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THUNDER ROADS® Magazine COLORADO Published by Flying Hound Press, L.L.C. 7477 W. Layton Way Littleton, Colorado 80123 720-458-3134 www.thunderroadscolorado.com feedback@thunderroadscolorado.com
ABATE..................................................................... 6 AMA Report............................................................. 7 Scott O’Sullivan....................................................... 8 Victory Announcement........................................... 10 Dallas Hageman.................................................... 14 Historic Female Riders.......................................... 16 Calendar................................................................ 18 Special Needs by Calvin Kim................................ 20 Skin Art.................................................................. 23 Across The Pond................................................... 24 Tasty Recipes........................................................ 27 Events................................................................... 28 News Bytes........................................................... 30 Biker Friendly Directory......................................... 32 Joker’s Wild........................................................... 33 Thunder Cam........................................................ 34
EDITORS Patrick J. McCauley “5” President and Senior Editor Patrick@thunderroadscolorado.com Carrie McCauley Vice President and Editor Carrie@thunderroadscolorado.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Vickie Jo Mullin, Lead Photographer Vickie@thunderroadscolorado.com Wayne Madison wayne@thunderroadscolorado.com David Campbell davidc@thunderroadscolorado.com CONTRIBUTORS Adventure Hermit (Joe Trey) joe@adventurehermit.com
ON THE COVER
Peggy Bogaard-Lapp peggy@thunderroadscolorado.com
Model: Cat James Trike built by: Calvin Keim Photographer: David Campbell
Scott O’Sullivan http://osullivan-law-firm.com Stump - Abate stump@thunderroadscolorado.com Whiskyman whiskeyman@thunderroadscolorado.com ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES Greater Metro Denver Area Toby Schmidt tobyb@thunderroadscolorado.com (720)829-7954 Northern Colorado Zak Clayton zak@ThunderRoadsColorado.com (970) 301-4674 LAYOUT & DESIGN Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics mhancockgraphics@gmail.com NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Thunder Publishing LLC, Offices 615-792-0040 thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com www.thunderroadsmagazine.com ©2016 Flying Hound Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of the content may be reproduced without written permission. Publisher assumes no responsibility and is not liable for errors beyond the cost of space occupied by the error, slander by any group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled, any and all suits for liable, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors/contributors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Road Magazine® Colorado, Thunder Publishing.
Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
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Want to be a contributor or correspondent? We need contributors and correspondents for dirt bike offroad events, on-road cruiser, sport bike and adventure touring, rides, runs and rallies. Contact us today at contributors@ thunderroadscolorado.com or 720-458-3134.
So far this winter has been mild and many have been able to dust off the bike and take a short ride. Can you believe it’s still winter. Either way, it’s good to have your knees in the breeze and the sun beating down on you. I hope the weather lasts, but alas, March and April are notoriously Colorado’s snowiest months. We are starting to highlight upcoming events in the magazine and want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to get their ride or charity event noticed. Please send us the event at events@ThunderRoadsColorado. comalong with dates, times, description, contact information and web or Facebook event address. Please see the box below for the information we need. Remember listing your event on the event page in the magazine is free. Name of Event
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2017 General Assembly Moving Along pay an extra $4.00 every year when you register your motorcycle and an extra $2.00 when you renew your driver’s license that goes toward funding the program, but what does MOST do with “OUR” money? (Which is approximately $800,000 per year)? Did you know the program was started in 1990 to provide Coloradoans with more accessible and affordable motorcycle safety training courses? Congratulations to the readers that knew all that. You are truly concerned motorcyclists.
Hello Concerned Motorcyclists, As of February 15th, 195 Senate Bills and 187 House Bills have been introduced. The big concern this year seems to be education and health care. Consequently, only four Senate Bills have been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee so far and two of them have been “killed” already. There are fifteen House Bills that have been assigned to the House Transportation & Energy Committee, but some of them have to do with energy issues and are not transportation concerns.
But the intent of the program has changed. The MOST Program Sunset Review was presented to the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, February 14th. A Senate Bill has not been drafted yet, but a lot of ideas are being exchanged as to how the MOST Program should be administered and how it can be more effective. The big concern is that there were 125 motorcycle fatalities last year, up over 19% from the previous year. What can the MOST Program do to make the roads safer for motorcyclists – promote driver awareness / encourage rider education?
About the only direct concern to motorcyclists so far are the Autocycle Bill and the MOST Program Sunset Review. HB17-1044 (Autocycle Bill) has passed through the House and was assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee. It has not been scheduled for a hearing yet. The re-engrossed version changes the title of the bill and emphasizes the use of seat belts. I do not foresee any more changes to the bill and it should pass through the Senate rather quickly. A good point is that I will be able to testify again when it comes to committee to raise ABATE’s concern about keeping motorcycle & autocycle accident and fatality statistics separate.
There are currently thirteen rider education vendors throughout the state, offering numerous types of courses from the basic rider course to various advanced/experienced rider courses. See the chart below:
So how many readers know what the MOST (Motorcycle Operators Safety Training) Program is? You probably know that you
Rider Ed. Vendors 2017 ABATE of Colorado
Fort Collins
www.abateofcolo.org
Denver Metro (3)
Summit Cty. (Mobile)
Garfield Cty. (Mobile)
Logan Cty. (Mobile)
Morgan Cty. (Mobile)
Pueblo
BLACK B.A.G., LLC
Westminster
www.bbmct.com
Bluecreek Motorcycle Training
Denver
www.bluecreekmotorcycletraining.com
Full Throttle Riding Academy
Loveland
fullthrottleacademy.com
G-Force Powersports
Lakewood
www.gforcepowersports.com
Harley Davidson Training Academy
Denver Metro
www.harley-davidson.com/content/h-d/ en_US/home/learn-to-ride/search-riding-academy.html
Iron Buffalo
Denver
www.ironbuff.org
Motorcycle Rider Training Center
Lakewood
www.motorcycleridertrainingcenter.com
Motorcycle Training Academy
Colorado Springs
www.motorcycletrainingacademy.com
Florence
Pueblo
Ricky Orlando Motorcycle School
Dacono
rickyorlando.com
Sleeping Giant Motorsports
Craig
www.sleepinggiantmotorcycletraining.com
T3RG International Motorcycle Schools
Denver Metro (3)
t3rg.com
Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson
Loveland
thundermountainharley.com/
harley-davidson-rider-training
Every rider can benefit from improving their skills and being safer on the road. Consider taking a rider training course. It just might save your life! Stump Legislative Affairs Officer – ABATE of Colorado 6 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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REPORT American Motorcyclist Association announces recipients of 2017 AMA Awards John Ulrich selected for AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2017 AMA Awards. The individuals and organizations selected by the AMA Board of Directors have made outstanding contributions to the motorcycling community and their efforts support the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. The AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award is the most prestigious of the awards and is presented for 2017 to John Ulrich of Lake Elsinore, Calif. Ulrich, a competitive road racer, team owner and publisher, was elected to the AMA Board of Directors in 2005 and served with distinction until 2015. At the conclusion of Ulrich’s term, AMA Chair McNally-Bradshaw said, “Few grasp the intricacies of both professional and amateur road racing as John, and his contributions to the board have been extensive and long-lasting.” AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award In addition to his many years of service as an AMA board member, Ulrich has dedicated his life to road racing. He first competed in 1973 and has won races in five decades, including the 1983 and 1984 WERA National Endurance Championships and the 1996 WERA National Challenge Series 125cc Grand Prix Championship. Ulrich also co-founded Team Hammer in 1980. Team Hammer has won numerous amateur and professional championships to become one of the most successful road racing teams in the United States. In addition, Ulrich is the founder and publisher of Roadracing World magazine and the Roadracing World Action Fund, a nonprofit that advocates and promotes the use of soft barriers to prevent racetrack injuries and provides education on the value of adequate pre-race practice, rider training, and proper racetrack preparation. “In 1969 I bought my first motorcycle, loved riding it, and haven’t looked back,” Ulrich said. “Since then I’ve made a lot of lifelong friends and had a lot of fun riding and racing, and I am thankful for the experiences I have had. It’s been a wild ride!” Of his work to improve the safety conditions at roadracing tracks, Ulrich said: “I looked around one day and realized that the typical response to expressing safety concerns just wasn’t good enough. We did what race officials and naysayers said could not be done, and it became the not-for-profit Roadracing World Action Fund, raising well over $1.5 million for soft barriers deployed at roadracing events across the nation. I am really proud of that.” Ulrich’s commitment to motorcycling includes his family and his business. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
