Watch Your Back!

By: Jerry Smith

Baseball great Satchel Paige once said, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Good advice, maybe, for a seemingly ageless pitcher, but not so good for motorcyclists, especially when they're stopped at an intersection and don't see the distracted driver bearing down on them from behind. It takes more than a working brake light to prevent being bunted into a busy intersection or squashed like a bug between two bumpers. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting caught in a squeeze play.

As you decelerate for a stoplight, check your mirrors to see if the traffic behind you is slowing down, too. Touch the brakes several times to flash your brake lights. Be extra vigilant if you decide to stop for a fresh yellow light in case the guy behind you decides to run it. And while we don't generally advocate running a yellow, that's your best course of action if it's clear that the car behind you is planning to.

Now that you've stopped, be ready to go again in a heartbeat in case the space you're in seems in imminent danger of being occupied by a speeding car. Position your bike on either side of the greasy center of the lane. Leave the transmission in gear and hold the clutch in. If that's not practical, put your right foot down, leave your left foot on the peg ready to engage first gear, and cover the clutch lever.

Always have an out in case the car in your mirror is becoming alarmingly large, alarmingly quick. If you're turning left and there's a curb or a median to your left and a car in front of you, position your bike on the right side of the lane so you can slip around the car if necessary. But be aware of through traffic coming up behind you that's not slowing down to turn. Stop far enough back from the car ahead to give yourself room to maneuver. If your front tire is inches from a bumper, you won't be able to turn without backing up first. That's a bad place to be.

In addition to bike placement, bike equipment can help tip the odds in your favor. Keep your mirrors clean and adjusted properly, and if all you can see in them is your elbows, swap them out for ones that do what mirrors are supposed to do. Check your brake light and taillights often, invest in some auxiliary brake lights, and add some reflective tape to the back of your bike for night riding. Every little bit helps.

"Where are you riding to?" vs "What do you do?"

By: Rocky Marks

Back in 1998 I remember taking a sociology class. One of the things we talked about or statuses, hierarchies if you will.

Today status is common forms of jobs where you are in management where you aren't in management and many people judge you based on what it is you do or do not do for a living.

For motorcyclists that's different though, the traditional what do you do for living turns into where are you going or perhaps what do you ride? The what do you ride doesn't necessarily indicate a status is simply a question to get the conversation started between two people that have a common bond on the road.

It's been my experience that most of the time people learn what other people do once they are gathered around a dinner table and start talking about work family and children. After that is still does not change the makeup of the crowd.

I shouldn't say I should say does not take up the dynamic makeup of I should say that it does not change the dynamic makeup of the group

I've been on rides with the unemployed disabled the hourly workers the minimum-wage workers salaried employees middle-management upper management CEOs CFOs and Supreme Court justices. And you know what they are all the same.

They are riders. Whether it is you're around seasonal or just a few times a month they are riders and they enjoy the fellowship on the road the investment they have between their legs and the camaraderie that they share with other riders.

I'd rather not get into the question of what is a real rider.  Usually those debates are started by those that are insecure about their own status as a rider.

2014 Schedule of National Bike Runs & Rallies

March 7 - 16: Bike Week 2014,Daytona Beach, FL

The kickoff event of the motorcycling year. Thaw out your bike and ride on down!

March 15: The Daytona 200, Daytona, FL

You don't have to be a racing fan to appreciate the skill on display at the Daytona 200, America's most historic motorcycle race. The kick-off to the 2014 motorcycle road season.

April 2 - 6: Arizona Bike Week, Mesa, AZ

This one gets bigger every year. If the April dates aren't enough for you, there are even Pre-Rally Days from March 28 to April 1.

April 23 - 27: Laughlin River Run, Laughlin, NV

Laughlin is billed as "the largest motorcycle event on the west coast." Help make it even bigger by attending this year.

May 25: Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, Washington, DC

This annual ride through our nation's capital is designed to bring attention to POW/MIA issues. 2014 marks the 27th year for the charity event, which raises awareness, funds and pulse rates.

June 2 - 7: Americade, Lake George, NY

The world's biggest all-brand touring rally gathers on the shores of beautiful Lake George.

June 14 - 22: Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, NH

America's oldest motorcycle rally returns for its 91st edition this year, and it promises to be a blowout.

June 14 -22: Mother Road Ride Rally , Willowbrook, IL

Riders from around the world fantasize about riding Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Here's a chance to join the 20th annual Rally along the 2,448-mile route.

July 11 - 13: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Lexington, OH

Real vintage bikes from all eras racing around Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, many piloted by vintage motorcycle racers.

August 4 - 10: Sturgis Rally and Races, Sturgis, SD

This year marks the 74th rally.

October 16 - 19: Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach, FL

Close out the riding season with one last warm weather rally. Heading into its 22nd year, Biketoberfest has grown to be a more manageable version of Bike Week, but still plenty fun and exciting.

GREAT Ride to see Kid Rock!

by Rocky Marks

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson had kicked off the summer in Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary fashion with the 3rd Annual ride to see Toby Keith.  Since Kid Rock was part of Harley’s celebration in Milwaukee, what better way to wrap up the summer with one last ride out to First Niagra Pavilion to see the self-proclaimed “American Badass” himself.

