Category: Biker News

The controversial practice of adding ethanol to gasoline has many riders concerned about the long-term effects on their motorcycles. With the latest push to increase the amount of ethanol that can be included in gasoline, a politician is stepping to ask for a closer look at the effects of such a move. And he has the backing of the motorcycle advocacy group, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA). The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is concerned about E15 because it burns hotter than gasoline that contains a lesser amount of ethanol. In engines not designed to dissipate that extra heat, damage in the form of premature wear can result. Although this is a concern in all motorcycles, it's particularly problematic for air-cooled engines found in many bikes. Moreover, use of E15 may even void the manufacturer warranty. On October 14, 2011, Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced H.R. 3199. This bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol blend (E15) gasoline. "The EPA's decision to allow E15 into the marketplace will impact every American who owns a car, lawnmower or boat," Sensenbrenner said. Automakers insist that using E15 will void warranties, lower fuel efficiency and cause premature engine failure. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users. The Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, chaired by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), held a hearing entitled "Hitting the Ethanol Blend Wall: Examining the Science on E15" on July 7. To watch an archived webcast of the hearing, click here. According to the AMA, ‘The new E15 gasoline formulation may appear at a fueling station near you and you need to be careful where you use this new fuel blend’. That is because the EPA, in October 2010, approved E15 for use in model year 2007 and newer light duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles). In January 2011, it added model year 2001-2006 light duty vehicles to the approved list. "There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15's introduction into the marketplace," Sensenbrenner said. "This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence – albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA – that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines." Riders should pay attention to this list because no motorcycles or ATVs are currently listed. Since the approved list includes many light-duty vehicles in use today, refineries, distributors, and fueling stations may choose to offer primarily E15 gasoline because of this action by the EPA. This should concern all motorcyclists and off-highway enthusiasts since this may affect the availability of gasoline with less or no ethanol (E10 or E0). The AMA is looking to riders for their help to pass H.R. 3199 by contacting the respective federal elected officials. The advocacy group even has a pre-written email to make it easier.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The thousands of bikers rumbling into your rearview mirror this week are pretty much running the same cycle: Ride. Gather. Repeat. "We'll ride, stop, ride some more, have a couple beers now and then, and ride the coast," said Mark Rowe, just one Biketoberfest visitor among the legions traversing Volusia and Flagler counties on Thursday during the fall rally's official first day. It was a rainy one, in places -- with a few herds of Harleys getting bathed in the afternoon's driving, sideways rain -- but the crowds grew anyway on Main Street in Daytona Beach, at Destination Daytona near Ormond Beach and at biker bars like the Iron Horse Saloon in between. "This is something else," said Ronnie Lane, a chicken farmer from Duluth, Ga., who was chewing on a cigar, watching bikes and women pass him by on Main Street. "I'm enjoying it for an old country farmer, it's something else to see." Lane, although he was wearing a biker's do-rag from last year's event, said this was his first trip down -- and he doesn't even have a bike. Tourism officials say the fall rally brings about 125,000 bikers to the area each year, good for an estimated $214 million economic impact. As for the visitor profile, looks can be deceiving. Take Kevin Halbert, one of the many Biketoberfest regulars covered in tattoos. His back, chest and arms are filled with images that represent a painful divorce -- a flaming serpent ("it burned me, turned me into a snake") and a phoenix rising out of the desert. But Halbert, a banker from Dallas, can hide all the ink behind a dress shirt. "What's sweet about Daytona, as opposed to all the other rallies, is you meet people from all over the world," Halbert said, a second before someone on a bike recognized him and shouted. Another banker-biker, Gerald Duboulay, was enjoying a beer with Myra Castro in the shade and taking in the smell of bike exhaust. "She could wear some Coco Chanel, and I could wear some two-stroke oil," Duboulay said of the aroma he loves. Motorcycle traffic was more subdued at the Harley-Davidson dealership in New Smyrna Beach, and bikers congregated instead at the traditional hangout Pub 44 on State Road 44. At the dealership, though, Denny Payne said just the lead-up to Biketoberfest has already been good for business. "We're pretty pleased with the overall outcome," he said. "For the most part, it's been very good for us . . . Most of our business comes from this influx from out of state, in times like this." While Biketoberfest officially started Thursday (and officially ends Sunday), the edges are blurred. The Holly Hill City Commission, for example, held a special meeting last week to declare it a 10-day event starting Oct. 7. And Mark Rowe, the biker from Augusta, Ga., who was just planning on riding the coast, said he'd been in town since Monday.

