Nov 2010 TN.indd

TOURING NEWS
1
GWTA National Office: P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242 - Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm EST
Toll Free: 800-960-4982 Local: 317-243-6822 Fax: 317-243-6833 [email protected] [email protected]
Chapter Listings and additional info can be found online at: www.GWTA.org www.gotmotorcycle.org www.goldrushrally.org
Executive Director
Chairman of the Board
Bruce & Linda Keenon
P.O. Box 348, Huntington, IN 46750
[email protected]; 260-358-0851; Fax 260-356-3392
Ed Davis
1395 Sanborn Road, Yuba City, CA 95993
[email protected]; 530-673-7451
National Event Coordinator
Life Member Board Representative
Tony & Diane Manry
P.O. Box 469, Van Buren, IN 46991
[email protected]; 765-934-4696
Webmaster
John Hunrath
9265 Amarone Way, Sacramento, CA 95829
[email protected]; 916-682-0734
Rider Education Director
Don & Judy Coons
P.O. Box 1164, Rogue River, OR 97537
[email protected]; 541-582-1403
Education and Retention Director
Mike & Carol Brush
12516 Poppleton Ave., Omaha, NE 68144
[email protected]; 402-397-4663
Helping Hands Director
Dennis & Nancy Seery
902 Greenfield Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37128
[email protected]; 615-542-4935
Region A
www.gwtaregiona.org
Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho,
Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Region Director: JR & Lindy Phillips
960 Ebony Pl., Camano Island, WA 98282
[email protected]; 360-387-3523
Board Representative: Ray & Floramie Phillips
14425 59th Ave. South, Tukwila, WA 98168
[email protected]; 206-277-0962
Region B
Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah
Region Director: Steve & Ralphine Andrus
2108 Lighthouse Dr., Fairfield, CA 94534
[email protected]; 707-429-9547
[email protected]
Board Representative: Charles Horner
P.O. Box 230, Shingletown, CA 96088
[email protected]; 530-474-4291
Region C
www.gwta-c.com
Illinois, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin
Region Director: Rick & Kandie Hinrichs
12215 Signal Drive, Omaha, NE 68137
[email protected]; 402-578-2368
Board Representative: Dave Telford
2114 S. 88th St., Omaha, NE 68124
[email protected]; 402-699-1964
2
Tom & Barb Johnson
401 Lincoln St., Bartelso, IL 62218
[email protected]; 618-765-2661
Region D
http://geocities.com/gwtaregiond
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Region Director: George & Debbie Deskins
3330 Edmondson Ct. Murfreesboro, TN 37129
[email protected]; 615-459-4418
Board Representative: Jim & Karen Quinn
1368 Jason Circle, Ashland City, TN 37915
[email protected]; 615-792-0546
Region E
www.gwtaregione.homestead.com
Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Texas
Region Director: Tommy & Aileen Dossey
1339 Cummings Lane, Texarkana, TX 75501
[email protected]; 903-831-4686
Board Representative: Chuck Gibbs
233 Judson St., Longmont, CO 80501
Region F
www.gwtaregionf.org
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Region Director: Pat & Marie Beaudoin
39433 Marne Ave., Sterling Heights, MI 48313
[email protected]; 586-532-7724
Board Representative: Ronnie and Kathe Vaughn
100 Ohio Street, Somerset, KY 42501
[email protected]; 606-872-7228
Region H
www.regionhgwta.org
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Region Director: Phil & Sue Rueger
100 Allyndale Road, Canaan, CT 06018
[email protected]; 860-824-0005
Board Representative: Dennis & Darlene Farnum
75 Farnum Lane, Sebago, ME 04029
[email protected]; 207-787-3435
Region J
www.gwtaregionj.com
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario
Region Director: Kevin Welch
169 Holmes Ave., North York, ON M2N 4M7 Canada
[email protected]; 416-229-9378
Board Representative: Garrie & Eleanor Wayne
147 Wellington St. West Apt. 714, Aurora, ON L4G 3M1 Canada
[email protected]; 905-727-5272
NOVEMBER 2010
In Every Issue
Biker Billy
Event Calendar
Gold Rush XXIV Registration
GWTA Business Members
GWTA Contact Information
New Member Listing
13-14
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7
8
2
8
Advertiser Listing
GWTA Departments
Board of Directors
Education & Retention
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4
Features
Add On Accessories Product Release
Life in the Days of a Biker
Region H Highlights
USPS Statement of Ownership
Wreaths Across America
Yellow is Red or Green
Send articles, photos & changes to:
Touring News Magazine, P.O. Box 42403
Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403
Email: [email protected]
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6
10-11
16
9
15
Add-On Accessories
AIM
Americade
American Motorcycle Accessories
Baker Built
Big Bike Parts
Biker Billy
Cartier Marketing
Chapel Australian Bike Tours
CIMA International
Diamond Gusset
Electrical Connection
Lees-ure Lite
Markel American Insurance Co.
