Born To Ride News

The following is a recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Vehicle Make / Model:      Model Year(s): 

KAWASAKI / EX250      2009-2010

Manufacturer: KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. Mfr’s Report Date: NOV 24, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V464000  N/A

NHTSA Action Number: N/A 

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Potential Number of Units Affected: 259

Summary:

KAWASAKI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 EX250 NINJA 250 MOTORCYCLES. POROSITY IN THE ENGINE CASE COULD ALLOW ENGINE OIL TO LEAK, AND BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE. A SMALL NUMBER OF UPPER ENGINE CASES FOR THE AFFECTED MODEL COULD HAVE POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING. THIS POROSITY OCCURS IN THE VICINITY OF A PRESSURIZED OIL PASSAGE JUST ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT.

Consequence:

ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM THIS LOCATION CAN BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE, CREATING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CHECK FOR LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUSPECTED POROSITY. UNITS EVIDENCING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

Notes:

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

MITCHELL, S.D.— While their original “WFB” (World’s Fastest Bagger) sat on display in Mitchell, South Dakota, Team Klock Werks set out on their annual pilgrimage to the salt. This year was to be a lesson in education and humble attitudes.  The team had decided this past winter to sponsor the World’s Fastest Bagger Traveling Cup Award.  The idea was to award the trophy at the Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials Event held August 30-Spetember 3, 2009, to invite others to compete and to share the true spirit and camaraderie that is racing on the salt.  Team Klock Werks entered into racing in 2006 with the WFB they had built for Discovery Channel’s Biker Build Off series, hoping that more builders and companies would join them, as they felt it would only lead to better performance products for baggers.  True to this vision Klock Werks’ now number one selling part, the patented FLARE Windshield, was born on the salt from a need for downforce to aid in stability.  Safety and stability were so important to president of the company, Brian Klock, because his wife, Laura, is the pilot of the WFB. Since their maiden voyage in 2006, Laura has continued to pilot the WFB, each year improving upon her record as the team continued to learn.  The krew has heard talk each year of teams coming out to share in the challenge of going fast on a bagger, a style of bike that is meant for comfortable highway cruising and wasn’t really intended for racing, but few have come.  So, this year they decided to sponsor the WFB Traveling Cup Award and invite them out!

The idea of the award was presented to S&S, they signed up and offered $500 in S&S product to the winner.  ProCharger also joined the effort and offered $500 towards the purchase of a ProCharger system.  As the award sponsor, Klock Werks threw in $500 in product and a gift certificate for a Flare Windshield.  Some guidelines were put in  place to keep the competition fair and the award was presented.  It is a “traveling” Cup with the name, team and speed of the winner from each year listed and will be passed on year to year.  The winner did not have to set a record – just had to turn in their official timing slip with the contestant’s top speed for a one-way pass.  Obviously the bike the contestant was riding had to be a bagger since it is a bagger award, and this year the award was only offered at the Bub event.   

Four teams arrived to participate in the race for the cup, each with different configurations, motors, and classes, but all sharing a common bond with the challenges a bagger brings.  Chris Rivas of Chris Rivas V-Twin out of Fresno, California, brought his 1999 FLTR with a 135 cubic inch motor that was built and tuned at Chris Rivas V-Twin with S&S sponsored flywheels, cylinders, heads, cams, transmission, clutch and carburetor.  Kevin Edgmon of High Country Harley Davidson in Frederick, Colorado, ran a 2005 FLTRI with a Jim’s 131 and a 5-speed.  Thomas T.R. Reiser of T-Man Performance in Kernersville, North Carolina, brought his 2006 FLH running a 98” motor with a Pro-Charger setup, his T-Man Stage IV Thumper Series top end with T-Man 662-1 Cams.  T-Man, Klock Werks felt, was to be commended for running a batwing style fairing!  And a best wishes and call out to Rob Hassey of RacePro, Inc. who was the pilot of the Rowdy Rooster race team Road King running an S&S 124.  The team planned to add a batwing fairing to the Road King to compete after their initial pass. Unfortunately, Hassey crashed on his first pass and was unable to continue racing the rest of the week.  We hear he’s doing fine and the bike is rehabilitating as well! Hope to see them next year!

