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In this issue: The Skinny On... The 2014 Indian Chieftain by Pedro Gregorio Buying the Harley-Davidson Street 750... or not... by Mike Mekinda Business Profile: BSA Bob’s Vintage British Motorcycle Parts by Ray Peabody The Live It Right Dream Ride: The Adventure Begins by Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle: Sustainable Motorcycling by Nicole Espinosa Motorcycling and Law: 3P Claim Allowed Even If Motorcycle Uninsured by Dondi Vesprini The Preacher Speaks About: Blessing and Rides by Franz Hoffer Safe-on-Red Laws Gaining Popularity by Jason Waechter
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1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MIOne mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.MotorCityMotorcycles.com
on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles
The NEW American motorcycle icons are here...and ready for immediate delivery.
New look. Same soul. The 2014 Indian® Chieftain™ is intouch with its past, but far ahead of its time. It’s the first
Indian Motorcycle® ever with a hard fairing, hardsaddlebags and unprecedented new comfort and
convenience features. It’s like no Indian Motorcycle®
ever seen before, yet its style makes clear it has theDNA of a legendary Indian Motorcycle®.
The 2015 Victory Gunner is an outstandingmotorcycle, an urban cruiser that delivers anunmatched combination of style, performance
and power that can only come from VictoryMotorcycles.
If you’re looking for performance,style and quality in your next
motorcycle, stop by our store tocheck out the full line of Indian and
Victory motorcycles. Built inAmerica to the highest standards,the cruiser, bagger and touring
motorcycles from both brands willexceed your expectations.
Visit our store today and comeprepared for a test ride.
Financing available for qualified buyers
Dave Bowman Inc.
Tech-Care Suspension Small Displacement Motor Sports www.tech-care.com - [email protected] (248) 666-4651 6971 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48327
Your complete motor sports service center We Do It All from Old to New
Specializes in: Motocross-Cross Country– Enduro-Street--Custom-Touring-Sport Bikes-Restorations-Fabrications
Powder Coatings-Ceramic Custom Paint-Custom Parts-Stock Parts-O.E.M. Parts
Complete Motor and Chassis Restoration-Cylinder Boring-Valve Jobs-Carbonator Restorations and
Fuel Injection Mapping and Programming
We can build or service your bike or ATV. Call us today for your needs.
Matthew Law Josh Billy Emily Derek Dave Anthony Jim Powers Konrad Burrell Phil
Midwest MotorcyclistTM 3
www.bmwmcgr.com
616-530-6900Grand Rapids, MI 49548-5730
5995 S DivisionBMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids Up to $600 in
factory incentives
August 20144 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
Columns5 To Our Readers10 The Preacher Speaks About: Blessing and Rides by Franz Hoffer12 The Live It Right Dream Ride: The Adventure Begins
by Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus17 Motorcycling and Law: 3P Claim Allowed Even If Motorcycle Uninsured
by Dondi Vesprini20 Safe-on-Red Laws Gaining Popularity by Jason Waechter22 Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle:
Sustainable Motorcycling by Nicole Espinosa
Features, News & Reviews6 Business Profile: BSA Bob’s Vintage British Motorcycle Parts by Ray Peabody8 Buying the Harley-Davidson Street 750... or not... by Mike Mekinda12 The Skinny On... The 2014 Indian Chieftain by Pedro Gregorio16 Cafe Racer Adds Genuine Scooters to Its Offering18 Custom ATV Highlights SDM Restoration Projects
Resources5 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
[email protected]@sbcglobal.net
Advertising Sales/ Web Master / DistributionRay Peabody
[email protected]@sbcglobal.net
Cover DesignJulie Kirkendoll
cc media publications
Cover photo: The 2014 Indian Chieftain powerplant. Photo by Pedro Gregorio.
This Month’s Contributors:
Contributing Editors
Nicole EspinosaPedro Gregorio
Franz Hoffer
plus
Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus,Mike Mekinda, Dondi Vesprini,
Jason Waechter
IN THIS ISSUE…..
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.comLatitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382
Year Make/Model Price
2013 BMW R1200R $13,9502013 BMW G 650 GS $7,4502012 BMW K1600GTL $19,9502012 BMW K1300S HP $16,9502012 BMW K1600GTL $19,4502009 BMW K1300 S $9,9502009 BMW K1200LT $14,9502008 Honda Goldwing $11,9502007 Honda Interceptor $5,4502007 BMW F800S $5,7502005 BMW K1200LT $9,9502005 BMW R1200RT $8,4502005 BMW R1200RT $7,9502005 BMW R1200RT $8,2502005 BMW R1200RT $7,9502003 BMW F650GS $4,9502002 BMW K1200LT $6,4501992 BMW R100RS $7,9501984 BMW R100RS $7,950
1992 BMW
R 100 RSBlue/Silver, Very
good cond., 36,600
miles,
ONLY
$7,950
2007 Honda
InterceptorBlue/White/Red,
16,193 miles, Like
new condition
ONLY$5,450
Pre-Owned Motorcycles
Event ListingsEvent ListingsEvent ListingsEvent ListingsEvent Listingsare Free!are Free!are Free!are Free!are Free!
Midwest MotorcyclistTM 5
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ABATE of Indiana .....................................16A.B.C. Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Battle of the Brits............................24Bent Wheels Competition Club.................5BMW MC of Detroit...........................13, 18BMW of Grand Rapids..........3, 4, 8, 21BMW, SE Michigan..............7, 12, 18, 23Brighton Harley-Davidson .......7, 10, 11C & S Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Capitol Harley-Davidson .........7, 10, 11Classic MotorSports................7, 10, 11Cycle Conservation Club ...........................17Diamond Gusset Jeans ............................10Dave Bowman.....................................2, 7Gildner’s Harley-Davidson .......7, 10, 11Grand Rapids H-D................. ...7, 10, 11Great Lakes Dual Sporters ....................16Great Lakes Harley-Davidson ..7, 10, 11Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson .....7, 10, 11, 13Harley-Davidson dealers ..........7, 10, 11Harrison Motorcycle Service ................12Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ........7, 10, 11Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..24Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................12Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................14Kersting’s Harley-Davidson.......................10MI Supermoto.................................9Michigan Chrome Shop.......................20Michigan City Harley-Davidson..................18Motor City Harley-Davidson ...7, 10, 11Motor City Underwriters ......................12Motorcity Motorcycles.................2, 7, 15, 19Motorcycle Mike’s............................8Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................12MC Sport Touring Association..........5, 17Perry’s Harley-Davidson ..........7, 10, 11Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........7, 10, 11Retail Warehouse ............................14, 19Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 22Sweet Trikes ...........................................12Tecumseh Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11The Alibi................................................20Thunder Hog.....................................14Town & Country H-D................7, 10, 11Vehicle City Harley-Davidson ..7, 10, 11Wolverine Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D..............7, 10, 11
AdvertiserIndex
Now in West Michigan
Check us out on Facebook @MSTAWestMichigan or send
an e-mail [email protected]
for more information.
Disclaimer: This ain’t your mamma’s pokey bar hoppin’ motorcycle club. It also isn’ta squidly club. We ride and we ride well. You are expected to ride within your limits.You are expected to wear appropriate safety gear, ride a safely maintained machine,and follow reasonable group riding etiquette. We welcome riders of all skill levels,ages, genders, and marques. You will likely find like-minded members who ride atyour level of skill. The MSTA and Michigan MSTA assume no responsibility for yoursafety, state of mind, average lean angle, or degree of rockin’ fun that you’llexperience with us. Just motorcycle enthusiasts getting together to ride.
JOIN US
This club is like none other - no politics, no B.S. We travel togreat riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to bebetter riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion:
The Passion To Ride!The Bent Wheels
Chapter of theCCC is looking for
new members.BWCC has a long history of promoting
events of all kinds and in preserving ourORV trail system. We
are 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
[email protected]. 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
Retail Warehouse
HUGE Selection• Saddlebags
• Touring Bags
• Windshield Bags
• Sissy Bar Bags
• Fork Bags
• Magnetic Tank Bags
• 3 models of Gel seats
Every once in a while, a chancemeeting reminds me of the uniquerelationship between motorcyclists. It doesn’ttake long. It can be as simple as a wave as wepass on the road. Sometimes it’s a nod orgreeting at a gas station or perhaps aroadside park. Other times, it’s aconversation while standing in line at amotorcycle event. It might even happen withe-mail, text messages or social media acrosscountries through smart phones and theinternet. Wherever the common thread ofmotorcycling is raised, connections are made. I met Paul H. Smith through ourmutual friend (and Midwest Motorcyclist™ /Michigan Motorcyclist® columnist), NicoleEspinosa. I read that Paul, who is SeniorEditor of Adventure Motorcycle and DualSport News magazine among other things,would be engaged in a Ride Round Americatrip (http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=976900, his trip report onAdventure Rider) aboard the new Suzuki DL-1000 V-Strom Adventure.
The journey would take Paul eastfrom Los Angeles across the southern tier ofstates, north up the eastern seaboard intoCanada and then west past Michigan. Fromhere, he would travel southwest to Arizona tomeet up with Ron Grace of Lost for a Reason(www.lostforareason.org). From Arizona, hewould head north up through Colorado,Idaho and Montana on his way to Alaska andthe Arctic Circle. Since he would be passingnear Michigan on his return trip west, Ioffered our home as a rest stop.