On the Road: 100 Years of Motorcycles in America opened at the Morris Museum on Sunday, Sept. 25 and will run through Sunday, Dec. 4, in Morris-Township, N.J.. With approximately 40 motorcycles on display, the Morris Museum’s new exhibition, "On the Road: 100 Years of Motorcycles in America", explores the many facets of the motorcycle – its origins, engineering innovations, customization, and, of course, bike culture. The exhibit, which opened Sunday, Sept. 25 and will run through Sunday, Dec. 4, will feature many special programs geared toward bikers. Upcoming "On The Road" events include: Bike Helmets and Safety: On Thursday, Oct. 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. members and non-members can bring their bicycle helmets to the museum and make them more original with paint, stickers and ribbon. Participants will also learn how to wear their helmets properly and learn tips for safer riding. Tickets are $3 for mebers and $5 for non-members. Registration is required. Please e-mail programs@morrismuseum.org

Police are preparing for hundreds, perhaps thousands of bikers expected to ride into Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose sometime next month to honor the memory of Jeff "Jethro" Pettigrew, the president of the city's Hells Angels chapter who was shot to death in a gun battle at a Sparks casino. There will be Henchmen, East Side Riders Car Club, Devil Dolls, Top Hatters and more. Alongside them, also paying their respects, will be members of the South Yard Heavy Equipment Crew. That is not a motorcycle club. It is the San Jose Department of Transportation's pavement repair team. They knew Pettigrew from his day job. To them, he was not the local president of a biker club that law enforcement sees as a violent criminal motorcycle gang. He was as a veteran backhoe operator who paved potholes. Hans Larsen, director of the city's Department of Transportation, said he was not even aware that Pettigrew was a Hells Angel. Nor did he care. "We have many employees who are motorcycle enthusiasts. What they do in their private lives doesn't concern us as long as it doesn't affect their work,'' Hansen said. "From what I am hearing he was a nice person with a good attitude, very professional in his work and he did it well.'' Funeral arrangements are still being made. And Pettigrew's shooting death Friday night at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino, which has law enforcement on high alert for a brewing bloodshed between outlaw motorcycle clubs, is still under investigation. Wednesday, the chief prosecutor in Reno told the Associated Press that police have identified the rival gang member who killed Pettigrew, but he's not sure they'll track him down before rival bikers do. Investigators identified the suspect from the beginning as a member of the Vagos motorcycle gang, Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick said. The suspect, who has ties to the Bay Area, apparently has been in hiding since the slaying, Gammick said. "If we've been able to identify him, there's no doubt the Santa Clara Hells Angels chapter has been able to, too," Gammick said. "He's probably hiding out in a very small space." Gammick declined to provide any more information about the suspect other than the fact he may not survive to stand trial in Reno if his revenge-minded rivals find him before law officers do. "What do you think is going to happen if the Hells Angels get their hands on him?" Gammick said. For his part, Pettigrew had a relatively minor criminal record with the last conviction coming eight years ago, a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon, according to court records. This week in the South Bay those close to the 51-year-old Pettigrew remembered him simply as Jethro, a cheerful one-legged, redhead. Charismatic, quick with a goofy joke or three, lusty for life, Pettigrew was relaxed on the road even as he pulled the "dragon's tail" of a large motorcycle run. His hands hooked into a big belt buckle on his Wrangler jeans, he was the guy wearing a beat-up Dallas Cowboys hat belting out a Randy Travis tune. "From Alaska to New York City he was well accepted everywhere he went,'' said Steve Tausan, a lifelong friend and fellow Hells Angel, sergeant-at-arms for the Santa Cruz chapter. "Everybody knew Jethro. He was calm, cool, collected. One of those guys that can light up a room like a (expletive) Christmas tree.'' Tearfully reminiscing about his old friend this week, Tausan sat in his San Jose bail bonds office flanked by a Victory Vision bike and decorated with photographs of himself -- with football icon Jim Brown, with Hells Angels icon Sonny Barger, with Jethro -- and a sarcastic photographic shrine to the police officers who busted him for the beating death of a man at The Pink Poodle strip club almost 14 years ago. Tausan was acquitted on the charge, but he said that the same stereotyping that he says got him into that trouble dogged Pettigrew as well. "Jethro was not a choir boy,'' he said of his slain friend. "But it's not against the law to be a Hells Angel.'' Summer Jean Pettigrew, whose name was tattooed on her father's wrist, said he was proud of his club but rarely talked about that side of his life to her. He basically forbid her to ride motorcycles. "He was always there for me -- if I broke up with someone or I lost my job or I had a flat tire or my hair color turned out wrong,'' said Pettigrew, 26. "It wasn't this big scary biker with a Tony Soprano mentality. He took me to my first Britney Spears concert. By himself. Wearing his Hells Angels stuff. And he knew the songs.'' Pettigrew lost a leg following an accident while riding. He and Tausan were coming back to San Jose from San Francisco about 20 years ago, dodging brutal traffic. Pettigrew went to go around a car, when it made an unexpected turn and caught his right foot in the bumper. His foot shattered. Later an infection set in, and Pettigrew's leg was amputated just below the knee. His daughter said he would send his used prosthetics to charities in Mexico This week, she donated her father's immaculate Road Glide Harley, with its death heads and orange flames the color of his hair when he was younger, to club members so that they could keep it in their San Jose clubhouse as a memorial. "I don't want my father remembered as a casualty of biker gang violence; he was the HA president, but also so much more,'' she said. "He was my daddy, my rock, my blood."

