JUNE2011 ISSUE4 VOLUME4
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THIS MONTH
06 Publisher’s Note We need our buddy back!
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08 Knights and Warriors A different side of motorcycle clubs
12 Do You Know? Kurt Burkhalter
14 Putting miles on a BMW Reviewing the new BMW K1600 GTL
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16 Product Corner Take our word for it
17 Jay and Johnny
Will the real Kid Rock please stand up?
18 Kings & Queens Getting cargo from A to B
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20 MOTO-KIDS
Why racing is good for them
22 Nights & Rallies Who, what, where and when
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Publisher & Advertising: Roderick “Caine” Kabel roderick@throttlermagazine.com 515.210.7066 Vice President & Circulation: Scott “Kong” Chambers scott@throttlermagazine.com
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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, Sean Goulart, Jay Barbieri, Johnny Lange, Dean Lambert
Policies: All content is 2011 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. 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.
throttlermotorcyclemagazine 05
Something feels amiss Feeling guilt over a riding obsession
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riding buddy of ours admitted the other day that he is quickly loosing interest in what he’s cherished for years. He says that he’s fallen out of love with riding his motorcycle. He’s lost the passion that not so long ago burned inside of him and he doesn’t even cast a glance towards his bike anymore. The two have not even shared a moment together since last Fall. Simply put, he says he’s lost his mojo… even lost the nerve to ride. So, how can this happen? His bike and his love for riding has been such a big part of him for so long that it’s hard to imagine one without the other. What will bike nights and
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rallies and just the act of riding around be like without him on the wing? If the two really do part ways, will we still be friends? One of the main common bonds that fortified our friendship over the years was our mutual passion for riding. Of course we’ll still be friends, but can we still maintain the strength of our bond when the glue has been stripped away? Most likely. We asked him what has changed so suddenly for him to have such a drastic change of heart. He said that it’s complicated, as matters of the heart tend to be. He said that there was no one single moment, but a combination of moments that built up inside of him over the last few years. We asked him point blank — was it fear? No, not fear, he said, at least not entirely. But he admits that’s part of it. He said that he’s not really that afraid of getting injured or of dying, but more afraid of what he would leave behind if something should happen while on his bike. Specifically, when you boil it all down, he’s afraid of the risk that one wrong turn could leave his wife and their kids alone without their father and husband. It was that point which hit him one day that he felt selfish for owning this machine, especially while his kids were still young.
JUNE2011
He added that in merely a few years they wouldn’t have time for him because they will be in their teenage years and focused on other things, so he wants to make every moment count while they do have time for him. He said that he couldn’t stand the thought of being involved in a fatality and become nothing more than a topic of banter on the news blogs on whether or not helmet laws should be changed and that’s not the memory he wants to leave behind, let alone, die young. We’re really bummed that our friend feels this way and we sure hope it’s a phase he’s going through. Hopefully he’ll find some way to get through this funk. Our advice to him was to just wait a while and not to sell the bike just yet but instead, go ahead and let it collect a little dust and then start taking it out in short spurts. Maybe a bike night here and there until he and his bike can trust one another again. And if they can’t get over their differences after an attempt to reconcile, then he should do what’s right for himself and his family. As always – Ride Hard R. Kabel, S. Kabel & S. Chambers
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Car Accident? How to avoid 8 costly mistakes Avoidable mistakes cost some Iowans thousands By COREY WALKER Corey@IowaInjured.com
Each year hundreds of Iowans are injured in car accidents and some make avoidable mistakes which cost them thousands of dollars and sometimes their entire case. For example, giving a recorded statement to the insurance company often hurts more than it helps. Iowans are beginning to realize that they should learn about Iowa car accident laws, tactics in dealing with the insurance company, etc. A new comprehensive car accident book reveals 8 costly mistakes to avoid, 10 myths about car accidents, 5 things to know before signing forms or giving a statement to the insurance adjustor and much more. What do other Iowans have to say about the book? “Gives you a step by step guide about car accidents.” Randy of Perry “Get the book, helpful, helpful, helpful.” Marty of Melcher. The book which sells for $19.99 is being offered at no cost (while supplies last). Why offer a book at no cost? Because after having represented hundreds of Iowans injured in car accidents, Iowa Injury Attorney Corey Walker has seen the consequences of Iowan’s costly mistakes. Finally, you can learn about car accidents in the comfort of your own home with no risk or obligation. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident and do not have an attorney Call Now (800)-707-2552, ext. 510 (24 Hour Message) or go to www.IowaCarCrash.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 the Iowa Civil Justice Foundation.
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Knights and Warriors
Photos By Richard Hildreth
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By Roderick Kabel
e’ve all heard about outlaw biker clubs and likewise, we enjoy the television shows and documentaries that give us a glimpse into their lifestyles. Some of us might even revel in the thought of being a little devilish ourselves from time to time.
