Born To Ride News

Cycle Sounds is having a free 3” Premium Sound System giveaway at the Cincinnati Expo on February 6-8th. Just stop by booth 215-221 and drop a business card into the bowl. Please make sure that your card has correct info and your email address on it because we will be announcing the winner via email and also on our website. There is no purchase required!

You can also sign up for a free counter display to assist you with the sales of our products. Lastly…check out our discounted ”Show Specials” while visiting our booth!

Rick Raus

V-Twin Marketing/Performance Machine

1014 S. Saint Tropez Ave.

Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

714-280-8537/Office

714-280-8547/Fax

Rick@vtwinmarketing.com

As we begin a new year, I thought we’d re-visit the question some bikers are being asked consistently: Why do you ride without wearing a helmet?

I’m not going to try and tell you that not wearing a helmet while you ride offers the ultimate in safety. Wearing a helmet has its benefits. However, let’s talk about some mostly unknown points, and bring them to light.

First, to simulate the impact a helmet experiences while your head is in it during a crash, the DOT requires helmet manufacturers to drop the helmets on an anvil at 4.7 MPH to 13.4 MPH.1 Some of the research I’ve read even tries to sell the idea that if you’re traveling at 67 MPH and crash, your head with a helmet on will finally impact somewhere at the equivalent of hitting an anvil at 11 MPH! 2 I think most of us are much more intelligent than that. Hell, I’m almost insulted at that assumption!

Since the government has spent years and so much money to convince us, the ones that actually ride, that helmets are the next best thing since sliced bread, consider this: helmets can offer a false sense of safety. Many will hate to admit it, but if they look deep inside, they’ll admit that when they’re riding with a helmet on, they possess a belief on some level that if they are involved in an accident, the helmet will keep them from harm. I know years ago when I laid my Kawasaki GPZ750 down at 55 MPH, I ended up with road rash. I was riding stupidly… I did have the feeling that the helmet would save the day. Yeah, I walked away from the accident. Not because the helmet saved my life… for a reason much simpler than that: my head never hit anything during the accident.

This conveniently brings me to my next point. For years we keep hearing that the majority of fatal motorcycle accidents involve bikers not wearing helmets. They never seem to break down the type of fatality that caused the tragedy, just that it involved a motorcycle, involved a death, and did not involve a motorcycle helmet. Therefore, a majority of the pro-helmet people have been hanging their hats on these statistics.

However, that ends now. In late 2008, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reported that “58% of motorcyclists and their passengers killed WERE wearing helmets”. Specifically, the DHSMV further stated that of all the 2007 motorcycle-involved accidents in Florida, 57.39% of them resulted in an incapacitating injury in which the riders/”drivers” were wearing a helmet.3 It appears the helmet wearers are now a MINORITY. Statistics no longer support the anti-helmet choice advocate’s claims.

I don’t wish to preach doom and gloom about the helmet/no-helmet issue. Safety aside, one thing does remain true: we live and ride in the United States of America. As legal adults, as the individuals riding the motorcycles, and as some may say; the ones putting ourselves at risk, we should have the right to make our own choice if we wish to wear a helmet or not. Helmet laws are simply another way for the government to tell grown men and women what to do.

Oh yeah, in case you’re asked; this is not an issue tied to the seatbelt laws; those in cars don’t have to pay extra for insurance to ride without a seatbelt. FL law requires us to hold a Personal Insurance Policy to ride without helmets.

Helmet use is a choice. Let those who ride decide.

Dave “Lockdown” Rich

State PR/Communications Trustee,

ABATE of Florida, Inc.

statepr-comm@abateflorida.com

www.abateflorida.com

Deland, FL, February 1, 2010 – The past few weeks have shown many changes in the political landscape of Health Care Reform, and how the various members of the US Congress intend on voting on this issue.  Many may have thought that this is now a non-issue after recent election results, but in last week’s State of the Union Address President Obama said he fully intends to introduce his over 1,000 page Health Care Reform Bill once again.   Although there are many important issues to consider when reviewing this huge Bill, one should rise to the top when looking at how it concerns motorcyclists across the USA: the possible requirement to purchase healthcare and if a motorcyclist involved in a crash would even be covered.

Recently, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reminded us that “there is precedent for us to be concerned with regarding any health care legislation coming from Washington. For example in 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that was intended to ensure non-discrimination in health coverage in the group market. However, when it came to implementing the law, the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the Health Care Financing Administration – now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – issued a rule allowing insurers to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injury that results from certain types of recreational activities, such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling.”

If the US Congress adopts the current Massachusetts-type plan, U.S. citizens will be required to purchase health insurance.  If not purchased, they will be FINED each year.  With the fact that insurers can and do deny health care coverage for necessary medical care resulting from motorcycle accidents and other “recreational activities”, everyone should be concerned.  This could result in motorcyclists being required by law to purchase health insurance that won’t cover them if they are involved in a motorcycle-related crash, regardless of who is at fault.