“I am also proud of what my family and kids and I have done in the motorcycle business, especially Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology, now in its 27th year of publication; of roadracingworld.com; and of the success of Team Hammer, racing and winning for 37 consecutive seasons.” Other 2017 award recipients include: • AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award: Denny “Budman” Kobza Jr., Palo Alto, Calif. • AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award: Russ Ehnes, Great Falls, Mont. • AMA Bessie Stringfield Award: Michelle Kumbier, Colgate, Wisc. • AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award: Backcountry Discovery Routes, Seattle Friend of the AMA Award: Perry King, Kool, Calif.; Louisville Vintage Motorworks, Louisville, Ky.; Nitro Circus, San Clemente, Calif.; Kelly Inman, Huntington Beach, Calif.; David O. DeWitt, Fort Wayne, Ind. For more information about the AMA Awards Program, to see past recipients and learn how to submit individual’s names for future consideration, please visit http://www. americanmotorcyclist.com/For-Members/AMA-Awards
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Gear Up for March Motorcycle Riding! By Scott O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Law Firm
March is when many of us start thinking about spring and warm weather riding! But March can also be the snowiest month of the year in Colorado. So, if you are hankering to get your bike out of hibernation, you might want to make sure you have the proper gear and we have some suggestions. I am also going to share some emergency tips for those times when you can be surprised by the crazy Colorado winter. Must haves for winter motorcycle riding: INSURANCE: Wait! You thought the first thing on the list would be a coat? Not this time. The most important thing you need is insurance. Colorado law requires insurance for cars and motorcycles. A lot of people turn their motorcycle insurance off in the winter and then a gorgeous day hits and they get their bike out. This is probably the single most dangerous thing you can do. If you get in an accident, everything you own is in jeopardy. Whether you cause it or not, an accident while riding without insurance can devastate you financially. So, make sure you have insurance. Call your insurance agent; that agent can often turn you back on pretty quickly. If you have any questions at all about the kind of insurance you need, please do not hesitate to call us at the O’Sullivan Law Firm. HANDS: • One of the most vulnerable areas of your body when you are riding a motorcycle is your hands. Here are some tips for keeping your hands warm. • If you are wearing leather gloves (not synthetic), put your hands right onto the cylinder head (not the exhaust pipe!). When you are at a red light, it is easy to speedily warm your fingers up this way. • Get heated hand grips. Some manufacturers provide these for their machines - if so, it is probably the best way to go. Aftermarket companies make various types of heated foil tape that runs underneath your grips and attaches to the bike’s electrical system these do not always work as well as the manufacturer’s products and are not always as reliable, but it is a lot cheaper. Both are a nice way to keep your hands comfortable when riding in cold temperatures. • If you are on an adventure bike, you can put hand guards on your bike. These guards are intended to protect your hands from brush and trees that you ride through, but they also make great windbreaks. (Editor’s Note: you can even get chrome or black hand guards for many HarleyDavidson models) •
TORSO: Consider a heated jacket. These are the slickest things ever. They plug into your bike’s electrical system (or rechargeable battery pack) and heat up! But make sure your bike has enough power to run the
jacket. You do not want to kill your bike to heat your jacket… unless things are really dire! Make sure your jacket is truly wind and waterproof. It needs a flap covering the zipper and it must zip all the way up to your chin. (Don’t buy a v-neck “windproof” jacket. It won’t be windproof!) When trying a jacket on at the shop, make sure you sit on your bike and reach for your handgrips. This helps you determine if the back is long enough. If the jacket is restricting your movement, or does not extend beyond the top of your jeans when you have your hands on the grips, avoid the jacket and try another. You should also look for vents in a cold-weather jacket. If you get too warm, it is nice to be able to open up a vent for a cool breeze. (Tip: Put key rings on all your coat zippers so that you can grab them easily with gloves on.) In an emergency: Stop at a convenience store and get a big newspaper. Shove it down the front of your jacket for an extra layer of insulation. It will help. SEAT: Some motorcycles have heated seats. If you are buying a new bike for Colorado riding, you might look into this option. After market, retrofit kits are also available but you need to check to see whether your bike can handle the additional electrical load as with the heated jackets and other items. FACE: Get a Balaklava but make sure it fits under your helmet. Consider a full-face helmet for riding in cold weather. Be prepared for foggy facemasks, which occur when you ride from the cold into a warm environment. Make sure you can move it up or down without looking at it—practice on any new helmets before you use it. Scuba shops sell a no-fog solution that you can spray on the inside of your visor. You could also invest in a larger windscreen on your bike for winter riding. It will give you a bigger pocket of warm air for your body while riding in cold weather. The best part is that many require no tools to install or remove (after initial fitting). FEET: Just like skiers, you can get heated socks and boots and insoles. Invest in some good boots that are waterproof and include insulation. Do not tuck your pants into your boots in a rainstorm - the water will run down the pants and into the boots. Finally, watch the weather! If you are planning to head out any time during the winter months, check the road reports and the weather reports before you leave. Things can change very quickly, especially in the mountains. I hope you have a fun, safe, comfortable winter riding season! Call me if you have questions: 303-388-5304, https://osullivan-law-firm. com/
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BRITISH MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO Meets 1 st Saturday of every month, 10 am South Side Johnny’s 528 S. Tejon Colorado Springs, CO www.bmacinc.com All makes and models of bikes welcome! Contact John @719-213-3239 or 5pointsltd@gmail.com
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To Jo in Ou r Tea WE ARE LOOKING FOR: m! FULL OR PART-TIME ADVERTISING REPS FOR NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN COLORADO
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THE ANNOUNCEMENT Polaris decides to streamline their motorcycle business.
percent of Victory owners responded that they “would definitely buy again,” versus 72 percent of Harley-Davidson owners. (Of course, Harley owners dispute the relevancy of this survey by simply asking “Why would I ever want to buy another motorcycle, I’m happy with my Harley!”) Victory’s final lineup of motorcycles included 12 models spanning the cruiser, touring, bagger and electric classes: Octane; Vegas 8-Ball; HighBall; Gunner; Vegas; Hammer S; Vision; Cross Country Tour; Cross Country; Magnum; Magnum X-1; and Empulse.
THE IRON COWBOY, THUNDER ROADS® OHIO Polaris Industries shocked many when they announced on January 9th that they would be immediately begin “winding down its Victory Motorcycles brand and related operations”. For diehard Victory riders, fans, and even some dealers – there seemed to be complete disbelief. Polaris began producing the first Victory motorcycle, the V92c, back in 1998 from a production line in Sprit Lake, Iowa. It was an American-made cruiser being introduced as an alternative to the clear industry leader – Harley-Davidson. While there was clearly a learning curve to be conquered – Victory scored some early success with the motorcycle press and built a loyal following of owners. Polaris seemed dedicated to not only competing in the motorcycle market, they were willing to blaze their own path with their own style and some truly unique designs. Probably nothing said this more than the introduction of the Victory Vision in 2007. Previously introduced in 2005 as a concept bike, the production version was no less groundbreaking with a design and presence unlike anything else on the road. The result of a reported four years of R&D and a $20 million dollar investment by Polaris, the Vision was a clear statement that Polaris was focused on creating their own interpretation of “the motorcycle”. In the case of the Vision, the fixed fairing touring bike has an almost fanatical following. I’ve never once met a Vision owner that didn’t swear it was the most comfortable bike they’d ever ridden. This is further supported by the fact that you almost never see them for sale. At the time of writing this, ebay motors has only 6 of them listed for sale across the entire country and craigslist came up with 2 in the state of Ohio. This passion for Victory Motorcycle amongst their riders is further evidenced by a 2015 Consumer Reports survey that rated Victory as the motorcycle brand with the highest owner satisfaction, besting even Harley-Davidson. In fact, eighty 10 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
A New Addition to the Family Victory’s future may have been sealed though, when Polaris acquired the name and heritage of Indian Motorcycle in 2011. This gave Polaris possibly the one thing that Victory lacked – a history and a legacy of success. At the time of the purchase, Polaris affirmed that they would be continuing the Victory line as an independent brand. This was supported with the launch of the actual new production Indians - designed from scratch and produced without any real crossover from the Victory line. Three years later, Indian now has nine models with even more promised even this year. Each completely distinct from the Victory models from development to production. Certainly, though, the success of the Indians seemed to dominate the industry buzz and draw sales from everyone in the market – including Victory. This past year, an attempt was made to further distinguish the Victory and Indian brands for consumers. Indian would be the heritage cruisers, more traditional and nostalgic. Victory would transition to more of a power cruiser, the embodiment of “AMERICAN MUSCLE”. Polaris invested heavily in Victory race bikes – both gas and electric, and introduced exciting new concept bikes with an emphasis on power and performance. It seemed an easy distinction to make and one that resonated with riders. However, it would appear that the cost of developing and operating two independent lines of motorcycles finally became
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too burdensome and Polaris decided to pull the plug on the Victory line. I’m guessing that there had to be outside factors to explain the abrupt change in course, and financial gurus are pointing to Polaris acquisitions and costs well outside the twowheeled world as the cause. Regardless, it seems a shame to countless Victory riders. Of course, passion and (brand) loyalty have almost always outweighed fiscal responsibility in the minds of American riders. The Sun Will Come Out Despite the many dramatic headlines (“Polaris Industries KILLS Off Victory Motorcycles” – Forbes), current Victory owners really don’t have too much cause for real concern. As Jon Petrich, owner of Witchdoctors Specialties - a Victory aftermarket manufacturer and distributor, pointed out in his facebook live “Why is everyone going crazy? … As far as I know today, everyone’s bike still started…There’s no reason for anything to change for us!”