However, have you ever wondered what was on the opposite side of outlaw clubs? Or, if there’s even such a thing and what might that be? How about cops and civil service professionals on bikes? Actually, there are many such clubs and we have recently met two motorcycle clubs, which show that not every biker is like the fictional “Del Fuego’s” out of the “Wild Hogs” movie. To name just a few of these clubs — many of which you may have seen around — there are the likes of the Wild Pigs, Renegade Pigs, Iron Pigs, Defenders
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MC, Iron Crew, Law Dogs, Roughnecks, Reguladores, Street Forces, Iron Brotherhood, The Unwanted and America’s Guardians. We sat down with two Iowa club members each from the Blue Knights and the Iron Warriors whom are a few of the most prevalent civil service motorcycle clubs in the U.S. They are both law enforcement based, but the main difference is that the Blue Knights accept any make of motorcycle and Iron Warriors ask that members must ride an American made bike. The Blue Knights The Blue Knights are a non-profit fraternal organization and law enforcement motorcycle club, which consists of fulltime and part-time and active and retired law enforcement officers. They promote motorcycle safety, family recreation, and share the love of riding motorcycles. The Blue Knights sponsor and participate in numerous fund raising activities, such as the Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, the March of
Dimes, Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and various local charities within our communities. In the spring of 1974, several law enforcement officers from the Bangor, Maine area met and formed a small, local motorcycle club. Ed Gallant & Urban Dyer had just come back from a motorcycle ride and went to the Black Knight Restaurant in Brewer, Maine. They talked about getting a group of police motorcycle people together and starting something up in the area to ride together. They called on Chuck Shuman, a sergeant, and rolled the idea by him. “I met them for coffee and told them I thought it was a great idea. They asked me to help and I told them I didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle and didn’t have a motorcycle license”. “NO PROBLEM,” they said — “let’s get started!” The three of founders put posters around the area in police and sheriff’s offices to see if anyone was interested in joining. They planned a meeting at Brewer Police Department and seven
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A different side of motorcycle clubs people showed up: Ed Gallant, Wayne LeBree, Mike Hall, Doug Minor (dec), Joel Rudom (dec), Chuck Gessner (dec), and Bill Robinson (dec). They knew that as a first step they had to form by-laws. They tried in vain to find out how other clubs got started. By the third meeting, they decided they needed some help with the bylaws and checked with the District Attorney. He suggested that they needed to be a non-profit corporation. They decided to first have an election. Identity They next needed a name. Chief Dave Koman of the Brewer Police Department suggested Blue Knights as it was a popular police television show. They then decided they needed a Logo. Ed Gallant found an old Interstate 95 sign to go by and they had sent away for a motorcycle insignia that was commonly worn by Police Motor Officers, which was a winged motorcycle wheel. Passing it, along with the sign to Sgt. John Bryant who was the police artist for Brewer, Maine they asked him to draw a knight on top of the wheel insignia and put it in the I-95 sign. “Our logo was born,” Shuman says. Likewise they needed a signature jacket and found a light blue jacket and put their patches on themselves. The Motto Shuman tells the story of how their motto took shape: “We were on our first ride as a club and I was the lead bike of the nineteen riding. We were going to Calais, Maine about 90 miles from Bangor. While I was riding I kept looking in my rearview mirror and saw how proud and straight the guys were riding. So I started ending all our mail with ‘Ride with Pride.’ The motto caught on and that’s how, for nearly thirty-six years, it has stuck. I am very proud of that!” Shuman adds. Growth One day in September, Shuman was called off patrol to meet with two police officers from Massachusetts who had read about the club: Dick Delesdernier, a Massachusetts State Police Officer and John Darraba, a Brockton Police Officer. It happened that they showed up on the same date as their meeting and attended. They were so impressed they stayed for two more days then returned to Massachusetts and spread the word. The Brockton, Massachusetts Police Department had seventy-four officers from different parts of Massachusetts at their first meeting. The mail started to flow in from all
over the U.S. and Canada to Shuman along with many questions on how to start chapters in different areas. Shuman answered every letter. Overall, the Blue Knights were started as a family club for police officers and Shuman hopes it stays that way. “Blue was always our color, for vests, helmets, and whatever. We are the Blue Knights and remain proud,” Shuman ends. Dave Mulford, past International President says that he can’t remember any adverse reactions when out in public. “If we go to a public event, like a bike night, most don’t give us a second look because there are usually a number of clubs there. I’ve had people come up to me and ask what the Blue Knights are, and when they find out we’re a Law Enforcement club, they usually have more questions and it’s generally very positive.” “Blue Knights are in so many countries around the world. It is great to get to travel and meet these friends. Even though we are all working in different states and countries, we all enjoy the love of motorcycling and law enforcement. You meet friends for life within the Blue Knights” says Mulford. The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club has donated over $207,000 to Concerns of Police
Survivors COPS since 2001. The Blue Knights sponsor the COPS picnic each year in Washington, DC during Police Week. Plus they’ve donated goods, cash and time totaling nearly $14million to different organizations around the world. Mulford adds, “The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Club is the largest law enforcement club in the world with over 20,000 members in 29 countries. We continue to expand with many new members from around the U.S. and world. There are currently three Iowa Blue Knight chapters. The Iowa III Chapter was chartered in 1985 and is based out of Des Moines with 22 members. Iowa I was chartered in 1975 and is based in Davenport and IA IV was chartered in 2003 and is in the northern part of Iowa. We have several slogans or sayings like “Ride with Pride” and “There are no strangers in the Blue Knights, only friends you haven’t met.” The Iron Warriors The Iron Warriors Motorcycle Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance and support to our communities, departments, families and members. The IWMC membership contributes much of its free time toward the efforts of raising money to support the families of Fallen Police Officers and/or Firefighters. Their national conference will be held June 22-26, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. In The Beginning The Iron Warriors Motorcycle Club (IWMC), first named the Wild Pigs Motorcycle Club (WPMC), began in 1987 in San Jose, California by police officers who owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and who loved to ride with like-minded people. The Wild Pigs Motorcycle Club offered membership to active and retired law enforcement officers and firefighters. The Iron Warriors continue this tradition of membership to active and retired law enforcement officers and firefighters, who own and ride V-twin motorcycles made by Americanowned companies. The IWMC additionally supports our veterans of the military, regardless the branch they served, as they have sacrificed much, some all, for all of us to have our cherished freedoms. The IWMC’s generosity is not limited to Law Enforcement, Firefighters or Veterans. Individual chapters will routinely seek out those struggling within their community, to show support and express their gratitude for the support given to them by our communities. throttlermotorcyclemagazine 09
