grips, Throttle Lock

ONLY $4,450 1988 BMW R100RT Blue, Good cond, 103,451 miles, Side cases, Throttle lock, Low suspension, Service Manuals

ONLY $2,750

Year Make/Model 2013 BMW K1600GTL 2013 BMW K1600GTL 2012 BMW K1600GTL 2012 BMW K1600GTL 2012 BMW K1600GTL 2011 BMW F800R 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Sport 2010 BMW K1300S 2009 BMW K1300GT 2009 Suzuki DR650 2009 BMW K1200LT 2008 Honda Goldwing 2007 Honda Interceptor 2007 BMW K1200S 2007 BMW F800S 2006 Yamaha V Star 1100 . 2005 BMW K1200LT 2005 BMW K1200LT 2005 BMW R1200RT 2004 BMW R1200CLC 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail 2002 BMW K1200LT

Price $21,500 $19,950 $20,445 $19,950 $18,950 $7,950 $13,950 $9,950 $13,950 $3,750 $15,250 $12,950 $5,450 $8,950 $5,750 $4,450 $6,950 $9,950 $7,950 $8,450 $9,450 $6,450

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI

(616) 530-6900

www.bmwmcgr.com

Latitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

June 2014

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Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Alibi Bar & Grill................................15 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Bent Wheels Competition Club.................21 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW MC of Detroit...........................9, 13 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW of Grand Rapids............4, 6, 9, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW, SE Michigan..............3, 7, 16 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Brighton Harley-Davidson .......7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 C & S Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Capitol Harley-Davidson .........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Classic MotorSports................7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Cycle Conservation Club ...........................19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Dave Bowman MS/Tech-Care.......7, 8 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 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12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Great Lakes Harley-Davidson ..7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson .....7, 10, 11, 15 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Harley-Davidson dealers ..........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Harrison Motorcycle Service ................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..24 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................14 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Kersting’s Harley-Davidson.......................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 MI Supermoto.................................9 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Michigan Chrome Shop.......................22 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Harley-Davidson ...7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Underwriters ......................12 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12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Retail Warehouse ............................5, 16 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 22 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 St. Ronalds Blessing of the Bikes..............14 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 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H-D..............7, 10, 11 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012

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Midwest Motorcyclist

I’m finally getting around to replacing the tires on my Tiger. I delayed and delayed wanting to get the most out of the old tires before spending the money on what are (to me) expensive Michelin Anakee IIIs, an adventure touring-style tire. It was only when the handling began to suffer that I decided the time was right. The wear pattern of tires on the Tiger and the 1996 BMW R 1100 RT I sold a couple years ago has nagged at me. I check my tire pressure before almost every ride, careful to follow the motorcycle manufacturer’s recommendations. Despite attention to that detail, tires on both bikes wore unevenly with serious cupping. It is only recently that the possible cause of that uneven wear was brought to my attention. Ron Bowen, who previously worked with Metzeler and is now with Michelin, conducted a tire seminar at the Season Starter Open House at BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids on March 29. Ron talked about tire construction and maintenance among other things. The most important thing I took away from the presentation was that riders should run the maximum pressure as indicated on the side of the tire rather than follow the motorcycle manufacturer recommendations. The tires are designed to run at that indicated pressure. To run at a pressure recommended by the manufacturer – a pressure typically less than the maximum pressure indicated on the tire sidewall - would ensure that heat would build up in the tire materials and contribute to uneven wear similar to what I had experienced on my motorcycles. Running at the maximum pressure will, according to Ron, ensure even tire wear and longer life. I’m testing his assertions and will let you know what I find. We have a strong issue for you this month. Nicole Espinosa returns with her review of the 2014 Suzuki VStrom DL-1000 with ABS. Apparently, Suzuki learned that it didn’t have the adventure model quite right with the earlier iterations of this bike. They listened, adapted and seemed to have gotten it right. Check out Nicole’s column for her review. Jay Wilgus and Emily Flinkstrom, the young couple who will begin their 15-month adventure ride from Michigan to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina on July 2, continue their journal describing preparations for the trip. They’ve finally purchased their bikes but went through a serious analysis before deciding. Be sure to

read their column this month to learn how they decided on the right bikes for a trip like this. I attended the Muskegon Motorcycle Club’s Annual Spring Run recently and offer my review in these pages. It’s big event attracting lots of riders. Getting out for the Run took on special urgency for me and approximately 1,100 others due to what seemed like a prolonged winter. I also had the opportunity to visit a Harley-Davidson dealer who has just agreed to take on the line of motorcycles (just one model for now) from Erik Buell Racing. Erik was at the event as were some of the engineers who helped develop the new 1190 RX. Also in attendance was Cory West, the young racer who helped in testing and development of the new bike and is now racing the RS version of the machine in AMA Superbike. The capstone to attending the event was the opportunity to take the RX out for a test ride. Read my review to see what’s happening with Buell and where he’s headed. As usual, there’s lots more information and events in this issue. We hope you enjoy it and find value in these pages. Feel free to share it with your friends. I also can’t forget my friendly request that you buy from our advertisers. Their advertising dollars keep this

magazine going. They will appreciate it and so will we. Thank you for reading. Ride safe. Watch for nonattentive cagers and potholes. See you on the road or at an event in the near future.

LEATHER SEWING Patches, zippers replaced & more Very reasonable prices Call for information or quote 7675 Highland Rd, Suite D Waterford, MI 248-886-0875 www.americanroadshop.com

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.

Check us out on Facebook @ MSTAWestMichigan or send an e-mail to rpeabody@sbcglobal.net for more information. 5

Reliability

The Live It Right Dream Ride

In addition to being versatile, the DR650 is also incredibly reliable. Built in roughly the same fashion since 1996, the DR650 has very few known issues. Among other things, the bolts to the neutral sending unit are known to creep loose, the countershaft seal can pop out for no apparent reason, and the upper chain roller can inadvertently get ripped out. Each issue is relatively easy to address though. On top of that, the single-cylinder, air/oil cooled engine of the DR650 is easy to maintain and simple enough to repair in remote locations. That’s quite appealing when you know you’re going to be hundreds of miles away from the nearest certified repair shop at any given point along the way.

The Challenge of Picking a Bike By Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus If you were going to ride roughly 14,000 miles from Michigan to the southernmost tip of South America, which bike would you take? Why? For us, answering those two seemingly basic questions proved to be a challenge. For quite some time, we intended to take our BMW 1150GS Adventure and ride it “two-up” all the way down to Tierra del Fuego. In late 2013, however, Emily decided she wanted to ride her own bike, so we altered our plans and began searching for something that would work well for both of us. After considering countless possibilities, we ultimately chose the Suzuki DR650. Here are a few reasons why.

