Midwest Motorcyclist(tm),March 2015 issue by Midwest Motorcyclist

We’re Moving Out 2014 Models! 2014 Indian Vintage - Demo, Red, 2,005 miles, 5 year warranty, MSRP $21,399, Special price: $2,500 off MSRP

2014 Indian Chieftain - New, Red, 11 miles, 5 year warranty, MSRP $25,338, Special price: $1,500 off MSRP

2014 Indian Classic - New, Blue, 11 miles, 5 year warranty, MSRP $19,399, Special price: $1,500 off MSRP

2014 Indian Vintage - New, Blue/Cream, 11 miles, 5 year warranty, MSRP $23,800, Special price: $1,500 off MSRP

2014 Victory Vision - Demo, Nuclear Sunset, 432 miles, 2 year warranty, MSRP $21,999, Special price: $2,000 off MSRP

2014 Victory Vegas 8 Ball - New, Black, 11 miles, 2 year warranty, MSRP $12,499, Special price: $1,000 off MSRP

2014 Indian Chieftain - New, Red, 11 miles, 5 year warranty, MSRP $23,499, Special price: $1,500 off MSRP

2014 Victory Cross Country Demo, Gold, 313 miles, 2 year warranty, MSRP $20,999, Special price: $2,500 off MSRP

2014 Victory Cross Roads 8-Ball - New, Black, 9 miles, 3 year warranty, MSRP $15,999, Special price: $2,500 off MSRP

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

2014 Victory Cross Country New, Red, 13 miles, 2 year warranty, MSRP $18,999, Special price: $2,000 off MSRP

on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles

Get rread ead y ffor or tha ou’ ve planned all winter eady thatt trip y you’ ou’v winter.. The 2015 R 1200 GS. Explore the World.

2015 BMW R 1200 GS Base MSRP: $16,175 Including ABS

Save up to $2,500 on the purchase of a new, in-stock 2014 S 1000 RR. Plus, with the purchase, you can participate in one of our track days free of charge. Don’t wait! With these great values, the remaining 2014 S 1000 RRs won’t last long. Stop by our dealership today!

Almost all of the 2015 Models are here. The S 1000 XR and R 1200 RS will arrive soon.

Outstanding values on the remaining 2014 models in stock. Stop by our dealership today!

BMW Motorrad Dealer of Excellence BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 14855 N. Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI 734.453.0500 www.bmwmcsem.com

“Redefining your motorcycling lifestyle” SM * For qualified buyers. Visit BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan for details. Always ride safely and wear proper protective gear. TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

Columns 5 7 10 14

cc media publications

This Month’s Contributors: Contributing Editors Patrick Armitage, Nicole Espinosa Emily Flinkstrom, Pedro Gregorio Franz Hoffer, Jay Wilgus plus

Dondi Vesprini, Jason Waechter

Publisher/Managing Editor

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

15 16

IN THIS ISSUE…..

To Our Readers Motorcycling and Law: Videotaping Police Officers in Public Duty by Dondi Vesprini Live It Right Dream Ride: Saved by the Twisties by Jay Wilgus Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle: The Fork Less Traveled by Nicole Espinosa The Skinny On... The Right One by Pedro Gregorio Motorcycle Shopping Tips for Women by Jason Waechter

Features, News & Reviews 6 13 17 19 20 22

The Bucket List Tour, Part 3 by Patrick Armitage Giant Loop’s Kiger Adventure Touring Tank Bag Now Available 2015 Reader Survey VetMotorsports Raises Over $1,300 & Debuts a Short Film Interview: Gary Lewandowski, Ride Like a Pro Franchise Owner by Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer Conquer the Cold with New Heated Gear from Harley-Davidson

Resources 5 18 19

Advertiser Index Event Schedule Michigan Harley-Davidson Dealer Event Schedule

Large cover photo: A female rider running the cones at Gary Lewandowski’s Ride Like a Pro training program. Small cover photo - right: Nicole Espinosa setting up camp at Kirk Creek campgrounds. Photo by Nicole Espinosa. Small cover photo - left: Pat Armitage stops for a break in Moab during his Bucket List Tour. Photo by Pat Armitage.

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

Cover Design Julie Kirkendoll

How to contact us: 709 Fall Street Spring Lake, Michigan 49456 (810) 923-8738 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com Copyright 1998-2015 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.

Spring into summer riding Tires, tune-ups and brakes for your motorcycle. Most brands and models. Now is the time to get your service and repair work done - before our service department gets jammed. Call or stop by our store today to schedule your service or repairs. Don’t wait ‘til the last minute!

• Street, off-road and racing tires • Tires of every size, from the wide cruiser style tires to mini-bike tires • On the motorcycle or off • Any brand or model motorcycle

We recently purchased state-ofthe-art tire changing equipment. We can handle every motorcycle tire changing chore.

No tire is too big. No tire is too small! We can handle all of your motorcycle tire needs.

Honda Shadows-Kawasaki Vulcan's-Suzuki Intruders-Yamaha V-Stars NEW DUNLOP 404 VALUE PRICE OE on Honda Shadow Aero, Yamaha V-star 1100 and Royal Star and the Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad H-rated for speeds up to 130 mph or S-rated for speeds up to 112 mph. Tread compound delivers excellent balance of mileage and grip FRONT 130/90-16 150/80-16 150/80-16WWW 120/90-17 140/80-17 140/80-17WWW 150/80-17 100/90-18 110/90-18 120/90-18 100/90-19 110/90-19 80/90-21

Reg Price $133.95 $183.95 $201.95 $124.95 $154.95 $207.95 $163.95 $102.95 $107.95 $131.95 $110.95 $133.95 $110.95

Our Price $104.95 $134.95 $144.95 $ 99.95 $119.95 $149.95 $124.95 $ 89.95 $ 94.95 $104.95 $ 94.95 $104.95 $ 94.95

REAR

Reg Price

130/90-15 140/90-15 150/90-15 150/90-15WWW 170/80-15 130/90-16 140/90-16 150/80-16 130/90-17 110/90-18 120/90-18

$124.95 $144.95 $170.95 $190.95 $185.95 $126.95 $155.95 $165.95 $137.95 $124.95 $136.95

Our Price $ 99.95 $114.95 $129.95 $139.95 $139.95 $109.95 $119.95 $129.95 $109.95 $104.95 $109.95

6971 Highland Road 248-666-4651 Waterford, MI 48327 www.tech-care.com

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

March 2015

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Harley-Davidson ...............21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ......21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Bent Wheels Competition Club.................5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW Motorcycles of Detroit................13, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW of Grand Rapids..........5, 11, 14, 18 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 BMW, SE Michigan..... .........3, 6, 8 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Brighton Harley-Davidson .......21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Bubbsa’s Tri City Cycles.........................22 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 C & S Harley-Davidson ...........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Capitol Harley-Davidson ..........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Classic MotorSports........,.........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Cycle Conservation Club ..........................7 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Dave Bowman MS................................4, 19 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Diamond Gusset Jeans ...........................10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Giant Loop........................................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Gildner’s Harley-Davidson ........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Grand Rapids H-D................. ...21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Great Lakes Dual Sporters ...................7 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Great Lakes Harley-Davidson........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson ....10, 21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Harley-Davidson dealers ..............21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Hot Rod Harley-Davidson .............21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..24 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................15 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Live It Right Dream Ride........................9 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Michigan Chrome Shop.......................5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Harley-Davidson .........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motor City Underwriters ......................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motorcity Motorcycles.................2, 24 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 MC Sport Touring Association..........7, 13 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Perry’s Harley-Davidson ..........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Retail Warehouse ................................5, 9 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Sweet Trikes ...........................................12 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Tecumseh Harley-Davidson .....21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Town & Country H-D................21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D..............21, 22, 23 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012 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

Thanks to everyone who has completed and returned our 2015 Reader Survey (on pages 16 and 17 of this issue and on our website at www.MidwestMotorcyclist.com). We’ve had a solid response and are discovering things about our readers we hadn’t known. That said, we want more of you to complete and return the survey. We’re not asking for lots of personal information. We simply want to learn a little about you, your motorcycles and your riding habits. Most importantly, however, we want to learn what you like and dislike about this publication. We work hard to create the best magazine possible. In order to do that, we want to know if we are meeting your needs. What do you like? What types of content would you like more? What would you prefer that we not include at all? We want your input because we’re publishing this magazine for you. The survey is simple and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. The online survey is a little clunky but it works (simply follow the directions on the homepage) and you can save on postage.

The best part: when you complete and return the survey, your name will be entered into a drawing for $100.

couple years ago, he toured the upper tier of states out to the Pacific northwest before turning south into California and then east into Nevada, Utah and Colorado. It was quite an adventure. In his review, he talks about the environment through which he rode, the technology he used to find his way and monitor the weather, what he ate and where he stayed. It’s a story well worth reading. Franz Hoffer interviewed Ride Like a Pro franchise owner, Gary Lewandowki, for this issue. Gary is an avid motorcyclist, Motorcycle Officer and expert trainer. Franz does a great job of learning about Gary’s background and the reasons he bought into Ride Like a Pro training. Don’t miss it. We also have the latest from Pedro Gregorio about his new ride, an update from Emily and Jay from Columbia, Nicole Espinosa’s thoughts about sharing food and building community while on the road, Dondi Vesprini’s legal position on videotaping police officers at work and Jason Waechter’s suggestions for women looking to buy a motorcycle. We’re ramping up for the riding season and the event schedule is back and filling up fast. Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy this issue. Please patronize our advertisers. It’s important to our ability to continue publishing and their ability to stay in business. Enjoy the winter; we’re closer to that first spring ride every day.

