By Steven M. Bialick, Attorney, www.MotorcycleAccident.com

When planning a road trip, it's a good idea to check your motorcycle insurance coverages before you leave. The following are some things that should be checked:

--The policy period dates, to confirm that the insurance on your motorcycle is in effect when you're on the trip.

--The policy limits of your liability coverage. This coverage is available for claims against you if you're at-fault for an accident. You should determine if the policy limits are adequate for your needs.

--Collision and Comprehensive coverages. These coverages are available for damage to your motorcycle, regardless of fault. You should check to see if you have these insurance coverages on your motorcycle and if the policy limits and deductibles are acceptable to you.

--Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverages. These coverages might be available if an Uninsured, Hit-And-Run, or Underinsured vehicle causes an accident that injures you. You should check to see if you have Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverages in you motorcycle insurance policy and if the policy limits are sufficient.

--Medical benefits. This coverage is available to pay your medical bills if you're injured in an accident. You should check to see if you have this coverage in your motorcycle insurance policy and what the policy limit is for this coverage.

You should also bring evidence of your insurance coverage with you on a road trip.

Then, have a great trip!

Steven M. Bialick has been in the private practice of law since 1980.  He practices in the areas of accident and personal injury law.  This article is intended to provide general information only, and is not legal advice or a legal opinion on any certain facts or circumstances.  Readers are encouraged to consult with an attorney on any specific legal questions or matters.

GO FAST…….STOP FAST!

With three different brake pad compositions, Lyndall racing Brakes has a pad for all applications and riding styles. The Z-Formula pads seen here are for stock tire, stock chassis, and stock horsepower motorcycle applications. The Z-Pad  compound provides as much stopping torque as the stock equipment can handle. Lyndall Z-Pads are a directly bolt on replacement for the original equipment. Z-Pads are the most rotor friendly brake pad available. With 20% more stopping power that the stock brakes pad, and a service life of 18,000 miles, Z-pads produces no dust and no noise. The difference will be felt with the first brake application. See your local Lyndall Racing Brake dealer or contact Lyndall Racing Brakes direct at;

Lyndall Racing Brakes                       www.lyndallbrakes.com

2131 South Hathaway

Santa Ana, California  92705      email   info@lyndallbrakes.com

BOOMLESS BLUETOOTH FOR BAGGER RIDERS

Stay in constant voice contact with ALL the riders in your riding group at all times with this latest technology from UCLEAR. Other features include super clear radio reception make this sytem very desiralble. I will ostensibly be testing this all new UCLEAR boomless Bluetooth system in the near future. Watch for the review in the next two weeks.

Buck

UCLEAR: UCLEAR HBC200 Force
Industry’s 1^st boomless Bluetooth helmet communication system for powersports

• Make phone calls, listen to & control music and intercom with other riders via Bluetooth
• Embedded microphones eliminate the need for obtrusive boom mics
• Multi-Hop Technology: unit works as a repeater, providing up to .4 miles (700 meters) between UCLEAR units and enabling the network & communication range to grow as additional users join
• Super Group Technology connects up to 10 UCLEAR users for full duplex intercom
• Extreme noise cancellation isolates user's voice & eliminates wind & environmental noise
• Weather resistant design for use in all riding conditions
• Firmware upgradeable for ongoing enhancements and new features

UCLEAR: HBC100 PLUS
Make phone calls, listen to & control music and intercom with another rider via Bluetooth

• Embedded microphones eliminate the need for obtrusive boom mics
• Enhanced intercom range up to .3 miles (500 meters) between two UCLEAR units
• Extreme noise cancellation isolates user's voice & eliminates wind & environmental noise
• Ruggedized weather resistant design for use in all riding conditions
• Firmware upgradeable for ongoing enhancements and new features

Sturgis is like many small towns in America; a normal, quiet home for residents where nothing ever seems to happen. For seven summer days in early August though, this sleepy town is transformed into a loud, leather bound Mecca for motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world. Rock music blasts from corner store rooftop speakers. People are everywhere, often spilling out into bike lined street. Ladies in body paint and pasties smile and wave for the many cameras and growling engines rumble down Main Street, their roar becoming even louder as each creeps past you like a growing thunderstorm moving across the South Dakota prairie. This can mean only one thing.  The Sturgis Rally is once again upon us.  

