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APRIL2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS ISSUE1VOLUME5
PUB HARLEY06 garrick 10 NOTE04 2012 schneiderman The 2012 riding season is upon us folks and we couldn’t be more thrilled. We’ve had a mild winter here in the midwest and it’s given us the gumption to make a few changes here at the magazine. Publisher & Advertising:
Roderick “Caine” Kabel roderick@throttlermagazine.com 515.210.7066 President & Accounting:
Stacy “Fancy Face” Kabel stacy@throttlermagazine.com Motocross Editor:
Sean “Wide Open” Goulart Graphic Design Intern:
Amanda “Hulkster” Strong Editorial Contributors:
Tony Tice, Luuezz Denise Gasper, Ken Bingenheimer, Paul James, Ethan Lincoln
The Midwest has an incredible amount of motorcycle talent living across these amber waves of grain. It’s always amazing to run across motorcycle industry leaders right under our noses.
ROSE 14 DEAF 12 STERNOTTI Riders PROJECT IMBIBE09 YZ144 16 The Harley-Davidson® Seventy-Two™ motorcycle is a metal flake dream machine, a Sportster® on a trip back to the days when the cool kids rode a Sting-ray and the big boys parked choppers in a row on the curb.
Keeping their head and eyes up is never an issue for many of Jasmine Bluecreek Clark’s beginning rider students the way it is for others.
Hello, dear fans of Throttler Magazine. My name is Ethan Lincoln and I am pleased to join this publication with a little bit of a twist for a column. I am a blogger who has a bit of a passion when it comes to good drink. I am also rider and keep the two far from each other.
Policies: All content is 2012 copyright THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. is published and distributed throughout IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI. Readers are permitted one free copy per month; contact the publisher for additional mailed copies at $6 each. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. is not responsible for loss, damage or any other injury of unsolicited material. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor does THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Statements of fact and opinion in articles written by contributing columnists and writers are solely those of the author alone and do not necessarily imply those of THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C.
There are some careers that people perceive as dirty jobs, requiring physical body strength and holding high levels of danger are undesirable for most women.
Many of us just love to ride. We don’t race seriously and just want to get out in the dirt and have fun… but with new 4 stroke motocross bikes starting to cost almost $10k new, the price of the gas, trailer, etc., It’s getting expensive. So what can a biker do to help offset these costs?
Material may not be reprinted in any form without expressed written permission from the publisher of THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. All data and information provided is for informational purposes only. Throttler Motorcycle Magazine makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information written and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
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ride hArd. ride resPonsible.
2012 is here with wArMer weAther And A Few new iteMs
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HE 2012 RIDING SEASON IS UPON US FOLKS AND WE COULDN’T BE MORE THRILLED. WE’VE HAD A MILD WINTER HERE IN THE MIDWEST AND IT’S GIVEN US THE GUMPTION TO MAKE A FEW CHANGES HERE AT THE MAGAZINE.
First, as we are sure you have discovered the cover design and inside pages have a different twist to them. Hopefully you will still feel the reading is easy and not garbled up with unnecessary graphic and photo clutter. To us, a fresh new look once in a while keeps you as our readers interested and it keeps our staff continually seeking creative ways to dazzle readers and advertisers. We hope you like the new look and encourage anyone with an opinion to give us a holler. Likewise, our Web site is going under the knife and we are conducting a massive overhaul. The site will continue to be reader friendly with the page flipping and iPad versions, too. Look to us on Facebook at “Throttler
FroM the Publisher
Motorcycle Mag” to stay connected with our daily posts, events and contests for free stuff. We are also offering a few fun Twitter feeds at; @ThrottlerMag, @ HarleyMagazine and @MotocrossMag. Stay tuned with our blogs as well at www. throttlermagazine.com/blog and www. harley-motorcycle-blog.com. With that said, Spring is when we should all check our rides for safety purposes. Checking basics such as fluids; battery; chains and belts; tires; engine and carb; cables; lights and turn signals; brakes; nuts and bolts and wheels and spokes. We highly caution everyone to take heed with these simple check points. An under inflated tire could cause you serious damage if you skipped checking it before riding. Lastly, we want to introduce Ethan ? who has joined our writer stable with his imbibe column. This new column is about enjoying good quality beers, wines and liquors. Yes, we realize the conundrum here, too. The fact remains almost every motorcycle magazine has alcohol references or advertising and pictures of beer bust bike nights. We are in no way promoting drinking and driving. Rather, we are raising the