Over 500 tickets were sold at the dealership in just a few short weeks and over 400 people showed up for the pre-tailgate party at Hot Metal on Saturday, September 7th!  The party included music, free food and refreshments, and a chance to go back stage at the venue.

During the party Hot Metal Owner, Toby O’Brien and General Manager, Lori Flanigan dished out the food while Rocky Marks played music to a crowd overflowing the parking lot with motorcycles, excitement, and anticipation of the hour-long journey to Burgettstown. 

At 4:30 the Allegheny Sheriff’s Department started leading the bikes out of Hot Metal’s parking lot bringing with them a trail of over 250 motorcycles!  The bikes and their passengers wound their way through the South Hills of Pittsburgh at leisurely, yet non-stop pace.  

Sirens wailed and lights flashed while cars halted as the riders were escorted through busy intersections.  The line of motorcycles gliding down the road two-by-two stretched for an impressive mile during the most of the ride according to the police.

Once out of Allegheny County, the Washington County Sheriff swept in front of the pack of motorcycles aided by Cecil, Smith, and Hanover Townships.  Cecil’s Volunteer Fire Department even placed a truck on the side of the road with it’s ladder stretched out over top the riders as a sign of respect and pride that comes with the gathering of so many free-spirited individuals who share a common love for riding.

The ride lasted about an hour and ended when the parade of motorcycles were escorted into the VIP parking lots.  The smiles, high fives, and general feeling of excitement was apparent as the riders dismounted their bikes and headed for the gates.  They were ready for the show.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson is already working with Live Nation and the First Niagra Pavilion on dates for next year’s rides.  You can go to hotmetalharley.com or faceboook.com/hotmetalharley to get a complete list of events and details as they become available.

The Buzz on Alcohol and Legal Responsibilities

By Attorney Michael Rosenzweig, Esq.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month – a time to discuss injury prevention. Operating a motorcycle requires tremendous concentration and quick reflexes. Since many drivers fail to see motorcycles, a motorcyclist must always be ready to react instantly. Also, deer, dogs, pedestrians, debris on the road, or a pothole can force a rider to stop or swerve suddenly. A motorcyclist relies on training and experience to avoid an accident, but consuming any amount of alcohol affects his or her skills and reflexes.  Basically, drinking alcohol could mean the difference between life and death.

Alcohol affects a rider’s ability to see and react well before reaching the legal limit of .08%. In 2010, approximately 4,500 riders died in motorcycle accidents across the United States. Nearly half had consumed some amount of alcohol, and one third had blood concentrations above .08%.

Myth or Fact?

Many motorcyclists assume that beer has less alcohol than a mixed drink or wine. However, the truth is that a 12 oz. can of beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, and a mixed drink with one shot of liquor all contain about the same amount of alcohol.

Bear in mind that amount of alcohol in your system increases as you consume it more quickly. It takes approximately one hour for a single drink of alcohol to leave your blood system.

There are several factors that determine your BAC:

·         The amount of alcohol you consume

·         How fast you drink

·         Your body weight

·         Whether you take medication

·         Your gender

·         Your physical condition

·         The amount of food in your system when you drink alcohol

DUI Legal Issues

Riding after consuming alcohol not only puts your life and the lives of others in jeopardy, but it also can bury you in a legal mess if you cause an accident while intoxicated.

Motorcyclists who are convicted of riding under the influence may face the following, depending on prior offenses:

·         Jail time

·         Fines

·         License suspension

·         Community service

·         Drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs

·         And other penalties

DUI Liability Issues

What some motorcyclists may not be aware of are the liability issues they may also face as a result of riding under the influence. If you ride drunk and get into an accident, you could be held liable for the injuries that result from the collision – including passenger injuries. You may face insurance issues regarding property damage, and depending on the circumstances, could threaten your financial security if you’re forced to pay for damages out of your own pocket.

You also could face liability issues if you allow a person who has been drinking to ride your motorcycle and they get into an accident, injuring either themselves or others. While you may not have actually caused the accident, you may be held responsible based on negligence to prevent the situation.

The bottom line: Ride sober. If you plan on drinking alcohol, make arrangements to avoid riding afterward. It may be tempting to take the risk, but it’s not worth risking your life, the lives of others, or a mountain of legal problems.

Attorney Michael H. Rosenzweig has over 23 years of experience helping bikers injured in motorcycle accidents. He is a partner and litigation manager at Edgar Snyder & Associates. Visit EdgarSnyder.com for more information on motorcycle accidents and legal tips.

Hot Metal Harley's Bike Show Recap!

“It was a dark and stormy night….” Well actually it was more of a dreary, soggy start to a Saturday when we put up the tents and cones for the 1^st Annual Hot Metal Harley-Davidson Bike Show on Saturday, July 14th.  That didn’t stop the riders from bringing their scoots to the shop.