Police are preparing for hundreds, perhaps thousands of bikers expected to ride into Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose sometime next month to honor the memory of Jeff "Jethro" Pettigrew, the president of the city's Hells Angels chapter who was shot to death in a gun battle at a Sparks casino. There will be Henchmen, East Side Riders Car Club, Devil Dolls, Top Hatters and more. Alongside them, also paying their respects, will be members of the South Yard Heavy Equipment Crew. That is not a motorcycle club. It is the San Jose Department of Transportation's pavement repair team. They knew Pettigrew from his day job. To them, he was not the local president of a biker club that law enforcement sees as a violent criminal motorcycle gang. He was as a veteran backhoe operator who paved potholes. Hans Larsen, director of the city's Department of Transportation, said he was not even aware that Pettigrew was a Hells Angel. Nor did he care. "We have many employees who are motorcycle enthusiasts. What they do in their private lives doesn't concern us as long as it doesn't affect their work,'' Hansen said. "From what I am hearing he was a nice person with a good attitude, very professional in his work and he did it well.'' Funeral arrangements are still being made. And Pettigrew's shooting death Friday night at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino, which has law enforcement on high alert for a brewing bloodshed between outlaw motorcycle clubs, is still under investigation. Wednesday, the chief prosecutor in Reno told the Associated Press that police have identified the rival gang member who killed Pettigrew, but he's not sure they'll track him down before rival bikers do. Investigators identified the suspect from the beginning as a member of the Vagos motorcycle gang, Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick said. The suspect, who has ties to the Bay Area, apparently has been in hiding since the slaying, Gammick said. "If we've been able to identify him, there's no doubt the Santa Clara Hells Angels chapter has been able to, too," Gammick said. "He's probably hiding out in a very small space." Gammick declined to provide any more information about the suspect other than the fact he may not survive to stand trial in Reno if his revenge-minded rivals find him before law officers do. "What do you think is going to happen if the Hells Angels get their hands on him?" Gammick said. For his part, Pettigrew had a relatively minor criminal record with the last conviction coming eight years ago, a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon, according to court records. This week in the South Bay those close to the 51-year-old Pettigrew remembered him simply as Jethro, a cheerful one-legged, redhead. Charismatic, quick with a goofy joke or three, lusty for life, Pettigrew was relaxed on the road even as he pulled the "dragon's tail" of a large motorcycle run. His hands hooked into a big belt buckle on his Wrangler jeans, he was the guy wearing a beat-up Dallas Cowboys hat belting out a Randy Travis tune. "From Alaska to New York City he was well accepted everywhere he went,'' said Steve Tausan, a lifelong friend and fellow Hells Angel, sergeant-at-arms for the Santa Cruz chapter. "Everybody knew Jethro. He was calm, cool, collected. One of those guys that can light up a room like a (expletive) Christmas tree.'' Tearfully reminiscing about his old friend this week, Tausan sat in his San Jose bail bonds office flanked by a Victory Vision bike and decorated with photographs of himself -- with football icon Jim Brown, with Hells Angels icon Sonny Barger, with Jethro -- and a sarcastic photographic shrine to the police officers who busted him for the beating death of a man at The Pink Poodle strip club almost 14 years ago. Tausan was acquitted on the charge, but he said that the same stereotyping that he says got him into that trouble dogged Pettigrew as well. "Jethro was not a choir boy,'' he said of his slain friend. "But it's not against the law to be a Hells Angel.'' Summer Jean Pettigrew, whose name was tattooed on her father's wrist, said he was proud of his club but rarely talked about that side of his life to her. He basically forbid her to ride motorcycles. "He was always there for me -- if I broke up with someone or I lost my job or I had a flat tire or my hair color turned out wrong,'' said Pettigrew, 26. "It wasn't this big scary biker with a Tony Soprano mentality. He took me to my first Britney Spears concert. By himself. Wearing his Hells Angels stuff. And he knew the songs.'' Pettigrew lost a leg following an accident while riding. He and Tausan were coming back to San Jose from San Francisco about 20 years ago, dodging brutal traffic. Pettigrew went to go around a car, when it made an unexpected turn and caught his right foot in the bumper. His foot shattered. Later an infection set in, and Pettigrew's leg was amputated just below the knee. His daughter said he would send his used prosthetics to charities in Mexico This week, she donated her father's immaculate Road Glide Harley, with its death heads and orange flames the color of his hair when he was younger, to club members so that they could keep it in their San Jose clubhouse as a memorial. "I don't want my father remembered as a casualty of biker gang violence; he was the HA president, but also so much more,'' she said. "He was my daddy, my rock, my blood."