Knights and Warriors Continued from page 09
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The Transition from WPMC to IWMC In 1991, when the WPMC was just three chapters in California and one in Connecticut, the San Jose chapter divided. They were falling apart due to infighting and divisiveness on the part of a few individuals. A significant cause of the dissention was due to some members wanting to grow, while others feared growth and the possibility of losing total control of the club. After some litigation and splitting, some took to renaming the club, which involved several names and logos presented to the membership for a vote. This process took several months and unfortunately some members wanted to follow the name they had created, such as the “Renegade Pigs” in the east. Others became frustrated with the process and the time it took, moving onto other clubs, but many stuck it out and the Iron Warriors name and logo was voted on and is now worn proudly by its members. Iowa Chapter President, Roger Hilsman says that there is a true camaraderie among Iron Warriors, both on a local and national level. When members travel to events the host members always make sure their guests are taken care of. If a member is traveling on personal business and has a problem somewhere, they can call a local IWMC member and know they will have help on the way, even if they are strangers, just knowing they are IWMC members is all it takes. Hilsman says, “It also bridges the professional gap in relationships between departments. Officers needing contacts or investigative assistance in a department where they don’t know someone, can call on their IWMC brothers and sisters and get a point of contact for assistance. Members ride together, socialize together and include their families and everyone gets along.” The Iron Warriors consist of
650 members with 41 Chapters in 18 states. Every Chapter has it own charities with donations on a national level in the past 10 years exceeding $1.5million. When Iron Warriors arrive at an event and people don’t know who they are they sometimes stand back at first. Many people know them and that they are very friendly with them. “This puts others at ease as they realize we are not trouble makers. Many times other bikers will come up to us after awhile and ask who we are. Once they learn about us it opens communication. We do not act like outlaws or carry ourselves in that manner, and the public sees that. It doesn’t take long to break the ice with people who did not know us before hand,” Hilsman says. Asking Hilsman what makes the club stand out over other clubs, he says the IWMC is very active. “We have a lot of gatherings and rides. We also host a few charitable events annually, and make other donations to worthy causes throughout the year. Over the past ten years we have helped raise and distribute over $100,000 locally. We have supported the Alzheimer’s Association, Special Olympics of Iowa, the American Cancer Society, Kids with a Wish, The Public Safety Officers Welfare Fund and others. We also make donations to worthy causes on an individual basis such as fundraisers for children with medical issues or support for our military personnel and other causes. We adopt some needy families over the holidays and help them financially so they can enjoy a nice Christmas that they would not otherwise be able to have,” Hilsman concludes.
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throttlermotorcyclemagazine 11
Do You Know?
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t a recent bike night something caught our eye that we weren’t ready for. It was a custom V-Rod that was tricked out beyond our wildest imaginations. Now don’t get us wrong here, V-Rods look nice tricked out but as you can see in the photo, this is a beast beyond belief.
The owner and customizer is Kurt Burkhalter of Des Moines, Iowa. He’s an Assistant Store Manager for Lowes’ home store and his wife Danielle works in Human Resources for Iowa Health. The V-Rod itself has an aura about it, generally you get the Harley riders that say “Man that thing is fast yet its not for me” and then you get the Crotch Rocket riders that say “That’s the only Harley I would ever own.” “I think the way this bike is customized brings out things that everyone likes. This thing gets attention everywhere we go. It’s fast, low, agile, easy to ride, and it looks amazing against even the full custom bikes,” Burkhalter asserts. Burkhalter’s first bike was a 2002 Honda CBR600 F4I. His parents and brother both had Harleys and at that point in his life he couldn’t afford one. He bought the Honda so he could cruise with friends and have some-
Kurt Burkhalter
thing in common with family that everyone enjoyed doing. “Two years later I sold it to my girlfriend (who is now my wife) and purchased a 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R. That was a bike that scared the life out of me. I was afraid to twist the throttle (most of the time). I had that bike for two years as well, then one day I was riding in the car with my parents and they drove down to Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines to get some parts for their Harleys and I started talking to their salesman. He said he had a Night Rod Special in the back, so we looked at it and I knew I had the Harley bug — that thing… the way it sat — I said to myself that I wouldn’t have to change anything, its perfect. Well, I think it was the next day I went down and purchased that motorcycle and changed it to what it is today,” Burkhalter gleems Burkhalter says his V-Rod build all started out as a stock 2008 NightRod Special with denim paint and gloss black racing stripes. “I really liked everything about the bike, except for the fact that it wasn’t me. In the winter of 2008 I did most of the modifications; rear fender removal, fabrication, air ride, clip on handlebars and lowered the front shocks. Then I changed the air box cover, and removed some other non-important parts. Basically this bike went into the winter in 08 “stock,” and came out in 09 basically what
you see now,” Burkhalter says. This huge transformation took place in a 4-5 month time period and admittedly he wasn’t sure about the ride quality with the clip-on’s. “But everything about this bike has been very user friendly for the most part. My family helped do some of the things that I couldn’t,” Burkhalter states. Adding, “I will say, this is not a show bike. So far in three years I have put almost 12,000 miles on it with most of them being long 1,000+ mile road trips. I modified this bike to the way I wanted and it’s comfortable for my wife and I.” “Family is more important than anything to me. To be in a family that is all about riding is unbelievable. During the weekdays we try to go to a few bike nights. If I’m at work then my wife will call some of her friends and go out without me on the bike. If you think the bike gets a lot of looks, try putting a gorgeous young woman on it and let her roll through a Trophy’s Bike Night or State Fair Bike Night,” This motorcycle usually draws so much attention when Burkhalter arrives that he can’t park the bike before people start asking questions. He’s a fairly shy guy about it because he didn’t build it to draw a crowd. “I built it because that’s what I wanted the bike to be. Yeah, I knew it would get looks but I would’ve never guessed it would be as popular as it has been.”
Occupation: Management • Hails from: Altoona, IA • Motorcycle: 2008 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special
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throttlermotorcyclemagazine 13
Putting miles on a BMW
Reviewing the new BMW K1600 GTL
B By Tony Tice
ack in March of this year for this publication, I termed the new Beemers K1600 GT/GTL as “probably the most significant motorcycling contribution of the year.” After spending some time on the GTL version, I’m convinced that was a very good prediction (OK, you can pat me on the back now).