Neosho Fiberglass
RoadRUNNER
Ultimate Motorcycling
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12
5
19
18
14
13
16
5
15
18
18
19
20
19
4
15
Holiday Gift Guide
American Motorcycle Accessories,
Baker Built, Diamond Gusset,
Electrical Connection, Lees-ure Lite,
Neosho Fiberglass
Canadian members: Beginning April 1, 2009 an additional
payment is required annually in order to receive Touring News
Magazine in the mail. This additional fee exclusively covers the
extra postage required to mail Touring News to Canada.
Touring News is published online 12 times per year and in print 4 times per year for Gold Wing Touring Association (GWTA) in the United
States of America. The known office of publication is GWTA, 2415 Directors Row, Suite K, Indianapolis, IN 46241. $15 of the annual
membership dues go toward a one-year subscription to GWTA’s Touring News Magazine; however, the subscription cannot be deducted
from dues. Postmaster: Send address changes to: GWTA, P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403. Periodicals postage paid in
Indianapolis, Indiana and at additional mailing offices.
TOURING NEWS
3
As many of you know from having attended any of our education seminars, we like to talk about things that concern our chapters.
One thing that we have talked about is the chapter treasury. If anyone has recently gone to a bank to open a checking account, you
know that you must present a tax id number. No ifs, ands, or buts – a valid tax id number must be presented, or no checking account.
An issue that comes up occasionally is one related to using an EIN – Employer Identification Number – as a tax id number to use on
checking accounts.
In the past, we have suggested that chapters, or states, or even regions, should protect themselves by registering their chapter (or
state or region) with their state as a social chapter of a not-for-profit organization, in order to then apply with the IRS for a tax ID number.
The reasoning is that having a tax id number will protect both the chapter as well as the treasurer from any potential problems with tax
consequences – rather than running the risk of a treasurer using their personal social security number. After all, if a treasury amasses
more than $5,000 in the treasury, it is reported to the IRS – at least that’s what we’ve been told.
It is a difficult process to go through, certainly. It takes time, and filling out forms, and then waiting to hear, first back from the state,
and then applying with the IRS, and then when you finally receive your tax id number, you can go to the bank to open a checking account.
However, there’s a troubling aspect to this that we were unaware of until we sat in on the Q&A session at Goldrush a couple years
ago. It turns out that if you register your chapter with the state and with the IRS, you in effect are declaring your independence from
GWTA. In that circumstance, the liability insurance that covers the chapter no longer applies. Now – the liability insurance that protects
each of us because we are a GWTA member is still in effect, but the liability insurance protecting the chapter is not.
Thus, the advice that came out of this session was to open the checking account for your chapter, state or region using the social
security number of either the chapter director or the treasurer. Make sure it is a non-interest bearing checking account. Consider a twoparty signature system. Then, every year when the chapter director
and/or treasurer changes, close out the checking account, have
the records audited to make sure the balances are accurate, and
then re-open another checking account with the new treasurer’s
or chapter director’s SSN. Repeat this process as needed.
While it is somewhat of a hassle to close and re-open the
checking account, it might be worth the trouble to ensure your
chapter, state or region has the protection of the group liability
insurance. However, if you feel the risk higher that the treasury
could experience problems with someone’s personal SSN involved
(in the case of extremely high balances), then your chapter might
want to pursue getting an independent tax id number established.