Paul is quite an interesting fellow. Inaddition to this most recent adventure, he’sbeen traveling the world since he was a teen.He’s also something of a marketing wizhaving been involved in promoting a varietyof products that today are recognizable bymost everyone. He’s a philosopher and anincredible storyteller. We might never havemet Paul had it not been for the conection
with Nicole. His mid-trip visit of less than24 hours turned into a memorable eveningof food, drink and conversation. Plus, Paullet me take the V-Strom Adventure out fora short ride. Impressive motorcycle;comfortable, smooth and powerful. Connections like the one we madewith Paul provide a highlight of ourinvolvement in the motorcycle community.In addition to the experience of riding,these connections with other riders makeriding a motorcycle even more enjoyable.
This month we have what I thinkcould be our best issue of the year. Lots ofexcellent writing about a variety ofinteresting subjects, including ContributingEditor Pedro Gregorio’s review of the 2014Indian Chieftain. The new Indians aregenerating a great deal of interest andconversation. Pedro tested the top-of-the-line Indian to see what the excitement isabout and shares his review with us in thisissue. As you already know, Pedro is anexcellent writer. This column is anespecially good example of his talent, notto mention an interesting read.
Mike Mekinda was the first ofour contributors to test Harley-Davidson’smuch anticipated new Street 750. He wentto the dealership for a test ride and, if thatwent well, to buy the new Harley. Whatdid he do? You’ll have to read hisexceptionally well written analysis to findout.
Live It Right Dream Rideadventurers, Emily Flinkstrom and JayWilgus, departed on their 15,000 milejourney to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina inSouth America on July 3. They’re cuttingacross the northern border with Canada asa warm up before turning south to LosAngeles and then Mexico. This month’scolumn, their first from the road, details
the early stage of their trip and theirexperiences thus far. Terrific writers,their monthly column is not to bemissed. So don’t.
Nicole Espinosa is alwayson the look out for products thatmake her life more complete yet easierwhile she’s out on the road. She’s alsotrying to minimize her kit by off-loading un-necessary items. It’s anongoing battle. Find out how she’sfaring in her Sustainable Motorcyclingreview of three products that she willbe carrying on her next adventure.
In this issue, we’relaunching a series of articles aboutsmall, independent businesses thatare succeeding in the incrediblychallenging motorcycle market. In ourfirst profile, we look at BSA Bob’svintage British motorcycle partsbusiness. For almost 40 years, Bobhas been buying and sellingmotorcycles and parts. He’s found away to survive and thrive. Check ourfirst in the series in this issue.
There’s much moreinteresting and entertaininginformation in this issue. Be sure notto miss the industry news items andevent schedule. Thanks for reading.Thanks also for patronizing ouradvertisers. They make publishingthis magazine possible.
Have fun. Ride safe. See youon the road or at an event in the nearfuture.
August 20146 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
You can find them almost everywhere -tucked into alleys in big cities, in strip malls in thesuburbs, along Main Street in small towns, just offthe freeway at an otherwise non-descript exit andeven in unidentifiable barns or garages out in thecountry. They are mostly small motorcycle-relatedbusinesses eeking out an existence bymanufacturing bolt-on parts, salvaging parts fromold and/or damaged motorcycles, selling newproducts created by some other business, buildingcustom motorcycles or servicing and repairingmotorcycles. Most are owned and operated byindependent, tough-as-nails characters who areexperts in their operations and skilled at making a
Small Business Profile
BSA Bob’s Vintage British Motorcycle Partsby Ray Peabody
profit. Many have compelling stories about thelaunch and evolution of their businesses. With thisbackground, we are launching an on-going series ofstories about some of those businesses – what theyoffer and how they survive in the increasinglycompetitive markets they serve.
John Craddock, owner of Café Racer inYpsilanti, had mentioned “BSA Bob” as a source forthe vintage British motorcycle parts he needed forrestoration projects in which he was engaged. Bob,John told me, had a barn filled with Britishmotorcycles and related parts in the country in southcentral Michigan. During one of those conversations,John offered to introduce me to Bob if I wasinterested in doing a story. Without hesitation, Iaccepted the offer.
John drove us out to meet with Bob. Thereare no signs to identify BSA Bob’s (formally knownas Iota Products Corporation) business. Bob was outmowing his grass when we turned into thedriveway. He is an older fellow with gray, shoulder-length hair. Don’t let the description fool you; Bob is
sharp. He knows what he has in stock and what theprice is on everything. His most distinctive featureis that the lower part of his left leg is missing, acasualty of a crash on his second BSA. Afterintroductions and greetings, Bob led us to his barn.
“Barn” doesn’t adequately describe thebuilding in which Bob stores his parts andmotorcycles. It’s a modern, two-level building.Parts such as gas tanks, fenders, engines and
transmissions as well as the first BSA Bob owned – aBSA A-50 with a 650 cc engine - and a 1957 RoyalEnfield – Indian 500 cc Woodsman competition dirtbike are located on the first floor. Upstairs is wherethe frames, wheels, suspension and exhaust partsare shelved. An extensive variety of old Britishmotorcycles – AJS, BSA, Jawa, Matchless, Norton,Royal Enfield, Triumph and a rare VictoriaBurgermeister (less engine) – are organized bymanufacturer at the far end of the second floor.Parts have been removed from most of themotorcycles but some are nearly complete.
Bob explained that he had started thebusiness in 1975 at a different location. That firstBSA needed a major rebuild after the previousowner missed a shift, over revved the engine andblew it up. He shopped around for a new cylinderand couldn’t believe the prices. He decided that hecould make some money selling British bike parts
and launched his own business. Hemoved to his current location in1996. His company grew in theintervening years. He sells vintageBritish motorcycle parts tocustomers all over the world –without the benefit of a computer,cell phone or credit card machine.To generate business, Bob advertisesin publications like Walneck’s ClassicCycles and Hemming’s Motor News.
To learn more about BSABob’s business, purchase parts foryour vintage Brit bike or to sellparts for the same, contact him atIota Products Corporation at (517)467-1127.
The season’s not overbut we’re moving oursout. Stop by today tofind the best value.
BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan
14855 N. Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI
734.453.0500 www.bmwmcsem.com
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Midwest MotorcyclistTM 7
Visit your local Harley-Davidson® dealertoday. The complete list of Michigan
Harley-Davidson® dealers can be foundon page 10 and 11 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
14855 N. Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI
734.453.0500 www.bmwmcsem.com
1995 BMW
R 1100 RSL,Black, 31,800 miles,
Excellent condition, BMW
saddle bags, Smoke
windscreen, Cylinder
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We take motorcycles of all brands and models as trade-ins.Bring us your bike when you’re ready to buy!
2013 BMW K1300S 30TH ANN. RED/BLACK/WHITE / BLACK $17,4902012 BMW K1600GTL MINERAL SILVER / SILVER $19,9902011 BMW R1200RTP BLACK/WHTIE / BLACK Sale Price: $17,4902010 BMW R1200GS Graphite $13,9902009 BMW R1200GS SILVER / SILVER $13,5002009 BMW R1200GSA GRAPHITE $14,7002008 BMW K1200S BLACK / SILVER Sale Price: $10,4902006 BMW K1200GT METALLIC BLUE / SILVER Sale Price: $11,4901995 BMW R1100RSL BLACK / SILVER $4,9901996 BMW R1100RT GLACIER GREEN / SILVER Sale Price: $4,490
1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MIOne mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.MotorCityMotorcycles.com
on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles
2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail $16,499
2008 Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Cross Bones $13,999
2005 Victory King Pin $6,499
2002 Harley-Davidson FLHRI Road King $7,499
2001 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic $10,495
1999 Yamaha Road Star Venture $4,499
1984 Honda Goldwing Aspencade $2,999
2002 Harley-Davidson
FLHRI Road King,
54,324 miles,
NOW $7,499
Pre-Owned Motorcycles
Event Listings
Event Listings are FREE
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Your complete motor sports service center
We Do It All from Old to New
1984 Honda GL1200 GOLDWING, All stock, 39,000 Miles, Runs great., $2,4951998 Honda TRX 300 EX QUAD, FMF Exhaust, Lady Ridden, Runs great., $1,9952003 Honda SHADOW 750, Fairing, Cobra Exhaust, Saddle Bags, 12,728 Miles., $2,9952004 Honda VLX 600 DELUXE, NEW TIRES, 8,000 MILES, WITH MEN AND WOMANS HELMET, $3,4952010 Honda VTX 1300 FURY, 6200 Miles, Great Condition, Very Clean, Like New, EFI, $6,9952012 Honda TRX 400 EX QUAD, Reverse, Hand Guards, Custom Grille, Low Hours, Well Maintained, $4,2951984 Yamaha XT 250 ENDURO, 7,800 Miles, Starts and Runs Great, New Tires and Brakes, $1,6951996 Yamaha ROYAL STAR 1300, 27,000 Miles, Cobra exh., With Corbin Solo Seat, $3,2951999 Yamaha PW 50, All Stock, Runs Great, Fresh Tune Up, $8992006 Yamaha YZ 450F, Break Away Levers, Clean, New Tires, New Chain/Sprockets, Fresh Tune up, Runs Great, TC suspension set up for 180 LB rider, $2,9952007 Yamaha YZ 250F, Clean, ASV Levers, FMF exhaust, Runs Great, $2,8952012 Yamaha R6, Like New, Ridden 6 months, 4,000 Miles, LED intergrated tail light, HID headlights, $7,8952012 Yamaha RAPTOR 90 QUAD, Like new, Well Maintained, Electric Start, Runs Great, $2,1951981 Suzuki DS 125, All original, Runs Great, $8002001 Suzuki INTRUDER 800, Radio, Saddle Bags, 27,779 Miles, Runs Great, $2,9952007 Suzuki GSXR 600, Yoshimura Exhaust, ELKA suspension, 5,800 miles, Set up for track, $5,4952010 Kawasaki KX 250F, Very Clean, New Tires, New Chain/Sprockets, Fresh Tune up, $3,8952004 KTM SX 65, Like New, Mint Condition, FMF Pipe, Runs Great, $1,4952006 KTM 300 XC, FRESH TOP END, WITH STOCK MUFFLER AND NUMBER PLATE, HAS TITLE, $2,995
2002 Suzuki SV 650 S,35,000 Miles, Renthal
Bars, Dale Walker’sPerformance Exhaust,
ONLY $2,995
2007 GSXR 600,Yoshimura Exhaust, ELKAsuspension, 5,800 miles,Set up for track, Street
Legal. $5,495
USED MOTORCYCLES & ATVs
August 20148 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
Welcome to Motorcycle Mike’s
We carry the most popular brands of tires
for every style of motorcycle you ride:
You can rely on the expertise of our staff, with
their combined riding experience of over 100
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I’ve been anxiously awaitingHarley-Davidson’s new Street 750 since Isaw the first teaser photos in 2013. Finally,a forward thinking, water-cooledmiddleweight with Harley cool built in. Iwanted one! The Motor Company sees thenew Street line as more than beginnerbikes, but, as indicated by the use of Street500s in the Harley-Davidson RidingAcademy, still a great bike for a newrider. The new bikes were built for“Urban riding”, and designed with theinput of, and to appeal to, hip young citydwellers looking for nimble, affordabletransportation infused with thatlegendary Harley heritage.