Not a huge sum for sure but enough for a couple tanks of gas, maybe dinner with your significant other, perhaps a toy or two for your child, or a farkle for your motorcycle. Please reply by March 30, 2015 to get your name entered in the drawing. Thank you! G-3 Jacket We’re Microwire Liners really happy to Gloves be sharing this issue with you. Ultralight Our writers have Gloves put together some interesting, Heated entertaining Socks stories we think All controls & you’re sure to accessories now in stock! enjoy. For example, Pat Phone: (269) 651-2464 Fax: (269) 651-8767 Armitage wraps 1640 S. Centerville Road (M-66 South) , Sturgis, MI up his Bucket We accept all major credit cards List Tour article Call (269) 651-2464 now or visit our on-line store at www.ridewild.com in this issue. A

Retail Warehouse

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids Presents

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

(616) 530-6900

www.bmwmcgr.com

Latitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382

The Bucket List Tour, Part 3

14 days, 18 States, 2 National Parks, 6,938 miles By Patrick Armitage I departed Brokings, Oregon (OR) under cloudy skies at 59º. “My Radar” app showed no rain all the way to San Francisco. I crossed the California (CA) border. That section of the coast is the scenic equal of Oregon and in places the road passes directly through giant Redwood groves. Very cool! I noticed a billboard advertising a “Drive Thru Redwood” in Leggett, California. Only three of these trees remain. I had to do the touristy photo op and entered the private park for $3.00 (motorcycle). The tree is living with a tunnel big enough to drive an SUV through. Leaving the park, I rode through more Redwoods, scanning for wildlife. I spotted a whitetail doe on a ledge about 20 feet up on my left. Fortunately, I slowed. She ran down a path and directly in front of me. I was glad I had been paying attention. This section of Highway 1 is mostly big sweeping turns. From Manchester to Bodega Bay, the road gets technical and challenging. I would not recommend inexperienced riders do this section. The road runs along cliff edges with many 20 and 15mph switchbacks. No guardrails and steep, 50+ foot drop offs to the beaches below. I found two 180º, 15 mph hairpins with steep elevation changes in mid-turn that were unmarked! By the time I had arrived at this section, I was tired and the pain in

my shoulder was stabbing. I was not looking forward to more twisty roads. It became slightly foggy and, on the other side of a 20 mph turn, four more cows were standing on the shoulder of the road! I began thinking about looking for a room at about 4 p.m. I had passed some in Manchester and was beginning to regret having passed them. This was a Saturday, traffic was getting heavy, and every beach access area was overcrowded with tourists. As I approached Valley Ford, California, I hoped to find a room and had decided to move inland if nothing was available. I pulled into a parking lot in town to review the map. As I stopped, I February 21 BMW Ambassador and Factory Test Rider Nate Kern noticed I was parked in February 28 Track Days, what to expect, why they are important to road safety front of a sign reading “Historic Valley Ford Hotel, Rooms Newest rider fashions from KLIM, Olympia and BMW. Hors d’oeuvres Available.” The room was a bit more than I and refreshments. $25 per person to benefit United Cerebral Palsy would have liked to Foundation of Michigan. Always a good time for a great cause. spend ($100) but my “Trip Advisor” app revealed few other This is the BIG one. The best food and refreshments you’ll find at any rooms in the area and Open House. Demo rides and entertainment. Road racer Nate Kern their prices were in the will be here. Join us in celebrating the 2015 riding season! same ballpark. Sold. The Valley Ford Hotel was built in 1864, The day costs $175, which includes track time, class room instruction so it is an old style and lunch. All makes and models of bikes are welcome to attend our building with recent renovations. There is a track events! Road racer Nate Kern will join us. To register, please bathroom in the room call Audrey at (734) 453-0500 but no TV. I was tired. I ate, wrote a bit in the BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan road journal and 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI walked across the street 734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com to the General Store for

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday Seminar Series

Charity Fashion Show - Friday, April 17 Spring Open House - May 30, 2015 Track Day - Monday, June 1, 2015

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

a couple of beers. I left Valley Ford at the usual time, with 59º temperature under overcast skies. I decided to turn my front wheel east for the first time. I was officially heading home. I calculated about 2,900 miles to go. Crossing through the Napa Valley area was scenic and the temperature was cool and nice. On my approach to the Nevada state line, the altitude began to climb as I rode into the Donner Pass area. As I descended into Reno, the temperature started to climb and I mentally prepared for what I expected would be a ride into hell. I stopped for lunch with the temp at 102º. While stopped, I filled my “Misty Mate” personal cooling system with water, expecting to need it in the desert. This is a pump pressurized, water sprayer that sprays a very fine cooling mist from a nozzle that I clip to my collar. I also charged my “Biker AC” (wetted down all my clothes, filled my boots and helmet with water.) This provides a surprisingly effective cooling effect. My pants dried first, followed by my shirt. The helmet and boots evaporate slower and cool less, but remains cool for a longer time. When all are dry, I turn on the Misty Mate. This system works for about 2 hours, leaving me to ride unassisted in the heat for only another hour or so. When I refueled, I charged the whole system again. I-80 is a long straight run through the desert in this area, which made me want to go fast. You can easily do 100 mph safely here if traffic conditions permit but running more than 85 mph slams my gas mileage. Having to stop more often for fuel cancels much of the time I would supposedly have saved by going faster. I found West Wendover, Nevada (NV), a town on the NV / Utah (UT) border. It is a big gambling area. There are lots of rooms for good prices. I passed on one for $29 and took a better looking one at a Motel 6 for $39. That is one of the closest hotels to the Bonneville Salt Flats and they proudly display photos of the many racers who stay there during Speed Week in the lobby. I rode across the entire width of CA and NV; a distance of 665 miles. It was easy; my seat stayed comfortable. I could have gone farther. The next morning, I left at 7 a.m. under clear skies at 75º. That area is large a evaporation basin of the Great Salt Lake that formed the salt flats at Bonneville. I stopped on the shoulder, got off the bike and walked out onto the salt flat. It is not as smooth or as hard as I had imagined. It might be groomed some at the speedway. I turned onto Highway 6 heading towards Continued on page 8

March 2015

Motorcycling & Law

Videotaping Police Officers in Public Duty

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 We live in an age where technology has allowed even the least tech savvy of us to become an instant cameraman and record events we witness in our lives with the touch of the cell phone screen. This ability to use our cell phones to videotape day-to-day happenings in our lives can be a good or bad thing, depending on what the video is being used for. Certainly, an embarrassing video that your friend captures of you and then puts on Facebook or YouTube is never a welcome sight. However, what about the use of a cell phone to video the public activities of a police officer to memorialize what actually occurred at the scene of a situation where an officer is infringing on a motorcyclistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s civil rights? One example that comes to mind is a situation where an officer refuses to allow a group of motorcyclists into a State Fair unless they first took their patch or colors off, as was the case recently in Florida. This can be a legal and very helpful way to capture the facts of such an encounter, as opposed to leaving it up to a situation where it is your word versus the officerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word in a court of law. Michigan has a criminal eavesdropping statute which makes it a felony if someone, who is or is not present during a private conversation, willfully uses any device to eavesdrop on the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto. The law defines â&#x20AC;&#x153;eavesdropâ&#x20AC;? as meaning to overhear, record, amplify or transmit any part of the private discourse of others with the permission of all persons engaged in the discourse. Our Michigan Supreme Court has held that a private conversation is a conversation that a person reasonably expects to be free from casual or hostile intrusion or surveillance. The law further defines â&#x20AC;&#x153;private placeâ&#x20AC;? as a place where one may reasonably expect to be safe from casual or hostile intrusion or surveillance but does not include a place to which the public or substantial group of the public has access. Therefore, it would appear that

citizens do have the right to video tape an officer carrying out his public duties during a traffic stop or at any other public place as under such circumstances it would not be reasonable to believe that the officer would reasonably expect such conversations to be free from surveillance. Also, if the conversation takes place at a public place, where the public or a substantial group of the public has access, it is unlikely that any conversations there would be expected to be private. Having a video recording of the actual activities of a police officer performing his public duties leaves no questions as to what actually went on during the interaction. Like they say, a picture says a thousand words. In the case of a video, the video will say the exact words and also capture the interaction. Having a video of the encounter avoids a situation where a judge is asked to decide who to believe in a he said/she said contest between you and the police officer. While anyone is well advised to video the interaction between yourself and a police officer, you must also be aware that at the same time, the law affords an officer discretion in how he/she manages the scene. While you may very well be within your rights to record, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t guarantee that an officer may not instruct you to move away from the scene or otherwise arrest you for doing so. However, your recording will prove as direct evidence of what happened at the scene for you to use later in Court if you believe the officer was in violation of the law. 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 issues and motorcyclist rights issues on a daily basis on behalf of motorcyclists statewide. Give me a call at (248-569-4646) or shoot me an e-mail at Dondi@buckfirelaw.com.

