Bikers on the Abortion Battlefield? Pro-Life Group’s Plan to Use Harleys to Send a Message to America’s Abortion Clinics

Harleys roared their engines outside abortion clinics and at pro-life rallies across America amid concerted efforts to bring motorcyclists into the abortion debate.

As pro-life advocates planned to mark the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade with the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, and as similar events unfold in cities across the nation last week, an activist in Texas announced an unique initiative he launched to more deeply involve bikers in the pro-life movement.

Mark Crutcher, president of Life Dynamics, Inc., a Denton, Texas-based anti-abortion group, recently announced the founding of Bikers for Life, a project he hopes will lead to motorcyclists having a “presence in front of every abortion clinic in America.”

Crutcher, an avid biker since the age of 12, has been riding hogs for 53 years and is now looking to take that passion and fold it into his work at Life Dynamics — all for the sake of saving unborn babies’ lives.

“I have always had this belief that the biker community, from what I can tell, is pretty overwhelmingly pro-life,” he said in a statement announcing the project. “So I had this idea, sometime ago, about Bikers for Life, that we would try and bring these people into the movement.”

Crutcher told TheBlaze that there are two main reason

He believes that there are large groups of people in America who actually agree with the anti-abortion message but don’t feel they match the stereotypes and perceived view of what it means to be pro-life.

“The abortion lobby and the media have defined the pro-life movement as a collection of old, conservative, white, Republican, religious nut-cases,” Crutcher said. “Unfortunately, we often reinforce that stereotype and, in doing so, we keep our numbers artificially low.”

He said that personal experience has led him to believe that the biker community is actually more pro-life than the general public, making motorcyclists a perfect ally in fighting against abortion in America.

“Several factors drive this. First, by their nature, bikers tend to be politically conservative,” he added. “Second, bikers also tend to be an extremely patriotic group and, today, they are sensing that something is terribly wrong with out country and that, if changes are not made, we will soon be in an irreversible state of moral collapse. They also see the legalization of abortion as a symbol of that moral collapse.”

Crutcher continued, “Third, the typical biker abhors both cowardice and injustice, and the predominate feeling among them is that abortion is a textbook example of each.”

Bikers are already getting involved, with 91 motorcyclists who participated in the Dallas March for Life last weekend. And there are plans for more integration, as hog riders are invited to take part in additional events across the nation.

One area where these individuals could become instrumental is outside abortion clinics, where Crutcher said they can “become the reinforcement troops for picketers.”

“The clinics are the killing fields, and this is the place where God is calling the biker community into action,” he said.

Crutcher believes that the future of Bikers for Life has unlimited possibilities and that the project is poised for monumental growth. He hired a staff member at Life Dynamics devoted to heading up outreach, as the group is currently compiling a database of biker groups across the U.S. that it plans to reach out.

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Source: The Blaze (Hallowell, 2/14)

Pope's Harley goes for $327,000 at charity auction

PARIS (AP) - Pope Francis' Harley-Davidson is hitting the road after an unspecified European buyer agreed to pay 241,500 euros ($327,000) including taxes and fees for the motorcycle at a Paris auction to benefit charity.

The Bonhams auction house said the telephone buyer agreed to pay far more than the expected pre-sale price of more than 12,000 euros ($16,000) at the auction at Paris' Grand Palais.

A Harley-Davidson leather jacket signed by Pope Francis sold for 57,500 euros including fees.

It's unknown whether the pontiff ever rode the custom 2013 Dyna Super Glide that was a gift from Willie Davidson, a retired Harley-Davidson designer and grandson of the company's co-founder.

Money from the sale will be donated to charity Caritas Roma, which runs a soup kitchen and hostel for the homeless in Rome.

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Source: NBC 29 (2/06, AP)

'Layaway Santas' bringing unexpected holiday joy

Travis Meriwether has been waiting around layaway counters for three years in a row to surprise people with cash, paying off balances of strangers during the holidays.

The owner of a custom motorcycle business, Meriwether has spent about $16,500 paying off layaway orders for people buying toys and games. He is a "layaway Santa" or as some prefer, a "layaway angel."

For years, others like him have also been stopping by layaway departments, shocking customers at stores like Walmart, Kmart and Toys R Us. This year, the trend is continuing with scenes of unexpected joy popping up across the nation.

"I like to go to the layaway area and stay two or three hours," said Meriwether, 29, of Burnet, Texas. "I know those people don't have the money right away. Everybody who goes back to that layaway line needs some type of help. This way, they get to get their stuff today and it frees up their money."

Meriwether started buying strangers gifts when in 2011 the credit card of a woman ahead of him in line at Walmart was declined. He stepped in and paid for everything in her cart. Since then, he has visited layaway departments at Target and Walmart in Texas and Oklahoma, where he grew up.

The owner of "Enzo Custom Cycles" said he usually sticks to buying people food and toys during the holidays. Most other layaway donors do the same.

Since September, Walmart has seen more than 1,000 instances of strangers paying off people's layaway accounts.

"We just think it's amazing and a real representative of the spirit of America during this time of year," said Deisha Barnett, a Walmart spokeswoman.

In 2012, people anonymously paid off 794 layaways orders in Toys R Us stores. The company matched each of those gestures with $200 donations to Toys for Tots, giving the program $158,800 to help less fortunate children get toys on Christmas Day. It's doing the same this year.

At Kmarts across the country, more than $1.5 million worth of items have been paid off by strangers over the years. The company also created an online map in 2012 where people can track the Good Samaritans and see what people are saying about the deeds on Twitter.

While such layaway Santas might get the same results, their methods vary. In Florida, a man and his wife overheard a woman talking about her money problems and decided to pay for her items, according to a Walmart spokeswoman. In California, a man planned to use $1,000 to randomly pay off layaway lists of people he hadn't met. Some, like 30-year-old Lee Karchawer, take their giving to the Web.

Karchawer, of New York City, works for a mobile marketing company and created payawaythelayaway.org in October 2011.