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When you boil things down, Polaris is simply not producing new Victory motorcycles. They haven’t “gone out of business”. Polaris is a powerhouse and clear industry leader within the powersport industry and they aren’t going anywhere. Polaris is still committed to the consumers and dealers that have invested in the Victory brand and will continue to supply parts for at least another 10 years. Polaris will still continue to provide service and warranty coverage to both the Victory dealers and owners. You might compare the situation to when GM discontinued their “We Build Excitement” division – Pontiac. Almost 8 years later, there’s certainly no challenge to get your Grand Am or even Prowler serviced. You just take it to any GM dealership. I think that it’s safe to assume that’s going to be the case with Victory motorcycles. Brett Moxley, General Manager of CCM of Northern Kentucky (A Victory, Indian, and Slingshot Dealer), affirmed “We’re going to be here for the riders. We are committed not continued...
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only to our current customers, but any Victory riders looking for support and service. Our mechanics are certified, we have all the specialty tools, we know we can get parts for another 10 years and Polaris will stand behind all the factory warranties and any recalls.” Bair’s Powersports, in North Canton, has been a Polaris dealer for 50 years and in a notice posted on their facebook page they voiced both the disappointment they shared with riders and their faith in the company. “You are hurt. (We are hurt.) You are upset. (We are upset.)…However,..we chose to trust the judgment of Polaris going forward. Over the 50 years of experience with the company.. They always resolve and overcome.” “We feel confident that the positive aspects of the Victory brand will be further introduced into the Indian motorcycle lineups as time goes on.“ Bairs closed with the statement that “The Victory motorcycles already on the road are not going away.. Victory motorcycles will remain an integral part of our story, your story,..and for that we are very grateful!” A contact at one dealership even went a step further, speaking off the record. “We have plenty of bikes still, and chances are that there are going to be some great incentives coming down the pike as Polaris is committed to helping dealers move their existing inventory.” “I really like several of the new Victory’s – and I’m thinking that this might be the best time ever to get one.” Are there going to be 2018 Victory Motorcycles – no. But that’s ok, because there are plenty of great new 2016 and
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2017 Victory motorcycles still out there for those looking to get one. And one only has to go to AMA Vintage Days in Lexington to recognize that there’s still quite a future for these motorcycles. Just ask anyone riding or even racing a Norton, BSA, or Bultaco! How many 50’s era Indians are still out on the road – still being rebuilt, repaired, and ridden? You can see them all over – especially if you’re in the Dayton area! Those companies also all shut down completely, and that’s certainly not what’s happened here in the case of Polaris. Thankfully, we look forward to seeing Victory and Polaris motorcycles on the road for a long, long time.
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POLARIS INDUSTRIES TO WIND DOWN VICTORY MOTORCYCLES OPERATIONS STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY
MINNEAPOLIS (January 9, 2017) — Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced it will immediately begin winding down its Victory Motorcycles brand and related operations. Polaris will assist dealers in liquidating existing inventories while continuing to supply parts for a period of 10 years, along with providing service and warranty coverage to Victory dealers and owners. Today’s announcement does not affect any other Polaris business units. “This was an incredibly difficult decision for me, my team and the Polaris Board of Directors,” said Polaris Industries Chairman and CEO Scott Wine. “Over the past 18 years, we have invested not only resources, but our hearts and souls, into forging the Victory Motorcycles brand, and we are exceptionally proud of what our team has accomplished. Since inception, our teams have designed and produced nearly 60 Victory models that have been honored with 25 of the industry’s top awards. The experience, knowledge, infrastructure and capability we’ve built in those 18 years gave us the confidence to acquire and develop the Indian Motorcycle brand, so I would like to express my gratitude to everyone associated with Victory Motorcycles and celebrate your many contributions.” Several factors influenced today’s announcement. Victory has struggled to establish the market share needed to succeed and be profitable. The competitive pressures of a challenging motorcycle market have increased the headwinds for the brand. Given the significant additional investments required for Victory to launch new global platforms that meet changing consumer preferences, and considering the strong performance and growth potential of Indian Motorcycle, the decision to more narrowly focus Polaris’ energy and investments became quite clear. “This decision will improve the profitability of Polaris and
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our global motorcycle business, and will materially improve our competitive stance in the industry,” said Scott Wine. “Our focus is on profitable growth, and in an environment of finite resources, this move allows us to optimize and align our resources behind both our premium, high performing Indian Motorcycle brand and our innovative Slingshot brand, enhancing our focus on accelerating the success of those brands. Ultimately this decision will propel the industry-leading product innovation that is core to our strategy while fostering long-term growth and increased shareholder value.” Polaris will reduce the appropriate operating cost based on this decision, while continuing to support the future growth of the ongoing motorcycle business. Polaris remains committed to maintaining its presence in the Spirit Lake, Iowa community with Indian Motorcycle production and in the Huntsville, Alabama community with its Slingshot production.
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Death-grip of Debt
How to guard yourself on the showroom floor By Dallas Hageman What a great time to be alive. I mean, it is not like you or I had any say in the matter but that is beside the point. Just think about it. Up until about 300 years ago mankind’s only great invention was the wheel, and even that had enormous obstacles of working 100 percent of the time. We live in a day and age where medical science is on the cusp of having the ability to transplant brains to different people (and you probably know someone who desperately needs one). Nowadays citizens have the ability to travel all over the world in a matter of hours, a hundred thirty years ago it would have taken four months and several bouts of dysentery to go from Texas to California. Now, we carry small computers in our pockets that possess more technology than NASA when they sent a guy to the moon and it can do everything but make actual, quality phone calls. Motorcycles too have gone from a glorified bicycle with a ½ horsepower engine to machines routinely able to do 150 + mph without any risk of erupting into a massive ball of fire. Inventions and out of the box thinking have added to our lifestyle in big ways… and sometimes it may not be so good. Advancements in technology are great, however it seems that sometimes there may be too many options available at our fingertips and this can, at times, create an illness that doctors refer to as “too-much-crap-itis. It is an illness I myself have been plagued with for what seems like an eternity and just can’t seem to shake. Every damn time I walk into a motorcycle dealership, swap meet or rally I always come out with more stuff than I can pack in my bagger. It. Never. Fails. In fact, it is much like shopping for groceries on an empty stomach. You walk in planning on purchase enough food for a week and walk out ready to stock an emergency shelter able to sustain 12 people for a year. Believe me… my garage can attest to the fact that I own way too much motorcycle crap. 14 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
I know, I know, that last sentence was motorcycle heresy and some of you probably think I need to be burned at the stake to set an example for other wayward motorcyclists. However, the fact that clothing, accessories and other riding gear has become flush with ample options is undeniable. I am certainly not decrying the fact that there are plentiful options for motorcyclists. On the contrary, I am thrilled that we have many choices to outfit our motorcycles acceptable to our needs. My argument is that many Riders these days feels obligated to purchase them. In fact, manufacturers have done such a good job advertising their products that many Riders feel if they do not purchase said wares they feel less like a Biker, almost unworthy to hang with the “real Rider” crowd. These feelings are patently and laughably absurd. For anyone just beginning their riding lifestyle let me fill you in on a little history. Since their inception, motorcycles used to be a lot like camping. It was, for all intents and purposes a “poor man’s” sport; something you could do without much cash and many people took to two wheels for this reason. Nowadays however, it seems as though you need a Swiss bank account and several Rolexes to walk into some dealerships and sit on a bike. Major rallies are no different. If you ride into say, Sturgis for example, with no less than $1,000 for a couple of nights you will be sleeping on the side of the highway eating bugs and drinking drain water. Costs have become absurdly high and much like campers have morphed from glorified tents to palaces on wheels, motorcycles have done the same. They have gone from a “poor man’s” sport to a rich man’s hobby and the old school way of doing things is fading like a sunset over the Rockies.