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

â&#x20AC;˘ Harley-Davidson â&#x20AC;˘ Honda â&#x20AC;˘ Kawasaki

â&#x20AC;˘ Suzuki â&#x20AC;˘ Triumph â&#x20AC;˘ 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mooseâ&#x20AC;? 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

â&#x20AC;˘ 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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Continued from page 6 - The Bucket List Tour Moab. The dark, cloudy sky indicated that it might rain. I pulled off to check the “My Radar” app and, sure enough, it looked like a small storm in my path. I put away my IPod and rode off. I never did get wet but I could see that it had rained just before I arrived in the area. The road into Moab is beautiful, with large red sandstone formations on both sides. I refueled in Moab and called my brother-in-law in Frisco, Colorado, to tell him where I was and that I would arrive in Frisco that night. I rode into Arches National Park and was captivated by its spectacular beauty. This place is incredible! I have been to many parks in Utah and all are jaw dropping. The best way to describe much of Utah and the desert southwest is that it looks like a Roadrunner cartoon. I set my GPS to navigate to Frisco and when it said I would arrive there by 8:00 pm, I would know it was time to leave. I explored as much of the park by road as time allowed. When GPS showed it was time to go, I picked a road that, on my map, looked like a shorter distance back to the freeway. What this large-scale map did not show was that it ran in a canyon, twisting along the Colorado River. It was 100+º most of the way. Again, I was tired and not looking for a twisty road at that time. I merged onto I –70 and, by the time I passed by Vail, the temp had dropped to 54º. It ws raining hard. I wasn’t wearing enough gear to handle this temp for long but the GPS said I was only 15 minutes from Frisco. I could do it. I pulled into my brother-in–law’s driveway in Frisco at 9:45 pm, glad to be done for the day. I took the first day off of riding since I left home 11 days prior. I spent the first part of the day with my younger brother-in-law, Jeff. We took the bus to the well-known ski town of Breckenridge and rode a ski lift to the halfway point of one of

the ski runs where the resort had a kind of summer carnival. They had an Alpine sled run where you could ride a wheeled sled down a fiberglass trough with brakes controlled by the rider. You could take mountain bikes up the hill by chair lift and ride the slopes back down. They had bungee jumping on a trampoline, rock wall climbing, food, drinks and more. It was a fun thing to do with ski slopes in the summer. I resisted the suggestion that I stay longer in Frisco. I was ready to be home. I left Frisco at 7:00 a.m.; the temperature was 50º under clear skies. The Weather app showed potentially clear skies for the next few days. This should have been enough to make it home without riding in rain. The ride into Denver is mostly downhill from Frisco and the temperature steadily climbed as I descended. By 11.30 a.m., I crossed the border into Kansas (#49, and the last State on the bucket list for this trip!) The temperature was 100º and promised to keep climbing. The only reason I rode into Kansas at all was so that I could now say I have been in 49 of the 50 states on a motorcycle. The most positive thing I can say about riding this area of Kansas is that it isn’t any worse than Nebraska. There seems to be more wheat and less corn. It was also hotter than the desert in Nevada or Utah. I pulled over to refuel, drink water, and recharge the Biker AC and the Misty Mate for another hot day. The temperature was 104º. A wicked crosswind developed that had me leaning into the wind just to ride straight. Each time I approached a slow moving semi, leaning into the wind was an ordeal. Approaching the trailer, I hit wake turbulence. As I began to pass the trailer in the lee side of the wind, I felt sucked into the trailer as it suddenly blocked the wind. As I passed the truck, the wind again hit me full force and I had to quickly lean into the wind to keep from being blown out of my lane. This Continued on page 9 - Bucket List Tour

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Continued from page 9 - The Bucket List Tour went on for hours, with the wind blowing and the temperature at or near 104º. I found a Motel 6 in Topeka with a good rate and a pool. While cooling off in the pool, I talked with a trucker and his girlfriend. When I told him I was riding a Goldwing, he smiled. “An orange one?” he asked. “Yes,” I said. “You passed us several times today,” he said. “Wow! You really had to lean that bike into the wind!” I returned to the room, wrote in my journal and reviewed my Map app. It indicated that home was 830 miles away. I decided that if I left early and rode later, I could do that pretty easily. I made up my mind; I would be home the next day. I awakened early and packed quickly. I was rolling at 6:30 a.m. The temp was already 82º and was predicted to be hot all day. At my first refuel, it was 95º and time to get the Biker AC going. I ws glad I did. By 11:30 a.m., the temperature was 102º. At my next refuel at 2:52 p.m. in Joliet, Indiana, AC was recharged and lunch eaten. I had 540 miles on at this point. The temp was 106º. I passed through Indiana and into Michigan. By the time I reached Jackson, the sun was getting low. I began to think more about deer being on the road at dusk. There are many deer carcasses visible on the roads in Michigan and many more invisible dead deer make their presence known via your nose. Those deer did not die of old age. It would be bad to have ridden this far - gotten this close to home - only to hit a deer. I pulled off for what should have been my

last fuel stop and called my wife to tell her I was in Michigan. My GPS was predicting my arrival time for much of the day to be 9:45 p.m. This was longer than I would normally ride in a day but, with home at the end, it is much easier than pulling into a motel. I arrived home at 9:45pm with 908.8 miles on the odometer. That was the longest ride I have ever done in one day. It was a long ride but I felt great and could have gone farther. My Air Hawk seat cushion with a 1" layer of memory foam is the best seat cushion I have found to date. It allowed log days without discomfort. Carrying the biggest cooler that would fit on my backseat worked great, allowing me to carry food that I could buy much less expensively in grocery stores instead of restaurants. Having food with me saved a lot of time, too. It also allowed me to keep eating like I had before the trip. I lost 5 lbs on the trip; that has never happened to me on a vacation. Carrying an IPhone was much more helpful than I imagined before the trip. The “My Radar”, “Maps” and “Trip Advisor” apps were very good. The sunshade I made for my GPS kept the sun and rain off allowing for the use of a less expensive, non-waterproof automotive GPS. Doing this trip, riding alone had its advantages. I could do whatever I wanted, when I wanted, without discussion or compromise with anyone. I lost a speaker grill and a jacket liner, and broke a cell phone case. I met interesting people and saw spectacular sights. I did all of the big things on my Bucket List: checked six states off the list (Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon, & Kansas), visited two National Parks

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(Yellowstone, and Arches), and missed several others (Glacier, Olympic, Mt St Helen’s, Canyon Lands). I traveled some spectacular roads (Bear Tooth Pass and the Pacific Coast Highway and many others) and missed a few (Going to the Sun). I got my Dad to the Columbia River. It was an incredible trip. I budgeted $3000 for the trip and 18 days of time. Carrying food with me saved a lot of money (and time). Looking for inexpensive rooms where possible helped, too. I actually spent closer to $1700 and took only 14 days. Alaska is the only remaining state I have not visited. At this point, I am not too fired up to ride to Alaska. It is a comparable distance but the relative scarcity of rooms, fuel and resupply opportunities would make that trip more expensive. I may be able to cheat that one on an Alaskan cruise and rent a bike there. Hopefully, this kind of article will inspire you to do a trip of your own. Get out and do it! Time flies. Before you know it, you are too old to do this kind of thing. 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.

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Saved by the Twisties by Jay Wilgus

At half-past five in a stark, but refreshingly cool hotel room, the sound of Keb Mo stirred us awake. He did the same thing yesterday as we left our cabin in the foothills of northern Colombia’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Long days call for early departures, especially when the heat and humidity are expected to collide mid-morning in a sweaty mess beneath our riding gear. Our research had led us to believe there was not much to see between Minca, where we had spent five great nights, and San Gil, which is billed as the adventure sports capital of Colombia, so we had decided to put our heads down and just grind out the miles. The total distance wasn’t huge, but we were told that diesel-belching semis and road construction would likely slow us down. They did. So did the heat. As expected, our ride the previous day was hot, straight, and boring. The only thing that captured my attention was a halfmile stretch of gas peddlers pawning Venezuelan contraband at 70% of the gas station-rate. I was tempted to fill up until I saw the nasty mess of oil drums, coke bottles, and other containers holding what appeared to be some fairly dirty stuff. A hotel clerk later confirmed my suspicions,