bar for the enjoyment of good tasting libations to enjoy AFTER a ride. It is your own responsibility to conduct yourself in a responsible manner with consideration for yourself, passengers and on coming traffic. What is “imbibe” you might ask? Imbibe means to “drink or take in” and Ethan has been writing about good tasting drink for quite some time. We first stumbled upon (no pun intended) Ethan when searching for a local location to purchase a bottle of Apple Jack schnapps. Ethan’s blog popped up so we stayed around to see what he had to offer. This guy was good and he has the same sense of humor we do. A kind of dry, tongue in cheek funniness in his writing and we tripped over his comical video blogs, as well. All that said, this column is only proposed to be for amusement with no harm intended, nor do we ever suggest consuming alcohol and operating any vehicle. Read on the see Ethan’s first column and let us know what you think. As always, ride hard and ride responsible. — R. Kabel
11 Common Mistakes by Motorcycle Riders and How to Avoid Them
#1 Way to Avoid an Accident and 9 Insider Secrets to Avoid Costly Mistakes By COREY WALKER Corey@IowaInjured.com
Iowans who ride motorcycles are beginning to realize that they should learn about how to avoid an accident and if they have been in an accident how to avoid costly mistakes. Some riders fail to bring their case within time limitations (which can be as short as 6 months to provide notice) while others do not learn about their rights. A New Book about Iowa motorcycle accidents is being offered at No Cost, Risk or Obligation which reveals: • #1 Way to Avoid a Motorcycle Accident • 9 Insider Secrets to Avoid Costly Mistakes • 7 Things to Know Before Talking to the Insurance Adjustor or Hiring an Attorney and much more. Why offer a Book at No Cost? Because since 1997, Iowa Personal Injury Attorney Corey Walker has represented hundreds of injured Iowans including many who have been injured in motorcycle accidents and he has seen too many make mistakes resulting in 04 throttlermotorcyclemagazine
them losing thousands of dollars. Franklin of Washington, Iowa says “Corey’s book includes information that most people don’t know but should in case of an accident.” James of Sioux City says “I would recommend this book to my friends because most riders I know are informed with their bikes, the roads, and their abilities, but not the laws.” Why offer a free book? Because after having represented hundreds of injured Iowans, Iowa Injury Attorney Corey Walker has seen the consequences of costly mistakes. Finally, you can learn about motorcycle accidents in the comfort of your own home with no risk or obligation. If you own a motorcycle; or if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident and do not have an attorney then this book is for you. Claim your copy (while supplies last) Call Now (800)-707-2552, ext. 215 (24 Hour Recorded Message) or go to www. MotorcycleAccidentBook.com. Our Guarantee- If you do not learn at least one thing from the book let us know and we will donate $100 in your name to ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education which works for you, the motorcycle enthusiast.) APRIL2012
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HARLEY-DAVIDSON SEVENTY-TWO™
new harley-davidson 2012 models CLEAN, LEAN AND OLD SCHOOL BIKES HIT THE ROAD
By Paul James /Harley-Davidson.com)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SEVENTY-TWO™ REVIVES A LEAN LOOK Dark Custom Gets Some Color – A New Narrow Sportster in Sparkling Metal Flake Paint
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HE HARLEY-DAVIDSON® S E V E N T Y - T W O ™ MOTORCYCLE IS A METAL FLAKE DREAM MACHINE, A SPORTSTER® ON A TRIP BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN THE COOL KIDS RODE A STING-RAY AND THE BIG BOYS PARKED CHOPPERS IN A ROW ON THE CURB. THOSE MOTORCYCLES WERE LONG AND LEAN; CANDY-APPLE COLOR AND GLEAMING CHROME SHIMMERING IN HAZY SUMMER SUNLIGHT. FROM ITS HARD CANDY BIG RED FLAKE PAINT AND APE BARS TO ITS NARROW WHITEWALL TIRES, THE SEVENTY-TWO IS A RESPECTFUL
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NOD TO THAT ERA, AND TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE CUSTOM CULTURE THAT STILL PERCOLATES TODAY ALONG WHITTIER BOULEVARD, THE LEGENDARY CRUISING STREET IN EAST LOS ANGELES ALSO KNOWN AS ROUTE 72. A NEW GENERATION OF CUSTOM BUILDER IS TAPPING INTO THAT ERA AND MAKING A FRESH STATEMENT, NOT JUST IN CALIFORNIA BUT IN GARAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVEN AROUND THE WORLD.
Manager of Industrial Design. “Those bikes were colorful and chromed, but also narrow and stripped down to the essentials. You look at period examples and they are almost as simple as a bicycle. It’s a custom style that’s very particular to America and that California scene.” Metal flake, an iconic design element of the ‘ 7 0 s ,
“In creating the SeventyTwo, we were also inspired by the vibe of the early chopper era,” says Frank Savage, HarleyD a v i d s o n
APRIL2012
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Frank Savage
“The final touch to the Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint is a logo on the tank top and pinstripe scallop details on both fenders.”
