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Home › Articles posted by Krazy Biker Katz (Page 3)

Haines City, Florida Woman Savors the Motorcycle Lifestyle

15 Apr
0 319 Post by
A motorcycle helped bring Jimmy and Grace Pulis together in the fall of 1958. More than 53 years later, a motorcycle still serves as a source of togetherness for the Haines City, Florida couple.
In the beginning, it was Jimmy who drove the motorcycle and Grace who rode on back. These days, Grace is the one gripping the handlebars and Jimmy, who has health problems and walks with a cane, is the passenger. In biker lingo, Grace is "packing her old man" when Jimmy shares the saddle of her 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 900. "That's what happens when you teach us to drive," said Grace Pulis, 68. "We take over." It was a novelty for a woman to drive a motorcycle in the 1970s, when Grace started riding. These days female riders are much more common, but she said others often seem startled by the sight of a gray-haired woman, who happens to be a great-grandmother, driving with a man behind her. "I've gotten everything from, ‘Don't you know where you belong?' — meaning I should be on the back, not on the front — to ‘Wow, that's marvelous that he lets you do that,' to ‘I don't know if I'd want a man who'd let me drive,'" Grace said. It began this way: Grace was a 15-year-old high student waiting for the school bus near her home in northern New Jersey when she noticed a man passing the spot each morning on his way to work. One day he sped past on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Another day he was at the wheel of a Jaguar, and then she saw him driving a new Chevrolet Bel Air. "My girlfriend dared me to wave at him," Grace recalled. "And four months later we were married," said Jimmy, 75.
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Categories: Biker News

Bikers can roll with ‘colors’ suit

03 Apr
0 346 Post by
Getting pulled over just for wearing "colors" really ticks off outlaw motorcycle clubs, a local attorney who's represented them said, and now some of them are allowed to take out their frustrations in court. In an opinion issued last week, U.S. District Court Judge Jerome Simandle in Camden said two members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club and one Tribe Motorcycle Club member can move forward with a lawsuit stemming from a July 30, 2009, traffic stop involving six motorcycles in Burlington County where New Jersey State Troopers ordered them to remove their "colors," the members' patched jackets. "The court has basically said, 'yes you have a right to wear a patch, these logos," said Norristown attorney Boyd Spencer, who represents the Eastern Pa. Confederation of Clubs. The group of bikers were on their way to a beef and beer event when they were pulled over. The bikers were ticketed for not having approved helmets, the original complaint alleges, and were told to remove their colors if they wanted to leave. The whole traffic stop, which lasted more than an hour, was captured by mounted cameras in the police cruisers. "Now you're all going to take your jackets off, because on this highway, these are the only colors," one of the state troopers told the group after nearly 50 minutes had passed, referring to State Police blue and gold. None of the bikers removed their colors, and at a later municipal court hearing, the helmets were found to be legal and a prosecutor dismissed the charges. The state filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit but Simandle, in his ruling said the plaintiffs "sufficiently alleged deprivations of a clearly established constitutional right." Simandle dismissed a conspiracy allegation and claims that the bikers were denied due process. "We had a little wound here and there but definitely, this is a victory," Spencer said. A spokesman for the state declined to comment Monday.
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Categories: Biker News

American Motorcyclist Association Wants Motorcycles Included in Study of Ethanol-Blended Fuel

27 Mar
0 333 Post by
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking a key U.S. House panel to include motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in any future study of ethanol-blended gasoline. In a letter sent July 11 to the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee, the AMA, along with its partner organization, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), urged subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) “that on- or off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) be part of any scientific study by the NAS” related to ethanol-blended gasoline. NAS stands for the National Academy of Sciences. The subcommittee held a hearing on July 7 entitled “Hitting the Ethanol Blend Wall: Examining the Science on E15.” The hearing focused on E15, a new gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent alcohol by volume. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October 2010 approved the use of E15 in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles). In January 2011, the EPA added model year 2001-2006 light-duty vehicles to the approved list. No on- or off-highway motorcycles or ATVs are currently approved. At its hearing, the subcommittee indicated that it may require the EPA to arrange with the NAS to study a full range of issues related to E15. In the letter, AMA Washington Representative Rick Podliska said the AMA and ATVA have concerns about: E15 being put in motorcycles or ATVs mistakenly and damaging engines; the continued availability of gasoline that has no ethanol, or gasoline with only a 10 percent blend that is safe for use in motorcycles and ATVs; the possibility that “blender pumps” — which dispense multiple grades of gasoline through a single hose — could introduce enough ethanol into gasoline to be used in a motorcycle or ATV to damage the vehicle; and that ethanol absorbs water, which could be harmful to motorcycles and ATVs. “In conclusion, to address our concerns, the AMA and ATVA urge that on- or off-highway motorcycles and ATVs be part of any scientific study by NAS,” Podliska wrote. “Not only should the study focus on the short- and long-term impacts on vehicles and engines, but should consider financial implications of increased ethanol use in gasoline on consumers; fuel producers, distributors and retailers; vehicle and engine manufacturers, dealers and service facilities; and the environment.”
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Categories: Biker News

Daytona and Sunshine!

