* Visit BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan for details. Always ride safely and wear proper protective gear.

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187

734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com

“Redefining your motorcycling lifestyle” SM

BMW MotorradDealer of Excellence

The BMW R 1200 GS:

Cycle World’sBest Adventure Bike

2014 R 1200 GSBase MSRP: $16,100

including ABS

Stop by our store today to see the new water-cooled R 1200 GS - Cycle World’sBest Adventure Bike. No matter what type of riding you do, the GS is the best tool for the job.

Now on Spring / Summer HoursOPEN WEDNESDAYS

Factory Incentives onremaining 2013 models

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 3

1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MIOne mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of the Telegraph Rd.

248.920.2000 • www.MotorCityMotorcycles.com

on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles

GRAND OPENINGFriday, May 2nd & Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 • 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DEMO RIDES!May 9th, 10th & 11th, 2014

Stop by our store on May 9th, 10th or 11th to test rideany of the new 2014 Indian motorcycles. Ridersmust have a motorcycle endorsement, helmet, eyeprotection, jacket, long pants and boots. Don’t missthis opportunity to test ride the new American icon.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of ournew dealership. No matter which brand ofmotorcycle you currently ride, this is theperfect opportunity to check out our storeand the latest offerings from both Indian andVictory. We have a full day planned, including:

• Food & refreshments • Door prizes

• Wide selection of Indian / Victory apparel

• and much more

Kick off the season right at this “do not miss” event!

April 20144 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Columns5 To Our Readers6 The Live It Right Dream Ride: Gathering Adventure Travel Intelligence

By Emily Flinkstrom & Jay Wilgus16 Motorcycling and Law: Substitute for HB 46134 No Fault Reform

by Dondi Vesprini18 The Preacher Speaks About... New Stuff From H-D and Tech Talk

by Franz Hoffer20 Tips for Gearing Up for the Motorcycle Season by Jason Waechter22 Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle:

The Slippery Road of Drama by Nicole Espinosa

Features, News & Reviews10 How to Beat the Winter Blues by Vincent Cardinale13 Open For Business: Motorcity Indian & Victory Motorcycles14 Winter Riding in Central Florida by Gene Southard

Reference5 Advertiser Index21 Event Schedule

How to contact us:

709 Fall StreetSpring Lake, Michigan 49456

(810) 923-8738www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Copyright 2012-2014 cc media. All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, photocopied, or electronically

transmitted without the expressed written permission of the publisher.Advertisers, their agents, contributors of event information, free-

lance contributors and/or editorial contributors will defend, indemnifyand hold cc media and RTP Enterprises, Inc. harmless in any claimsof libel, copyright or trademark infringement, plagiarism, violation oflocal, national, or international privacy laws and any other claim or

suit that may arise subsequent to publication of said advertisement,stories, event information, and/or editorial. Submission of material for

consideration for publication in Michigan Motorcyclist/MidwestMotorcyclist, American CycleRider either solicited or unsolicited,

constitutes agreement to these terms. Except for thePublisher and Managing Editor, all writers are free-lance contributors.Any and all opinions expressed are those of the authors, and don’t

necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Publisher/Managing EditorRay Peabody

publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.comrpeabody@sbcglobal.net

Advertising Sales/ Web Master / DistributionRay Peabody

publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.comrpeabody@sbcglobal.net

Cover DesignJulie Kirkendoll

cc media publications

Large cover photo: Gene Southard takes a break from riding shile exploring Florida this winter.Photo by Gene Southard.

Small cover photo: A new Indian motorcycle sits in the showroom at Motorcity Indian andVictory Motorcycles in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Photo by Ray Peabody.

This Month’s Contributors:

Contributing EditorsNicole Espinosa

Franz Hoffer

plus

Vincent Cardinale, Emily Flinkstrom,Gene Southard, Dondi Vesprini,

Jason Waechter, Jay Wilgus

IN THIS ISSUE…..

We recently purchased state-of-

the-art tire changing equipment.

We can handle every motorcycle

tire changing chore.

• Street, off-road and racing tires

• Tires of every size, from the wide cruiser style tires to mini-bike tires

• On the motorcycle or off

• Any brand or model motorcycle

Spring into summer riding

6971 Highland Road 248-666-4651 Waterford, MI 48327 www.tech-care.com

Honda Shadows-Kawasaki Vulcan's-Suzuki Intruders-Yamaha V-Stars

FRONT Reg Price 130/90-16 $133.95 150/80-16 $183.95 150/80-16WWW $201.95 120/90-17 $124.95 140/80-17 $154.95 140/80-17WWW $207.95 150/80-17 $163.95 100/90-18 $102.95 110/90-18 $107.95 120/90-18 $131.95 100/90-19 $110.95 110/90-19 $133.95 80/90-21 $110.95

NEW DUNLOP 404 VALUE PRICE OE on Honda Shadow Aero, Yamaha V-star 1100 and Royal Star and the Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad H-rated for speeds up to 130 mph or S-rated for speeds up to 112 mph. Tread compound delivers excellent balance of mileage and grip

REAR Reg Price 130/90-15 $124.95 140/90-15 $144.95 150/90-15 $170.95 150/90-15WWW $190.95 170/80-15 $185.95 130/90-16 $126.95 140/90-16 $155.95 150/80-16 $165.95 130/90-17 $137.95 110/90-18 $124.95 120/90-18 $136.95

Our Price $ 99.95 $114.95 $129.95 $139.95 $139.95 $109.95 $119.95 $129.95 $109.95 $104.95 $109.95

Our Price $104.95 $134.95 $144.95 $ 99.95 $119.95 $149.95 $124.95 $ 89.95 $ 94.95 $104.95 $ 94.95 $104.95 $ 94.95

No tire is

too big. No

tire is too

small!

We can handle

all of your

motorcycle

tire needs.

Tires, tune-ups and brakes for your motorcycle. Most brands and models. Now is the time to get your

service and repair work done - before our service department gets jammed. Call or stop by our store

today to schedule your service or repairs. Don’t wait ‘til the last minute!

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 5

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ABATE of Indiana .....................................16A.B.C. Harley-Davidson ...........8, 14, 15Alibi Bar & Grill................................19American Road Shop.........................11American Steel..................................18Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ....8, 14, 15Bent Wheels Competition Club.................17BMW MC of Detroit...........................5, 12BMW of Grand Rapids............10, 19, 21, 23BMW, SE Michigan..............2, 8, 9, 11Brighton Harley-Davidson .......8, 14, 15Bubba’s Tri City Cycle............................12C & S Harley-Davidson ...........8, 14, 15Capitol Harley-Davidson .........8, 14, 15Classic MotorSports................8, 14, 15Cycle Conservation Club ...........................17Dave Bowman MS/Tech-Care.........4, 8Diamond Gusset Jeans ............................6Gildner’s Harley-Davidson .......8, 14, 15Grand Rapids H-D................. ...8, 14, 15Great Lakes Dual Sporters ....................17Great Lakes Harley-Davidson ..8, 14, 15Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson .....8, 14, 15, 19Harley-Davidson dealers ..........8, 14, 15Harrison Motorcycle Service ................12Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ........8, 14, 15Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..24Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................12Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................18Michigan Chrome Shop.......................5Motor City Harley-Davidson ...8, 14, 15Motor City Underwriters ......................12Motorcity Motorcycles.....................3, 9Motorcycle Mike’s............................20Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................12MC Sport Touring Association..........17Nicholson’s Motorsports............7, 8, 10Perry’s Harley-Davidson ..........8, 14, 15Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........8, 14, 15Retail Warehouse ............................5, 14Rocky’s Outdoors.............................11Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........8, 14, 15Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....8, 14, 15Sport Bike Track Gear ............................22Sweet Trikes ...........................................12Tecumseh Harley-Davidson ....8, 14, 15Town & Country H-D................8, 14, 15Triumph Detroit...............................24Vehicle City Harley-Davidson ..8, 14, 15Wolverine Harley-Davidson ....8, 14, 15Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D..............8, 14, 15

AdvertiserIndex

Call (269) 651-2464 now or visitour on-line store at www.ridewild.com

Phone: (269) 651-2464 Fax: (269) 651-87671640 S. Centerville Road (M-66 South) , Sturgis, MI

We accept all major credit cards

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If you read only one column in thisissue, be sure it’s Substitute for HB 46134 NoFault Reform authored by Attorney DondiVesprini. What makes this information soimportant is that this Bill caps or eliminatesmany benefits which are currently provided tomotorcyclists under Michigan’s No Fault Act.The bill, proposed by Speaker of the HouseJase Bolger, treats motorcyclists as second-class citizens unworthy of the same level ofNo Fault Insurance benefits to which autodrivers can claim. I won’t try to summarizethe details of this bill but encourage you tofirst read Dondi’s column and then contactGovernor Snyder and your representatives inthe State Senate and House to help preventthis bill from being enacted as law. The Bill isa serious threat and we motorcyclists will ruethe day we didn’t act should it pass.