March 2017
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It is important to remember that if you are a new Rider, or one that thinks you need the latest and greatest gadget to come out in order to “fit in” I want to encourage you to recenter your way of thinking. There are PLENTY of ways to get around the bottomless income pit of despair the motorcycle and banking industry tries to throw new and unsuspecting Riders into on a daily basis. Below I will list some (hopefully) helpful ways for you to get from the death grip of debt and onto the road, where you’ve wanted to be all along.
Need versus Want Sure that brand new, sparkly two wheeled supercharged animal sitting in the center of the dealership looks nice and yeah it can go from 0-60 in 3 seconds, but is it worth the cost..? Generally speaking motorcycles (and cars for that matter) lose 30 to 60 percent of their value in the first four years. Now, I know most of you who ride a certain type of motorcycle that rhymes with “BOG” may argue that the particular brand is impervious to this statistic… but I can assure you from every study, finance blog and financial report I have studied (and selling five of the bikes myself) that is patently untrue. Every vehicle depreciates regardless of make, motorcycles more than most especially if the mileage gets above 20k. The good news is, if you want to save a little scratch and are willing to ride a previously owned bike you can let the other owner eat the depreciation, add-ons and taxes. You could literally make out like a bandit and nearly steal that thing. For example, the bike I currently own is a 2012 H-D Road Glide Ultra. When I purchased said bike it had about 20k miles on it and a freshly rebuilt engine. The dealership had used it as a rental and before they sold it to me, had to redo the engine due to a knocking in the jugs. After spending over 9k on the massive rebuild (and I have receipts to prove it). I walked away with the bike 2.5k under blue book, stock. I avoided the depreciation, the engine upgrade costs, the taxes and the labor that would have gone into the build saving me around 15k total. Now doesn’t that sound like a good way of getting a ride? Also, now more than ever in the history of selling motorcycles, dealerships are FLUSH with used bikes. I’ll get into why in a different article but just know there have been rumblings in some corporate board rooms of buying up massive quantities of used rides and shipping them overseas at a loss, just so those companies can continue the process of fleecing their customers with new rides. THERE ARE TONS OF GREAT USED BIKES, take advantage of that fact instead of the salespeople taking advantage of YOU! The next time you go into a dealership looking for a brand new scoot remember that the paint fades and the chrome dulls, but your payments won’t change on a new price tag.
Get yourself financed The best way to walk into any wheelin’ dealin’ negotiation is to pay cash, but if you just can’t wait for the piggy bank to get full enough to buy a bike flat out, get a good bank or credit union (emphasis on the GOOD) to finance you. These days, most companies and manufacturers (motorcycle ones not excluded) are finance companies FIRST. They make the majority of their income not on selling the bike, but the money they get from the hundred years of payments you get stuck with. In most cases, www.thunderroadscolorado.com
if you stick with your repayment plan you will end up paying for your bike plus nearly another one, when it is all said and done. It is insane but done every day and Ihave heard stories of some dealerships and salespeople literally laughing about how they stuck someone with huge payments and a sky high finance rate. It’s sick and maddening but if you do not go in armed with knowledge, you could be the butt of their next joke. Here is what you do: Find a bank (or preferably a credit union) and look for the lowest finance rate they offer. If you get pre-approved for a predetermined total you will know what your credit score is, the rate you have and how much you can spend on your new ride. Armed with this, you can walk into any dealership and talk bottom dollar, not payments. So talk bottom dollar then not payments.
Remain focused Salespeople have a lot of tricks up their sleeves to derail your idea of saving money. I don’t want you to think this is a “bash on the business” article, but it is brutally honest. If you are not careful, by the end of purchasing a bike you will probably curl up in a corner and cry for some time after finding out what just happened to your unsuspecting wallet. For instance, salespeople like to talk payments mainly because it throws your focus off the final price and onto a small number that seems manageable. Typically companies find that you will pay the inflated price, if they can stretch it out over 12,000 months. This tactic costs even more for you because the interest stays there a flares up, much like herpes in your body- it is always there and very unpleasant. Talk final price and stay focused on what you can afford. If you stick to your guns chances are, that price will go down.
Baby, walk away When looking for a new scoot a lot of Riders (myself included) tend to get tunnel vision. They see a bike that is “the one” meant for them. Every other bike in existence starts to fade away and there is only “that one” they want. Maybe a rainbow comes forth from the sky and lands on that motorcycle as doves fly above and angels play harps (or am I the only one that happens to?) I implore you to remember that each day thousands of motorcycles are manufactured and sent around the world. Believe me, there is ALWAYS another bike. If you get tunnel vision, the salesperson has you and you should be prepared to walk out the door. In fact, many negotiations happen in the parking lot or over the phone after you arrive back home. If you walk away, you retain the power that will save big bucks while giving you something to brag about to all of your friends, who probably got the shaft when buying their bikes. In summation, over the course of my riding career I have owned many rides both new and used. Buying new and used equally has pros or cons but I can unequivocally say that if you do your homework and finance yourself, you will never regret it. To quote the financial wizard Dave Ramsey- “You will either tell your money what to do or the lack of it will always manage you.” Get your head right, your wallet in line and your focus on the prize. Remember, I want you out on the road enjoying your bike, not stuck in some bank’s pocket.
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HISTORIC FEM PART I
The following is the first in a four-part series showcasing 12 female riders with historic significance.
T
he 19th Amendment guaranteed Women would receive the same right to vote as men. The era between 1878 and when it was finally ratified in 1920 were tough on women everywhere, but for those who stood up for what they believed in and help prove, reveal or otherwise convince the majority of the citizens of the United States that women kick ass and deserve to have the same rights as men: We want to say thank you. As you read through this brief overview of important women in motorcycle history, some of which were from that early era, it is important to understand that their contributions were often made with little or no support from friends or family. These are women who recognized that being given equal rights meant more than just the right to vote or work, but it also gave them the right to do as they damn well pleased. In the case of the dozen women we will look at in this series, that freedom included riding a motorcycle.
her first motorcycle then teaching herself to ride and handle repairs she got the urge to explore the area surrounding New York. In order to share the experience with her mom, Avis she added a sidecar so that she could participate. Of course it was great fun for both of them and before long the pair had decided on a whim to take a ride to check out the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition…in San Francisco.
Although they didn’t intend to make history, the pair set off from Brooklyn on May 2, 1915 and followed a route that took them through the southernmost United States. For those of you who are familiar with the desert southwest you can imagine how much fun those 120-degreee summer days were as they travelled through states like New Mexico and Arizona. But they were tough cookies and according to the story in HarleyDavidson Dealer’s magazine they even had to shoot their way through marauding rattlesnakes and coyotes along the way. Once they arrived in San Francisco and rode their 11-F right to the shore of the Pacific Ocean they had officially become the first women to cross the United States on any type of motorcycle. Their return trip took them further north through Utah, Illinois and Milwaukee on their way back east. By the time they arrived in Brooklyn in October with 9,000 miles of riding and a surprising amount of fanfare, they had managed to secure a place in the motorcycle history books.