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL® SLIM™
appeared in everything from dune buggy gel coat to vinyl diner upholstery, and on custom motorcycles. Harley-Davidson brings the sparkle back on the Seventy-Two with Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint. This new finish is created by applying a black base coat, followed by a polyurethane system that carries hexagonshaped flakes that are more than seven times the diameter of metal flake used in typical production paint. Each flake is coated with a thin aluminum film and then tinted red. Four applications of clear coat, combined with hand sanding, create a smooth finish over the flakes. “The final touch to the Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint is a logo on the tank top and pinstripe scallop details on both fenders,” says Savage. “Each was originally created by hand, and we recreated that art in a decal for production, so they still have the appearance of hand-applied graphics in that they are not exactly perfect. The graphics are then covered with a final clear coat application.” A solo seat and side-mounted license plate bracket leave much of the chopped rear fender — and more of that paint — exposed on the Seventy-Two. The powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with chrome covers and a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. A classic Sportster 2.1-gallon “peanut” fuel tank adds a final period touch to the motorcycle. NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL® SLIM™ IS A CLEAN, OLD-SCHOOL CUSTOM Stripped-Down, Narrow Styling with Less Chrome and Retro Details
PARE DOWN A HARLEYDAVIDSON® SOFTAIL® MOTORCYCLE TO ITS ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS AND YOU HAVE THE SLIM. FROM ITS TRIMMED FRONT
FENDER TO ITS NARROW REAR END, SLIM IS A NO-NONSENSE, B A C K - T O - B A S I C S MOTORCYCLE. CALL IT STRIPPED. CALL IT OLD SCHOOL. CALL IT LEAN AND MEAN. WHAT’S LEFT IS THE ELEMENTAL SOFTAIL PROFILE AND ICONIC HARLEYDAVIDSON® STYLE THAT RECALLS CLASSIC CUSTOM BOBBERS OF THE 1950S.
“It’s time to make the engine the focal point of the motorcycle,” says Harley-Davidson Senior Designer Casey Ketterhagen, “so we put a Softail on a diet to get the proportions back in check. Scale down the rear with a narrow tire and chopped fender and the heart of the bike, the motor, once again becomes the focus. We left a gap between the nose of the seat and tank so the rider can see the top of the motor. I like to be able to look down and see what’s moving me.” To keep the rear of the motorcycle simple and clean, the Slim has combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side-mounted license plate. The rear fender struts are left uncovered, exposing the forged steel and fasteners. A thin formed-leather strap covers the fuel tank seam. The powertrain is finished with polished covers instead of chrome, and the black cylinders are left unhighlighted. The FL front fender is trimmed to expose more of the tire. “I’d personally like to strip the bike down even further,” says Ketterhagen, “but this is as far as we can go on a production model. The Slim is intended to be a direct interpretation of home-built customs of the 1940s and 50s, and we used a number of components that evoke that era, beginning with a Hollywood handlebar.” The Hollywood bar, identified by its wide bend and cross brace, was throttlermotorcyclemagazine 07
originally an accessory for Harley-Davidson® models with a Springer fork. The name may have been coined because owners of that era who used the cross-brace to mount lights and bags had “gone Hollywood” with excessive accessorization. For the Slim, the cross-braced bar and louvered headlight nacelle are finished in gloss black. Other period styling cues include a gloss black “cat’s eye” tank console with a retro speedometer face, half-moon rider footboards, a round air cleaner cover, and gloss black wheel rims and hubs. The cover of the solo seat is stitched in a tuck-androll pattern. “The seat really gives you the feeling of sitting in the bike, rather than on it,” says Ketterhagen. “The bars are nice and low, too, so when you’re riding you have an unobstructed view for-
ward, which reinforces the idea that this is a very elemental motorcycle, a real back-to-basics ride.” A counter-balanced Twin Cam 103B™ engine is rigid-mounted within the frame, creating a solid connection between rider and the machine. The Softail® chassis mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame, but utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight within the frame rails. With the combination of a 23.8inch seat height and rider footboards, the Slim comfortably fits a wide range of riders and offers light side-stand lift-off. A pull-back riser from Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Accessories can be installed to move the handlebar back two inches without changing control cables and lines.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s Web site atwww.harleydavidson.com.
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AFter the ride iMbibe
beFore the ride: Point, Zero, Zero, Zero
im·bibe Verb: 1. Drink (alcohol) 2. Absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge)
By Ethan Lincoln (imbibehour@gmail.com)
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ELLO, DEAR FANS OF THROTTLER MAGAZINE. MY NAME IS ETHAN LINCOLN AND I AM PLEASED TO JOIN THIS PUBLICATION WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A TWIST FOR A COLUMN. I AM A BLOGGER WHO HAS A BIT OF A PASSION WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD DRINK. I AM ALSO RIDER AND KEEP THE TWO FAR FROM EACH OTHER.