If, on the other hand, you want moreinformation than you can get from one article,we have some excellent material for you. TheLive It Right Dream Ride adventurers, JayWilgus and Emily Flinkstrom, offer a broadselection of travel planning resources in theircolumn this month. For those unfamiliar, Jayand Emily are departing for Tierra del Fuego,Argentina, South America in mid-June. Theyare sharing their preparations and plans withus in a monthly column. After departing, theywill continue their column with experiencesfrom their adventure. This month, theyhighlight some of the resources they’re usingto help in preparations for their trip. These

two are terrific writers. Their column is a“must read” for anyone planning a weekendmotorcycle jaunt to northern Michigan, avacation trip across the country or a multi-year expedition around the globe. Don’tmiss this or any of their stories.

Occasional contributor VincentCardinale returns this month with advice forriding in winter weather conditions. Vinceknows his subject because he rides yearround. For those wanting more riding in theiryear, Vince’s suggestions are well worthconsidering. He is a talented writer whosehumor permeates his writing.

Gene Southard is anotheroccasional contributor who rejoins us thismonth. This winter, Gene did what many ofwish we could do: he closed up his Illinoismotorcycle shop and traveled to Florida for2½ months of riding. He’s usually riding inother countries but this year he opted for atrip a little closer to home. If you thinkriding a motorcycle in Florida is boring, readGene’s article in this issue. He seems to behaving a great time.

Franz “The Preacher” Hofferlaunches his Tech Talk column this monthwith an interview with Jerry Battaglia, ownerof Jerry B’s Cycle Works. Jerry offerssuggestions for preparing your motorcyclefor the coming riding season. This is a goodstart for the TechTalk column. We’relooking forward tomore stories aboutmotorcycle serviceand repairs infuture issues.

Nicole Espinosa continues toexpand our thinking about whatmotorcycle riding is all about with hercolumn, The Slippery Road of Drama.As Nicole points out, the world iswhat we think it is. If we think it’sbad, it is. If we think it’s awesome, itis. When you’re riding a motorcycle (aswith most everything), what you thinkcan have a huge impact on how muchfun you have. Don’t miss Nicole’slatest entry in her Open Terrain -Exploring the World and Soul byMotorcycle series.

Thank you for reading. Thisissue is also available on our websiteat www.midwestmotorcyclist.com. Besure to also like us on Facebook formore up to the minute news. Feel freeto share this issue with otherenthusiasts. Finally, please patronizeour advertisers. Without their support,this magazine couldn’t be published.They will appreciate your businessand so will we.

Have fun. Watch forpotholes (some deep, gaping,dangerous holes out there) and ridesafe. See you on the road in the nearfuture.

April 20146 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

The Live It Right Dream Ride

Tapping the Adventure TravelKnowledge Base

by Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus

Continued on page 7

After countless hours of research, we’re wellaware that some people take extended internationalmotorcycle trips with very little preparation. Buythe bike, strap on some gear (including a passport),and hit the road. We are not those people. Ourapproach to The Live It Right Dream Ride has beenlong and methodical.

Last month, we shared some thoughts abouthow to budget and save for a trip like this. Thismonth, we’d like to highlight some resources thattaught us what the trip will require, as we aim tostrike an appropriate balance between wild wonderand steady predictability.

There are obvious topics we needed toresearch like route selection, border crossings, andgear options, but the deeper we got in the planningprocess, the longer our list of research items became.

Fortunately, for every questionthere are equally as many placesto look for answers. We can’tpossibly describe everything inthe space below, so consider thisour non-exhaustive list of go-toresources.

Comprehensive Resources

To begin, we have to mention a fewresources that provided many answers to questionsthat arose during our planning process. Althoughthere’s no such thing as a one-stop-shop for planningan adventure like this, the following resources areabout as close as they come.

• Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: Acomprehensive route and planning guidewritten by Chris Scott. This is a must readfor anyone planning a long distance,international motorcycle adventure. Itincludes information on everything frombike and gear options to necessarydocuments and dealing with culture shock.It also contains route maps and detailsspecific to each country.

• Horizon’s Unlimited: A fantastic websitewith a wealth of information about long-range motorcycle travel. The site is easy tonavigate, as it’s divided into categories likegetting inspired, getting ready, gearing up,and other practical information to knowwhile on the road. It also includes a forumfor members to post questions and learnfrom each other. Visit Horizon’s atwww.horizonsunlimited.com.

• Adventure Rider: A lively and popularforum among adventure motorcyclingenthusiasts. With bike, route, and issue-specific forums and threads, this website isterrific for those whose who are adept atnavigating discussion threads or whoappreciate user-based answers to thebroadest and most specific questions.There are also plenty of pictures, ridereports, and stories for endless inspiration.Visit AdvRider at www.advrider.com.

Personal Experiences

Since we’re not the first to take a motorcyclejourney through Latin America, we’ve found ithelpful to peruse other adventurer’s blogs and

personal websites. By reading about theirexpeditions, we’re able to learn from their successesand failures. While there are many sites to choosefrom, we’d like to mention two that we’ve exploredmore extensively:

• www.expeditionsouth.com by Alex Chacon:Alex rode from the U.S. to Tierra del Fuegoin 2010 and created a YouTube video fromhis footage along the way that went viral.He now travels all over the world on hismotorcycle filming and leading trips. Healso started a consulting business(www.yourexpeditionsouth.com) where heanswers (for a fee) all the questionssomeone taking a motorcycle adventureneeds to know. While we have chosen tocomplete the research on our own, thiscould be a worthwhile investment forsomeone who does not have time to plantheir trip independently and has somefinancial means.

• www.afewmoremiles.com by Ben Slavin:Ben has also ridden from the U.S. to Tierradel Fuego, documenting his journey in hisblog. Additionally, he created a DVD titledMotorcycle Mexico that providesinformation relevant to traveling throughMexico. Through Ben’s blog, we got theidea to create an interactive Google map(linked on our website) where people cansuggest points of interest or connect us withfriends along our route.

Issue-Specific Resources

There are certain topics that requiremultiple sources of information in order to gain arobust and accurate knowledge base. For the itemslisted below, you can find lots of helpful informationin the resources previously mentioned. However,we felt they deserved a bit more exploring so wetracked down some additional information.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 7

4405 Jackson RdAnn Arbor, MI 48103

734-769-9815 • Toll Free: 800-825-5158www.nicholsonfun.com

Stop by our dealershiptoday to check out the

new Nicholson’sMotorsports.

Proudly SellsBased in Spearfish, South Dakota, Lehman Trikes areproudly made in the USA and feature our 3-year,unlimited mileage warranty. Factory and dealersupport for our products has earned Lehman anexceptional reputation. Lehman Trikes is proud to haveestablished the kind of customer relationships andloyalty that can only be earned through years ofdedication and integrity.

Committed to the Three Wheel Experience...

Three LehmanTrikes in stockfrom which to

choose.2012 Honda GL1800with premium audiopackage, $36,999

2012 KawasakiVulcan 900 Custom

$17,999

2013 HondaGL1800 F6B

$34,999

Stop byour store

today!

Border crossings and country-specific information

• www.travel.state.gov – This site providescountry-specific information for U.S.citizens traveling abroad. Helpfulcomponents include information aboutvaccinations required or recommended,contact info for U.S. embassies, entry andexit requirements, visa requirements,security warnings, traffic safety, and roadconditions.

• www.borderhelper.com – This site wascreated by Ben Slavin(www.afewmoremiles.com) after realizingthe difficulty in finding information aboutspecific border crossings. This site allowspeople to write reviews and postinformation based on their experiencescrossing borders. It’s still a work inprogress and it’s important to verify theaccuracy of any content, but it’s a helpfulresource nevertheless.

Health and Travel Insurance

Turns out this one is complicated! We arestill trying to find a plan that meets our uniqueneeds related to affordability, access to health care ifone or both of us gets sick or injured, as well ascoverage for repatriation of remains, emergency

evacuation, etc. An important piece of this researchis reading the policy closely to make sure it coversthe type of motorcycle riding you will be doing.For example, we’ve found many attractive andaffordable policies that, upon closer examination,won’t cover us while traveling on unpaved roads.One website we utilized in our search for the righthealth and travel insurance iswww.internationalcitizens.com. There are manyothers out there though.

Inspiration!