Under no circumstances should GWTA’s EIN number be used for
your chapter, state or region. You must take steps to acquire your
own EIN number. Again, this is not a practice we would encourage.
As everyone in GWTA should know, the chapters are not governed
by anything other than the by-laws of the association, and can make
their own decisions regarding their treasury. We just wanted to
make sure that it was an informed decision.
Yours in friendship,
Carol and Mike Brush
12516 Poppleton Ave
Omaha, NE 68144
[email protected]
4
NOVEMBER 2010
Plan Your
Motorcycle Vacation in 2011 at
REGION A
Chehalis Veterans Memorial Museum 3rd Annual Poker Run.
Chehalis, WA. June 4, 2011. $20 entry fee for poker hand drawing.
50/50 split. Doorprizes, free water, coffee and cookies. Rest rooms
and gift shop available. Check in 9-11 a.m., return no later than
4 p.m. Door prize drawings start at 4 p.m. Contact MCPO Pete
Slempa at [email protected] for more info.
REGION B
Toy & Poker Run. Les Schwab Tire Center, Woodland, CA. November
7, 2010. Sponsored by Chapter V, Woodland Roadrunners. Contact
John Hunrath at [email protected] or 916-692-0734 for more
info.
Veterans Day Parade. Marysville, CA. November 11, 2010.
Sponsored by Chapter T, Tri-County Travelers. Contact Dennis
Rogers at [email protected] or 530-682-0529.
Chapter L Support Our Troops Run. Southern California. November
14, 2010.
Arizona F Troop Annual Breakfast Fundraiser. Queen Creek, AZ.
November 20, 2010. Biscuits & gravy, eggs, sausage, pancakes
and drinks. $5 for breakfast and silent auction bidding number.
Games, Silent Auction, Door Prizes, 50/50 drawing. Proceeds
benefit Arizona Blankets 4 Kids. Event begins at 8am at the Stout
residence, 20402 E. Ryan Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85242.
Chapter B Parade of Toys. Santa Rosa to Sonoma, CA. November
21, 2010. Contact Tom Garske at [email protected] or 707933-9799 for more info.
World’s Largest Touring Rally
June 7-11
Lake George, NY
www.americade.com
518-798-7888
On the Cover...
Here is a picture I took at Gold Rush along the Chief Joseph Hwy
in Wyoming. I went on the Friendship Ride with the folks from
Beartooth Harley. The group went part way up the Beartooth
Hwy, stopped for a break and headed back for Billings. I decided
to continue on by myself and do the entire Beartooth loop which
is when this photo opportunity occurred. Hope you like it.
Joe Leon
Auburn Valley Wings
Auburn, Washington
TOURING NEWS
5
A Life in the Days of a Biker
by Dave Norton, Secretary/Treasurer, GWTA Region A Chapter M, Mountain Valley Riders
Part 5: Benly Rocks!
In 1963 the devastation of a badly broken heart led me to overcook a creek crossing on the Trail 50, sliding into a tree and crumpling
the sheet metal forks. The repaired bike went to brother Dan and it was time to move up to a real motorcycle, the Honda 150 Benly
Touring. What a beauty, 16.5 hp at 10,500 rpm, all shiny sweepy black bodywork, chrome accents and whitewall tires. Definitely a
Meet-the-Nicest-People-on-a-Honda sort of bike. While Russ was back at school, Buddy Jim Hill had worn out his 125 Bridgestone by
then and bought a matching one.
Photo: Jim Hill
Photo: Dave Norton
The overriding mental picture of our rides then featured Bell shorty helmets with snap-on bubble shields, with the bottom stuffed
full of scarves and rags to keep out the winter cold. I have no idea how I managed to see at all as the early morning fog made my
glasses all but opaque. This won’t do. My Dad’s Harley had a nice windshield, so I added one to the Benly. In those days windshields
were mounted to the handlebars rather than the frame. They don’t do that now. We’re about to learn why. On the first test ride all
went well up to 60 mph when the dreaded gollywobble set in. A divergent oscilation, the amplitude increasing with each cycle. I did
manage to horse it back down, and went back and found a series rubber skidmarks on the street caused by the front wheel skidding
first right then left, for 50 feet or so. A slight adjustment of the angle fixed it, but fear of a recurrence had it benched for the duration.