Like many of you who are reading this for the first time, we all know the fun that being on a motorcycle gives us. For me it was something that gave me a feeling of great joy and independence. Like many first time riders, I learned how to ride by taking the MSF course offered by a local community college in my area. My head filled and absorbed the material. The basics were repeated, but there was one lesson that was very memorable for being succinct and to the point. After some practice drills on the road, we were in the classroom and my instructor brought up the subject of alcohol. My instructor was covering everything he could and said, “Ok here’s a real simple number that’s going to be easy for you to learn. Zero, zero, zero!” I was at first wondering where he was going with this, my head still swarming about hoping to pass the test to get my license. Then, suddenly and as a matter of fact, he continued “If you are to operate a motorcycle or motorized vehicle, ‘0’ is the percent of alcohol that you should be allowed to consume.” My instructor who was highly skilled, highly seasoned and a year round rider who wore winter gear and heated jackets, commanded attention. My ears were pinned back not to miss what he was going to say next. Zero? Did he just say zero, I said to myself? Ironically, this was not what was I expecting. I slowly let this sink in, and then within about 10 seconds it all made sense. With the inherent dangers between you and the road on two wheels, the last thing you want complicating it is any alcohol impairment and misjudgment. However, I also noticed my instructor’s statement in context with human behavior and reality. That wasn’t hard, even as a grizzly old man next to me sat there wearing his Jack Daniels t-shirt. Let’s be honest, I am not here to promote drinking and driving, or preach how a
iMbibe with ethAn
this magazine and myself strictly condemn the practice.
Ethan Lincoln is an avid motorcycle rider and hobbyist blogger who writes often about many different libations that are available and noteworthy. His youtube channel can be see here: www.youtube.com/user/imbibehour and his blog at imbibehour.blogspot.com.
legal-age adult should behave. But it was obvious way before I even knew anything about motorcycles, that people who ride, do sometimes drink alcohol. This magazine and myself strictly condemn the practice. I’m not here to be your mother and I am also not here to encourage drinking and riding. Don’t do it! Better yet, my mission is to give you some good drink information to enjoy after a nice ride. Shortly after I learned to ride a bit I realized there are options. Here are some ideas: The Destination Where I live, I have the ability to check out wineries and craft breweries quite easily. Why not consider a ride out to them? Seek out some vineyards and/or craft breweries and grab some wares while there to take home for later. Vineyards, especially, are often in nice rural areas with rolling hills and offer great riding scenery. Face it, vineyards are gorgeous and so are many of the roads to get them. So get out and ride ‘em! If you are at the brewery, grab some bottles and maybe if you are really bold, purchase growlers to take home fresh beer. Wineries and breweries are big on tastings and samples, so either smell, or spit in a wine bucket. When you have
picked up some goodies, you need something obvious: Luggage Make sure that you have appropriate luggage and a way of transporting your libations safely and legally. You can use all sorts of packing material, bubble wrap, bungee cord, cardboard inserts, towels, Styrofoam tubes, you are only allowed and limited by your imagination. Be careful and make sure your goodies get home in one piece! Then when you are home: The Reward You did it! You’re home, you went out with your riding friends perhaps on a great long ride all morning and afternoon. Now you have reaped the rewards and have all these great bottles to tap into when you are done riding. At this point, you probably don’t need my help as to what to do next. There are ways to have tastings, but more importantly have fun. Have a party, grab some good food, crack ‘em open and have a relaxing drink after celebrating a great ride on the road. That’s the best way to enjoy the merits of a real good ride. I’ll be back next month with articles on great whiskey, stellar beers and the occasional winery trip. Ride safe and Cheers!
THIS COLUMN IS FOR AMUSEMENT PURPOSES ONLY. WE IN NO WAY SUGGEST DRINKING AND DRIVING/RIDING IS OKAY. STATEMENTS ARE OF OPINION IN ARTICLES WRITTEN BY CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS AND WRITERS ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR ALONE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY THOSE OF THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C.
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Ride: 2009 Yamaha R6 2012 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Occupation: Fiber splicer / communications contractor Hails from: Monticello IA
garrick schneiderman DO YOU KNOW?
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HE MIDWEST HAS AN I N C R E D I B L E AMOUNT OF MOTORCYCLE TALENT LIVING ACROSS THESE AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN. IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING TO RUN ACROSS MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY LEADERS RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES.