"I thought I would be able to round up donations for people who wanted to become layaway angels but didn't have the time to go to the store or have the money power to pay off the whole layaway," he said.

Through the site, Karchawer collects donations of any amount, with the average person giving $25. The first year, he raised $2,000 from 75 donors and bought gifts for people in the New York City area.

This year, some 350 people have donated about $15,000. That money will go to help others in New York, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts and California.

Once the money arrives, Karchawer and others go to stores like Kmart, Toys R Us, and Babies R Us and store workers pick out random accounts that include children's toys. The stores then usually contact customers with paid off accounts and tell them of their good luck.

"Growing up, my parents were able to provide me with presents and I know how great that made me feel," Karchawer said. "I can't imagine a child not having that. This is an incredible movement to show how much compassion people have toward others."

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Source: Hattiesburg American (AP, 12/19)

Exploring America’s Main Streets on a motorcycle

Brothers Brant and Dylan Ozanich and Wyatt McCall were at a motorcycle shop in Hamilton, Montana, ordering a part for Dylan’s bike when they met two old bikers from Texas and talked with them about their trip across the country.

Although they had no treasurer, Brant pointed to McCall to answer the question. “You guys are going to need this, trust me,” said one of the older men, handing him $200 in cash.

The three friends, all in their early 20s, admit they looked a little raggedy at the time. “It was straight kindness,” said McCall, and typical of the generosity of the bikers they met across the country. And it turns out, “we did need it the next day for more bike repairs.”

The generosity of strangers repeated itself during the two-month summer journey of three young men on the cusp of adulthood to find and document Main Street culture and people across the United States. And making the trip on motorcycles connected them not just to the towns and people they visited, but also to the country’s biker community.

An exploration of biker culture

Contributing their own money and raising funds from family, friends and Kickstarter, the trio started a blog, raised over $10,000 to fund the trip and pay for the pre- and post-production costs of documenting their journey. They documented the journey on their blog and the reddit online community, and they hope to have a documentary and book out sometime next year.

Traveling on motorcycles turned out to be key. Dylan rode a 1982 Yamaha XJ 750 Seca ($500 cost); Brant rode a 1980 Yamaha XJ 650 Maxim ($500); and McCall rode a 1985 Honda V65 Magna ($1500 cost). “On Maxim, On Magna, On Seca” was a mantra they picked up for the trip.

“We didn’t know motorcycles were going to be that much of a connection between people, but they were,” said McCall. “Every time you get to a new place, you’re part of this new community.”

“With motorcycles you feel the scenery and the microclimate change and smell the fields you drive through,” said Brant. “Besides, it’s just plain badass.”

Finding their first Main Street

They packed up their bikes and left around noon on July 6. They planned to head north, turn east to get to New York, south to Mississippi and then through Texas and the Southwest to return home to California, But they decided not to keep to a strict schedule, allowing for fellow travelers to guide them on their way.

It didn’t take long to hit pay dirt. A few hours after they hit the road, they found their first Main Street in Point Arena, a small town north of San Francisco.

As they hopped off their bikes, the locals they met convinced them to come back the next day for a parade marking Independence Day. “The whole community came out and let us be a part of it and accepted us into the community,” Dylan said.

That serendipity set the tone for the rest of the trip.

The best sandwich in Idaho, or anywhere

The travelers only had a guarantee of places to stay (and eat) in New York and Los Angeles. Everything else would be an exploration, local recommendations and possibly, information from their not-guaranteed Internet connections.

The road led them to a Mennonite deli in Clark Fork, Idaho, that “made the best sandwiches we’ve ever tasted,” said McCall. They bought sandwiches and drove a mile down the road into Montana near a bridge to picnic and more. “We jumped off the bridge to swim,” Dylan said. And the drive through the Bitterroot Mountain range that cuts Idaho and Montana wasn’t too shabby either.

They also explored the source of their food, working for five days at Echo Valley Farm in Wisconsin in exchange for room and board. “It was some of the most gorgeous, breathtaking American looking farmland I’ve ever seen, with rolling green hills and grain mills,” Brant said. “It felt like what we were looking for the whole time — true America heartland.”

The farm’s kindness was typical of the people who gave them shelter on their journey. “We pulled up, three dirty bikers, to this nice sustainable farm,” he said. They “showed us a nice place to park the bikes, took us on a tractor up around the whole property and told us about everything they were doing.”

A willingness of strangers to share their stories was also typical. Shortly after they crossed the Mason Dixon Line into Maryland and found a good campsite at Catoctin Mountain Park, they heard music coming through the woods. “Was it a violin or cello?” said McCall, so they went to explore it.

They discovered two older Korean men playing songs about Korea on their saxophones. “We found the coolest guys on the whole trip.”

Busted shocks and other struggles

The trip wasn’t without its troubles. San Francisco street cleaners knocked over Brant’s bike the day before they left on their trip, pulling off the entire front end. Brant thought he had repaired the damage that day, until the shocks stopped working somewhere in Montana.

“For a few days I didn’t know if my bike would be able to make it,” said Brant. But they were able to fix it. “He pulled it all apart in the forest, drained it and put in new fluid,” said Dylan.

Brant also had the smallest gas tank, holding a gallon less than the other two bikes. He also had the worst gas mileage. And so he ran out of gas at least five times on the trip, and coasted into gas stations on fumes at least three times. “I learned toward the end of the trip to carry a water bottle or two of gas.”

By the time they arrived home in San Francisco on August 28, everyone was glad to sleep in their own beds again.

“For the first six days back, McCall was at his girlfriend’s house, and Dylan and I sat on the couch watching movies,” said Brant.

‘An adult within my society’

Giving up the benefits of home for a couple months was worth the journey. Dylan left San Francisco thinking it would be a way to transition from his youth to adulthood. Along the way, he hoped to learn “what it means to be a man in my society.” While he doesn’t have any specific answers, “seeing my country and understanding what my country is about … helped me understand that more.”

