Category: Biker News

The following was on the UPI wire back in November. Krazy Biker Katz was not yet a reality but a gleam in my eye at that time. Although it's "old news", I feel strongly that the message here is very important: DENAIR, Calif., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Officials in a California school district said a middle school student was told to take a U.S. flag off his bike to avoid "racial tension." Denair Unified School District Superintendent Edward Parraz said Cody Alicea, 13, was told not to fly the U.S. flag from his bike while at Denair Middle School after complaints from other students, KCRA-TV, Sacramento, Calif., reported. "(The) First Amendment is important," Parraz said. "We want the kids to respect it, understand it, and with that comes a responsibility." Parraz said racial tensions boiled over at the school this year around the Cinco de Mayo holiday. "Our Hispanic, you know, kids will, you know, bring their Mexican flags and they'll display it, and then of course the kids would do the American flag situation, and it does cause kind of a racial tension which we don't really want," Parraz said. "We want them to appreciate the cultures." Alicea's parents said he flies the flag from his bike as a tribute to veterans in his family. "He's got that flag on his bike because he's proud of where he comes from," Alicea's father, Robert Kisner, said. Alicea folds up the flag and keeps it in his backpack while attend class, the TV station said. The American Legion Riders in the area heard about this and escorted young Cody to school with a full congregation of American flags and Harleys. Krazy Biker Katz applauds the American Legion Riders for their dedication and heartfelt patriotism. I responded to the Denair Unified School District with the following letter:

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

Every year Daytona Beach Bike Week brings its own dramas and stories to the motorcycle world as it officially kicks off the riding calendar. The last few years have been witness to challenging weather, falling attendances but also enjoyed fewer deaths and arrests. This year, the event appears to be defined by a surge of bikers riding into town over the last few days improving on low attendance numbers with law officials and organizers expecting the last week of Daytona Bike Week to finish with style. There are still some interesting stories to come out of Daytona's 2011 Bike Week. The first week of the event was quiet on the fatality front with no riders losing their lives in the first six days, but that silence was broken with three deaths within a fourteen hour timespan. One rider lost control and rode into a pole while another clipped his handlebars on a passing garbage truck. One was wearing a helmet while the other wasn’t. With the third death, wearing a helmet wasn’t an issue or question. Tragically a pedestrian was hit by a motorcycle when he was crossing the road. The injured biker was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach after his motorcycle skidded along the road after the collision. A fourth death has been reported in Volusia County, considered the official area monitored for such statistics, but because it happened before Bike Week started the fatality hasn’t been included in the figures. In that case a 68-year-old biker was killed when a car pulled out in front of his Harley-Davidson. Much celebration was given to highway fatalities falling to an all-time low of only four during last year’s rally, but many agree this should be tempered with the understanding cold temperatures kept a majority of the motorcycles off the roads in 2010 compared to other years. With Bike Week enjoying better weather this year, a cautious optimism in the motorcycle industry and hotel industry sources in Daytona Beach and the surrounding areas noting their booking are stronger than last year, everything points to busy streets at the 2011 Daytona Beach Bike Week. But regardless of how many riders come to Daytona, all will face one certain disappointment. City Commissioners decided a long-standing tradition of the famous motorcycle event won’t be happening this year. The riding of the boardwalk has been banned from oil stains and tire marks that were left by motorcycles last year on the city's brand new paving tiles on the boardwalk. Reportedly, the paving tiles cost the city more than $1 million to install, so the commissioners decided ban bikes this year. And finally, disappointment might be too mild of a word for a group that is sure to know some harsher ones. There appears to be no love lost between Daytona Beach’s law enforcement and the famous one-percenters in the Outlaw Motorcycle Club, or the American Outlaw Association. Earlier this week, police forced the Outlaws out of a building they had rented for the week claiming the property was zoned commercial and unsuitable for residential purposes. The building the group rented is a storage building with a fence around it located in a commercial area. At the heart of the problem is the complaint by the motorcycle group of police harassment. According to reports this is the fourth time over the years police have pressured the club to move locations during Bike Week. "It's blatant harassment on the American Outlaw Association. That's all it is man," Outlaw member Hillbilly told Orlando news station WFTV. "There's plenty of other motorcycle clubs in this city right now, whether they're One Percenter clubs, or Jesus freaks, and they're not being bothered, but we are," Hillbilly said in the interview. The Outlaws have had trouble finding a home in Daytona Beach since federal agents raided their clubhouse four years ago. Then, police looked for code violations at their new home on South Street and parked a mobile command center at the house on Tanglewood last year. "If we can keep a step ahead of something happening, we're going to do it. We're not going to stop, sit by and just wait for something to happen," said Dep. Chief Steve Beres, Daytona Beach Police Department told WFTV.

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."

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!