Affordability

Twins Soon after deciding we would both be riding, we concluded that we wanted to take matching bikes. Our rationale for that was simple: identical parts, tools, and maintenance procedures. Since Jay will be performing (or at least leading) most of the service work on the bikes, he wanted to reduce the number of systems and procedures he had to learn, while also limiting the number of tools and parts we need to bring along. This eliminates unnecessary weight and adds simplicity to an adventure that will produce many complications of its own. It also reduces the likelihood of any marital discord that could develop at stoplights or long stretches of highway if Jay were riding an 1150 and Emily were riding a 650 (or smaller).

needed something that could tackle all the terrain we intend to ride. Versatility

Our planned route through the United States and Latin America includes nearly every type of road imaginable, including irritatingly wide stretches of interstate and silty sections of beauty in Baja. Our bikes need to be able to do it all. In our quest for versatility, we recognize there will be trade-offs. For example, we’re quite certain there will be instances where we’ll be Size longing for a Gold Wing. There will be others, however, where we’ll be craving a dirt bike. Knowing that we wanted to take matching As most motorcycle enthusiasts know, bikes, our next challenge became finding two bikes there seems to be no such thing as the perfect allthat would fit each of us well. Emily is 5’5" and Jay around bike. There are just some bikes that is 5’10" – each of us average weight for our perform better in particular conditions. If you want respective sizes. We needed something that was something that can do everything reasonably well, short enough for Emily and tall enough for Jay. We what you’re most likely to find is something that also needed something that was light enough for does nothing superbly. What you will find, Emily and stable enough for Jay. There are plenty however, are bikes like the DR650 and others (e.g. of bikes out there that meet this criteria, but we also the Kawasaki KLR 650) that, despite their shortcomings on the highway or the single Gilmore Car Museum track, remain incredibly capable across Vintage Motorcycle varying terrain. The DR650 can cruise Show & Swap Meet comfortably at 65 or creep carefully through June 8 dirt, rocks, and streams. That’s exactly what we need.

DEMO RIDES

Harbor Springs June 21-22

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI

A few weeks ago we closed the deal and acquired two 2013 Suzuki DR650’s, which are now sitting comfortably in our garage! Now it’s time to shift our attention to getting each of them outfitted for the journey ahead. If you’re interested in reading more about our bike selection process, the modifications we make to the bikes, or the adventure in general, please check out our website. You can find us at www.liveitrightdreamride.com. Beginning next month, we’ll be writing from the road! We’re planning to leave Ann Arbor on July 2nd headed north on U.S. Route 23. Look for us in the slow lane. ☺ Life is short… Live It Right!

The Live It Right Dream Ride is sponsored in part by:

www.bmwmcgr.com

www.kindsnacks.com/

www.shadyproducts.com/ www.midwestmotorcyclist.com/

Latitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382

Two DR650’s

Traverse City June 27-28

Or stop by our store anytime. Call Blane or Andrea at the store to reserve your demo ride. (616) 530-6900

As noted in our column from March 2014 titled “Budgeting for Adventure,” we’ve been saving for this trip for two years, so we’re incredibly cost-conscious. With that in mind, we sought two bikes that were reasonably affordable. For months, we considered buying used bikes, but with Jay’s attention to detail he has a hard enough time finding one bike that meets his standards. It was nearly impossible to find two! Although neither of us had ever purchased a new car or motorcycle (we’re big believers in buying used ones that have been well-maintained), we ultimately decided to splurge for this particular endeavor. Fortunately, Chip, Casey, and the team at Nicholson’s of Ann Arbor – who have been incredibly supportive of The Live It Right Dream Ride from the very beginning – gave us a great deal that fit within our budget parameters.

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

www.motorcycleandoutdoors.com

June 2014

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan Moving

Sheldon Road

Canton, Michigan – BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan has announced that they will be moving to a new location in Plymouth within the next couple months. The new location offers a significantly larger showroom, service area and parking lot. “The support and loyalty of our customers made this move possible,” said John Horner, owner of the dealership. “The move will enable us to have more inventory on site, complete more service work on a timely basis, serve our customers more efficiently, and adapt to the new BMW sales volume and corporate identification programs. We’re excited about the possibilities the new location will bring.” The 13,000 square foot facility – approximately 2½ times the size of the current dealership - is located on Sheldon Road ¼ mile north of M-14 at the intersection with Helm Road on the left N side of the street. (see W E map) Renovations are First traffic currently in progress. light after making the BMW Motorcycles of Much of the work is S turn onto Southeast Michigan already complete with Sheldon the rest projected to be Helm Street wrapped up by midJune with move-in sometime shortly thereafter. For more Exit I-275 information about the ram p new facility and the M-14 anticipated move date, visit Ann www.bmwmcsem.com Arbor or call the dealership at Plymouth (734) 981-1479.

We want your used motorcycle. New Harley-Davidson® motorcycles are selling like hot cakes. We’re replenishing our inventories as quickly as possible. In addition to the new bikes, we are also stocking up on pre-owned motorcycles, either through trade-ins or outright purchases. If you’re looking to buy - or you just want to sell the motorcycle you now own - take your motorcycle to your local Harley® dealer for a quote. Do it today to make your best deal.

Pre-Owned Motorcycles 2001 BMW R 1200 C Classic, Blue / Silver, 66,900 miles, Excellent condition,

ONLY $5,990 We take motorcycles of all brands and models as trade-ins. Bring us your bike when you’re ready to buy! 2008 BMW K1200S, BLACK / SILVER, 2001 BMW R1200C CLASSIC, “EXCELLENT CONDITION,” BLUE / SILVER, 2010 BMW R1200GS, Graphite, 2009 BMW R1200GS, SILVER / SILVER, 2009 BMW R1200GS, Silver, 2009 BMW R1200GSA, GRAPHITE, 2011 BMW Motorcycles R1200GSA, *EXC. CONDITION, LOADED* GRAPHITE, 2009 BMW R1200RT, BLUE METALLIC / SILVER, 2009 BMW R1200RT, Silver, 2011 BMW R1200RT, *Low SUSPENSION, 4900 MILES,* POLAR ICE / SILVER, 2009 BMW R1200RT, *ONLY 4400 MILES,* SILVER / SILVER, 2011 BMW R1200RTP, BLACK/WHTIE / BLACK, Sale Price:

$10,990 $5,990 $13,990 $13,500 $13,999 $14,700 $15,495 $12,490 $12,990 $14,490 $12,990 $17,490

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com

Brakes • Oil Change • Tires

WHILE YOU WAIT Give us a call to reserve your time and ride out to beautiful Waterford. Lots of terrific roads and nice curves around nearby lakes. We’ll get your work done while you wait and you’ll still have time for a nice ride. Call today.

Small Displacement Motorsports 6971 Highland Road (M-59), Waterford, MI (248) 666-4651 • www.tech-care.com

USED MOTORCYCLES & ATVs 2007 GSXR 600, Yoshimura Exhaust, ELKA suspension, 5,800 miles, Set up for track, Street Legal. $5,495 2010 1986 1995 2012 2007

VTX 1300 FURY, 6200 Miles, Great Condition, Very Clean, Like New, EFI. $7,895 TRI-Z 250 3 WHEELER, This Tri-Z has been restored and is one of a kind. $4,995 VIRAGO 750, Saddle Bags, New Fork Seals, Backrest, 22,000 Miles. $2,995 R6, Like New, Ridden 6 months, 4,000 Miles, LED intergrated tail light, HID headlights. $8,295 GSXR 600, Yosh Exh, ELKA suspension, 5,800 miles, Set up for track, Street Legal. $5,495

Your complete motor sports service center Visit your local Harley-Davidson® dealer today. The complete list of Michigan Harley-Davidson® dealers can be found on page 10 and 11 in this issue. TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

We Do It All from Old to New 6971 Highland Road 248-666-4651 Waterford, MI 48327 www.tech-care.com

ASK Dr. Cycholl

Dear Dr. Cycholl, I would like to take an MSF BRC (Beginner Rider Course) but I heard they teach you how to lay the bike down and I am worried about getting hurt. Can I take the class without doing this?