While Brant has always liked to travel and experience new things, he thought he would graduate college, get a job and save for his next planned trip. Not anymore. “Being out there in America on the road, and roughing it, inspired me to book a plane ticket to South America with my last $400,” he said. “I thought, ‘If you did this, you can do pretty much anything without a lot of resources.’ “

McCall, who had graduated in May not knowing what he wanted to do, thinks travel and video may be his calling.(And he learned how to ride a motorcycle along the way.)

The three friends credit each other with making it an amazing experience. “We did get in fights and have problems, but we wouldn’t have been able to do it without each other,” said Dylan.

“Every different leg of the trip, there was one pushing, one dragging and one on a stretcher,” he said. “It would change every single day.”

“We wouldn’t have made it across the country and back without the others.”

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Source: KPLR (AP, 11/06)

Family Fun With North Tx. Firefighters Benefit

Everyone in North Central Texas is invited to the 4th Annual North TX Firefighters Fundraiser - Chili Cook-off & Motorcycle Run, October 26, 2013, American Legion's Park, Whitewright, Texas.

Helping North Texas Volunteer Fire Departments buy what they need to save lives, then go home.

Attention chili cooks, motorcycle riders, volunteer fire departments and Halloween costume contestants! Compete for over $3,000 in prizes and 16 awards at the North TX Firefighters Fundraiser on October 26, in Whitewright, Texas. Anyone can enter. Proceeds will be divided among the volunteer fire departments that participate.

The first 15 chili contestants who register early will be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift card from Academy Sports & Outdoors donated by Plano and McKinney. Must be present to win. Cook-off is CASI-sanctioned. CASI rules for fairness and safety must be followed.

The first 25 motorcycle riders who register early will be entered into a drawing for $100 dining card donated by Rick's Chophouse, McKinney. Must be present to win.

The Best-Decorated Firefighter Boot Contest winner takes home a prize for their volunteer fire department. You can vote for your favorite boot by dropping donations into the boot(s) you like best. The boot with the most money wins, and the VFDs take home the collections in their respective boots.

Kids! Costume contest prizes. Halloween tattoos. Loads of trick or treat candy will be handed out by the American Legion. Meet real volunteer firefighters and learn how boys and girls can be firefighters when you grow up.

Spectators! Come early and watch all kinds of motorcycles as they depart from Whitewright from 8:15am-10:00am.

Have breakfast and lunch in the park with the Friday Women's Club Bake Sale and 4th Monday food vendors, including breakfast tacos, hot breakfast plates with biscuits, cappuccino, cocoa, cider, snow cones, homemade desserts, hamburgers, BBQ sandwiches, funnel cakes.

Negotiate bargains with the 4th Monday Trade Days merchandise vendors and the Friday Women's Club of Whitewright rummage sale.

www.FunSaturday.com email texasVFD@gmail.com or call 903.818.9023.

Contact: Ella Fitzbag Vendor Contact: Andrew 972.480.3389

VFDs get one complimentary entry fee that can be used for the cook-off or motorcycle run.

Each VFD gets one equal share of the proceeds. You can enter as many additional chili teams and motorcycles as you want at the $20 entry fee.

All contestants who register early are entered into door prize drawings. Pay at the event or online. Credit cards accepted online.

Drawing for chili contestants who register early:

$75 gift card from Academy Sports & Outdoors, donated by the McKinney store. Must be present and checked-in at the event.

Drawing for motorcycle riders who register early:

$100 dining card from Rick's Chophouse, McKinney.

Must be present and check-in at the event.

Enter the VFD Best-Decorated Boot Contest. The public votes for their favorite boots by dropping donations into the boots they like best. The 4 VFD boots with the most money win trophies, and each VFD takes home the donations in their respective boots.


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Source: KTen (Anderson, 10/24)

Galveston Texas Prepares for the 2013 Lone Star Rally

Organizers of the 2013 Lone Star Rally, Texas, are promising the most exciting rally to date. In preparation, they have recently overhauled the look of their website which features early details of this year’s event.

Known as the largest four-day motorcycle rally in the country, the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally will hold its 12th annual extravaganza this year from October 31-November 3. The Galveston, Texas event is free to attend and registration is not required. A $10/day fee is charged for bike parking; however, riders are allowed to move their bike within the area at no extra charge.

Hundreds of vendors will be there showcasing everything from bike enhancements and the hottest new accessories to jewelry and leather wear, and the days and nights will be full of free concerts and entertainment.

Celebrity appearances will include autograph signings by the stars of FX Network’s hit show, Sons of Anarchy. Mark ‘Bobby’ Boone, Tommy ‘Chibs’ Flanagan and Kim ‘Tig’ Coates will be greeting fans and rally-goers at scheduled meet and greet events at Celebrity Square. This year, the “All Access Pass” gets you into Celebrity Square to mix and mingle with your favorite industry, TV and film stars, with photo and autograph opportunities.

Also new for this year, the Lone Star Rally is proud to announce its partnership with the International Master Bike Builders Association (IMBBA). Well-known custom bike builder, Jeff Starke, founded the IMBBA in 2005. The IMBBA will take the Lone Star Rally to a whole new level as it produces the 2013 Lone Star Rally Bike Show. All IMBBA judges will adhere to a strict set of published guidelines as they award points in several different categories for the bike show on Saturday, November 2. A unique feature of IMBBA judges is that they will remain after the competition to meet with builders and owners, offering tips to help them hone their skills.

Because of its scenic routes, riding is one of the biggest attractions at the Galveston Rally. You can ride along the coast, cruise through the middle of the rally on Strand Street, or ride over the Causeway to Galveston Island. Galveston is a beautiful beach city that has many outdoor pubs and bars, so if you want to take a break from riding, you can enjoy food and beer while watching the other bikes ride by.

The city of Galveston, Texas, is busy preparing for this one-of-a-kind rally. Don’t be left behind as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts will flock to historic downtown Galveston beginning October 31, for the biggest four-day party in the country.

If you are considering a trip down to Galveston this fall for the 2013 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally, stop by our booth and say “Hi’! We’ll be there during the rally to introduce more riders to BAM, our free roadside and legal assistance program. After all, the Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys are the official legal sponsor of the Lone Star Rally. We Ride—We Care—We Win!