I’m sure many of you have heard of Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort in Tennessee. As resorts go, it’s a bit lacking in amenities. But as a Mecca for bikers, Deals Gap is the real deal — the home base for the world-famous, twisty-turny stretch of state highway 129 called the Tail of the Dragon. Now, I must confess that after more than three years here in this biker paradise, I still hadn’t ridden the Dragon. Sadly, I’ve been too busy (excuse) to get Ruby (my candy-apple red Kawasaki Nomad) out that much. I guess I’ve always been a bit afraid of our mountain roads. And I don’t exactly look the part of a real biker. In fact, when I get ready to ride, my wife calls my combination of jeans, T-shirt with skull-theme, patchy vest, boots and dew rag — my biker costume. This is a throwback to the recent movie, “Wild Hogs,” where four suburban wannabe motorcycle riders hit the open road and tangle with a menacing New Mexican biker gang called the Del Fuegos. To the Del Fuegos, these “Wild Hogs” (John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen and William H. Macy) were “biker posers.” Ouch, that hurts, because I know how they feel. Actually, I saw the movie on a rained-out day at Daytona Beach Biketoberfest four years ago, with one of my best friends, Doug Mercer. It just so happens that Doug recently rode into Waynesville with one of his long-time biker-buddies, Hal Eastburn. There were just three of us, but since there were no Del Fuegos in sight, we decided to conquer the Tail of the Dragon. Did you know? — The Tail of the Dragon winds through both North Carolina and Tennessee. The 11-mile stretch in Tennessee has 318 curves. Take it from me, while you are riding the Dragon there is never a time when you aren’t both negotiating one curve and setting up for another. It’s a real test of skill, although I have to admit that Hal, who took the lead, finished the ride and had time to dismount, shower, shave, change clothes and pose alongside his Honda Valkyrie, before Doug and I rounded the last curve. Still, we all made it safely and had the time of our lives. Other highlights of the day were Doug dropping his bike, while parking, at the Harley-Davidson dealership in Tennessee; Hal doing “the Queen’s wave” when our return visit took us on the 9/11 parade route in Pigeon Forge; and me accidentally leaving the group and getting lost. Since both Doug and Hal are retired educators, I had to write 25 times, “I am impatient. I should not have left the group.” The following day, we rode more than 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway on a clear, sunny day with Carolina-blue sky. Both Doug and Hal left WNC exclaiming, “You live in the best motorcycling area in the country.” We already knew that. I’m going to pay much more attention to the bumper sticker in my den that says it all: "Screw it. Let’s ride!"

