Petronas FP-1
Kuala Lumpur- Probably not news that motorcycles are built in Malaysia, and in large numbers. Now there's something new being built in Malaysia, and it's a superbike. PETRONAS is getting into racing, and as a condition for having the Foggy Petronas Racing Team compete in the in the World Superbike Championships, 150 motorcycles needed to be built and approved. Thus was born the FP-1, a hot looking 998cc motorcycle.I would have included a pic, but they are hard to scrape from the official website.FP1.comMotorcycle Daily article
Emerson Fittipaldi in New Motorcycle Project
Marlton, NJ- From a press release. So here's Emerson Fittipaldi, a well respected international F1 racing star perched on some random motorcycle, and a press release talking about selling a "Signature Series" motorcycle. In, uh, South America.... Here's what's in the press release- Moto Management, Inc. is partnering with Idea Sports Entertainment (which has a website with a link to the press releases), to promote sales of these motorcycles. Nothing was turned up on the web on Moto Management, Inc. and there wasn't much related to the manufacture, import or sale of motorcycles to be found in the Idea Sports website.
There will no doubt be more postings as this one unfolds.
Press release
Idea Sports website
Ecclestone Sells F1 Stake
from Tom Haapanen- motorsports.com- Here's a nice history on the Formula One franchise and the transition in ownership over the past several years.
Link to article...
UK: Vivaldi Racing Confirms Line-Up
from SuperBike News- Vivaldi Racing, a promoter of British Superbike racing, announced that Scott Smart would be back for the 2006 season.
Link to article...
Boorman in Brunei Promoting "Long Way Round"
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei- from Helena M. Mahathir, Brudirect.com- Charley Boorman is in Brunei on a stopover on his international promotional tour for the series "Long Way Round". Boorman made the trip by motorcycle with friend and fellow actor Ewan McGregor and a film crew. Both rode BMW R 1150 GS Adventure motorcycles from London to New York.
The series has met with critical success in a number of countries, notably Australia and New Zealand. Recently a contract was signed with Bravo in the US to air the series. According to Variety, an agreement has been reached with Discovery channel for rights to broadcast the series.
McGregor is planning another motorcycle adventure or two. According to various sources, he's either on his way to Africa to do a long trip with Jude Law, or he's planning on re-creating the Che Guevara ride depicted in Motorcycle Diaries through South America.
Link to article...
Plainview TX: Hale Custom Choppers
Plainview, TX- from the Plainview Daily Herald- 26 year old Gary Garza is making choppers in Texas. Well, okay, he's built one chopper. But he's got lots of heart.
Link to article...
Tip from Thailand: Be Careful with Gasohol
Phuket, Thailand- from the Phuket Gazzette- Jef posts a rant about the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). Apparently, bikes over 10 years old don't react well to gasohol (aka ethanol). Attendants at the PTT stations don't inform customers that there are issues with gasohol in older vehicles. Not sure what happens when you put gasohol in older vehicles, or which models of newer motorcycles or motorbikes are designed to use gasohol. The take-away from this article is that you should familiarize yourself with the owner's manual and make sure before you fuel up, what the minimum requirements are. Odds are that if you have a large displacement or high performance engine, you can serious mess the engine up by using ethanol.
Link to article...
Victoria: Dog Falls Out of Courier Bag
Highett- From www.heraldsun.news.com.au- Jack the Jack Russell terrier is MIA because he was riding in his owner's courier bag and not tethered. Sad as it is that this kind of story makes the news, and yes, we sympathize about the dog, there really should be some laws in any country addressing transport of critters. Dogs, in particular, belong in a sidecar if they need to travel on a motorcycle at all. I'm pretty sure small dogs like Jack Russells would fit into a saddlebag, but I'm absolutely certain the SPCA would have some objections. And the dogs wouldn't like it either...
Link...
Hollywood: On the Set of Tony Scott's Domino
from tvnz.co.nz- Keira Knightley is starring in a Tony Scott film- Domino. She plays a bounty hunter chasing bad guys in LA. As interesting a role choice that might be, the director has a very interesting take on cinematic realism. 
A scene in the film calls for Knightley to confront a set of gang members, all armed. It turns out that the guns are real, and, for good measure, so are the gang members. A team of the US Marshalls turned up on the set to collect weapons and gang members.
Link to article...
Solar SaddleBags from Eclipse
From bikebiz.com- Eclipse Solar Gear specializes in portable solar power usually built into things like backpacks or messenger bags. The solar power isn't designed to power your HDTV but if you're on the road and need to charge your iPod or cellphone or run your GPS system, Eclipse may have a solution for you. For big interstate bikes there's always the option of adding an outlet that draws power off the battery. The new saddlebags offer an alternative for powering light electronics and getting some usable space at the same time. Bikerbiz says the saddlebags should be available in December.