Effie & Avis Hotchkiss Facts: This mother-daughter team were the first female motorcycle riders to successfully complete a transcontinental ride across the United States. In 1915 Effie & Avis Hotchkiss became the first women to ride across the US when they headed west from Brooklyn, New York to San Francisco.… and back again for a total of approximately 9,000 miles. The Hotchkiss women chose a 1915 three-speed 11-F Harley-Davidson with a custom made sidecar built to accommodate the mother Avis, who would be a passenger for the entire journey. The story is that Effie, a professional woman who longed for something more than what the 9-to-5 professional life, decided to quit her job and find herself…so to speak. That is where this adventure begins. After purchasing 16 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
Adeline & Augusta van Buren Facts: These two sisters were the first women to navigate Pikes Peak on a motorized vehicle of any kind and are often billed as the first women to ride solo motorcycles across the United States. They were inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002. And Sturgis Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1916 these two affluent sisters from New York set out to prove that women should be used as dispatch riders in the
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MALE RIDERS war effort and in order to prove their potential, decided to ride across the United States. Adeline and Augusta came from an active family so it wasn’t a real shock when they showed up on a pair of new Indian Power Plus motorcycles, hell bent on proving women can ride as well as men. Unlike the Hotchkiss women, they were intent on making a point. In order to show they had the moxie and skill to handle the grueling demands of riding bikes long distances, they set out on their own 5,500 mile ride to San Francisco on July 4, 1916. The route took them through Chicago, into Colorado and Utah with many stops both voluntary and involuntary along the way. They faced harsh terrain of the unimproved roads that connected the two coasts in addition to harassment from law enforcement and folks discriminating against them for just being female. According to their Hall of Fame bio they were even arrested for wearing men’s riding clothes on a couple occasions. In Colorado, they made their official mark in the history books by becoming the first women to summit the 14,000 tall Pikes Peak hill climb (just for fun, not in any type of competition). In fact they were the first females to accomplish the task in any type of modern conveyance for that matter. Their three month long transcontinental mission was accomplished on September 2. The fanfare in the media surrounding their effort made the ride seem more like a vacation than a political statement or historical achievement it was intended for. Afterwards, it was no surprise, Adeline’s application to join the military was still rejected, but the point had been made. Women are awesome. While Adeline went on to become a lawyer in NYC, Augusta became a pilot and joined the female flying club called the 99s, which was started by Amelia Earhart. The 99s were considered the inspiration for the Motor Maids MC Club.
Dorothy ‘Dot’ Robinson (Goulding)
Facts: A pioneer for women motorcycle riders, she was the first female to win an AMA event and co-founded Motor Maids Club. Inducted into AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1991. Known as the “First Lady of Motorcycling,” this Australian born AMA Hall of Fame member is the daughter of Jim Goulding, the owner and manufacturer of the famous Goulding Sidecar. The story of her life as a motorcycle rider began before birth when her father hurried her mother, Olive to the hospital in a Goulding sidecar attached to a 1911 Harley-Davidson. In 1923 they relocated the sidecar business to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later to Saginaw, Michigan where the family owned a Harley-Davidson dealership and continued to build sidecars until just after the Great Depression. It was about that time that young Dorothy, aka Dot, really came into her own. Her father had actually ridden a sidecar from NY to San Francisco when they arrived in the US in an effort to prove the durability of his machines and establish dealership contacts across the US along the way. Looking back on it, there is little doubt to what Dot would be destined to do the same. As a teen she worked in the family dealership and eventually gave into the charms of a young man named Earl Robinson who would later become her husband. The couple acquired Dot’s father’s dealership with the help of Arthur Davidson (one of the founders of Harley-Davidson) in 1932 and eventually moved it to Detroit where they would go on to etch their names in the history of motorcycling. Together they would compete in numerous races as both solo riders and a sidecar duo, with Dot taking countless victories in her signature red livery. She would later become known for wearing pink gear as she distanced herself from the black leather bikers usually wore. In 1935 they even set the transcontinental sidecar record from New York to Los Angeles with a time of 89 hours and 58-minutes. Dot put her personal stamp on things by winning the 500-mile long Jack Pine Enduro Sidecar A-class in 1940 and 1946 against the male riders. The victory in 1940 established her as the first woman to win an AMA National competition. In addition to racing sidecar motorcycles, running a business and raising a family, Mrs. Robinson also co-founded the legendary Motor Maids of America, the original all-female motorcycle club with her friend and fellow motorcycle hall of fame member, Linda Dugeau. The Motor Maids are credited with bringing more female riders into the sport than any other organization at the time and they are still in operation to this day. She continued to race and win through the 1960s before selling of their business in 1972 and doing what most hall of fame motorcycle riders do: They retired, moved to Florida and continued riding, just for the fun of it.
Source: J&P Cycles Article courtesy Thunder Roads® Magazine Tennessee
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Special Needs by Calvin Keim Model Cat James Trike built by Calvin Keim
I have always wanted to ride but having a special needs son would make it a challenge. First I thought of a side car but it was out of our budget. So in 2005, I bought and started taking apart a 1974 VW Super Beetle thinking it wouldn’t take me long to convert it into a trike. With a lot of thinking, I used as much of that car as I possibly could – the curves from the center to the outside are fenders – the trunk lid and door skins are parts of the roof and flat surfaces – the hood was sectioned into 6 pieces to make the front spoiler. All the aluminum came from scrap metal (with hours of polishing) and I finished out and did all the molding for the interior and wiring. Needless to say, it was countless hours of body work and fabrication. I don’t have a fancy shop and I did all my cutting with either a hack saw or grinder – the old school way. In May of 2016 – yes, 11 years later, I put “Special Needs” on the road and I’ve put 2,000 miles on her and my son loves riding more than I could have imagined. How “Special Needs” compares to my sons world: •
The curves and flowing body line represents my sons flexible extremities and how our lives need to be flexible
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The screen windows are how we have to “screen” countless things
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The teardrop tail lights for all the happy and sad times we go through
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The Fragile X rear bumper for the disability my son has The wheelie bar to keep us from falling backwards
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The yellow on my trike signifies extra caution we must take for all our children’s safety
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•
The “manly pink” burgundy is a rich, strong color like we must be for our kids – strong with courage and rich with love
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Black for the uninformed and the shine is for the bright smiles of my son and all special needs children and the friendship they bring to everyone’s lives.
I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart and my sons that donated ideas, parts, nuts and bolts, patience, support, friendship and love. You can follow the trike on Facebook “Special Needs Trike”. Oh, the “Special Needs” suspended in the rear window is for HOPE – hope that you won’t leave a child with special needs “hanging” – smile back and say hi – after all, they are very, very special www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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S K I N A R T
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FROM ACROSS THE POND
1959 A10 Rocket 650 twin. This was BSA in her prime.
“THE WORLD’S LARGEST MOTORCYCLE AUCTION” BY ANDY TALLONE
This year, Mecum had nearly 1,000 bikes, in a 4-day auction that ran from Wednesday, January 25 through Saturday, January 28, at the South Point Hotel & Casino (as usual). And as usual, we stayed at the South Point, which means we shared elevators, restaurants and gaming tables with other bike nuts like ourselves. A nice bonus. Add to this another 200-or-so bikes at the Bonhams Auction in a 1-day sale on Thursday, across town at the Rio. It was quite a week, whether you were buying or selling, or like me...just looking. Or rather, taking pictures...lots and lots of pictures. Of British bikes, did I mention British bikes?
Classic-British-Motorcycles.com
Mecum auctioned nearly 1,000 bikes in their usual raucous, high-energy, rapid-fire style over 3-1/2 days. While the collector car industry has many major auctions throughout the year, in the classic motorcycle biz, there is really only big one: Las Vegas Auction Week. Billed as “The Worldʼs Largest Motorcycle Auction”, it used to be called the MidAmerica Auction, when that family-run auction house was the only one in Vegas, having established it as THE place to buy or sell classic bikes. MidAmerica started in Vegas in 1990 and came with hundreds of motorcycles every January since, with later auctions stretching out to 3 days and 700 bikes. The gettinʼ in Vegas was so good that it attracted other auction houses, including Bonhams, RM Auctions and now Mecum to cash in on the crowds the MidAmerica auction was drawing. In 2011, there were 3 auctions competing against one another during the same 3 days. In fact, the competition between MidAmericaʼs 3-day sale and RMʼs 3-day sale was so intense that it got a little ugly that year. Sometime after that, the owners of MidAmerca decided to sell their business to classic car auction giant Mecum Auctions, who has been running it ever since. RM went home, so now its Mecum with a 4-day sale, against Bonhamsʼ 1-day sale.
This was just two of six rows of bikes in this room alone, and there was another room like this! Mecumʼs is a classic fast-paced, high-energy American-style auction with the auctioneer rattling off bids like a machine gun, and ringmen jumping up and down screaming and waving their arms to relay bids from the audience. Itʼs a lot of fun to watch, but hard to imagine them keeping up this pace for 3-1/2 solid days. Yet if youʼve ever seen a Mecum classic car auction on TV, you know that they never let up. In stark contrast is Bonhamsʼ very-English style sale. In no apparent hurry to get out the bids, it sounds more like a stuffy art auction you see in the movies. The auctioneer takes his time with each bid, repeating it several times slowly, speaking in measured tones, pausing to give everyone time, and all with that very formal British accent. Obviously, itʼs tougher to achieve that razor-edge buying frenzy when you’re speaking so slowly, but somehow they pull it off, ever year. After all, Bonhams is the worldʼs oldest auction house, having started in 1793, so they know a thing or two.