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Source: BAM (Nesbitt, 9/30)

Longhorn Harley-Davidson - Grand Prairie, Texas announces Demo Day. Come test ride the all new 2014 Bike Lineup.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas,- Longhorn Harley-Davidson is excited to announce the arrival of the new 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Developed under the name Project Rushmore, Harley-Davidson's 2014 touring and trike motorcycles have liquid-cooled engines and touch-screen electronics bringing a luxury feel to the Harley-Davidson experience.

Eight models were enhanced under Project Rushmore, making it the largest new model launch in Harley's history. The bikes were unveiled to celebrate its 110th anniversary in Milwaukee over Labor Day weekend.

There will be 8 new models with the Project Rushmore features: the Road King, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Ultra Limited, Tri Glide Ultra, CVO Ultra Limited and CVO Road King.

Longhorn Harley-Davidson will be holding its first Demo Day on Saturday, Sept 21st from 10:00 to 4:00. All motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to test ride the new 2014. Then stay and celebrate with us. Live music starts at 12:30 and Mixed Up Burgers will be in the house!

Longhorn Harley-Davidson is located in a 50,000 sq. ft. building at 2830 West I-20, Grand Prairie, TX. 75052. They are a family owned business with one of the largest selection of new and previously enjoyed motorcycles in DFW.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee (AP, 09/20)

Killeen native revamps, renames biker bar and grill

From horsepower to hamburgers, Texas Proud Bar & Grill serves the hungry adrenaline seekers of Central Texas.

Located at 704 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. in downtown Killeen, the bar has fed and entertained the motor heads of Killeen since opening Aug. 15.

“Our goal is to make everyone feel welcomed here,” said Wayne “Wiz” Whisenhunt, owner of Texas Proud Custom Cycles and Texas Proud Bar & Grill. “This is not just a biker bar. Texas Proud is a place where anyone can come in and feel accepted. We’ve got good food, a family-style atmosphere and good live music.”

Whisenhunt, a Killeen native, has had gasoline running through his veins from the time he was born. His father, a soldier stationed at Fort Hood and an avid drag racer, got the young Whisenhunt interested in mechanics and motorcycles from a very early age.

“I got my first bike when I was 15, a 3½ horsepower Rupp mini bike,” Whisenhunt said. “I ended up wrapping it around a tree and had to start working at the Harley-Davidson dealership my father managed to pay for the repairs, and I’m still working on Harleys 35 years later.”

Whisenhunt’s first business, Texas Proud Custom Cycles, began small in 2001. Over the years, it has grown into an almost unrecognizable mecca for Central Texas bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts.

With a full garage offering powder coat, painting, fabrication and distribution of parts, Texas Custom Cycles produces two-wheeled art for clients in and around Central Texas.

At Texas Proud Bar & Grill and a tattoo shop now on the premises, customers can get inked up and grab a beer and some food while waiting on their motorcycles to be worked on in the garage.

“I love this place,” said Matt Numm, a painter by day and bassist by night. “I’ve been coming since the beginning, back when it was called Joker’s. I’ve played a few shows in here back in the day, and this is one of my all-time favorite bars in Texas. The acoustics in here are amazing and are perfect for a show.”

Texas Proud Bar & Grill started out as Joker’s Ice House in 2009. Whisenhunt and the owner of Joker's parted ways this year and Joker's moved to Stan Schluter Boulevard. Whisenhunt reopened his restaurant as Texas Proud Bar & Grill, offering hungry customers a variety of interesting menu options.

“My favorite thing here is the fried armadillo eggs,” Numm said. “They are a jalapeño stuffed with chopped beef and cream cheese, then fried … they are the best.”

Sees bright future

With the early success of his newest venture, Whisenhunt looks ahead and sees a bright future for his business.

“I want to start franchises ... if Hooters can do it, then why can’t I?” Whisenhunt said. “If Texas Proud continues to grow in popularity like it was when we first opened up (as Joker’s) in 2009, then I think I could definitely see another franchise popping up in the next two years.”

Whisenhunt gives credit to the military for making his businesses, and others in the Killeen area, successful.

“Without the military, none of this would be possible,” he said. “I thank God every day that he has gotten me through so much and allowed me to stay in business for close to 13 years. But I’m not doing this for the money; I am doing it because it makes me rich in heart serving the soldiers and the city of Killeen.”

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Source: KDH News (Papke, 09/20)

Beaufort woman's motorcycle -- stolen in Texas -- found

A motorcycle and trailer stolen from a Beaufort woman on a cross-country charity fundraiser ride have been found, according to a news release from the Amarillo Police Department.

Police found Gail Ankney's trailer July 31 in a fenced-in lot about five miles southwest of where it was stolen. Her motorcycle was recovered three weeks later, on August 22, about six miles southwest of the Motel 6.

Officers searching the fenced-in lot found the trailer hidden under mattresses and pallets, according to the release. Police also found the motorcycle's windshield and other parts that had been removed from the bike.

Police found the motorcycle in the garage of a vacant apartment after a person reported seeing two motorcycles there, the release said. One was identified as Ankney's Harley-Davidson. Police are still searching for the owner of the other bike, a Suzuki. It was not reported as missing or stolen.

Ankney's motorcycle and trailer were stolen from outside her hotel during a stop in Amarillo July 26 during the Women's Freedom Ride, an event she created to raise money for injured veterans and raise awareness for female motorcycle riders.

Ankney said police told her they had recovered her property last week. After getting the good news, however, she ran into trouble trying to get her bike back to Beaufort.

Her insurance company would only pay to have the bike and trailer shipped back if they were both a total loss, Ankney said. Since they weren't, it meant she would have to pay for everything, including impound fees and any repair costs needed to even ship the trailer and motorcycle home.

To offset some of the costs, Ankney said several people asked about donating money. She said two donated $1,000 to pay the impound and repair fees for the trailer, and others donated about $560 of the $650 payment to get both shipped home.

