American Biker Stuff

Helmets: A healthy habit

2008-09-20T10:40:00.003-05:00

"SLIM SURVIVAL CHANCE

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contends that helmets reduce the risk of motorcycle fatalities by 37 percent.
Still, helmets do not guarantee survival"

...........and now my 2 cents: How awesome it would be if people would just drop the attitude no matter how many wheels they're riding on! Wonder what that would do for the mortality rate?

Safe Family: Motorcycle Safety

2008-09-20T10:35:00.002-05:00

With gas prices as high as we have ever seen them, more people are using motorcycles as their main form of transportation. Josh Stevenson has more in today's Safe Family report.

An Ejection System for Helmets

2008-09-20T10:29:00.002-05:00

Read about: the latest from Shock Doctor Inc., a helmet that inflates for gentle removal in the event of a crash.

2008 Traffic Safety Conference

2008-09-20T10:27:00.001-05:00

November 17-19, 2008
Marriott - Houston Hobby Airport
9100 Gulf Freeway
Houston, Texas

Planning is underway for the Statewide 2008 Traffic Safety Conference. Sessions will include information on:

* Law Enforcement Issues,
* Emergency Response,
* Motorcycle Safety,
* Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety, and
* Enforcement Technologies.

Harley Recalls 2008 Motorcycles

2008-09-06T16:21:00.002-05:00

Read more on the recalls at Consumer Affairs.

The following recalled bikes are:
FLHP, FLHPE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHRSE4, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU, FLHTCUSE3, FLHTP, FLHX, & FLTR.

Court Upholds Public Access to Crash Data

2008-07-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

Decision Says ‘Early Warning Data’ Submitted by Auto and Tire Manufacturers Is Subject to Freedom of Information Act

WASHINGTON - July 22

Motorcyclist Warning

2008-07-26T21:41:00.003-05:00

Motorcyclist warns about cable barrier threat to bikers.

Beaumont Enterprise - July, 7, 2008
By COLIN GUY

Thousands of BMW Motorcycles Recalled

2008-06-28T12:14:00.001-05:00

US Recall News
June 20, 2008

BMW has issued recalls on several motorcycle models this week, some for problems that are potentially deadly. Read More

Senator Targets Helmet Exemption

2008-06-26T20:00:00.002-05:00

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published June 22, 2008

TEXAS CITY — With a record number of Texans becoming licensed and trained to drive motorcycles, the chairman of the state’s Transportation and Homeland Security Committee wants to eliminate the state’s helmet law exemption. Read More

Motorcycle Safety Survey

2008-06-24T20:36:00.001-05:00

The members of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration recently created the 2008 Motorcyclist Road Conditions Survey. The purpose of the survey is to help state and federal highway administrators better understand and plan for the needs of motorcycle riders.

All riders are encouraged to take the 10-minute survey before August 1, 2008, by going online to www.surveymonkey.com/MACMembersHighwaySurvey

NY State Police stage mandatory motorcycle safety checkpoint

2008-06-24T20:27:00.002-05:00

The State Police are conducting checkpoints Friday night.

News 4 reports the officers are inspecting motorcycles as they cross the Peace Bridge.
It looked like a Biker Rally at Front Park, where there was a constant rumble of thunder.
Local biker Michael Lovczowski: "...just love it."
But the gathering included plenty of State Police and other law enforcers who staged a mandatory motorcycle safety checkpoint at the entrance of the Peace Bridge.
New York State Police Major Christopher Cummings said, "It's all about safety. It's all about protecting the riders of motorcycles and the public on the highway with them."

Nearly 800 bikers passed through. Most headed to Port Dover, Ontario, the site of the annual Friday the 13th Motorcycle Rally. Some didn't appreciate the delay.
Local biker George Kabel said, "I think it's a waste of manpower, for a couple of helmets. What do you have 25 cars here?"
Troopers say the inspections were in response to an alarming increase in motorcycle deaths, which doubled in the last ten years.
State Police Traffic Supervisor Sergeant David Miller said, "This isn't about making money for the state. It's about saving lives."
The inspections here are similar to the same checks commercial vehicles go through. They start with a visual check of the vehicle.
Of the bikes that passed through, 25% were flagged for a secondary inspection.
Most tickets were issued for unsafe helmets.
State Police Motorcycle Unit Trooper Arthur Pittman said, "We're going to take a look at width and side. It should have 3/4 width of foam on it. Also, it's going to say approved D.O.T."
Reaction to the inspections was mixed.
Biker: "I think it's a little overkill, honestly."
Biker: "I think it's good. Everyone needs to get checked before crossing over. It's the law, man."

Major Cummings said, "The problem with this checkpoint is you can't put a number on the lives you save. We only know by the stats, the lives lost."

Police Department Wants Louder Pipes On Its Harleys

2008-06-24T20:21:00.001-05:00

Oakland, CA - Over in Oakland they like it loud - so loud that all 45 of the Police Department’s Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been equipped with shiny new tailpipes, at a cost of $500 apiece, to rev up their roar. It seems the cops just didn’t feel safe on toned-down bikes. “There’s an old motorcycle adage that you are heard before you are seen,” said Deputy Chief Dave Kozicki, explaining the department’s decision to toss the bikes’ muted factory-issued mufflers in favor of the more high-volume pipes. Kozicki cited an accident three months ago in which an Oakland officer riding a toned-down cycle was struck by a motorist who said he hadn’t heard the officer approaching. But some City Hall insiders, as well as motorcycle cops elsewhere, said the safety argument is a stretch.