13 Mar
0 393 Post by
Hello my fellow bikers. I’m still in Daytona and am finally feeling some warmth! Well, I do have my loving and caring posse of body guard bikers I ride with, but I’m talking about Florida SUNSHINE! Yes! Today the sun is actually peeking its beloved little radiation out to all of us here in Daytona Beach. After a few days of that nasty wind and RAIN, it’s starting to be a beautiful week! I took a much-needed ride yesterday in the wind and rain. No… I don’t wimp out and hide in my hotel room. I RIDE! I grabbed a friend that flew over from Hawaii and off we went with two other riders. It was a blast! We took US 1 and let the asphalt lead the way to our destination. During our ride, I was noticing a bunch of outlying biker bars with lots of bikes and people milling all about the properties. Some of these venues had vendors set up trying to make a decent living selling some cool merchandise. What I find interesting is the amount of vendors that are out there selling. I give these vendors so much credit. It’s hard making a living as a vendor; setting up tents, breaking down tents, rain, wind, heat, etc. To those that vend, I love you and absolutely admire all that you do for us bikers! Now on the other hand, there are some shady vendors out there that will take your hard-earned money and run! Generally, they don’t stay in business long and word gets out on the biker street grapevine of the type of degenerates these creeps are. (Ahhhh…. I love the biker grapevine!) And what’s interesting is that these slimy slithering scumbags aren’t usually bikers! They are wannabee posers thinking they understand the biker culture. Losers… I’m also noticing restaurants wanting to cater to the Daytona motorcyclist. The service is generally good. When it’s exceptional, I tip exceptionally. When the service sucks, then, well… the tip is minimal if anything at all. I was at a restaurant and had the worst service EVER! The waitress was more concerned about her boyfriend (sitting behind us) than asking if we wanted refills on our drinks, did we need anything else like desert, etc. Never came back after serving the food - only left the check. Her tip reflected her job duties and abilities. One thing I look at when at a restaurant is how we are treated, how the food is, the service, and follow up, etc. I know these men and women work for tips. We have to tip them well when they do a good job. I also tell them over and over PLEASE and THANK YOU. You know, those words go a long way. I put myself in their shoes and think about the bills they have waiting home and how they are going to pay them. I tip very well when I get great service. I hope that those of you reading this article do the same. Just do one thing… put yourself in their shoes. Speaking of restaurants (because Catnip loves good food!), look around when you’re eating. If you see an elderly woman or man eating alone, get the attention of a waitress and ask to pay that person’s bill. The person doesn’t need to know that you’re doing this; just do it AND LEAVE A GOOD TIP AS WELL! My man knows “the look” when I’m going to pick up a tab for someone I don’t know. He is so supportive of my gestures. Plus, as a biker, that kindness goes a long way in dispelling the myths of mean, nasty heathens riding the roads on two wheels of iron and steel. We are good, kind people. Let’s keep up that reputation by doing something warm and fuzzy for others that may be alone. It will make you feel fabulous – and create a memorable point in your life when you think about your trips and doing something nice for another human being. Well, it’s time for me to take off and venture to the Atlantic Ocean for some fun and frolic (because that’s what Catnip LOVES to do!) If you’re out there in Cyberworld reading my columns, tell me about your Daytona experiences! I enjoy sharing good vibes with the Catnip Cougar Fan Club. Stay tuned for more Daytona 2012 Bike Week stories from Catnip Cougar here at Krazy Biker Katz…
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Categories: Catnip's Corner

