How to deal with motorcycle equipment failures

If your motorcycle is properly maintained, you greatly reduce the possibility of any equipment failure. However, just in case ...

Blowouts and how to deal with them

If you use tires of good quality, keep them at the proper pressure, and change them when the tread is worn, the chances of having a blowout are small. However, should it happen to either of your tires, you must act quickly and properly.

1. Do not use the brakes; braking hard will only make things worse. If you must use some brake, apply gradual pressure to the brake on the good tire and ease over to a safe spot to stop. 
2. Ease off on the throttle and slow down gradually; rapid deceleration could throw the bike out of control. 
3. Hold those handlebars firmly; a great shuddering may take place as the out-of-round tire flops against the pavement, but you are concerned only with keeping that front wheel pointed ahead until you stop.

Stuck Throttle

Most riders have had bad dreams about this, but few have experienced the problem. That is why all contemporary motorcycles have a cut-off switch by the right thumb. Just in case. Practice flipping the cut-off switch. Chances are you will never have a throttle stick, but if you do, you’ll know how to deal with it. As you hit the cut-off switch, pull in the clutch (you will probably be in gear); then look for a safe place to coast to a stop.


Broken Clutch Cable

Imagine you are cruising along in fifth gear; you want to shift down; you pull in the clutch lever – and there is no return action. It just lies up against the hand grip. No fun, but not dangerous. You can shift the bike without a clutch. This is not advisable unless necessary, but it can be done. Back off on the throttle and shift down a gear. If you have a sensitive foot, you can probably find neutral before coming to a complete stop. If not, get set for a jerky halt.

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source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Ride for Teal

While the trip is still a work in progress, Ride for Teal is a charity ride that benefits ovarian cancer research. Teal is the designated color for ovarian cancer charities, just as pink is the designated color for breast cancer charities.

Along with "We Fight Like A Girl," a non-profit organization, and riders, 100% of the proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Research: Awareness and Education.

The ride from Sturgis, Nebraska to Houston, Texas can be viewed more like a Ride-A-Thon, where riders pledge cents to dollars per mile they ride.

The Route: August 1- Arriving to Sturgis, NE to the Buffalo Chip Campground, were the Iron Cowgirl Missy will be performing through the entire rally August 2 through 11- Riding and Partying August 12- Head to Texas. Sturgis to Grand Island, NE August 13- Grand Island, NE to Norman, OK August 14- Norman, OK to Houston, TX

This is not an escorted ride. If you'd like to learn more, check out Houston, Tx to Sturgis '12 on Facebook.  You may also look at the Texas Biker Lawyer Event Page.

iPhone Apps for Motorcyclists

If you ride a motorcycle and own an iPhone here are a few iPhone Apps that can help you enjoy both a little more.

Greatest Road: This app helps you find cool roads to ride in your local area. The roads are submitted by local riders, so if you have favorite roads to ride on you can submit some your self. The interface for this App is great, and it is fun to search for nice twisty roads when you have a Saturday afternoon to kill.

Motorcycle Minder: If you ride a motorcycle, you know it takes regular maintenance to keep you and your bike happy. This app helps you keep up with all the maintenance details for your motorcycle, oil change, chain maintenance, tire pressure, etc. It also has a fuel mileage tracker if you want to keep track of mpg’s.

N-Drive GPS: N-Drive is a great GPS App, whether you are on two wheels or four. It provides turn by turn directions, a POI database, and is one of the more feature rich GPS Apps for the iPhone. If you plan on using a GPS on your bike you will need a good mounting system. I recommend using Ram Mounts, they have tons of mounting applications for phones, gps, and any other goodies you might need out on the road. If you do not have a DC plug you may consider installing one of those also, as the GPS feature on the iPhone sucks the battery quick.

Weather Bug App: This App can keep you out of some hairy situations if you are hitting the open road. It provides accurate weather reports and a live radar. No one wants to get caught in a hail storm, this App can save your bacon.

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[via: Rider Groups]

Road Trip!

Tired of Dallas and need to get out of the city for a while? Why not take a road trip to San Antonio? July is the great time to head down there, since there is so much to look at, especially out on the road. Biker Lawyer has a few suggestions on what to check out.

While traveling south on I-35 to San Antonio, you'll pass Waxahachie, which has one of the most interesting buildings: the Ellis County Courthouse. Built in 1894, the "Unrequited Love Carvings" made this 9 stories tall court house famous. Legend has it that Harry Herley, a stone mason who fell in love with Mabel Frame, daughter of the boarding house where he stayed. At first, Herley carved her face in the sand stone that is now part of the court house, but she ignored his feelings for her, knowing that she would never pay attention to him, those beautiful carvings of her face slowly became twisted demons. This is something interesting that catches the attention from anyone.

After walking around the courthouse for a while, you'll probably work up an appetite. An hour or so further down from Waxahachie, you'll want to make a stop in Waco for some barbecue. Michna's BBQ is located on 2803 Franklin Avenue, two quick turns from the freeway. They are known for their amazing ribs and their southern hospitality; a John Wayne lover would love it.