This year marks the 73rd annual rally; an event that first began as a racing spectacle put on by the Jackpine Gypsies and rally founder, 'Pappy' Hoel, on August 14, 1938.   Although the rally still has its fair share of races, things have certainly changed since then.  Besides the plethora of t-shirt, motorcycles, concerts and tattoo vendors, there's of course the scantily clad women and the masses of people often numbering over 200,000.  Every time I walk up and down Main Street, I wonder if Pappy ever thought his rally would become such an enormous event? Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way, we only have five days until the rally officially kicks off on Monday. A rally that promises to be just as exciting as years past.  

So whether you walking down the sidewalk or cruising Main Street on your bike this year, look for me, throw up the devil horns or middle finger and smile. I'll be the red headed camera dude taking your picture just as I did for these folks last year. Look for yours here in the coming days and have a good time. Cheers!

Joe

As you may have guessed, the 2013 Sturgis Rally is in full effect.  There's plenty of loud music, good food, whiskey, roaring motorcycles and hot women.  Although Monday was a little slow, the rest of the week is sure to be crazier and filled with so much to see. 

In the meantime, here's a few photos from the rally so far.  More here as the days progress.

Cheers! 

Sturgis is like many small towns in America; a normal, quiet home for residents where nothing ever seems to happen. For seven summer days in early August though, this sleepy town is transformed into a loud, leather bound Mecca for motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world. Rock music blasts from corner store rooftop speakers. People are everywhere, often spilling out into bike lined street. Ladies in body paint and pasties smile and wave for the many cameras and growling engines rumble down Main Street, their roar becoming even louder as each creeps past you like a growing thunderstorm moving across the South Dakota prairie. This can mean only one thing.  The Sturgis Rally is once again upon us.  

This year marks the 73rd annual rally; an event that first began as a racing spectacle put on by the Jackpine Gypsies and rally founder, 'Pappy' Hoel, on August 14, 1938.   Although the rally still has its fair share of races, things have certainly changed since then.  Besides the plethora of t-shirt, motorcycles, concerts and tattoo vendors, there's of course the scantily clad women and the masses of people often numbering over 200,000.  Every time I walk up and down Main Street, I wonder if Pappy ever thought his rally would become such an enormous event? Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way, we only have five days until the rally officially kicks off on Monday. A rally that promises to be just as exciting as years past.  

So whether you walking down the sidewalk or cruising Main Street on your bike this year, look for me, throw up the devil horns or middle finger and smile. I'll be the red headed camera dude taking your picture just as I did for these folks last year. Look for yours here in the coming days and have a good time. Cheers!

Joe

As you may have guessed, the 2013 Sturgis Rally is in full effect.  There's plenty of loud music, good food, whiskey, roaring motorcycles and hot women.  Although Monday was a little slow, the rest of the week is sure to be crazier and filled with so much to see. 

In the meantime, here's a few photos from the rally so far.  More here as the days progress.

Cheers! 

JIMS^® TWIN CAM PISTON RING END GAP TOOL

Introducing another application specific tool from  JIMS^®  created by master tuner and land speed world record holder Hiro Koiso! This tool is designed to check piston ring gap with a proprietary cutout feature. The flanged shape allows the piston ring to fit squarely into the cylinder bore. Simply install the tool into the cylinder bore and place your piston ring onto the tool. You can view the ring end gap in the “Key Slot” and use JIMS^® Feeler Gauge Tool No.908 to determine your exact end gap measurement. JIMS^® Twin Cam Piston Ring End Gap Tool works for 95”, 103” and 110” H-D engines with 3.875” or 4.000” bore and 120”, 131”, and 135” JIMS engines with 4.125” or 4.310” bore. Made in the U.S.A. and backed by a lifetime warranty, please visit us at www.jimsusa.com, find us on Facebook or call 805-482-6913 for more!

CH CH CHANGES

By now I’m sure you’ve heard or read the breaking news about the changes Harley’s “Project Rushmore” did to the 2014 Harleys, right? Years ago when Harley introduced the V-Rod I said that the whole purpose of that model was to get people used to seeing a Harley with a radiator on it. Well, that day has finally arrived. That day meaning that some 2014 Harley-Davidson touring models now come with a radiator. They are discreetly housed in the lower fairing louvers so they can cool the 1.1 quart of liquid that cools the engine.

The first liquid-cooled engine is called the Twin Cooled High Output Twin Cam 103 V-Twin. Harley’s PR says, “Twin cooling cools the heads around the exhaust ports to deliver at or near peak performance under all operation conditions and temperatures.” The system also has a higher flow airbox so it will make less engine heat in stop-and-go traffic. And Harley bumped up the compression ratio on the TC103 and installed a new cam aimed at improving low-end torque. The 2014 Ultra Limited and the 2014 Tri Glide Ultra are the first two Harley motorcycles with the Twin Cooled High Output Twin Cam 103. The 2014 CVO Limited sports a 110 cubic inch version of the Twin Cooled engine.