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Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle The Fork Less Traveled by Nicole Espinosa riding as I twisted through Highway 1 along California’s golden Big Sur coastline. Every sense was heightened as the sun kissed my face through an open visor, the salty air danced on my tongue when I laughed, and the gulls’ haunting cry welcomed me home when I stopped at one of my favorite campgrounds…Kirk Creek. Immediately after I claimed the last open site with expansive views of the ocean, I was broached by a grey-haired neighbor fondly remembering his off-road days of the past. My knee jerk reaction was to let him know I’d be over to say “hi” after I set up camp and had a moment to breathe. But, something in me recognized this to be an opportunity for exchange that could very well surpass all expectations. And, it did. After a quick camp setup, my new friend Reed invited himself along for a sunset photo shoot and deliberate silence. This moment of quiet shared with another was more powerful than if it had been experienced on my own. It unfolded as a mutual respect for one another and the beauty that lay before us, and grew to an acknowledgement of things bigger than we two together. The power of this moment encouraged us to go our separate ways until dinner. I found out a little later that Reed didn’t have enough food for dinner. So, I asked if he wanted to sample some homemade dehydrated food of ground beef, chopped veggies, and a pesto sauce. He was in for the experience. As soon as I warmed it up on my camp stove, I was greeted by Reed’s dog, Bear, who had come to Pi Day only comes around once every get me for the festivities. Dinner turned into a century, so let’s celebrate things round! deep discussion over life’s mysteries underneath Tires, helmets (sort of), rondels and pie! a sparkling Milky Way blanket. After the descent of coastal fog some hours later, Reed fired up some tea to take the edge off of the night’s chill Ride by for a slice of your favorite pie (or as we talked into the wee hours from our camp take your cage if needed). We will have a chairs before retiring to our separate abodes for variety of pies to choose from and some the night. The topics of discussion that were great deals on bikes and gear to get your exchanged that night have actually affected me profoundly to this day. And for this shared riding season started off right! dinner, I will be forever grateful. Another adventure friend who loves to Plus, we’ll have special pricing on round contribute to the food experience on his rides is things, a fundraiser for a local charity, and famed world traveler, Jay Kannaiyan. He demo rides (weather permitting). actually has a long list of hosts begging him to stay with them whenever he rolls through their It’s been a long winter. It’s time for some fun! neck of the world. Why is he such a hot commodity? It’s his mother’s famous chicken Join us and Ride for Pi(e)! curry recipe that he shares with anyone who 5995 South Division generously offers him a place to stay on his journeys. There was one particular curry dinner Grand Rapids, MI that he cooked in southern Ethiopia that actually (616) 530-6900 ended up saving his life. www.bmwmcgr.com This appreciation for living was centered

We all need it, and we all love it when it’s done well. It can definitely be one of the most intimately shared experiences with your clothes on when love is one of the basic ingredients. It’s a top basic need that reaches all corners of the globe, and needs to be addressed daily. This four letter word known as f-o-o-d could very well be the answer to world peace. The first step to accomplishing this, though, is through sharing it. My world opened up the first time I did this on my second adventure ride looping Oregon back in 2010. After riding solo on my first ride to the Grand Canyon with my main focus on solitude and a hugely inward journey, I decided to open myself up this time around to others in a much bigger way. I was astounded at the results. This first experience started with a perfect day of

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Reed and I laughng over tea. around a grueling off-road excursion from the Omo Valley of southern Ethiopia down the eastern coast of Lake Turkana and into the Maralal Mountains of central Kenya. This 560-mile jaunt is one of the longest stretches between gas stations in the world. It was a trip that would be especially tough for his Suzuki DR650. The only solution was to find other fourwheeled travelers to help carry the extra fuel. To his surprise, Jay found a convoy of five adventurers in three 4x vehicles who were not only willing to help him out in his predicament, but were willing to do it in exchange for one big chicken curry dinner. It was in the small town of Omorate that they were able to find two live chickens and a local shop owner to prepare them for the feast. That night Ferdi and Katie, the German couple who carried Jay’s extra fuel in their VW Synchro 4x4 van, were the first to belly up to this once-in-alifetime experience of homemade curry in one of the most remote regions of the world. This shared meal joined all of them in deeper friendships that have lasted like the memories of the succulent banquet to this day. But, there is one adventurer who has made this way of travel through the stomach his life’s purpose. Allan Karl, author of the gorgeous publication, Forks: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine and Connection, has gifted the world the global recipes that touched his heart and pallet on his three-year roundthe-world journey. Every page reveals colorful photos and stories with a sampling of new cultural cuisine through the powerful gift of human connection. Through food, Allan found that it was easy to connect with people all over the globe through the common language of sharing a basic need. His expedition started with the motivation to dig deep within for answers on the road after sinking to a new crossroads in his life that was punctuated with divorce and unemployment. What he returned with three years later was new-found faith in humanity and a belief in himself that his passion for life and food could help pave the way for a more connected future for all. Now, that sounds like a recipe for world peace to me. Nicole Espinosa is Mom to two great kids, founder / owner of www.ruggedrider.com, Contributing Editor of Adventure Motorcycle magazine and soon-to-be RTW motorcycle adventurer. Communication welcome for Nicole: nicole@ruggedrider.com

March 2015

The Right One by Pedro Gregorio A couple of years ago I wrote an article entitled “Organic Chemistry” where I commented on the emotional connection that I’ve felt with certain bikes. I also mentioned that some bike manufacturers are better than others at instilling their bikes with this so-called chemistry. Of course, I immediately ignored my own words and bought a used 1999 BMW R1100R. I had my eye out for a comfortable touring bike that was relatively cheap and light. When I saw the BMW of Grand Rapids (www.bmwmcgr.com) photo ad in this very publication at the same time that I was having breakfast with Blane Kamp, BMWGR’s manager; it was karma at first sight. The with my extra, extra long legs. Suzuki’s entries in bike was 14 years old and had less than fifteen the class, the V-Stroms, are available both in 650cc thousand miles! And it looked brand new. I had and 1000cc versions. I love torque so that owned an R1100RT in the mid 90’s so I was familiar automatically disqualified any middleweight. The with the engine. I had gotten rid of the RT because it 1000cc Strom was completely redesigned for 2014 was too slow but this naked R model weighed 100 and I had the chance to demo one at the American pounds less so I expected better performance. International Motorcycle show in Orlando this past At first, I was happy. The R was comfortable October. It felt light and the V-twin had plenty of and easy to handle. It was fast enough. It took me to power but the passion wasn’t there. I have friends the awesome Rockerbox weekend in Milwaukee and who love the Yamaha Super Tenere and in Orlando the scenic MSTA rally in South Dakota without I tried one for the first time. It fit me perfectly but skipping a beat. But something didn’t feel right. I the 1200cc parallel twin didn’t. Are you getting the would sometimes get on the bike after not riding it feeling that engine feel and sound are deal for a while and as soon as I left my driveway I knew breakers for me? So am I. I had to get rid of it. Then, by the time I returned, I So, fall was upon us and I still hadn’t had changed my mind. A few of my friends started found the right one. The weekend before my trip to get sick of hearing my “I’m selling it, I’m not to the BMW Off-Road Riding School in South selling it” mantra every time I rode it. At the end of last summer, I finally figured it out. The problem was passion. Or, in Ce this case, a lack thereof. I just wasn’t passionate le about the BMW. A big factor was the engine. I ou brat r should have remembered that the German 22 ing y opposed twins and I have never gelled. There’s ea nd r! something about the sound and vibes that don’t agree with me, especially at higher rpm’s. Once I decided to sell, it didn’t take long. A good price on Craig’s List brought out FOR the callers and a young family guy with cash took the R to a good home. Now the hard part: RENT choosing a replacement. It needed to fulfill the role of comfortable touring bike but this time with passion. The ever-growing adventuretouring class got me thinking about adding a little dirt to my life. I’ve only ever owned street Rentals bikes and “Pavement Ends” signs have usually starting meant U-turns. I know it was psychological since at $30 a all street bikes can easily handle gravel roads but having a bike that was designed for it would day! put my mind at ease and might even make me want to explore the unpaved world. The BMW R1200GS was out of the question. The latest water-cooled boxer engine is the most exciting one so far but it still doesn’t FOR push my buttons. Plus, I’m not a fan of the new CLEARANCE! SALE GS’ styling. A demo on its little brother, the F800GS, a few years ago told me that it wasn’t the one either. Once again, the vibes and sound skelley@kelleytrailers.com from the engine, a parallel twin, turned me off. The new KTM 1190 Adventure was definitely on my radar. Championship Powersports 12620 N. Telegraph (www.championshippowersports.com) in Wauseon, OH, had a demo so off I went. The Carleton, MI KTM had passion galore but the engine heat I Mon thru Fri 9 to 6 • Sat 9 to 3 felt on my legs was a bit too passionate for me. We sell a complete line of open & enclosed A friend of mine with a similar model has no heat issues so it might have something to do motorcycle trailers at affordable prices.

Carolina, I stopped by Triumph Detroit West (www.triumphdetroit.com) in Plymouth, MI, to demo a Tiger 800XC. The base Tiger 800 is the streetoriented model vs. the dirt-oriented XC with more suspension travel, bigger front forks, and a 21-inch front wheel to name the major differences. The XC’s spoke wheels with black rims look way cooler than the base model’s cast aluminum ones plus the spoke wheels with tube-type tires are designed to survive off-road excursions. So what happened? I fell in love, that’s what happened. The Tiger was playful to the point that I started looking for gravel roads and even tried a rocky construction zone. This from a guy without any dirt riding experience. I’ve professed my love for triples on these pages before but not all triples are equal. Last year I rode the 800’s big brother, the 1200cc Tiger Explorer and thought it felt like a big, heavy touring bike. I was not thrilled. In contrast, the 800XC felt like an eager puppy who just wanted to play all day. When I returned to the dealership after my extended demo ride, I knew I had found the one. The fact that Triumph Detroit gave me a great deal on a new XC with the accessories I wanted was icing on the cake. As of this writing, the XC hasn’t arrived in my garage yet but my healing broken leg and the weather aren’t ready for it anyway. I look forward to telling you if the love affair heats up along with the thermometer.

