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While bikers may fight among themselves over the rights and wrongs of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, the general public in Michigan as well as the AAA feels the requirement should stay on the books. What concerns AAA Michigan is a bill introduced in Michigan’s State legislature, House Bill 4008 which would allow individuals who are 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical policy in place. Also, Senate Bill 291 would allow individuals 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have had their motorcycle endorsement for two or more years, or passed a motorcycle safety course. Even as Michigan AAA strongly opposes the legislation recently introduced in both the Michigan Senate and the House, they note if either were approved, Michigan's nearly four-decade old mandatory motorcycle helmet law would be repealed. "We strongly oppose both bills," said Jack Peet, AAA Michigan Traffic Safety Manager. "$20,000 in medical coverage would barely touch the amount of medical costs resulting from these types of motorcycle accidents. These proposals will result in increased motorcycle fatalities and injuries and higher costs for all motorists." And it appears the general public agrees with the AAA Michigan. A new spring poll of some 600 likely Michigan voters statewide by Marketing Research Group (MRG), Inc. of Lansing shows that 81 percent of the state's residents believe the current mandatory helmet law should be maintained. Only sixteen percent said Michigan motorcycle riders should not be required to wear a helmet. Surveys of AAA Michigan members over many years also confirm ongoing, overwhelming support for the law. In this year's member survey, 90 percent favored keeping the helmet law while only 10 percent opposed it. Aside from this apparent public support for the law, AAA Michigan are concerned over the efforts made every year to repeal the state's mandatory helmet law. This is done, AAA Michigan has said, ‘without regard for the common good or the will of the public’. An Office of Highway Safety Planning analysis found that a repeal of the law would result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129 million in additional economic costs to citizens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in the three years after Florida's repeal of its mandatory helmet law there was an 81 percent increase in fatalities. Another study found that fatalities grew by more than 50 percent in Kentucky and 100 percent in Louisiana after those states struck down mandatory helmet laws. Those in favor of mandatory helmet laws feel motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of money paid out of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), a fund which is supported by a surcharge on every auto insurance policy in the state.  While motorcyclists represent two percent of the assessment paid into the MCCA, they account for five percent of the money paid out.  They also represent 7.3 percent of all claims reported to the MCCA. Krazy Biker Katz would like to add a statistic supplied by ABATE of Florida. The State of Florida has no mandatory helmet law for anyone over the age of 21 providing they have the proper medical insurance in place. 53% of all motorcycle fatalities in Florida are to motorcyclists wearing helmets. That means 47% of the fatalities were not wearing helmets. This statistic would suggest the possibility that wearing a helmet might give the rider a false sense of security whereby they may take chances they might otherwise not take had they not been wearing a helmet. Not wearing a helmet tends to make the rider more cautious while traversing the highways of the state.

Regardless of what motorcycle a biker may ride, which open road they take or how many miles are laid down, every riding enthusiast faces the same financial burden of insurance. And before one minute of saddle time is recorded for 2011, bikers may do themselves a favor by spending a fraction of the time reviewing their insurance policy and coverage as they do preparing the trusty metal steed for its first ride of the New Year. Its a perplexing area of riding that has many enthusiasts confused and unsure what to have and how much is truly enough? Progressive insurance have recently released five tips they feel are crucial to any thoughts given towards motorcycle insurance: 1. Make sure your insurance policy is still in force. Some companies have a winter layaway period when some coverages are restricted. Check with your insurance company to see if you have a type of limited coverage. 2. Update your policy. Let your insurance company know about any changes such as additional riders, a new address or customized parts. A quick call to your independent agent can secure coverage that meets your needs. 3. Cover customized parts. Parts such as chrome plating, a new paint job, saddlebags, or special rims usually increase the value of your bike. If you’ve added custom parts or equipment, make sure they’re protected. 4. If you don’t need it, drop it. If you own an older bike, check its value. Don’t pay for coverage that you don’t need. Consider dropping collision coverage if the premium exceeds 10 percent of the bike’s market value. Understand, however, that you won’t be covered if your bike overturns or collides with another object. 5. Shop around. Prices can vary from company to company, so shop around. Make sure you’re buying from a national carrier who offers specialized motorcycle insurance. Don’t just add your bike to your car insurance policy. Another tip: If you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, consider raising your deductibles. This can lower the cost of your physical damage overage. Motorcycle insurance is extensively discussed in Clutch and Chrome’s ‘All About Motorcycle Insurance’ and a frightening trend in these days of trimming household costs are riders who under-insure themselves. Many insurance experts are troubled by the fact people buying motorcycle insurance repeatedly under-insure in two areas: uninsured motorist and medical liability coverage for the person or people injured when the crash is a rider’s fault. Also, uninsured motorist coverage which fiscally makes a rider whole again when the driver who is at fault doesn’t either have insurance or enough of the right kind of insurance. Given that in some states as many as one of every five drivers is uninsured, this is considered by many as a ‘no-brainer’. Although it’s not as glamorous as a new set of pipes or eye-catching as chrome, insurance could be considered one of the most important aftermarket addition a rider could ever buy for their your motorcycle. Interesting to think, if riders took a fraction of the time looking and reviewing insurance coverage they spend looking for the latest, hip motorcycle add-on, more would have better coverage for probably a lot less they're spending currently.