Also from the “Project Rushmore” comes a Reflex linked braking system with ABS, that  synchronizes the front and back units when activated at speeds over 20 mph. Techno geeks will like the new Boom! Box infotainment system with an integrated audio system with voice activation for music, phone and GPS. The dashboard also gets a big, 6.5-inch full color touch screen controlled by 5-way joy sticks on the hand controls that give riders access to most of the system’s functions. Plus there’s a Jukebox that pops open at the push of a button allowing riders to connect their iPhone, iTouch, or other USB devices.

But wait, there’s also a redesigned Batwing fairing that’s wider to channel more air around a rider’s hands and reduce head buffeting. This is achieved with the addition of a pressure-equalizing channel cut into the middle of the fairing that opens and closes with the touch of a button to produce “slipstream venting”.

Okay, the bikes pretty much look the same but there have been big changes. Riders maybe haven’t been changes like this since they went from foot clutch/tank hand shift to hand clutch/foot shift.

Source and image: Harley-Davidson
Posted by Sam Kanish

Convert you bike into a custom Baggster the easy way!

ROD WOODRUFFS 1999 DYNA GLIDE GOES BAGGSTER

Rod Woodruff, owner operator of the world Famous Buffalo Chip campground, and Sturgis Rally entertainment genius loves his venerable (circa 1999) Harley-Davidson Dyna Glide. He bought it new, and it has become his favorite riding weather horse. But it was time for an upgrade, with a little more room to pack around his riding gear, and stuff. Rather than purchase the available Baggeter kit, Rod opted to have the crew at Baggster in Spearfish South Dakota convert his beloved Dyna into a Bagger….or in this case a Baggster.

I helped tear down the bike for the conversion, and their was enough South Dakota dirt up inside the rear fender to grow potatoes. Rod is a real South Dakota hard-rider, not a poser. He probably has more dirt road or unimproved county road riding under his belt than many riders have on the pavement.

After disassembly, all the worn-out or rusted original components were upgraded, then the Baggster kit was laid on at the Baggster facility in Spearfish.  Ian Strachan, and a Spearfish based artist and motorcycle painter performed the exquisitely executed Buffali skull and arrow air-brush work seen here on the Buffalo Chip Baggster. If you’re plain-Jane Dyna Glide owner wanting a custom Bagger look, the Baggster kit might the best choice going. Visit the Baggster website at www.baggster.net.

 Buck

KICKSTAND FOR LOWERED BAGGERS

Pingel Enterprise Kickstands for lowered 2014 FLs

With the newer Harley-Davidson’s and their taller seat heights, have you considered lowering the front and rear to get better handling with your bike?   If you have, you need a kickstand that will work and keep your bike upright safely because the stock kickstand will lean the bike to the right too much and it will want to fall over.  Pingel Enterprise, Inc. has designed 2 kickstand models for lowered bikes with a model for 1” lowered front and rear bikes and one for 2” lowered front and 1” lowered rear bikes. These kickstands are handcrafted in the USA, made of steel, tig welded and beautifully hand polished and then chrome plated.  They are designed to mount to the stock mount and will accept the stock spring.  Unlike the stock H-D kickstand, these models have a large surface foot pad contact area to support the bike better on the ground.  The kick tab is also easily accessible for use with stock and oversized primary covers.   Pingel also has a stock replacement model which has a lesser lean angle to make it easier to get the heavy bike off its kickstand.  These are designed for FLs only.  They are designed specifically for 2007-2014 FLs.  Also will fit years back to 1984, but lean angles may vary.  Easy to install in approximately 15 minutes with common hand tools. Made in the USA.          For all further information, please contact Pingel Enterprise Inc. at 608-339-7999 or at pingelonline.com

Introducing another application specific tool from  JIMS^®  created by master tuner and land speed world record holder Hiro Koiso! This tool is designed to check piston ring gap with a proprietary cutout feature. The flanged shape allows the piston ring to fit squarely into the cylinder bore. Simply install the tool into the cylinder bore and place your piston ring onto the tool. You can view the ring end gap in the “Key Slot” and use JIMS^® Feeler Gauge Tool No.908 to determine your exact end gap measurement. JIMS^® Twin Cam Piston Ring End Gap Tool works for 95”, 103” and 110” H-D engines with 3.875” or 4.000” bore and 120”, 131”, and 135” JIMS engines with 4.125” or 4.310” bore. Made in the U.S.A. and backed by a lifetime warranty, please visit us at www.jimsusa.com, find us on Facebook or call 805-482-6913 for more!