I’m sure many of you have heard of Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort in Tennessee. As resorts go, it’s a bit lacking in amenities. But as a Mecca for bikers, Deals Gap is the real deal — the home base for the world-famous, twisty-turny stretch of state highway 129 called the Tail of the Dragon. Now, I must confess that after more than three years here in this biker paradise, I still hadn’t ridden the Dragon. Sadly, I’ve been too busy (excuse) to get Ruby (my candy-apple red Kawasaki Nomad) out that much. I guess I’ve always been a bit afraid of our mountain roads. And I don’t exactly look the part of a real biker. In fact, when I get ready to ride, my wife calls my combination of jeans, T-shirt with skull-theme, patchy vest, boots and dew rag — my biker costume. This is a throwback to the recent movie, “Wild Hogs,” where four suburban wannabe motorcycle riders hit the open road and tangle with a menacing New Mexican biker gang called the Del Fuegos. To the Del Fuegos, these “Wild Hogs” (John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen and William H. Macy) were “biker posers.” Ouch, that hurts, because I know how they feel. Actually, I saw the movie on a rained-out day at Daytona Beach Biketoberfest four years ago, with one of my best friends, Doug Mercer. It just so happens that Doug recently rode into Waynesville with one of his long-time biker-buddies, Hal Eastburn. There were just three of us, but since there were no Del Fuegos in sight, we decided to conquer the Tail of the Dragon. Did you know? — The Tail of the Dragon winds through both North Carolina and Tennessee. The 11-mile stretch in Tennessee has 318 curves. Take it from me, while you are riding the Dragon there is never a time when you aren’t both negotiating one curve and setting up for another. It’s a real test of skill, although I have to admit that Hal, who took the lead, finished the ride and had time to dismount, shower, shave, change clothes and pose alongside his Honda Valkyrie, before Doug and I rounded the last curve. Still, we all made it safely and had the time of our lives. Other highlights of the day were Doug dropping his bike, while parking, at the Harley-Davidson dealership in Tennessee; Hal doing “the Queen’s wave” when our return visit took us on the 9/11 parade route in Pigeon Forge; and me accidentally leaving the group and getting lost. Since both Doug and Hal are retired educators, I had to write 25 times, “I am impatient. I should not have left the group.” The following day, we rode more than 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway on a clear, sunny day with Carolina-blue sky. Both Doug and Hal left WNC exclaiming, “You live in the best motorcycling area in the country.” We already knew that. I’m going to pay much more attention to the bumper sticker in my den that says it all: "Screw it. Let’s ride!"

MADISON, Alabama - The City of Madison will host the 18th annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride on Saturday with several thousand motorcyclists expected to arrive at the Old Time Pottery Barn between 9:30 and 10 a.m. The riders will begin their trek early Saturday morning in Bridgeport at the state line, gathering at 7 a.m. and departing at 8 a.m. After arriving in Madison for lunch, the bikers will leave at 11:30, heading west through Athens and Florence on U.S. 72, where the route will change course from previous years, turning west on Cox Creek Parkway. "That is the only change in the route," said Trail of Tears Madison coordinator Tabitha Ivey. "They will not be going past McFarland Park this year as in year's past." Ivey said the ride brings in around $5 million each year to the state in tourism dollars and she expects Madison to receive "about one-third" of the revenue along with Bridgeport and Waterloo, where the 200-mile ride ends. "This is definitely something that benefits Madison and the state," said Ivey. The Trail of Tears commemorates the time when thousands of American Indians were forced from their homes in the South and sent to Oklahoma. Last year a historical marker was placed at the old railroad bridge in Bridgeport that the Indians passed under on their trek to Oklahoma. Many died along the way. The Trail of Tears ride was first held in October 1993 when Rudy Rainwater and Rod Wheeler, two of eight motorcyclists, started the event. It is one of the largest organized motorcycle rides in the nation and largely follows U.S. 72, which was known as the Drane/Hood Route, one of the recognized Trail of Tears routes in North Alabama. Richard C. Sheridan of Sheffield provided a history of the route to Jerry Davis of Scottsboro who, along with Darla Graves of the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission, helped introduce the information to the Alabama Legislature, which passed a joint House resolution that designated U.S. 72 as the Trail of Tears Corridor for North Alabama. After inquiring how to best promote the route, Harley rider Bill Cason told Davis the best way to do so was through a ride from Chattanooga to Waterloo, which is where the idea for the ride originated. As a prelude to the Saturday ride, a free Five Feathers Rally will be held at the Old Time Pottery Barn in Madison beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. It will feature food and jewelry vendors as well as three bands - Remove Before Flight at 6 p.m., Crossfire at 7:15 p.m. and J.D. and the Bad Boys at 8:30. The 2011 Trail of Tears Spirit of America Award will be presented to Dave Baswell, who served on five different aircraft carriers during a 23-year career in the U.S. Navy. He served in Vietnam, the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Western Pacific and Caribbean deployments. He worked for the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal and Fort Rucker from 1982-2005 and has toured the U.S. on his Harley-Davidson. The Spirit of America flag, designed by Dale Hemphill, will be presented at the rally at Bridgeport, in Madison and at Waterloo. For more information, call 256-461-0518 or visit or www.al-tn-trailoftears.net.