Even the folks at the national Motorcycle Industry Council, which represents all the big bike manufacturers, were unaware of any safety benefits from louder mufflers.
“We encourage all motorcycle riders to keep the original low sound levels that meet the … federal sound limit of 80 decibels,” said industry spokesman Mike Mount. “It would seem counterintuitive that a law enforcement agency would go against federal standards.”

Ironically, it was just a short time back that Oakland police were called upon to crack down on noisy motorists who had modified their auto mufflers to make a whistling screech. The “whistle tip” pipes were eventually outlawed under state law. Oakland’s cops had a long tradition of riding their Harley-Davidsons with the modified, louder tail pipes, earning them the nickname “Rolling Thunder.” But after an officer complained about a loss of hearing and others around town questioned whether the police force was violating the very noise standards it was supposed to enforce, the department brass ordered a switch to the quieter stock mufflers.
According to Kozicki, the decibel drop sparked a chorus of complaints from other officers, who said they felt less safe. So last year the department launched a $1,200 study in conjunction with the city’s risk management division to determine whether

A) the louder motorcycles contributed to officers’ safety,
B) the louder pipes were detrimental to their hearing, and
C) complied with noise standards.

Kozicki acknowledged that whatever safety-related findings the study produced were largely anecdotal. Still, after everything was taken into consideration, the department concluded “it was in the best interest of the officers to put more-audible pipes back on,” Kozicki said.

Hence, all 30 of the department’s Harleys were sent down to the central maintenance yard for a muffler makeover, at a cost of about $15,000, according to City Hall insiders. Another 15 newly purchased motorcycles were ordered with the louder pipes, though at no extra charge. Oakland officials acknowledge that the noisy pipes, when tested, averaged 93 decibels - well above the federal legal noise limit, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

Ducati USA recalls some 1098 model motorcycles

2008-06-24T20:12:00.002-05:00

The Staff of Clutch and Chrome - June 17th 2008

Even the highest performing motorcycle can miss a gear occasionally it seems.

Ducati USA issued a recall for 3,614 of it's 1098 model motorcycles over concerns of a faulty rear drive sprocket.

The importers wish to trace: 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, and 1098 Tricolore motorcycles over a fear that the rear drive sprocket could fail. Reportedly, 'if the sprocket were to fail while the motorcycle is being driven, it is possible that the motorcycle will experience a sudden loss of power and/or the chain may become entangled with the chassis.'

Ducati dealers will replace the rear drive sprocket free of charge.

Heads Up Dallas Riders : Motorcycle Parking Petition

2008-06-13T07:03:00.001-05:00

Recently an online petition was launched by a group of individual motorcycle and scooter riders. Dallas is the 6th largest motorcycle owning market in the U.S. & filled with designated parking for handicapped, compact cars and SUV spaces. What the city is desperately lacking is designated motorcycle/scooter parking. All too often a single bike has to take up an entire parking space or meter which causes frustration amongst the car drivers we share the road with. This petition requests that the Dallas City Council implement designated motorcycle & scooter parking throughout the city in both public and private lots and parking meters. We also request that the spaces be in high profile locations to ensure the safety of our bikes when they are parked. Within 3 days of the petition launching, it received media coverage from the Dallas Observer and on-air segments from both CW 33 and NBC5. All links to media coverage can be found at the companion blog: http://www.dallasmotorcycleparking.blogspot.com

The petition can be reviewed and signed at: http://www.petitiononline.com/dallasbp/petition.html

Please let me know if there is anything additional you need. I did receive a phone call from Dallas City Council Member Pauline Medrano on Monday (the news segments aired Friday & Saturday nights), informing us that they have asked the City Attorney and the Transportation & Environment Committee to review this request. I’m waiting to hear back when the Committee will be meeting, if it’s open to the public, and if not can we submit supporting data for this issue.

We still need as many signatures as possible though to illustrate our point!

Kawasaki KLX250T9F, KLX250T9FL 2009 Motorcycles Recalled

2008-06-04T19:26:00.002-05:00

Year / Make / Models :
2009 KAWASAKI / KLX250T9F
2009 KAWASAKI / KLX250T9FL
Manufacturer : KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.
Mfr’s Report Date : MAY 13, 2008
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V228000
N/A NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1393

Summary: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 1,393 MY 2009 KLX250T9F AND KLX250T9FL MOTORCYCLES. THE THROTTLE GRIP AND THE HANDLEBAR GRIP MAY COME LOOSE AND SEPARATE FROM THE HANDLEBAR AND THROTTLE TUBE.

Consequence: THIS CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GRIPS AS REQUIRED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

Notes: CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO Safe Car.

Protecting Your Rights In Our Nation's Capital!

2008-05-06T21:14:00.001-05:00

Motorcycle Safety Around the Nation

Find listings for several motorcycle safety programs and rider education courses that are actively being offered and promoted around the country by SMROs and other organizations.

US Recall News

2008-05-06T21:06:00.003-05:00

Make / Models :		Model/Build Years:
YAMAHA / CP250		2006-2007
YAMAHA / YP400		2005-2007
Manufacturer : YAMAHA MOTOR CORP, USA		Mfr’s Report Date : 04/17/08
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V180000		PE08018 NHTSA Action Number: PE08018

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 9600