TRAILER SALES, RENTALS,

SERVICE & STORAGE

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(734) 783-6464

Midwest Motorcyclist

Motorcycle Shopping Tips for Women by Jason Waechter, Esq. The last few years, many motorcyclists have noticed a lot more women riders out on the roads. A 2008 Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey showed that women riders accounted for more than 5.7 million motorcyclists that year. Using some input I got from Debbie Parinello, our Marketing Specialist and a former motorcycle racer, I wanted to reach out and offer some tips to the women riders (or future riders) who might be in the market for a new bike this year. What better gift to give yourself than a new bike just in time for the 2015 riding season to begin?! Start by doing your research. What kind of riding do you want to do? Are you going to commute on the bike, or are you looking for something you can cruise around on all weekend? Are you planning on riding solo, or are you joining a group of other riders? There are a few different styles to choose from, the most common being sport bikes and cruisers. A sport bike is going to put you in a more aggressive, leaned-forward position in the seat, which could be uncomfortable if you’re planning a lot of long rides. A cruiser, on the other hand, will let you sit in a more upright (and potentially more comfortable) position. Harley-Davidson’s Sportster is a cruiser style, but is lighter and more maneuverable than, say, a touring bike. Try before you buy! Once you have an idea of the type of bike, or at least the type of riding you are interested in, get out there and get on some motorcycles. You can’t buy a bike just by looking at it. You need to climb on and see how it feels. Can you reach the controls comfortably? Does your body position feel secure in the saddle? Is the bike a good size for you? Can you pick it up and keep it up? If you think you want a Harley, consider attending one of their “Garage Party” events. These are small gatherings at a local dealership where women can get hands-on experience with different Harleys and gear, including learning how to pick up a bike.

AUTORAMA March 6-8, 2015 We’ll be there with a selection of Indian and Victory motorcycles in booth #1551. Stop by and see us!

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

Don’t settle if you think a bike is not quite right. Try and try again; if you absolutely cannot find something you like, consider customization in order to get a perfect fit. Granted, this will add to your overall cost, but can you really put a price on perfection? The added bonus here is that a bike built just for you could be safer and more comfortable to ride… win-win, in my opinion. Budget for more than just the cost of the bike. If you’re doing any custom work, that’s going to cost you. You’ll also need safety gear, and in many states you need to take a certified rider training course and pass a test at the Secretary of State office to get your motorcycle license (also called an endorsement) to ride legally on the roads. You’ll need insurance, though the requirements vary from state to state. Make sure you know what is covered by your motorcycle policy and additional coverage you might need for things like customization. Finally, don’t forget to budget for the basics like gas, membership fees if you plan to join a group, and any other costs you might incur while riding the open roads. Another thing to research is the best type of safety gear for the type of riding you plan to do and the type of bike you think you’re interested in. Familiarize yourself with materials and safety ratings, but also look for customer reviews that talk about comfort and performance. There are hundreds of motorcycle forums online, many of them specifically geared towards women riders. Let the experiences of other women riders help you get the best possible experience with your new gear. There are a lot of different options for safety gear, including jackets, helmets, boots, gloves, and chaps. How do they work together? What are other users saying about the products? Buying a new bike is an exciting event for any rider; beginner or experienced. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the sport and the technology available, which just keeps getting better. As the number of women riders continues to increase, we should see more and more companies getting on board and creating new products designed with women in mind. 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.

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

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. March 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

Midwest Motorcyclist

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.

Events Events do change. Please call ahead.

Michigan March 6-8 Autorama @ Cobo CenterDetroit,MI Visit Motorcity Motorcycles – Indian & Victory in booth 1551 March 14 (3.14.15) Pi(e) Day Open House We Ride for Pi(e), you should too! Pi Day only comes around once every century, so let’s celebrate things round! Tires, helmets (sort of), rondels and pie! Ride by for a slice of your favorite pie (or take your cage if needed). We will have a variety of pies to choose from and some great deals on bikes and gear to get your riding season started off right! Plus, we’ll have special pricing on round things, a fundraiser for a local charity, and demo rides (weather permitting).It’s been a long winter. It’s time for some fun! Join us and Ride for Pi(e)! BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids 5995 South Division Grand Rapids, MI (616) 530-6900, www.bmwmcgr.com Friday, April 17 Charity Fashion Show Newest rider fashions from KLIM, Olympia and BMW. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. $25 per person to benefit United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Michigan. Always a good time for a great cause. BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 734.981.1479, www.bmwmcsem.com March 20-21 26th Annual PigFest RAMADA LANSING HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

7501 WEST SAGINAW ST, LANSING * Cost is $35 per person * $15 event t-shirts * Commemorative event pin * Pre-registration preferred * Live entertainment * Walk-ins accepted if space permits * 50/50 Drawings * Door prizes, raffles * Keg beer provided on Sat (1-5) * Saturday evening dinner * Hotel accommodations $35/person www.harleyrider.net For additional information contact Scott or Monica, (517) 316-1337 April 19 Birch Run Motorcycle Swap Meet Presented by Bubba’s Tri City Cycle & Michigan Motorcyclist® magazine 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $6 Birch Run Expo Center 11600 North Beyer Road Birch Run, MI Info: (989) 893-5187 or bubba@bubbastricitycycle.com April 25-26 13th Annual SPRING OPEN HOUSE Steve Baller will be here again pinstriping bikes, trikes, trailers, helmets, etc.(Call early and schedule a time slot or just show up and sneak your way in line) Michigan Chrome Shop 69090 N. Main Street Richmond, MI (586) 727-7829 May 10 35th Annual Mother’s Day Swap Meet and Ride-In Bike Show Presented by Bubba’s Tri City Cycle & Michigan Motorcyclist® magazine 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $5 Midland County Fairgrounds 6905 Eastman Avenue Midland, Michigan Info: (989) 893-5187 or bubba@bubbastricitycycle.com May 15-17 Blessing of the Bikes Baldwin, Michigan

May 23-24 Bubba’s Memorial Weekend Classic Bubba’s Tri City Cycle 804 S. Huron (M-13)

March 14 ABATE Region 4 Clinton County Spaghetti Dinner (765) 659-2523.

Linwood, MI Info: (989) 893-5187 or bubba@bubbastricitycycle.com

March 21 ABATE Region 13 Arm Wrestling Championships and Region Awards Banquet American Legion, 211 E. Washington St., Oakland City, IN Doors open at 5pm (6pm Eastern). Admission: $5 ABATE Members, $7 Non-Members Arm Wrestling Entry Fee: $5 per weight class. 16 & 17 year old competitors must have parent present at weigh-ins. For more information contact: pd3triker@yahoo.com or call (812) 618-5305.

May 30 Spring Open House This is the BIG one. The best food and refreshments you’ll find at any Open House. Demo rides and entertainment. Road racer Nate Kern will be here. Join us in celebrating the 2015 riding season! BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan 39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 734.981.1479, www.bmwmcsem.com

Indiana March 1 ABATE Region 1 30th Annual Swap Meet Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds, 17746 CR 34, Goshen, IN 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Price $5 per person Vendors contact Tina Housley 574-202-6217 Info contact Sam Bardo 574-596-7266 March 14 ABATE Region 8 Vanderburgh County Leather & Lingerie VFW Post #2953, 1800 Pollock Ave., Evansville, IN Show starts at 7:00pm. $10 for members. $15 for non-members Min. age 18 to enter. Min. age 21 to model. Info: Nicole Powell 812-449-9160 or Rick Burch 812-430-8070 March 14 ABATE Region 2 Starke County Fist Full of Dollars Knox V.F.W. , US 35 S., Knox, IN 6:00pm to 11:00pm. $15 per person or $25 per couple. Minimum age 21. Terry Young 574-772-6842

March 22 ABATE Region 1 Fulton County Shoot In Rochester American Legion, 611 Main Street, Rochester, IN Sign-up starts at 11:00am. Tournament starts at 12:00pm. 10 to enter, meal included. Min age 18 to play in tournament. $5 for food ticket for those not playing in the tournament. Prizes for top 3 shooters. bordersbritney@yahoo.com or call (574) 224-6609. March 28 ABATE Region 7 Swap Meet National Guard Armory, 1925-1st Ave. Freeman Field, Seymour, IN. Admission $5.00 per person keharris_58@yahoo.com or call (812) 614-2979. March 28 ABATE Region 11 Johnson County Golden Oldies GREENWOOD AMERICAN LEGION POST #252, 334 US 31, Greenwood, IN 6:00 pm - Midnight. $15 per person or $25 per couple. Minimum age 18. Public welcome.