RAIN, RETIREES & REDNECKS IN DAYTONA

10 Mar
0 339 Post by
Hello my brothers and sisters of the road! Catnip Cougar here reporting from Daytona Bike Week. I arrived here yesterday, 3/09, to a thunderous greeting! No, I’m not talking about well deserved applause. I’m talking about actual thunder! It rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock! I was greeted by the rain long before I arrived. I started getting wet cruising through Orlando which really sucked. No, I’m a REAL biker gal. I don’t mind getting soaked from time to time. It comes with the territory. You ride a bike, you get wet occasionally. It’s a fact of biker life. What really sucked is that Florida is still packed with Snowbirds. For those of you who don’t know, Snowbirds are mostly old retired people who live in Florida during the Winter months. They usually come down in September or October and stay till April. Ask any year-round resident of Florida what they think about Snowbirds and you’ll get a mixed response…from the same person! We LOVE that they spend money down here. It helps the local economy considerably. Florida citizens don’t have to pay a state income tax because these Northern visitors pay it for us! What we DON’T like about these people almost outweighs the money they bring. They clog our roads and have no idea where they are going half the time. This results in brakes being slammed on for no apparent reason, lane changes with absolutely no warning, and traffic moving 30 miles an hour in a 55 mile zone. It’s very dangerous to everyone, especially motorcycle riders. I won’t even get into how rude and obnoxious these people are when you encounter them in a store, restaurant, etc. They have this idea that they are special and have an air of entitlement about them. They really believe that anyone who lives in Florida year-round do so for one reason and one reason only…to serve them! They like being called Northern Visitors but I’ve always thought visitors are guests, and guests don’t treat their hosts like second-rate citizens. But I’ve gotten off the track here. What these Northern a-holes do mostly is endanger the lives of people on the road…especially bikers. And when it’s raining…look out!!! These geriatric jerks completely forget how to drive when it’s raining. So here I am, riding East on I-4, going through Orlando in the rain, and dodging these idiots who act like I’m the numbskull because I’m in their way. All you can do is say a little prayer and hope for the best. I’m tempted on occasion to speed up and get away from these bozos but that’s not a good idea because of another obstacle….cops! Where did all these law dogs come from? They must’ve trucked extra cops into the area from across the country. I have to watch my speedometer very carefully. So here’s the picture for you to envision: I'm driving in pelting rain which makes it a bit hard to see but I have to keep an eye out for moron cage drivers with out-of-state tags AND watch my speedometer to prevent red and blue strobe lights from wrecking my day! I bet you’re saying, “Why doesn’t she just stay home?” Are you nuts? This is Bike Week in Daytona! This is Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July rolled into one! This is where we get to see old friends and make new ones. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, black or white, tall or short, fat or thin, etc. etc. This is where we all come together to celebrate what we truly love in life: MOTORCYCLES! Sturgis is great. However, Sturgis is just once a year. Daytona has two bike rallies a year, and even in between, this town eats, breathes and sleeps motorcycles. It’s everywhere you look. Almost every storefront or restaurant is aimed towards the motorcyclist. As in most Southern towns, you have your fair share of rednecks in Daytona. There was a time, back in the day, when rednecks and bikers didn’t get along unless you were at a David Allen Coe concert. But here in Daytona the rednecks are one with the biker. They don’t hassle us in the bars like they sometimes do in smaller towns  in Central Florida. They is us! We is them! Well, you get the idea. Well, I’m due at the Iron Horse Saloon in a few minutes so I better get my rear in gear and hit the road. Stay tuned for more reports from Daytona from that Krazy Biker Katz vixen…Catnip Cougar. Yee-Haw!!
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Categories: Catnip's Corner

The Highway Is For Lovers

02 Mar
0 13 Post by
View From The Rear
By:  Sylvia Cochran
Love is what legends are made of, and it’s the number  one ingredient in a good motorcycle relationship. To millions of women, there’s nothing more appealing than a summer day’s ride with a good looking man on a motorcycle.  I probably didn’t realize just how desirable motorcycle men are until I’d been in this business for a few years. I started noticing that more and more of my divorced single female friends and acquaintances would ask, “Don’t you know any single good looking motorcycle guys you can hook me up with?” If I paused, they would almost always continue with “heck, they don’t even have to be that good looking!” What I suspect these women really want is a companion who isn’t “dull and boring.” Valentine’s is the day we celebrate love and there’s nothing we motorcyclists love more than sharing the highway with the people who are closest to us.  How many of you have been on a ride where everything seemed perfect. The day was warm, but not too warm. There was hardly any traffic, and the road was so smooth that you felt nothing but the breeze. Maybe you stopped for lunch in a little diner beside a bubbling stream, or sat underneath a tree on the side of a mountain soaking in the warmth of the sun. If you’re like me, these little moments are the flowers that add fragrance to our lives. The phrase, “stop and smell the roses” means much more when you take it in the context of motorcycle riding.
At Devil's Tower near Hulett Wyoming
That’s why so many of us “love” our motorcycle trips and especially our motorcycle men. This year I will celebrate being married to my best friend for a quarter of a century. (When you say it like that it seems longer than it really is.) My relationship with Sweetie Pie became richer and more adventurous after he brought that first motorcycle home. I still remember the first year he rode to Sturgis, without me. We had school age children at home and there was no way I could go. I wasn’t a happy camper those ten days while he was gone, and he admitted he didn’t enjoy it as much without me. We’ve been a dozen times since and I never tire of riding in the Black Hills. I hope this year to return with a close friend who has always wanted to go. It will be fun sharing the trip with someone who is seeing it for the first time. I’m still looking for those diamond earrings, and I’m sure one of these Valentines Days my Sweetie Pie will surprise me. But I’m not complaining. As long as we get the opportunity to take a long, leisurely motorcycle tour each summer, I’m more than satisfied. After all, diamonds are pretty to look at, but motorcycle memories are much more fulfilling.
Riding the beach at Daytona
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Categories: Biker News