WILD WEST MCA FOOTBOARD SPURS

By Buckshot

www.wildwestmca.com 559-312-3811

“I’m a cowboy, on this steel horse I ride”… So says the song. If you’re tired of your chrome horse lookin’ the same as all the others at the hitch rail out in front of the local saloon, check these cool and useful critters out! These AMERICAN MADE heel guard spurs will keep the melted shoe rubber off your exhaust pipes, and protect those expensive Tony Lamas from burn marks.

They’ll also stop your feet from slidin’ off when you’re ridin’ that big inch motor that shakes your teeth loose. They’re made right here in California, not over in Taiwan, so you get American crafted quality in every pair, and the show quality chrome is done by the same folks who do the show chrome for a lot of the motorcycle industry’s top builders. Yes, sir-ee, there’s NO skimpin’ here!

They not only come in show quality chrome, but you can get them in a wide variety of powder coated colors as well. If you want ‘em a little fancier, you can get ‘em hand engraved, and even flamed! You can also get chrome or engraved footboard skirts to go with ‘em. All engraving is meticulously done by hand, so no two will ever be exactly alike! You can get different styles of rowels and “Jingle Bobs” to dress ‘em up like you want ‘em. If you want your steel steed to stand out in any herd, get a pair of these! Also available are some cool little stainless steel spur bottle openers that’ll be one of those “where did you get that?” conversation starters wherever you go!

Posted by Double 00 Buck Lovell

SAMSON RELOCATES TO STURGIS, SD

Q. If a guy is thinking about relocation his company, give us the pros and cons?

A. On one hand relocating my business to the Black Hills of South Dakota was the toughest decision I have had to make so far while in business, but on the other hand it was an easy one. The idea of living and working in the Black Hills was very appealing. The summers are a dream come true for motorcycle riders. The winters are usually semi mild in nature most of the time. Cold but tolerable. Riding in January is common when a blustery warm 60 degree day brings out tons of motorcycles out early from winter hibernation. There are a lot of riders living in the Black Hills. Most of them are transplants from a different area just like myself. The biggest problem we have here so far is getting settled in. You don’t realize the amount of junk you accumulate until it gets packed up and moved to a new place where you have to unpack it all and find a place for it. I found stuff that had been packed up from a move back in the 90’s. We wondered whatever happened to this or that until all of a sudden there it is packed nicely in a box you remember setting aside for safe keeping. In some cases safe-keeping was a little too safe. It’s a little like receiving a present. For the most part I would say that moving to the Black Hills was somewhat of a present in itself.

Q. On a cold winter nights do you miss California?

 A. Ahhh, the cold winter nights. As long as you don’t spend a lot of time outdoors cold winter nights are easy. As I write this in November in California we are experiencing summer like conditions with the temperature in the 80’s at the beach. Do I miss this weather? Yes. It’s weather like this what makes so many people want to come to California in the first place. Riding at night without a jacket is unbelievable with the night air hitting your face. It’s like heaven to me. But riding in the Black Hills is also heaven for me so if I was to choose which place has the best riding quality it is the Black hills. For the quantity of riding it’s California.

Q. Is South Dakota/Sturgis  helpful to new businesses wanting to relocate?

A. South Dakota has no state income tax! To me that is a big deal. This is a great help when it comes to your bottom line. South Dakota is also giving some great incentives to move your business. They are very helpful and anxious to help in many ways. The economic development department in Sturgis is also very helpful. Anyone who has a good business and wants to relocate to the Sturgis Industrial Park (Yes, we have an Industrial Park) may be given land on which to build. This is huge cost reduction or us that are looking for a reduced cost of relocating. There are many other incentives available for those who want to move here.

Q. Do you need staff, tell us about any positions you need to fill?

A. When we moved we expected some of our employees to come with us. Some did which is a big help. They helped train others to do what we do best and are very valuable personnel. The knowledge they have to share is very appreciated. One of the things I considered before moving here was the availability of qualified employees. The general status of work ethic in the area is very good. People just want to do a good job if you let them. The willingness to learn a new skill and to share the skills they have make it wonderful environment.

Q. What changes did you make to Samson during the new set-up?

A. Changes made for the new facility were well planned out ahead of time. Implementing cell manufacturing techniques help the flow of product through the manufacturing process very smooth. Our building is a “purpose built” facility we planned from day one to be just that, a manufacturing facility. The manufacturing floor is laid out for product to flow in the same direction constantly allowing ease of manufacturing. All product flows toward the back door for shipping purposes. This is something we didn’t have at the previous facility.