While you're in Waco, you can't afford to miss a trip to the Dr. Pepper Museum. Located on 300 South 5th Street, here you'll learn anything and everything you could know about the Dr. Pepper brand. A fair warning: this place used to be the easiest place to get the best Dr. Pepper had to offer, the infamous pure can sugar Dublin Dr. Pepper, but after losing a lawsuit last year it is no longer in production. They may still have some in stock, but if you miss out, you'll have to try their infamous XXX Root Beer instead.

After getting your motorcycle back on the road, you'll want to travel a little further down I-35 to Austin. While in Austin, if you ever need something extra for your bike, you can stop at Cycle Gear. They have just about anything one needs for their bike. Should you decide to stop for a while longer, check out the Bat Bridge, where a literal a swarm of bats can seem turn the day into night. It's great for sightseers and nature lovers.

When you finally reach San Antonio, there is no time to rest. You must go out and see it all! The Toilet Museum, Gravity Hill, The World's Largest Boots, The River Walk, and last but not least, The Alamo. San Antonio is a beautiful city, with beautiful people, and great places to eat. Don't forget to have fun and enjoy your escape from DFW while it lasts.

Four motorcycle boot recommendations for men and women

When buying motorcycle boots, a rider generally looks for comfort, flexibility, protectiveness, breathability, waterproof, and something one can wear without losing the feel of one's foot. But the truth is there is no boot yet made that contains all of these qualities.

When trying out boots the most important factor is the initial fit and feel, as the first try usually indicates the comfort or discomfort. Texas Biker Lawyer has two great choices for both men and women.

First, for the ladies, is the Harley Davidson Studded Strut. This is a sexy and stylish boot for women that has an inside zipper for easy on and off, and comes with a comfortable fashionable 2 1/2" heel. Made of full grain leather and a rubber outsole, stacked heels with a narrow toe, the Harley Davidson Studded Strut boots cost roughly around $114.99.

The Durango 11" leather western boots are long lasting, comfortable, great looking uppers for women who are more laid back. They come with a cushion insole with flexible forepart for all day comfort. The hand stained composition outsole looks and feels like leather should. The Durango 11" leather western boots come with a fashionable 1 1/2" heel and costs around $99.99.

The Harley Davidson Men's Booker engineer boots are made out of leather, have a full size side zipper, and are mid-calf length. They are easy to slip on and off and extremely comfortable. Their engineer boot styling and buckled straps at the vamp and the shaft give it a gothic look. They can be found for around $140.99.

The Alpinestars Soho Gore-Tex Boots are a great choice for any man. They have grip on the soles and are easy to step in and out of, thanks to the velcro closure on one side, and it comes equipped with a full length zipper. Made out of full grain leather, they are reinforced on critical stress points, and once broken in they can be extremely comfortable. These waterproof boots costs around $329.95.

10 Summer Motorcycle riding Jackets

Summer is here and it's blazing hot outside.  For motorcycle riders that prefer to wear leather jackets, this may become a problem as the temperature rises in Texas. Even though leather jackets keep riders safe from getting serious injuries in accidents, leather is a very warm fabric.

In this rising heat one would rather wear a lighter jacket, but in doing this a rider becomes vulnerable and can be easily hurt if you are involved in a Texas Motorcycle Accident. But not to worry, fortunately you have a choice of various styles of leather jackets that will keep you safe, ventilated, and looking as cool as the Fonze.

First on the list is the "Cortech Gx Air Series 2".  This jacket may be a bit expensive, like $299.99 expensive, but it would be worth to buy it.  It has a detachable CE armor, adjustable sleeves and waist belt, pre-curved and rotated sleeves, a phoslite reflective lining, and is also a 2 stage waterproof jacket with an insulated liner.

Second runner up is the "Tour master Sonora Air" which is just about the only "three-quater lenght" jacket known.  This jacket is very similar to the Cortech in both the comfort and the same armor coverage.  The only thing that differs this jacket from the Cortech, is the more "tour oriented" look and wear it has, and it's also $100 cheaper.

The third is the "Olympia Bonneville", which has a removable, breathable wind proof, and water proof liner, and its made out of 500-denier Cordura with ballistic mesh panels to allow air flow and abrasion resistance.  The waist and elbows are adjustable, and has removable CE armor on the elbows, back, and shoulders and cost $219.99.

The fourth jacket one might like to wear is the "Z1r GP Air", with a nylon mesh shell and lining, and adjustable straps at the waist and elbows.  It also comes with removable CE armor in elbows and shoulders.  The only downside to this jacket is that it lacks waterproof lining and the neck might by too high and tight for the rider, but at least its made out of a comfortable material, and costs $129.95.