For more information call Lou at 317-496-7298 or Robin at 317-457-2513 March 29 ABATE Region 12 Easter Egg Hunt Riley VFW grounds (on Indiana 159). Time: 1:30pm. FREE to everyone: Open to the public. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Dave 812-877-1676. May 30 Rockers Reunion Indianapolis, IN www.rockersreunionindy.com/ July 16-19 ABATE of Indiana’s 35th Annual Boogie Lawrence County Recreational Park, 99 Moore Lane Springville, Indiana.

Ohio May 9 Fuel Cleveland Invitational Bike Show Clif’s Warehouse 2222 Lakeside Ave E. Cleveland, Ohio http:// fuelcleveland.blogspot.com/

Midwest June 5-7 Rockerbox Motofest Road America N7390 State Hwy 67 Plymouth, Wisconsin June 13-15 Motoblot, Gearheads United formerly Mods vs Rockers Chicago www.motoblot.com

Pre-Owned Motorcycles 2012 Triumph Tiger 800, 18,896 miles, Excellent condition, Black, $8,950

2014 BMW R1200R Low, Montego Blue, 798 miles, $13,950

2012 Ducati Hyper Motard SVO, Red, 3,472 miles, Very good condition, $9,450

2012 BMW K1300S HP, 2,243 miles, Excellent condition, White/Blue, $16,450

2011 BMW F650GS Low, 2009 BMW R1200RT, 2009 BMW K1200LT, 2007 Honda ST1300, 2007 BMW K1200R Sport, 2007 BMW F800ST, 2007 BMW F800S, 2006 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW R1200RT, 2005 BMW K1200LT, 2005 BMW K1200LT, 2002 BMW K1200LT, 2001 BMW R1100RTP, 1992 BMW R100RT,

Silver/Black, 17,000 miles, Silver, 38,565 miles, Black, 72,585 miles, Silver, 8,166 miles, Silver, 26,141 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 Graphite, 44,000 miles, Graphite, 44,248 miles, Silver, 70,002 miles, Black/White, 116,805 miles, Green, 50,029 miles,

$7,950 $10,950 $9,950 $8,450 $6,950 $6,450 $5,450 $8,450 $8,450 $7,950 $7,950 $9,450 $9,450 $6,450 $2,500 $4,750

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids, 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI (616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.com 18

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

March 2015

Continued from page 10 - Live It Right Dream Ride

We expected the next day to be similar. It wasn’t. About an hour after we left, we hit an enjoyable turn. Another soon followed. Before we knew it, we were climbing through a tight, lush canyon that looked more like the rural Colombia I had pictured in my mind. It’s not that the other parts of Colombia we have seen so far weren’t pretty. They were. It’s just that yesterday had been unpleasant enough to cause us to forget them already. A handful of hoots later, we arrived on a crest dotted with just enough offerings to prompt our first rest break. After sitting down at a delightfully simple cafe attached to the front of a house, we sipped coffee from painfully tiny cups and relished in the freshly-remembered joy of twisties. Even on a DR, they have a way of making me perk-up and giggle. Our last truly enjoyable riding day had been about two weeks earlier in Costa Rica when we bopped up to a chocolate farm along a gorgeous dirt road that provided amazing views of the coast below. Since then, we have been riding mostly straight, always hot, roads on our way down to Panama where we caught a ferry across the Derien Gap to Colombia. To be honest, all those steamy miles without an interesting set of turns had lulled us into a crankiness totally unwarranted for a duo as spoiled as we are. How dare we crave the plushness of reclining seats in an air-conditioned car? This is a motorcycle trip, damnit! Crankiness gone. Today we were saved by the Colombian twisties.

VETMOTORSPORTS RAISES OVER $1300 AND DEBUTS A SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM

Upper Arlington, Ohio VETMotorsports raised over $1300 at their “Firebase Rock” event in Columbus, Ohio. Proceeds will benefit VETMotorsports, a notfor-profit 501(c)3 organization, which will embeds disabled veterans into motorsports activities. The non-clinical outreach program focuses on Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, and VETMotorsports will continue to assist veterans throughout the United States in 2015. A short documentary film about veteran recovery was also debuted, filmed at the 2014 Indy Mile by a disabled veteran film crew. Included The Live It Right Dream Ride is sponsored in part by: in the movie are interviews with VETMotorsports participants placed within the Bonneville Performance, Castrol/Triumph Factory AMA Pro Flat Track Racing Team, as well as footage of veterans placed within AMA Pro Road www.midwestmotorcyclist.com/ www.kindsnacks.com/ Race teams at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The film draws attention to the current Iraq/Afghanistan veteran www. suicide rate of 22 veterans per day and motorcycleandoutdoors the positive effects of placing veterans .com into motorsports. The eight minute film can be viewed at this link: http:// www.shadyproducts.com/ youtu.be/lUhQL-M4cX4 Columbus Love will also be donating the majority of their t-shirt proceed sales 1983 CB 1000 CUSTOM, All Stock, 52,800 Miles, Well Maintained, Very Clean, to VETMotorsports as February’s local community $1,495 project. Between February 7th 2007 VTX 1300, 2,600 Miles, All Stock, Windshield, Backrest, $4,995 and March 6th every t-shirt sold by Columbus Love will 2010 CRF 250R, FRESH TOP END, FRESH VALVES, RG3 BLACK TRIPLE CLAMPS, go directly towards the HARD COATED FORKS, SET UP FOR 160lB rider, 4.1 with powerbomb Header, CV4 HOSES, $3,995

USED MOTORCYCLES & ATVs

2012 CRF 450R, NEW CRANK, MAINS, CYLINDER, PISTON, CAM CHAIN, CLUTCH, WHEELS, TWIN WALLS... LOTS OF GOODIES ON THIS BIKE, $4,995 2005 ROYAL STAR 1300 VENTURE, 65,000 Miles, CB Intercom System, Aftermarket Exhaust, Comes with a matching trailer for an additional $800, $5,995 2009 V-STAR 1300 TOURING, 7,500 Miles, Saddle Bags, Windshield, Sissy bar, Like New, $6,795 2005 BOULEVARD C50, 24,000 Miles, Saddle Bags, Windshield, Runs Great, $3,495 1998 Arctic Cat Z-440, 72 STUDS, New Carbides, Clean, 3250 Miles, $1,695 1999 SKI DOO FORMULA DLX 500, LOW MILES,REVERSE, ELECTRIC START, RUNS GREAT, $1,995 2000 SNOW TRAILER, 8 FOOT WIDE, 9 FOOT LONG SALT SHIELD, $795 6971 Highland Road 248-666-4651 Waterford, MI 48327 www.tech-care.com TM

Midwest Motorcyclist

funding VETMotorsports’ nonclinical outreach programming. Those wishing to purchase a tshirt to support VETMotorsports should visit www.columbuslove.co/ shop or simply www.columbuslove.co from 2/7/15 through 3/ 5/15. “VETMotorsports hopes this will become an annual event that highlights the community involvement and awareness of our largest living veteran population. We can’t thank our local partners enough for last weekend’s fundraising show: Four String Brewing Company, Mingo Town Music, WCBE 90.5 and Jim Coe (WCBE’s Community Relations, Underwriting & Business Development). We certainly need to mention our silent auction and raffle donors: Gerbing Heated Apparel, Lock-nLoad Java, The Mid-Ohio School, Ohio Valley Region of the Sports Car Club of America, Reto-a-GoGo!, Rev’It! Clothing and Triumph Motorcycles,” stated VETMotorsports CEO & Founder, Peter Cline, who was the recent recipient of the 2015 American Motorcyclist Association’s Hazel Kolb Award. Those that were unable to attend but wishing to donate are encouraged visit http://www.vetmotorsports.org/ donate/. To learn about or donate to VETMotorsports please visit them on the web at www.vetmotorsports.org or follow them on Facebook at http:// facebook.com/VETMotorsports, Twitter @VETMotorsports or Pinterest http:// www.pinterest.com/VETMotorsports/

Sales Help Wanted Sales experience and cycle endorsement required. Send resume’ with cover describing your successful sales experience to office@bmwdetroit.com. A great oportunity for the right person. You could be selling exciting, cutting-edge products in a thriving industry.

BMW Motorcycles of Detroit 34080 Van Dyke Avenue Sterling Heights, MI (586) 274-4000 www.bmwdetroit.com 19

Interview

Gary Lewandowski, Ride Like a Pro Franchise Owner by Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer

I first met Gary Lewandowski several years ago when he was supervising an “Experienced Rider Class”; an instant friendship developed. Gary is a standup guy, member of the Sheriff’s Motor Patrol, expert rider, and owner of the local “Ride Like a Pro” franchise. We hope you enjoy our conversation.

I actually own a BMW, a BSA and 3 Harley-Davidsons and have ridden just about all brands. Last year, I took delivery of a 2014 Harley-Davidson Limited, so you can draw your conclusions from that. I’ve always said (and I mean this sincerely): “It isn’t WHAT you ride, it’s THAT you ride!”

The Preacher (TP): So, Gary, where are you originally from?

TP: You have a “Ride Like a Pro” franchise. What is “Ride like a Pro” all about? How did it all begin?

Gary Lewandowski (GL): I’m a native Detroiter, born in the “D,” grew up in Madison Heights and now live in Clinton Township, Michigan.