Ankney said the shipping company is expected to deliver her motorcycle and trailer between Saturday and Monday.

"I'm estatic about getting it back, but I'll feel much better when it actually gets here," she said.

Police initially told her it was unlikely her bike would be recovered intact.

Despite the ordeal in Amarillo, Ankney plans to keep taking the Women's Freedom Ride. Back in Beaufort now, she's planning a ride for next year along the east coast, as well as shorter trips to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and Milwaukee.

"Bike thefts can happen anywhere, to anybody," she said. "It didn't stop me then and it's not going to stop me in the future."

The investigation into the theft of the trailer is continuing, the Amarillo release said. The owner of the lot where the trailer was found was not charged.

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Source: BeaufortGazette (AP, 8/28)

Polaris Brings Back Indian Motorcycles

The Indian Motorcycle Company fizzled out after World War Two, but now one Siouxland company is proudly resurrecting the brand and motorcycle enthusiasts are getting revved up about the launch of an American classic.

Production is just beginning on the Indian Motorcycle line at Polaris in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Polaris is rolling out three new models of Indian Motorcycles: the Chief Classic, the Chief Vintage, and the Chieftain. They were unveiled at Sturgis in South Dakota earlier this month. There were bikes available for demo rides, and they were received well.

Not only are potential customers excited, but so are workers that will be assembling the bikes.

"It's exciting to be part of the re-launch of Indian Motorcycles," Mike Hoffman said. He works on the production line and can't wait to take home his own Indian. "It's such a historic company with so much nostalgia. I mean, people are so excited about the re-launch of the brand."

Cory Knudtson, director of motorcycle operations at Polaris, said Indian Motorcycles are going to be a big hit thanks to the great memories they'll stir. "The nostalgia, the heritage, you know, the Steve McQueen riding an Indian across the desert! That's never left the American psyche."

The style of the new Indian bikes will look familiar, but the technology definitely isn't vintage. It's like 21st century technology and convenience meets 1940's style.

"They really ride phenomenally well," Hoffman said. "I mean, the handling is great, the power is great, they sound really nice."

A 33,000 square foot addition made room for the new production line, in addition to the other products and motorcycles Polaris already makes.

The Indian Motorcycles are expected to be ready as soon as September.

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Source: KcauTV (DeRoin, 8/21)

Number of motorcycle deaths should lead to more helmet laws

On a trip to Fort Worth’s main post office a couple of months ago, I noticed the traffic on Interstate 35W North moving very slowly on this “expressway,” especially for a Saturday afternoon.

Rather than get angry, I blamed myself for not remembering all the construction that’s been there for months. At least the return trip would be quicker, I thought as I dropped off my mail.

But in less than 10 minutes something happened that also had brought the southbound lanes almost to a standstill, a situation I didn’t realize until I was already on the entrance ramp with no way to avoid the massive jam.

This time I was about to get angry until I saw the flashing lights of emergency vehicles ahead and realized that there had been an accident. As my car inched along and got closer to the scene, I was not prepared for what I saw.

On the side of the highway was a wrecked motorcycle, and a short distance away lay a covered body, with only a man’s shoes exposed. An ambulance was leaving with its lights flashing, causing me to believe that perhaps a motorist had been injured as well.

I learned later that afternoon that only the motorcycle had been involved in the crash that killed a 44-year-old Haltom City man and critically injured his female passenger. Neither the driver nor the passenger wore a helmet, police said.

I’ve long been concerned about the number of motorcycle fatalities in this state and nationwide each year, but the problem became more real for me after I viewed that awful sight.

In March, there were four motorcycle fatalities in Fort Worth in one week, and on Sunday a 24-year-old Cleburne man was killed when he was thrown from his motorcycle as he tried to make a turn.

While other traffic deaths have been on the decline, motorcycle fatalities have been rising in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Although down slightly last year to 460 people killed compared with 488 in 2011, annual motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 56 percent since 2004.

Nationally there were about 4,550 deaths in 2012, doubling the amount in the mid-1990s, USA Today reported.

The number of fatalities, as well as serious head injuries, began to rise significantly as states repealed or relaxed their laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Texas had such a law but changed it in 1997 from mandating helmet use for all riders to requiring helmets for those under 21 and those who have not completed a rider education course or secured a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance coverage. Then in 1990 Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill that removed the minimum amount of insurance coverage.

Helmet use decreased significantly after those laws were passed, placing more riders in danger of being killed or gravely injured. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, during the first full year after the weakening of the Texas helmet law in 1997, “deaths jumped 31 percent compared to the year prior to repealing its law.”

The CDC says helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 percent and the risk of head injury by 69 percent. In 2010, the U.S. saved $3 billion because of helmet use and could have saved $1.4 billion more had all motorcyclists worn helmets.

Some people are calling for national laws to address the problem, but I won’t go that far.

I do think individual states, and particularly Texas, should pass laws requiring helmet use by all riders — drivers and passengers.

At the same time we must continue to educate the rest of the population about motorcycle safety, including reminding motorists to be on the lookout for those riding two-wheel vehicles.

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Source: Star-Telegram (Sanders, 8/07)

FEWER TEXAS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN 2012

Texas saw a slight reduction in the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents last year.

Fewer Texas motorcycle accident fatalities in 2012

During the summer months, many Texans enjoy taking to the road on their motorcycles. When riding a motorcycle, however, it is critical that people take proper safety precautions to avoid dangerous collisions with other motor vehicles.

Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents in the state actually declined in 2012. The reduction was small -- 488 people were killed in such crashes in 2011, while there were 460 fatalities in 2012.

Although the six percent decline was not large, it was a rare occasion, as the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents has tended to rise steadily in recent decades. In fact, since 2004, the number of motorcycle collision fatalities in Texas has risen by a staggering 56 percent overall.

Motorcycle accidents are of particular concern in Texas and across the country due to the high rate of injuries and fatalities following such collisions -- practically 90 percent of such collisions lead to either personal injuries or death.