And the winner of the WFB Traveling Cup 2009 is…..Chris Rivas with his fastest one way pass of 166.645 mph!  Rivas will retain the WFB Cup for one year.  The rest of the times turned in were very respectable as well! Kevin Edgmon completed a pass at 151.622 mph, and T.R. Reiser had a personal best of 158.103 on his Batwing Fairing 2006 FLH.  Team Klock Werks will admit that it was a challenge to leave the WFB home and sit back and watch, but they wanted to pay tribute to the award respectfully.  Laura stated “It really meant a lot to me personally to meet each of the riders and share the stories, experiences and challenges we have each faced with racing these kinds of bikes.  We wanted to share what racing on the salt has meant to our family and our business with others interested in the same types of bikes in a really positive light, and I think Klock Werks, along with S&S and Pro-Charger, have done that with this award. History is made out there.  We’ve done it with my daughters and I becoming the first mother, daughter, daughter trio in history to hold records at the same time, and again now with being the first groups of teams and riders to challenge each other on these types of touring bikes.  It’s so fun!  We are truly blessed to have to opportunity and to be able to share it.”  Brian Klock adds, “It was fun to see them run and hear the reactions of pro drag racers, motor builders and rookies.  Chris Rivas commented about the time difference between a drag run and a salt run – that was an interesting perspective. A true testament to the diversity of the salt.  It is a special place for us and so many others.”

Klock Werks thanks all the participants that came to the Salt Flats and the co-sponsors of the WFB Traveling Cup – S&S and ProCharger.  Start planning for next year as Rivas will try to defend the WFB Cup!  Klock Werks invites you to visit www.worldsfastestbagger.com to find out more about each of the participants, to see photos of their bikes, and to find links to their websites.  Klock Werks continues to lead the industry, along with other companies like S&S and Pro-Charger, in the design of aftermarket kustom parts and accessories for all motorcycles including their line of WFB (World’s Fastest Bagger) parts specifically designed for touring models.  To see the full spectrum of what Brian Klock and the team at Klock Werks is capable of, as well as S&S and Pro-Charger, please visit http://www.kustombaggers.com/,http://www.kustomcycles.com/, http://www.lauraklock.com/, http://www.sscycle.com/, http://www.procharger.com/.

XR1200s Backflipped on Two Continents

The race was on in late November between two motorcycle daredevils on opposite sides of the world competing to be the first to backflip a Harley Davidson XR1200 motorcycle. Australia’s Kain Saul beat American Chuck Carothers to the punch when he accomplished the feat in Sydney on November 27, just a day ahead of Carothers’ successful jump in Prague. Saul’s jump is believed to be the first ever successful backflip for any fullsize street motorcycle (non-motocross or dirt bike). 

Links to videos of jumps:

Kain Saul in Sydney:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqgwo_WdyRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqgwo_WdyRo>

Kain Saul Practice Jump:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sc9zKil6BY

Chuck Carothers in Prague: http://www.youtube.com/?v=vvivlJt0HTE

Harley-Davidson Gift Cards Now Available Online

Just in time for the holiday gift season, Harley-Davidson Gift Cards are now available for purchase online by visiting h-d.com/giftcard.

Gift Cards can be purchased in any amount from $25 to $250 and are redeemable at 700 authorized, participating Harley-Davidson retail locations nationwide (visit h-d.com/giftcard for a list of participating dealers), at H-D Factory Tour locations, and at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. The H-D Gift Card can be used to purchase most any products sold at H-D dealers including Genuine Parts, Accessories, MotorClothes, Official H-D Licensed Products, Rider’s Edge rider education training, etc. Harley-Davidson Gift Cards can be shipped directly, along with a special message or greeting, to the recipient or can be mailed to the purchaser.

Harley-Davidson Gift Cards have no expiration date, no service fees, and there’s never a fee to use or activate the card.  Lost or stolen cards can be replaced if the cardholder provides the gift card account number and proof of purchase.

 Marissa Miller on Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O-Brien, supermodel Marissa Miller discussed her involvement in Harley-Davidson’s recent Military Appreciation Campaign. A newly licensed motorcyclist, Miller currently owns a 2010 Harley-Davidson Nightster. See the clip of her interview at: http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/episodes/#vid=1179309

Get your shopping done early!
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You’ve purchased your bike, now protect it with Guard My Ride GPS tracking device!

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Some say that everyone has a twin; are they correct?

Read more…

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) offers its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Hugh H. “Harry” Hurt, who died of a heart attack on Nov. 29. He was 81.

Professor Hurt was an award-winning author best known in the motorcycling community for conducting a benchmark motorcycle safety research study in 1981 entitled “Volume I: Technical Report, Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, January, 1981 – Final Report.” Commonly referred to as the “Hurt Report,” the study was widely viewed to be the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century.

In addition to that groundbreaking study, Hurt was the author of dozens of publications in the fields of motorcycle handling, safety, crash analysis, and helmet performance. It was on this basis that Hurt was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007.