Superbike racer Garrick Schneiderman of Monticello, Iowa, is just one of these leaders we admire. Throttler magazine had a few minutes to get to know him recently. “I Have to say, I have passion. It seems that a lot of people are not really passionate about something. Sometimes people make decisions that probably don’t make sense and can cause difficulties. But you do them anyway because you’re passionate about what you love to do. I think motorcyclists in general are pretty passionate about the sport regardless if its racing, touring, just riding for the fun or the freedom of the open road,” Schneiderman says. Wanting to race motorcycles since the age of five, Schneiderman admits
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his mother wasn’t going to let it come easily. “If I was going to race, it had to have 4 wheels she said. My dad and mom both used to race go-karts so that was the logical first step for me.” Quick in the straight-aways, Schneiderman won quite a few local karting events and his father finally decided it was time to step up to the national scene. He raced his first national race at the age of 12 and won the series before the end of his rookie season. “As I got older, I won a lot and it seemed logical to pursue a career in car racing. I competed in the ELF Winfield competition in La Castellet France in 95 and out of the 100 or so Americans eligible that year, 25 of us were invited. I was seeded number 2, which was incredible.” Schneiderman ultimately ended up 8th worldwide that year and a seat home. Unknowingly at the time, he didn’t realize it that was the end of his Formula 1 dream. “I continued racing in karting and tested cars on and off for Augie Pabst III and the factory Van Dieman team in England. Car racing is for the ultra rich, and, I wasn’t. So I looked to focus my racing efforts elswhere.” “I had a 2006 Honda CBR 1000RR and some friends wanted to ride a track
day for fun. We went to Blackhawk Farms Raceway in May of ’06. (Blackhawk Farms is a 1.95 mile, 7 turn private circuit racetrack located in South Beloit, Illinois on 216 acres. The track is on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois.) I smiled so much in my helmet I bit my cheeks!” He readily admits he wasn’t having much fun driving cars on the track for a long time and, that day, was the beginning of his motorcycle racing career. Schneiderman rode another track day and received his license at the end of that year. He quickly purchased a bike to race for the 07 racing series and was on his way to the top of the charts. The first motorcycle Schneiderman owned was a 1995 GSXR 750. “I only had it for a year when I was laid off at my job, so it had to go. Over the years I’ve owned and or raced a Yamaha R1, Honda RC51, Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda 1000RR, Yamaha R6, Suzuki 1000 and two motocross dirt bikes; an RMZ 450 and a CRF 250R. Schneiderman’s most memorable motorcycle racing finish was fourth place at the AMA Superbike Grand Nationals at Mid-Ohio. “I had fallen in qualifying so I didn’t post a fast time. I started from row six I think, 24th position.
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“I smiled so much in my helmet I bit my cheeks!”
The bike had an excellent feel but I was getting this crazy chatter. I had it all through practice as well and tried all kinds of stuff. Different geometry, spring changes and dampening. For the race we had one thing left and that was different front tire compound. It was softer than what we had been running and it worked fantastic and it sucked at the same time. Tons of grip, so I could enter the turns faster, which made the chatter worse! It basically feels like hanging onto a jackhammer on the handle bars. Not a good thing! But I fought my way to 4th place and set the fastest lap of the event. So it really was rewarding just having to fight through it and still get a good finish. The fastest lap is really what makes me smile,” Schneiderman adds. When not racing, Schneiderman and his father, Duwayne, run a fabrication and racing business together called SRT Moto (www.srtmoto.com, 319-480-1181, Garrick@srtmoto. com). With a number of supporters that assist in products or finances, the business operates basically with just the two of them and the support of a brother on daily operations. Schneiderman continues, “We fabricate captive wheel spacers, quick change axles, linkages, you name it. Some of the stuff we fabricate doesn’t exist on the market or it’s ridiculously expensive so we make it ourselves. The ultimate goal is to own and operate an AMA Superbike team. On a typical race weekend Schneiderman and his race crew are busy trying to make his bike and him work as well together as possible. “The rewards for me are winning or more importantly, getting the best out of myself and the bike. Practice on Fridays, and qualifying depending on the event, races on Saturday and Sunday. I usually run about 3-4 races per event but now that’s going to double as I will be racing a new 1000 as well as my trusty 600.” We wish Schneiderman luck this year and encourage everyone to give him a look this year. throttlermotorcyclemagazine 11
Jasmine and Cody discuss Cody’s GSX-R600 as Jasmine’s husband, Roger, and Tom Crawford (right) look on.
DEAF MOTORCYCLISTS THE EYES HAVE IT FOR DEAF MOTORCYCLISTS
By Ken Bingenheimer
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EEPING THEIR HEAD AND EYES UP IS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR MANY OF JASMINE BLUECREEK CLARK’S BEGINNING RIDER STUDENTS THE WAY IT IS FOR OTHERS.
“The deaf know that they can’t hear so they use their eyes more,” she says. “Any RiderCoach you talk to will tell you one of the most common corrections that we make, probably 50 to 100 times a day, is to keep your head and eyes up. Don’t be staring at the ground. I generally don’t even have to tell my deaf students that once. And if I have to tell them once that’s it.” That’s right, Jasmine teaches riding to deaf students. She teaches hearing students as well, but through her company, Bluecreek Motorcycle Training (www. bluecreekmotorcycletraining.com), she is one of the few RiderCoaches in the country who specialize in rider training for the deaf. Yes, deaf people do ride motorcycles, and they drive cars, too, though
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that may come as a surprise to many people. But how can you ride if you can’t hear traffic sounds, and can’t hear sirens as emergency vehicles approach? As deaf riders will tell you, it’s all in using your eyes and being ultra-observant of the world around you. And the thing is, that’s a fact of everyday life when you can’t hear. You use your eyes — constantly. Through an interpreter, Luci Gale and Swanhilda Lily make the point that riding is primarily a visual experience anyway. They ask the question, who is more aware of what is going on on the road, a deaf motorcyclist paying total attention or a harried soccer mom in her RV with the windows rolled up and the AC blasting, the radio blaring, kids screaming, and talking on her cell phone? Jasmine tells of a poker run last year with a group of deaf riders. She was bringing up the rear as they came into town headed for the final stop when the leader gave the signal for a siren. “Sure enough, there was one right behind me. They caught on to that quicker than I did. I was only mildly surprised,
but I was surprised. My friend Billy saw the ambulance before I heard it or saw it.” Jasmine has been challenged at times by people asking her if there isn’t a moral issue involved in teaching the deaf to ride. “I don’t know if they thought it was wrong or if they just wanted to know if I thought there was any issue to that,” she says. “They’re going to ride, just like hearing people are going to ride, whether they have a license or training or not, the ones that want to. And if they can come and take the class and take it in their own language with other people that sign in their own language the experience is more comfortable for them.” Although deaf riders can get licensed in every state, they generally must bring an interpreter with them at their expense. As an alternative, Jasmine sometimes gets students who come from other states. If someone wants to do that, she cautions, they need to first check with their local DMV to see if they need to bring a special form for the instructor to sign. Once they have their license, deaf
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Cody Weese
“Hearing people tend to underestimate the deaf.”