In between the raindrops, dozens of show-ready bikes pulled into the parking lot to register to compete in one of ten classes to compete for the top trophy.  AJ Haddad, our parts manager organized this bike show and wanted it to be old-school.  “The free reign given to me by Toby and Lori allowed us to do it just like it was back in the day, you know what I mean?” 

Almost as if it was timed, the rain subsided just as registration had come to a close at 11:30.  The microfiber cloths came out and judging began.  The legendary Billy Steele was among the judges along with Steve Jurnak and AJ Haddad.

Billy Steele brought out his “Honey Bagger” Harley-Davidson Road Glide that has been featured in numerous publications and shows across the country.  The entire bike is made of steel (fairing, lowers, and bags included), and boasts an iPad2 as the control for its mammoth stereo system.  In addition to the bagger, Steele brought his Model A Ford, and another custom bike that has a couple of its own trophies. Neither bike was in competition, they were for display only.

The Mon Valley H.O.G. chapter fired up the grill and served over 100 visitors and sold 50/50’s that paid $280 to the winner, while other volunteers manned the vendor booths, beer tent, and tabulated the results.  As each bike came in, they were given a ticket for door prizes worth up to $1,200 from Cut Throat Airbrushing.  That meant even if you didn’t place you could still win a prize.  Once the prizes were handed out, it was time to bring on the trophies.

Here are the 1^st place winners by category:

Non-Harley: Al DiVirgilio

Vintage:  Greg Wisenauer

V-Rod: Scott Kalikowski

Sportster: Matt Dragovich

Dyna:  Bill Schrader

Softail:  Dani Jurnak

Softail Custom: Danny Eggerton

Touring:  Mickey Costeline

Touring Custom:  Denny Eggerton

Best Paint:  Rob Farnsworth

Best of Show:  Rob Farnsworth

Minutes after the Best of Show was announced, rain drops started to once again fall from the sky ever so lightly.  It didn’t seem to bother most, as a great afternoon was had by all who attended the First Annual Hot Metal Harley-Davidson Bike Show.

Jesse James--American Outlaw (a book that I've been reading)

Love him or hate him, Jesse James is a prominent figure in the motorcycle industry as we know it. I want to make it clear that in no way am I "advocating" or "approving of" his actions, including his recent infidelity.  That being said, Lets' get into the book because I haven't been able to put it down since I purchased it a few days ago, and I'm more than half way through.  The book caught my interest because in 2010 I had an opportunity to sit down with Jesse and talk with him for my radio show.

I'm going to jump the gun a little bit.... a book report without finishing the book?  Sure, why not.  The epilogue of the book is him shielding his children from the press in the wake of splitting up with Sandra.  The press in California is relentless.  They stop at nothing to get pictures, including pictures of his innocent kids, which is a shame.  They had nothing to do with it.

Once his kids are dropped off at school, Jesse heads into Long Beach to try and lose the paparazzi.  Long Beach is a place he knows well.  It's where he grew up.  Long Beach, California has been made infamous by rappers like Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Warren G, and many more.

Jesse's life on Long Beach was far from easy.  His parents split at a young age.  His dad had a revolving door of step-moms who really didn't care for him.  He wasn't exactly the model son or model student.  He made his way though school by stealing and joyriding in cars to get around.  His dad made him work the swap meet on the weekend, and that is where Jesse got his knack for salesmanship.

Jesse's release was on the football field.  He was a large kid, making varsity in 10th grade.  And we're not talking 'just' making the team, we're talking starter for offense, defense, and special teams.  Football was good for him.  It got rid of a lot of his pent up energy.

Besides football his other love was for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles--and customizing them.  He even customized automobiles.  In fact during one of his disagreements with his dad, he moved in with his girlfriend and her parents while in high-school.  Of course he was given the rules of the house and for the most part he obeyed it. 

He came home from a legitimate job at a furniture store doing delivery work and found his girlfriend cheating on him.   This was a turning point for Jesse.  Just when he though he had his head screwed on straight, he got knocked back down again.  A friend of his, who was a bad influence stole a whole bunch of camera equipment and didn't have a place to store it, so Jesse agreed to warehouse it and his friend turned on him and Jesse took the wrap because he was underage, and it wouldn't go on his record.

Unfortunately, it cost him several FULL RIDE scholarships to schools all over the country including the University of Pittsburgh.  No one wanted to have a thief on their team, and rightfully so.

The book goes on to talk about some more of his legitimate jobs, welding, fabricating and being a body guard.  In fact, he toured around the world with Danzing as their personal security.   It was when he saw a picture of a 50 year old roadie, that he realized this isn't what he wanted to do for a living.

He went on to work for Performance Machine and Boydd Cottington, the KING of custom and refurbished cars.  In his spare time, he made fenders out of his garage and soon found himself making more money on the fenders than working for the Hot Rod Shop.

At that point he decided to move on and start West Coast Choppers... gaining the attention of the Discovery Channel... and the Jesse James as we knew him at the turn of the century was born..

That's where I am in the book, and I"ll stop here.  Again, I don't condone most of his actions, however, he is a pop culture icon in the motorcycling industry and I think it's a story that needs to be told.  When I finish the book, I will do a "Part 2" blog, but I think we all know where it's going to end.