This 1965 BSA A65 Lightning sold for just $7,750. Bonhams ran almost 200 bikes through in one day, in true British-style. 24 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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Funny thing about Bonhams this year, though. They moved from the Imperial Palace to this new venue at the Rio, which appears to be too small for this event. To offset this, they packed the bikes in too closely together, then hired a crack team of black-jacketed security zealots to keep everyone away from the bikes, so that they wouldnʼt get bumped. Ever heard of an auction where the bidders are not allowed to view the inventory? It was a little crazy, and many bidders seemed to be very put off by it. There was a total disconnect between the auction company, who just wanted to sell all these bikes, and the security people, who thought it was their job to shield them. And some of them werenʼt very nice about it. Iʼm sure Bonhams will feel the sting in their results, and will likely change to a larger venue next year, and hopefully a much nicer security team.!
This was one of five ʼ79 Bonneville Specials at Mecums. This one sold for $13,000. Both auctions hit some stellar sales numbers, and as usual the pattern seems to be that the high-dollar stuff goes for crazy money, the lower bargain-basement bikes go pretty cheap (sometimes), and everything else is all over the board. As an example, there were five 1979 Triumph T140D Bonneville Specials. They all looked pretty much the same (all T140Ds are painted black with gold pinstriping). One sold for $3,000, another for $13,000 with the others in the middle somewhere. How can you account for that? Itʼs the magic of the auction. In that way, itʼs like sports: You never know whatʼs going to happen.
This 1954 Triumph 6T Thunderbird bid to $22,000 but failed to meet the sellerʼs reserve. I attend these auctions every year, and I have been noticing a general trend away from classic British bikes, as more Japanese bikes achieve classic status. It makes perfect sense; the same thing happens in the classic car biz (Iʼm also into classic cars). Itʼs widely known that car buffs will have a special love for a certain group or age of cars that were cool when they were young, and theyʼll carry that affection through their entire lives, driving those markets. When I first got into cars, there were still plenty of guys into Model T Fords, Model As, flathead V8s, and other prewar stuff, the cars they grew up with. As time went on, those guys got old and so the market for, and the value of, those cars declined. The next crop of car enthusiasts was already in control, and they were into postwar 40s and 50s cars. They rose and fell too, then the next batch came up, guys like me, who were into Tri-Five Chevyʼs and 60s muscle cars. continued...
This 1949 Vincent Black Shadow sold for $110,000. The high-dollar bikes as usual were the very old stuff, things like 4-cylinder Hendersons (the top 3 bikes were all Hendersons, with a 1912 selling for $490,000 at Mecums), old Indians, especially Indian Fours (top sale at Mecum was $90,000), tons of old Harleys, and a few, very few, high-end British bikes. Two of the most valuable British collector motorcycles today are the Vincent Black Shadow (Mecumʼs top sale was $110,000), and the Brough-Superior (the bike that Lawrence of Arabia rode). No Broughs this year, but boatloads of Vincents. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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We too are now reaching that age, and cars from the 70s and 80s are gaining popularity as a result. After that, it could be Turbo Rice Rockets, and then...who knows? Classic electric cars maybe. The same thing is happening to motorcycles. All the old guys who grew up with Brit bikes, when they were just about the only thing to ride, are now retiring. The people buying classic bikes today came up after the Brit bike guys. These new guys grew up on Honda 350s and Yamaha 250 enduros. I was right on the cusp of that, growing up.
1967 BSA A50 Road Racer, it failed to sell. Who knows what will come after these new guys gray, but for now, Japanese bikes are hot! Out of the nearly 1,000 bikes that ran through Mecumʼs auction in 3-1/2 days, fully 37% were Japanese bikes, followed by American bike at 28%, then British bikes falling to just 21%, trailed by European bikes at 14%. There was a time, not too many years ago, when the biggest chunk of bikes sold were old Brit bikes. Time marches on...
You can buy anything in Vegas. Evel Knievel rode the “Stratocycle” in the movie “Viva Kvievel”. It bid to $50,000 but didnʼt sell. Itʼs a ʼ76 Sportster underneath.
In the end, even if youʼre not looking to buy or sell a motorcycle, this weeklong event (counting the run-up and cool-down) is like the worldʼs largest motorcycle show. Strolling down aisle after aisle of gorgeous bikes is like taking a trip through time, finding the one you used to own, or always wanted, or that your buddy had. And thereʼs lots of other cool stuff there too, not just bikes. Vendors and auction sellers alike offer a wide range of hard-to-find, or never-seen-before items. Itʼs like a fire sale, a candy store, and a time machine all rolled into one. And to top it all off, itʼs in Las Vegas! Donʼt miss the next one.
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Get the whole story at www.classic-british-motorcycles.com 26 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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Tasty Recipes All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and biker approved.
Beef and Guinness Stew I am not usually a fan of stew, but this one is hard to resist. It has a wonderful deep rich flavor that is hard to resist. I don’t put potatoes in the stew because I serve it with colcannon or garlic mashed potatoes. 2 1/2 lb rump roast 3 Tbs oil 2 Tbs flour Salt and freshly ground black pepper pinch of cayenne 2 large onions, coarsely chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 2 Tbs tomato paste, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water 1 1/2 cups Guinness 2 cups of beef broth 2 cups largely diced carrots, chunks should be the same size as the meat 2 Sprigs of fresh thyme Chopped parsley, for garnish Trim the roast of any fat/gristle, and cut into 2-inch cubes. Pat the meat cubes dry with a paper towel or smooth dish cloth. Toss beef with 1 tablespoon of the oil. In a small bowl, season the flour with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Toss and lightly coat the meat with the seasoned flour. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in an oven safe Dutch oven (I use a ceramic coated iron pan) over medium high heat. Brown the meat on all sides in small batches (If the meat does not brown the heat is not high enough). Transfer each batch to a plate while cooking the next batch. Reduce the heat, add the onions and cook until just opaque (about 3 - 5 minutes). Add the garlic and tomato mixture to a to the skillet, cover, and cook gently for approximately 1 minute. Pour half of the Guinness into the pan. Bring Guinness to a boil, stir and scrape with a wooden spoon to dissolve the caramelized meat juices on the pan. Add the meat, along with the remaining Guinness and beef broth to the pan. Add the carrots and thyme and stir to combine all the ingredients. Cover the casserole and simmer over low heat on the stove top, or in a 300 degree oven until the meat is tender, www.thunderroadscolorado.com
approximately 2 to 3 hours. Garnish the stew with parsley and serve with colcannon or mashed potatoes
Colcannon
The first time I had this recipe was many years ago on St. Patrick’s day when I first met Patrick’s family. This dish was described to me and I automatically turned up my nose because I am not a cabbage fan. I resolved to try it anyway. I am so happy I did, it is delicious!!! A great twist on mashed potatoes! 1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed into large chunks 6 scallions, sliced 4 Tbs butter pepper 1 1/2 cup milk, scalded 1 1/2 cup green cabbage, finely shredded 1 Tbs chopped parsley salt Boil and cook the potatoes until soft. Drain in a colander once cooked. Transfer the hot potatoes into a bowl. Slice the scallions (both white and green part) on the bias 1/4 to 1/8 inch wide. Combine cooked potatoes with 2 tablespoons of butter and all the scalded milk Beat until light and fluffy. Fold in the scallions Cook the cabbage the cabbage until tender Melt the remaining butter Toss cooked shredded cabbage gently into melted butter Gently fold into mashed potatoes and add salt and pepper to taste. Put into serving dish and dot with butter Original Author: Gladys Kelly Byrne Irish Coffee 2 oz Irish whiskey 1 tsp sugar hot coffee 2 tsp whipped cream In a glass Irish coffee mug, combine all the whisky and sugar. Add hot coffee to fill the mug and stir to dissolve the sugar. Top with whipped cream.