At a glance, they seem to havegotten the entire package right from theget-go. Those of us who love Harleys but prefersmaller bikes to buzz around on can finally haveboth in one Street motorbike. Sounds like just whatI need, and with pricing just over $6500 for theStreet 500 and around a grand more for the 750, very
affordable.When a friend at my local dealership
called to tell me that a Street 750 had just beendelivered, I packed my riding gear in the car,grabbed the checkbook, and asked ever-patient
Wife to drive me tothe dealership. Onthe way, I realized Ididn’t even knowthe color of the bike-but I wanted one ofthe first of theserevolutionary newHarleys parked inmy garage. I wasunder theimpression the firstStreet 500s would bedelivered forHarley-DavidsonRiding Academyclasses in spring, butthe 750s (identical tothe 500 except forthe larger engine)would not bearriving until earlyautumn - makingthis quite theexcitingdevelopment. I wasbouncing around inthe car like a kid onthe way to CedarPoint!
Barely throughthe door at WesternReserve Harley-Davidson, myexcitementcontinued to rise.The Street 750 wasvisible from the
door as we walked in. It was justbeautiful. A smallish bike amongall the full-size Harleys, the bikehas a neo-retro café racer kind ofcool about it, with a bit of V-Rodthrown in for attitude. The colorwas exactly what I’d hoped for,too; a rich, dark red (MysteriousRed Sunglow in Harley-speak),painted with Harley’s typicallyexcellent quality. I’m a bit tornby the black bikini fairing,though. I think the little fairinglooks good, but I think it mightlook better in the same color asthe tank and fender. The blacked-out frame, engine and exhaustlook fantastic, however, with
brushed fins on the heads and the touch of chromeof the dual rear springs adding very subtle diagonalhighlights to the matte shadows. Up front is a fairlylarge radiator (yep, this Harley is water-cooled!),but it’s tall and narrow, and well-integrated into theoverall look of the bike. Blend in a set of smallindicators and toss on a set of fork gators, and thelook of the Street 750 has me hooked.
Not wasting time, I sat on the bike whilesimultaneously asking for the keys to take a testride. The seat is a bit narrow, but seemedcomfortable, and is available in a low, standard (asequipped) or tall versions. The view from the seatlooks over a narrow tubular handlebar and decentswitchgear and mirrors. Though exposed wiringand connectors visible in various places took theeffect down a notch or two, there was nothingawful, considering the price point. Instrumentationis a single chrome-framed round speedometer witha few indicator lights and digital odometer/ tripmeter. Stripped to necessities, without feeling cheap- so far, so good. I’m sure by now you’ve decidedI’m “all in” on this purchase, and my ability to beobjective might be in question. You’d be correct inthat thinking. I’ve always said motorcycles areemotional purchases first, practicality comessomewhere down the line. My emotions werealready signing the check, but I’ve been doing thislong enough to know I needed the ride to finalizethe purchase.
Pushing the Street 750 out to the lot, it wasobvious this is a fairly substantial bike. Weighingonly about 500 pounds wet, I was expecting it to feela bit lighter to move around - though I think thewidth at the pegs made it somewhat awkward andunwieldy, not the weight. Clicking the starter, thefuel-injected engine started easily and quicklysettled to a quiet idle. Quiet? That’s an odd word touse with a Harley, but the 750 is exceptionally quiet.I was already considering a pipe with a bit morerumble, a thought I can’t remember ever havingabout a bike before! The clutch is light, with an easy
Continued on page 9
Random Ramblings of a Rarebird
Buying the new Harley-Davidson Street 750... or not...Words by Mike Mekinda Photos courtesy of the The Harley-Davidson Motor Company
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Continued from page 8 - H-D Street 750 Test
take-up and the fueling is spot on, so the bike iseasy to put in motion without hesitation or stalling.The belt drive keeps things tight, with no lashingabout between shifts of the smooth shifting, “clunk”free transmission. There’s no “ripping through thegears” on the street 750, but it moves out quite well.I have no timed proof of this, but the butt/braininterface seems to indicate the Street wouldoutrun an 883 Sportster pretty easily, anddefinitely much more smoothly.
Heading onto the freeway, the littleHarley merged into traffic with no effort,and smoothly settled in at 70mph or so. Theride on the freeway is controlled, but softand comfortable, and the bikini fairing wassurprisingly effective in keeping the windblast less turbulent. Off the freeway and intomy favorite local twisty-bits, the bike gaveno pretense of being a sportbike, but itchanged directions nicely. Pushed evenmoderately, though, the soft suspension thatworks well on the slab begins to feelunderdamped and slightly overwhelmed-enough so that I felt no desire to find thelimits where bits begin to drag. Brakes werealso decent in day-to-day traffic, but thesingle front and rear disc setup is barely up to thetask when pressed into “spirited” service. I had toremind myself of the intended buyers of the newbike, mostly new riders. The capabilities of theStreet 750 make sense. Fortunately, it’s cool enoughthat I see folks customizing and improving ratherthan outgrowing the bikes, and I predict theaftermarket will quickly step up with plenty ofproducts to customize the look, feel and ride of theStreets.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long beforemy enthusiasm for the Street 750 began to wane.The pegs are nicely positioned just slightly forward,but trying to figure out where to put my size-13boot on the exhaust (right) side with the shifter/peg and exhaust hangar was a bit of an odd issue;
always felt like I was resting my foot on the exhausthangar instead of the peg. Then there’s the shortdistance from narrow seat to pegs, and the wide tankthat forced my knees apart at a slightly weird angle tothe wider spaced pegs. I’m thinking a tall seat mightmake things a little better, but it won’t change the peglocation and spacing. I would also hope a tall seatposition would make the narrow seat a bit morecomfortable, but I think it’s just a product of the
slightly cramped cockpit putting my body in a strangeslouch. I had just a couple of issues with the bike, butthe kind of issues that forced me think more carefullyabout my potential purchase.
After returning to the dealership, I parkedand mulled over the Street 750 for quite a while. Ireally like the way the bike looks, and the overall sizeis about right. There is nothing actually bad about thebike, but, beyond the looks, it wasn’t singing to me. Ihave a lot of years riding, on a lot of very differentmotorcycles, and the biggest problem is probably thatI’m expecting an entry-level bike to live up tomy experienced ridingneeds. The comfort andseating position couldprobably be easily dealt
with, but the suspension and brakes would take abit more effort. I expect the aftermarket to growquickly for these bikes, however, providingupgrade kits for all I’ve mentioned and more. TheStreet family of motorcycles provide a solid,affordable entry into the Harley family, and Ipredict they will sell very well to a newgeneration of Harley riders. As my newmotorcycle, though, the Harley-Davidson Street
750 didn’t live up to my own hype - and left mesadly riding home in sympathetic Wife’sPontiac.
Since my test ride, I’ve had theopportunity to coach several new riders usingthe Street 500s. The bikes used for the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy are the same bikesthat can be purchased through the dealership,with the exception of a Power Limit Calibrationto limit speeds in 1st and 2nd gears, and a VehicleProtection Kit to limit damage if the bike isdropped. Observing these classes, I’ve realizedthese bikes seem terrific for new riders. Therange of clutch travel and excellent, linearthrottle response make learning to use a clutchmuch easier, while helping minimize stalling.The size and maneuverability are invitinginstead of intimidating, and the somewhat
lackluster brakes on the roads are quite friendlyand progressive in the hands of a novice. Mosttelling of all, the students really like the new bikes.Despite not being quite right for me, I think we’regoing to be seeing a lot of these bikes on the road,and all ridden by very satisfied Harley-Davidsonowners. Oh, and even with the bright orangeprotection kit, I still love the looks of the newHarley-Davidson Street 500/750s!
Be seen, ride smart, stay safe and I’ll seeyou on the road! -mike
Liquid-cooled 750cc Revolution X engine
August 201410 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
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Two great events took place in July: theBlessing of the Bikes and Bikers at St. RonaldCatholic Church and the annual Ride for Freedomout of Wolverine Harley-Davidson, both in ClintonTownship, Michigan. I am the originator of theBlessing at St. Ronald and have been privileged todo the invocation at the Ride for Freedom for eightyears in a row.