“Harry Hurt was an icon in the motorcycling community, and there’s no doubt that his research prevented many motorcycle crashes and saved many lives,” said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. “On a personal level, he was such a good friend to so many people. He will be missed greatly, and yet his legacy will live on and inspire all of us to achieve excellence.”

Hurt was a lifelong motorcyclist. Born in 1927, he grew up and began riding as a kid in west Texas. His first motorcycle was a worn-out Cushman scooter that he brought back to life. Hurt graduated from Texas A&M University in 1950, and became a Navy pilot during the Korean War. After the war, Hurt loaded up his 1947 Harley-Davidson 61 and headed west for California. He completed a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), and soon after he joined the faculty at USC.

The 1970s motorcycle boom led to an increase in crashes, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a contract to study motorcycle accidents. The USC Traffic Safety Center got the job, and Hurt was the professor responsible for carrying out the study. The study’s objectives were to determine the causes of motorcycle crashes, analyze the effectiveness of protective gear, such as safety helmets, and then determine what countermeasures might help prevent crashes or reduce injuries.

Hurt’s investigative team, all of whom were experienced motorcyclists, went to motorcycle accident scenes, day or night, for over two years. The team collected exhaustive data on more than 900 motorcycle accidents, and interviewed 2,310 passing motorcyclists and studied 3,600 police reports from the same area. Numerous recommendations flowed from the study regarding protective apparel, riding practices and rider training.

Hurt summed up his advice about motorcycle safety in one sentence: “There is no magic bullet other than getting smart.” That perspective led the motorcycling community to focus on the creation of research-based rider training and licensing standards, and making them available in every state. As a result, hundreds of thousands of riders have since benefited directly from Hurt’s pioneering work.

“The most satisfying experience for any research scientist is to see public acceptance and wide application of their research results,” said Hurt in a 2007 interview with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. “We were thrilled that the public and industry so widely accepted and used the 1981 report.”

Hurt is survived by his wife Joan; sons Harry and John; three daughters, Julie, Vivien and Vera; and 10 grandchildren.

A remembrance will be held in January in Hurt’s honour at the Head Protection Research Laboratory that he created in Paramount, CA.

Sourec: Dec/3/09   www.insidemotorcycle.com  / Photo courtesy Motorcyclist Magazine

Man, it’s hot outside! Well, of course! It’s summertime in Florida and there is no relief from the heat until you are bombarded by golf ball sized hail from the inevitable afternoon thunderstorm. When I feel it’s getting really unbearable from either weather condition, I will leave the sanctity of my redwood deck and retreat back inside the trailer with my dog and beer. It was on one recent retreat that I learned that none of us would be here too long. Or so it seemed to one particular person.

I have heard of the internet, but I’m not one of those computer literate sort of folks, so when the ol’ lady got one of these “Laptop computer” things I paid little attention to it. “Hey look at this” she hollers from across the room. “It’s this website for the “Institute for Human Continuity.” “What’s that?” I replied. “It’s this thing about the end of the world, and you can apply for a chance to be a survivor!” After a brief examination I determined that the image on the computer screen was impressive. It appears to be a real site which warns people of the ‘end of the world.’ I dunno, I remember that once I wrote about the internet being only useful for Porn, and that assumption was based on a statement being made by a ‘wise’ man that I met, so I approached the vision of the website with great skepticism. Wow! It did look real, and the ol’ lady was enthusiastic about the impending doom, and was showing me how you could join a lottery to be included as a “survivor.” It was at this point that I went from skepticism to disbelief. I mean, how can a stupid computer save you, as a person from the end of the world? I just didn’t make sense. But she was adamant that this was real, and went into great detail about what she had read. As little as I know about the computer or the end of the world for that matter, I decided that it was time to do a little ‘research’ of my own. Nothing will cool you off like quick blast on a motorcycle, so I hollered “see ya!” and fired up the bagger and headed down the road to the Gentlemen’s club for some more alcohol, and some ‘in-depth’ investigation! Here’s what I learned…

According to the Mayan Indians, ‘doomsday’ will happen on December 21, 2012. It seems that the Mayans constructed a calendar that ends on that exact date. … Hmm, all the strange things happening around the world right now, and then some long dead people from the other side of nowhere mess my day up even worse! Just my luck! Then there’s this dude named Nostradamus who seemed to predict the same thing, but wait, he says it going to happen on the 22nd not the 21st which is not surprising to me!