Consequently, experts are focusing on ways to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents that occur annually and further reduce the number of fatalities caused by such collisions.

Protect yourself from a dangerous motorcycle accident in Texas

In Texas, the Department of Transportation has taken steps to help protect motorcyclists on the road. For instance, it has initiated public awareness campaigns to encourage other motorists to be more aware of the motorcyclists on the road. The Texas Department of Transportation has encouraged drivers to "Look Twice" and "Share the Road" with motorcyclists.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has been researching the most common causes of motorcycle accidents for decades. It plans to release the results of the Motorcycle Crash Causation Study in 2015, after examining information from a minimum of 280 collisions.

Across the country, the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents more than doubled from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration reported that 4,462 people across the country were killed in such collisions.

Motorcyclists can also take proactive measures to protect themselves on the road. One of the best solutions is to always wear a helmet while riding, as they can reduce the severity of injuries and even prevent death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the damage caused in the collision. Seek the advice of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to ensure your rights are protected.

X Games going deep in heart of Texas to Austin

The X Games are going from the glitz of Los Angeles to deep in the heart of Texas.

Athletes with skateboards and motorcycles will be competing in the Texas capital after ESPN announced Wednesday that Austin will be the next North American host city for the X Games.

"Austin over the last several years has really become synonymous with supporting big events," said Scott Guglielmino, senior vice president, ESPN programming and X Games. "The music scene is fantastic. The night life is fantastic and definitely a young, active town."

The home to the University of Texas also has the new Circuit of the Americas sports and entertainment complex, which will be the primary site for X Games Austin. The 1,500-acre complex opened in November by hosting the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix and held a MotoGP motorcycle race in April.

Austin was selected over three other finalists: Chicago, Detroit and Charlotte, N.C. There were initially 13 qualified bids for the Olympic-style selection process, with Austin picked to host for four years starting next May 15-18.

"X Games is a great action sports competition and is an ideal fit for the city of Austin, which has a tremendous fitness orientation, a tremendous action sports community," said Steve Sexton, president of Circuit of the Americas.

Sexton said 16-18 X Games athletes live in Austin, and that a "couple of thousand people" showed up at the State Capitol to watch an exhibition when Austin was announced as one of the four finalists earlier this year.

X Games is nearing the end of its first year of global expansion and transformation, with events already held in Aspen, Colo., France, Brazil, Spain and Germany.

The X Games will wrap up an 11-year run in Los Angeles with this summer's event Aug. 1-4.

"L.A. clearly, Southern California, it's a special home when it comes to action sports and that whole culture, no question about it," Guglielmino said. "But we felt like it was time to move the X Games to a new venue, a new city. We leave Los Angeles with a lot of great memories, certainly. ... We leave after quite a good and prosperous stay, but definitely looking forward to getting to Austin and really growing out the event."

Aspen has been the host of the winter X Games since 2002, but its contract expires after next year's event. Bidding to host winter competition in the United States just ended, with the next site likely to be picked in early 2014.

There are about 350 fully developed acres at Circuit of the Americas, including the 3.4-mile race track with 20 turns, an expansive outdoor live music space for 14,000 spectators and a 25-story observation tower. There is a pit/paddock building with 34 garage bays and two upper levels of hospitality space, and a 44,000-square-foot event center.

Sexton expects at least 100,000 spectators for the four days of competition.

"The ability to host the X Games fits into our overall strategy, to have a multidimensional entertainment and sports destination," Sexton said. "We're more than motor sports. The X Games is kind of one of the first of many steps in the process."


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Source: The Boston Herald News (AP, 7/17)

Bikers cruise Amarillo roads

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Anywhere from 500 to 1,000 motorcyclists took part in the second Amarillo Bike Fest this weekend, June 28 to June 29, 2013.

Bikers from all over the Panhandle set up camp at Western Cowpunchers and toured the Palo Duro Canyon. They also traveled the historic Route 66.

Live music and vendors was also a perk to the event, which raised money for Family Support Services.

Amarillo Bike Fest Coordinator, Cedrick Graves said their goal is to have fun, stay safe, and bring business to the Amarillo area.

"We have quite a variety of things going on today," said Graves "Along with their bike runs they can enjoy food, leather apparel, and even get tattoos or airbrush painting."

The fun continued June 29, 2013 with, Cracker Jack the Band performing.


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Source: Connect Amarillo (Mills, 6/29)

Mexican Bikers Make Trek to Texas

Jorge Rojas López says that like the hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s, bikers and their reputation for being rough, tough and rebellious is uniquely American.

But that did not stop Rojas, 61, and about three dozen other Mexican nationals from traveling as far as 900 miles to attend an event in Austin that celebrates the fierce independence and individuality of the Lone Star State, the Republic of Texas Biker Rally.

Billed as one of the largest rallies of its kind in the country — rivaling similar events in Sturgis, S.D.,and Daytona Beach, Fla.— the rally draws more than 35,000 people from across the world, promoters said.

The event, which celebrated its 19th year when it was held this month, included performances by the 1980s metal stars Twisted Sister and the Mötley Crüe front man Vince Neil. It also featured, for the first time, performances by Mexican motorcycle acrobats, part of a national club called the Confederación Internacional de Motociclistas Oficiales y Policías de Caminos. The group includes members of regional clubs, like Dorados de Villa in Ciudad Juárez, of which Rojas is a member, across the border from El Paso. Others come from Mexico City, Nuevo León, Querétaro and Guadalajara. The group’s performers are daredevils who mount one another’s shoulders, ride backward on front-end rims or form human pyramids on two motorcycles as they cruise along a designated route. By day, they are professors, teachers, police officers and businessmen.

“The biker is from here, the real biker, and this is a Mexican expression of that culture,” Rojas said. But the Mexican signature, he added, is the acrobatic element. “We don’t see them dominate the bike the way the Apaches dominated the horse better than the Spaniards,” he said.

Rojas, a criminology professor and the rector of the Universidad Cultural in Ciudad Juárez, said the performance transcended the tumultuous histories between Texas and Mexico.