Can you tell that motorcyclists Luci Gale (left) and Swanhilda Lily are deaf? Of course not.
riders just blend right in with the crowd. They have their own clubs, just like hearing riders, and hold monthly meetings and organize rides. Another friend of Jasmine’s, Tom Crawford, rode to Alaska in 2010 with a group of 30 or so deaf riders. Says Cody Weese, who trained with Jasmine four years ago, “I wanted to feel free and have fun. I felt closed in by the car. I ran into some opposition, people saying the deaf shouldn’t be allowed to drive. Hearing people tend to underestimate the deaf. The deaf don’t consider it a handicap because they communicate just fine if you know the language. “We still like the feeling of power in the bike, the wind in the face, having fun, and the freedom.” Pretty much like any other motorcyclist.
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rose sternotti T toP Fuel hArley-dAvidson MechAnic
HERE ARE SOME CAREERS THAT PEOPLE PERCEIVE AS DIRTY JOBS, REQUIRING PHYSICAL BODY STRENGTH AND HOLDING HIGH LEVELS OF DANGER ARE UNDESIRABLE FOR MOST WOMEN.
Today, we have more and more women who have been giving up their patriotic duty of stay at home moms, law books, stethoscopes, managerial and professional occupations. In today’s society they are making room for wrenches, power tools and overalls. These women have moved into a career, of the V-Twin Mechanic, as they add chick power to wrist wrenching and tool torqueing techniques. These special women have been carving out a niche in what used to be a male dominated world. More and more women today are involved in motorcycles. They have made their way to the motorcycle industry through racing, building, fabricating, repair and diagnosis. You will see them working and/or racing right beside the male. There is no
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By Luuezz Denise Gasper
gender breakdown as everyone works as a team. Women make great mechanics because they are very meticulous and detail oriented. They are also competent and self confident in what they do. Some see it as a challenge to be the best they can, so that nobody can hold it against them. They say that only one thing matters, if you qualify for the job, you qualify for the job. Extremely loud motorcycles could be heard from all directions as I approached the race track. The closer I got I could smell the nitro racing fuel in the air and inserted my ear plugs. Top Fuel Harley’s are notorious for the deafening amount of noise their engines create at full throttle (full noise). They generate 120 dB of noise, enough to cause some peoples eardrums physical pain- equivalent to a Boeing 747 jet airliner at take-off power. The intense levels of sound are not only heard, but also felt as pounding vibrations all over one’s body. The speeds of a Top Fuel Harley can go in seconds from 0 to 7 seconds with speeds of over 210 mph. Rose Sternotti and I sat inside their
toy hauler (bike trailer), which on the inside is impressive. Clean and tidy with lots of tools for getting the job done. Throughout the interview Rose worked as we talked. Her finger nails and hands were coal black and coated with a heavy layer of black grease, much like a child finger painting. She was greasing each clutch plate with her fingers. Her makeup was grease on her cheeks and forehead. I found her to be feminine and beautiful in every way. Rose’s career started as a diesel mechanic in Marine Corp. She was quite familiar with power tools and how to use them as well as being a driver. But, she wasn’t familiar on working on a motorcycle. Her husband, Joey Sternotti taught her everything about motorcycles while they dated. It was hard for me to visualize her muscling anything larger than her body frame however there are ways around that, a breaker bar on the end of the racket to give it more leverage and if it came down to it- they work as a team and everyone helps out. “There are a lot of husband and wife teams out here. It requires strong support from each spouse. This is why you see them as teams. Even if you’re a women
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Rose sternotti
“If you don’t have anyone to help you out here, you are not going to make it!”
racer you need your husband’s support, it is not possible without a strong support system out there to make it, without the other half. If you don’t have anyone to help you out here, you are not going to make it!” said Rose. Do you ever test ride the Pro bike on the drag strip after your modifications? Not me personally, but my husband does test ride the bike in between riding seasons, weather permitting. The AHDRA has added a new sanction to our rules. We are not allowed to test ride a bike five days prior to an event race on that race track. We do try to go to our local track and get in as much practice runs as we can. Do you ride a street bike? I have a 1995 Sportster that is customized to me. In my first year of racing, I won 1st qualifier on my V-Destroyer 06 Sportster in Texas. That got two of my photographs in the Screamin Eagle Magazine in 2008 Catalog. So, that was my big accomplishment. Obviously everyone wants to win and obviously everyone can’t. We are very happy with what we have accomplished.