On an early ride home from the Times Grand Prix at Riverside I was pacing friend Larry’s new MGB. We left a light together and in
the middle of third gear I realized we were racing. I wound it tight to 10-5 and bang-shifted it up into…SECOND to the sound of a zillion
revs and a skidding rear tire! It turns out Honda had changed the shift pattern between the 50 and later bikes, a fact that eluded me
in the heat of battle! No harm done, amazingly. Tough little motor!
They say God watches over fools and children, and sure enough when a front tire burst on Jim’s Benly at 70 on a long downhill he
somehow managed to rein it in safely. On another ride we were caught south of Mojave CA in a terrible sandstorm, with a wicked
cross-wind forcing us slower and slower. At about 25 a gust pushed both bikes off the road and into the bushes, ending the ride for
that day. The closest thing to shelter was a ravine into which we pushed our bikes and tied a tarp between them. We curled up in
our sleeping bags and spent a miserable night in the howling wind and sand. In the morning we literally poured sand out of our ears,
packed up and continued on.
Three of us shared an apartment in the small town of Belmont Shore, CA, right next to a tidal flat where dirt bikers would gather for
impromptu races. It was run-what-ya-brung racing every Saturday. No rules, no classes, with a course a mix of flat-track and TT. Now
a 150 Benly is definitely NOT a dirt bike: more weight than torque, lots of expensive bodywork, peaky motor, and a good honest 1-3/4”
of suspension travel unimpeded by any significant damping, But, it was fun putzing around the track.
Well, as time went on, I began “improving” the Benly: Dunlop Trials Universal tires, pitch the front fender, lose the high-rise handlebars
in favor of a set of longhorns, dump the whisper-pipes for those sexy cross-over scrambler pipes, with Snuff-or Nots to let the neighbors
sleep. Oh what a mellow thrumming note they produced! But the stopwatch showed the open scrambler pipes made the bike slower,
no top end. So, I found that Pep Boys VW exhaust tips would hose-clamp right on to the Honda down-pipes where the stock mufflers
attached. Great top end, but no torque. Hmmm, perhaps those Japanese engineers weren’t so dumb.
The high point in my Benly racing career came after out running a real 250 Scrambler on the track by sheer force of youthful ignorance.
The defeated rider came over after and said “Kid, you got some hair!” That remains one of the most sincere and favorite compliments
before or since. Dirt-tracking the Benly ended shortly after when I got off on the high side, the rubber foot peg got torn off and the ½”
steel rod whanged my thigh right to the bone, filling my riding boot with blood. In the clinic the young doctor did his best to dissuade
me from similar silliness by scrubbing the wound with lye soap (I swear!) and a bristle brush, and punctuating his lecture with an extra
tug on the suture: Young man don’t you EVER do such a DUMB trick like THAT again…
To be continued…
Next installment: Santa Rides a Honda!
6
NOVEMBER 2010
Gold Rush XXIV: July 25-28, 2011
Boyne Mt.
Boyne Falls, MI
Boyne Mountain Resort
Room Type
Room Rates
Area Campgrounds
Edelweiss
$ 69.00
Chandler Hill Campground 231-549-7878
Clock Tower & Mountain Bedroom
$ 89.00
Whiting Park
231-582-7040
Mountain Villa-One Bedroom
$ 126.00
Young
State
Park
1-800-447-2757
Mountain Grand Lodge-Queen
$ 131.00
East Jordan Campground
231-536-2561
Moutain Grand Lodge-Parlor
$ 131.00
Disciples Ridge-Two Bedroom w/Loft
$ 222.00
Creekside-Four Bedroom w/Hot Tube
$ 330.00
*A hotel reservation form can be obtained at www.gwta.org..