There are other ancient predictors and methods used to calculate such events, but I prefer to use the ‘count the boobies’ method. It’s a simple calculation involving counting the number of boobies you see at the Gentlemen’s club, multiplying by the number of beers you’ve consumed, adding 1,655 (the amount of dollars it typically costs to pay the fine and costs for DUI) and subtracting 2. My calculation revealed that the world would not actually end in 2012 but somewhere in the area of 2029. This number was based on my unique ability of retroactive clairvoyance, and the probable existence of unobvious boobies being hidden from natural view. I am an expert at predicting things after they already happened, and appear to be a Seer when I approach those that have not already ‘heard the news.’

Postdiction aside, there was a level of disappointment in the ol’ lady’s eyes when I told her that the Institute for Human Continuity was actually not a predictor of the end of the world, but merely a very well constructed website advertisement for the movie ‘2012’ which is supposed to come out sometime in November. I also told her that continuous use of the computer could make her anti-social, and just like that tee-vee, it can make you go blind! She called me a colorful name and said she was going to throw me out of the house. I can’t predict the exact date, because it hasn’t happened yet! Until next month, speed safely and stay tuned for more. ….

Editor’s note: Gullibility notwithstanding, more than 11,000,000 people have already signed up for a chance to survive the end of the world. Are they true believers like Craven’s ol’ lady, or are they merely being duped by the entertainment industry? Make your decision by reviewing www.theinstituteforhumancontinuity.org

Even if you ride a box-stock motorcycle, you cannot possibly deny the fact that you enjoy gazing at those custom jobs. Whether it’s a billet laden radical chopper, a bobber or a vintage old school knucklehead chop, each custom motorcycle is an expression of the owners love of the lifestyle and the machine. Lately, sport bikes have undergone tremendous modifications and in the custom world, there is no limitation to what a fertile mind can produce. Extended front ends, stretched swing arms and flashing LED systems aside, one of the more popular accessories out there is the vertical license plate mount. Who knew that after spending several hundred dollars on this popular modification, it would be the one item that keeps on costing?

I saw it with my own eyes. A biker was issued a ticket carrying a heavy monetary penalty for displaying his license plate vertically instead of horizontally (to the ground). I have also overheard a series of similar stories where bikers riding custom motorcycles with this mod have experienced the very same thing. Here, insult is added to injury because persons who desire to customize their motorcycles spend heavily on accessories such as the vertical license plate mount. Sadly, some of you have paid twice.

I’m not a Cop or a Lawyer, but I never remembered having a problem reading a license plate that was not mounted horizontally. I’m not suggesting that I am better than anyone, but I have actually been capable of deciphering the plates when they were mounted upside down and covered with mud. I further am not suggesting that I try to read every license plate, but I do enjoy seeing those ‘vanity’ plates (you know like; HWG WYLD or VIBR8TR or EZ LAY etc.) which by the way cost the owner a little extra, just like their custom parts.

This law was not only ubiquitous to every law enforcement officer (looking to use an equipment violation for probable cause to stop or detain) but it was also deleterious to individuals that enjoy the sleek look a vertical plate mount provides. Customization of a motorcycle is akin to freedom of expression, and in my humble opinion persons desiring to modify their machine shouldn’t be singled out, fined or otherwise beleaguered for their artistic creations. Laws such as this one do nothing to enhance personal safety or protection of the general public and are a prime example of bureaucratic profligacy. Haven’t we seen enough?

Someone somewhere, must have agreed with me and thought that this particular law was just plain stupid, and lobbied the DHSMV and the Senate to get the statute reviewed. For once, I bring you good news! The law has been changed. …

Here then are the facts, as available on the Florida Legislature’s website at www.leg.state.fl.us:

The law was changed by a Committee Amendment sometime back in April of this year. It became effective on July 01, 2009. The Florida Statute appearing at TITLE XXIII Chapter 316 “STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL” More specifically Chapter 316.2085 “Riding on Motorcycles or Mopeds” was modified. I am showing the original and the modified version here:

The original Statute (at 316.2085 (3)) read:

(3) The license tag of a motorcycle or moped must be permanently affixed horizontally to the vehicle ground and may not be adjusted or capable of being flipped up. No device for or method of concealing or obscuring the legibility of the license tag of a motorcycle shall be installed or used.

Upon review by the Florida Senate the words ‘horizontally’ and ‘ground’ were removed from the vernacular by being struck through, at line 71 on page 4 of 20 in (the) Florida Senate – 2009 Bill No. CS for SB 1100.

The amended statute now reads:

(3) The license tag of a motorcycle or moped must be permanently affixed to the vehicle and may not be adjusted or capable of being flipped up. No device for or method of concealing or obscuring the legibility of the license tag of a motorcycle shall be installed or used.

I wonder if all Florida Law Enforcement Officers are aware of this change. It seems unimaginable that something so significant to bikers would be a topic at the shift meeting, or even casual conversation at the doughnut shop. I guess we will see how it goes, as now we once again have regained just a little bit more of our freedom to express ourselves in chrome and steel.