Q&A Column

Thanks, Suzan C Miecoc

For Your Questions Relating to Motorcycle Safety, Riding Techniques and Touring By Maurice “Moe” D. Cycholl

Dear Sue, This is an old bikers story (Old BS) based on the common but erroneous belief that laying the bike down is a valid technique for avoiding a crash. It may come from a time well beyond my experience (Early 1970’s) when motorcycle brakes were less effective than the Fred Flinstone, drag your feet technique. No training course I have ever taught or taken has ever taught students how to lay the bike down. The goal is to teach you how not to lay the bike down. It is not a good technique to avoid accidentally crashing by intentionally crashing. The BRC will teach you how to effectively use both brakes to stop short and stay upright. Take the class, you will learn a lot and become a much better rider too.

Dear Dr. Cycholl, I own a 2009 Harley Road King with stock handlebars. I like the bike but I think I would be a lot more comfortable with different bars. I like the looks of Ape Hangers. Are there any downsides to installing these bars? Thanks, Tom Versilles, Lapeer, MI

Thank you, Dr Cycholl

Dear Tom,

The Dr Requests your help! I need your questions! This column will be only as good as your questions. If you have a question, it is very likely it will be answered quickly, via Email or snail mail and, in the pages of Michigan Motorcyclist/Midwest Motorcyclist magazine. Please send them in!

A common complaint among Road King owners is the stock handlebars. Ape Hangers, (for those of you that don’t know the term are the extreme high handlebars currently back in style) have several drawbacks that you should consider. First, consider that any handlebar that is more than 18" above the seat is not legal in Michigan. While this seems to be rarely enforced based on how many I see on the road, why draw undue attention of law enforcement? The installation of these bars will require the replacement of throttle, and clutch cables, brake hose and wiring, too. This adds much to the cost. Also, the extra length of the bars puts increased leverage on the clamps making it likely for them to rotate in the clamps under maximum braking. To me, riding with your hands elevated to extremes looks like a potential for circulation problems on a long ride. (I admit I could be wrong about that though) A more practical solution would be to install the handlebar that (in my opinion) HD should have installed in the first place. The bars used on a Police Road King are higher, narrower and offer better control than the low, wide stock Road King bar that seems to be for looks only. They can also be installed without lengthening the cables, hose and wiring making it a potential do it yourself project. If you put these bars on and still decide to do the Ape Hangers you have paid little for the Police bar conversion and can still pay the additional money to do the Apes. Look at them and see what you think. Thank you, Dr. Cycholl

Dr. Maurice D. Cycholl is a world-renowned expert in Motorcycle Safety, Riding Techniques and Touring. In addition, while he is not a recognized expert in motorcycle mechanics, he does possess a fair degree of knowledge in the area of mechanical, and electrical systems found on many motorcycles. He welcomes your questions on these subjects. While you may submit questions on any subject, his advice on other subjects may, or may not be, as reliable. Please submit your questions via email to: askDrCycholl@ hotmail.com or via snail mail to: Dr. “Moe” D. Cycholl, c/o CC media, 709 Fall Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456

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Correction

Getting Your Motorcycle to Wisconsin in a Hurry The call came early in the week. Would I be able to attend the introduction of the new EBR 1190 RX superbike at Hal’s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee) on Thursday evening? Eric Buell would likely be in attendance and might even perform with his band “Eric Buell and the Thunderbolts.” There might even be an opportunity to take the new Buell out for a test ride. Without hesitation, I committeed to attending.

Thursday afternoon. Loading was fast and efficient. Motorcycles go on first. Floor anchors for the tie down straps (provided) are plentiful so it’s a simple process to securely tie down the bike. The trip across Lake Michigan only takes about 2½ hours. Motorcycles exit the ferry before the cars so I was away before the walkon passengers even stepped foot on land. On the return trip, waves on Lake Michigan were two to four feet. Although those waves don’t seem too high, the boat swayed back and forth for most of the trip. Many aboard, especially the kids, were overcome with sea sickness. Ferry goers may want to plan ahead and take Dramamine before getting aboard. Good experience overall. It’s not inexpensive but I would definitely use the ferry again in the future for quick trips to Dairyland and back. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Lake Express, visit their website at www.lake-express.com.

In The Preacher Speaks… from our May 2014 issue, we identified the new higher percentage ethanol fuel proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “E-85.” That is incorrect. E-85 fuel (85% ethanol) has been available for several years and is used by vehicles specifically designed to use high-content ethanol gasoline. The fuel recently proposed by the EPA is E-15 with 15% ethanol blended with 85% gasoline. The E-15 fuel is considered by many, including the American Motorcyclist Association, as being potentially damaging for small engines including those used in motorcycles. Apparently, the problem is that E-15 gasoline burns hotter and leaner than E-10 (the current blend) and can cause damage. The Preacher’s column is accurate when the term “E-85” is replaced with “E-15.” We apologize for this error and any confusion it might have caused. Thanks to reader Steve Burgett for catching our error and bringing it to our attention.

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With a little more than a week before the press deadline for the June issue, the challenge was time. The ride over and back, especially if I took the northern route through the U.P. (a favorite ride), would take more time than I had available. Alternatively, I could take the Lake Express ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee. Having recently received a news release from the ferry company, I knew that motorcycles ride free (except for a $24 fuel surcharge and $24 port and security fee) in the spring and fall. I would only have to pay the round-trip fare $187 for me. I could leave Wednesday morning and return early

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The Preacher Speaks About...

Messing up and Big Harley Dealers by Franz Hoffer O.K., my bad. This month’s article is supposed to be “Tech Talk” but I screwed up. No excuses although I could come up with some great ones. I waited way too long to get started and, instead of doing a shoddy job, I decided to move “Tech Talk” to next month. I guarantee you’ll like the topic. I will be with Jerry Battaglia (“Jerry B”) again. Nothing against any of the dealerships, they certainly have qualified and trained mechanics, but Jerry B and his wife, Michelle, put that little bit of extra into their service. After all, their name is on the door. So, with this month’s column, I want to write about two topics. The first is to invite you all to a “MidSeason Blessing of the Bikes and Bikers” at St. Ronald Catholic Church, located at 17701 15 Mile Road, Clinton Township, MI (see the ad on page 14 in this issue). The event will be in the parking lot behind the church and will run from 1:00pm to 3:00pm with the Bike/Biker Blessing at 2:30pm in the parking lot. Included in the service will be a short Biker Memorial Service to honor our fallen biker comrades. There will be refreshments andsnacks available for purchase and a band will play as well. The church will be open for anyone wanting some private