Polio may have confined Christ Tavantzis to a wheelchair 60 years ago, but it can't stop him from breaking free on the open road. "It's just that raw feeling, raw emotion. You just like the physical sensation of what's happening here," Christ Tavantzis said. He drew up his idea to build this prototype 10 years ago. He wanted his own ride, and he had a few requirements. "That's gonna be a real motorcycle. It's gonna look like a bike. It's gonna work like a bike. It's gonna have everything I need," Tavantzis said. So Tavantzis took a Harley Davidson and converted it into a three wheeler. What he calls, a trike, a power-train ramp and custom built safety features put him in the drivers seat. "All the brakes are tied to this one master cylinder on the handle bar right here," Tavantzis said. Now he says he has 28 vendors interested in helping him market the handicap-accessible trike. He fashions the kit that bolts onto just about any Harley Davidson soft tail motorcycle from 1990 to the present.  The kit starts at $15,000." A price Christ thinks fellow speed lovers will find worth the results. "You have a better avenue to allow you to enjoy your life. People cannot comprehend that they can have a full life. When they get behind the handle bars, they get back in control of their life," Tavantzis said.

Nev. State Sen. Don Gustavson is making an economic appeal to repeal the state’s 39-year-old motorcycle helmet law. Gustavson, who has tried and failed to repeal the law in the last five legislative sessions, says more people will attend events like the Laughlin River Run and Reno Street Vibrations – spending lots of cash – if helmets aren’t required. He cites stats from Florida, which recorded a $2.8 billion increase in motorcycle sales reported by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in the five years after its helmet law was repealed in 2000. Gustavson predicts a $56 million increase in the sales of motorcycles in Nevada following a helmet law repeal, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. But helmet law supporters point out that accidents also increased. Guatavson’s Senate Bill 177 would require all riders and passengers under age 21 to wear helmets. Motorcyclists over 21 could ride without helmets, as long as they have at least one year of experience and passed an approved motorcycle safety course. He wants to amend it to take effect upon passage and approval, which he hopes will happen before The Laughlin River Run starts April 27. Committee members John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, and Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, are repeal bill co-sponsors.

KIRKSVILLE, MO -- With gas prices climbing back up the ladder, some motorists are searching for cheaper means of transportation.  Gas is currently selling for $3.38 per gallon in the Show-Me State while Iowans are paying an average of $3.48 per gallon.  While there was a big spike in scooter sales back in 2007 and 2008 due to a gas hike, Action Cycles Owner Tim Murphy says there’s more of a demand for motorcycles this time around. “I think the second round of fuel prices, people are a little more aware what their money will get them” Murphy said.  “So they are buying more stuff that is name brand, stuff that is serviceable and you can get parts for; something that gets good fuel mileage.  The problem back in 2007 was scooter shops popped up in a lot of places and after gas prices went down a lot of them went out of business.  The parts of a scooter are cheaper and there was really no investment so when things broke down, there was nowhere to service them.” In fact, some motorists are even bringing their motorcycles out from retirement. “We see a lot of motorcycles come in, a lot of older motorcycles come in for service jobs, repair jobs; bikes that people previously owned but put away, they’re starting to get those bikes back out to try and save some money with the fuel the way that it is.” Murphy said a typical motorcycle can average anywhere from 30 to 60 miles per gallon.  A typical scooter, depending on the make and model, can average anywhere from 50 to 80 miles. Murphy said he anticipates another trend in motorcycles and scooters if gas prices continue to rise.