U.S. House panel backs more study of ethanol-gasoline fuels

08 Feb
0 340 Post by
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A key U.S. House committee has approved a bill that would require an independent scientific study of the effects of ethanol-gasoline blends on engines, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
By a 19-7 vote on Feb. 7, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved H.R. 3199 to require the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek an independent scientific analysis of the effects of E15 -- a new gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume -- on engines.
The measure, introduced by committee Vice Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), now goes to the full House for a vote. If approved, it then moves to the Senate for further consideration.
"This independent research is needed to ensure that new ethanol-gasoline blends won't damage motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle engines," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "We applaud the committee for supporting this crucial legislation."
The AMA has repeatedly expressed concerns to government officials and federal lawmakers about possible damage to motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) engines caused by the inadvertent use of E15 when the new fuel becomes widely available, and has asked that motorcycles and ATVs be part of any scientific study into the effects of E15.
In October 2010, the EPA approved the use of E15 in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles). Then, in January 2011, the EPA added model year 2001-2006 light-duty vehicles to the approved list.
No motorcycles or ATVs are currently on the list.
The AMA and its partner group, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association, have expressed concerns about E15 being mistakenly used and damaging engines in motorcycles and ATVs, and about the continued availability of gasoline that has no ethanol -- or gasoline with only a 10 percent blend -- that is safe for use in motorcycles and ATVs.
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Categories: Biker News

Highway bill in current form would prohibit motorcycle checkpoints

03 Feb
0 290 Post by
Motorcycle-specific roadside checkpoints would be prohibited, according to wording included by Wisconsin Rep. James Sensenbrenner in the federal highways bill, in mark-up today in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Sensenbrenner applauded the committee's inclusion of his wording in the bill, stating that, "We need to focus on proven methods of motorcycle safety, including crash prevention, rider education, and training and proper licensing. Motorcycle-only checkpoints are an intrusive governmental overreach that place an undue burden on riders while doing little to actually improve safety. It is encouraging to see that the Transportation Reauthorization Bill will encourage more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and smart motorcycle safety policy." As it currently stands, Section 5007 of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 reads as follows.
SEC. 5007. PROHIBITION ON FUNDS TO CHECK HELMET USAGE OR CREATE CHECKPOINTS FOR A MOTORCYCLE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. The Secretary may not provide a grant or otherwise make available funding to a State, Indian tribe, county, municipality, or other local government to be used for any program to check helmet usage or create checkpoints for a motorcycle driver or passenger.
Because the wording of the measure says simply "checkpoints," as opposed to "motorcycle-specific checkpoints," it raises the question of whether such checks might also be prohibited in a broader, all-vehicle checkpoint. Opponents of such motorcycle-specific checkpoints have frequently stated that their opposition is to the singling out of motorcyclists, not the enforcement of existing laws. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), both of which have spoken out against motorcycle-specific checkpoints, have voiced their approval of the prohibition. Speaking for the AMA, Wayne Allard, vice president for government relations, said that "The AMA believes that strategies to promote motorcycle safety must be rooted in motorcycle crash prevention, and don't include arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections." The MRF, in a release yesterday, had this to say. Representative Tom Petri (R-WI), a staunch defender of the motorcyclists, had this comment on the issue, “Motorcycle riders are right to be outraged at being singled out for safety inspections," Petri said. "Nobody is suggesting flagging cars down for unscheduled inspections, and there's no good reason why motorcycles should be treated differently. It's unnecessarily intrusive, and not a smart way to use limited police resources."
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Categories: Biker News

Horry County Council to consider dropping vendors

25 Jan
0 318 Post by
CONWAY, S.C. -- Horry County Council will consider doing away with all vendor permits in May because of concerns about the spring motorcycle rallies. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported there has been confusion about the dates for the Harley Davidson bike rally. County officials say the rally is scheduled for May 14-20. But the local Harley-Davidson dealer said last week it will run from May 18-28. Tom Givens with the Long Bay Estates homeowners association near the dealership in the southern side of the county says the rally makes it hard for local residents.
Councilman Gary Loftus recommended council members discuss the possibility of doing away with all vendor permits next month. Residents have complained about noise, public drunkenness and other problems during the bike rallies.
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Categories: Biker News

Special Recognition!

12 Jan
0 336 Post by
Krazy Biker Katz would like to acknowledge Zwiwwel Restaurant located at 1213 Palm Avenue in Sarasota for going above-and-beyond the call of duty to assist us during the Thunder By The Bay Festival. We thank you for your time and assistance. You guys are AWESOME! We urge all friends of Krazy Biker Katz to stop by this great eatery and tell them Krazy Biker Katz sent you. Drop us a line and let us know if you're treated as exceptionally as we were.
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Categories: Biker News
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