time to reflect. No charge for the event, all are welcome. A free will offering will be accepted but not required. The only thing required is you…oh, and did I mention the Blessing will be done by me…”The Preacher.” So, my wife and I were fortunate enough to visit some friends in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s a good place to have friends when you live in Michigan during the nasty winter months. While there, I visited Scottsdale Harley-Davidson, a nice modern building with a helpful and knowledgeable staff. In talking with the General Manager, Justin Johnson, I discovered that the dealership is one of three owned by Bob Parsons. Who’s Bob Parsons?, you might ask. I did. He is the owner and founder of GoDaddy and now a billionaire. Turns out he is a big motorcycle enthusiast. I inquired and learned more about Mr. Parsons. He turns to be a very interesting guy. He claims his brain is divided into three sections; 1/3 for technology, 1/3 for motorcycles, and 1/3 for other stuff like hunting, firearms, etc. He currently owns 12 bikes and his favorite is a Ducati. (He also owns the Ducati dealership in Scottsdale.) He has been in a couple of motorcycle accidents, but none serious. His philosophy on helmets is that he wears one because it makes sense but he does not feel a mandatory helmet law is right; it should always be the rider’s choice. He occasionally rides in groups but mostly alone. He defines success as getting up in the morning and looking forward to the day. He says the difference between Harley riders and sport bike riders is that, with Harley riders, it’s more of a lifestyle. Sport bike riders are more like geeks and nerds. Man, would I like to sit down with this guy and have a beer. I have a feeling it would be extremely interesting and maybe life changing (for me!). Parsons has big plans for his Harley dealership in Scottsdale. Even though Scottsdale Harley-Davidson was built in 1998 and still looks great with a nice plot of land with plenty of parking and room for events, it’s only 28,000 square feet. It and the abandoned Chrysler dealership next door are both coming down this year to make room for what will be the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in the world. Currently, the two largest H-D dealerships are in Daytona Beach (109,000 square feet) and Red Rock HarleyDavidson (104,000 square feet) in Las Vega. The Scottsdale monster will be 146,000 square feet. To help you visualize, the average size of a Wal-Mart store is around 100,000 square feet. The planned opening is scheduled for the spring of 2015. With more than four acres, the site will have plenty of space for events. It will have a 20,000 square foot service center with glass walls surrounded by customer lounges so a customer can watch technicians work on his or her baby. In addition, something completely new for any H-D dealership or any motorcycle dealership I’ve ever seen is a planned 87,000 square foot underground parking garage. It really sounds like it’ll be a destination. Like I said; it’s good to have friends in Arizona when you live in Michigan. Can’t wait to see this place. Now where did I put the phone number of our Arizona friends….???

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Erik Buell is Back! by Ray Peabody Several years after the break up with Harley-Davidson, Erik Buell is once again designing, building and selling motorcycles. To many, the break up signaled the end of what had been the inspiring story of a racer who built his own idiosyncratic race bike and whose company was then acquired by The Motor Company. Maybe even Buell thought it was the end. He returned to the beginning and started working on his next race bike. As it turned out, that wasn’t the end but rather something new. The new beginning was a partnership with Hero motorcycles, an Indian company that also happens to be one of the largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturers in the world with millions of units sold every year. Hero provided the money necessary to grow the engineering and development team to complete the new model not to mention set up a manufacturing capability and establish a global dealer network. The first production model to come out of that effort is the 1190 RX Superbike.

BMW Motorcycles of Detroit 34080 Van Dyke Ave Sterling Heights, MI, 48312 (586) 274-4000 www.bmwdetroit.com

The RX is deemed by many in the new company – Erik Buell Racing – to be a world-class sport bike. It is designed to compete head-to-head with the Ducati 1199 Panigale among others. Powered by a 185 horsepower, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 72 degree v-twin, the RX uses some of the same technologies Buell was known for using in the earlier versions of his motorcycles including fuel in frame and perimeter-mounted disk brake rotors. Multiple-mode traction control is one of the newer technologies incorporated in the RX model. The design – minus the traction control - is already having some success at the race track. Cory West, the test rider for Erik Buell Racing, is leading the EBR effort in the Continued on page 16

Charity Fashion Show Continues Success Canton, Michigan – BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan held their fourth annual Charity Motorcycle Fashion Show to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Metro Detroit (UCPMD) on April 18, 2014. The 2014 show generated more than $5,000 in donations. Attendees enjoyed an evening that saw dealership customers and employees acting as models to show off 2014 motorcycle apparel from companies like BMW, KLIM, Schuberth, Rev’It and Olympia. More than $2,000 in door prizes including complete riding suits and helmets - donated by the manufacturers was given away. A caterer served gourmet heavy hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages. The show has grown dramatically in only four years; attendance is up as are donations to the UCPMD. John Horner, owner of BMW

Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan, and Audrey Jackson, Sales Manager, are looking forward to a bigger, better event in 2015. For more information about the Fashion Show or to make a donation to the UCPMD, call Audrey at (734) 981-1479.

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June 2014

Spring Run Brings Crowds Tired of Winter by Ray Peabody Muskegon, Michigan – Sunshine and cool temperatures welcomed winter-weary riders to Mt. Garfield for the Muskegon Motorcycle Club’s 94th Annual Spring Run on Sunday, May 4. Almost 1,100 motorcycles and riders with another 500 people joining as passengers participated in the event.. Mt. Garfield, home of the Club’s bi-annual national pro hill climb. The large parking area was big enough to accommodate the number of riders expected to join the Run. The gates opened at 8 a.m. and participants began arriving shortly thereafter. Multiple vendors were on site including Brooklyn Bagels whose representatives were busy serving up coffee and basic breakfast foods. Door prizes were given out and a 50/50 drawing held. A steady stream of riders on every type of motorcycle filtered through the parking area to find friends or stake out multiple parking spots for their group. Several truly unique motorcycles grabbed lots of attention including a military-themed Harley adorned with hand grenades, mines and bullets pulling a trailer carrying what looked like multi-barrel Gattling machine guns and an M-16.

The Run departed Mr. Garfield at approximately 11:30 a.m. The route took the riders north on US-31 before exiting onto two lane roads cutting through the countryside. The line of motorcycles went for what seemed like miles. Spectators and fans lined roads and over passes all along the route to watch the huge motorcycle parade. Blockers stationed at major intersections helped keep the riders together and sped up progress through busy areas.

The sunshine had given way to clouds and cooler temperatures by the time the Run ended at the Holton America Legion Post 397 just off M-120 on the north end of Holton. Participants could purchase pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs as well as beverages. “Each year, we lay out a new route,” said Carl Murat, organizer of the Spring Run and

owner of CC Cycle, in Muskegon. “It’s boring to ride the same roads year after year. Plus, we have to take into account road construction projects we might encounter. We also try to change up destinations but the number of facilities that can accommodate what can be as many as 1,500 motorcycles is limited.” The Spring Run seemed like a good excuse to kick off the winter blues and get back in the saddle. That’s what more than 1,600 people did on May 4. It was a great way to kick off the season and commune with fellow riders. For more information about the Muskegon Motorcycle Club, the Spring Run or their upcoming Bridgeton Summer Three Day in June or the national pro hill climb in August, visit the Club’s web site at www.muskegonmotorcycleclub.com.

OPEN The Alibi Bar & Grill is open for business. • Good Food • Great Prices • Cold Beer • Nice Wines • Awesome People • Casual Atmosphere • Centrally Located

MOTORCYCLISTS WELCOME! We ride. We know the value of a great destination, a tasty lunch and a cool beverage while out for a day in the saddle. Come on out to Ionia to check us out. Don’t wait until spring. Drive out now and ride back once the winter ends. See you at The Alibi!