BikerBiz.com article
Eclipse Solar Gear
Washington Woman Falls 50 Ft Off Bridge, Gets Bruises
Seattle- from komonews.com- Reshell Reid lost control of her Suzuki motorcycle on a 520 offramp. The ramp was on a bridge, and there was a fifty foot drop over the side. Into a river. Reid saw the rail coming and knew she was going to hit hard. She was also able to think through her response to the impact. As she hit and flew over the bars, she grabbed the rail, did a flip over it and hit the water feet first.
Reid has an explanation. She experienced the crash in a dream two weeks prior. So she knew how to react and knew she wouldn't die. In fact she survived the ordeal with only a few bruises. Reid is a mother of five.
Link to article
Scotty's Choppers in World Championship
Uralla- from the Armidale Express, November 15, 2005- Designer Scott Cox of Scotty's Choppers,was back in the US to compete in the World Championship of Custom Bike Building. Cox appeared on the Discovery Channel's World Biker Build Off earlier this year.
More than 150 bikes from 100 builders from Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and Canada will compete for the top spot. The world championships were held at the Mandalay Bay Resort on The Strip in Las Vegas.
Links... Scotty's Choppers site, Armidale Express site
Watch Out for Cane Toads!
Queensland, AU- from the Courier-Mail, November 15, 2005. It looks pretty harmless, but one of these guys took down a biker. Alright, so the guy was doing a wheelie at the time. Yeah, okay, and he was running from the cops. Police in Queensland are celebrating the self-sacrificing civic sense of duty of these tough little frogs. Er...., toads.
Link to story...
Tattoo Jeans
From the Luxist- November 15, 2005- London Denim has launched a new line of customized jeans- Tattoo Jeans.
"The jeans are festooned with 1940s etched tattoo, appliques and nailhead designs and are made of Japanese denim. There are six styles and two made-to-order custom pieces."
Just in time for the holidays. One pair under the tree will set you back $600-$1600.
Link to article...
"Metric Revolution": More Custom Bikes on TV
Boca Raton, FL, Press release, November 15, 2005- A new motorcycle reality-TV show is on the way. No doubt influenced by the success of American Chopper and the Biker Build-Off shows, this latest production brings custom builders of metric bikes in head-to-head competition. Categories of bike styles are cruiser and sportbike. Coming in 2006.
Link to the show website...
Link to the press release...
A True Outlaw Bike
Carson City, NV- from the Associated Press, November 15, 2005- The Nevada prison system has a new way to keep inmates busy. No, it doesn't involve giving each other tattoos. Big House Choppers is an in-house shop creating high-powered choppers that are selling for about $40,000. Buyers get a certificate assuring that the bike contains parts of prison bars.
Sadly, no pic available. Link to article...
World Motorcycles Demand to Exceed 41 Million Units in 2009
Cleveland, OH, From MarketWire, November 15, 2005- The Fredonia Group, Inc. released a report containing some forecasting and analysis of the global motorcycle market. They predict global sales by 2009 to exceed 41M units! You can't get to the whole article without paying out some money, but they do include some interesting observations in the press release.
For one thing, sales in some sectors should increase as fuel costs create pressure for use of more fuel-efficient vehicles such as motorcycles and scooters. On the other hand, it's predicted that sales in other areas, notably India and China, would slow as consumers moved away from motorcycles and into cars. To complete this cycle, one would think, consumers there would move from commuter/working motorcycle to commuter/working car to recreational vehicle motorcycle, following the boomer trend in the west. Still, 41 million is a lot of motorcycles.
Link to article..
Ducati Introduces a Concept "HyperMotard" at Milan Show
From SuperBikeNews.com, November 15, 2005- Ducati introduced the Hyper-Motard, a 1000cc air cooled twin that generates 100 hp and weighs a mere 385 lb. Top speed is reported to be 138 mph. No report on when this bike will be available here or anywhere else.
Link to article...
Watch Out for Deer
Rochester, NY- from the Democrat & Chronicle, November 12, 2005. You have to be dedicated to ride in the Northeastern US after September. There's ice and snow. There are leaves that can be very slick when wet. Finally, there's the wild life. Somehow it happens that rutting season coincides with the fall leaf season, so just when lots of deer and moose are out there cruisin' for love, tons of drivers are out there looking for peak foliage.
The motorcyclist with modified pipes may have the advantage over those with standard ones in being able to provide large ruminants a bit of a heads-up. This will, at least in the case of deer, often get them out of the way. Moose move for no one.