Finally, we sometimes find ourselves soentrenched in the planning and research process thatwe forget the reason we are putting in these extrahours of “work” in the first place! In thoseinstances, we turn to resources that get us excitedand energized for the adventure ahead of us:

• Movies and Shows: Some of our favoritesinclude Dust to Glory (a thrillingdocumentary about the Baja 1000 off roadrace), On Any Sunday (a cult classicfeaturing legendary desert racer MalcolmSmith, Steve McQueen, and others), and thewildly popular series featuring EwanMcGregor and Charley Boorman calledLong Way Round and Long Way Down abouttheir trips around the world and downthrough Africa.

• Books: Some of our favorites in the printcategory include: Lois on the Loose (the story

of a woman who left her job to ride fromAlaska to Argentina – solo), Jupiter’s Travelsby Ted Simon (see Ray’s description in theMarch issue of Midwest MotorcyclistTM), On theRoad by Jack Kerouac (a wanderlust’sdelight), No Shortcuts to the Top by EdViesturs (inspiration from an Americanmountaineer), and – to make sure we’reappropriately calculating some of theinherent risks – Two Wheels Through Terror byGlenn Heggstad.

There are thousands of questions and topicsto explore when planning a trip like ours. We arestill figuring a lot of them out, so we welcome anyrecommendations, suggestions, and pieces of advicefrom you! If you haven’t already, please visit ourwebsite (www.liveitrightdreamride.com) to learnmore, make a suggestion, or follow along as wemake our way south beginning this July.

Continued from page 6

The Live It Right Dream Ride issponsored in part by:

www.shadyproducts.com/

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com/

www.kindsnacks.com/

April 20148 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Pre-Owned MotorcyclesPre-Owned MotorcyclesPre-Owned MotorcyclesPre-Owned MotorcyclesPre-Owned Motorcycles

4405 Jackson RdAnn Arbor, MI 48103

734-769-9815Toll Free: 800-825-5158www.nicholsonfun.com

2002 Honda VT750DC2Shadow, White,

32,730 miles,Excellent condition,

NOW $2,335

2009 Honda CBR 1000RR ABS RED $9,2992008 Honda CBR1000RR BLUE Sale Price: $7,8052011 Honda CBR10RRB BLACK Sale Price: $9,9702007 Suzuki GSX-R750 WHITE $7,7402011 Suzuki GSX-R750L1 BLUE/WHITE Sale Price: $9,8302009 Yamaha RAIDER S SILVER Sale Price: $10,1302009 Honda VT750C2F BLACK Sale Price: $4,7202002 Honda VT750DC2 WHITE Sale Price: $2,3352003 Honda VTX 1800C BLACK Sale Price: $4,8352006 Honda VTX 1800R BURG/BLACK Sale Price: $6,7902011 Yamaha YZFR6 BLACK Sale Price: $8,840

Visit your local Harley-Davidson® dealertoday. The complete list of Michigan

Harley-Davidson® dealers can be foundon page 14 and 15 in this issue.

We wantyour used

motorcycle.New Harley-Davidson® motorcycles are selling like hot cakes.

We’re replenishing our inventories as quickly as possible. Inaddition to the new bikes, we are also stocking up on pre-ownedmotorcycles, either through trade-ins or outright purchases. If

you’re looking to buy - or you just want to sell the motorcycle you

now own - take your motorcycle to your local Harley® dealer for a

quote. Do it today to make your best deal.

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan

39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com

2008 BMWK 1200 S,

Black/Silver, 7,500 miles,Excellent condition

ONLY $10,990

2013 BMW S1000RR *DEMO* RED/WHITE / BLACK Sale Price: $15,5902013 BMW K1600GTL *DEMO* DARK GRAPHITE MET / BLACK Sale Price: $22,9902012 BMW G650GS SERTAO BLUE/WHITE $8,4902012 BMW R 1200 GS Rallye Edition, White/Red/Blue Sale Price: $15,4902012 BMW K1600GTL MINERAL SILVER / BLACK $17,9902012 BMW R1200R RED APPLE METALLIC / BLACK $12,9902011 BMW R 1200RTP, Black/White Sale Price: 17,4902011 BMW S1000RR RED/WHTE/BLUE / BLACK $13,5002010 BMW S1000RR MOTORRAD COLORS / BLACK $10,4902009 R 1200 GS, Silver / Silver, $13,5002009 BMW R1200RT BLUE METALLIC / SILVER $12,4902008 BMW K 1200 S, Black/Silver $10,9902007 BMW R1200RT SILVER $9,490

We take motorcycles of all brands and models as trade-ins.Bring us your bike when you’re ready to buy!

Pre-Owned Motorcycles

Brakes • Oil Change • Tires

WHILE YOU WAIT

Small Displacement Motorsports6971 Highland Road (M-59), Waterford, MI

(248) 666-4651 • www.tech-care.com

Give us a call to reserve your time and ride outto beautiful Waterford. Lots of terrific roads andnice curves around nearby lakes. We’ll get your

work done while you wait and you’ll still havetime for a nice ride. Call today.

6971 Highland Road 248-666-4651 Waterford, MI 48327 www.tech-care.com

1981 Honda CX500 Windjammer, Vetter package, 41,386 miles, $1,9952006 Honda CRF450R Ice Bike, clean, Pro set up, Runs great, $3,8951979 SS440 Fan-Cooled Snomobile, one cylinder has hole, 4600 miles, $5001981 Yamaha Virago 750, 10,000 miles, Runs great, windshield, $1,9951986 Yamaha TRI-Z 250 3 WHEELER, restored and is one of a kind, $4,9951993 Yamaha Virago 535, New front tire, all stock, 8,400 miles, $2,4951995 Yamaha Virago 750, Saddle bags, New fork seals, Back rest, 22,000 mi, $2,9952002 Yamaha Royal Star 1300, 16,000 miles, Custom exhaust, Great cruiser, $4,8952004 Yamaha TT-R 125 LES, Electric start, Runs great, All stock, Low hours, $1,5952008 Yamaha YZ 450F, FMF Exhaust, R&D power pump, Clean, Runs great, $3,4952006 Kawasaki ZX-14, 6,700 miles, new tires, new brakes, Muzzy exh., 186 hp, $13,0001979 Arctic Cat Pantera, Fan cooled, needs primary clutch, $300 obo1994 H-D Super Glide, Fresh tune up, New Mustang seat, 30,000 miles, $5,6952002 Polini 65 Dirt bike, $9992012 KTM 350SX-F, Mild to Wild Switch, EFI, Low Hours, Runs great, $5,995

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Ride down and visit the LARGEST and MOST COMPLETE LEATHER SHOP inSouthwest Michigan near the Indiana State line.

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April 201410 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Winter Therapy

How to beat the winter blues in one easy lesson: Ride.

by Vincent Cardinale

Go ahead, call me crazy. (You wouldn’t be thefirst.) Yes, I ride my bike during Michigan winter. Ieven rode during this brutal winter of 2013-14. Therehave been numerous stretches where road conditionsprecluded two-wheeled exploits. Yet, betweenblizzards, opportunities have arisen to gear up and hitthe freeze/thaw-tortured, pothole-infested Michigantarmac. This past week saw the mercury rise above thefreezing mark several times. Combine that with brightsunshine and viola – the roads are no longer coatedwith frozen precipitation. Clear, dry roads equal yourticket to ride.

Getting out on your trusty steed after a long,Mother Nature-imposed hiatus can clear your mind ofgloom and blues like nothing else. Opening the throttleand clicking the next gear as needle meets redline isparticularly pulse quickening, especially after a seriousbreak in the action. And the looks you get frommotorists is enough to put a huge grin on your face.Thoughts come to mind like Wow, it’s good to be back.

But before you whack the throttle, some thingsto keep in mind...

Be mindful of road and weather conditions. If ice ispresent, or precipitation is forecast, discretionis probably the better part of valor. You alsodon’t want road salt getting all over your bike,it will eat the aluminum. If you notice salt onyour ride, hit the quarter carwash ASAP.

Watch for ice on the road surface, especiallythrough the curves. This can ruin your dayfaster than you can say “Oh sh!t.” Constantvigilance is a must. Look well ahead and figureout how to avoid any shiny spots. If avoidance

is not possible, stand the bike up and pull inthe clutch.

While you’re at it, watch out for potholes.Hitting one of these craters at speed can landyou on your head, or at the very leastseriously damage your bike.

Speaking of your noggin, don’t even think aboutriding without a helmet – preferably a fullface with fog-resistant face shield. (GooglePinlock anti-fog) The full-face helmet willkeep you warm and safe.