You must mail or fax your hotel reservation to the information listed on the form.
Circle appropriate codes after name: A=Adult, C=Under 16, R=Rider, P=Passenger. Use name wanted on ID
Name ( A C R P )__________________________Name ( A C R P ) __________________________
Name ( A C R P )__________________________Name ( A C R P ) __________________________
Address_______________________City_____________State/Province_____ Zip/Postal_________
GWTA Chapter/St./Pr._______________ Membership #__________ Other AffiliaE-mail_________________________Will you use:
Motel
Campground
Other
GWTA MEMBER Registration before 3/1/2011
Non Member Registration and registration after 7/1/2011
Add Welcome Dinner ; Sunday, July 24th
$50
$60
$15
x
x
x
$12
x
= $
x
= $
Total $
Children under 16 free (not eligible for drawing)
Gold Rush XXIV T-Shirts
Welcome Dinner will be Sunday July 24th, at the
Boyne Mt. Resort (Host Hotel). Time TBA
= $
= $
= $
T-shirt Pre-order
GR
XXIV
Pre
Order
T-shirts
Qty
Size
SM
MD
LG
XL
2XL
3XL
4XL
Visa/Mastercard/Amex #_________________________________________Expiration Date_______
Billing Address____________________________Billing Zip Code __________CVV2 Code_______
Cardholder Signature______________________________________________________________
Make checks and money orders, US funds, payable to: GWTA
Refunds must be received in writing before July 1, 2011. No refunds will be issued without
written notice. Confirmation postcards will be mailed for all registrations received at the
Office. If you have not received a confirmation postcard contact the office before the next
cut off date!! Please Note: Confirmation emails from online orders are not sent from the
office and do not confirm that your registration was received and processed.
TOURING NEWS
1-800-960-GWTA (4982)
www.gwta.org
7
State City
CO
IA
IA
KS
MI
MI
MI
MI
NE
NJ
OH
ON
ON
ON
ON
PA
PA
PA
WA
WI
Longmont
Harlan
W. Des Moines
Basehor
Rochester Hills
Boyne City
Oak Park
Rochester
Bellevue
Garwood
Dayton
Pickering
Scarborough
Waterloo
Midland
Slatington
Wescosville
Slatington
Woodinville
Freedom
Last Name
Nelson
Vogt
Osburn
Skinner, Sr.
Delaney
Russold
Green
Johnson
Kennedy
Adamson
Bowersock
Burke
Lloyd
Lemieux
Bissette
Holland
Everett
Christman
Degel
McKenna
First Name
Grant
Melvin & Linda
Terry & Bernadette
Charles & Debra
Paul & Carol
Tracy & Wolfgang
Larry & Arlene
Jeff & Jo
Robert & Barb Wright
Ronald & Melissa
Stephen & Angela
Jeramy
James
Pat
Dave
Warren & Carol Achey
Ken & Mary
Dennis & Susanne
Dave & Katherine
Henry & Julie
Add On Accessories
www.addonaccessories.net
AIM
www.ON-A-BIKE.com
Americade
www.tourexpo.com
Baker Built Air Wings
www.bakerbuilt.com
Big Bike Parts
www.bigbikeparts.com
Chapel Australian Bike Tours
www.chapelaustralianbiketours.com
Everett Powersports
www.everettpowersports.com
Markel American Insurance Co.
www.GWTAInsurance.com
Neosho Fiberglass
www.neoshotrailers.com
Road Runner Magazine
www.RoadRUNNER.travel
Stop & Go
www.stopngo.com
The position of Life Member Representative on the Board of Directors (BOD) will be vacant when Barb Johnson fills the position
of Chairman of the Board (COB) on January 1, 2011. The BOD will meet via telephone conference at the start of the new year,
2011, to discuss the appointment of a Life Member to finish out the remainder of Barb’s term.
If you have an interest in assisting the association by volunteering your time and talents as a board member please submit your
name by December 1st to Barb Johnson, COB-elect, at [email protected]. Please include a brief summary of your
time with GWTA and a statement of what motivated you to apply for a position on the board. Your information will be forwarded
to the current board members prior to the phone conference. They have been asked to respect your privacy and refrain from
forwarding the information. The board will review and discuss all applications before appointing someone to complete Barb’s
term. This term will end on December 31, 2011.