If you're riding out there, the greatest risk may not be on the smaller country roads, but on the highways, like the Sawmill, where deer will try to cross a fast moving four lane road and not be able to clear the concrete median separator. They are stuck and scared, and facing traffic moving at 70+ mph. For the biker, there are no great options if you come over a rise and encounter this situation.
Be smart out there, especially if you've got a passenger-
Link to article...
Bear Butte- Finding a Balance in South Dakota
Rapid City, SD, from Charmaine White Face, printed in the Rapid City Journal, November 12,2005.
With the success and significant economic input of the Sturgis Rally, cities in the region are under pressure to assist in projects that will grow this formidible engine of commerce. One of the major attractions of the Black Hills is the spacious beauty and quiet. So it is a surprise that a development project involves a shooting range.
Links go to articles by Charmaine White Face on the proposed projects and the significance of Bear Butte in Native American culture.
Rapid City Journal article Native Voice article
India's Hero Honda Scooter
From S. Muralidhar of the Hindu Business Line- India and China are the two largest current and future motorcycle markets. The numbers of vehicles sold in either country dwarf those of any other. A big reason for the numbers are the huge populations of both countries and cultures where light-weight motorcycles and scooters are used extensively for commuting and business.
The Hero Honda is the biggest seller of the largest manufacturer in the Indian market- a partnership between Honda and the Hero manufacturing group of India.
The article discusses the introduction by the group of new models- the Pleasure and the Achiever.
Link to article...
Vroom With A View
Edinburgh, Scotland- from The Daily Record, 12 November 2005- Here's a creative scheme:
"Anyone who buys one of the £230,000 flats in a new Edinburgh development before December 16 will get a Vespa scooter worth £2000 thrown in.
Bett and Bryant Homes say the scooters are the ideal way to get around the congested capital.
The scheme has been launched at the Strada development in Pilton Drive, which will become one of the largest new-build projects in the city by 2009.
Some residents say the scooters are likely to be stolen from the development, near the tough Pilton housing scheme."
Maybe they'll throw in a cable lock.
Link to article...
CAN: $5 Tattoos for Prisoners
Ottatwa- From Carly Weeks of the CanWest News Service, 11 November, 2005- There's new evidence that liberals have given up on the US and have moved to Canada. In an expansion of an existing system, the government announced that tattoo parlors would be set up in additional prisons across Canada. Inmates will recieve tattoos at the parlors for $5 (loonies?), with the only restriction being that tattoos can be neither racist nor gang-related.
Here's the social theory- Prisoners are a creative bunch and have an affinity for things involving needles, including tattoos. In the absence of professional equipment and artists, it is possible to administer tattoos using simple contrived machines. A popular method is to take apart a walkman-style cassette player and attach a needle to the motor. The trick is getting a needle, and therein lies the risk factor. Because there are no controlled sterilization devices, there is a serious risk of transmitting HIV and other diseases through needle re-use.
The cost of the program is $700,000 and parlors have been opened in 5 prisons so far.
Link to article...
AU: Power Restriction Proposed for Young Riders
From Laura Anderson of news.com.au, November 11, 2005- Young riders are, statistically, at much greater risk of injury and death in a motorcycle accident than more experienced riders. The EU has a proposal to restrict motorcycle engine size for younger riders where a couple of years of experience are required before a rider can progress to a larger displacement engine.
The Australians are taking a different approach; rather than pin a tiering structure on engine size, per se, the proposal ties the grading system to power to weight ratio. This strategy is smart. Consider that up until a couple of years ago the huge BMW K1200LT was rated at under 80 hp, where a number of 600cc model sportbikes easily exceed 100 hp.
When governments around the world get serious about reducing motorcycle deaths, they will require motorcycle training classes for licensing, a tiered licensing program like the one proposed in this article, and will extend these requirements to new riders independant of age or years of automotive driving experience.
Link to article...
The Biker Did Not Kill the Old Lady!!!!
Staffordshire, from the BBC, November 10, 2005- Ok, here's the whole story from the BBC-
Woman dies after biker hits pet
A 52-year-old Staffordshire woman has died in hospital just hours after a motorcycle hit her dog. The woman and her pet were walking in Chesley Hay on Wednesday night when an off-road bike hit the terrier.
Neither were hurt in the incident and returned home, but several hours later the woman was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital where she died.
A post-mortem examination is due to take place and officers want to speak to four people in the area at the time.
Now please note first that the biker didn't even kill the dog! The implication of this story, clearly, is that there is some relation between the event with the biker and the woman's death. Like biker's don't get enough bad press!
Link to article...