ABATE of Florida, Inc. asks the elected officials in Washington, D.C. to READ the ENTIRE BILL and fully understand how it will affect their constituents.  Further, we ask that should a Health Care Reform Bill become law, all elected officials be required to partake in this Health Care Reform, instead of using their private, tax-payer-paid-for health insurance, the same one that average citizens are banned from.

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With almost 8,000 members, ABATE of Florida, Inc. is Florida’s largest Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization, and the fourth largest nationwide.  Our missions include educating the public about motorcycle awareness and continuing to fight in Tallahassee for the rights of every motorcyclist and the public in general.  To aid in these ends, we have an exclusive lobbyist and have founded the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, both with the intentions to help make the roads safer for everyone. 

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A printable version of this Press Release is available for download here:

http://www.abateflorida.com/PR-docs/pressreleases/HealthCare.pdf

Vets and Active Duty Military Invited to See POW Dragster

In a nod to its “Made in the USA” branding and the unyielding patriotism   of its owners, Latham Marine is honoring the American military by exhibiting a one-of-a-kind 1955 Chevy Dragster commemorating POWs during the Miami International Boat Show in its booth, H-80.  The company is also extending an invitation to area veterans and active-duty military personnel to stop by and see this truly unique tribute vehicle.

For over 36 years, Bob and Kathy Latham have built a reputation and a business on providing boaters with solutions to their high-performance parts and equipment needs. As their business and status grew in the marine and other markets, it was a natural progression to also serve the defense and military markets. So, when the couple-whose fathers were both WWII veterans, encountered Max Loffgren and his POW Race Car at the Reno Air Show several years ago, it was also natural for them to become benefactors for the project, pledging their moral, financial and technical support.

The POW Race Car is a rolling tribute to the military and   created, built and raced by Loffgren, an Army veteran, who lovingly restored the vehicle and had it hand-painted with every name of the 3,578 American POWs and those still listed as missing-in-action from the Viet Nam War, from 1952-75 (www.neverforgotteninc.org). Loffgren, a retired firefighter who served in Viet Nam in the Americal Division from 1969-70, impressed the Lathams with his dedication, detailed work and devotion to help veterans.  He and Bob Latham are in the process of developing several components for the commemorative car and trailer, so the vehicles will soon sport some additional Latham products and technology.

Latham Marine sponsored the cross-country trip from California for Loffgren to bring the car to the Miami International Boat Show to raise awareness for the POW Network.  The company invites all active-duty military and veterans to stop by booth H-80 at the Miami Beach Convention Center February 11 -15, to meet Loffgren and to share his passion about his cause and his car.  Kathy Latham is certain that each visitor will be moved as she was by this one-of-a-kind tribute to all who served in the name of freedom.  “We are thrilled to bring this one-of-a-kind car to the East Coast and to bring it to various events, raising awareness and hopefully, some funds for Max’s continued efforts,” said Kathy Latham, “Our military deserves respect and support and Latham Marine is proud to provide that in many ways, but Max and his POW car really bring home the ‘Never Forgotten’ message.”

Loffgren campaigns the car at events and racing circuits, but more to educate than to win; he hopes it will eventually be retired to the Smithsonian Institute.   “The car speaks for itself. People understand it,” he says.  “This car honors those guys and their families and what they did for their country.  It’s a history lesson.”

Latham Marine is making a limited number of show tickets available at no charge to those who present military ID at Will Call, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  “The Miami International Boat Show is pleased to welcome our veterans and military and to support the patriotic efforts of our exhibitors at the show,” said Cathy Rick-Joule, VP of Southern Shows, National Marine Manufacturers Association. Interested veterans can get more details by emailing te@prpower.biz

Car specs:   1955 Chevy 2-door BelAire with 427 Chevy bored 1100 HP motor.Littlefield Supercharger 8-71, Dart Merlin Heads, Two Holley 850+ cfm, Harland Sharp Roller Rockers, Manley Rods, Cola 4340 non-twist crank, Venola Pistons and rings,

Isky 280 S.W. 32 Court · Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Tel. (800) 422-RAMS (7267)

Tel. (954) 462-3055 Fax. (954) 462-3081

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$500 Over Trade-In Value Offer Valid at all Participating H-D Dealers

Milwaukee (February 1, 2010) –Harley-Davidson has extended its Competitive Bike Exchange trade-in program launched last December through February 28, 2010. The incentive program offers customers who trade-in an eligible non-Harley-Davidson brand motorcycle a credit of $500 above the dealer-negotiated trade-in value towards the purchase price of a new untitled Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

 “If the bike in your garage is not the bike in your head, this offer makes it a little easier to purchase the bike of your dreams,” said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson Advertising and Promotions Director. “It’s just one more way Harley-Davidson and its dealers strive to welcome new riders into the Harley-Davidson family.”

For more details about the competitive trade-in promotion, visit your local Harley-Davidson dealer or log onto h-d.com/trade-in.