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1395 E. Riverside Dr. Ionia, Michigan (616) 527-1810 www.alibionia.com Motorcyclist Owned & Operated TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

Continued from page 13 - Eric Buell

“I’m able to carry a lot of speed into the corners. We should do well on tracks with lots of curves like Road AMA Superbike Shootout this season aboard the America. I expect a good result when we race there in a $43,000+ RS model on which the RX is based. With couple weeks.” three races under his belt (at the time of this With engineering and manufacturing in place writing), West is currently in 9th position after three and racing success demonstrating the capabilities of top-ten finishes. This level of performance on a the 1190 RX, the next big push is building a dealer relatively new machine without traction control or network. According to Tom Mielke, EBR’s Dealer ABS against competition using those technologies is Support Manager, the dealer network is growing. impressive. “We are targeting the top 100 markets in the “The bike is competitive,” said West, who United States,” said Mr. Mielke of his efforts to attract raced the RS last year as part of a non-factory team. dealers. “We currently have 65 dealers and expect to add more in the near term. We’ve streamlined the set up process so that dealers don’t get loaded up with inventory. We want the brand to be successful with both dealers and consumers.” Mr. Mielke was attending a recent new dealer introduction event at Hal’s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin (a suburb of Milwaukee), Wisconsin. With him was Gary Pietruszewski, Vice President of Global Sales for EBR. Mr. Pietruszewski is heading up the expansion of the dealer network in Europe. The response to his European efforts has been positive; as good as, if not better than here in the U.S. He attributes that to the visibility of World Super Bike. Kirk Topel, owner of Hal’s Harley-Davidson, is excited about taking on the Erik Buell Racing line. “We started selling Buell motorcycles in 1990,” said Mr. Topel. “We had success selling the brand before and Buell has a strong following in this area because of us. We’re excited to have Buell back. It was an easy decision for us.” “It’s been a long, hard road back,” said Mr. Motorcyclist writer Aaron Frank (l), EBR V.P., Buell, in comments at the new dealer event at Hal’s. Global Sales Gary Pietruszewski and EBR Racer “Being independent allowed us to design and build a Cory West (r) talking about the new Buell. world-class super bike. We currently have 140 employees, business is growing and we’re building American motorcycles again. The 1190 RX competes with the best sport bikes in the world. A small deposit will hold your leathers until spring. We’re fortunate that Hal’s can support both cruiser Leather and sport bike Jackets enthusiasts.” Mr. Topel has from demonstrated his 00 $100 commitment to EBR by allocating a significant portion of his showroom Textile inside the front entrance of

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EBR Racer Cory West (l) talking with Hal’s H-D owner, Kirk Topel.

his dealership to displays of the 1190 RX as well as a wall section dedicated to EBR logo wearables (i.e., shirts, jackets, hats, glasses, packs, etc.) To help promote awareness and sales of the EBR 1190 RX, demo events that tend to follow the locations of the AMA Superbike Shootout have been organized. These events will allow enthusiasts to take a ride on the RX and decide for themselves how good the new Buell is. The evening wrapped up with live music performed by Erik Buell and the Thunderbolts. They rocked! The original plan was for me to a test ride the 1190 RX the morning after the new dealer intro. Unfortunately, rain fell throughout the morning and the test ride was cancelled. John “Bud” Curtis II, salesman, rental manager and one of the two Buell experts at Hal’s, was supposed to lead the ride. He currently owns two of the older model Buells; an 1125 R for the track and an 1125 S for the street. Since we couldn’t ride, I asked his impression of the new RX since he rode the bike hundreds of miles Continued on next page

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Continued from previous page during the break in. “I’ve really taken it easy so far,” said Mr. Curtis. “I’ve never exceeded 6,000 rpms. Traction control hasn’t been a factor since I haven’t pushed the bike too hard. I can say that the RX is more comfortable than my other Buells because of the narrower seat. I’m getting used to riding a chaindriven motorcycle and what that means in terms of engine braking. I think it’s going to be a success.” 2014 Buell 11890 RX MSRP: $18,995

New (Motorcycle) Math: Women Conquering the Road on Two Wheels in Record Numbers MILWAUKEE, WI - May 14, 2014 - With riding season finally in full swing, motorists and motorcyclists alike might be surprised at who’s behind the handlebars. Roughly 12 percent of the country’s motorcycle owners now are women – an increase of about 30 percent over the last decade, according to the latest estimate from the Motorcycle Industry Council[1]. Harley-Davidson, the top-selling motorcycle brand among women in the U.S.[2], sold more new onroad motorcycles to women in the U.S. than all other brands combined in 2013[3], perhaps because more women are realizing the benefits of riding can extend to their daily lives, off the road. According to a study conducted by Kelton and commissioned by Harley-Davidson, women riders are more than twice as likely to always feel happy (37 percent of riders vs. 16 percent of non-riders) and more than a third (34 percent) reported that they felt less stressed after starting to ride. Further, nearly four times as many always feel sexy (27 percent of riders vs. 7 percent of non-riders), and nearly twice as many always feel confident (35 percent of riders vs. 18 percent of non-riders). “Thousands of women have found that riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a powerful way to tap into their strength, independence and confidence and take it to a whole new level,” said Claudia Garber, Director of Market Outreach for Harley-Davidson. “Research shows the positive impact riding has on women, so we invite all those who dream of the open road to get started on the journey.” More Ways Life is Better on Two Wheels According to the Harley-Davidson Women Riders Survey, the benefits of riding continue:

Erik Buell tuning up.

· In work: More riders than non-riders (40% vs. 18%) feel extremely satisfied with their careers. · In the mirror: More than twice as many riders as nonriders (32% vs. 15%) agree that they feel beautiful daily. · In relationships: Women who ride are more content with communication with their significant other (60 percent of riders vs. 38 percent of non-

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riders) and physical intimacy (51 percent of riders vs. 35 percent of non-riders). · In spirit: More riders than non-riders (75% vs. 64%) usually feel content instead of worried, and almost a quarter (23%) of riders report that they rarely or never feel anxious. How to Get Started on the Road To Happiness Since the company’s earliest days, Harley-Davidson has inspired thousands of women to explore the road not (yet) taken, embracing the confidence and strength they find through riding. There is no better time than May, Women Riders Month, to turn inspiration to realization, and HarleyDavidson offers some great ways for women to get started. · For those ready to roll: The all-new HarleyDavidson™ Riding Academy is the only national rider training program hosted by Harley-Davidson® dealerships. Students will learn to ride on the new Harley-Davidson Street™ 500 motorcycle, which boasts confidence-inspiring handling and agility that makes it the ideal vehicle for learning to ride. · For those seeking inspiration: Garage Party™ events are designed with women in mind and offer a fun, nopressure introduction for non-riders who have little or no prior knowledge of motorcycles. Attendees will learn the basics, including motorcycle controls, bike fitment and what gear and apparel they need to get started and feel comfortable and confident on two wheels. Participating dealers also offer the JUMPSTART™ demo, a stationary test ride experience where women can swing a leg over a real Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, start its engine and learn how to shift through the gears. No riding experience necessary. Visit www.h-d.com/women to find a Riding Academy class or Garage Party™ event in your area.

Welcome to Motorcycle Mike’s (formerly of Blue Water Tires) Visit our store for your tires rather We carry the most popular brands of tires for every style of motorcycle you ride: than going to a swap • American V-twins • Dual Sport meet. We don’t charge for • Metric Cruisers • Off Road parking nor do we charge • Large Touring • Scooter an entry fee. Instead, you • Sport Bikes • ATVs will enjoy the same prices • Sport Touring • Trials • Racing • Dirt Track you would find at the • Vintage • and much more swap meet. Don’t wait. The riding season is here. You can rely on the expertise of our staff, with their combined riding experience of over 100 years! Whether you need help in picking out the best tires, mounting the tires, or balancing the tires on your wheels, just look to us to help.