Biker's Ball in Charlotte
from the Sun-Herald.com- November 12.2005. Charlotte County Chapter of the American Red Cross Biker's Ball benefit, 7-11 p.m. at the Port Charlotte Beach Complex, 4500 Harbor Blvd. Theme: "Let the Good Times Roll." Featuring a barbecue dinner by Hogbody's and music by The GunnRunners. Silent and live auctions, drinks, games, dancing and contests for best outfits. Dress in classic or modern biker persona. Cost, $60. Call 629-4345.
I've seen biker parties and even balls where they are sponsored by HOG groups and generally feature genuine bikers dressed in nice clothes. This event is something else, and an interesting commentary on modern society. Bikers have now officially been elevated to the vaunted cultural status equivalent to that of "pirate". Not only that, but there are classic and modern persona! I guess I learned something...
Link to article...
One Stop Christmas Chopper Shopping at Costco, Sams
From the Wall Street Journal- November 12, 2005- Not sure what to get the man in your life for Christmas? You can never go wrong with an Orange County Chopper. For a limited time, a few Costco and Sams Clubs will have one of these choice vehicles that you can pick up along with the Diet Coke and Pampers, and it will only set you back a mere $137,000. These and other big ticket items are part of a "dream package" promotion for the stores.
link to article...
Wheelies in Qatar: Not Just for Kids
Qatar- from peninsula online- The old folk in the Gulf region, for all their oil, don't all buy Harleys and do poker runs on the weekend. Some are a tad more adventurous. Pictured are two mature professionals honing some skills, doing wheelies and stoppies on their sportsbikes in the desert.
link to story...
Ricky Carmichael Nominated Athlete of the Year
Pickering, OH- from motorsport.com, Nov. 11, 2005- Ricky Carmichael earned his sixth nomination for AMA Pro Racing SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year. Carmichael, who moved to Suzuki in 2005, won his fourth Supercross title in May. After recovering from knee surgery, Carmichael's been dominating the sport this year-
Link to article
Space Coast Harley-Davidson Opens in Palm Bay
Palm Bay- From Florida Today- Nov.12, 2005. Space Coast Harley Davidson opened its new 55,000 sq. ft facility recently in Palm Bay. While the story discusses the growth in motorcycling in the US and in female participation, a side note is the trend in Harley dealerships toward superstores. Across the country in the past few years, new facilities have grown to include hotel space and restaurants in addition to vast new space dedicated to clothing, parts and accessories. According to HD's numbers, and this is a phenomenon unique to Harley and one that underscores the power of the HD community, approximately half of annual profits are attributable to non-motorcycle sales. That means the folks who buy Harleys, and a lot who aspire to Harley ownership, purchase a lot of Harley-logo stuff.
Lets' hope that the myth of the "completely built and assembled in the US, from American-made parts" motorcycle continues to work for The Motor Company.
link to article
Ducati Losses Widen in 3rd Quarter
Milan, from Reuters, November 10, 2005- Italian motorcycle maker Ducati reported losses for 3Q to be 13M euros. And this is with higher sales. Ducati reported that sales, compared to last year through three quarters, had increased 31%! Revenues rose only 12.2% due to more sales at lower costs.
They are restructuring.
Link...
Travelling by Motorcycle in Vietnam
In his article Vietnam's Easy Rider, writer Dustin Roasa takes us out of the city and into the countryside on a motorcycle. He talks about the roads and conditions as well as the people and the transformation this country, still communist, is undergoing. In a place so long torn by wars brought to them by the West, it's kind of an amazing thing that westerners are treated as kindly as they are.
Spiderman vs The Hulk in Gainesville
And they're going 240 mph!!! I wish there were some pictures with this one. From Norm Froscher with gainesville.com- Nov.10, 2005. Top fuel nitro-burning motorcycles will be racing this weekend at Gainesville, with superheroes leading the point standings. Honest, there's a Jim "The Hulk" Brantley who is leading in points in front of a Larry "Spiderman" McBride, from Newport News, VA.
They will be competing in the 17th Diamond Motorsports/AMA Prostar World Finals which begin at Gainesville Raceway tomorrow.
link to article...
Bush to Push HD on China Trip
From John Schmid at the Pike Press, Milwaukee, November 10, 2005. Harley Davidson would very much like to get into the Chinese market, which is the biggest consumer market in the world and getting better for a company like HD all the time as burgeoning enterprises bubble increasing numbers of Chinese into the upper middle class. And there have been some agreements made over the past year between HD and Chinese officials. Still, many existing restrictions on a range of things like engine displacement and where you can ride, have hampered HD's plans to get dealerships set up within China.
Milwaukee's mayor, Tom Barrett, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to raise the issues in discussions with China's President Hu Jintao during his visit to Beijing next week.
link-
Rossi Watch: Valentino Back in the Ferrari
From Yahoo News, Nov. 9, 2005- If you're a Valentino Rossi fan and enjoy watching him race....motorcycles, then start booking events, because it's looking more and more as if he's preparing to make the jump to Formula One auto racing.link to article...