Times have apparently never been better for bikers when it comes to choosing a two-wheeled, motorcycle vacation. Just as an example, Edelweiss Bike Travel is celebrating their 33^rd year of pulling together biker getaways, and they are celebrating by offering up a variety of motorcycle excursions. While we didn’t count all the options offered on the company’s website, Clutch and Chrome has been told there are fifty-eight tours, expeditions and trainings on 5 continents. The company has ten team members located at headquarters in Austria and 14 customer service agents in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Thailand and the United States of America. Along with over 40 tours guides worldwide Edelweiss Bike Travel brings together the array of motorcycle opportunities. Some of those tours are as follows; Riders Alps Challenge. The tour includes the countries of Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland featuring highlights of the Western Alps with their great roads, beautiful mountains and historic towns. Wild West Tour. The tour includes the States Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah promising the Wild West at its best. Ride the beautiful roads of the Southwest and enjoy being a motorcyclist in a wild way. Che Guevera Tour. Riders head to Cuba toexplore the secrets of Cuba on a Harley-Davidson and learn more about Che Guevara and his grand revolution. And for some real adventure, Top of the World which takes riders from Canada to the United States and the Adventure Big Five which includes South Africa’s Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. ‘From the wild fl owers of South Africa to the deserts of Namibia, from the wildlife paradise that is Botswana to one of the world’s mightiest waterfalls in Zimbabwe – this tour offers an incredible variety’ promises the press release. Interested riders can cruise the 156 page catalogue for their next two wheeled vacation or ride on over the company’s website.

Even the dogs were getting into the excitement of the revival of Roar on Sheboygan's Shores in Wisconsin, a celebration held Saturday at the South Pier District for motorcycle fans of all ages. Pecia, a female Chinese crested, was all decked out in her tiny pink leather motorcycle vest, studded in silver, and embroidered with the words "Born to Ride." "She's got a little helmet and goggles," said Amy Lydolph, 41, of Sheboygan, who along with her boyfriend, Dave Meyer, brought Pecia to look at the long line of customized motorcycles in all sizes and exotic colors. "The dog likes to ride," said Meyer, 41. "And we just wanted to see all the motorcycles. It's been a couple years since we've had anything like this here and it's always fun to go to." Roar on Sheboygan's Shores returned to South Pier this year after being held last year on a smaller scale at Route 43 Harley-Davidson in Sheboygan, which had taken over the event from the City of Sheboygan's tourism department. This year at South Pier, Route 43 Harley-Davidson broadened its scope, adding food booths, vendors selling motorcycle gear and accessories, live music and a 100-mile poker ride around the countryside of Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties, which drew about 70 entries. "Bringing it back down here will give it the visibility and hopefully allow it to continue to grow and just add more and more pieces to it every year," said Richard Kummer, sales manager at Route 43 Harley-Davidson. At the dealership, the event was limited to a parking lot, and customers were asking Route 43 to look into expanding it into something larger again. "It's just a bigger venue for us," said Laura Lawrence, Route 43 Harley-Davidson general manager. "We can only hold so many people and so many motorcycles in the parking lot at the dealership. So bringing it down here, it's a beautiful lakefront … and there's a lot of room for everybody." Those who turned out on a picture perfect late summer Saturday enjoyed the setting for Roar on Sheboygan's Shores. "The weather's great, the band's good, the brats are tasty," said Mike Berna, 55, of Racine, who brought his 2008 Harley Ultra Classic, in vivid blue pearl, up for the day. Gerry McGinnes, 61, of Sheboygan Falls, brought his 2005 Yamaha Road Star, and was glad to see it back at the South Pier District. "I think it's good for the community," McGinnes said. "It kind of helps give a better name to bike riders." Route 43 Harley-Davidson brought in a co-sponsor, Yamaha motorcycles, and broadened the appeal to riders and their families. The organizers hope to keep it going for a long time. "We want to be power sports, not Harley only, but all motorcycles," Kummer said. "It's fun for everyone." Meyer, who owns a Yamaha V Star 1300 that he called "the most bug-encrusted bike" at the event, was amazed at the pristine condition many of the motorcycles were in. "Some of these are so clean and decked out that you almost hate to get bugs on them," he said. One accessory Meyer and Lydolph don't have is a means to take their other dog, a Great Dane, motorcycling with them. "We'd need a sidecar for that," Meyer said. "It's not in the budget right now."