The American military and motorcycles continue to enjoy their close bond as Harley-Davidson continues its support for those serving overseas. Fresh on the heels of the latest Bikes Over Baghdad tour to Iraq and Kuwait last December, Harley-Davidson Motor Company announced its continued support for the young, passionate BMX stunt team that has been sweeping U.S. military bases overseas with its high-adrenaline, high-action stunt shows. Bikes Over Baghdad, an American team made up of some of the world’s best BMX athletes, announcers and ramp builders, will travel to Qatar near Saudi Arabia March 8-13 to perform at Al Udeid Air Force Base, with support from Harley-Davidson. In addition to the Qatar tour, Harley-Davidson and Bikes Over Baghdad announced they are in the planning stages for the next major tour to Iraq and Kuwait timed for later this year. “The next Bikes Over Baghdad tour planned for Iraq and Kuwait will be bigger than ever and will include more ways for folks back home to get involved,” said Christian Schauf, creator of Bikes Over Baghdad and program manager. “Details are still coming together, but in the meantime, we’re thrilled to be able to send the team to Qatar this month to perform for more of America’s finest.” Harley-Davidson’s relationship with the U.S. military dates back almost 100 years. After use in the Mexican Expedition, the U.S. military commissioned nearly one-third of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced in 1917 to support efforts during World War I, and nearly half of the Motor Company’s production in 1918. At war’s end, it’s estimated that the Army used as many as 20,000 motorcycles. During World War II, the Motor Company provided nearly 90,000 WLA models for military use. In 1943, Harley-Davidson received the first of its four coveted Army-Navy “E” Awards for excellence in wartime production. Today, Harley-Davidson continues to support U.S. military personnel through programs like the Harley's Heroes Tour. In 2007, the Harley-Davidson Foundation made its first $1 million grant to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to support the Mobile Service Office program Harley's Heroes Tour. In 2010, the Foundation announced a second $1 million grant, continuing its support of the program, which provides counseling and assistance to help veterans and their families secure the benefits they earned through their service. Each November, Harley-Davidson celebrates Military Appreciation Month, which has included the sending of electronic postcards by Americans to active and retired military, limited edition poster giveaways at area dealerships and postcards featuring supermodel and Harley rider Marisa Miller, activities at the Harley-Davidson Museum and the Last December was the third trip for the Bikes Over Baghdad team, but was the first time the Motor Company got involved. To reinforce its support for the troops and its long-standing commitment to the U.S. Military, Harley-Davidson sent one of its own to experience the positive impact of the BMX performances on troop morale. “I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Bikes Over Baghdad team on a 10-day tour to Iraq and Kuwait, and it was a moving and mind-blowing experience,” said Mike McCann, marketing director at Harley-Davidson. “Seeing their smiles and feeling the gratitude of these troops made me proud to help continue the Harley-Davidson tradition of supporting those serving our country in the military.” Photos from the tour last December can be found on Harley-Davidson’s Facebook page: even as word about Bikes Over Baghdad has spread like wildfire throughout the military bases in the Middle East, and demand for the shows is at an all-time high. In fact, the team has already received requests for additional tours at bases in the U.S. and other locations around the world. Each time the Bikes Over Baghdad team – made up of Chad Kagy, Brian Kachinsky, Mike Escamilla, Anthony Napolitan, Drew Bezanson, Zack Yankush, Mykel Larrin, Ron Kimler and Nate Wessel – travels overseas to perform stunt shows for the troops, they leave behind their daily lives and families, their professional BMX careers, and the comforts of home, all to show their deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for America’s service men and women. The athletes will perform two shows for several thousand U.S. military and coalition forces stationed at Al Udeid Air Force Base. In addition to the shows, giveaways and autographed posters, the Harley-Davidson sponsored tour features a high level of interaction with the troops. Ramp builders invite soldiers to help them build and the riders spend their days visiting the troops where they work and live, giving thousands of service men and women one-on-one time with the athletes not seen in other tours. “Having been over to Iraq three times now, we all feel even more excited and honored to be able to do what we do with Bikes Over Baghdad,” said Kachinsky. “Every time we go, we come back having met thousands of amazing men and women, having had these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and feeling completely changed and humbled by the entire experience.”

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.

GRAND RAPIDS – The sponsors of River City Bike Week announced today they will be putting off their plans to stage a downtown rally by one year. The rally will continue at the Lake Odessa Speedway from July 19 to July 24 with a possible venue in downtown Grand Rapids in 2012, said Mark Mensch, head of the nonprofit group. The rally, which originally hoped to stage an 8-day event downtown, had to scale back its plans to a 3-day weekend event in the face of objections from downtown businesses, residents and city officials. “I have no issues with the city of Grand Rapids,” Mensch. said. “I feel they did their job with due diligence and hope they will allow us to come back this fall with a more friendly proposal for 2012.” Mensch said the delay in plans and the smaller event failed to draw national vendors or sponsors. The loss of downtown beer tent and food vendors gutted expected revenue, he said. The event at the Ionia County speedway will help them build a business plan for the 2012 event, Mensch said. The announcement caught downtown businesses by surprise. “We're disappointed, and we're shocked,” said Monica Sparks, spokeswoman for The Arena District, a network of 59 downtown bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.

A federal lawmaker has introduced legislation to prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from giving money to states and local jurisdictions for motorcycle-only checkpoints, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports. On March 3, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced the bill. The legislation, with original co-sponsors Reps. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), would prohibit the DOT "from providing grants or any funds to a state, county, town, or township, Indian tribe, municipal or other local government to be used for any program to check helmet usage or create checkpoints for a motorcycle driver or passenger." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is part of the Transportation Department, recently gave Georgia a $70,000 grant to conduct one or more roadside motorcycle-only checkpoints. New York state has operated a similar program using state funds. The AMA has been tracking this disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since it first appeared in New York several years ago.