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Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto) Launches New Industry Leading Website CHANTILLY, Virginia, April 22, 2014 – After more than three years of development, Adventure Motorcycle is happy to announce the re-launch of AdventureMotorcycle.com. “The release of AdventureMotorcycle.com 2.0 signifies a turning point in the history of not only the publication, but we feel, the industry as well,” says ADVMoto publisher, Carl Parker. The new site includes many features which will appeal to riders and industry professionals alike. More Categories – News, Reviews (Bike, Gear, Media) and Spotlights (Ride, Rider, Event) Global Event Map – AdventureMotorcycle.com offers an International Events listing which can be interactively browsed on a map and/or selected by five regions (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia/ Australia). Feel free to submit your ADV related event at http://www.adventuremotorcycle.com/events/submitan-event. Submission is quick and easy. All Issues Online – AdventureMotorcycle.com plans to have all 79+ issues of AdventureMotorcycle/Dual-Sport News online by end of 2014. This would make it the most Continued from page 22 - N. Espinosa smiling ear-to-ear in my helmet over Suzuki’s answer to the people as I downshifted before the curves, and then accelerated out of them with plenty of torque and power. My second favorite item of upgrade was balance. After shaving off 18 lbs, Suzuki created a totally new feel with its lighter package. Eight pounds of that is from the new single pipe that creates a much better lower center of gravity for the bike than its original higher dual cans. The largevolume catalyzer in the newly designed exhaust system also helps to reduce emissions, which is why it’s now able to satisfy the Euro 3 regulations. The V has slimmed down even further after eliminating the old oil cooler and redesigning the new radiator and related components for increased cooling capacity. All of these upgrades together made for one incredible new machine both on the twisties, and at lower and higher rpms on straight-aways. One thing for sure, though, was the fact that all that

complete online adventure motorcycle web publication and the oldest English language Adventure/DualSport specific publication still in circulation. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.” says Parker.”With more sites and features lined up, AdventureMotorcycle.com is determined to raise the visibility of adventure riding to an all new level in North America and around the world.” Promotion: To help kick off the new site, ADVMoto is offering 30% off new print and digital subscriptions through the end of May 2014 with coupon code: NSADV430. Industry related parties interested in learning more about Adventure Motorcycle as a publication or market, please contact ADVMoto through the site with specific questions. AdventureMotorcycle.com

fun testing worked up quite an appetite. After pulling into Julian on this 70 something spring day, it was nice to take a load off on Julian Grille’s charming outdoor patio to compare riding notes during lunch. What was neat to find out was the fact that Suzuki had addressed rider comfort with ergonomics that covered both ends of the spectrum for height. The one thing we agreed upon being at the top of the list was its new stability and balance and tighter weight package. This was especially appreciated once we got back on the bikes with hard-to-resist apple pie ala mode in our bellies and a few extra pounds of our own. After having ridden one of the best all-around adventure touring machines that day, I knew that the power ultimately belongs in the hands of the people. MSRP: $12,699 suzukicycles.com Nicole Espinosa is Mom to two great kids, founder / owner of www.ruggedrider.com, Managing Editor of Adventure Motorcycle magazine and soon-to-be RTW motorcycle adventurer. Communication welcome for Nicole: nicole@ruggedrider.com

The Great Lakes Dual Sporters is a like-minded group of offroad motorcyclists who enjoy riding Michigan’s vast two-track trails and back roads. All done using a street legal dirtbike also known as Dual Sport. If you’re looking for fantastic dualsport riding and the company of great friends, join us. Check out our website at www.gldsmc.org to learn about our group, our events and much more. Only $10 to join!

www.GLDSMC.org 18

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June 2014

Motorcycling & Law

Medical Coverage on a Bike; Confirming What It Covers

Sport Touring is Our Middle Name!

We Ride! ...All Makes of Bikes ...All Over the Country ...On Back Roads ...On Racetracks ...At Novice-Advanced Levels ...In Our Sleep!

by Dondi Vesprini Hopefully, as you are reading this article, you are in the midst of enjoying a beautiful Michigan summer, riding free and that the Detroit Tigers are still holding tight in first place in their division. (As of the date in May that I wrote this, they were in first place. I hope I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t jinx them. I wanted to address a topic that more than one rider has brought up to me in the past month, that being the importance of medical coverage on your motorcycle insurance policy and understanding what type of such medical coverage you actually have on your motorcycle insurance policy. As an initial matter, if a motorcyclist is injured in an accident that involves a motor vehicle then the motorcyclistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical expenses will be taken care of under Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No Fault system regardless of whether the motorcyclist had medical coverage on his/ her motorcycle. (That is until and unless the insurance company has their way in Lansing with their proposed No Fault reform. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me started.) However, what if a motorcyclist is injured in an accident that does not involve a motor vehicle, such as going down due to road conditions, a deer running across the road, or due to an accident with another motorcycle, for example? In this situation, the No Fault coverageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do not apply and the motorcyclist will be up to his/her own devices to pay the resulting medical bills. A motorcyclist could utilize his/her health insurance or policies of disability insurance that provide for payment of medical bills if any of these apply. However, many health insurance policies are excluding payment of medical bills for injuries resulting from motorcycling under what many policies deem the â&#x20AC;&#x153;inherently dangerous activityâ&#x20AC;? exclusion. Also, many disability insurance policies provide restrictions on the types of medical expenses covered and have dollar caps on their liability. For these reasons, medical coverage on the motorcycle is critical. Perhaps just as important is not only confirming that you have medical coverage on your motorcycle, but confirming what exactly the medical coverage actually covers. For example, I recently spoke with a motorcyclist who advised that his motorcycle insurance company offered two types of medical coverage on his motorcycle policy: Medical Benefits and Medical Payments. They are defined under the policy as follows: TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

Medical Benefits: Pays certain medical and funeral expenses resulting from an accident involving a motorcycle. This coverage protects you, your spouse, or relatives residing in your household while occupying a motorcycle insured with us by you or a motorcycle not owned by you. This coverage will not pay for medical expenses if there is other available insurance coverage. Medical Payments: Pays certain medical and funeral expenses resulting from a motor vehicle accident. This coverage protects anyone occupying your vehicle. It also covers you and relatives who reside in your household while in other vehicles or if struck as a pedestrian. These benefits are payable without regard to fault. This coverage may not be available in states that require Personal Injury Protection Benefits. In this situation, if a motorcyclist has â&#x20AC;&#x153;Medical Paymentsâ&#x20AC;? on his/her motorcycle policy but not â&#x20AC;&#x153;Medical Benefitsâ&#x20AC;?, and he/she is involved in a motorcycle versus deer accident, the motorcycle policy would not provide medical coverage in that circumstance. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t assume that because your policy provides that you have some type of medical coverage on your motorcycle that it will provide coverage in all situations. If you are not certain about what the medical coverage on your motorcycle policy actually covers, it is worth the call to your insurance agent to get this straight so you are not left holding the bag for your medical bills in the event of an accident. 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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to contact me as I deal with these types of claims 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. Dondi is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and is recognized as an expert in cases involving motorcycle accidents. He has obtained millions of dollars in recovery for injured motorcyclists over the course of his career as a trial attorney. Dondiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representation of motorcyclists extends beyond the court room. He is a member of the Board of Directors of ABATE of Michigan and meets frequently with both legislators and lobbyists regarding legislation affecting injured motorcyclists and the rights of motorcyclists to ride free.