Let me just say WOW! I never really expected what I experienced on the first ride to come shining through like it did. Familiarity with something always breeds confidence. In this case, knowing that the bike weighs 767 pounds and that there is a lot of bike above the axles, I was expecting some piggish behavior from the handling. I was also expecting the heavy handed turning at parking lot speeds that is synonymous with heavy, long motorcycles. What I got was solid sport-touring bike low speed maneuverability and very good high speed handling. My confidence grew quickly. I’ll have to clarify high speed handling for those that know (or maybe don’t know) what this means. This bike is equipped with electronically adjustableon-the-fly suspension and the difference in the settings are fairly substantial, enough so, that it becomes clear what is 14 throttlermotorcyclemagazine
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allowed in each setting. The “Comfort” setting that is offered is just that, a pillowy soft ride at the behest of stable and secure footing while turning. “Normal” is enough change to be felt as what could be called on for more spirited riding at some cost to the aforementioned soft ride, more or less, and an equal compromise between Comfort and Sport. “Sport” is……..well, it’s not quite sport-touring level as far as suspension control goes but, it’s not far behind either. Let me put it this way: A bike that weighs 767 lbs should not work the way this bike does at speed. The level that I could go at on this bike surprised me to the core. I’m shocked that the direct competitor to the Gold Wing could possibly be this good while turning it hard. Absolutely amazing. Being smooth and subtle at the controls is paramount when it comes to riding big motorcycles fast around corners. Mid corner corrections on a big motorcycle are not what they are renowned for and knowing what speed you can comfortably be at is always a good idea, regardless of the bike. BUT, this GTL will allow an easy mid-corner correction with no effort or stress to the bike what-so-ever at a pace that is near sport-touring level. All that was required was more input, whether it was body movement or handlebar movement. I did not feel like I was ever in any situation that couldn’t be easily corrected with confidence. I haven’t felt this at home, on this big of motorcycle, at those speeds, since the 1986-1993
Yamaha Venture. One thing is for sure, though, the Venture couldn’t stay in the draft of this bike! If the cornering got serious on a rough road, it’d be no contest. The BMW would easily run away and hide. It’s been a couple years since I’ve ridden a Gold Wing but, I remember the wind protection being way beyond anything on the market at the time, and in this case, I think the Wing may still be the yard stick. The GTL seems a little narrower at the shoulders, which the aftermarket I’m sure will have a remedy for soon. While it was pretty co…co…cold out the night I rode it for the first time, I didn’t get to try the wing scoops that are provided with the bike. They are very stylish and integrated well with the styling. From their mounted positions I’d have to say they look like they are in the right spot to help out on the hot days. I did however get to put the heated seat and grips to the test: 48 degrees with a 20 mph wind from the NW, thin work pants, FirstGear GoreTex summer riding gloves, Alpinestars Frontier coat without the thermal lining, and GoreTex lined hiking boots. After the second hour and the sun had gone down, the temps were in the low 40s and high 30s, my legs got cold but, there was a draft coming under the right (which happened to be the wind exposed) footpeg and going up my pant leg, which didn’t help matters. I did have toasty buns and warm hands though.
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Let me not forget the lights! If you haven’t ridden behind Xenon lights, you NEED to. And if they lead you in the direction you are turning in, even better. Just turning the key on and watching what happens in front of the bike is a spectacle. The headlights go through a cycle of operation when the bike starts, best witnessed at home while the headlights are aimed at the garage wall, preferably in the dark… pretty cool. The other item that is captivating to watch is the instrument panel when you turn the key on. The dashboard runs through a cycle of its operation, needles sweep, the audio system fires up, the #6 flashes across the dash panel, the systems check themselves and fire up, all in few seconds time: a whole lot of clicking and whirring. Subtle and at the same time letting you know you are at the controls of a very special motorcycle. Which brings me to the biggest shortcoming of the bike for me, and that is the seat. The bike I rode had the low seat and while it affords the security of flat-footedness at the stops, it’s just too thinly padded for my aging posterior. And it seemed to have me locked into place while riding. There is a 1.5” taller seat available, which I hope is all padding; that would’ve helped it for me. This low seat also makes the relationship between the seat and the pegs a little tight, it’s definitely not as spread out as a Wing. All said; I’ll take the semi-tippy toed-ness that would be the result of a thicker padded seat any day. That’d be it for the complaint department. For those that have read this fine publication in the past and most of my articles, you all know I’m an engine guy. Let me tell you straight out, this engine is the BOMB! The very first thing you notice is that the throttle response is slightly behind your hand but, instantaneous and ready for work. This was the hardest thing for me to get used to on this bike; a little throttle goes a long way in RPM. While somewhat disconcerting when getting started on the bike, it became
anticipated and controlled. My ride was mostly secondary highways, an extremely rough divided 4 lane highway (30 through Ames, IA) and some city driving. The secondary roads in Boone County, IA are pretty nice in places with everything from sweeping turns to point-and-shoot type riding and straight roads as well. The first few miles were used getting acclimated to a more upright seating position than I’m use too and the control interfaces (which seem more Japanese-ish than what BMW has produced in the past). After the first turn onto a well known, long, straight road, I just ran it up to 3500 rpm with about 1/4 throttle and shifted through the gears. It pulled up through the gears completely and utterly smooth, quickly through each gear, right to an indicated 80 mph. It’s all so smooth running and so completely effortless, it was almost euphoric. There is absolutely no vibration or straining from the engine. I didn’t run it much harder through any of the rest of the night, but 90 mph is where the bike likes it in “Sport” mode. The one standout thing that has stayed with me in vibrant form since the first night is the auditory rewards of riding this motorcycle, I’m not talking about the audio system either. Whatever BMW did to their intake system and exhaust system (intentionally or otherwise), I can’t seem to get that unique, evenly syncopated, guttural, animalistic howling from this engine out of my head. It’s like the rapture of your favorite musical artist(s) with just the right voice tone and a really well sung song that you hold near and dear to your heart, something you will never forget. For me, that’s Pink Floyd and Money. And this motorcycle? It IS money, I won’t forget it. Nothing about this motorcycle would deter me from owning one. The only thing that could possibly be better would be a sufficiently muffled turbocharged version; that would be music to rival Pink Floyd! Now, if I can only find where the wife hid the phone number to Luftmeister. Ayone? throttlermotorcyclemagazine 15
Have a motorcycle product? Email editor@throttlermagazine.com for reviewing information.