SI: Caption This
From Nov. 8, 2005 SI.com's Caption This-Not so fast E.T., I can barely hold on.--Dave, Boise, Idaho
Hey, I can see my house from here.--Dave, Greenville, S.C.
E.T. Deuce -- The X Generation.--Jeff, Spokane, Wash.
How Superman gets his bike to the shop.--Mike, Alexandria, Va.
In order to make ends meet, Terrell Owens goes to work as a self-destructive motorcycle stuntman.--Louis, Wichita Falls, Texas
A new freestyle record was shattered when rookie rider Clark Kent jumped over Montana.--Brian, Cromwell, Conn.
Note to self: less seat grease next time.--Matt, Topeka, Kan.
The modern sequel to Mary Poppins.--Tom, Kingsport, Tenn.
Paying homage to the Jordan silhouette logo, Nike unveils the logo for their new line of extreme footwear and apparel.--Dave, Anchorage, Alaska
Wow, this was a fantastically bad idea.--Joe, Louisville, Ky.
It's a man, it's a plane. Nope, just another jackass on a motorbike.--Melanie, Cleveland
Rehab is proceeding nicely for Kellen Winslow--Joe, Birmingham, Ala.
I tried to jump T.O.'s ego ... I just couldn't get there.--David, Wagoner, Okla.
Hey, from way up here, I can see two other Carolina Panthers cheerleaders making out!--DJ, Malden, Mass.
link to article...
Grid Girls- From Emma Tom in Australia
From Emma Tom in Fox News/Australia- Frankly, I didn't know this was part of the sport. I thought the girls at the awards podium was the only thing common, aside from two wheels, between bicycle and motorcycle racing. Here's something new- a very colorful introduction to the Australian grid girls.link to article- Come On Girls, Get On Your Bike!
Note: While pictures are SFW, some of the language is rated PG-13.
Highlights from Birmingham International Motorcycle and Scooter Show
From Tiscali.motoring- Breezy highlights and lots of pictures of new product introductions at this year's Birmingham International Motorcycle and Scooter Show.link to tiscali.motoring articleDucati Monster 1000 shown-
Tattoos Still Not OK in Oklahoma
From Amy Lester, News 9 (newsOK.com)- Tattoo Artists Take Stance at CapitolOklahoma is the last state in the union where it's illegal to get a tattoo. Not that tattoos are easy to get everywhere, but there are locations in every other state where they can be had legally. The link contains another link to the video news story that discusses the situation in Oklahoma. Tattoo artists practice in the state and are sometimes arrested, and a law change is proposed every year to legalize tattooing, and every year it's defeated. Good story.
Polaris to Grow Victory- Blackwell Promoted to VP
Press release announcing some organizational changes at Polaris Motorcycle division, aka Victory. Promoted to VP- Victory Motorcycle and International Operations, is Mark Blackwell. Blackwell has been with Polaris since 2000 as General Manager at Victory. Let's hope this is a sign of more good things to come from Victory.
SportVue's Head's Up Display- MC-2
Mike Werner's great review of the SportVue head's up display, complete with photos of the kit and assembly process.Bikes In the Fast Lane articleSportVue siteEngadget notes that the MC-2 will set you back about $389.
Undercover Cop Who Went Hog Wild
From William Booth of the Washington Post, via northjersey.com-You have to read this. It's one of those stories that may well be true and contains all the makin's of a great movie. It starts with an ATF agent that goes undercover as a prospect with the Mongols, and gets better and better....link to article
Cars Talking to Each Other
from Chris Woodyard, USA Today, November 10,2005.You've no doubt heard about Honda's air-bag coming in the 2006 Gold Wing. There's more. Woodyard takes us a little into the future of cars and motorcycles, where sensing devices provide drivers of a range of conditions, and in some cases, correct for them. The focus here is in inter-vehicle communication, which is a big step beyond your ride telling you that there's a truck closing in on you.Link to articleRelated article from Business Week on Honda's prototype ASV-3 and its safety features.
Another Etymology of "Tattoo"
This story, "County to hold Twilight Tattoo tonight" is from the Prince George's County, Maryland gazette.net. No, it's not about a skin art; a tattoo, in another and older meaning, refers to a military marching exercise, generally Scottish. The use of the term here is curious since the participants are high school bands and drill teams.Of greater interest is the explanation offered on the derivation of the word "tattoo". In an earlier posting, a reference was included to a story also containing a historic derivation which I don't think sounded anything like this one. Here's the current offer-Twilight Tattoo is a military tradition dating back to the 1600s and the Thirty Years War in Europe. During the evenings, bugles sounded to signal soldiers to close taverns and return to their quarters. Someone would hammer, or ‘‘tap to,” stoppers back into the kegs.