Japan's corporate culture is famous for 100 year business plans and forward-thinking innovations, so it's no wonder that the country's recent earthquake and tsunami have cast a pall of uncertainty over the nation's motorcycle manufacturing business. How has natural disaster affected Japan's big four-- Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha? As it stands, Honda's automotive factory suffered the most serious damage, and the Tochigi factory facilities will be shut down until March 20th, along with several other factories, including the Kumamoto facility where the CBR600, VFR1200F, DN-01 and Super Cub are built. Kawasaki Heavy Industry's Akashi factory is located 400 miles southwest of the primary disaster area, and "didn't experience any direct effects from the earthquake," according to a company statement. Suzuki has stopped production at six plants until at least March 17, and Yamaha has avoided major damage but won't resume production until around March 23. While car manufacturers like Toyota have seen tens of thousands of vehicles worth of lost production, most automotive companies run at an average of 61 days of inventory supply. According to Kelley Blue Book, "in the short run, it appears as though there are enough vehicles on dealer lots in the United States to withstand a short-term production cutback," as cited in a MediaPost article. The motorcycle industry, however, is more fragile at the moment due to precipitous sales drops in recent years, making it particularly vulnerable due to its non-essential (ie, discretionary) nature. With warm weather signaling greater demand, a reduction in inventory could become more noticeable than in the four-wheeled business. And on a separate note, the MotoGP race at Twin Ring Motegi has been postponed, and Tokyo Motorcycle Show has been canceled. Honda has donated 1,000 generators to aid with rolling blackouts and offered 300 million yen (around $3.8 million) towards relief and recovery. If you're a motorcyclist looking to support Japan, I recommend checking out Moto for Japan, an organization which says that, "Whether you're a rider, a racer, an industry employee, or a fan of any of the Big Four, this is your opportunity to give back to one of the most important nation-contributors of all things riding and racing."

DAYTONA BEACH -- Bikers love to ride. So, it's no surprise the estimated half-million bikers who swarm here each year for Bike Week want to get out in the sun and cruise to other parts of the region. Read more at: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/03/13/bike-weeks-impact-has-spread-to-a-big-region.html

A motorcycle known by any biker who has taken the slightest interest in the history of riding will make an appearance at an event in Carmel California in May. Famously seen in the ‘Bathing Suit Bike’ photograph taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948, the John Edgar Lightning motorcycle will join the exceptional display of fine motorcycles at the third annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering, taking place on May 14, 2011. This year, the event will pay tribute to a century of racing at Isle of Man, while also showcasing the top motorcycles from the past, present and concepts for future. Entrants are now being accepted, and collectors and aficionados are invited to exhibit their bikes. For the record, the rider appearing in the photograph with his own version of aerodynamics is Roland “Rollie” Free. Building on the success of its sister automotive event, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the upcoming day-long celebration will offer guests an unmatched opportunity to compare the aesthetics and engineering of the world's rarest pre-war and post-war sports and racing bikes, alongside spectacular custom motorcycles, all elegantly displayed in a picturesque Carmel Valley setting. For the first time, the optional full Concours judging will be offered for those enthusiasts interested in entering a motorcycle and competing for the coveted blue ribbon in their class. With collectors and enthusiasts, attendees will view the latest products from leading motorcycle manufacturers, dealerships, accessories and lifestyle vendors. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment and a Southern-style barbeque lunch prepared by the culinary team at Quail Lodge. Attendees will gain access to Bonhams & Butterfields live auction of rare motorcycles and memorabilia, which will include Steve McQueen's 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross , which he famously rode shirtless on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1971. The auction will also feature a custom Yamaha R1 , signed by World Champion Valentino Rossi, with proceeds to benefit Riders for Health. Tickets to The Motorcycle Gathering are $65 per person, $15 for children 12 and under, and inclusive of lunch, live musical entertainment and access to the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction. The benefiting Charity will be Riders for Health, an international non-profit organization that provides health workers across Africa with reliable, motorized transportation as well as the necessary training in riding, driving, and maintenance. To kick-off The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, enthusiasts are invited to participate in the one-day Quail Ride on Friday, May 13, 2011. The Ride, limited to 50 participants, will wind through 100 miles of the backroads of the Monterey Peninsula and conclude with a private dinner. The fee to participate in the Ride is $250 per rider, and includes a gift bag, lunch, track time at the legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and admission to an intimate dinner reception featuring special guest speakers, and a private sneak preview of the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction motorcycles. Ride participants also will receive a ticket to The Quail Motorcycle Gathering and an invitation to display a bike as an entrant. "We are delighted to celebrate our third Annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering and bring together some of the most exciting motorcycles in history," said Courtney Porras Ferrante, Signature Events Director for The Quail Events. "Our guests will have the exclusive opportunity to view the array of exceptional bikes at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering , while enjoying a picnic lunch and live auction, and a beautiful spring weekend in Carmel."