PRODUCT CORNER SHIELD-TRIM Chrome Cover-Up
JM Krome
www.jmkrome.com age without compromising the aesthetics of your bike. JM Krome’s quality cut trim pieces, designed for the 1996 and later Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, Classic, Standard and Street Glide models, come in styles and finishes that will compliment nearly any windshield and will hide away the view of the ugly backside of those windshield pouches. Right out of the box, it’s obvious that these trim pieces are very high quality cut stainless-steel. Available in beautiful mirrored chrome or classic gloss black, they also have sizes that can accommodate both regular and “shorty” windshields. Even if you don’t
If you have windshield mounted storage pouches mounted to the inside of your windshield then you know that they look pretty nice from the seat of your bike and give easy reach convenience to your smaller items. But the pouches don’t look so hot when you stand in front of the bike. You can see right through the windshield to the back-side of the pouches and frankly they just don’t look right from there. They give an unfinished appearance from the front angle and standard trim pieces rarely give the amount of coverage needed to mask their appearance. With JM Krome’s windshield trim piece — SHIELD-TRIM Chrome Cover-Up — now you can have the convenience of the extra stor-
have windshield bags to cover up, these trim pieces will look great on your bike, adding just the right amount of accent. Pricing is nice on these pieces. For about $60 you can get the gloss black finish on both the “shorty” and regular sized windshields and for about $90 you can get the mirrored chrome finish. You can order yours directly from JM Krome by visiting their web site at www.jmkrome.com. Jim and Marcia Kendall 8546 Fish Hatchery Road Burlington, WI 53105 262-758-3225 or 262-758-1566
National Cycle, Inc. www.nationalcycle.com
The simple fact is that even the smallest of windshields cut the air flow so dramatically that it alters your riding experience completely. A windy day becomes less of an obstacle and a long ride is almost effortless with a large percent of the wind being cut out of the equation. Windshield choices are numerous and practically an unbearable dilemma of what’s right for “me.” That being said, we’ve come across a couple from National Cycle that we tested and highly recommend. National Cycle’s Harley-Davidson® Adjustable Gladiator Windshield at just 14.50” is as unobtrusive as they come. We were plenty happy with the Gladiator while riding. The Gladiator is for the person that wants a smaller shield. The clean appearance of their unique bracket is achieved by mounting directly to the top clamp, leaving the bike’s handlebars and forks uncluttered. Their custom, fully-adjustable mounting bracket uses their Dual Pivot™ action to allow infinite positioning for different rider heights or
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weather conditions. A simple wrench is all that’s needed... satisfyingly simple in a complex world. Next we tested their Spartan® Quick Release Windshield which is more of the typical sized windshield. We were more than pleased at the ease of its installation and cleanliness of the mounting brackets. Their SwitchBlade Quick Release Mount Kit was a huge selling point for us. No longer are the days of wrenching but replaced now with the ease of snapping a windshield on or off in just seconds. On the road this medium size windshield performed flawlessly, cutting the wind for our rider as well as the passenger. In 1975, National Cycle was the first company in the world to introduce and use General Electric’s new MR4000 polycarbonate material (later called FMR hardcoated Lexan®) for motorcycle windshields. National Cycle’s advanced windshield design and polycarbonate’s inherent durability led to the first modern styled, optically clear, custom motorcycle windshield. They called it the Heavy Duty™, and made windshield applications for both HarleyDavidson® and Japanese motorcycles, foreshadowing the soon-to-emerge metric
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cruiser market. National Cycle, Inc. is a world leader in windshield manufacturing, with more distribution than any other windshield company in the world. They are the OEM supplier to BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha — all companies who share their philosophy of quality design and manufacturing. National Cycle has developed more innovations and holds more patents for the design and production of windshields than any other company in the industry. “We listen to our customers and work hard to maintain our leadership position. We are proud that we continue to design, engineer and manufacture our fine products at National Cycle, Inc. U.S.A.” National Cycle, Inc., 2200 Maywood Drive, PO Box 158, Maywood, IL 60153-0158 U.S.A., Phone: 708-343-0400 Fax: 708-3430625, info@nationalcycle.com.
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The real Kid Rock
On the Road with Johnny & Jay
Johnny Lange and Jay Barbieri
Will the real Kid Rock please stand up?
By Jay Barbieri Jay Barbieri produced and hosted American Thunder of the Speed Channel, authored the “Bikers Hand Book” and is currently the executive producer and host of Two Wheel Thunder on the Discovery Networks HD Theater. Johnny Lange is the founder and owner of Strip Club Choppers.
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few years ago when I went to Sturgis to film for American Thunder, I had a few of my friends join up with me there. Paul and Darryl had never met before and the plan was for them to hook up in Wyoming then ride out to meet me in Sturgis.