As for the rest of your gear: Heated garmentsmake riding even in subfreezingtemperatures not only bearable, but evendare I say pleasant. Gerbings and Powerletamong others offer a wide range of heatedgear plus controllers and electricalconnection hardware. I personally employ aheated jacket liner, glove liners and socks. Iinstalled the supplied fused connectiondirectly to the bike’s battery and ran theconnector lead up between the seat and gastank. Anyone moderately handy should beable to handle the installation. To regulateheat output, I use a 2-channel wirelesscontroller; one channel controls the jacketliner, while the other channel runs the gloveliners and socks. A good, Thinsulate-linedriding jacket keeps the cold and wind at bay,and lined riding pants keep the lowerextremities comfy. A riding suit can also goa long way towards keeping the coldcomfortably away from your hide. A neckgaiter keeps my neck warm, and unlike a

balaclava, it does not cause my eye glassesto fog up.

Skip the booze. And the beer and the wine. Andanything else containing alcohol. And anyother intoxicating substance. Intoxicantscan dull your survival-dependent focus andconcentration. The sauce can also dilateblood vessels, bringing more blood closerto the skin surface, increasing heat loss.You may feel warmer, but in reality theexact opposite effect is actually occurring.

Remember that the cager crowd is notexpecting to encounter a motorcyclistduring the winter months. (As if they doany other time of the year...) Be extra alertfor the dreaded oncoming left turn intoyour path, or the car on the right making aright-hand turn directly into your lane. Ifyou suspect either is about to occur, flashyour high-beams repeatedly and/or lay onyour horn. No need to be shy here.

Some may view winter riding asunconventional. But do you really want to sitaround watching your bike collect dust, whileyou’re waiting for the mercury to finally head northof BRRRRR? Nowadays it is practical to ride nearlyyear-round. We ride because we love it. What betterway to shake the winter blues than doingsomething for which you are passionate. Now gearup and grab those grips. Ride safe and ride smart.

Vince Cardinale, Royal Oak, MI2000 BMW R1100RT

Help WantedSERVICE

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4405 Jackson RdAnn Arbor, MI 48103

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Year Make/Model Price2009 hjj DOUBLE AXLE TRAILER $2,2502013 BMW R1200GS $17,9502013 Suzuki Vstrom 650 Adventure $9,7502012 BMW K1600GTL $20,9502012 BMW K1300S $12,9502013 BMW F700GS LOW $8,9502012 BMW F650GS $9,4502012 BMW K1600GTL $21,2002011 BMW F800R $7,9502010 Honda SH150-D $3,4502010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 ABS $13,9502010 BMW K1300S $9,9502009 BMW K1200LT $15,4502009 BMW R1200RT $12,9502008 Honda Goldwing $13,9502007 BMW K1200GT $9,9502007 BMW K1200S $8,9502007 BMW F800S $5,7502006 Yamaha V Star 1100 $4,4502006 BMW K1200S $8,7002005 BMW R1200GS $9,9502004 Honda ST1300 $5,9502004 BMW R1200CLC $8,9502003 BMW K1200GT $8,4502001 BMW R1100RT $4,450

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 11

April 201412 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Be sure to check out our website fornew products, on-line shopping,

Bubba’s blog, events and much more.

bubbastricitycycle.com/

We stock many parts in the store from the earlyHarleys to present day including parts from

Custom Chrome, Drag Specialties, S & S, andmany others.Flatheads, Knuckleheads, Panheads,Shovelheads, Evos, Twin Cams & Sportsters areeveryday words in our vocabulary. Stop by our

store or give us a call today.

Be sure to check us out on Facebook

804 S. Huron (M-13)Linwood, MI

989-697-5525Bubba@bubbastricitycycle.com

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Midwest MotorcyclistTM 13

Open for Business:MotorCity Indian & Victory Motorcycles

bmw detroit

Continued on page 18

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan - On February 8th, thedoors opened to the Detroit area’s newest motor-cycle dealership - Indian Motorcycle Motorcity andVictory Motorcycle Motorcity, located at 1765 SouthTelegraph in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The newstore, which is part of the Penske AutomotiveGroup, offers new motorcycles, parts, accessoriesand apparel for two of America’s favorite brands. The 8,000 square foot facility reflects acommitment to “best in class” quality. The motor-cycles, accessories, apparel and displays are set upto create an open, uncluttered look and to give thecustomer a comfortable and pleasing experience. “We’re incredibly excited to open thisdealership—— both brands offer excellent engi-neering, brand awareness and loyal customers,”said John Erickson, General Manager. “Victory, oneof the newest American-made brands, continues togrow its market share while Indian offers terrificstyling and modern technology to an iconic brand.Our focus is on our customers and everything we do

will be related to maximizing the experience for ourcustomers.” The new store offers an indoor, air condi-tioned/heated service write up area, as well as newand used bike delivery rooms, in which customershave a completely private area to review all aspectsof the motorcycle. As well, the service area is cleanand staffed with fully trained and licensed techni-cians. Along with Erickson, who spent the last 15years with Penske Racing, the team at Motorcityrepresents broad experience in the motorcycleindustry. Jeff Bottrell, well known in the Michiganarea as a former sales manager at Powerlet anddealership owner, joins the team as sales and servicemanager. Scott Gray, also well known in the area forhaving worked at numerous motorcycle-relatedcompanies, is the Parts Manager for Indian andVictory Motorcity. Motorcity will introduce the dealership to

April 201414 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

I was sitting in the showroom of myIllinois motorcyc+le shop reading a motorcyclemagazine. The wind chill was 35 below and I hadnot had a customer all day. The phone rang and itwas my buddy calling from Florida.

“There is a rental available down here fortwo and half months, are you interested?” It tookme about three seconds to say “yes”.

I had about two weeks before it wasavailable so I had time to get the BMW ready, loadthe van and prep the shop for some down time. Thedrive south took three days. Boy, the traffic inAtlanta was bad! I stayed just south of Lake Wales(about half way between Orlando and Tampa) andgetting to the good riding areas only took a coupleof minutes. I had been to Lake Wales last year butonly for a few days. This time, I had plenty of timeto explore the area by motorcycle.

Route 27 runs north and south thru townand is lined by box stores and commercialdevelopment. However, just a couple of blocks offRoute 27 is a rural area. The roads there are inexcellent shape— I have not found a pot hole yet.The land is relatively flat with a few curvy roadsections. Almost all back roads are paved and eventhe dirt roads are hard packed so the Beemer hadlittle trouble going 35 or 40 mph on them. Thescenery in this area is breath taking. Route 17 goingsouth is called a “Scenic Hwy” and the name fits.

The road travels through miles and milesof orange groves, yellow pine trees and cattleranches. The average temps are usually in the 70swith lows in the 50s. Sure beats Illinois in thewinter.

I take day trips out of Lake Wales,sometimes having a destination in mind and othertimes just putting the Florida atlas under the tankbag and taking off. I will try to cover some of themost interesting places that I have had theopportunity to visit. I am a big race fan so going tothe local race tracks is high on my list of trips. Oneof the bigger tracks in the area is SebringInternational Road Course — about 30 miles southif you take Route 27. As you would expect, I wantedto take all back roads. On this trip, I took Old AvonPark Road then around Lake Reedy and intoSebring on Route 17. On one day I watched thePorsche Cup practice and the next trip I watched theIndy cars test for two days. They do not charge towatch testing or practice. Sebring runs several bigsports car races in February and March. On the wayout of town, I stopped to take a look at the restoredtrain station.

The next race track I visited was the BartowMX track where they have open practice onSaturday and Sunday. Upcoming races arescheduled in April. Bring your sand tires if you planon riding at this track. The track is just west of townon Agricola road.

The third track that I visited was the localstock car track located in Auburndale. You go outRoute 60 then north on Rifle Range Road. The trackis a paved ¼ mile banked oval and is in great shape.They also have a 1/8 mile dirt track; the sandy trackwas so smooth I wished I had a skid shoe and myold short tracker.

On the way back from Auburndale, you canstop at the small latino town of Wahneta for

Winter Riding in Central Floridaby Gene Southard

something to eat at the taco stand. The city ofLakeland also has a 1/8 mile drag strip with grudgeraces on Saturday. You can take your Harley thereand see what it will do.

One of my favorite rides is to Frostprooffor the yearly car show called the Orange BlossomFestiva. They also have Bike Festival in mid-March.How can you not want to go to a town calledFrostproof? To get to Frostproof, you ride past LakeMoody and Lake Easy.

Some of the views around the lakes are thebest in the area. On one trip, I was riding alongLake Weohyakapka and stopped to rest . I said toone of the fisherman “That water looks good forswimming.” His reply, “There are alligators inthere!” Maybe I decided to use the pool when I gotback.

Another trip was to the large phosphatemine in Fort Meade. Phosphate is used inagricultural fertilizer, but the strip mine looks likea good place to ride a dirt bike.

I would never miss the yearly Mardi Grasparade that is held the first of March in Lake Wales.Or the demos of antique steam engines held at theFlywheelers grounds just outside Ft Meade.