This process is in accordance with Article V, 5.11 VACANCIES; If the term of the vacated seat is less than one year, that vacancy
shall be filled by Board appointment.
8
NOVEMBER 2010
TOURING NEWS
9
Maine - The Way Life
If you are looking or are in need of a refreshing R & R, then come on up to Maine and enjoy the Spectacular Scenery, Delicious
Food and Friendly People. You will be heading in the right direction.
Here you will find yourself surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful Mount Katahdin (5268 ft – highest pt in Maine)
located in Baxter State Park. Just head North and keep on going up Interstate 295 to 95 – Unfortunately they don’t allow motorcycles
in the park because of the terrain and wild life but there are motels and camping grounds surrounding the area- definitely worth your
while and who knows you will most definitely see a moose and or a bear taking a daily bath in Chimney Pond because , of course, this
is their home and you are their guests!!
About four hours from Portland heading East of Bangor is Arcadia National Park tucked around Mount Dessert Island and
Schoodic Point and of course the famous Bar Harbor. This is truly where the sea meets the land and with music to fill your heart and
soul. SO VERY quiet yet so powerful that you leave with a quiet calm and awesome wonder of what God has created. There are really
no words to explain the fullness and peace one gets when there is nothing between you and the wide open sky and the winding road
ahead on your bike feeling sense of freedom and awe!!
What about the beautiful ride up through Route 1 winding around the coast line through fishing villages like Boothbay Harbor
home of The Lobsterman’s Co-OP where you can get a huge Fisherman’s Platter with all the fixings including a baked potato with sour
cream, corn on the cob, a lobster of your choice surrounded by clams &scallops & haddock and mounded w/ those crisp onions rings
and Maine Shrimp on the sides of your plate- almost requiring sideboards surrounding the platter!! Don’t forget that volcano of a
homemade strawberry short cake with freshly picked field strawberries and mounded with whip cream of course!! Or, do you choose
freshly picked blueberries instead of strawberries. Too many decisions to make!! Of course while you are in Maine calories don’t count
because everything is natural.
A stop in Maine is just not complete without a side trip to Freeport, of course, the home of the famous LL Bean. The only indoor
ground trout pond that is allowed in the world, as we understand this to be true, but may stand corrected on this statement. LL Bean
just speaks for itself always expanding and encouraging Maine quality products and integrity. Just a great place to shop and get lost for
the day not only @ Bean’s but other surrounding shops as well. Only a short distance from Bean’s is a place called Wolf’s Neck Farm
where they are famous for their organic produce and raise cattle & beef-a-lo- not to mention, the surrounding Casco Bay Islands, where
you can do as much or as little as one wishes.
If the sea shore and fishing villages get boring just ride up Route 302, over to the neighboring mountains of New Hampshire where
Mount Washington ( 6288 FT- highest point in NH) reports the coldest and harshest conditions on the East Coast and rim ice grow
several feet thick. But, the ride up to the summit in the SPRING is so well worth the wait as is the awesome FALL season. The forever
magnificent color changes in the foliage, not to mention the winding roads where at times your pedal will definitely hit the pavement
and you can come around the corner and say “Howdy Neighbor” nothing like the NEW ENGLAND AIR.
YES THE WAY LIFE IS IN NEW ENGLAND
See YA ROUND the Corner!
Dennis & Darlene Farnum
Region H - BOD- MAINE
10
NOVEMBER 2010
2010 Region H Rally Pics
TOURING NEWS
11
Product Release - XTREME LED FOG LIGHTS
These driving fog lights take LED lights to the extreme. Each light contains 8 one watt LEDs,
the largest LED fog light on the market making it four times brighter than regular LEDs.