Our members come from all across the Midwest (and beyond) and we ride many makes of street bikes - including: â&#x20AC;˘ Aprilia â&#x20AC;˘ BMW â&#x20AC;˘ Buell â&#x20AC;˘ Ducati

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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!

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Taking the Pulse of Safety:

GHSA Releases Preliminary Stats on Motorcycle Fatalities by Jason Waechter motorcyclists or passengers riding motor scooters. It’s also important to keep in mind that this report looks at the number of fatalities but does not analyze the reasons for these deaths. Some states did provide their opinions on why fatal crashes increased or decreased, but these opinions are not based on any scientific analysis. That said, many of them seem like logical, plausible explanations for increases or decreases in motorcyclist fatalities, so they are certainly worth noting. For example, some states suggested that the increase or decrease they saw in motorcyclist fatalities could be explained by the th weather. Some states that experienced 18 Annual a cold, rainy spring and summer were among the 35 who saw a decrease in motorcyclist fatalities; Michigan, Vermont, and Colorado reported a shorter-than-normal motorcycle season in 2013 because of cool weather in the spring and fall, and lots of rain in the summer. Illinois and Tennessee, Pre-1985 Bikes on the other hand, suggested that and older milder, drier weather might have resulted in more miles ridden overall, which could explain why they experienced an increase in fatalities in 2013. There are always anomalies to account for when looking at this type of data. A good example in this report is New Jersey, which was devastated Hosted by the by Superstorm Sandy. In their report, BMW New Jersey authorities suggested that Motorcycle Club the damage by the storm affected the of Battle Creek number of motorcyclists visiting tourist destinations in that state, which could help to explain a massive 38% decrease in motorcycle fatalities during the summer months. ! e n i I was surprised to read that h or S generally, the economy and the price n i Ra of gas probably didn’t have much effect on fatal motorcycle crashes last year. Initially I thought this was a nobrainer: If the economy is up and gas 6865 Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI prices are down, more people might Midway between be tempted to buy and ride a bike for Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Lansing and Grand Rapids pleasure, right? But this report notes that when the economy is down and gas prices are up, there tends to be a

Let’s start with some good news: In 2013, the number of fatal motorcycle crashes decreased in 35 states during the first nine months of the year, according to a preliminary report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). In fact, GHSA estimates that overall, the number of motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes will be down 7% from 2012. Seeing a decrease in fatalities is an unfortunately rare occurrence; in fact, this is only the second time a decrease has been noted since 1997. While it’s great to talk about fatalities going down, the fact of the matter is that bikers are still being killed on the roads; this report notes that motorcyclists and passengers made up 15% of those killed in traffic incidents in 2012. There are two things that we need to keep in mind when reading this report: First, the data is preliminary, and may not provide a complete picture of traffic fatalities. Second, each state records data in a different way, so the data provided in this report may not exactly match what is recorded by NHTSA. Also, the differences in how statistics are recorded means differences in how they are reported; Florida did not provide information on the number of motorcycle passengers killed, while Iowa and Michigan did not provide information for

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rise in ridership as well; it’s cheaper to gas up a bike than a car or truck. Ultimately, it looks like both the economy and gas prices were pretty stable in 2013 anyway, and GHSA does not believe either one had an effect on fatal motorcycle crashes. Being a huge advocate for motorcycle awareness and safety programs, I was hoping to see a link in the data between these types of programs and a drop in fatalities. If we could definitely prove that awareness and safety campaigns can help prevent crashes, it would be easier to secure funding to promote them more widely. Unfortunately, there is no real way to say for sure that an awareness campaign or safety program can prevent crashes. That said, some states who reported a decrease or very limited increase in fatalities, like Kansas and Wyoming, also reported an increase in safety enforcement. Similarly, states including California, Ohio, and Missouri who promoted highly visible motorcycle awareness and education programs (such as the Share the Road campaign) also reported a decrease or a limited increase in fatalities. While this is not definite proof that these campaigns prevent death, this data does seem to be a positive sign that awareness and education may help keep bikers safer. As I said earlier, the reasons suggested by different states to explain an increase or decrease in the number of motorcyclists killed last year are just that: suggestions. However, it’s important to look at factors like the weather, gas prices, and the effectiveness of safety enforcement and awareness campaigns to give us a “big picture” idea of what’s going on out on the road so we can try to improve. The best-case scenario would be to figure out how to prevent crashes altogether, so that fatalities drop to zero. Until then, it’s important for all us bikers to be aware of the things that could affect our ride, and do our best to act accordingly. Most of all, be safe and continue to remind everyone to “Watch for Motorcycles.” To see the GHSA report, visit http:// www.ghsa.org/html/publications/spotlight/ motorcycle2013.html.

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 1-877-BIKER 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.

June 2014

Events Events do change. Please call ahead.

Michigan May 24 10th Annual Dillinger Ride The Inn Between Saloon 4711 E. Kinde Road Port Hope, MI Reg 11 a.m. to 12 noon $15/person $25/couple (989) 428-3522 May 24 & 25 14th Annual Bubba’s Memorial Weekend Classic 804 S. Huron (M-13) Linwood, MI Saturday charity bike show Sunday charity poker run Sunday bike raffle giveaway at 5:30 Sign each day is 10am-12pm $5.00 donation for either event 2 days of food, rock and roll, friendship and charity fundraising All proceeds go to Camp Fish Tales- A local barrier free camp 989-697-5525 www.bubbastricitycycle.com June 1 14th Ride for a Reason Cabela’s in Dundee $20 / person before 5/16 $25/person same day 734.947.4647 734.946.7500

2nd Kathy Prieto Kindred Poker Run The Oxford Tap 36 S. Washington Oxford, MI $20/bike Leaving Oxford Tap at 11 a.m. June 20-22 Thunder at the River Salute to Veterans www.rollingthundermichigan1.com June 22 1st Road Poker Run Stevens Cycle 3636 S. Huron Road Bay City, MI $10 / person Reg 9 a.m. to 12 noon 989.501.0911 989.297.2588 June 28 Vern Haggadone Memorial Poker Run Harrison Moose Lodge #2235 5185 N. Clare Avenue Harrison, MI Reg 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. $20 / per poker hand $25 after June 21 989.578.7663 810.333.0718 July 11 & 12 12th Annual Wheels of Thunder Downtown Jackson, MI on Michigan Ave www.TheWheelsOfThunder.com July 11 Observation RideWest Branch Fairgrounds Reg 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

June 4 Freedom Rally Michigan State Capitol Lansing, Michigan (269) 435-2058 June 7 4th Bikers against Breast Cancer Headlight Run Teazers Bar & Grille 819 Ottawa Avenue Grand Rapids, MI Reg 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. $20/person (616) 890-4082 (616) 914-0211 June 14 Trenton Firefighters Charities Anything on Wheels Poker Run Buster’s Place Reg 11 a.m. $25 per poker hand (734) 676-4292 June 21 TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

July 12 STAR Chapter 249s Anniversary Bash St. Helens Power Sports 1901 N. St Helen Road, St Helens, MI Everyone welcome Event from 10:00 to 2:30 Stands up at 12;00; ride to last about 1 and1/2 hour Lunch from 1:30 - 2:30 Door Prizes Activities with WUPS & Micheal J 50/50’s Donation of 10.00 per bike 1-231-429-9244 July 12 ABATE Region 7