I have a couple of favorite places to eat.Frostproof has a 50s dinner called Frostbite. You canget curb service while listening to Elvis. I wouldtake my hamburger to the city park and watch thesand hill cranes and the occasional eagle from underpalmetto trees. There is lots of wild life in the area. Iwas told to watch out for wild boar; the only one Isaw was dead. The Mexican taco stand just across thetracks from historic downtown Avon Park isanother great place to eat. The local biker bar isCherry Pockets just north of Lake Wales.

If you are a history buff there are lots ofplaces to see. Start at the Lake Wales museum in theold train depot with an engine, passenger car andcaboose along side. Batow and Ft Meade also havelarge museums. The Spanish brought cattle to thisarea in the 1600s and were used to feed the southerntroops during the civil war. Turpentine was made inthis area using the sap from the pine trees. Butoranges are the main agricultural crop today.

This area has a large and varied history. Iwould like to thank Nick and Helen, owners ofLake Wales RV campground, for a place to stay.Mimi Hardman, director of the Lake Walesmuseum, for local history. And local artist Jim Tricefor information on the best places to see.I was pleasantly surprised at the good riding in thisarea, the friendly people and the great weather. Ithink you would enjoy a ride around Lake Wales.Just don’t go swimming in the lake.

Cement CityTOWN & COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON®US 12 & US 127CEMENT CITY, MI 49233(517) 547-3333www.cementcity-harley.com

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Gene Southard and Mimi Hardmanoutside the Wales Museum.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 15

GaylordZIP’S 45TH PARALLELHARLEY-DAVIDSON®980 S WISCONSIN AVE.GAYLORD, MI 49735(989) 732-8000www.zips45thhd.com

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April 201416 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Motorcycling & Law

Substitute forHB 46134 NoFault Reform

by Dondi Vesprini

Continued on next page

With spring comes warmer weather, openingday, and the return of motorcycles to the roads of theState of Michigan. While these are all welcome sightsfor sore eyes after the frigid winter we have been madeto endure, this Spring also brings a dangerous bill inLansing that seeks unprecedented capping andelimination of many benefits which are currentlyprovided under Michigan’s No Fault Act. We haveseen and heard prior No Fault reform bills that havecome and thankfully died without passage in Lansing.However this most recent bill has been proposed byJase Bolger, who is the current Speaker of the MichiganHouse of Representatives, which has resulted ingarnering the attention of many legislators in Lansing.

The bill is titled “Substitute for House Bill4612 (H-3)” and calls for never before seen changes toour current No Fault system which will result in manyinjured motorcyclists (and non-motorcyclists for thatmatter) being left without the medical attention andcare that are needed after an accident.

By way of background, one type of benefitscurrently provided under Michigan’s current No Faultsystem are “allowable expenses.” An injured person isentitled to payment of allowable expenses related toinjuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.Allowable expenses are defined as “all reasonablecharges incurred for reasonably necessary products,services and accommodations for an injured person’scare, recovery, or rehabilitation.” Commonly, suchexpenses include medical expenses, rehabilitationexpenses and prescription expenses. However, theyalso include home/vehicle modifications that may benecessary to accommodate the injured person’s injuries.Also included are attendant care benefits, which areservices provided by a friend or family membersimilar to what a home nurse may provide, such asmedication management, monitoring, driving to andfrom medical appointments, cooking for the injuredperson and assisting with dressing, bating andgrooming, to name a few. Under our current system,there is no cap on payment of allowable expenses andthey are a lifetime benefit. Regarding attendant care, aprovider is required to be paid the same hourly ratethat a home nurse makes in the county where theservice is being provided.

The proposed bill would make the followingchanges regarding allowable expenses:

1. Allowable expenses are capped at amaximum of $250,000.00 for an operatoror passenger of a motorcycle injured in anaccident. Further, as written, theproposed bill does not even allow amotorcyclist to claim allowable expensesunder the No Fault Act is he/she has“other sources” that cover the same loss.

Thus, if the motorcyclist hasanother source(ie,motorcycle insurance,health insurance, disabilityinsurance, etc) that coversthe same types of benefits asthose deemed allowableexpenses, the motorcyclistwill be required to exhaustthose sources before beingallowed to claim thosebenefits under the No FaultAct. Not only is the$250,000.00 cap unrealistic

to cover lifetime treatment forsignificant injuries, but it pales incomparison to the cap of $10,000,000.00that the proposed bill offers to thoseinjured as an operator or passenger of amotor vehicle! There is no rationalbasis for this blatant discriminationagainst motorcyclists in this proposedbill.

2. The proposed bill mandates that ifthe No Fault insurer makes payment ofa medical bill within 30 days afterreceiving the billing statement, themedical provider must accept aspayment in full the lesser of the amountcharged or 125% of amount that wouldbe paid under worker’s disabilitycompensation law. (2) Under thismandate, the medical provider will berequired to accept a fraction of theiractual billed expense. This will have achilling effect on a medical provider’swillingness to accept a victim of anaccident as a patient as they will knowthey will not receive full payment oftheir bill. This will leave many injuredpersons having to lose the opportunityto treat with doctors of their choice orin some circumstances receive anytreatment at all.

3. The proposed bill capsrehabilitation expenses at 52 weeks andis only payable for rehabilitationtreatment that is “reasonably likely toproduce significant rehabilitation.” Itmay only be extended beyond the 52weeks if it is “reasonably likely thatlonger treatment may producesignificant measurable improvement.”

4. The proposed bill caps attendantcare benefits for care provided by afamily or household member to 56hours per week at a rate limited to$15.00 per hour regardless of the levelof care provided and regardless ofwhether the family or householdmember is a licensed care provider. Forattendant care provided by a non-family or non-household member (Ie, ahome health care company), payment islimited to a total of 24 hrs per day forservices provided by 1 or more people.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 17

We Ride!...All Makes of Bikes

...All Over the Country...On Back Roads...On Racetracks

...At Novice-Advanced Levels...In Our Sleep!

Our members come from all across the Midwest (and beyond)

and we ride many makes of street bikes - including:

We travel to great riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to be

better riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion: The Passion To Ride!

• Aprilia• BMW• Buell• Ducati

• Harley-Davidson• Honda• Kawasaki

• Suzuki• Triumph• Yamaha....and brands in between

In Michigan, contact:Gregg Mitchell

mi_hsta@voyager.net

Sport Touring is Our Middle Name!

For information about membership, meetings, events or rides,contact the MSTA group in your state:

In Indiana, contact:Donald “Moose” Parish

mooseparish@sbcglobal.net

In Kentucky, contact:Gary Dehner

g.dehner@insightbb.com

In Ohio, contact:Doug McPeak

coach-mac@columbus.rr.com

In Wisconsin, contact:Alan Tesch

al_lynn_t@yahoo.com

No place to ride? Michigan is home to the largest organized network of off-road trails in the world - more than 3500 miles of marked, maintained ORV trails for the entire family to enjoy! Since 1968, The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan has led the charge to assure continued access to public lands for motorized recreation by working closely with state and federal government. Membership in the CCC offers organized trail rides, a map CD of the entire trail system, a subscription to the Great Lakes TrailRider Magazine

and a host of other member benefits! Call us today at 517-781-4805.

The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan

PO Box 486

Let’s Go

Trail Riding!

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If you’re looking for fantastic dual-sport riding and the company ofgreat friends, join us. Check out

our website at www.gldsmc.org tolearn about our group, our eventsand much more. Only $10 to join!

www.GLDSMC.org

The Great Lakes Dual Sportersis a like-minded group of off-road motorcyclists who enjoy

riding Michigan’s vast two-tracktrails and back roads. All done

using a street legal dirtbike alsoknown as Dual Sport.

Event ListingsAre FREE!

The Bent WheelsChapter of the

CCC is looking fornew members.

BWCC has a long history of promotingevents of all kinds and in preserving our

ORV trail system. Weare a familyorientated,

working club andride the trailsalmost every

weekend. If you’relooking for good times

with great people - check us out.Contact Billy Vanderhoff by email at

bentwheelsbilly@gmail.com.

Dondi is a licensed attorney in the state ofMichigan and is recognized as an expert incases involving motorcycle accidents. He hasobtained millions of dollars in recovery forinjured motorcyclists over the course of hiscareer as a trial attorney. Dondi’srepresentation of motorcyclists extends beyondthe court room. He is a member of the Board ofDirectors of ABATE of Michigan and meetsfrequently with both legislators and lobbyistsregarding legislation affecting injuredmotorcyclists and the rights of motorcyclists toride free.

This means that if an injured person necessitates more than one aide, andthe total time of care rendered by the aides totals more than 24 hours perday, payment is limited to 24 hours. Further, payment of any attendantcare after the first 30 days subjects the injured person to a 20% copay upto max of $200.00 per month.