The lights are waterproof and adding extra road lighting for safety. Measures 6 3/16” W
x 1 ¾” D x ¾” H. The lights are bright enough to be used as daytime running
lights and have low power consumption with optimal light output. The light has a universal
adjustable mounting bracket to allow a variety of options for installing. Sold in pairs and
includes wiring, instructions and light switch.
www.addonaccessories.net
12
NOVEMBER 2010
Shifting Gears
Unless you have an automatic, a rare bird in motorcycling, shifting gears is a constant part of riding. Shift up, shift down, row those
gears and keep the motor in the power band—then you are always ready to respond to changes in traffic. Being prepared to respond
to changing conditions is part of both the challenge and excitement of riding a motorcycle, and it is in the ability to effectively respond
to change that our greatest advantage is found. As any experienced rider knows, traffic is only one of many shifting challenges that we
must contend with—there’s also road surfaces, speed zones, unexpected debris, contours of the land, and fickle weather. Then there
are the changes that occur on a longer cyclical basis; while these are more predictable than, say, finding a retread carcass in your path,
they can still surprise you if you let them.
Seasons come and seasons go, and each has its own unique requirements in terms of riding gear. If you ride beyond the peak warm
season, you will probably need to make changes of gear during the course of any long day’s ride. While it is true that summer (or, for
that matter, winter) rides can call for changes of gear, fall and spring days are truly the gear-shifting seasons. Turn that day ride into a
weekend excursion, and the potential changes of gear can become dramatic. Over the past few weeks this has become very apparent to
me again. One would think that with a few decades of riding under my saddle, I would have made the shift automatically. No such luck.
Years ago, living in the snow belt of New Jersey, it always seemed that the cooler weather came on like throwing a light switch.
One day you walked outside and—ouch—it was markedly
cooler and you got the very clear message that things had
changed. However, where I live in the southern Appalachian
Mountains, the shifting seasons are much more subtle, more
like a constant-velocity transmission than a standard shift.
While it may feel just fine to walk the dog in shorts and a
t-shirt, enjoying the sunshine and gentle mountain breezes, it is
another thing entirely to go riding. Last week my three-season
perforated-leather jacket was still hot riding all day in it; the
other day it felt great when I started, but by the time I got home
it was feeling a little too air-conditioned. (OK, it was actually
cold.) Along the way I stopped to add a layer, only to find that
my cool-weather gear was not in the saddlebags. Standing at
a scenic mountaintop pullout, I remembered removing all that
stuff a few weekends ago for some early Christmas shopping
at some of our favorite little touristy shops.
What had been good planning for a late-summer ride
through the mountains, with lunch and shopping as a
destination, had shifted into poor planning for an early-fall ride
into higher elevations. Luckily, a refolded map placed between
the jacket perforations and me cut the cold breeze enough to
get home—old-fashioned paper maps can’t give you turn-byturn directions or instantly reroute you if you miss a street
the way GPS units do, but they cover a lot more frozen biker
than a three-inch LCD screen will. That day it seemed as if the
seasons had short-shifted on me, but then the next day was
80 degrees and shorts weather again. Well, that is nature after
all: she is a fickle woman and you are wise to not fool with her.
Now the bike is repacked with the correct gear to handle any
seasonal shift in the weather. Of course, this means I couldn’t
bring home much of anything from the store if I wanted to.
TOURING NEWS
13
There is maybe just enough room for a container of broccoli in spicy garlic sauce, but I will tell you another time why I will never put that
in my saddlebags again. As 2010 slowly shifts from prime riding season into fall foliage, then downshifts again into winter, I am ready
to respond to the changes in temperature. Gear-wise at least. But I also have to shift my riding technique and my hazard alertness. The
ranks of lumbering RVs and spandex-clad bicyclists are thinning, but wet leaves and the dreaded black ice will soon replace them. And
somewhere in between that shift will be the leaf lookers, driving around with their eyes, and minds, in the trees. So as the seasons and
the hazards shift, keep your eyes on the road and traffic and your bike in the power band.
Deal’s Gap Slayer Corn Bread
1 stick butter
2 boxes Jiffy brand corn bread mix
2 large eggs
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1 (8-ounce) can creamed corn
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place the butter in a 9x9x2-inch nonstick baking dish (I prefer my 10-inch cast-iron skillet) and put it in the oven to melt.