GL: Yes, I am proud to say that I own and operate “Ride Like a Pro – Great Lakes,” which is an authorized franchise of the very popular “Ride Like a Pro” organization that is the brainchild of Jerry “Motorman” Palladino. So how did it start? Well, about 10 years ago, along with the encouragement of a couple members of a local women’s riding chapter, I came up with the idea to do a “spring tune-up class” for the members of their organization. Some simple stuff like braking, low speed control, mental preparation, etc. I was apprehensive at first, but I felt this “experiment” was worth it just to see how something like this would be received and if so, would the riders really benefit. I put together a few exercises taken from the police motor officer training book and MSF. I was blown away by how well this training was received and it quickly became known as “Gary’s Slow Ride Class.” As it became more popular, I wanted to show my support of women motorcycle riders (women who ride their own motorcycles rock!) One of the members of this women’s riding group suggested I offer my classes for the ladies during an annual event in East Jordan, Michigan, known as “Lady Biker Days.” I agreed to do that as part of the event, and to show my support I would offer two or three classes over a couple days for all women riders who were interested at no charge. Well, one day I was snooping around the motorcycle training sites and by chance came across Palladino and Ride Like a Pro. I was instantly impressed so I contacted him. Over the next few months, we had some very good conversations. When I was in Daytona that next March during Bike Week, I took the opportunity to meet up with him and his wife, Donna. I told him that I had come 1,250 miles to meet him and shake his hand. We shared a good laugh over that. A friendship was born immediately. Jerry & Donna Palladino are the real deal, too. This isn’t a smoke and mirrors organization set up for profit only. Jerry & Donna Palladino are 100% dedicated to making all riders better. Believe me, I share that philosophy to a fault. A couple years later (in 2008), Jerry asked if I would consider opening up a franchise in Michigan. I was blown away by the fact that he would honor me with this offer. We ironed out the details and the rest is history, so to speak. “Gary’s Slow Ride Class” transitioned into “Ride Like A Pro Great Lakes,” and the franchise was born. The first year was a success and I was fortunate enough to have several “assistants” working with me, such as my son, Eric, and my lady, Lori, to name a few. I was still a one-man show and it was a lot of work. In early 2011, I approached a close friend of mine whom I consider one of the best motorcycle instructors I have ever had the pleasure of

TP: How did you get interested in motorcycles? GL: When I was growing up in Madison Heights, a neighbor had a Honda 305 Scrambler. When I was about 10, he offered to take me for a ride. I put a (large) helmet on and he took me for a ride around the city. I was hooked instantly. I started riding motorcycles when I was 16; it was a Honda S-90 that I re-built with a buddy of mine. TP: Regarding the Sheriff’s Motor Unit. Can you tell us some of the duties they perform? GL: Different LE (law enforcement) agencies use their Motor Units in a variety of ways, so I will give you a broad view. “Motors” (motorcycles) are used for anything from PR…the public really likes to see them …to VIP escorts, traffic & crowd control, parades and a host of other assignments. Motors are unique as they afford the Motor Officer the ability to go quickly into areas where a car may be restricted as well as a better ability to run more “stealth” (easier to hide). TP: What type or make of motorcycle does the Unit ride and why? How often are they replaced? GL: I can only speak to what the Sheriff’s Unit rides; Harley-Davidson Police Electra Glide. Some other agencies ride Harley-Davidson Police Road Kings. Some ride Victory motorcycles. Our own MSP (Michigan State Police) recently changed part of their fleet to BMWs. It’s really contingent upon the location, use and personalities of the individual groups and the operating cost. Each make and model has strong and weak points. As far as replacement, at one time, it was common for LE agencies using Harley-Davidsons to turn the bikes over once a year due to HD’s lease program. This enabled the various agencies the opportunity to have their officers on new motors with the latest technology and the leasing dealerships the opportunity to “de-police” the motors (remove the police equipment) and sell them; it was a win-win. A lot of agencies now purchase their motors outright. Sadly, some have abandoned the use of motors due to budget constraints and operational costs. TP: What type or make of motorcycle do you prefer and why? GL: Good questions, Franz. You trying to set me up here (grinning)? Personally, I’m a fan of the HarleyDavidson Police Electra Glide for LE applications, but

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working with (Cliff Crabtree). I asked Cliff if he’d consider joining me and assist in teaching a RLAP class. He did. I realized having him become a part of this was the exact amount of “spice” the program needed to complement what I was doing and take it to the next level. I now have a partner and fellow instructor at my side that I trust totally. He is as dedicated as I am to the program and to teaching skills improvement for all motorcycle riders. TP: How can “Ride Like A Pro” benefit me, a rider with 40 years experience? What about the beginning or intermediate rider? GL: If you are considering taking up motorcycling, I strongly encourage you to take the MSF Basic Rider Coursewhich is offered at many of the local colleges. Or consider enrolling in one of the Academy of Motorcycling (formally known as “Rider’s Edge”) classes offered by many of the local Harley-Davidson dealerships in the area. They all have very knowledgeable instructors (aka “Rider Coaches”). If you are a beginning rider (1st year, less than 1,000 miles), the Ride Like a Pro course is NOT for you; not just yet. However, if you consider yourself an intermediate or an experienced rider, the Ride Like a Pro course is the “missing link” in your motorcycle rider training. The MSF programs don’t focus on the low-speed maneuvering, maxthreshold braking and mental skills that we teach at this level. We focus on teaching the average rider the three basic skills that Motor Officers have been trained in for more than 60 years. This course is based on low-speed motorcycle handling techniques. Low-speed training is important because when riding below approximately 20 mph, there is no gyroscopic effect and gravity tends to pull the motorcycle to the ground or makes it feel that way. Learning the three techniques will help to prevent this from happening, raise your confidence level and make you a safer rider. Who can’t live with that? There are many different “styles” of classes offered to motorcycle riders in our area as well as out of state. Each class has its own unique curriculum, cost and even personality. We have the utmost respect for all of them and all the instructors associated with them. They are there to help YOU as a rider. The Ride Like a Pro class is unique in that it is only four hours long. That has proven to be enough time to teach most riders the three techniques we talk about, but this is a very physical class. You’re gonna ride a lot and be tired at the end of the class! Some students thought just by taking this four-hour course they will immediately leave an expert rider. We always let our students know to come in as a rider with limited skills and leave after four-hours training with expert skills is simply an unrealistic expectation. Basic balance is within all of us, but real motorcycle skills and techniques must be properly taught, learned and practiced. I emphasize that word “practice.” Motorcycle skills are “diminishing skills,” meaning if you don’t use them, you lose them…so practice, practice, practice. Continued on next page

March 2015

Continued from previous page The more you practice the better and more confident you will become and with that confidence comes safety. We will teach you what you need to know to properly practice. In our class (to steal a quote from Cliff), “we don’t look for perfection, we look for technique…perfection will come with practice.” What sets us apart from the others is Ride Like a Pro offers several different instructional DVD’s that support what we teach and can act as a “refresher” for all riders.

the demons don’t call ahead to make appointments so you have time to prepare…and they are nasty SOB’s. Ya know, I do agree with the comment “I wear a helmet but I support any law that keeps the government from telling us what to do,” but the caveat is I also support laws that are there to protect us. At a meeting recently, I was asked (somewhat sarcastically) “so, are you gonna tell us to wear a

TP: How does one get in touch with you and “Ride Like A Pro”?

are involved in a serious motorcycle crash and you sustain injuries at any level of severity, or worse, you are killed…does it really matter who is at fault? I look at it this way, if you value what goes into protective gear (including that helmet), then you’ll wear good quality riding gear and you’ll wear it all the time. Sometimes crashes can’t be prevented, and when (not if) that time comes, I want to know I’m at my best, including the condition of my motorcycle, my head (skills) and my protective gear. 99 times out of 100 you will enjoy a safe, trouble-free ride, but the trick is not gambling with your life on when the one time will be. TP: Any closing comments?