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MARCH 2017 Irish Poker Run & Party 3/11/2017 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM 4250 Byrd Dr, Loveland, Colorado 80538 POKER RUN: 9-11 a.m.: Registration & Breakfast (while supplies last) 4 p.m.: Last stop at Thunder Mountain H-D & Awards (Must be present at 4pm) $20 1st hand and $5 each additional hand per rider. PARTY: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. All day St. Paddy’s Day celebration! Irish fare green beer, Irish music, henna tattoos, naughty Leprechauns and more! Lydia’s Sewing will be onsite too! tmharley.com ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT REALITIES FOR CHILDREN! Girls & Gears 3/11/17 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 3761 Monarch St, Frederick, Colorado 80516 Girls and Gears is a ladies only night full of motorcycles, and fun. Seasoned riders and non-riders welcome! There will also be complimentary food and drinks. * PLEASE RSVP! *
APRIL 2017
Rebel Queenz April bdays LEATHER ‘N LACE Event 4/1/2017 8:00 PM – Close Y-Not Bar 6331 Washington Street Denver, CO 80216 $10 per person $15 per couple Entry fee includes a plate and drink. Raffles and great music! Ladies put on your sexiest leather or lace and come party with Denver’s favorite female biker babes and celebrate a few of the girls including my birthdays!!! It’s going to be great night so save the date!! Gentlemen you’re going to want to be there!!! Get Outta Your Cage Run 4/2/2017 10:00 Registration Rudy’s BBQ 315 S. 31st Colorado Springs, CO 80904 28 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
1st Bike out at 10:30 AM Last Bike Out 11:00 AM Ends at VFW Hall 841 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204 $10 per person includes 3 raffle tickets $15 per couple includes 6 raffle tickets Speaker, food and raffle Devil Dog MC 4th Annual F* Cancer Ride 4/22/2017 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 1350 S. Broadway Street in Denver Registration begins at 9:00 am and motorcycles go out at 12:00 pm. There is no ride fee but donations will be accepted. Auctions of donated items will be held before the ride. The ride will include stops in Golden, and at Ft. Logan Cemetery before ending in Denver. Stops will include food, a chance to meet the guest of honor, and a tribute to our fallen brothers and will end with the guest of honor, family, friends and more. This ride is to honor a child who is battling cancer or is in remission from Cancer. This year we honor a little boy who has battled brain cancer. Proceeds go to the child and his family. The 4th Annual Devil Dog MC F* Cancer Ride will be held in Honor of Sean Terry. This is a charity ride to benefit people who have cancer. (719) 393-2220 www.devildogsmotorcycleclub.com www.facebook.com/events/741760309309081/ AMSOIL AX Arenacross - Denver 4/22/2017 – 4/23/2017 Denver Coliseum 4600 Humboldt St Denver, CO 80216 4/22/2017 Main Event (Opening Ceremonies) - 7PM Doors Open - 6PM Sunday Amateur Day - April 23, 2017 Main Event (Opening Ceremonies) - 12PM Doors Open - 8AM Ticket Prices Tickets start at $15 Sunday General Admission - $10 * Additional fees may apply. **Prices subject to change. Track Party Get an up-close look at the riders, machines, and obstacles used to soar through the air at unimaginable heights and speeds. Take pictures and get autographs with the AMSOIL Arenacross riders, Monster Energy Girls and ACM-nominated DJ KO as they pump up the pre-race adrenaline and get the night started in the most exciting way possible! Bring an empty Monster Energy can to recycle and get free entrance to the
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track party. Track Passes will also be available for sale at the box office and ticket outlets for $10. A Track Pass and valid event ticket are required for entry. Rider autographs are not guaranteed. Entry to track party closes at 5:45pm. 800-216-7482 rtillman@feldinc.com www.arenacross.com/
MAY 2017
Valiants MC 2nd Annual Charity Poker Run 5/6/2017 9:45 AM - 4:00 PM Valiants MC North Chapter 2nd annual poker run benefiting Healing Warriors program. Healing Warriors is a local charity that’s helps veterans with injuries, PTSD, as well as their families. Matts Place Bar and Grill 6013 S College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-646-1253 S.conaway@live.com
ADD YOUR RIDE, RALLY OR RUN TO OUR FREE EVENTS LISTING PAGE Send us your event information whether on-Road or off-road, rides, runs, rallies and events for all types of motorcycles and three wheelers. We will list it free in our events listing for that month! events@ thunderroadscolorado. com or 720-458-3134.
Pinup Girl Poker Run 5/13/2017 3005 West 29th Street F Greeley, CO 80631 The start location for the Poker Run is at the Airborne Aces Flying Tigers’ parking lot. Registration starts at 10AM and KSU at 11AM. The fee is $20/ rider and $15/passenger. You Must Be 21 to Participate. Best Poker Hand Worst Poker Hand Best Pin-Up Contest 50/50 Raffle Bikini Bike Wash There will be awards for the best hand, worst hand, and pinup contest. Phone: 970-352-2042 www.facebook.com/events/1612159939092723/
Need Your Oil Changed?
DO IT YOURSELF! WE’LL TEACH YOU HOW AT OUR “HARLEY MECHANICS 101” CLASS. In 1 Day you will learn how to change your Harley’s fluids, adjust cables, and more. CALL US FOR MORE INFO
Thunder & Lightning Cycles LLC 3986 S. Broadway Englewood, CO 80113 720.287.1670 thunderlightningcycles@live.com
Burnout Competition 5/21/17 11:00 AM Greeley’s Reliable Used Motorcycle Parts & Service LLC 115 N 8th Ave, Greeley, Colorado 80631 Come join us for our 2nd Annual Burnout Competition! Day full of family fun. Food and drinks available. Come and participate in the burnout and get 20% off your new tires. Winner gets brand new tire and install. Viewers choose winner. Raffle with tons of prizes. Burnouts start at 2pm. Come join us and watch rubber burn. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
The crash data indicate that visual-manual interaction (an action that requires a user to look away from the roadway and manipulate a button or interface) with portable devices, particularly cell phones, is often the main distraction for drivers involved in crashes.
BUTCH HARBAUGH, GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN It is with great sadness that we report the death of longtime Freedom Fighter, Butch Harbaugh, former Chairman of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists - Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF), among other positions. Butch passed away February 7th from heart failure and cancer. “When I began as the AIM (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) and NCOM Attorney for Oregon back in the late 1980’s, Butch was actively involved with ABATE, and with BikePAC since it was founded,” recalls Sam Hochberg, AIM Attorney Emeritus, and now Of Counsel to Christopher Slater, Oregon & Washington AIM Attorney. “He spent many years as the lobbyist for ABATE, and was well-known, respected and liked by many in the legislature in Salem.” A biker rights activist since the 1970s, Butch attended and helped organize many STEAM conferences and ABATE/BikePac planning retreats. He was a regular at many ABATE runs around the state, often helping AIM Chief of Staff “Gunny”, now retired, at the AIM/NCOM tables, and was known and highly respected in the biker’s rights community nationwide. Butch also participated in many NCOM Conventions, and in 2003 was bestowed with the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award, NCOM’s highest tribute. This year’s 32nd Annual Convention, to be held over Mother’s Day weekend May 11-14th in Reno, Nevada at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, will be dedicated in his honor. For the past dozen or so years, Butch lived with his loving wife Laura in Rigby, Idaho, where he enjoyed riding his Panhead and was active in the home-brewing community. Always friendly, engaging and enthusiastic about motorcycles and biker’s rights, he will be greatly missed. With the 32nd Annual NCOM Convention in Reno just weeks away, at this time the National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MROs, motorcycle clubs, and riding associations submit the names of those members and supporters who have died since last May, so that we may honor their memories during the traditional “Ringing of the Bell” tribute to fallen riders during the opening ceremonies. Dedications should be e-mailed in advance to Bill Bish at NCOMBish@aol.com, or can be hand-delivered at the Convention to “Doc” Reichenbach, NCOM Chairman of the Board.