“From my sociological point of view, Texas is really a mixture of cultures,” he said. “Mexicans, we don’t harbor resentment. To the contrary, we see this as a cultural expression. The culture is universal: it doesn’t have borders or limits, it doesn’t have a color. We’re citizens of the world, and as such, we understand this cultural expression.”

Alejandro Galán, the national group’s leader, acknowledges the history but uses it as a punch line instead of a point of contention.

“We’re here because we want to take it back,” he joked, referring to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, under which Mexico in 1848 lost its northern territory to the United States.

The state’s Chicanos, Americans of Mexican descent who identify with both cultures, say the Mexican bikers are a welcome addition to the Texas event.

Mikey Rodriguez, 42, is a member of the Latin Lords MC, a group from Baytown, near Houston. This was his 13th visit to the rally. In previous years, the Mexican riders would caravan in, wearing Mexican wrestler masks amid a cheering crowd. That they make the trek, he said, is not surprising.

“When you’re involved in this lifestyle, you travel left and right,” he said.

Rachel Salas, 36, a Latina and native of Lubbock, said the Mexicans were as welcome as anyone else and just as embraced.

“Everybody gets along, I think that’s a good thing,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly, almost too friendly.”

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Source: Texas Tribune (Aguilar, 6/21)

R.O.T. Rally

One of the most awaited summer biker rallies is almost here! And, as usual, Texas Biker Lawyers will be there!

This rally will be held in Austin June 13 at the Travis County Exposition Center. The R.O.T Rally is mostly know for their high caliber music acts, cool motorcycles, and the beautiful women of texas.

Over the years the city completely closes of 54 blocks. Over 50,000 people have attended. This year R.O.T will be showcasing motorcycle and vintage bike shows, classic car and hot rod shows, custom bike builders, motorcycle acrobats including the world famous Wall of Death, bike giveaways, tattoo expos, nationally recognized bands, a swimsuit competition, comedians, even a mixed martial arts competition, but also much, much more.

Some of the performing bands this year will be the amazing Twister Sister, Los Lonely Boys, Vince Neil (of Motley Crue), Ray Wylie Hubbard, Texas Flood, Omar and The Howlers, American Swindle, Black Foot, and the list just keeps going! Most R.O.T. related events will be hosted by comedian Steve Trevino! So come on down to Austin: the capital of music.

Motorcycle Injuries Worsen With Weaker Helmet Laws

Across the nation, motorcyclists opposed to mandatory helmet use have been chipping away at state helmet laws for years while crash deaths have been on the rise. In September 1997 the state of Texas amended its motorcycle helmet laws. The change meant only riders younger than 21 are required to wear a helmet. During the first full year following the weakening of the law, deaths jumped 31-percent compared to the year before.

For more than 40 years, Michigan required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets. State legislators changed the law last year so that only riders younger than 21 must wear helmets. The average insurance payment on a motorcycle injury claim was $5,410 in the two years before the law was changed, and $7,257 after it was changed — an increase of 34 percent, the study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found.

After adjusting for the age and type of motorcycle, rider age, gender, marital status, weather and other factors, the actual increase was about 22 percent relative to a group of four comparative states, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, the study found.

“The cost per injury claim is significantly higher after the law changed than before, which is consistent with other research that shows riding without a helmet leads to more head injuries,” said David Zuby, chief research officer for the data institute and an affiliated organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The data institute publishes insurance loss statistics on most car, SUV, pickup truck and motorcycle models on U.S. roads.

While other studies have shown an increase motorcycle deaths after states eliminate or weaken mandatory helmet requirements, the industry study is the first to look specifically at the effect of repealing helmet requirements on the severity of injuries as measured by medical insurance claims, Zuby said.

Some states have sought to mitigate the repeal or loosening of mandatory helmet laws by setting minimum medical insurance requirements, but “that doesn’t even come close to covering the lifelong care of somebody who is severely brain-injured and who cannot work and who is going to be on Medicaid and a ward of the state,” said Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which backs mandatory helmet requirements for all riders.

Jeff Hennie, vice president of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, dismissed the study, saying the insurance industry views helmets as “the silver bullet that’s going to change the landscape of motorcycle safety.” He said insurers are upset because “life has gotten more expensive for them and they have to pay out more.”

“The fact is our highways are bloody,” Hennie said. “This (the Michigan helmet law change) doesn’t make helmets illegal. … No one is forcing anyone to ride without a helmet.”

Vince Consiglio, president of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education of Michigan, blamed the increase in the severity of injuries on bikers who don’t take safety courses required to obtain a special motorcycle license. He said bikers without motorcycle licenses have made up an increasingly larger share of fatalities and injuries in recent years.

But Gillan said the study “clearly shows there is no such thing as a free ride, and the public is paying the cost for this.”

There’s no way to know how many of the Michigan claims involved motorcyclists not wearing helmets, the study said. But another recent study by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found a significant increase in motorcyclists involved in crashes who weren’t wearing helmets after the law changed. From April 13, 2012, the first full day after the change took effect, through the end of the year, 74 percent of motorcyclists involved in crashes were wearing helmets, compared with 98 percent in the same period for the previous four years, the study found.

Nationally, motorcycle deaths have risen in 14 of the past 15 years, with more than 5,000 deaths last year, according to an analysis by the Governors Highway Safety Association of preliminary 2012 data. That’s the highest proportion motorcycles have ever represented of overall traffic deaths, more than 14 percent, the association said.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, 28 states require only some motorcyclists — usually younger or novice riders — to wear a helmet, and three states have no helmet use law. States have been gradually repealing or weakening mandatory helmet laws for nearly two decades.

In 1967, to increase motorcycle helmet use, the federal government required that states enact helmet laws in order to qualify for certain federal safety programs and highway construction aid. The federal incentive worked. By the early 1970s, almost all states had motorcycle helmet laws that covered all riders. In 1976, Congress stopped the Transportation Department from assessing financial penalties on states without helmet laws, and state lawmakers began repealing the statutes.