I had warned Paul in advance that Darryl was a cop magnet and that he should be careful when riding with him. About 5 p.m. that evening they pulled into the hotel to meet me. Of course Darryl had been pulled over by a cop already within the first ten minutes they were on the road. The three of us hung out for a while, had a beer and then jumped on our bikes to head into town. We where no more than two hundred yards out of the parking lot when a cop hits his lights and pulls Darryl over; something about rolling through a stop sign. That night we partied ‘til about 2 a.m. About a mile from the Whitewood exit I ran out of gas. Paul and Darryl cruised by off the exit. Fortunately my cell phone was working so waited a few minutes and called Paul. Paul told me that a cop had Darryl pulled over at the top of the exit ramp and he didn’t know what he should do. By the time I got there the cop and
Darryl were gone and a tow truck driver was hauling Darryl’s bike away. The tow said that if we wanted to find our friend, we should head over to the Deadwood. As a nurse at the courthouse performed a blood test on Darryl, we all stood around trying to get him released on a Promise To Appear in court. It wasn’t going to happen. I had a show to shoot in a few hours and I had to get some sleep, so I asked Paul go back to Deadwood in the morning to help out Darryl, his new best friend. The next day I went to the Full Throttle Saloon to shoot some bikes. One of them was a magenta pink and green chopper that was owned by a guy named Johnny Lange. The first thing everyone notices about Johnny is that he’s the spitting image of Kid Rock. When Johnny wears his cowboy hat and sunglasses he’s a dead ringer. I interviewed Johnny, shot his bike and found out that he was a very cool cat. From that day on we have become good friends. At 6:30 that evening I finished shooting for the show and drove back to my hotel. Paul and Darryl where also done with their day in court and met up with me. I told Paul and Darryl that I was meeting up with Johnny Lange at the Full Throttle Saloon. What I didn’t know was that the real Kid Rock was playing just up the road from the Full Throttle at The Legendary Buffalo Chip Camp Ground. So we found a spot at the bar and
ordered drinks. People definitely noticed us and a lot knew me from American Thunder. Then my new best friend Johnny called from the parking lot and asked if I could come out and walk him in. When I met him out front I noticed that he had on the Kid Rock cowboy hat and sunglasses, so we walked into the bar and that’s when the fun started. The crowd around started saying things like “Hey there’s Kid Rock!” Because it’s never Johnny’s intention to pretend he’s Kid Rock, all of us fanatically began telling people he wasn’t Kid Rock, but the more we said he wasn’t, the more people thought he was. Then out of the crowd this five-foot girl pushes her way over to Darryl. She tells him that she was sorry that they had to meet under unfortunate circumstances but she loves Kid Rock and could he please help her get a picture with him. Darryl exhausted, drunk and in the middle of frenzy suddenly realizes that this girl is the DA from Deadwood who helped him get out of jail earlier that day. Not knowing what else to do he said “sure” and escorted her up to Johnny who poses with her flipping the bird. The insanity goes on for several more hours and then finally Johnny sneaks out just before the bar closes down. It was a pretty wild night and the beginning of my friendship with Johnny Lange and Strip Club Choppers. Hey, Lady DA! Thanks for the memories! throttlermotorcyclemagazine 17
Trailer Kings & Sidecar Queens
N-Line
Getting cargo from A to B
T
By Dean Lambert
railers are a polarizing issue among motorcycling enthusiasts. “I Rode Mine to [insert rally here]” patches are worn proudly by so-called iron butts who scoff at the idea of pulling their scoots to events. But sometimes it is necessary when a rider needs to get below the freezing zone, is physically unable to ride long distances, or has limited time to spend at a rally.
If a trike is not your bag and you’d prefer not to ride with a passenger in the conventional two-up mode, perhaps a sidecar is in order. Sidecars change your riding dynamics a bit, but they provide flexibility that trikes do not — you can remove a sidecar and ride solo or two-up pretty quickly. Sort of a “trailer for human cargo.” (Or animal cargo, as you’ll learn.) For your consideration, here’s a review of three Midwest manufacturers: N-Line, Aluma and Motorvation. The creativity and functionality offered by these companies is impressive and if you are not trailer-averse, these products are very compelling. N-Line Trailers (www.n-line.com) This West Des Moines, IA manufacturer turns out trailers for bikes to tow. Pronouncing
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the company name pretty much tells you what they want you to know about their product. N-Line’s trailers place their wheel right in line with the ones on your bike. That’s right — that’s “wheel” in the singular. While Motorvation’s trailers resemble oversized tour paks, N-Lines may be likened to an oversized H-D hard saddlebag. N-Line believes its competitive advantage is that their trailer becomes one with the bike, with no drag and no wind resistance. At 85 pounds, they are easy to maneuver on or off the bike. To make sure their trailers track as promised, they manufacture special hitches for nearly any Harley-Davidson model and Honda 1800 Goldwings. Dave at N-Line urges his customers to ride like you mean it when your trailer is attached. “Whether you’re in city traffic, riding the Dragon, even at 100+ miles per hour, our trailers don’t wobble or bounce,” he says. N-Line believes they have the safest trailers on the market. In any case, they are very unique and very well designed. The construction is fiberglass on a steel frame with a weatherproof lid and carpeted interior. “Our customers are involved in every aspect of the manufacturing process, and we can do just about anything they want, from chromed frames and swingarms, LED lights with lenses to match their
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bikes, and of course, custom paint.” With their head-turning styling, easy riding and abundant capacity, maybe an N-Line trailer is for you. Regardless what side of the trailer argument you were on prior to reading this article, I think you’ll agree there is a wide variety of some pretty cool products to consider right here in the Midwest. Aluma (www.alumaklm.com) You’ll know an Aluma trailer when you see it — they’re done up in gleaming aluminum diamond plate. Founded in 1992 in Bancroft, Iowa, Aluma manufactures trailers that tow bikes and trailers for bikes to tow. All Aluma products are advertised as maintenance-free and backed by a 5-year warranty. The company offers five models that transport motorcycles and two that hitch up to your scoot. The five trans-
Aluma
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Motorvation Motorvation
porters range in size to accommodate one or two heavyweight bikes, and there is a model that is specially made for trikes. All except the trike version are available with or without a folding rear gate. The five models also sport an aluminum shield/rock guard to protect your cargo from debris kicked up by your towing vehicle. The two models designed for towing behind your bike come in a 13.4 cu. ft. or a whopping 17.5 cu. ft. capacity. Each has a gas cylinder-assisted watertight lid, is lightweight and very stable. The lids are lockable. Motorvation Engineering (www.motorvation.com) Mary Sontag is the owner of Motorvation Engineering, founded in 1979 in Southern California and operating in Sibley, Iowa since the mid-‘90s. One look at their products and you know quality craftsmanship must be their motto. Manufacturing sidecars as well as trailers to be towed by motorcycles, Motorvation Engineering takes its cues from the bikes they’re made to match.
