Archive for the ‘Motorcycles’ Category

TxDOT has recently stated that there have been 1,000 more motorcycle wrecks this year than last year.

Let’s see….gasoline is really expensive, economy is sluggish, consumer spending is down yet motorcycle and scooter sales are through the roof. I suppose logical deductive reasoning would say that with more bikes on the road, yes, it does seem logical that there might be more wrecks.

A recent NBC5 report, or course, focuses on “inexperienced” riders v. “inattentive” drivers. It was interesting reading some of the feedback on the site that accompanied that report. Some posters - anonymous of course, God forbid they actually use their name - stated it was all the bikers fault because we ride like idiots, lane split, etc. Personally, sounds like someone has some sour grapes because Harley Davidson Financial denied their application for credit.

Speaking as a biker, I don’t lane split. A Harley with an engine guard and highway pegs is too wide to lane split. I also don’t split because I don’t trust drivers to stay in their lanes because it’s been proven time and again that the vast majority of them are clueless when they are behind the wheel.

On an almost daily basis, this biker, who cannot be classified as “inexperienced” by any stretch of the imagination, has to deal with “inattentive” drivers often. They swerve because they simply aren’t paying attention; they drift into your lane (I guess they haven’t figured out what those white striped lines on the concrete are for), they’ve evidently bought vehicles that didn’t come with the luxury option of turn signals, etc etc.

However, for every inexperienced rider on the road each day, I would dare to guess that there are 50 inexperienced drivers. With those odds, it’s kind of hard to continously bash the bikers as always being in the wrong.

Chill out, have some dip, and just share the road. Cutting in front of us bikers won’t get you to your destination that much faster and may prevent us from using our motorcycle boot to kick off your driver’s side mirror to get your attention.

NOTE: If you are a rider and you have not done so, please take time to sign the petition asking the City of Dallas to implement Designated Motorcycle/Scooter Parking.

Lone Star 92.5 along with the Grand Prairie Airhogs is attempting to set a WORLD RECORD for the MOST MOTORCYCLE RIDERS throwing out the first-pitch at a professional baseball game.

They will do that SATURDAY night as the El Paso Diablos come to Quick Trip Park in Grand Prairie to do battle with our Airhogs. Now, even though they’re calling it a “Harley-Ride” and they DO have HOGS in their name…this is open to ALL BRANDS OF MOTORYCYCLES.

We’re shooting for a total of 2500 bikes to ride out onto the Quick Trip Park field to throw out the games’ first pitch…so please make plans to join us Saturday night to help benefit the Ft. Worth Chapter of B.A.C.A. Come on, do your part it’s gonna be FUN!

Contact
mymeanstreak@sbcglobal.net
Thumper-BACA Fort Worth Event Coordinator

For those of us in the biking world, a frequent Sunday afternoon hangout was brutalized last night by a 29-year-old man who was arrested early Thursday after fleeing from police and crashing his car into the Dubliner Irish Pub on Greenville Avenue.

Michael D. Andersen was being held in the Dallas County Jail on charges of driving while intoxicated and evading arrest.

Shortly before 3 a.m., an officer saw Mr. Andersen’s black Nissan pickup hit a curb along the North Central Expressway service road, blowing out the right side tires, Dallas police say. When an officer attempted a traffic stop, the pickup sped away.

The pickup turned onto Goodwin Avenue, running several stop signs before turning again onto Greenville and crashing into the popular pub, damaging the interior.

Mr. Andersen has previously faced charges of DWI and marijuana possession.

Remember all you biker and scooter people, tomorrow, Wednesday, 16 July 2008 is the 17th annual Ride to Work Day.

I know most of you that have 2-wheelers are already making use of them daily; however, for those of you that haven’t made the transition, tomorrow is a good day to show you are one of us!

Ride your motorcycle or scooter on tomorrow to demonstrate:

* The number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians.
* That motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life.
* That motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities.
* That motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation.
* That motorcycling is a social good.

Motorcycle and scooter sales are skyrocketing due to the high gasoline prices. Training classes are filled for weeks out.

The next hurdle will be parking for our bikes and if you have not done so, please sign the petition requesting the City of Dallas implement designated motorcycle and scooter parking!

The City’s assistant director of transportation is already reviewing the request and we will keep you updated as things progress — but your name on that petition is needed so they know we mean business!

See you tomorrow out on the roads!

With more and more people in this country making their living through computers, it’s interesting to observe those that still work with their hands.

Mechanics, painters, and carpenters seem like they make a living with forgotten art forms. It wasn’t that long ago that people would rally around someone’s well stocked garage to add some extra horsepower or repair a lame care or motorcycle.

A group would figure out the problem and begin tackling it. You’d also have those that would stay up late into the night because they were so driven to get the project wrapped. You don’t see that too much any more. People simply drop off their vehicles to some anonymous repair place and away they go until it’s time to whip out their credit card with no interest in what is being done.

Sometimes it’s interesting to wander around someone’s garage (granted, it’s someone you know!) and you will notice that either everything is in it’s place or, not so much and a bit messy. If it’s someone that is a hard-core enthusiast or actual professional, you’ll see such unusual items as as Spring Compressor which is a contraption that is needed when work on the struts on a car is performed.

Other gadgets that a layperson never even knows is in existence would be brake rotor hones, bleeding tools, and borescopes.

With the economy hitting so many people hard these days, it would be interesting to see if more people start rallying around their neighbors garages again for camaraderie and auto repair.

This may seem like a silly post but, the reality, is that there are precious few places to take one’s bike for repair near the city center. Typically, everything is outside of the LBJ loop.

For some people, they love doing their own repair work and will whip out the Oil Filter Wrench, some oil and other staples and away they go. For those of you that fancy doing the work yourself, you can get the necessary tools for the job at SJ Discount Tools.com. And I do envy those of you that can do this as I don’t even like to put air in my tires for fear of over inflating them!

For those of us that are not mechanically inclined, thankfully, Motopia is fixing that as the ever wonderful Jason is focusing his efforts on running their service department.

I must mention that the service department at Motopia is one of the most posh and pristine places I’ve ever seen. It’s nice to be able to come in from the heat, get something to drink and have your bike worked on as you observe through the viewing area, or simply watch the latest Moto GP on the big screen.

So, if you are in the downtown area, whether you are a DIY or not, you now have two good solutions for getting the job done!

From 4p-7p today is Dog Day Afternoon at Moto Liberty.

You and your Best Friend are invited over from 4:00 to 7:00.

They will have treats for you and your dog and 10% of sales will benefit Operation Kindness.

Moto Liberty
Tel: 972-243-5995
11441 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 201
Dallas, TX 75229