2014 Shoot & Scoot Farmer’s Tavern downtown Ruth, MI Reg 10 a.m. $10/person (810) 712-1600 August 9 1st Annual Bikers for Billy Poker Run Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge#4360 7200 Stanwood Road Stanwood, MI Reg 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. $25 per poker hand $30 after August 2 810.333.0718 August 14-16 Michigan State HOG Rally Presents The Great Lakes Rally Birch Run Expo Center 11600 N. Beyer Rd. Birch Run, MIFacebook: Michigan State HOG Rally www.mistatehogrally.com August 16 Carrie’s Ride Retail Warehouse Sturgis, MichiganReg 10:30 a.m. Run starts at Noon $15 person (269) 823-2269 September 20 Downtown Homer Car, Motorcycle, Tractor & Bicycle Show 9 am- 3 pm Awards and Prizes Free Registration 50/50 drawings and horseshoe tournament Homer, MI Brad Stuart 517-568-7117 Jim Lingenfelter 517-414-8468

Indiana May 31 Poker Run Benefiting United Cancer Reg 9a.m. @ RV Hall of Fame $20/rider; $10/rider www.elkhartcancer.org May 31 – June 1 Miracle Ride (800) 257-4337 www.miracleride.net June 1 Phi Delta Kappa 1st Annual Poker Run & Ride for Kids Phi Delta Kappa 71W. 3rd St.

Peru, IN Reg. 10:30 a.m.

July 12 4th Annual In Loving Memory Cruise In Paradise Spring, IN 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Motorcycle Run $10 Rider; $5 Passenger (579) 529-5567

June 1 Jammin’ for Jim The Blind Pig 147 S. Madison Avenue Greenwood, IN 12 noon to 5 p.m. June 1 Rachel’s Ride Poker Run, Hog Roast Duff’s 111 E. Chicago St.Columbia City, IN $20/rider; $5/passenger Reg. 10:30 a.m.

July 13 Ride with Us to Cure Kids Pinhook Park 2801 Riverside Drive SouthBend, IN 800.253.6530 rideforkids.org

June 7 Ride for Danielle Southside Harley-Davidson 4930 Southport Crossing Place Indianapolis, IN Reg 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Ride starts at Noon$25/ride; $10/passenger

August 15-17 Hog Daze Rally Home of the Hog Marion, Indiana Admission $5.00. Vendors, food, bike contests, camping and music Check us out by looking up Home of the Hog.

June 7 Elkhart Firefighters Local 338 Tent Party Hacienda 186 Easy Shopping Place Elkhart, IN $5/person to benefit Hoosier Burn Camp June 14 5th Annual JDRF Fundraiser Kars & Kruisin’ for the Kids ADESA Indianapolis 2950 W. Main Street Plainfield, IN (317) 838-8000

August 15-17 11th annual ABATE- Region 1, Elkhart County SummerFest 16611 CR.8, Bristol, IN.46507 $15 ABATE members, $20 nonmembers Free tent camping, RV’s-$50, Vendors, Field Events, Live music, Stage Shows. (574) 596-7266 September 13 2ndf Annual Lapel Eagles Ride Benefit for Tyler Thompson 110 East 9 th Street Lapel, IN $15 Single Rider; $10/passenger Sign up 8 a.m. (765) 617-7720 (765) 534-4577

June 21-22 Heartland Summerfest Car & Bike Show Heartland Christian Center 170 S. State Road 49 Valparaiso, IN Free Admission (219) 996-4979 June 26-28 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club National Rally Spring Mill State Park Mitchell, IN June 28 The Ice Cream Run Walmart South Ireland Road at 31/20 Bypass South Reg 10 a.m. $20 /rider; $30 / passenger www.icecream-run.com July 12 Lt. Michael Andry Memorial Ride American Legion Post #10 1700 S. Pennsylvania Marion, IN 9 a.m. Breakfast 11 a.m. Ride begins (765) 628-2469

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.

Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle First Ride of the 2014 V-Strom DL 1000 ABS: Power to the People by Nicole Espinosa There is an uprising across the world right now, and it has to do with we the people taking back our power. Sure, we’ve tried over eons of time to spread the truth, or demand our rights, but were often met with a stake and a torch. This time, the people were not only acknowledged, but became the backbone in helping to build the future. And, which was the smart company that listened to this group of people known as their customers? Suzuki. The result of this winning collaboration is a product line that should keep sales on a nice incline for

this solid company. When Suzuki unveiled their new DL 1000 as the “Sport Adventure Tourer for all Enthusiasts” they weren’t kidding. Here is a manufacturer who has appealed to every riding ability level in the market while hitting on a long list of important performance and overall package features with a staggeringly unbeatable pricepoint. Placing huge importance on feedback from their customers on the focal points that needed changing, Suzuki engineers poured themselves into updating the V-Strom 1000 from the ground up. There was only one way to test this newly revamped machine—by taking it on some of the nicest snaking highways of Southern California. The

quaint town of Julian, apple pie capital of sunny California, was the lunch destination, and twisty highways 76 and 79 were the means to get there. There were two of us testing the new DL and how it covered ergonomics for different heights, myself at 5’6" and Paul at 6’4". After throwing my 31" inseam over the bike and settling down on the seat, it was immediately noticeable that this new design’s lower seat and narrower body style addresses the needs of a shorter rider. But two of the biggest upgrades that made me shout “Suzuki nailed it” were its responsiveness and balance. The totally improved and redesigned liquid cooled 90 degree Vtwin engine pumped up performance and throttle response like a charm. And, who wouldn’t want higher power, a more linear throttle response, easier engine start up, and a more stable idle? Now you can get all of that with the new cylinder heads that carry two new iridium spark plugs per cylinder over the one conventional plug. In addition to “greasing” up the throttle, Suzuki added the new “Suzuki Clutch Assist

Nicole stands proudly next to Jim Kirkland of Suzuki and the good looking new beaky DL1000.

System (SCAS)” that works as a slipper clutch on downshifts, and as an assist clutch to make the lever easier to pull. This was definitely the answer to we Los Angelenos who constantly feather the clutch in stop-and-go traffic. Balance became the buzz word of the day as the new lower center of gravity and reduction in weight made me feel like a kid at Christmas while carving the curves . Before feeling the stability of the bike on the twisting highways, we opened them up on straight Highway 5 with little traffic. From low to high rpms, the revamped engine performed with strong output and stayed stable at higher speeds. At the top end of the speedo is where I wanted to test the windshield adjustability. It was easy to test the three different positions one- handed with the second one forming the best wind resistance bubble for me. This was just one added feature that helped to create a very comfortable ride for the entire day. Suzuki’s research before development of the new DL upgrades was extensive with results from surveys, focus groups, dealer visits, magazine tests, and OEM brochures. They looked at wish lists, as well as gripes, and the two biggest issues that have been addressed above and beyond the old model are the buffeting and torque. The handle bars have been moved backwards for a more comfortable riding position that also affected the positioning of the mirrors. This coupled with the newly developed height- and angleadjustable windscreen after extensive wind tunnel testing completely addressed the wind buffeting issue, even at high speeds. On the wish list from previous DL1000 owners was more torque and power from low to mid rpms. Here I was Continued on page 18

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June 2014

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 S Division Grand Rapids, MI 49548-5730 616-530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.com

Midwest Motorcyclist

$750 in BMW riding gear with the purchase of a new BMW K 1600 GTL