Motorvation has gained national attention, with their sidecars being fit to Russell Mitchell’s Exile cycles and featured on TV and films. They even built a sidecar for the now infamous Governator Schwarzenegger. Their Grand National trailers resemble oversized Harley and Goldwing tourpaks, right down to the lighting and accessories such as lid racks and spoilers. The genius, however, is in how the trailers are engineered. The front of the trailer is formed to guide the bike’s exhaust safely underneath the frame while the upright sides slip nicely within the airflow moving past your saddlebags. Independent torsion suspension keeps the ride so smooth that you’ll barely notice you’re towing anything. Sontag says her company does more sidecar business; Motorvation has shipped their products all over North America and abroad. It’s no wonder that they’ve gained so many fans — one look at the photos accompanying this article and on their website and you’ll know why. These are finely crafted, well-fit passenger carriers that are designed for comfort and safety.
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MOTO-KIDS
Part 1
Photo by J Bonnello - KTM Images
Why racing is good for them By Sean Goulart Editor, www.MXNewsfeed.com, The #1 Rated Motocross Newsfeed
T
here are many ways for kids to have fun outdoors, whether on bikes or ATV’s and amateur motorcycle racing (motocross) is one of them. This two-part article will cover some things to consider if you are considering taking your child racing.
The first thing to remember as a parent is: this is all about fun for your kids, it’s not an exercise in developing a world champion racer, that’s another article completely. If you are going to be the typical “team parent” who stresses out and screams at the soccer coaches, you can forget about being a part of this sport. If not, read on. Kids are naturally competitive, it’s human nature. Whether siblings, classmates or neighbors, kids like to race, they like to compete and they like winning. If you’ve ever seen a child receive a $3.00 trophy, you’ll know what we mean. So, if your child is showing some skills on the bike and you both want to try a bit of time on the track, here’s how you do it.
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What do you need? First up would be to make sure your child has everything they need to race. This includes a well-maintained motorcycle and all the necessary safety gear. This means helmet, goggles, chest protector, riding jersey/pants, boots and gloves. We also strongly suggest that you use a mouth guard and a neck brace system when racing or riding. Open practice Open practice is the best way to familiarize your child with the racetrack. This is the next step after the backyard! Consult the web for practice tracks near you, these usually feature racing but have times where anyone can come and ride all day, in preparation for a race later on the same week. Normally at open practice, riders will be split into groups such as Pee-Wee, Novice and Expert and this insures that your child is with his peers and not dodging big bikes and riders! Register with the AMA and your local sanctioning body Once you see that your children are having a blast, you may want to go to the next step, registering to race! One of the
first things you’ll want to do is register for membership in the AMA, as many tracks require this to ride or race. The AMA sanctions racetracks and provides a local/ national scoring system for all its racers, and you can see all that they offer at www.americanmotorcyclist.com. There will also be a local race organization that handles the running of the races and you will need to register with them too before you can race, as they take care of issues like awards, lap timing, classes, etc. The local organization will also consider your request for a racing number, and no you can’t have #1 (yet). Now what? Talk to the folks at your local tracks and do some research on the web as to what classes are offered for your kids to ride in. Class structure for youth classes are based on age and cc displacement of bike. You must make sure you have a motocross bikes for this purpose and trail bikes are typically not suitable for racing… examples include 50cc Oil Injected ages 4-8, 65cc ages 7-9 and 85cc Junior Mini ages 9-11. It’s a bit confusing at first but if you show up with your AMA Card and a bike to race, the track folks will help you, it’s in their best interest to get
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Photo by J Bonnello - KTM Images
you hooked on racing! Time to race! Prior to signing up, you are afforded time to inspect the track. During the inspection, you should walk around the track looking first for safety issues and second for the best way around the racing surface. If all looks well, go to registration, if not, leave the racing surface and ask to see the referee to notify him of any safety or other issue and why you may chose not to race. After you register you will be told what
Photo by Carlos Macho - VitalMX
the “practice order” is. This determines when your little racer can go out on the track with the others in their class to do some practice laps. This is important and must be taken seriously; this is your last chance to make sure everything is in working order before the gate drops. After these practice laps have ended for all classes, the racing begins. It’s important that you are sure of the racing order as your class may be called to the gate first. It’s normal for parents to walk their child’s bike to (and from) the gate as the little ones get tired quickly. Once there
your race number will be called and you can walk the bike out to whatever gate is not taken. Line your racer up, say some words of encouragement and get outta there, don’t get into their heads too much. Once that gate drops it’ll all make sense. Try to only encourage your kids as any negative feedback can last a long time. Remember it’s all about having fun, just wait until they get that first trophy: Priceless. In our next installment we will cover other important issues to consider once you have that first race under your belts.