Most of you probably thought that bikeblessings are organized early in the riding seasonand were maybe a little surprised when you heardabout the mid-season blessing at St. Ronald. Wehad about 50 bikes which may not seem like thatmuch, but this was the first one we had in fouryears.
Events like Bike Blessings really need to beannual events that people count on and wait for.We had them from 2007 to 2010. Participation wasup to almost 100 bikes with more and more everyyear. We stopped having the event for a period oftime due to construction on the church. It took awhile to get back on track. I handled the Blessing
responsibilities as I am the Deacon at St. Ronald. It was agorgeous day and we utilized our picnic grounds. We hadplenty of bottled water, coney dogs, chips, coffee and otherrefreshments as well as cookies and baked goods….all free. Weasked for but did not require a free-will donation. We hadlittle wooden crosses that were blessed that we gave out to allriders and passengers. Hey, they have to be more powerfulthan the little bells we all hang on the bottom of our bikes.
I did the blessing…so….what good is a blessing, youmay ask? We all know riders who have gone to blessings andyet didn’t make it through riding season without a crash,sometimes fatal. A blessing is very special event. We calldown the protection and good wishes of a higher power toguide us and keep us safe. But ultimately, you could get ablessing every day and it still would be meaningless if youchoose to do stupid things when you ridecarelessly or without regard for your fellow bikers and thosepoor folks in cages. Bottom line folks: it’s really up to you.Without your good judgment and intentions, a blessing ismeaningless.
For next year, we are going to hold the Blessing of theBikes and Bikers event at St. Ronald in conjunction with HarleyFest. We’ll have our event from 10:30am to 12:30pm and will
The Preacher Speaks About:
Blessings and Ridesby Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer
Continued on page 16
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The Live It Right Dream Ride The Adventure BeginsBy Emily Flinkstrom and Jay Wilgus
We are writing this article froma horse camp in the Black Hills of SouthDakota, about 10 miles south of MountRushmore. Just hours ago, we were inthe midst of a series of events that causedus to look at each other and declare thatalthough we had been on the road for 9days, the adventure had just begun. Butlet us back up and give a quick recap ofthe initial days of The Live It RightDream Ride.
Our original plan was to departAnn Arbor on July 2nd, which justhappened to be our three-year weddinganniversary. In the days leading up toour intended take-off date, we werescrambling to get the bikes ready to goand the house ready to sell, all while stillworking full time (not the best planning,but hindsight is 20:20). The morning ofthe 2nd, we reluctantly agreed topostpone leaving until the next daybecause all the little odds and ends ofselling our house, quitting our jobs, andpreparing to ride our motorcycles 14,000 milesacross two continents took a bit longer thanexpected. We woke up bright and early on the 3rd
though, bikes packed and ready to ride, houseempty and ready to hand off to the new owners. Wegeared up, walked into the garage to hop on thebikes and watched the rain start to pour from the
sky. Now let us be clear that we’re notopposed to riding in the rain, but tobegin the journey under such a clouddidn’t seem right. So we sat in ourgarage and waited out the storm,realizing that we will often come backto this lesson that not everything willgo according to plan during this trip andthat slower is often better anyway.
Once out of the gate, the first daywas spent making our way up northtoward the Mackinac Bridge. We pickedour way through some slower,secondary roads before jumping onto I-75 north near Grayling. We crossed thebeautiful Mackinac Bridge early in theevening and camped in St.Ignace. Oursecond day brought us west across theUpper Peninsula and over into northernWisconsin where we slowed down for afew days to visit friends in Minocqua,WI. We then journeyed over toChanhassen, Minnesota to see family fora few nights before driving two long
days across western Minnesota and eastern South
Continued on page 19
August 201414 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
Hi, my name is Pedro, I’m 50-years-old, andI’ve never owned a cruiser. There, I said it. It had tocome out. Ever since my first bike in 1987, I’veowned only sport, sport-touring and naked/standardbikes.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve ridden a fewcruisers, some of which I’ve really enjoyed, and myappreciation for current cruiser styling has grown.
When the new Indian motorcycles werelaunched last year, I was intrigued and lookedforward to riding one. A few companies had tried tobring the famed Indian brand back to life withoutmuch success, but when Polaris Industries purchasedIndian Motorcycles in 2011 and re-launched thebrand with 3 new models based on the same engineand frame, the brand’s future suddenly lookedbright.
When I learned that my friend,Jeff Bottrell, was the Sales and ServiceManager at Motorcity Motorcycles(motorcitymotorcycles.com), the Indian/Victory dealer in Bloomfield Hills,Michigan, I contacted him and arranged toride a Chieftain, the top model in the line-up. On a beautiful summer evening, Istopped at the dealership where GeneralManager, John Erickson, walked methrough all of the features of the Chieftainpainted in traditional Indian red.
According to Wikipedia, thistrademark red was introduced back in1904, only three years after Indianproduced its first motorcycle. The otherfeature that set Indians apart was the largeskirted fender topped by the signatureIndian head introduced in 1940.
As I walked around the Chieftain I found itslines visually appealing with a well-applied retrolook. I admired the lines of the fork-mounted fairingand remote-locking hard saddlebags, two firsts forthe brand. The saddlebags can be quickly detachedafter undoing two latches and one electricalconnector while the base model, the Chief Classic,has no fairing or saddlebags and the middle model,the Chief Vintage, has a detachable windshield andleather saddlebags.
The Chieftain’s fairing reminded me of the2004 movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, avisually stunning movie that takes place in 1939 but a1939 filled with futuristic technology that didn’t existat the time. The Chieftain’s styling gave me thefeeling of a 1940’s machine with modern technology.How modern? Well, it comes standard with TPMS(Tire Pressure Monitoring System), electronic cruisecontrol and ABS brakes. A switch on the left
handlebar controls an electrically-adjustablewindshield. The 100-watt stereo offers AM/FM plusa weather band essential on long trips. Bluetoothpairs any device to the stereo system and a USB portresides in a closed fairing compartment. Self-cancelling turn signals mean you’ll never ride downthe road for miles with the signal on. Is that modernenough for you?
Electronics are handy but the hardware iswhat makes a motorcycle special. The all-newThunder Stroke engine is an air-cooled, 111 cubic-inch V-twin that’s heavily finned and chromed.Starting it up with the keyless ignition brought fortha beautiful rumble from the Stage One pipes thathad been fitted to the bike. I’ve never owned a bikewith keyless ignition and loved never having totouch the key. As long as the key fob is close to thebike, the engine starts; and a lock mounted on thesteering head can be used for added security.
Pulling away for the first time revealed a
Test Ride: 2014 Indian ChieftainBy Pedro Gregorio
Continued on next page
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clutch that was light and easy to modulate alongwith excellent low-speed balance. Opening up thethrottle on the way to my friend Ann’s place mademe smile as the engine made itself known viaimmediate and plentiful torque. Ann’s been ridingsport-touring bikes for years and I wanted herimpressions from the passenger seat since theChieftain will often be ridden two-up.
Our ride to Valentino’s in Lake Orion for adelicious Italian dinner formed her opinions. At5’8", she felt the foot pegs were too high for comfortwithout a backrest to lean against. An easilydetachable backrest is available as an option butthis bike didn’t have one. On the plus side, she wasimpressed by the comfort of the passenger seat andthe total lack of wind noise around her full-facehelmet. She’d have preferred to be able to see abovemy helmet although the tradeoff of sitting higherwould likely have been more wind noise
Speaking of wind noise, one element of theChieftain that blew me away was the airmanagement around the windshield. At 6’7", everybike I’ve ridden with adjustable windshields hasoffered a choice of noisy, noisier, and noisiest airaround my helmet. With the Chieftain’s windshieldin its highest position, I could ride at highwayspeeds with an open visor on my full-face helmetwithout experiencing any wind noise or buffeting. Iwas amazed. I’m used to having to wear ear plugson every bike but I would never need them on aChieftain.
Another downside of being 6’7" is legroom.While I wasn’t overly cramped, the optional rider’sbackrest would have made the riding position morecomfortable. I concede that a normal-sized human
would likely not have any legroom issues on theChieftain.
The other feature that I absolutely lovedwas small but truly appreciated. The turn signalswitch could be used momentarily just by holdingit. As soon as the button was released, the signalwould shut off. I had never ridden a bike with thisfeature and wondered why all bikes don’t have it.Once the sun went down, the standard driving lightsin the fairing greatly widened the light coveragewithout blinding oncoming traffic.
The chassis hardware of the Chieftain alsoimpressed me. It was rock steady at all speeds and Iwas very surprised by the ground clearance. Iexpected the floor boards to touch down at themerest hint of a corner but even decreasing-radiusclover leafs failed to cause any contact. Designing asuspension as comfortable as this on an 800+ lb.bike that doesn’t wallow and collapse in cornerscan’t be easy.
Low-speed handling and balance were alsobeyond reproach as I easily made tight U-turnswhile two-up. If anyone at Indian is reading this,give the chassis and aerodynamics teams a bonus
for an all-around excellent job. As for fuel economy,the bike’s trip computer showed an average of 36.7mpg over my 50-mile ride, not bad for such a heavybike ridden partially two-up.
When all is said and done, it takes morethan just numbers and specs to make a memorablebike. The difference between an excellent and a so-so bike is how it makes me feel. Some bikes stir nopassion and are easily forgotten. Others make mesmile and feel so good that I yearn to ride tofaraway destinations. The 2014 Indian Chieftainfalls squarely in the latter category. I never thoughtI’d ever say this about a bike with an MSRP of$22,999 but the Chieftain is a bike I’d buy. Hi, myname is Pedro, I’m 50 years old and I really like thiscruiser.