Today nearly 25 percent of motorcycle riders in the U.S. is a woman compared with 1990, when only 6 percent were women.

Female motorcycle owners have gone from oddity to commodity. Women riders aren't the sideshow anymore. During the recession, the buying power of female bikers is fueling sales and helping to keep bike builders and manufacturers in business. Today nearly 25 percent of motorcycle riders in the U.S. is a woman compared with 1990, when only 6 percent were women. That's more than 6 million women on motorcycles, not only buying bikes, but all the gear, equipment, and accessories to complete the biker look. While the company doesn't break down the numbers by gender, Harley-Davidson reports total sales of more $4 billion last year. "Tapping into this market has been absolutely essential for Harley-Davidson, and it has been building with education and enthusiasm," said Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of a founder of the manufacturing giant. "The more women who get on bikes, the more other women think they can do it, too. It's infectious." On Tuesday, Davidson led the fourth annual Harley-Davidson Women's Ride, a popular Bike Week event that included 136 women cruising through Daytona Beach. Decked out in purple feather boas, or wearing breast-cancer-awareness pink Ribbon Riders jackets, the women roared out of Riverfront Park and up to Destination Daytona, raising more than $31,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Elizabeth Pillow, 54, an engineer from Zeeland, Mich., was among the top fundraisers for the event. She rode as a motorcycle passenger for decades. But after her husband died, she bought her own bike in 2009, a Harley-Davidson Softail, just in time for last year's women's ride. "There are more women riding, and the businesses are encouraging women to ride, with these events and with custom features for women," Pillow said. Tapping into that market, Harley-Davidson dealerships offer garage parties for women, while Roar Motorcycles for Women, a Daytona Beach company that makes custom motorcycles for women, offers self-defense and empowerment classes. Charity bike rides and specialty shops now host breast-cancer awareness events. Women have been riding since the early days of motorcycles. Author Susan Hurst chronicled that past in her  book, "Women & Motorcycling: The Early Years" in 1991. Hurst also rode in the fourth annual Harley-Davidson Women's Ride in Daytona this year with the all-woman's motorcycle club, Leather & Lace MC. This club was founded by Jennifer Chaffin in 1983 in nearby Edgewater, Florida but now has chapters all over the U.S. Leather & Lace is unique among women's motorcycle clubs as it is not a social club or riding club like most women's clubs. They are a true MC which means women can't just join and buy a back patch, they must be accepted and earn their three-piece patch which can take years. The oldest women's motorcycle club, the Motor Maids, was founded in the 1940s. Now there are many Motorcycle Clubs for women only. In the 1950s, motorcycles went through their "bad boy" phase, and women were relegated to the back of the bike. That's when manufacturers stopped making motorcycles that a woman could ride, said Kathy Tolleson, CEO and founder of Roar Motorcycles Inc. Tolleson discovered that problem firsthand, when as a 50-something grandmother, she bought her own motorcycle but struggled to make the clunky cruiser fit her comfortably. She started Roar Motorcycles to accommodate female bikers. The handlebars are longer so that women don't have to reach as far. The fuel tank and seats are narrower, making for a more ergonomic fit. The bikes have a lower center of gravity and are designed so that a woman can lift the motorcycle using leg and hip strength, rather than upper-body strength. The motorcycles can be custom-fit even for a petite woman like Tolleson herself. Roar Motorcycles premiered in 2008, not long before the economy tanked. But even with the recession, the company's motorcycles have been sold in 15 states and Canada. "It hasn't been easy, but it's clear that the women's market will continue to grow," Tolleson said. "In about 15, 20 years, I think it'll be more unusual for a woman to be on the back of the bike than behind their own handlebars." Both Kathy Tolleson and Susan Hurst were honored by Born To Ride Magazine and TV in their Tribute to Women Riders for their "contributions in the motorcycle industry and the motorcycle community" in May, 2009. You can read posts from Susan Hurst in the pages of Krazy Biker Katz!