GL: Easy.Cliff and I can be reached via e-mail (gary@ridelikeapro-gl.com and cliff@ridelikeaprogl.com). You can also visit our website (www.ridelikeapro-gl.com) and there is a link to contact us online there. We have a Facebook page (doesn’t everyone these days?). TP: I did an article a couple months ago on helmet usage, about how since the inception of the Helmet Optional Law in Michigan (which I supported and applauded), I have had a 180-degree change of heart on helmet usage. I now wear one 100% of the time. I got about 60 e-mails in reply to that article and the score was about 60% in agreement with me and 40% against. Some simply said “I wear a helmet but I support any law that keeps the government from telling us what to do.” What can you say about helmet usage and safety gear in general? GL: Now that’s an interesting subject, isn’t it? Yes, I did read the article and kudos to you, Franz! This (as you know) is a subject I take very seriously because I have not only experienced the fun side of what we do, I’ve seen firsthand the very dark side. Believe me,

helmet?” First of all, I’ve never actually told anyone to wear a helmet, I’ve only “strongly suggested” they “please consider,” reminding them that if they really value what goes in one, they will wear a good one all the time. But over the past couple years, the articles I have written, the people I have taught and the ones I have spoken to have caused me to respond to that question differently. Now I simply answer; “no, I shouldn’t have to.” There are riders out there for reasons known only to them (and I still can’t comprehend this mindset) who will ride a motorcycle without a helmet or proper riding gear. That is their choice. They are free to choose to ride a motorcycle however they want. What many fail to realize or become complacent about is that they are NOT free from the consequences of their actions or their choices. If you

GL: I’d like to first thank you, Franz, for reaching out to me for this interview. I have always loved riding motorcycles. You can call me a biker or a motorcycle enthusiast; they both fit. But working with and teaching other riders to become better, more confident, and safer is my passion. If through all my efforts and all my sweat, what I do - what WE do - saves just one life, then it will have all been worth it. We’ll never know for sure if it has but that’s okay, this isn’t about numbers, statistics or money, it’s about giving motorcycle riders the benefit of having the skills and the confidence to (as Jerry would say) “survive on the mean streets.” To our motorcycle riding brothers & sisters out there, I ask that you please don’t compromise your safety or the safety of others for the sake of image. Promote positive peer pressure, lead by example and remember there is no graduation from the college of motorcycle riding, you can always get better. Don’t stop learning and strive to be one of the 99% who do it right. Your odds of being able to tell your grandkids about all the great rides you have taken may just be a little higher. TP: Thanks Gary....

Michigan Harley-Davidson Dealer Events For a complete list of Michigan Harley-Davidson Dealer Association Members, see the dealer locator on page 23. February 28 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Daytona Beach Party FREE food, a great party and your chance to WIN a trip to Bike week! Beach Themed attire is WELCOME at our party! ABC Harley-Davidson 4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD (248) 674-3175 www.abc-harley-davidson.com

February 28 12:00pm - 1:30pm Beer Tasting A taste of local brews Snacks, fun, laughs, giveaways Battle Creek Harley-Davidson 5738 BECKLEY RD, BATTLE CREEK (269) 979-2233, www.battlecreekharley.com

March 7 9 a.m. ‘til gone! Cool Bikes / Hot Breakfast FREE Breakfast Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson 2977 CORPORATE GROVE DR., HUDSONVILLE (616) 896-0111 www.grandrapidsharley.com

March 14 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Spring Kick Start Party Free food, bike kick start contest, jalapeno pepper eating contest and FREE Food! ABC Harley-Davidson 4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD (248) 674-3175 www.abc-harley-davidson.com

March 20 More than an Oil Change Maintenance Workshop 20 specific check pts from front tire to tailpipe Ray C’s Harley-Davidson 1422 IMLAY CITY ROAD, LAPEER (810) 664-9261 www.raycsh-d.com

March 28 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bacon & Bikes Yep... FREE Bacon Breakfast! Door prizes and more! ABC Harley-Davidson 4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD (248) 674-3175 www.abc-harley-davidson.com

Midwest Motorcyclist

March 14 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 3rd Annual Soup Cookoff Enter your favorite soup recipe Capitol Harley-Davidson 9550 WOODLANE DRIVE, DIMONDALE (517) 646-2345, www.capitolhd.com

Old School

SWAP MEETS presented by

CONQUER THE COLD WITH NEW HEATED RIDING GEAR FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Plug-In, Turn-On and Ride Longer with New 12V Dual-Source Heated Gear for Men and Women MILWAUKEE (Jan. 21, 2015) – Conquer the cold and extend the riding days with new 12V DualSource heated gear from the Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® line. An array of new men’s and women’s liners, gloves, jackets and pants deliver the maximum 12V of heat via two sources: a rechargeable lithium ion battery or a motorcycle’s electrical system. Designed specifically for riders, all of the products feature a separate, built-in temperature controller with three distinct color-coded heat levels. To enhance performance, Microwire® technology provides the thinnest, lightest wiring system with the fastest warmth. Each new heated item offers a 3year warranty. Stay warm to the core with the men’s Heated Dual-Source 12V Jacket Liner (P/N 98330-15VM, starting at $295). The five-panel system concentrates heat in sleeves, chest and back for optimal performance. The liner can be powered by the bike’s 12V electrical system or a 12V lithium rechargeable battery. For maximum mid-layer performance with minimal bulk, the liner is made from polyester with spandex and fleece. It’s available in S – 3XL sizes. Maintain maximum comfort, dexterity and control with the new men’s Heated DualSource 12V Gloves (P/N 98328-15VM, $235).. The gloves are made from leather and textile with tricot fleece lining and a waterproof, breathable liner. Pre-curved fingers, power-stretch knuckles and gel-padded palms deliver maximum riding comfort. The heated gloves are powered through the bike’s 12V electrical system via the heated liner or a pair of accessory 12V lithium rechargeable batteries. The built-in three-level temperature controller system allows a rider to control the individual temperature level of each glove. Available in S – 3XL sizes. Feel the heat and ride longer with the new women’s Heated Dual-Source 12V Jacket Liner (P/N 98338-15VW, $275). It features a builtin temperature controller with three heat settings and a five-panel heating system: two sleeve, two chest and one back panel. Constructed from fourway stretch polyester with spandex and fleece, the liner works best as a bulk-free mid-layer, yet can also be worn as a jacket. It connects to the bike’s 12V electrical system or an accessory 12V lithium ion rechargeable battery. Available in XS – 2XL sizes. Ride in confidence and warmth with the new women’s Heated Dual-Source 12V Gloves (P/N 98339-15VW, $230). They’re constructed from leather and textile with tricot fleece lining and a waterproof, breathable liner and connect to the bike’s 12V electrical system or a pair of accessory 12V lithium rechargeable batteries for optimal versatility. A built-in, three-level temperature controller delivers heat the entire length of each finger and thumb. Pre-curved fingers, gel-padded palms and ergonomic thumb are built for all-day riding comfort and control. Available in XS – XL sizes.

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1. Battle Creek BATTLE CREEK HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5738 BECKLEY RD, BATTLE CREEK (269) 979-2233, www.battlecreekharley.com

2. Bay City GREAT LAKES HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 3850 S. HURON ROAD, BAY CITY (989) 686-0400, www.greatlakeshd.com

3. Birch Run SHIAWASSEE HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 11901 N. BEYER ROAD, BIRCH RUN (989) 624-4400 www.shiawasseeharley-davidson.com

4. Brighton BRIGHTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5942 WHITMORE LAKE RD., BRIGHTON (810) 225-2915, www.brightonhd.com

5. Cement City TOWN & COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON® US 12 & US 127, CEMENT CITY (517) 547-3333, www.cementcity-harley.com

6. Farmington Hills MOTOR CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 34900 GRAND RIVER AVE., FARMINGTON HILLS (248) 473-7433, www.motorcityharley.com

7. Fremont SANDY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® SPORT CENTER 11940 N. MAPLE ISLAND RD, FREMONT (231) 924-3020, www.sandysharleydavidson.com

8. Gaylord ZIP’S 45TH PARALLEL HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 980 S WISCONSIN AVE., GAYLORD (989) 732-8000, www.zips45thhd.com

9. Hudsonville GRAND RAPIDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 2977 CORPORATE GROVE DR., HUDSONVILLE (616) 896-0111, www.grandrapidsharley.com

March 2015

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10. Kalamazoo

15. Sturgis

PERRY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 5331 SPRINKLE ROAD, KALAMAZOO (269) 329-3450 www.perryharley-davidson.com

HAMILTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 68951 WHITE SCHOOL ROAD, STURGIS (616) 651-3424, www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com

11. Lansing

16. Tecumseh

CAPITOL HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 9550 WOODLANE DRIVE, DIMONDALE (517) 646-2345, www.capitolhd.com

TECUMSEH HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 8080 MATTHEWS HIGHWAY, TECUMSEH (517) 423-3333

12. Lapeer

17. Traverse City

RAY C’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 1422 IMLAY CITY ROAD, LAPEER (810) 664-9261, www.raycsh-d.com

CLASSIC MOTOR SPORTS HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 3939 S BLUE STAR DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY (231) 943-9344, www.classictc.com

13. Mt. Pleasant

18. Waterford

C & S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 4741 E PICKARD, MT PLEASANT (989) 772-5513, www.candssportcenter.com

A.B.C. HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD (248) 674-3175, www.abc-harley-davidson.com

14. Muskegon

19. West Branch

HOT ROD HARLEY-DAVIDSON® 149 SHORELINE DRIVE, MUSKEGON (231) 722-3653, www.hotrodhd.com

GILDNER’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MOTORCYCLES 2723 S M-76, WEST BRANCH (989) 345-1330, www.gildnershd.com

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For more information, visit www.mhdda.com TM

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Pre-Owned Motorcycles 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic, 22 miles, $15,999 plus tax & title

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2007 Harley-Davidson FLTR Road Glide, 3,479 miles, well over 25K invested. Some highlights include: Chrome 21" front end with Custom wheels, rotors, and calipers. DayMaker LED lights. Electronically operated opening custom saddlebags. Diamond Cut Engine. Chrome everything! Custom Paint. You must see this one! $18,999 plus tax & title

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2011 Harley-Davidson FLHX - Street Glide Mileage: 13,658. Red, $17,999 plus tax & title