Q: How does your daughter feel about the move? That's really the most important question.

A. Although my daughter, Rachel, was apprehensive of the move, which would uproot her from her comfort zone, she has been invaluable in the course of the move. There are some things that are much more valuable than money that’s for sure.

Q: Tell us about the new building and the benefits to Samson customers!

Sturgis is a town centrally located in the U.S. so shipping our product to either shore makes our product readily available to everyone no matter where you live. Sturgis, the “City of Riders” is a Mecca of motorcycle enthusiasts where new product can be developed with a lot of input from the motorcycle community. Shipping is easy with UPS just a half block away and freight services in nearby Rapid City.

Q. So what's exciting for 2014 from Samson?

 A. 2014 will be the year of another breakout for Samson. Look for us to set some exciting new trends.

Q. So you went to Harvard business school, studied Feng Shui in California, and now you read the stars over the Black Hills. Tell us, oh wise one, what’s up for custom motorcycles for 2014?

 A. Who would have ever thought I would be a graduate of Harvard Business School? Much less even being able to attend such a prestigious school in the first place. It’s the luck of the draw I suppose. I’m not so sure about the Fung Shui thing at all since I still leave the toilet seat up most of the time. What I see from the moon and stars of the Black Hills for the motorcycle industry in 2014 is a great year for everyone. New cutting edge products, more disposable income for everyone, and a warmer climate to ride farther, smoother, longer, and uncut.

JOYA DE NICARAGUA

JOYADENICARAGUA is one of the oldest and favorite brands of premium cigar smokers all over the world. Cigar experts have catalogued this brand as a CLASSIC within the selected group of premium cigars. Joya de Nicaragua was created at the end of the 60's in Esteli, where Caribbean experts started the tobacco cultivation a few years earlier with the purpose of supplying fillers and wrappers to American manufacturers. Truly “the Jewel of Nicaragua". Boxes of 20.

Home of the World Famous Sweet Jane !

If you think Sturgis South Dakota is only about the worlds biggest, and arguably baddest biker rally, have another think. Around Thanksgiving, when almost all the visiting motorcyclists have departed, the residents of Sturgis and the surrounding Black Hills area celebrate Thanksgiving Eve with a gala celebration of turkey gravy drinking at the world famous Loud American Roadhouse. This uniquely American event  is Sponsored by KDDX - XRock 101.1 FM Spearfish, SD.

Eventual winner Shawn Linder at gravy shot round 21....looking hungry!

President Obama was correct when he said Americans are exceptional, the photographs seen here prove it. Last years 71 shot record of turkey gravy drinking was broken this year by Shawn Linder, who imbibed no less than one hundred & one, one ounce shot glasses full of genuine room temperature canned turkey gravy. The thought of which turns the stomach, not to mention the smell. Grandma did not cook up this batch of fluid. I, Buck Lovell witnessed this astounding event, and did so without the benefit of alcoholic beverage.

Shawn Linder licking his fingers at round 40...good gravy huh?

Yes, it was tough watching, but not as tough as swilling down 101 ounces of lukewarm turkey gravy with small chunks of giblets swirling around in the viscous liquid. Viscous indeed! The turkey gravy had the consistency of 40 weight motor oil, with taste to match.

Third place finisher is offered a bucket by Shane who finished second! Third place immediately walked off stage directly to the restroom to rest! athis is round 99.

But, what a freaking laugh fest it was. At round 100, the second place finisher Shane reversed his consumption of gravy to projectile vomiting, luckily aimed into the conveniently handy gravy recycling bucket, the contents of which will be delivered to the local turkey gravy recycling center (far out of town).

Second place Shane gives up the gravy at 100 shots, whoa big daddy, what a volimunous and aromatic turkey gravy barf! Grandma would be proud

First place winner Shawn Linder immediayely headed to Grandmas house for a huge Thanksgiving meal of steak and potatoes, no gravy whatsoever! By golly he still looks hungry.......why I oughta!!

Now that you have the whole story of Sturgis, South Dakota on Thanksgiving Eve, it is hoped you will take time from your regular annual routine to visit the Load American Roadhouse to enjoy the contest. Maybe even participate. Who knows, YOU might end up next years winner, Something you can brag about to your grandchildren. That is if the gravy doesn’t kill ya. See ya next year. Tell’em Buck Lovell sent ya