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Email your event to scott@throttlermagazine.com
Nights & Rallies Iowa - Bike Nights Monday’s Fireside Grill Tuesday’s Victory Lane Car & Bike Night @ the Fairgrounds Brooklyns Bike Nights
Altoona Des Moines Des Moines Ottumwa
Wednesday’s O’Kelly’s Pub Baxter Quaker Steak & Lube Council Bluffs Thursday’s Trophy’s Bar & Grill Des Moines Mullets Des Moines Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill Waterloo Full Throttle Thursday’s @ BJ’s Bar & Billiards Waterloo Friday’s Knoxville Bike Night (1st Friday) Knoxville Throttle Down to “O” Town Osceola Fatboyz Saloon (2nd & 4th Friday) Grimes Bike Down to I-Town (3rd Friday) Indianola Saturday’s Booneville Bar Boonville Water Street Bar & Grill Cambridge Winterset Bike Night (Every 3rd Sat.) Winterset Iowa – Rally’s & Events Jun 4 Leon Bike Day Leon Jun 11 Bell Tower Festival Poker Run & Bike Show Jefferson Jun 14 J&P Cycles Cruise Night Anamosa Jun 15 – 18 Sturgis on the River Motorcycle Rally Davenport Jun 16 – 18 Awesome Biker Nights Sioux City Jun 18 Bike-a-Palooza @ McGrath Powersports Cedar Rapids Jun 25 Ride it out for Amber – Cancer Benefit Ride Indianola Jun 25 – 26 J&P Cycles Open House Anamosa Jun 30 – 2 ABATE of Iowa – Freedom Rally Algona Jun 30 McGrath Powersports Bike Night Cedar Rapids Jul 12 J&P Cycles Cruise Night Anamosa Jul 14 – 16 State HOG Rally Pella Jul 28 McGrath Powersports Bike Night Cedar Rapids Jul 30 Bikers for Boobs Boone Aug 18 McGrath Powersports Bike Night Cedar Rapids
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Aug 18 – 21 Aug 26 – 27 Sep 9 – 10
Hawgstock Winterset Grinnell Hot Bike Night Grinnell Classic Flat-Track & AMA Grand Nat’l Champ Knoxville
Minnesota - Bike Nights Wednesday’s Two Wheel Wednesday @ Yarusso’s (Every 1st Wed.) St. Paul The Joint Bar (Every 2nd Wed.) Minneapolis Duluno’s Pizza (Every 1st Thur.) Minneapolis Cowboy-Up Bike Night (Every 2nd Thurs.) Plymouth Mad Jacks Sports Bar (Every 3rd Thurs.) Brooklyn Park Minnesota - Rally’s & Events Jun 12 Motorcycle Hillclimb – Kato Cycle Club Mankato Jun 12 Blessing of the Bikes Mound Jun 17 – 18 State HOG Rally Alexandria Jun 25 Angel’s & Hogs Bike Rally Eden Prairie Jul 15 – 16 Gold Wing Riders State Rally Albert Lea Illinois - Bike Nights Thursday’s Coziahr Harley-Davidson Bike Night
Forsyth
Sunday’s Culver’s Bourbonnais Weekly Bike Night Bourbonnais Texas Roadhouse Tinley Park Bike Night Tinley Park (2nd & 4th Sunday) Illinois - Rally’s & Events Jun 9 – 12 HogRock River Rally Cave In Rock Jun 9 – 11 State HOG Rally Rockford Jun 11 – 18 The Mother Road Rally Chicago Jun 26 – 27 Bobstock 9 Elk Grove July 22 South Suburban ABATE – 25th Annual Helmet Roast Peotone Aug 5 – 7 Fulton County Rodeo Lewistown Aug 19 – 21 NA40+ International Rally Springfield Aug 21 ChuckaPalooza 3 Biker Bash & Music Fest Roselle Wisconsin - Bike Nights Wednesday’s Quaker Steak & Lube Madison Thursday’s Harley-Davidson Museum Bike Night Milwaukee House of Harley Ride to Bike Night Greenfield “Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Education Center” Benefit Bike Nights @ Floodzone Bar & Grill (beginning May 19th) Rock Springs Wisconsin - Rally’s & Events Jun 3 – 5 BONer USA Rally Earl Jun 16 – 19 Summer Hummer State Rally Greenwood
Jun 23 – 25 Jul 15 – 17 Jul 15 – 17 Jul 21 – 24 Jul 23 Jul 29 – 30
State HOG Rally BBC Motorcycle Rally Chopperfest Midwest Motorcycle Rally Rally in the Valley Motorcycle Mania
Two Rivers Blue River Earl La Crosse Boscobel Plover
Nebraska - Rally’s & Events Jun 10 – 12 ABATE Spring Bash Dubois Jun 29 – 30 Angels Straw Bale Bikefest 2011 Spencer Aug 27 – 28 Blue River Motorcycle Rally Seward Missouri - Bike Nights Thursday’s Show-Me’s Sportbike Night St Charles Saturday’s Big St. Charles Motorsports Bike Night St. Charles Missouri - Rally’s & Events Jun 2 Big St. Charles Motorsports Calendar Girl Search St. Charles Jun 3 – 5 Rebel Yell Rally Chaffe Jun 11 – 12 Marshfield Down Town Saturday Night Marshfield Jun 17 – 19 Bobmont Ranch Rally Sparta Jun 17 – 19 Grand River Rally Urich Jun 25 St. Charles Harley-Davidson Wet-n-Wild Event St. Charles Jul 7 Big St. Charles Motorsports Calendar Girl Search St. Charles Jul 8 – 10 HoonTown Motorcycle Rally Highlandville Jul 16 Classic Rock & Chrome Rally St. Joseph Aug 25 – 27 State HOG Rally Osage Beach Kansas - Bike Nights Thursday’s Old Town Bike Night @ Emerson Biggins’ Wichita Kansas - Rally’s & Events June 2 – 4 State HOG Rally Olathe June 3 – 5 Land of Oz Rally Lacygne Jun 9 – 12 Deadend Rally Peru Jun 10 – 12 Rattlesnakes Bike Rally for Autism Bonner Springs Jun 17 – 19 Motorcycle Field Events Hiawatha Jun 25 Thor’s Roar Motorcycle Rally Lindsborg South Dakota - Rally’s & Events Jun 11 Bikes & Babes Rally Jul 10 Hot Harley Nights Aug 8 – 14 Sturgis Rally & Races
Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Sturgis
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