Special thanks go to John Erickson and JeffBottrell at Motorcity Motorcycles (248-920-2000;www.motorcitymotorcycles.com) for theopportunity to experience this impressive bike.
Continued from previous page
1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MIOne mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.MotorCityMotorcycles.com
on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MotorCityMotorcycles
The Demo Truck Returns!
September 5th & 6th, 2014
If you missed it the first time, you have a second chance.The Indian Motorcycle demo truck is returning to ourdealership in September. Don’t miss this opportunity to ridethe 2015 Indian motorcycles. We don’t know when thedemo truck will be around again so mark your calendarsand don’t miss your chance.
Riders must have a motorcycle endorsement, helmet, eye protection, jacket, longpants and boots. Don’t miss this opportunity to test ride the new American icon.
August 201416 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
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.
Continued from page 10 - The Preacher Speaks...
have coffee, juice, water, and breakfast available free ofcharge with the actual blessing at noon. We’ll thenhead over to Harley Fest at Freedom Hill. We’reworking on having that be an escorted ride. So markyour calendars now…the second Saturday in June,2015.
The other big event for June was The PatrickWisniewski Memorial Ride for Freedom eventsponsored by Wolverine Harley-Davidson and theVietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 inRoseville. Last year’s ride was dedicated to
Wisniewski, a 33-year-old father of five who was killedlast June when his motorcycle was struck by anothervehicle just outside of Selfridge Air National Guard Basewhere he worked. Patrick Wisniewski was in the U.S. AirForce and had just returned from a tour of duty when hehad his accident. It was determined that the accident wasnot his fault. He was hit by a drunk driver. Registrationfor the ride was $35 for rider, $30 for a passenger, and $25for non-riders. That fee included a continental breakfast at9 a.m. and a catered lunch at Wolverine after the ridewhich departed the dealership at 11:30 and covered a 60-mile scenic ride that took us all the way out to Algonac.All told, there were 700 bikes in the ride. What a great
memorial for Pat and allour brave service menand women, past orpresent, deceased orliving.
We have our firstmajor multi-day ride ofthe year scheduled forSunday, July 13th toFriday, July 18th. We areleaving the Detroit metroarea and heading out eastto Delaware, then alongthe east coast to VirginiaBeach, The Outer Banks,Myrtle Beach, Charlestonand then diagonally backup to Michigan. All told atotal of about 2,300miles… a nice warm upfor Sturgis.
Depot Town, Ypsilanti, Michigan – John Craddock, ownerof Café Racer, has announced that the company will beginselling Genuine Scooters. The shop will offer threemodels from the Genuine Scooter line-up – the Buddy 50,Roadhouse 50 and Stella, the most popular of the Genuineproducts.
“We have been servicing and repairing scootersfor several years,” said Mr. Craddock. “We hadn’t plannedto sell scooters until representatives from Genuine visitedour shop and asked us to take on their line. We werereluctant at first but they were persistent. Afterresearching the company and products, we decided it wasgood fit for our business.”
Café Racer was established in August of 2009.The company not only services and repairs both scootersand motorcycles, they also restore old British andJapanese bikes and build custom motorcycles. One of theircustom café racers was featured on the televisionprogram, “Café Racers.” While they work on brands andmodels from most years, the company’s particularexpertise is with vintage British motorcycles.
In addition to the three Genuine models Café
Café Racer Adds Genuine Scootersto its Offering
Racer will carry, the company can get other models andaccess a full-line of parts and accessories for the scooters.Financing will be available on-site for customers whowant to finance the purchase of a new scooter.
While Café Racer’s primary business isservicing and repairing scooters and motorcycles, theyalso offer a variety of accessories and apparel in theirshowroom as well as fresh-brewed Roos Roast coffeefrom a local roaster. Their involvement in the localscooter and motorcycle community includes hostingweekly bike nights year ‘round (Tuesdays. Movie nightsand food contests in the winter months) and the annualTon-Up Motorcycle and Music Festival. For more information about Genuine scooters orCafé Racer’s products and services, call the shop at (734)879-1201, visit their web site at www.caferacerypsi.comor stop by 10 E. Cross Street in Depot Town / Ypsilanti,Michigan.
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
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
In Kentucky, contact:
Gary Dehner
In Ohio, contact:
Doug McPeak
In Wisconsin, contact:
Alan Tesch
Motorcycling & Law
3P Claim AllowedEven if
MotorcycleUninsured
by Dondi Vesprini
Dondi is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and isrecognized as an expert in cases involving motorcycle accidents. Hehas obtained millions of dollars in recovery for injuredmotorcyclists over the course of his career as a trial attorney.Dondi’s representation of motorcyclists extends beyond the courtroom. He is a member of the Board of Directors of ABATE ofMichigan and meets frequently with both legislators and lobbyistsregarding legislation affecting injured motorcyclists and the rightsof motorcyclists to ride free.
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!
N O N - C O M P E T I T I O N• MAINTAINED TRAILS
• ORGANIZED EVENTS
• FAMILY FUN
• ALL LEGAL
As many motorcyclists are aware,there are plenty of laws which restrict what amotorcyclist can and can’t do, and there existsome inequities under the laws regardingbenefits a person injured in a motorcycleaccident is entitled to versus what a personinvolved in a motor vehicle accident isentitled to. Many of these differences in thelaw leave the motorcyclist on the short end ofthe stick.
However, there is at least one veryimportant instance under the law where theinjured motorcyclist is placed in a morefavorable situation than the injured motorvehicle operator and not many motorcyclistsare aware of this.
The situation I am referring to iswhen a motorcyclist is injured in an accidentinvolving a motor vehicle while operatinghis/her own uninsured motorcycle.
In this situation, if the injuredmotorcyclist was operating his/her ownmotorcycle and did not have insurance on themotorcycle, the motorcyclist will bedisqualified from receiving No Fault benefits.This is one of the many reasons why it is vitalthat you make sure you have insurance onyour motorcycle at all times.
However, in the above referencedsituation, the injured motorcyclist may stillbring a claim against the at-fault driver forhis/her “pain and suffering” damages despitethe fact that the motorcyclist did not haveinsurance on his/her motorcycle. This iswhere the law favors the motorcyclist,because if someone is injured in a motorvehicle accident while operating his/hermotor vehicle and he/she does not haveinsurance on the motor vehicle, he/she is notonly disqualified from making a claim for NoFault benefits but is also disqualified frombringing a claim against the at-fault driverfor “pain and suffering” damages.
This article should in no way betaken as an endorsement to go withoutinsurance on your motorcycle because indoing so you put yourself at risk of beingdisqualified for No Fault benefits whichincludes payment for medical expenses and
lost wages and also many of thebenefits that motorcycle insuranceprovides such as medical expenses andcoverage for damage to yourmotorcycle among other valuablebenefits.
However, this article is meantto advise that if you are involved in amotor vehicle accident while on youruninsured motorcycle, you still at leasthave a claim against the at-fault driver.You would be surprised how manyinjured motorcyclists I haverepresented who, as fate would have it,allowed their motorcycle insurance tolapse just a day or two before theaccident. Many of these clients had noidea that they could still make a claimagainst the at-fault driver and werepleased to hear that I could pursue sucha claim even thought their insurancehad lapsed.
Again, you are always in farbetter shape to have insurance on yourmotorcycle. I just write to advise thatan injured motorcyclist still has anopportunity for a recovery if he/she isin a motor vehicle accident on his/heruninsured motorcycle, as this is anuance in the law that actually favorsmotorcyclists, that most motorcyclistsare unaware of.
As always, if anyone has anyquestions or if I can be of legalassistance to you or anyone you knowwho has been injured in a motorcycleaccident, please don’t hesitate to contactme as I deal with these types of claimson a daily basis on behalf of injuredmotorcyclists statewide. Give me a callat (248-569-4646) or shoot me an e-mailat [email protected].
Nicole Espinosa is Mom to two great kids, founder / owner ofwww.ruggedrider.com, Managing Editor of Adventure Motorcyclemagazine and soon-to-be RTW motorcycle adventurer. Communica-tion welcome for Nicole: [email protected]
form is quite exhilarating and liberating all atthe same time. And with this sense offreedom, comes a confidence that makes youfeel like you can tackle any situation that isthrown your direction. This can also helpbuild a trust that, even if you can’t figure out aproblem that presents itself while on your
own, you can at least trust that a solutionwill present itself. Besides, who wouldn’twant to help the naked motorcyclist downon his luck ;-)
Continued from page 22 - N. Espinosa
August 201418 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
BMW Motorcycles of Detroit34080 Van Dyke Avenue
Sterling Heights, MI(586) 274-4000
www.bmwdetroit.com
PRE-OWNED MOTORCYCLES2012 BMW K 1300 S
HP Limited Edition
#583, White / Black/Lupin
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condition, Akrapovic silencer,
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Only $17,200
2008 Ducati 1098 Red $9,999
2007 BMW F 800 S Flame Red $6,000
2007 BMW K 1200 LT Biarritz Blue Metallic $11,500
2009 BMW K 1200 LT Trike Night Black $29,000
2002 BMW K 1200 LT-E Glacier Silver $8,500
2012 BMW K 1300 S HP LEWhite / Black / Lupin Blue $17,200
1994 BMW R 1100 RS Marrakesh Red $5,200
1998 BMW R 1200 C Ivory / Blue Seat $5,800
2012 BMW R 1200 GS riple Black $16,500
2007 BMW R 1200 GS Granite Grey Metallic $10,500
2010 BMW R 1200 GS Adv Smoke Grey Metallic Matt $15,000
2008 Can-Am Spyder SE5 Full Moon $9,799
2968 N US Route 421
Michigan City, IN
219.878.8885
www.hdmichigancity.com
EXPLORE
Call our store today to reserve your rental.Benefits: Use of a recent-model Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.