Over time, the phrase ‘‘tap to” evolved to the word ‘‘tattoo” and has become an Army tradition signifying the day’s end.Even if this were true, we're still waiting for a bridge that gets us, conceptually, from "day's end" to skin art. If anything, it sounds like this explanation is a better one for the sense of "taps", refering to the end of day bugle call used in the military.Link to article-
Buyer Picks Up $500K Auction Bike from Leno
from Scott Meyers- SE Missourian-November 10John Tlapek, a resident of Cape Girardeau, MO, appeared on "The Tonight Show" recently to pick up the Harley Davidson motorcycle he won at auction on eBay. As he's done in the past for other causes, Jay Leno raised money for Hurricane Katrina relief by having celebrities autograph a new bike and then placing for auction on eBay. Tlapek, a private equities investor and president of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, submitted his bid late on the final day of the auction and was later notified that his was the winning bid at $500,100. As for Tlapek's thoughts on Leno- "He seemed like a real nice guy."Link to article
iPod Minibike- Yamaha EC-02
From T3, 4 November. The tiny urban minibike has been modified to hold an iPod and support control through switches mounted in the grip. Also built in are the speakers. If you're into loud obnoxious rap, you may need backpack-mounted woofers, but then this may not be the tool of choice for boulevard cruisin'.
Not sure about price or release availability in the US, but you can bet that if you want one for Christmas, you'll be covered. Travelgizmo had a quote of "just under $2000" for the minibike sans ipod.
T3 link
Travel Gizmo link
Phantom Speedster in Perth
from www.sundaytimes.news.com.au- 243 kilometers per hour translates to about 151 mph, which is moving along pretty smartly for public roads. Nevertheless, if you know there are cameras out there it may not be your smartest move to keep baiting the authorities.
The madman they can't catch link
Superwoman unmasks biker thief
Nov. 5, 2005- from web.mid-day.com. This story comes with it's own action comic strip. Way cool!
Superwoman link
Headless Motorcycle Rider for Halloween
from Auditi Guha of townonline.com, Nov. 4, 2005- How cool is this? Some towns have very unique traditions. This one is in the priceless category. For the past several years, there's been an imaginative individual dressing up as "the headless horseman" and riding the streets of Allston, MA at dusk on Halloween. The locals line the streets and cheer as Ichabod drives by, and, incredibly, no one knows who it is.
link to article
Born to Be Mild- Dallas Morning News
5 Nov. 2005- Article by Terry Box of the Dallas Morning News on rubbies- rich urban bikers.
link to article
If you don't want to subscribe to the website, here's the article. No pictures-
Heck's angels rev up; motorcycle sales zoom
12:00 AM CST on Saturday, November 5, 2005
By TERRY BOX / The Dallas Morning News
Maybe the theme song for the motorcycle industry these days should be "Born to Be Mild."
Middle-age bikers – gray-bearded, black-clad stockbrokers on Harleys and faux Harleys – are noisily pushing total motorcycle sales in the U.S. to more than 1 million for the third straight year.
In fact, with cruisers leading the way, total motorcycle sales in the last four years have exceeded those during the entire decade of the 1990s, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Sales in the third quarter were up 16 percent, far outpacing the auto industry.
"I refer to this period as the modern renaissance of motorcycles," said Larry Little, publisher of Cycle World and chairman of the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Many of the fat-fendered artifacts of this new age will be on display Friday through Sunday at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The show is from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 11. Kids 5 and under get in free.
Besides 2006 models, you can see the Liberty Bike, the obscenely expensive chopper built by Orange County Choppers of TV fame. It's plated in copper preserved from the Statue of Liberty.
Cruisers make up more than half of the on-road motorcycle segment, and with many of their riders over 50, "demographics will catch up to us in the next five or 10 years," Mr. Little said.
Until then, these middle-age cruisers will continue to be a powerful force in the $23 billion-a-year motorcycle industry. "What we find in this business is it's not how old you are, but how old you think you are," Mr. Little said.
One reason sales in the cruiser segment are up is that practically every manufacturer in the world is building a Harley-Davidson knockoff. Buyers can opt for a Suzuki or a Honda or a Yamaha that sort of looks and sounds like a Harley-Davidson.
And if that's not odd enough, consider this jarring blip on the industry radar: At the opposite end of the motorcycle spectrum, scooter sales were up 65 percent this summer over the same period last year. Even weirder: It might be the start of a trend.