ORMOND BEACH -- Packs of people look down from the wooden walkway about 15 feet in the air -- drinks in hand -- to monitor the chrome and leather action of motorcycles rolling toward the Iron Horse Memorial Bridge they're standing on. The ponytailed guy on a gray trike leads the line under the bridge for a moment as bikers pass a free beer coozie table next to a tent with Christian books. They all head toward any space big enough in the sand pit of motorcycles that's as much a center of attention as it is a parking lot. Sunday, day three of Bike Week, which runs through March 13, was in full gear at the Iron Horse Saloon, a prime and rougher hangout for thousands of bikers on the U.S. 1 tour of outdoor hot spots. Thousands more hit Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona, just a few miles north of the saloon for a more commercialized theme of motorcycle products and services, and live music and Budweiser Clydesdales. The smell of exhaust from idling bikes fills the lungs on the way in, while plumes from a barbecue smoker smother crowds on the other side of the Iron Horse. This is where the roots of Bike Week are for Kathi and Keith Keeton, newlyweds from Orlando who are flipping through tattoo artist portfolios at Willie's Tropical Tattoo booth. No one's in the hot seat yet, though there's a big window into the tiny studio just large enough for an artist and client to sit for a few hours of ink action. Kathi, known as "Kitty Kat," stands at the counter consulting on her second tattoo. She's thinking about a cat skull for her right arm that will line up just right to meet her husband's bulldog tattoo on his left arm. "I want to match him," she said, pushing her arm up against his, which is nearly twice as big and tan. Friends "Lizard" and "Ghost" gave her the thumbs up, she said, though the pigtailed blonde with the tight black cat shirt will ride her Harley back on Thursday to seal the deal. Keith, or "Big Dawg," a burly 6-foot kind of a man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, said Iron Horse is the "old school" side of Bike Week, where you won't see newbies. "It gives you the true biker feeling," he said as a woman with deep red hair walked past, her head rocking out to the music on her way toward the Wall of Death stunt show. Leather vests and men's facial hair rule here. Women with skull jewelry, corsets, midriff shirts, tight and bedazzled tops also are on hand. On Sunday afternoon, there was even a tiny infant swaddled in the arms of a grandmother as she made her way past the tattoo shop. The young mother pushed the stroller just behind. The Keetons still go to places like Destination Daytona every Bike Week, though they said "it's not a priority." "Destination Daytona is awesome but it's very sterile. Daytona Disney is what we call it," Keith said. "You drink here, people watch and you always run across friends." The usual fair food of sausage and cheese fries flows from carnival-style food booths at both places. Destination is more of a shopping excursion on fields of pavement, where kids hold their parents hands and middle-aged folks stroll in khaki shorts. Bikers wearing black leather vests lap up vanilla soft serve yogurt, too. Aside from food, folks buy motorcycles, wax, get their eyeglasses cleaned, choose custom stereos or new rivets or extra reinforcement for their saddlebags. The giant pit stop of customization also includes tattoos, of course. At the Asylum Tattoo Studios, Dave Bennett from Fort McMurray, Canada, braced himself for the buzzing needle drilling the image of a skull into the tender and pale inside of his left arm. He often winced, but managed to mouth the words to Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" blaring from the computer speakers while deathly eyes began to stare from his skin. Talking helps. too, said Bennett, who is briefly entertained when his friend, "Spud," walked in wearing a stubby leather top hat. Spud, who got his own skull tattoo on Saturday, showed off his latest purchase: the head of an alligator that he got for about $20. After the more than two-hour ordeal, Bennett said he would probably be on the lookout for souvenirs for a friend who didn't make it. "It's more commercialized over here, a more calmer crowd," he said, compared to what he expects at the Iron Horse Saloon. But he'll "have to do both sides," Bennett said, to get the full Bike Week experience.