Use of a helmet that meets DOT specifications & rainsuit. Secure,ample short-term luggage storage is available onsite. 24-hour
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Waterford, Michigan – Dave Bowman, owner ofSmall Displacement Motorsports (SDM) andTech-Care Suspension, was proud and happy.He was showing off the recent Honda TRX 450quad restoration / customization projectcompleted by his team for customer, JeffFrattaroli.
According to Mr. Frattaroli, the TRX wasworn out when he brought it into SDM for arestoration. He is more of a motorcycle guy anddoesn’t race the quad but rides it hard on trailsin the summer months and on the ice withstudded tires in the winter. He wanted themachine rebuilt to better than original specs.
Mr. Bowman and his lead on the project,Josh Smith, disassembled the TRX down to theframe. The project was a ground-up rebuild. ALone Star racing frame, considered by many to beone of the strongest, highest quality framesavailable, replaced the original frame. Theyreplaced the front shocks with Stage 5 ElkaRacing Shocks with two inches more travel thanthe originals. The rear Showa suspension wasrebuilt by Tech-Care and both front and rearwere tuned to Mr. Frattaroli’s weight and riding
Custom ATV Highlights SDM Restoration Projects
ability. The engine was torn down and rebuiltwith a new crankshaft, a 492cc big-bore CylinderWorks cylinder and Brilon valve seats. Theproject cost Mr. Frattaroli more than $7,500.
“We are getting more of these types ofrestoration projects,” said Mr. Bowman. “It reallystarted with an award-winning café racer buildwe completed last year. We have had a couple ofsmaller restoration / customization projects sincethen. It seems that more people are wanting toeither restore their old machines or customize a
motorcycle or ATV to suit their particular style.We’re really happy with the way this TRX turnedout and are looking forward to doing moreprojects like this in the future.”
To see the TRX 450 project ATV or tolearn more about SDM’s products and services,visit the shop at 6971 Highland Road (M-59) inWaterford, Michigan, call them at (248) 666-4651or visit their web site at www.tech-care.com.
Midwest MotorcyclistTM 19
Ride down and visit the LARGEST and MOST COMPLETELEATHER SHOP in Southwest Michigan near the Indiana State line.
Call (269) 651-2464 now or visit our on-line store at www.ridewild.com
Retail Warehouse(269) 651-2464 Fax: (269) 651-8767
1640 S. Centerville Road (M-66 South) , Sturgis, MI
We accept all major credit cards
Ladies’Low Rise
CHAPSFrom
$12000
CHAPSFrom
$7500
Concealment
Vests$4250
& up
Packin’ TeeConcealment
T-Shirt
$4199all sizes
100s of Men’s & Ladies’Riding Jackets
TextileJackets
from
$7500
LeatherJackets
from
$10000
JEANSFamous Maker
Motorcycle Jeans
$1850
Compare to $40
Wrangler Jeans $1350
Big Men’s - 40 to 56$1350 to $1999
TRACK DAY• Saturday, September 8, 2014 •
The day costs $175, which includes
track time, class room instruction
and lunch. All makes and models of
bikes are welcome to attend our
track events! To register, or if you
have any questions at all regarding
our track events please call Audrey
at (734) 453-0500
BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan
14855 N. Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI
734.453.0500 www.bmwmcsem.com
Buy a new S 1000 RR& get a free track day
The Live It Right Dream Ride is sponsored in part by:
www.kindsnacks.com/
www.shadyproducts.com/
Continued from page 12 - Live It Right Dream Ride
Dakota- passing through thousands of miles oflush green farmland.
Just as our senses became bored with thesame scenery mile after mile, the spectacularreddish-tan rock formations that make upBadlands National Park came into view. Wefound a campsite inside the park and woke upearly the next morning to explore the geologicwonderland. The next stop on this part of our tourwas Mount Rushmore. We found some dirt roadsto christen our dual sports and take us to route16A which dropped us into Keystone, SouthDakota at the base of Mount Rushmore.
Not even a half mile down the narrow,windy 16A, traffic came to a standstill. Themessage came down from a quarter mile up theroad that a herd of buffalo numbering in thehundreds had planted themselves in the middleof the road with no intention of moving. For 15minutes, we contemplated turning around andfinding an alternative route, but eventuallysettled into the decision to wait it out. We were inno rush and thought this presented a uniqueopportunity to see the huge creatures in closeproximity. Cars were slowly sneaking through asthe bison created openings and 30 minutes laterwe were only 3 cars away from being able tomake our pass. Idling along, surrounded by theseenormous animals, we saw an ominous, darkcloud rapidly approaching from the West. Just aswe dismounted the bikes to put our rain gear on,the sky opened up and it began to POUR.
Moments later, pouring turnedto hailing and marble-sizedchunks of ice began pelting ourhelmets, hands, bodies, andbikes. The buffalo took offdown the hillside while we ranunder a tree off the side of theroad to seek shelter. After theinitial shock of the onslaughtwore off, we found ourselvessmiling at the wonder ofMother Nature and the beautywe were experiencing.
The weather passedrather quickly and the sun onceagain filled the sky,illuminating the stunningscenery all around. We madeour way down 16A, soakingwet but in great spirits as weleaned into each dramaticturn. 10 miles south of MountRushmore and prior to threespectacular tunnels, webumped into the horse campthat we call home for tonight.After taking off our soppingclothes and hanging items todry, we grabbed a beer,clinked our bottles, andtoasted to perfection - in allit’s unexpected and imperfectforms. The adventure hadbegun.
www.motorcycleandoutdoors
.com
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com/
August 201420 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorneyspecializing in the areas of motorcycle and motorvehicle injury litigation. Mr. Waechter has collectedmillions of dollars in settlements, awards and verdictsfor his motorcycle clients over the past 20 years.Jason feels a duty to give back to his community. Aportion of each case settled goes to educationalresources for bikers, funds to help bikers while theircases are being litigated and our motorcycle accidentprevention campaign. Call Attorney Jason Waechtertoll free at 1-877-BIKER LAW. Or visitwww.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com Legal disclaimer:The law is very fact dependent and there are manynuances and exceptions depending on your particularcircumstances. Therefore, given the limited space, it isimpossible to cover everything. Do not rely on theshort article to protect your rights.
Safe-On-Red Laws Gaining Popularityby Jason Waechter, Esq.
Lately, my team and I have been hearing alot about what are being called “safe-on-red” laws.Many states already have safe-on-red legislation inplace, and these laws are particularly popular righthere in the Midwest. This month, I thought I wouldlook at safe-on-red laws and what they mean formotorcyclists.
Each state’s laws differ in the details, butthe basic premise of safe-on-red laws is the same:they allow motorcyclists and riders of other smallvehicles, like mopeds or bicycles, the legal right tomove through an intersection on a red light if it issafe to do so, as long as they meet certainrestrictions. Generally, these restrictions includecoming to a full stop at the intersection and waitinga certain amount of time, often for one or twocomplete light cycles (or one or two minutes if thelight is not cycling), and then moving through theintersection only if it is safe to do so. Riders mustalso yield to oncoming traffic, both vehicle andpedestrian, effectively treating the light as a stop
sign in most cases.Washington is the most recent state to adopt
such a law, which went into effect in June of this year.Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin are alsoamong the fourteen states to have enacted safe-on-redlaws. While Michigan does not have a safe-on-red lawin effect currently, the legislature is consideringHouse Bill No. 4265, which would allowmotorcyclists and other small-vehicle riders toproceed – with caution – through a red light after onefull light cycle or sixty seconds if the light is notcycling.
In Illinois, the safe-on-red law allows ridersto move through a red if the light hasn’t changed in atleast two minutes, as long as they yield to oncomingtraffic; however, this law does not apply in cities ofover two million people, like Chicago (625 ILCS 5/11-306). Minnesota and Missouri both have“affirmative defense” laws for motorcyclists and
bicyclists who run a red light, as long as theycame to a complete stop, the light stayed red foran unreasonable amount of time, and no vehicleor pedestrian traffic was approaching (Statutes169.06 and 304.285, respectively). Wisconsin’ssafe-on-red law allows riders to run a steady readlight as long as they were fully stopped at thelight for at least 45 seconds, and as long as theyyield to vehicle and pedestrian traffic beforemoving (Statute 346.37).
I’m sure most motorcyclists have, atsome point, found themselves sitting at a lightfor what seems like forever; I know I have. Forpeople who use their motorcycle to commuteevery day, having to deal with stop lights enroute that can’t sense their bike would be veryinconvenient. I know some bikers will resort tochanging their routes to avoid particularly badlights, or skirting an intersection by travellingthrough parking lots, which is undesirable (if notillegal in some cases).
Being able to move through the lightwhen it’s obviously not going to change willmake riding more convenient and efficient,which is a good thing for motorcyclists. Itremains to be seen if safe-on-red laws will havean effect on rider safety.
In my opinion, any safe-on-red bills thatare passed into law must be accompanied bypervasive motorcycle awareness and safetycampaigns for motor-vehicle drivers. Providingdrivers with education about the new law, andhow it might change the situation on the roads,may help ensure that they are aware of, andwatching closely for, motorcycles. This isespecially important when talking about lawslike these that affect behavior at intersections,where most motorcycle-vehicle collisionshappen.
As always, I will be keeping an eye onthese and other motorcycle-related laws as theyare enacted throughout the country.Motorcycling continues to gain popularity acrossthe United States. Hopefully, one of theconsequences of that increase will be greatermotorcycle awareness among vehicle drivers anda safer ride for all.