While the butter is melting, combine the corn bread mix, eggs, sour cream, and creamed corn in a large mixing bowl. Mix together
until well blended.
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the mixture on top of the melted butter. Return it to the oven and bake for
approximately 30 minutes or until brown on top. To test for doneness, insert a fork in the middle; if it comes out clean, the corn bread
is done.
Serve immediately—it is best if eaten warm.
Makes about 12 servings.
Column copyright Bill Hufnagle 2010. Recipe reprinted with permission from “Biker Billy’s Roadhouse Cookbook”, published by The
Globe Pequot Press, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437 Copyright © 2009 by Bill Hufnagle
14
NOVEMBER 2010
Yellow Is Red Or Green
(I’d Rather Be Red Than Dead)
By: James R. Davis
City traffic lights, you would think, are pretty simple devices. They
are, after all, only three different colored lights with some switches
and timers. And while red and green are obvious, you’d think that
the meaning of the yellow light wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to
figure out.
I could be wrong, of course. (Most intersection accidents seem to
happen in relation to that light.)
I intend to help humanity with this rather simple article. I would
like to take any confusion regarding the yellow light away with a
concept so obvious that it probably is already known to all:
· Yellow is either Red or Green
In other words, the yellow light either means stop or go. Now all
we have to figure out is when it means stop and when it means
go. (grin)
When you notice that a light is yellow and if you are able to stop
before entering the intersection, yellow means ‘stop’. At all other
times yellow means ‘go, but use caution’. Please note that a yellow
light NEVER means ‘speed up’. Please also note that a green light
ALSO means ‘go, but use caution’!!!
So now YOU know the rules, but you should assume that nobody
else does. In other words, when you are waiting for a light to turn
green, after it does you should assume that someone is going to be
in the intersection trying to stretch out the yellow as it turns red.
A head check is absolutely critical before entering an intersection
when your light turns green.
Copyright © 1992 - 2010 by The Master Strategy Group, all rights
reserved. http://www.msgroup.org
(James R. Davis is a recognized expert witness in the fields of
Motorcycle Safety/Dynamics.)
TOURING NEWS
15
16
NOVEMBER 2010
Knoxville, Tennessee. (October 12, 2010) - Electrical Connection
announced the release of a 10 watt LED auxiliary light kit for the
Honda GL1800. The plug and play kit features machined aluminum
housings, a genuine Honda switch, and laser cut stainless steel
mounts. The LED lights draw less than one amp total and feature a
5000k color rendering. Suggested retail price is $229.95. Available
through Electrical Connection dealers worldwide.
Barton Bright, a GL1800 owner that did beta testing had this to
say of the kit: “The more I use them, the more I like them.” “If
you’re thinking about upgrading or installing some cowl mounted
lights, I would seriously consider these. With their low power draw,
light output and top-notch design, these lights would be a good
investment.”
Electrical Connection is a manufacturer of lighting, electrical, audio
and specialty products to meet the demands of today’s motorcycle
rider. Safety, functionality, and ease of installation have been the
driving force behind the company since 1994.
18
NOVEMBER 2010
Lees-ure Lite tent trailers have been designed for touring
motorcycles. Three things customers look for are “Ease of setup”,“Quality workmanship & customer service” & “Affordable
pricing” and we have them all. Many options & upgrades are
available and can be added after the original purchase. For
more info call toll free 1-800-660-0933 or check our web site at
www.tent-trailer.com
My wife and I are extremely pleased with both the product and
our dealings with Lees-ure Lite. I have never purchased anything
this expensive sight unseen before and it was reassuring to be able
to talk with people that actually cared about our satisfaction....
Dave, Yorkton, SK
I absolutely LOVE my new Excel trailer....Helen, Calgary, AB
The camper was all we expected plus more and trailer pulled
just as you said and was a breeze to set up....Tom, Surprise, AZ
The trailer and I have been in 40 MPH wind and rain and even
snow and it keeps me high and dry. I love it....Bob, Barstow, CA
TOURING NEWS
19
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