The proposed bill will effectively eviscerate an injured person’s ability to getthe treatment they need after sustaining significant injuries. In addition to the pointsraised above, the bill also places restrictions on an injured person’s ability to obtainaccommodations to their motorcycles or homes regarding their injuries; provides anunprecedented restrictive definition of “allowable expenses” which will allowinsurance companies to argue that claimed expense is not payable because if fallsoutside the definition; and disallows any evidence of the manner in which an insurerprocessed the claim in any trial against the insurer in an attempt to prove that insureracted unreasonably. (Without being able to admit evidence regarding the processing ofthe claim, it will be impossible to show a Court what the insurer did or didn’t do thatmake the denial of the claim unreasonable.)

The bottom line is this bill must be defeated or the rights of the injuredmotorcyclist to receive the care and treatment they need after a significant accidentwill be a thing of the past. Now more than ever, it is critical that you contact yourrepresentatives in Lansing and tell them they must not allow this bill to pass. I will bedoing my part, as I have a meeting scheduled with Governor Snyder’s office toadvocate against this bill on behalf of motorcyclists statewide and will continue toeducate other legislators in Lansing as to why this bill must not get passed.

As always, if anyone has any questions on this incredibly important issue or ifI can be of legal assistance to you or anyone you know who has been injured in amotorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I deal with Michigan NoFault law on a daily basis on behalf of injured motorcyclists statewide. Give me a callat 248-569-4646 or shoot me an e-mail atDondi@buckfirelaw.com.

April 201418 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

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Continued from page 13 - Motorcity Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson introduced two newmodels this month: the Low Rider and Super LowRider. I have to wonder where The Motor Company istaking us. These intro’s come on the heels of theintroduction of the liquid-cooled engines for 2014 aswell as “The Rushmore” project bikes with state of theart electronics not to mention the new Street 500 andStreet 750. Could it be that the Motor Company istaking us and itself into the 21st Century? My V - TwinCam heart be still!

The Low Rider is reminiscent of the old daysand, according to the company literature, “The LowRider contains old school class and exciting newperformance,” it will be powered by the Harley Twin

New Stuff From H-D and TECH TALKby Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer

Cam 103 engine, have dual front disc brakes, 2-into-1exhaust, and of course those outstanding one-of-a-kind - now copied by almost everyone else -traditional Harley good looks. The Super Low 1200Tis touring class machine. Based on the Sportsterplatform, it will weigh at least 118 pounds less thanHarley’s lightest Big Twin touring bike and comesstandard with a detachable windshield and lockingsaddlebags. Both models were formally introducedto the riding public at Daytona Bike Week.

Man, if I had an extra couple thousand lyingaround – OK, maybe more than a couple thousand -I’d be real interested in a nice “City” bike to augmentmy big Road Glide Ultra Touring Bike. I really likethe idea of the Street 500 and Street 750. With theaddition of these new models, I challenge any othermotorcycle manufacturer to put the number ofoptions and models out there for their customers topurchase. It’s pretty obvious the Motor Company istrying to hit all the “sweet spots” and is doing apretty good job of it.

TECH TALK

This is the first installment of TECH TALKand I’m not sure exactly how I am going to run it inthe future. Ray Peabody and I will make that decisionin the next couple of weeks. I’ve received several e-mails regarding what you want to see in TECH TALK

and we’ll get to all of them in the next couple ofmonths. For our inaugural article, we’re going totalk about getting your bike ready for Spring. Ifyou are like me, your bike has been sitting in afrozen garage for four to five months. We’re justwaiting for those first days above 40 degrees, a littlesunshine and roads that are salt and slush free. I putthe question of getting your bike ready to someoneI’ve known for more than 10 years, a trusted friendand an individual I consider the top Harley-Davidson mechanic bar none; Jerry Battaglia. Heowns Jerry B’s Cycle Works together with his wife,Michelle. They have been in business since 1993,located at 25430 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI48081, Ph# 586-773-BIKE. I stopped in on aSaturday afternoon in early March. Jerry is evenbusy in the winter as biker’s are starting to come bythe store in preparation for spring riding. On thatSaturday, there was a bike being brought in(trailered) and one being picked up.

Continued on next page

motorcycle enthusiasts across Michigan with twoevents in early May. The first is the Grand Opening,held on May 2nd and 3rd. The second event will be thearrival of the Indian Demo truck the following week-end – May 9, 10 and 11. For more information, visit Indian andVictory Motorcycle Motorcity at 1765 South Telegraphin Bloomfield hills, or visit their website atwww.motorcitymotorcycles.com. They are also onFacebook at www.facebook.com/motorcitymotorcycles or call the store at 248-920-2000.

Jerry B (left), Peanut (center)and Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 19

We ride. We know the value of a great destination,a tasty lunch and a cool beverage while out for a dayin the saddle. Come on out to Ionia to check us out.Don’t wait until spring. Drive out now and ride back

once the winter ends. See you at The Alibi!

1395 E. Riverside Dr.Ionia, Michigan(616) 527-1810

www.alibionia.com

Motorcyclist OwnedMotorcyclist OwnedMotorcyclist OwnedMotorcyclist OwnedMotorcyclist Owned

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MOTORCYCLISTS WELCOME!

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269.651.3424www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com

2014 Harley-Davidson®

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We have the full line of 2014Harley-Davidson® motorcycles- including the ProjectRushmore touring models - instock and available forimmediate delivery. It’s cold andsnowy now but spring is right around the corner.The 2014 models have been selling fast andmight be sold out by early next year. Stop by ourstore today to find the Harley of your dreams.

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The Preacher (TP): First of all, Jerry, thanks forletting me pick your brain about getting bikes readyfor Spring….what can you tell me? How should onego about it? I’m always tempted to just back it out,put it in neutral, and start it up.

Jerry B (JB): Well, if you put it away properly, youcould pretty much do that…provided it’s been on abattery tender (trickle charger 12VDC @ 750mA,120VAC @ 60Hz 12W.) As far as battery life goes, aslong as you’ve had it on a trickle charger (yearround), you will extend its life. Listen to thecranking. If it sounds labored, you probably need anew battery. Don’t play Russian Roulette with it.When your battery goes, you’re dead on the road.The record for the oldest battery I ever replaced is 12years. Please, do not try to break that record.

TP: OK, what else, Jerry?

JB: Hopefully, you put fresh fluids (oil, tranny,chain case) in before you put it away. Never put abike away without changing the fluids. If youchanged them, you should be OK. If you do need tochange fluids, do not use synthetic in the ChainCase. If you have a Kevlar Clutch, the synthetic oilwill destroy it. I prefer regular petroleum productsover synthetic across the board. I’ve actually done atest here in the shop, coating a piece of metal withsynthetic on one side, petroleum-based oil on theother. A couple days later, the synthetic side hadbare spots on it while the petroleum based still had100% coverage. O.K, not exactly a scientific test but atest that tells me all I need to know. But what Ireally want to talk about is tires and tire pressure,

something not too many riders pay that muchattention to.

TP: What do you mean? I change tires when it’s timeto change tires.

JB: Do you check the tire pressure? How do youknow when it’s time to change tires?

TP: Well, I do check the pressure since you balledme out a couple years ago for not checking it. As faras replacing them, I ask you.

JB: You’re a smart guy....that’s the right thing to do.That’s what I’m here for. But most peopleconcentrate on one thing: tread. Most H-Dmotorcycle tires are rated for 5 to 7 year useful life,depending on mileage. H-D Dunlop tires are justabout the best tire on the market and I can’t say I’veseen a lot of them fail. But almost every bike I get inhere, the tire pressure is wrong. Either too high ortoo low. It’s extremely important for tire life,handling, and safety. It only takes a few minutes. It’snot hard to do but it can make all the difference. Tirepressure should be checked weekly during ridingseason and at the same time you insapect your tires. Imean bending over and inspecting them closely.Tires on average, in normal usage, can lose two tofour pounds. of pressure per month.

TP: What should we be looking for?

JB: Tread of course, but much more than that. Checkfor what I like to call the “silent killer;”tires thathave cracking in the treads or side walls. You can’tjust look at them quickly, you need to bend rightdown and take a close look inside the tread…not just

in a small area. Push that bike back and forth andinspect the whole tire. Inspect not only the treadand the inside of the tread, but alsothe sidewalls aswell. They usually get overlooked. A crackedsidewall will put you on the side of the roadquicker than anything else and it won’t bepleasant. This is especially important after winterstorage in a garage. The worst enemy of your tiresnext to improper tire inflation is moisture. If yourbike has been stored in an unheated garage overthe winter then there’s been plenty of moistureattacking it. That’s about it.

TP: ThanksJerry, I lookforward tothe nextinstallmentof TECHTALK.