Midwest MotorcyclistTM 21
EventsEvents do change. Please call ahead.
Michigan
Indiana
August 2Leathernecks M/C8th Annual Chapter PartyBOVA VFW6440 North Hix RoadWestland, MI $10 AdmissionLadies freeStarts at 3 p.m.Everyone Welcome
August 210th Annual Ride for AutismSouthfield Civic Center26000 Evergreen RoadSouthfield, MI$30 / rider$20 / [email protected]
August 3Mark Grace Memorial Ride & Poker RunAngry Bull5078 Lapeer RoadWadhams, MI
Reg. 10 a.m. to NoonDeparts Noon$20 / Rider; $10 / passenger(810) 300-1467(810) 300-1858
August 311th Annual Nathan WeidnerFoundation Chicken RunSign up at Stevens Cycle Sales inBay City; Stevens Sports in Midland orBubba’s Tri-City Cycle in Linwood$15/person(989) 684-9872(989) 697-5525
August 91st AnnualBikers for Billy Poker RunFraternal Order of Eagles Lodge#43607200 Stanwood RoadStanwood, MIReg 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.$25 per poker hand$30 after August 2810.333.0718
August 910th Annual Wounded America RunBiker Bob’s Harley-Davidson14100 Telegraph RoadTaylor, MIReg. 10:30 a.m. to Noon$15 / person
August 914th AnnualBrad Webster Memorial BenefitStandish FairgroundsPoker run, Bike Show, Entertainment$20 / person(989) 879-5761
August 14-16Michigan State HOG Rally PresentsThe Great Lakes RallyBirch Run Expo Center11600 N. Beyer Rd.Birch Run, MIFacebook: Michigan StateHOG Rallywww.mistatehogrally.com
August 1528th Annual Midnight RunDeparts from Meijer on10 Mile RoadRockford, MI(Exit #97 on US-131)Departs at Midnight(616) 957-1838
August 16Linwood Pickle FestivalBubba’s Tri City Cycle Bike ShowDowntown Linwood, MISign up Noon to 3 p.m.$10 / donationProceed benefits Camp Fishtales(989) 697-5525
August 165th Annual Prostate Charity RunDavison Eagles 35893270 N. State RoadDavison, MIReg 10 a.m. to Noon(810) 653-0727
August 16Carrie’s RideRetail WarehouseSturgis, MichiganReg 10:30 a.m.Run starts at Noon$15 person(269) 823-2269
August 305th Annual Legion RidersGROOVESTOCKAmerican Legion Post 298228 N. 20th StreetBattle Creek, MI$8 ‘13 & up
September 611th Annual Women Sponsored MotorcycleRideBiker Bob’s Harley-Davidson14100 Telegraph RoadTaylor, MI$30 / personReg. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.(313) 969-9206
September 1432nd Annual Battle of the BritsCamp Dearborn1700 General Motors RoadMilford, MI10 a.m. to 6 p.m.$6 per vehicle entry feeFor info, [email protected]
September 20Downtown Homer Car, Motorcycle,Tractor & Bicycle Show9 am- 3 pmAwards and PrizesFree Registration50/50 drawings and horseshoe tournamentHomer, MIBrad Stuart 517-568-7117Jim Lingenfelter 517-414-8468
Ohio
August 27th Annual Rams RideCharity RideIndyWest Harley-Davidson6201 Cambridge WayPlainfield, INReg. 9 a.m.$20 / bike(317) 538-0618(317) 402-7979
August 26th Annual Cpl. Zach NordmeyerMemorial RideAmerican Legion Post 500Speedway, IN$25 / Rider$35 w/ passengerKiskstands up at 11 a.m.
August 9Russ Dellen Ride Memorial RideHarley-Davidson of Indianapolis86th Street Just west of Keystone$40 / personReg. 9 a.m.,Depart Noon(317) 81‘5-1800www.dellenloop.org
August 9Specialist Chad Clements Memorial RideYeom,an Park900 E. Market StreetHuntington, INReg. 9:30 a.m.Departs 11 a.m.(260) 519-1979
August 91st Annual Signature Wound Benefit RideIndyWest Harley-Davidson6201 Cambridge WayPlainfield, INReg. 9 a.m. to noonDeparts 12:30 p.m.$20/bike$25/car(317) 842-5944
August 15-17Hog Daze RallyHome of the HogMarion, IndianaAdmission $5.00.Vendors, food, bike contests, camping andmusicCheck us out by looking up Home of the Hog.
August 15-1711th annual ABATE- Region 1, Elkhart CountySummerFest16611 CR.8, Bristol, IN.46507$15 ABATE members, $20 non-membersFree tent camping, RV’s-$50, Vendors, FieldEvents, Live music, Stage Shows.(574) 596-7266
August 161st Annual Charity Ride to benefitAnimal Rescue & SanctuaryCycle Outfitters5501 Madison AvenueIndianapolis, INReg. 9 a.m.Ride departs 10 a.m.$25/rider$10/passenger(317) 783-2901
August 17Victoria’s RiderSouthside Harley-DavidsonI-65 & Southport RoadExit 103Reg. 11 a.m.$20 / bike
August 23ABATE Region 2MDA I Sent a Kid to CampJasper County FairgroundsSR-114, 2 miles east of I-65Rensellaer, INGates open at 10 a.m.$25/ person(219) 808-3182(574) 225-2068
August 30Sarah Strong Memorial RideHoosier Harley-Davidson
Elkhart, INRide begins 10 a.m.$20/single; $30 w/ passenger
September 7Ride for Health & Heroes(317) 745-7376(317) 745-7594
September 132ndf Annual Lapel Eagles RideBenefit for Tyler Thompson110 East 9th StreetLapel, IN$15 Single Rider; $10/passengerSign up 8 a.m.(765) 617-7720(765) 534-4577
September 13Mark Allen Memorial RideUAW Local 933 Union Hall2320 South Tibbs AvenueIndianapolis, IN$25/rider; $15/ passengerReg. 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Departs 11 a.m.(317) 709-1961(317) 508-3865
September 27Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home RideSouthside Harley-DavidsonI-65 & Southport RoadExit 103$25 / rider$10 / passenger(317) 535-9487
The Best JustGot BetterThe C3 PRO takes its position as the new leader of flip-up helmettechnology with criticalnew features engineered for themost demandingriding. A redesignedliner providesimproved fit and comfort,new aerodynamic design minimizes lift and buffetingwhile the patented internalantenna and Bluetooth®
receiver deliver enhancedcommunication range. The C3PRO's long-term developmentalso made it the world's quietestflip-up helmet.
Engineered specifically for women, thenew C3 PRO WOMEN takesflip-up helmet performanceto a new level. Designedto fit a woman'sunique facial structure,a redesigned linerprovides improved fitand comfort while aerodynamic enhancementsminimize lift and buffeting. Theinterior's “soft” memory foamfurther tailors the fit. To provide even greater comfort,the helmet's soft, jersey knitMicrofiber lining is antibacterial,hypoallergenic and easy to clean.
Next Generation.Women Specific.
The Latest in Head Protection Technology Stop by our store today for a fitting.
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.comLatitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382
August 9Vintage Bike Show9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.Indian Motorcycle of Toledo1212 Conant StreetMaumee, Ohio(419) 893-8888
August 23Returning American Warriors RunDeshler American Legion505 S. Sterns Ave.Deshler, OHReg. 10 a.m. to noonBegins 12:30 p.m.$15 single; $20 couple(419) 966-9492(419) 409-0349
August 201422 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
Sustainable Motorcyclingby Nicole Espinosa
Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle
Stripping down is a freeingexperience. No matter the subject orapplication, the end result is a form ofpure essence. Whether it’s machine orbody, there’s nothing in this state ofbeing that’s hindering its potential. It’sfree. It’s independent. It’s sustainable.Besides, what’s more fun than beingnaked in this exciting world of ours?
This is what adventuremotorcycling is all about…sheddingthe layers of stuff. When you whittledown your existence to the essentialsyou can carry on your bike, you losethe sense of attachment anddependency. And, the longer you’reout on the road, especially in foreigncountries, you even start to strip awayold PoVs to form more life changingcultural awareness. When we haveeverything that we need for oursurvival and can endure long spans oftime on the road, we evolve into asustainable system. And withsustainability, we becomeindependent and self reliant. This isthe sense of freedom that so many
yearn for under today’s stresses, and iseasily found on two wheels.
With innovativemanufacturers out there, we have gearnow that can change our motorcyclelives and make us more sustainable.Let’s take a look at a few of thesegems…
Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Solar Kit - On myrecent southwestern solo trek, Idecided to grow my electronicspackage to include video gear todocument the journey. Throughout mythree week journey, I Rok Strapped theNomad 13 solar panel to the top of myadventure load on the back of my DRZ.Then I ran the input cable to thebattery pack that was tucked into mydry bag underneath the panel. Afteronly about 2.5 hours, I was able to pulla 50% battery charge on my phone.And by the time I pulled into camp inthe late afternoon, I could charge mynetbook and phone whiledownloading that day’s video footage.Then there’s a handy net pocket on the
back of the folded solar panel thatallows you to see the USB and 12Vcigarette adapter, while tucking awaythe battery power pack when not inuse.
The panel also has nine handycord loops to hang it on tents,backpacks, or motorcycle parts. Youcan also purchase a 100w AC inverterseparately for AC plug capabilities.The Sherpa 50 battery pack provides 50watt-hours of power. This 2.8 lbs ofweight added to your electronics kit iswell worth it to have an alternateenergy source for your trip, or for off-grid power for home emergencies.