In 1991, Congress created new incentives for states to enact helmet and seat belt laws, but reversed itself four years later.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sent observers to states last year to count how many motorcyclists wore helmets, found that 97 percent of motorcyclists in states with universal helmet laws were wearing helmets compared with 58 percent of motorcyclists in states without such coverage.



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Source: CBS (AP, 5/30)

Comedy Defensive Driving Celebrates Motorcycle Awareness Month

Comedy Defensive Driving is joining the national movement to promote motorcycle safety, urging drivers to be both aware of and conscientious toward motorcyclists and to help prevent motorcycle accidents.

Comedy Defensive Driving is the latest supporter to join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in marking May as national Motorcycle Awareness Month, a campaign designed to help reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to motorcycle drivers across the country. According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are approximately 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than drivers of other vehicle types, with lack of visibility being one of the major contributing factors.

Comedy Defensive Driving is a driving and traffic school that is dedicated to providing driver instruction to its students that is both entertaining and informative in order to make sure that all motorists, regardless of vehicle type, are safe on the road. They offer both online and classroom-based courses, including ticket dismissal and court-ordered classes.

To see or sign up for any of Comedy Defensive Driving’s available classes visit their website at http://www.ComedyDefensiveDriving.com.

Comedy Defensive Driving has nearly 20 years of driver education experience. Their goal is to use laughter to make what can otherwise be a boring, frustrating process both fun and educational. They have classrooms across Texas and Florida and offer defensive driving courses online that are accepted by courts and licensing agencies across the country.

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Source: Chron (AP, 5/10)

DPS Urges Motorists to Use Caution Around Motorcyclists

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding drivers on Texas roadways to use extra caution around motorcycles as part of Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, which is observed during the month of May.

“Because of size and visibility, motorcyclists face unique challenges on the road that make them more vulnerable,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We encourage all drivers – whether on two wheels or four – to actively watch out for each other and obey traffic laws. Motorcyclists can further protect themselves by wearing helmets; and other drivers can help by looking twice and giving extra space to motorcyclists.”

Currently, there are more than 440,000 motorcycles and mopeds registered in Texas, and that number is expected to grow.

DPS recommends all drivers “Share the Road” and “Look Twice” for motorcycles, which are Texas Department of Transportation public awareness campaigns that highlight motorcycle safety. Motorists should use caution, especially at intersections and when changing lanes – two common places where serious motorcycle collisions occur. Half of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Texas occur because a car or truck driver never saw the motorcyclist.

In 2012, 460 people in Texas died in motorcycle crashes – down from the 488 motorcyclists who died in 2011. However, those deaths accounted for approximately 13 percent of all traffic deaths in the state last year, and 89 percent of motorcycle crashes in Texas result in death or injury.

In addition to the annual awareness campaign, May 2013 also marks the 30th anniversary of the DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit. The unit coordinates training courses at more than 200 locations around the state for both basic and experienced riders. Motorcyclists must be properly licensed to operate a motorcycle in the State of Texas. For more information on motorcycle training or to find a training location in your area, please call 1-800-292-5787 or visit www.dps.texas.gov/msb.

Drivers and motorcyclists can significantly reduce their chances of being involved in a serious or fatal crash by adhering to basic safety measures, including:

• Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width – never try to share a lane.

• Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.

• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.

• Allow more following distance – three or four sec¬onds – when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emer¬gency.

• Never tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

• Never drive while distracted.

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Source: KBTX (AP, 5/2)

Motorcycle Fatalities in San Antonio drop

Friends say Leonard Goff, 52, would be alive had he heeded his longtime girlfriend's advice to wear a helmet when he rode his motorcycle.

Goff, a longtime motorcyclist, died in a crash after losing control while speeding in the 14100 block of Judson Road on April 21. According to a police report, he may have been drinking.

He is the eighth motorcycle rider killed in a crash in San Antonio this year, police said. But they also say fatal crashes are on the decline: In 2012, eight fewer people died in motorcycle crashes than in 2011.

Texas is one of 16 states that has seen a drop in motorcyclist fatalities in recent years, unlike the rest of the country, where fatalities are expected to reach a record 5,027 once 2012 numbers are finalized, according to a study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“We don't really know why they declined; the numbers fluctuate every year,” said Barbara Harsha, GHSA's executive director. “The state is probably paying more attention to motorcycle safety, but the most effective countermeasure is mandatory helmet laws for all riders.”

While Texas legislators in 1997 repealed a law requiring all riders to wear helmets, those younger than 21 still must wear them when riding, according to the Texas Transportation Code. Shortly after repealing the law, fatalities in Texas increased, published reports state, and the Texas Department of Transportation took notice.

The agency says an aggressive education campaign that began in 2008 is what's caused the drop in fatalities in Texas.

“We saw these fatalities starting to come up, and we knew that we had to focus on it,” said Carol Rawson, the director of TxDOT's traffic operations division. “There was a focus on this, like a laser. The benefits are coming about now, and 28 people didn't lose their lives in a motorcycle crash last year.”

She said that after interviewing motorists involved in crashes with motorcycles, the drivers often claimed not to have seen the bike, so officials targeted the campaign to better inform motorists. Called “Share the Road,” the effort includes electronic and road signs, advertising and education for both riders and drivers.

Texas motorcyclists aren't required to wear helmets, so long as they complete a rider training program or hold medical insurance covering motorcycle crash injuries. But they are encouraged in safety classes to wear helmets.

Rudy Vogt, 37, said Goff, who was a good friend, was a safe rider who was driving too fast while taking a curve on an unlit portion of the road.

Goff, described in an obituary as a “jack of all trades” who had many hobbies, “the greatest of which was riding his motorcycle,” is survived by his life partner, Angela Kiebler, and sons Anthony Goff and Joshua Mancini.

“He just didn't see the curve, but this could have been prevented,” Vogt said. “I always wear my helmet. I believe in it because my brother got into an accident, and a helmet saved his life.”


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source: My San Antonio (Moravec, 4/29)