(LET USKNOWDIFFERENTTOPICSYOU’D LIKETO KNOWABOUT BY E-MAILINGME ATfhoffer999@comcast.net)

Continued from previous page

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI

(616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.comLatitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382

Softshell Heated Vest

Multilayer wind-proof softshell

vest withCoreheat7

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keep you warmat the highest

speeds. (Batterypowered)

Was $16900

NOW$10900

April 201420 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Tips for Gearing Upfor the Motorcycle

Seasonby Jason Waechter

Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorneyspecializing in the areas of motorcycle and motorvehicle injury litigation. Mr. Waechter hascollected millions of dollars in settlements, awardsand verdicts for his motorcycle clients over the past20 years. Jason feels a duty to give back to hiscommunity. A portion of each case settled goes toeducational resources for bikers, funds to helpbikers while their cases are being litigated and ourmotorcycle accident prevention campaign. CallAttorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877-BIKERLAW. Or visit www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.comLegal disclaimer: The law is very fact dependentand there are many nuances and exceptionsdepending on your particular circumstances.Therefore, given the limited space, it is impossibleto cover everything. Do not rely on the short articleto protect your rights.

Welcome to Motorcycle Mike’s(formerly of Blue Water Tires)

We carry the most popular brands of tiresfor every style of motorcycle you ride:

You can rely on the expertise of our staff, with

their combined riding experience of over 100years! Whether you need help in picking out thebest tires, mounting the tires, or balancing the

tires on your wheels, just look to us to help.

• American V-twins• Metric Cruisers• Large Touring• Sport Bikes• Sport Touring• Racing• Vintage

• Dual Sport• Off Road• Scooter• ATVs• Trials• Dirt Track• and much more

53379 Gratiot Avenue, Suite BChesterfield, MI 48051

(586) 270-6595www.motorcyclemikes.com

Visit our storefor your tires ratherthan going to a swap

meet. We don’t charge forparking nor do we chargean entry fee. Instead, youwill enjoy the same prices

you would find at theswap meet. Don’t wait.

The riding seasonis here.

With all this snow, it’s hard to believespring is just around the corner, but, in spite ofmother nature, I know a lot of motorcyclists arepreparing for the upcoming riding season. Whatyou did to prepare your bike for winter storage willmake a difference in terms of what you need to doto get ready for spring. If nothing else, prepping foryour first ride might distract you from the cold andsnow, so here are a few things to keep in mind asthe motorcycle season approaches.

Tires: It’s been an exceptionally cold winterthis year in most areas, so inspect your tirescarefully before going for a ride. Extreme cold cancause cracks, flat spots, and other damage,especially if you did not put any insulation(cardboard for example) between the ground andyour tires. It’s a good idea to have a portable airtank on hand so you can fill your tires at home,without moving the bike. Get yourself an accurate

tire gauge and always check tire pressure when tires arecold. You can get a tire gauge and other free swag byvisiting us here: http://www.motorcyclelawyermichigan.com/20.html. Don’tforget, the temperature outside directly affects your tirepressure. If it’s really cold or really hot outside, checkyour tires before you ride. Your owner’s manual canadvise you about adjusting your tire pressure for theload you are carrying and the temperatures. Most tireswill have the ideal PSI range stamped right on them.NHTSA (National Highway Traffic SAfety

Administration) suggestschecking your tirepressure before each ride,but, at the very least,check them once a week.

Engine, brakes, andbattery: Did you changethe oil and filter beforestoring your bike forwinter? If not, you shouldprobably do so now.Make sure your battery istopped up (whereapplicable), look forcorrosion, cracks or otherdamage, and make sureit’s fully charged. Do afull circle check to makesure everything is ingood shape, and be sureto test all lights and turnsignals. Check yourbrakes to make surethey’re not worn andthey’re workingproperly. After a long,cold winter, your bikeisn’t the only thing thatneeds warming up; easeinto full riding bypracticing your brakingand maneuvers in a safelocation like a parkinglot before taking it to thestreets.

Biker Card: Whilethe weather might not beideal for riding, this isthe season for swapmeets and motorcycleevents where you can

check out the latest and greatest biker gear.This year, my team and I have developed anew Biker Card that we hope everymotorcyclist will carry with them. The cardgives the basics of what to do in the event ofa crash, using the acronym PACT: Preventfurther injury; Assess the situation; ContactEMS; Treat the injured with life-sustainingcare. It also lists first-aid priorities, the ABCs:Airway, rescue Breathing, and Controlbleeding. This information is the basis for theBystander Assistance Course that our firmoffers, just one of the ways we are givingback to the biker community. To learn moreabout our commitment to biker safety, visithttp://www.themotorcyclelawyer.com/144.html. As an added bonus, motorcyclistswho carry our Biker Card get discounts onproducts and services at a bunch of differentstores and restaurants in Michigan. Want acard? Request one by visiting http://www.motorcyclelawyermichigan.com/20.html, where you can also request ourWatch for Motorcycles bumper stickers topromote motorcycle awareness in your area.

Insurance: Admittedly, insuranceisn’t a sexy topic, but it’s important to makesure your motorcycle is properly insured.Legal requirements for motorcycle insurancevary by state; here in Michigan, you musthave bodily injury coverage in order to rideon the road, and if you get in a wreck andneed repairs to your bike, you have to havecomprehensive coverage as well. Somepeople will cancel their insurance policiesover the winter to save a few bucks; this isnot a good idea! Your homeowner’s policymay not cover flood, fire, theft, or otherdamages when you are storing it on yourproperty. Also, if you wake up on a beautiful,sunny day and you have no insurance, youmight miss out on a great first ride. It’salways better to insure your bike year-round,so you’re covered and ready for anything. Iprovide information on motorcycle laws andinsurance state-by-state on my website,www.themotorcyclelawyer.com.

As the weather gets warmer andmotorcycle season gets underway, my mostimportant tip is to always Watch forMotorcycles! You could save a life. Remindyour family and friends when they’re outdriving that motorcycles are everywhere.Let’s all have a safe season this year.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 21

May 24 & 2514th Annual Bubba’s Memorial WeekendClassic804 S. Huron (M-13)Linwood, MISaturday charity bike showSunday charity poker runSunday bike raffle giveaway at 5:30Sign each day is 10am-12pm$5.00 donation for either event2 days of food, rock and roll, friendshipand charity fundraisingAll proceeds go to Camp Fish Tales- Alocal barrier free camp989-697-5525www.bubbastricitycycle.com

August 14-16Michigan State HOG Rally PresentsThe Great Lakes RallyBirch Run Expo Center11600 N. Beyer Rd.Birch Run, MIFacebook: Michigan State HOG Rallywww.mistatehogrally.com

EventsEvents do change. Please call ahead.

Michigan

Indiana

March 29Season Starter Open HouseBMW Motorcycles ofGrand Rapids5995 S. DivisionGrand Rapids, MI616.530.6900www.bmwmcgr.com

April 12Spring Open HouseBMW Motorcycles of Detroit34080 Van Dyke AvenueSterling Heights, MI(586) 274-4000

April 12Bob Burns & Phil MannBirthday Party5995 S. DivisionGrand Rapids, MI616.530.6900

April 18Charity Fashion Show toBenefit Cerebral Palsy of Metro Detroit$25 / ticketBegins 6 p.m.BMW Motorcycles ofSoutheast Michigan39933 Ford RoadCanton, MI734.981.1479

April 19Cadillac Motorcycle Swap MeetWexford Co. Civic Center1320 N. Mitchell St.Cadillac, MI 49061Sat. 10am - 4pm800.800.6034

April 26HIM Swap Meet10 a.m. to 5 p.m.8219 E. Holly Rd.Holly, MI248.807.8603

April 26, 2712th Annual Spring Open HouseMichigan Chrome Shop69090 Main Street (M-19)Richmond, MI586.727.7829mychromeshop.com

April 27Lakeshore Blessing of the BikesOttawa County Fairgrounds1286 Ottawa Beach RdHolland, MI 49424Gates open 10 am to 4 pm. Drawings/awards begin at2:15 with Blessing at 3 pm616-566-2902blessingofthebikesholland@gmail.comWeb: http://blessingofthebikes.com/

May 2-3Grand OpeningMotorcity MotorcyclesIndian / Victory1765 S. Telegraph Rd.Bloomfield Hills, MIwww.motorcitymotorcycles.com248.920.2000

May 9, 10 & 11Indian Motorcycles Demo TruckMotorcity MotorcyclesIndian / Victory1765 S. Telegraph Rd.Bloomfield Hills, MIwww.motorcitymotorcycles.com248.920.2000

May 11th

34th annual Mothers day swap meet andride in bike showMidland Co Fairgrounds6905 Eastman Ave, Midland , MI11am-4pm , $5.00 admissionRide in bike show sign up 11am-1pm,trophies at 3:00pm989-697-5525Bubbastricitycycle.com

Saturday, April 12, 2014 • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bob Burns (86) & Phil Mann (81)

BIRTHDAY PARTY

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, Michigan

(616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.com

What you get atBMW Motorcyclesof Grand Rapids

• 5,000 sq. ft. showroom • Large Inventory of BMW Motorcycles and Accessories

• 2 Certified BMW Master Technicians, one BMW Certified Technician & one vintage /

old motorcycle specialist on staff • Service while you wait (by appointment)

• Service loaners • Demonstrators of 2013 models in stock & ready to ride

Join us in celebrating the birthdaysof two lifetime riders and greatfriends of ours. These two menhave each ridden thousands of

miles since they began riding andshow no signs of slowing down.Stop by the store to meet both (ifyou haven’t already), hear theirstories and have some cake!

