Really?!?!?!
I have not even thought of this yet. I typically ride until mid-December and as often as there are nice days in the winter, but I live in Virginia with mild winter weather (most of the time). Yet I have seen a lot of stores with Christmas decorations and associated stuff for sale already so there maybe something to this.
Fox News’ website has an article on what to consider for storing your bike this winter.
Me…..Debbie and I are going to ride a bit longer!
A fellow blogger recently had an accident riding Route 66 while on holiday. Roy is from the United Kingdom and put a lot of effort into this trip. Luckily Roy had bought travel insurance, just in case and was “covered”. But, from my point of view, the use of the travel insurance was much harder than I would have expected.
You can read about Roy’s preparations for and the ride on Route 66 here.
You can read about his experience with travel insurance complications here.
Based on what I have read about Roy’s experience and my own, limited, international travel I have a few recommendations.
Victory Cross Country
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA) has directed a recall on “certain Lock & Ride accessory passenger backrests, part numbers 2877938 (chrome) and 2877938-266 (black) for use on Cross Country, Cross Country Touring, Cross Country 8-ball, Cross Country Touring, and Hardball motorcycles”. If you have one of these parts for a 2010-2013 bike contact Victory (the number is below) According to the NTHSA recall 13,709 parts are affected.
Here is the recall issued by the NTHA (it is quite a ways down the page do a search for Victory):
Summary:
Polaris is recalling certain Lock & Ride accessory passenger backrests, part numbers 2877938 (chrome) and 2877938-266 (black) for use on Cross Country, Cross Country Touring, Cross Country 8-ball, Cross Country Touring, and Hardball motorcycles. If a passenger backrest has, or has had, a luggage rack attached to it, part numbers 2877950 or 2877950-266, the backrest can fail due to the additional load of the luggage rack
Consequence:
If the passenger backrest fails while the motorcycle is in motion, it may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will mail a recall notice to all registered owners of any 2010 through 2013 Victory Cross Roads, Cross Country, Cross Country Tour, and Hard Ball motorcycles. If they have, or have had, an affected passenger backrest/luggage rack combination installed on their motorcycle, the backrest and luggage rack will be replaced, free of charge. Polaris will mail an interim letter to owners in September 2013. Owners will be mailed a follow up notification in Spring 2014, when parts are expected to be available, so they may schedule the repairs. Owners may contact Polaris at 1-888-704-5290
Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov
No really…. There is a recall on training wheels!
If your child rides a Honda XR/CRF 50, Kawasaki KDX/Suzuki JR 50, KTM 50, Suzuki DRZ 70, Yamaha PW50 or Yamaha TTR 50 with “Moose Racing” training wheels from Cambridge Metal and Plastics you need to check the recall.
See I told you training wheels 😉
The ride occurred, as you know, yesterday amid controversy.
While I did not participate I did watch the TV news coverage throughout the day. I was quite dismayed by the reporting early in the day. Several of the local DC news stations continually portrayed the event as “angry” (showing one of the organizers, mid-sentence, saying he was angry but with no context), and “anti-Muslim” (the reporter making that statement juxtaposed with a biker wearing a Confederate flag patch).
BUT, as the day went on there was a surprising twist to the reporting. Angry and Muslim was dropped nearly completely replaced by “patriotic”. By the end of day, the reporting was much like this from ABC Channel 7. Read in the change in reporting tone what you will.
There are a couple of bike events taking place in York this month.
First is the Harley Davidson York Vehicle Operations Open House the 19th-21st. The York plant assembles the Softail, Touring, CVO and Trike motorcycles and the open house allow you to conduct a self-escorted tour of the operations. You can see the bikes being birthed (the VIN # applied to the frame) to rolling out the door. The plant open house is different from the Steel Toe Tour (which I have not done) in that there is no charge, it is unescorted and you do not get the swag.
I visited the open house two years ago and it was a cool event. In addition to the walk through of the plant there were demo bikes available to ride and a bunch of the nearby dealerships had setup merchandise tents on the plant’s grounds. I am considering going again this year. The open house has been a “Pin Stop” for HOG members in the past.
The other event is the White Rose Thunder Motorcycle Event. The event has bike shows, vendors, stunt teams, motorcycle racing, a bike night, concerts, swap meet and many other activities. I have never attended this event, if you are interested take a look at the website.
Permit or not it is happening.
FOX 5 TV has covered the ride on their website. The still pictures are the riders outside of Fort Washington Harley Davidson, which is just outside Washington DC.
The Facebook page for the rides sponsor, 2 Million Bikers to DC, is also being updated.
Vinnie DiMartino
Vinnie DiMartino was an integral part of rise of motorcycle TV. He was on American Chopper and Orange County Choppers: Senior vs. Jr and was a great “character” to both shows.
I have always been interested in what was going on around Vinnie and this article explains what he has been doing post Senior vs. Junior.
Spider or a Spyder
Can-AM is having problem where a break master cylinder melts and break fluid leaks onto a hot surface causing a fire. According to what I read no one has been hurt but better safe then sorry!
Here is a link to Can-AM’s notification webpage.
The HOG life
After doing the math it was cheaper in the long run to join as a HOG life member.
I have no idea where I would wear the pendent/medal, guess I will put it in my dealer/event pin collection. The patch I will put on my biker/pirate vest. 😉
The benefits of a life member are the same as a full member except I get the pin and patch… Oh, and do not have to pay the annual fees again.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 