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Here is the bike that is the lucky recipient of this restoration - a 2001 Yamaha YZ 125
Once you get the bodywork off it easy to inspect the bike and it’s components
Two-stroke engines are simple to take apart and inspect. Here is what ours looked like when we took it apart
PROJECT YZ144 RESTORATION “RUN WHAT YA BRUNG” - PART ONE
By Sean Goulart Editor, www.MXNewsfeed.com, The #1 Rated Motocross Newsfeed
M
ANY OF US JUST LOVE TO RIDE. WE DON’T RACE SERIOUSLY AND JUST WANT TO GET OUT IN THE DIRT AND HAVE FUN…BUT WITH NEW 4 STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKES STARTING TO COST ALMOST $10K NEW, THE PRICE OF THE GAS, TRAILER, ETC., IT’S GETTING EXPENSIVE. SO WHAT CAN A BIKER DO TO HELP OFFSET THESE COSTS?
It’s simple… old is new all over again. In Part One of a series, we’ll chronicle restoring an older bike and show you what it takes for you to do the same. We’ll outline a basic plan for you to follow, as well as identify resources for you to use. The bike we’ll use is a 2001 Yamaha YZ125; these smaller 2 stroke MX bikes are still quite cheap (ours was $1200) and are still widely available… but probably not for too much longer! Another good thing about shopping for these older steeds is that you don’t have to pay that much attention to over16 throttlermotorcyclemagazine
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all condition, which lowers the cost of entry. Make sure to get a bike you like the look of and want to own — as you’ll be staring at it a lot for the next month or two. You’ll want to get the most recent year bike in the best starting condition you can, but things like a bad cylinder/piston or broken plastic shouldn’t necessarily scare you away as these components are part of the rebuild process. Just make sure the bike has no frame issues, inspect the frame for any hidden problems like cracks, bends or dents and check stress areas like foot peg mounts and handlebar risers for the same. Walk away from anything with damage in these areas; although some experts may argue that a dent in the frame is not a factor in handling, it is indicative of the bikes previous life. Make sure all miscellaneous parts are on the bike or in a box, as you may need these for core exchange, not to mention the fact that buying NOS parts is expensive. But then again, there are many companies that cater to this restoration market and we’ll identify those as we move along with the project and you can also visit the Throttler Magazine website for links to click on in the story. A partial list of
products that we will be using to restore our bike include tires from Michelin, tools and suspension components from Motion Pro, exhaust systems from FMF Racing, air filters from No Toil and lubricants from BelRay. Now that you’ve secured a bike, it’s time to tear it down and see what needs attention. There is nothing quite as useful as the factory manual for your bike and it will probably be the best $50 you’ll spend on the project so make sure you have one at hand, trust us, you’ll need it to do the job correctly. Put the bike up on a secure stand; remove the seat and all the plastic including airbox/subframe combo. How does it look now that the bodywork is off? Now is the time to start a list of items you’ll want to replace. Start in the front of the bike — R&R (Remove & Restore) all items; front tire, tube, wheel bearings, brake lines, steering head bearings, fuel lines, foot pegs, subframe, rear wheel bearings, spokes, swingarm bearings, chain, sprockets, rear tire. Most of these items should be in good shape if you’ve bought a decent bike as a starting point. Next up is the engine…can you kick it over freely? Is there any fuel leaking?
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How does it look now that the bodywork is off?
Note location of the issues and document the process by taking digital photos so you can consult them when reassembling. Remove the engine from the frame and take off the cylinder. How does it look? Are the walls scored, is there any visible damage? You will need to send it out for resurrection and many companies can help you with this. Our builder Steve Kociolek at Moto814 suggests using PowersealUSA as they have the ability to repair cylinder issues and also can effectively bore the cylinder for more cc’s which is the way we went. We’ve decided to bring our total displacement up to 144cc’s using a high quality piston and ring set from Wiseco which power some of the world’s fastest racers. A 2001 Yamaha YZ 125 engine can be effectively enlarged to 144cc’s in displacement using the Wiseco kit and the appropriate engine and cylinder modifications. It’s not a requirement to go this route, but it is a popular enhancement for many 2 stroke riders as it adds a bit more torque and horsepower with no real weight gain or issues with engine longevity. There are some manufacturers like Husqvarna which actually include a 144cc kit in with every new 125cc bike in the USA. (See dealers for details.) In our next installment we’ll cover how to prepare your engine for shipment, which parts to consider for your rebuild as well as the process for evaluating and repairing what you have while the engine is away.