Goalzero.com - Sherpa 50 Solar KitMSRP: $359.98; Sherpa inverter (110V)MSRP: $49.99
Enduro Star TS2 Trail Stand - Forthose of us who like to streamline ourkits, insisting upon the most efficientand durable tools to tackle anymaintenance job on the trail, EnduroStar’s trail stand is a must-have.
It breaks down to a 10-1/83”steel and zinc-plated tube from its 203extension, and works for most bikeswithout a center stand—even the tallKTM 950 Super Enduro. I easilyadjusted the height of the stand to fitunder a secure location beneath theright foot peg of my DRZ. This createda third point of contact in addition tothe side stand and front wheel, to liftthe rear wheel off the ground easily.The 3/8” diameter cradle can bepositioned in a hole in the skid plateto get the front wheel off the ground,as well. It also comes with a Velcrohook and loop strap to lock the frontor rear brakes on any bike for addedstability.
The Enduro Star Trail Stand is alightweight and easy-to-carry tool thatwill make tire changing a whole lot
easier, while keeping a solo rider selfreliant. Endurostar.com - MSRP: $32.00
Warm n Safe Waterproof Heated JacketLiner - When carrying survival gear onyour bike, it’s paramount to includeapparel for all weather conditions. Thiscutting-edge heated jacket liner coversboth wet and cold conditionssimultaneously, while beingcomfortable and attractive enough towear even without a bike around. SinceI’ve set up a smaller bike for adventurerides, I have to be even more mindfulof weight, size, and efficiency in mygear. I just run a second coax cable offmy battery to plug my jacket into afterI’ve started the engine to avoidblowing a fuse. I’ve also upgraded myDRZ400 stator to a RaceTech Electricstator to handle the additional draw.
This comfortable waterproofand breathable form-fitting jacketharnesses 90 watts of heat into their
innovative “Gelanots” fabric that’sprimed for retaining warmth. Anti-bacterial stretch panels on the insidehelp keep the heat against the body, sothe power doesn’t need to be crankedup high to maintain a comfortabletemperature. This is also my favoritejacket to wear around camp once thesun dips below the horizon and canstretch easily with my body as I set upmy home for the night. Single or dualcontroller functionality allows you toVelcro the remote onto yourmotorcycle dashboard to control thejacket as well as heated glove linersthat attach to the ends of the jacketsleeves.
There’s nothing like beingable to endure any type of weather tomake you feel like you can take on theworld solo. Warmnsafe.com - MSRP:$289.95
Being set up for survival inany adventure in its lightest and purest
Continued on page 17
Midwest MotorcyclistTM 23* Visit BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan for details. Always ride safely and wear proper protective gear.
BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan
14855 N. Sheldon Road, Plymouth, MI
734.453.0500 www.bmwmcsem.com
“Redefining your motorcycling lifestyle” SM
BMW Motorrad
Dealer of Excellence
Want Best in Class?
Choose a BMW.
2014S 1000 RR
Base MSRP: $15,150
including ABS
2014 K 1600 GTL
Base MSRP: $23,950
including ABS
2014 R 1200 GS
Base MSRP: $16,100
including ABS
All three of these motorcycles - the 2014 K1600 GTL, S 1000 RR and R 1200 GS -have been widely acclaimed as “Best in Class.” Stop by our store today to see these
and the full line of BMW motorcycles. Demo rides available.Some factory incentives might apply.
Buy a new S 1000 RR& get a free track day
MOTORCYCLE WRECK?Call the MOTORCYCLE LAWYER!
1-877-BIKER-LAW
WE TAKE AUTO & TRUCK CASES TOO!Hurt in a crash?Call Jason Waechter - The Motorcycle Lawyer
1-877-BIKER-LAWwww.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com
32
nd A
nn
ual
Battle
of t
he B
rit
sS
un
day
, Sep
tem
ber 1
4, 2
014
10 a
.m. - 6
p.m
.
Cam
p D
earb
orn
17
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Genera
l Moto
rs R
oad, M
ilford
, MI
Britis
h, E
uro
pean A
meric
an
Moto
rcycle
Show
& S
wap M
eet
Pre
sente
d b
y th
e M
etro
Triu
mph R
iders
Supportin
g th
e C
hild
ren’s H
osp
ital o
f Mic
hig
an F
oundatio
n
See w
ww
.metro
trium
phrid
ers
.com
or e
metro
trium
phrid
ers
@ym
ail.c
om
for in
form
atio
n
Ma
il ch
ec
k o
r mo
ne
y o
rde
r in U
.S. fu
nd
s o
nly
, ple
as
e, to
:
Me
tro T
rium
ph
Rid
ers
, P.O
. Bo
x 7
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1, P
lym
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0
Nu
mb
er o
f ve
nd
or
sp
ac
es
req
uire
d
Nu
mb
er o
f bik
es
x $
10
Ve
nd
or s
pa
ce
s x
$4
0
Ad
ditio
nal s
paces X
$30
To
tal E
nclo
sed
_____
____
____
____
____
Nam
e: _
__________________________________________________________________ P
hone: _
_______________
Addre
ss: ____________________________________________________________________C
ity: ________________
Sta
te: _
________ Z
ip: _
_____________________ E
mail: _
_______________________________
Year M
ake M
od
el C
lass
Ba
ttle o
f the
Brits
Pre
-Re
gis
tratio
n F
orm
SH
OW
BIK
E R
EG
IST
RA
TIO
ND
ay of event:8:00 a.m
. to 12:00 noon
Pre-R
egistratio
nB
y mail…
see entry form below
Save tim
e on event day by pre-registering.P
lus, receive a coupon for $5 offon a B
attle of the Brits t-shirt!
SH
OW
RE
GIS
TR
AT
ION
FE
ES
Mo
torcycle en
tries:$10.00 per bike+ $5 C
amp D
earborn entry fee at gate
Sw
ap-m
eet spaces:
$40.00 for first space (15’ wide x 40’ deep).
Additional spaces, $30 each.
+ $5 Cam
p Dearborn entry fee at gate
SP
EC
TAT
OR
EN
TR
Y F
EE
$6 per vehicle ($4 for Dearborn residents)
An
AM
A-S
anctio
ned
Even
t.B
e Th
ere, Rain
or S
hin
e!
PA
RT
ICIP
AN
T V
OT
ING
:- E
nds at 1:00 p.m.
- Only votes subm
itted by1 p.m
. will count!
AW
AR
DS
PR
ES
EN
TAT
ION
:3:30 p.m
. near the red MT
R trailer
Jud
ges’ A
ward
s for B
est in S
ho
w!
FO
OD
AN
D B
EV
ER
AG
ES
:A
vailable throughout the day
ME
TR
O T
RIU
MP
H R
IDE
RS
STO
RE
Visit the red M
TR
trailer to purchasea variety of club and show
items
Beco
me an
MT
R m
emb
er: Ap
ply
on
ou
r web
site or p
ick up
a form
at the sh
ow
!
Cam
pin
g Is A
vailable O
n S
ite!G
o to ww
w.cam
pdearborn.comor call (248) 684-6000
1. Master C
lass · O
nly bikes in this class are eligible for (3) B
est in S
ho
w aw
ards!· O
pen to all British m
otorcycles, including café racers, custom
s, etc.· W
ill be judged by a panel of experts· A
ll Master C
lass entran
ts will receive a
free Battle o
f the B
rits t-shirt!
CL
AS
SE
S 2-20 E
LIG
IBL
E F
OR
PA
RT
ICIP
AN
TS
’ CH
OIC
E A
WA
RD
S,
inclu
din
g b
est in class (1
st, 2n
d, 3rd)
Modern T
riumph C
lasses (Hinckley-built bikes,
1990- )2a. C
ruisers (B
onneville Am
erica,S
peedmaster, R
ocket III, Adventurer, Legend)
2b. M
od
ern C
lassics (Bonneville, T
100,T
hruxton, Thunderbird, T
hunderbird Sport,
Trident)2c. U
rban
Sp
orts (all D
aytonas, all Sprints, all
Trophy models, S
peed Four, S
peed Triple,Tiger)
3. Trium
ph
and
BS
A Trip
les Trident and R
ocket 3 (1969-76)4. Triu
mp
h O
il-in-F
rame Tw
ins
650 and 750 (1971-88)5a. Triu
mp
h O
il Tank U
nit B
on
nevilles
all 650 twin-carb m
odels (1963-70)5b
. Trium
ph
Oil Tan
k Un
it Oth
er other 500 &
650 models (1963-70)
6. Trium
ph
and
BS
A P
re-Un
it Twin
s all pre-unit tw
ins7. Triu
mp
h an
d B
SA
Sin
gles
all singles, unit and pre-unit8. N
orto
n C
om
man
do
750 all 750cc m
odels (1968-73)9. N
orto
n C
om
man
do
850 all 850cc m
odels (1973-77)11. B
SA
Un
it Twin
s A
50, A65, etc.
12. Vin
cent
all models
13. British
Op
en/ V
intag
e A
riel, Enfield, V
elocette, etc.14. B
ritish C
om
petitio
n track bikes, scram
blers, racers15. B
ritish C
afé Racers
including Triton, N
orbsa, Norvin
16. British
Ch
op
pers/C
usto
ms
mild, w
ild, weird, and w
acky17. Italian D
ucati, Moto G
uzzi, MV, A
prilia, etc.18. G
erman
and
Eu
rop
ean B
MW
, Bultaco, M
ontesa, Ural, etc.
19. Am
erican (p
re-1984) H
arley-Davidson (pre-E
vo), Indian, etc.20. S
coo
ters and
Mo
ped
s V
espa, Lambretta, C
ushman, etc.
Moto
rcycle
Cla
sses