Special Guest!2nd place finisherin the 2013 BMWOwners GroupHigh MileageCompetition,

women’s group

March 29ABATE Region 7 Swap Meet8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.National Guard Armory1925 1st Avenue,Freeman FieldSeymour, IN$5/person812.614.2979

April 5ABATE Region 10 Spring ThawCrawford County 4-H ClubOld 37, English, INGates open at noon$10 Members; $14 non-members812.508.1139

April 6ABATE Region 1 Spring FeverMotorcycle Swap MeetIndiana National Guard Armory1220 West Madison Street

Plymouth, IN9 a.m. to 4 p.m.$5 members; $7 non-members574.935.5225

April 19ABATE Region 7 Spring FlingAmazing Joe’s Restaurant2607 Central AvenueColumbus, INSign in 11 am to noon$20 single; $30 double812.603.6523

April 26ABATE Region 10Redneck Romp2131 West CR 150 SPaoli, IN$10 / person812.723.3470

April 26ABATE Region 11 Battle of theBandsRock House3940 S. Keystone AvenueIndianapolis, INOpens at 11 a.m.$5 / Person317.437.9482

May 2ABATE Region 2Spring BreakoutLaporte County Fairgrounds2581 West Highway 2Laporte, INOpen at Noon$15 / single; $25 / couple219.331.4546

May 18Fallen Heroes Family RunSign up at Walmart, Portage Avein South Bend, INRide begins @ 11 a.m.$15/rider; $10/passengerwww.fallenheroes-ride.com574.339.1575

May 22-27Indiana Chapter 1Rolling ThunderDeparts 10 a.m.

HD of Indianapolis4146 E. 96th StreetIndianapolis, IN765.409.0124www.indianarollingthunder.com/runtothewall

May 24Stars & Stripes Forever RideSign up at Walmart onIreland Rd. in South Bend, INRide begins at 11 a.m.$15/rider; $10/passengerwww.starsandstripesride.com574.339.5657

May 31Poker Run Benefiting UnitedCancerReg 9a.m. @RV Hall of Fame$20/rider; $10/riderwww.elkhartcancer.org

June 28The Ice Cream RunWalmart SouthIreland Road at 31/20 BypassSouthREg 10 a.m.$20 /rider; $30 / passengerwww.icecream-run.com

July 13Ride with Us to Cure KidsPinhook Park2801 Riverside DriveSouthBend, IN800.253.6530rideforkids.org

April 201422 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

The Slippery Road of Dramaby Nicole Espinosa

Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle

What happens when bad weather orterrain knocks you off balance? Do you

grab the bars tightly in an attemptgain control over the mud, sand or

rain? Or, do you know that this, too,shall pass and maintain your

composure while allowing the bikedance beneath you?

It all seems to be summed upeasily as one of life’s point-of-views(PoV)—the glass is either half full, orhalf empty. The world is either anexciting adventure waiting to be lived,or it’s a scary, fear-based place keepingeveryone separated in their littleboxes. It’s true that once you startthinking from a negative PoV, more ofthe same comes at you until youbelieve the world is a darker place—with no way out. But, there’s hope.When drama rears its head astroublesome weather while riding, oras a tantruming child while at home,the best way to meet it head on is bystaying lucid and present.

Now the question is how to

do this when fear makes you puckerduring a storm, or buttons are pushedin a heated discussion. Emotionssometimes get the best of us. But, onlywhen we become them. Take, forexample, getting pummeled by therain on a long cross-country ride. Atsome point riding in a hyperawarestate becomes fatiguing, and brainloops begin to wear you down. Youmay think, over and over again, “I’mwet and tired. Riding in this weathersucks!” to a point where you becomeyour emotions— “mysteriously”finding yourself in even more storms.But, if you flip the PoV around andthrow a switch in your mind, itbecomes something like, “Hey sowhat—I’m wet. I have my heated gear,at least I’m warm. When I stop, it’ll befun to watch the storm from my tent.”Suddenly, you find yourself ridingwith the emotions you choose ratherthan the opposite.

Just like riding in rainstorms,we weather bumpy roads inrelationships. Reactive patterns

develop over time, while we act outour individual scenarios. Due topersonal perspectives, these scenesoften only appear different from oneanother. However, if buttons aretriggered, knee-jerk responses pull usright into the drama. This is how twopeople who love each other tend tospiral down to lower levels. It takes afan to fuel a fire, so how abouteliminating the extra oxygenaltogether? If we anticipate thattriggers might be pushed then we canact as observers instead of victims andnot be as likely to react negatively.

Drama loves company. Justlike a child who throws itself on thefloor kicking and screaming withoutallowing any notion of consolation.Walking away may sometimes be thebest medicine. The same thing goes fordramatic situations on the bike. Let’ssay you’re slipping and sliding in mudthat seems to go on forever. Thelonger you fight it, the more angryand frustrated you become. Why nottake a break? Diffuse the situation bygetting off the bike, and pulling outyour camp stove for a nice cup o’ Joe,or something warm to eat. This type ofthing will break the mind’s loop, andallow a fresh (calmer) perspective toapproach the task at hand.

This also applies tobreakdowns. We havechoices for ourperspectives. It couldbe viewed as a dollopof bad luck, or itcould be taken as anopportunity tostrengthenmechanical skills or away to make friendswith a stranger whohappens along. Eitherway, make it what itbecomes. Isn’t itinteresting that so

many experienced adventure ridersconsider breakdowns a grand part oftheir adventures? When those tightboundaries open up culturally andemotionally, we tend to lift ourperspectives to brighter sides. Andonce that PoV turns positive, morelikely than not it’ll stick with you forthe rest of the trip—even when thedrama tries to give you a kiss.

This seductive type ofcraziness tends to feed on itself,especially in a group setting. But likeriding in a rain storm, staying presentand unattached to group emotion willhelp calm the craziness. One way orthe other, it’s an energy that can besensed. A cloud of drama can be feltfrom far away, but so, too, can thepresence of peace. It’s the calm andpeaceful mindset that will alwaysguide you through the slippery road ofhigh emotional situations and keep therubber down. And if there’s one thingwe can bet on, it’s that motorcycling isthe best antidote for drama.

Nicole Espinosa is Mom to two great kids,founder / owner of www.ruggedrider.com,Managing Editor of Adventure Motor-cycle magazine and soon-to-be RTWmotorcycle adventurer. Communicationwelcome for Nicole:nicole@ruggedrider.com

Nicole has a plan for these endless dark clouds.

This wasn’t bad weather, it was an opportunity tohave some fun in Summer Lake Hot Springs.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 23

www.bmwmcgr.com

616-530-6900Grand Rapids, MI 49548-5730

5995 S DivisionBMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids

Triumph Detroit East50662 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI

(1/4 mile south of 23 Mile Road)

(586) 726-7400www.triumphdetroit.com

Triumph Detroit West620 W. Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, MI

(1/4 mile east of Main Street)

(734) 453-1800www.triumphdetroit.com

EXTENDEDSPRING HOURS

FOR YOURSHOPPING &

SERVICECONVENIENCE

(Effective April 1st through May 31st)

Monday: Noon to 8 p.m.Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Friday: 10 p.m. to 6 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us on Thursdayevenings in 2014*:

1st and 3rd Thursdaysat Triumph Detroit - East

2nd and 4th Thursdaysat Triumph Detroit - West

WeeklyBBQ

2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT

The 2014 TriumphMotorcycles Are In!

Stop by our store today to see thefull-line of 2014 Triumph motorcycles.From the retro Bonnevilles to the Tigeradventure bikes to the Daytonasupersports and naked Triples to thepower cruisers, they’re all here.

2014 Triumph Commander

Be sure to check out the newCommander power cruiser andThunderbird LT touring motorcycles.Whether you’re cruising to bike nightor touring the country, TriumphDetroit has the right cruiser for you.