Heads-Up for eBay Shoppers: eBay Bully
4 Nov.- from Yahoo News and the sandiegochannel.com- There's a guy out there in cyberspace who advertises on eBay yet has a tendency to harrass potential buyers. This would normally be just a weird human interest story if it weren't for the fact that this character is selling motorcycle stuff.
Frank Esquitin, the name of the alleged eBay bully, also goes by the following eBay aliases: Old School Riderz, Cool Cat Cycles and Cool Cat Biker. Helives at, and does business from a house in Cleburne, TX, near Fort Worth.
Police records indicate he's been arrested for drugs, weapons violations and harassment.
If you've been abused or harrassed by Esquitin, please contact eBay and the sandiegochannel.com.
Link to article-
Mom Takes on Local Cops
Most people would hesitate to take on a biker. Apparently there's some risk associated with taking on their moms.
Here's a story from the Nov.4 Fox News Out There files-
Mother knows best — and apparently that includes how to throw down with the boys in blue.
Police say Karolein L. Walsh screamed at the driver of a van her 16-year-old son slammed his motorcycle into, and then challenged an officer that intervened to a street brawl, according to the Hartford Courant.
Never mind that her son was driving down the Farmington (search), Conn., road without a helmet, insurance or even a license — and that cops say the van's driver did nothing to cause the accident.
Police told the Courant that Walsh began shouting at the driver of the van, Dennis Dubois of Manassas, Va., after her son summoned her to the scene of the wreck.
Officer Joe Capodiferro repeatedly told the irate mom to leave Dubois alone, but she wouldn't back down, Sgt. Daniel L. Devine told the Courant.
Walsh told Capodiferro that the cops couldn't tell her what to do after he tried to intervene, Devine said.
After Capodiferro tried to interrupt again, Walsh threw her coat and pocketbook on the ground, tossed her camera to a nearby youngster and challenged him to a fight, police told the Courant.
"Let's go," she told Capodiferro, police said.
Declining the offer of a street fight with mad mommy, Capodiferro and a second cop arrested her — and she kicked at them the whole way to the police cruiser, Devine said.
— Thanks to Out There reader Belize C.
link to article
gizmag: Smartattack
At a loss as to what to do with your GSX-R when you've collected your quota of speeding tickets? One strategy is to disguise that 1000cc motorcycle as a car! Here's a kit that allows you to do just that. Kinda cute, too. I wouldn't go out on a limb on their claim about fuel efficiency.
gizmag article link
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Online Auction
from Rubber Magazine- The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum of Pickering, OH is holding an online auction of general motorcycle stuff including parts and memorobilia. Just in time for the holidays. The online site went live on Nov.1, and the auction will run through Dec. 8. Rubber Magazine linkOnline Auction siteHall of Fame Museum link
Tampa Landmark Lovengreen's Closing Doors
True bikers of the old school, in this country, almost always rode Harleys. They carried saddle bags generally for one purpose- they hauled tools and parts around in them. Back in the day, riders would start with smaller bikes, often Yamaha's or Suzukis's, and work their way up. Once they landed their HD, that would be their ride. That bike was maintained and enhanced over the years, which led to a need to have a network of parts suppliers.
All of that has changed in recent years where the trend among new riders in the 40+ category to start out on a 1200cc motorcycle and then trade it in like a car after four or five thousand miles.
For those who remember or who place a value on rebuilding or maintaining older motorcycles, the closing of a place like Lovengreen's is a sad event. Cities around the country each have their boneyards of old bike carcasses, complete with the characters who run them. It's not likely that they will be replaced, and we will miss them.
Randy Diamond article from tbo.com
Best Job on Earth?
Auburn- from Carol French of the Auburn Journal- Walt Lowe gets paid to ride new Harleys around. No kidding. He accepts money for this. And he willingly subjects himself to this abuse for up to seventeen hours a day. Every day. If you've got a better job, I'd like to know what it is.link
Remember the Tijuana Biker with the Dead Guy?
Tijuana- from signonsandiego.com. Remember that story about the biker who crashed his bike in Tijuana and ran, and then the police discovered that the passenger was a dead guy with a helmet on? Well they arrested the guy. No, the driver, and he's been charged with killing his passenger. Riding dead guys around and dropping the bodies off in a vacant alley is apparently a time-honored tradition among drug-lords in Mexico.link to article
2006 Harley Davidson XL Sportster
Milwaukee- From AutoChannel.com. The Motor Company has long made it's money, in American motorcycle sales, on the trusty Sportster. The "Sporty" is the "intro" bike for a lot of riders and the motorcycle of choice for many women riders. It's the intro bike because the Sportster anchors the low end of th line, which makes it the most affordable Harley. It's been the woman's choice since Harley found out that women's legs are shorter than men's. Thus the 2006 XL, which features a low 26.25 inch seat height and pullback handle bars.For years the Sportster has been the Harley training bike. The 883 is a relatively small and light for a Harley, the Sportster for years came with a teensy gas tank, and it wasn't particularly comfortable for long rides. In recent years, HD has demonstrated learning- the Sportster now has a rubber mounted engine and lots of options to address the gas tank and seating comfort. And the 1200 will get up and go in that small frame.