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MOTORCYCLE EVENTS MORE FUN THAN A BARREL OF MONKEYS
Email your event to editor@throttlermagazine.com
Apr 1
Wisconsin Motorcycle Swap Meet
Waukesha
WI
May 9
Ride Janie Ride 2012
Villa Park
IL
Apr 1
Spring Biker Bash
Columbia
MO
May 10
Cowskin Motorcycle Rally
Anderson
MO
Apr 1
Spring Biker Bash
Columbia
MO
May 12
Peotone Motorcycle Show
Peotone
IL
Apr 1
TBL Motorcycle Swap Meet
Grafton
IL
May 12
Peotone Motorcycle Swap Meet
Peotone
IL
Apr 5
Crossroads Tavern Bike Night
Kelley
IA
May 12
Wichita Dice Run
Wichita
KS
Apr 7
Easter Egg Hunt and Ride
Columbia
MO
May 12
Dead Cow Poker Run
Wichita
KS
Apr 14
Bike Show and Swap Meet
Columbus
NE
May 12
Wichita Dice Run
Wichita
KS
Apr 14
1047 The Cave Bike Show
Springfield
MO
May 12
Spring Fling Ride
Kansas City
KS
Apr 14
Abate District 12 Bike show
Emporia
KS
May 12
NEW! Nebraska Law Ride - 4th Ann
Omaha
NE
Apr 14
Bikers Battling Blazes 3
Conway Springs KS
May 13
Potwin Bike Run
Potwin
KS
Apr 15
Walnecks Motorcycle Swap Meet
Woodstock
IL
May 19
2012 Thunder on the Smoky
Marquette
KS
Apr 15
Bigdan Blessing of the Bikes
Wichita
KS
May 19
East Noble Show Choirs - 1st Ann
Kendallville
KS
Apr 15
Thunder Alley Motorcycle Swap Meet
Belleville
IL
May 19
WAR - Warrior Appreciation Rally
Kansas City
MO
Apr 15
Morley Motorcycle Swapmeet
Morley
MO
May 19
Mooseheart Bike Blessing
Mooseheart
IL
Apr 5
Crossroads Tavern Bike Night
Kelley
IA
May 19
Allstate Insurance Charity Bike Run
Wichita
KS
Apr 21
Kickstands for Kids
Topeka
KS
May 19
Pack the Park Car and Bike Show
Thomasboro
IL
Apr 21
Spring Flood Run - 47th Ann
Winona
MN
May 19
NEW! Motorcycles On Main
Plattsmouth
NE
Apr 21
Let Us Be Seen
Big Bend
WI
May 20
Wisconsin Motorcycle Swap Meet
Jefferson
WI
Apr 22
Jeff Williams Motorcycle Swap
Kansas City
MO
May 20
Jeff Williams Motorcycle Swap Meet
Kansas City
MO
Apr 28
Bike Run and Family Day
Hutchinson
KS
May 18 - 20
Niehaus Cycle Customer Apprec. Rally
Litchfield
IL
Apr 28
HighRoad Riders Blessing of the Bikes
South Barrington IL
May 20
Little Angels Pledge Run
Woodstock
IL
Apr 28
Christian County Property Rights
Billings
MO
May 18 - 20
40th Annual Blessing of Bikes
Baldwin
MN
Apr 28
Midcoast Bike Run
Osage Beach
MO
May 19 - 20
National Armed Forces Freedom Ride
Saint Francis
WI
Apr 28
Mount Vernon Blessing of the Bikes
Mount Vernon
IL
May 20
Big Bikes Big Hearts Motorcycle Run
Chicago Ridge
IL
Apr 29
Midian Shrine Riders Poker Run
Mulvane
KS
May 18 - 20
NHRA Summer Nationals - 24th Ann
Topeka
KS
May 5
Carver Fun Run 2012
Carver
MN
May 20
Ride For TARC
Topeka
KS
May 4 - 5
Vintage Torque Fest
Maquoketa
IA
May 20
Bike Blessing - 2nd Annual
Zumbro Falls
MN
May 5
American Legion Riders Poker Run
Mulvane
KS
May 26
Memorial Weekend in Mitchell
Mitchell
SD
May 6
First Sunday Show And Meet
Kansas City
MO
May 25 - 26 NEW! Qulin Bike Rally
Qulin
MO
May 6
Motorcycle Sunday in Phillips Park
Aurora
IL
May 23 - 27
Nebraska State HOG Rally
Beatrice
NE
May 6
Bikers with a Mission
Kansas City
MO
May 27
Vern Worley Helping Hands Foundation
Clinton
IA
May 6
Ride For Residents - 3rd Ann
Midlothian
IL
May 25 - 28
Mid-America Freedom Rally
Buckhorn
MO
May 6
Ride Janie Ride 2012
Villa Park
IL
May 26 - 29
Iron Horse Bike Rally and Music Fest
Savanna
IL
May 8
Peotone Motorcycle Show, Rodeo
Peotone
IL
May 31
Kansas State HOG Rally 2012
Junction City
KS
18 throttlermotorcyclemagazine
APRIL2012
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