But just in case, always remember that the informed biker is a vigilant one whom armed with the correct information has the ability to enlighten Officers that are not aware of such changes. State and local Law Enforcement Officers are required to carry Florida Statute books, or have the capability to peruse the Statutes whether in paper format or on the handy computer mounted in their vehicle. If for some reason you are stopped for a vertical plate, remind Officer Friendly that Craven said that the law has been changed. After they let you out of the cuffs for mentioning my name, ask them to look up FS 316.2085(3) to verify that it is now legal for you to fly your plate in a perpendicular fashion.

Until next month – SPEED SAFELY!

It’s always a good reason to fight. Thanksgiving that is. I remember how I was raised, and taught the real meaning of thanksgiving was to celebrate the Pilgrim’s moratorium on eliminating Indians. In the old days, it was prophesized that the original celebration involved sharing food between long-standing adversaries. This tradition, in my life has never changed.

I awoke that morning with a pounding in my head. When I shook off the alcohol induced sleep, I remembered that the ol’ lady had intentionally struck me in the back of my skull with an iron skillet the night before. This painful memory was becoming more and more prominent as I walked down the narrow hall to visit the 5 gallon joint compound bucket that we call a toilet. But before I got to the door that used to house our fancy “indoor plumbing” bathroom (including a stand-up shower) I was again met with the rage of a woman. This time the ol’ lady was unarmed, with the exception of an extremely loud voice. This voice however was as painful to my aching head as the 5 pounds of steel that had bid me sweet dreams the night before. Evidently she was still pissed, but I couldn’t understand why.

After a seemingly unending barrage of verbal abuse, I learned that I had once again not lived up to her expectations. She had invited no less than 10 of her family members to our trailer for the holiday to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with us. At that time I reminded her that we didn’t even have 10 chairs or milk crates, much less a table to seat all of her expected dignitaries in the manner that they were accustomed to. While she raced to the bedroom to retrieve the baseball bat, I stumbled down the steps out of the front door, and ran across the yard to my motorcycle. I should have attempted my escape in the pick-up truck, but I knew that it was cold-natured, and the cool November weather would make it even harder to get started, and running.

I heard a loud crack as the bat came down on the back of the tour pack. But for her it was too late. I covered her with dirt and gravel, as I dumped the clutch at full throttle and hauled ass down the cow path that the owners of the park call a ‘road.’ Once free of the threat of bodily harm, I quickly remembered that I still needed to take a leak, so I pulled off the side of the road a mile or so later to relieve myself. It was at this time that I realized that most of this confrontation could possibly have been my own fault!

You see, the night before I remembered that she gave me her monthly government check. I had initially intended to spend the entire $213.11 on groceries for the Thanksgiving dinner that she had been planning for the last year. But you my dedicated readers, as well as I, know the difference between fantasy and reality. Instead of going to get the groceries, I did what I normally do, and went to visit all my friends at the local taverns and gentleman’s clubs. Around midnight, I remembered my original mission, and spent the remaining $42.00 on a gourmet take-out from someplace called the Jerk Hut. (It was the only joint open at that late hour.) I also remembered that she was somewhat dissatisfied when I arrived back at the trailer with the several Styrofoam containers of burned chicken and mystery meat. It had all the sides you would expect – baked beans, cole slaw, and some un-identifiable liquid that resembled regurgitated sea snakes or something like that. Even though there was enough to feed everyone she was not impressed. I did my best to explain to her the burned looking chicken was really turkey, and the sea snake sauce mixture was really gravy. I also explained to her that we could dig enough potatoes out of the yard to feed her flock. I later learned that “Jerk” food was some kind of really foul tasting Jamaican stuff, and the “potatoes” growing around the park were a variety of poison gourds that were only there to ward off the raccoons and possums. I actually would have enjoyed a dinner of raccoons and possums, but her family would not stand for it. I then went to the fruit stand on the main road and bargained for a sack of potatoes on credit.

Around noon, the hungry hoard began to arrive. I had returned only an hour earlier, greeted with the shouting of my name (expletives deleted for the sake of the kids). A near miss from a small hatchet reminded me that she was still pissed over my menu selection. The already blackened chicken and mystery meat was being warmed over our “redneck fireplace” in the front yard. The sack of potatoes was boiling in our turkey deep fryer bucket. A sharp stench of un-identified spices wafted through the air. At this time I‘m figuring “life is good” But the worst was yet to come.

Go to www.borntoride.com for the rest of the story … Craven Moorehead … good day!