This isn't to steer new riders away from a Sportster. The 883 is a great size for new riders. If you want to make sure you enjoy the sport before committing big money, starting out with a used Sportster is a very good choice. You won't have to worry about the high torque issues with sportsbikes and they're far more comfortable, especially for boomers.
autochannel.com link
Harley-Davidson corporate website
Cool Bluetooth Helmet Headset
From CNET- The Cardo Scala Bluetooth Helmet KitEver have an important conference call keep you from getting out for a ride on a gorgeous day? Kiss those days goodbye! Cardo Scala has the answer- a Bluetooth headset for your helmet! The kit does not include the helmet, and you have to do the installation. The kit features the Motorola V551 Bluetooth headset, and comes with a wind-resistant microphone that allows you to be heard over wind noise. Volume adjustment in the helmet is, however, not automatic, which can be a pain to manage since you'll want to raise the volume when you are riding to compensate for engine noise.From what I can tell from the reviews, the volume controls can be a serious control issue with the operation of the bike, especially in stop and go riding which would require almost constant adjustment in conditions where you can't really afford to take your hands off the handlebars. An improved design would all for positioning of volume controls on the fairing or grips. Another improvement would be to make the volume self-adjusting, like the BMW and Gold Wing sound systems.Luxist.com review
Chainsaw-Powered Motorcycle
From Bob Weber of the Chicago Tribune- The Dolmar G.m.b.H plant that makes professional chainsaws will be turning their talents to building a motorcycle powered by chainsaw engines. 24 chainsaw engines, to be exact.. Ultimately, the design for the powerplant was increased to 24 engines.
When the whole set are combined, the displacement of the engine is 1.9 liters with approximate output of 170 h.p. and 95.9 foot-pounds of torque.
Iron Angels Raise Money for Abused Children
From PRWeb- "The Iron Angels Calendar Models and Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) along with Iron Angels publisher, Lucas Foxx, Walter Hellstrom, owner of Wally’s World Custom Choppers and Internationally renowned custom painter, Ivy Trosclair, Jr. of Metry Custom Cycles have completed production of the Ultimate Custom Chopper to be debuted on November 18, 2005 at Wally’s World Custom Choppers. After the unveiling of this one-of-a-kind Custom Chopper valued at over $60,000, BACA will take the bike to every major motorcycle event offering it in a raffle to raise funds for abused children nationwide with the winner being announced in Unadilla, GA at the first ever Iron Angels MC Rally and Music Festival, October 12-15, 2006."
PRWeb Link
Foxx Studio website
Motorcycle Vacationing Tips from Jakarta
Short and informative article from the City desk of the Jakarta Post on safe motorcycle vacationing. Tips for first-time motorcycle vacationers
"1. Have your bike thoroughly checked. Each producer has safety standards for its motorcycles, so remove all unnecessary accessories.
2. Don't forget to bring a spare tire. A flat tire is the most common incident during a long-distance trip.
3. Don't bring too much luggage. Just bring clothes for a two-day trip and a raincoat. If you have to bring a lot of things, mail them. Make sure that you don't bring too much cash in your wallet. You can always find ATMs in big cities and towns along the way.
4. Wear a full-face helmet, a mask and gloves.
5. Wear a bright-colored, spotlighted jacket with body protector and jeans underneath. It's better to wear touring pants. Don't wear tight underwear.
6. Make sure you wear boots or sports shoes that cover your ankles.
7. It's safer to make a stop at gas stations. These are also good places to meet other vacationers on motorcycles with whom you can share the rest of the trip.
8. Night is the best time to make the trip because the traffic is lighter. Don't force yourself to go through the rain. You have to be fit for the trip back again."
If you can pull it off, sign up with a tour company that will haul all of your baggage for you. And if you're an American, check with the State Dept before heading out of the country.
Motorcycle Hearse
Carlisle, PA- From Alexis Castorina of www.cumberlink.com-
Biker Burials
Biker Burials of Wrightsville, PA, uses a custom-built sidecar attached to a 2003 Harley-Davidson Anniversary Edition RoadKing to carry the coffin. Al Skinner has been operating the business for almost four years and has been involved in about 100 funerals. Is this a great country, or what?