In 2015, 10% of the 35,092 traffic fatalities involved one or more distracted drivers, and these distraction-affected crashes resulted in 3,477 fatalities, an 8.8% increase from the 3,197 fatalities in 2014. Of the 5.6 million non-fatal crashes in 2014, 16% were distraction-affected crashes, and resulted in 424,000 people injured. At any given time, an estimated 542,073 drivers are using hand-held cell phones while driving. Currently no safety guidelines exist for portable device technologies when they are used during a driving task. RESEARCHERS BLAME “OTHER DRIVERS” FOR MOST MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS An Australian study states “failure of other drivers to give way” as the most common factor in motorcycle accidents. Research by Monash University in Melbourne has found that human error was the primary contributing factor for 94% of bike accidents. “Whilst with single-bike crashes, rider error and loss of control were found to be the most common causes, for incidents involving more than one vehicle, it was found that ‘motorcycle crashes occurring in lighter traffic more likely involved an error by another driver, including such things as failure to give way’.” The motorcycle crash research studied over two hundred and thirty accidents between January 2012 and August 2014, with nurses at the hospitals and crash scene investigators aiding with the compilation of the data. “Whilst car drivers were responsible for the majority of accidents in less-dense traffic, it was the motorcyclist to be more likely at fault for most ‘urban’ crashes and collisions however,” Trevor Allen of the Monash University Research Centre told The Herald Sun newspaper, adding that this was most likely due to the greater frequency of danger; “Higher traffic density leads to more hazards and a higher level of difficulty for riders to move safely in and among traffic, compared with other vehicles.” The research also found that the older the rider, the less likely it was that the rider was primarily to blame for the accident. STUDY SHOWS MOTORCYCLE MARKET EXPANDS WHILE E-MOTO SALES FLATTEN
NHTSA SEEKS TO CURB DRIVER DISTRACTIONS The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing new federal guidelines to provide a safety framework for developers of portable and aftermarket electronic devices to use when developing visual-manual user interfaces for their systems. According to NHTSA and the Department of Transportation (DOT), their “Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for Portable and Aftermarket Devices” [Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0137] will “encourage innovative solutions such as pairing and Driver Mode that, when implemented, will reduce the potential for unsafe driver distraction by limiting the time a driver’s eyes are off the road, while at the same time preserving the full functionality of these devices when they are not used while driving.” Driver distraction is a specific type of inattention that occurs when drivers divert their attention away from the driving task to focus on another activity. This distraction can come from electronic devices, such as texting or emailing on cell phones or smartphones, and more traditional activities such as interacting with passengers, eating, or events external to the 30 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
According to a study by the market research company Freedonia Group, global demand for all types of motorcycles is projected to climb 3.8% per year through 2020 to 113 million units. Internal combustion engine (ICE) models have historically dominated the global motorcycle market, but demand for e-bikes and electric scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds has grown rapidly. In 2005, electric models accounted for just 22% of worldwide motorcycle sales. Their share of the market grew to 35% in 2015, as the use of electric motorcycles in China increased sharply. “Multiple developed countries – particularly Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S. – also registered rapid electric product sales growth during the 2010-2015 period,” said analyst Gleb Mytko. Global demand for ICE motorcycles is forecast to increase 5.5% per year through 2020, according to Freedonia Group’s World Motorcycle Sales Study, with advances fueled by strong ICE product sales gains in a wide range of industrializing
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nations. As personal incomes in these countries rise between 2015 and 2020, more households will be able to afford motorcycles. Improving market conditions in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and other mature markets will contribute to growth as well. Worldwide sales of e-bikes and electric motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds is projected to be flat during the 2015-2020 period because of declining product demand in China, by far the world’s largest market for electric models, though demand for electric motorcycles outside of that country is forecast to grow at a double-digit annual pace. In developed nations, e-bikes will continue to rapidly capture market share from bicycles. LANE-SPLITTING BILL INTRODUCED IN LONE STAR STATE Texas is contemplating becoming only the second state, after California, to allow motorcycle riders to split lanes in heavy traffic under certain conditions. Senate Bill 228 was introduced on December 9, 2016, and if passed would make it legal for motorcycles to ride between lanes of traffic on limited-access or controlled-access highways during periods of traffic congestion at a speed not more than 5 mph above the speed of other traffic, and only if that traffic is moving at 20 mph or less. Lane-splitting, which was a long-standing but legally-ambiguous practice in California until it was made legal there in 2016, is common in Europe where motorcycles typically “filter” to the front of the line at intersections and ride between lanes of traffic in crowded cities. Lane-splitting advocates in the U.S. cite the safety of the practice overseas as well as its effect on reducing traffic congestion. MISSISSIPPI CONSIDERS LOWERING SALES TAX ON MOTORCYCLES Legislation has been introduced (House Bill No. 1631 by Representative Steve Hopkins R-D7) which would “reduce the sales tax rate on retail sales of motorcycles from 7% to 5%,” as well as reduce the sales tax on other agricultural and farming products. On February 15, the legislation was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. QUINCY MIDNIGHT MOTORCYCLE BAN - FALSE! According to the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), a recent report on quincy.com indicating that the City of Quincy, MA, has instituted a ban against any motorcycle being ridden between the hours of Midnight www.thunderroadscolorado.com
and 5am, unless exempted for work or emergency purposes, is NOT correct. Although such a proposal was indeed filed, the council member who introduced it “immediately asked that it be withdrawn” after learning that such a proposal would not be legal. NCOM CONVENTION ROLLS INTO RENO The 32nd annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-14, 2017 at the Silver Legacy Resort-Casino, located at 407 N. Virginia St. in Reno, Nevada so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $99 by calling (800) 687-8733 and mention “GNCOM17”. The largest gathering of motorcycle rights activists in the world, this year’s NCOM Convention will draw over a thousand concerned bikers from across the country to the “Biggest Little City in the World” to engage in serious discussions on topics of concern to all riders. All motorcyclists are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the many meetings, seminars and group discussions that focus on legislative efforts and litigation techniques to protect our riders’ rights and preserve Freedom of the Road. Topics will range from legal and legislative issues to organizational effectiveness, with Special Meetings for Veterans Affairs, Women in Motorcycling, Clean & Sober Roundtable and World of Sport Bikes, as well as the Christian Unity Conference and Confederation of Clubs Patch Holders Meeting. NCOM has successfully outreached to numerous segments of the motorcycling community in an effort to unite for our rights, both legal and legislatively, and has become a unifying voice amongst North America’s motorcycle rights organizations (MROs), motorcycle clubs, women riders, religious riding organizations, touring groups, trikers, sportbikers, and minority motorcyclists. To pre-register for the 2017 NCOM Convention, contact the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com. QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” ~ Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), statesman, author, and inventor
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One morning, three West Virginia (by God) Rednecks and three Politicians were in a ticket line at a train station. The three Politicians each bought a ticket and watched as the three Rednecks bought just one ticket. “How are the three of you going to travel on only one ticket?” asked one of the Politicians. “Watch and learn,” answered one of the boys from West Virginia. All six boarded the train where the three Politicians sat down, but the three Rednecks crammed into a toilet together and closed the door. Shortly after the train departed, the conductor came around to collect tickets. He knocked on the toilet door and said, “Ticket, please.” The door opened just a crack and a single arm emerged with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on. The Politicians saw this happen and agreed it was quite a clever idea. Indeed, so clever they decided to do the same thing on the return trip and save some money. That afternoon when they got back to the station, they bought a single ticket for the return trip and watched, while to their astonishment, the three Rednecks didn’t buy even one ticket. “How are you going to travel without a ticket?” asked one of the perplexed Politicians. “Watch and learn,” answered the three West Virginia boys in unison. When they boarded the train, the three Politicians crammed themselves into a toilet and the three Rednecks crammed into another toilet just down the way. Shortly after the train began to move, one of the Rednecks left their toilet and walked over to the toilet in which the Politicians were hiding. The Redneck knocked on the door and said, “Ticket, please”. ___________________________________________________
A DEA Agent stopped at a ranch in Texas and talked to an old rancher. He told the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs.” The rancher said, “okay, but don’t go into that field over there...”, as he pointed out the location. The DEA Agent verbally exploded and said, “look mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me!” Reaching into his rear back pocket, the arrogant officer removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher. “See this authentic badge?! This badge means I can go wherever I want... On any land! No questions asked, no answers given! Do you understand old man?!”The rancher kindly nodded, apologized, and went about his chores. Moments later, the rancher heard loud screams, he looked up and saw the DEA agent running for his life, being chased by the ranchers big Santa Gertrudis Bull...... With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it was likely that he’d sure enough get gored before he reached safety. The officer was clearly terrified. The old rancher threw down his tools, ran as fast as he could to the fence, and yelled at the top of his lungs..... “Your Badge!.......Show him your Authentic Badge!” ___________________________________________________
Little Johnny came down for breakfast one morning and asked his Grandma, “Where’s Mom and Dad?” and she replied, “They’re still up in bed.” Little Johnny giggled and left. He came back in for lunch and asked “Where’s Mom and Dad?” and Grandma gave the same reply. Again he giggled and left. Then he came in for dinner and once again he asked his Grandma, “Where’s Mom and Dad?” and his Grandmother replied, “Gracious, they’re still up in bed!” Little Johnny started to laugh and his Grandmother asked, “What gives? Every time I tell you they’re still up in bed you start to laugh! What is going on here?” Little Johnny replied, “Well, last night Daddy came into my bedroom and asked me for the Vaseline and I gave him my jar of super glue for my model airplanes by mistake.” www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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PHOTOGRAPHERS: CARRIE MCCAULEY, VICKIE MULLIN 34 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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