Fifth on the list is the "Joe Rocket UFO 2.0", which also has a mesh shell with removable CE armor in both the elbows and shoulders.  It also has removable spine pad and a waterproof liner, with adjustable straps in the upper and lower arms, and belts at the waist for a custom fit.  The sponsor patches makes it more visible  and it ranges from $179.99 to $197.99.

Six on the list is the "Vanson Vent Max IV Series", this jacket features removable CE armor with a leather reinforcement in the shoulders and in the elbows.  It also has adjustable straps on the arms and has a waits band that prevents from bunching.  It's made out of 1000-denier Cordura nylon mesh, and ranges from $229.99 to $249.99.

If you are in to the "casual" look, the "REV'IT! Air" is for you. This jacket is a combination of lightweight, abrasion resistant materials with mesh panels for both safety and summer breathability.  This jacket features Knox CE armor in the shoulders and chest with adjustable arms and hips, and costs $189.99.

For our eighth, we have the "Icon Hooligan Stealth", it's less flashy than the other jackets so far and people tend to love the back on back logos.  It come with removable CE armor on the elbows, shoulders, and back, and also comes with a removable insulated liner and a lined collar for comfort, it's made out of Nylon mesh optimal breathability and cost $165.99.

The "Triumph Raptor Vented #2" Comes with a nylon shell with perforates mesh panels and non-removable CE armor on the elbows and shoulders.  The waterproof and water-resistant liner reflective in the front and rear piping long with the width, is removable and has adjustable straps on the waist, and costs $152.99.

Last but not least, the "Alpinestars T-Breeze Air-Flo", which is made out of a 600-denier polyster shell with waterproof heavy mesh panels in the arms on the front and the back.  The embroidered patches/ logos serve as reflective lines to keep visibility during the night, and it features a foam back padding with removable CE armor in both the shoulders and arms and costs $199.95.

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF OUR $100 ROT RALLY GIVEAWAY

credit: Buda Calobreves

CONGRATULATIONS to Buda Calobreves; he is the winner of the Texas Biker Lawyer $100 Visa Giftcard Facebook Giveaway, in honor of the 2012 ROT Rally, which is going on now!!! His photo of a Full Throttle Saloon pole dancer, from the  Carts, Bikers, and Babes 2012 Rally, had the most likes at the end of Wednesday, June 6.

This is also a reminder that we're in the vendors area giving away backpacks, bumper stickers, keychains, etc. If you are going to be at The Republic of Texas Biker Rally, you still can enter our $400 Giveaway. Just come visit with us, check-in on Facebook, upload your best biker photo, and get your friends to like it. Most likes by the end of the rally wins.

Allstate Installs Permanent Warning Signs to Promote Motorcycle Safety at Dangerous Intersections in Dallas

These signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.

DALLAS – In an effort to help standardize warning signs for motorcycle safety and help reduce the number of motorcycle crashes at intersections involving other vehicles, Allstate Insurance Company announced earlier this month plans to permanently install motorcycle warning signs in more than 30 U.S. cities this year. Currently, there is no standard sign for motorcycle awareness.

The yellow, diamond shaped warning sign was created following two years of development, which included 140 temporary installations in various U.S. cities between 2010 and 2011.  The signs were designed to establish a standardized warning device that can be used by any local or state agency and would be recognizable to riders and motorists across the country.  Simply reading, “Watch for Motorcycles,” the sign was developed by Allstate as part of its “Once is Never Enough” (ONE) program – an awareness campaign that encourages people to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and are being donated and installed  in Dallas to help prevent motorcycle crashes in the future.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were 569 crashes involving a motorcyclist in Dallas County in 2010, and of those crashes, 35 percent occurred at intersections.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46 percent of all multi-vehicle crashes occur at intersections, oftentimes as a result of a vehicle turning left, impeding the motorcyclist’s right-of-way.

[If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Texas Biker Lawyer]

“It’s for all of us who share the road to remember to always look twice at intersections, especially on our crowded roads,” said Dusty Wallace, Allstate Agent.  “The addition of these motorcycle warning signs will be a great reminder to help keep everyone safe.”

Through its ONE program, Allstate works with local traffic authorities – like TxDOT – to identify dangerous intersections for riders and then donates and installs warning signs at the determined locations to increase awareness of motorcycles.

The signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.  Additional signs will be installed in Dallas during the coming weeks.

In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Allstate is also encouraging people throughout the month of May to take the ONE Pledge – committing to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and share with at least ONE other person to spread the message. For every pledge shared, Allstate will donate ONE dollar toward the creation and installation of more “Watch for Motorcycles” signs at dangerous intersections across the country. To take the ONE Pledge and help make our roads a safer place to ride, visit Facebook.com/AllstateMotorcycle.

Now in its fourth year, Allstate’s ONE program has evolved from general motorcycle awareness education, to installing temporary warning signs at dangerous intersections in more than 30 cities over the past two years, to the permanent installations of the new warning signs promoting motorcycle safety.

*The Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 46 percent of all multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities (5,746 out of 12,571 fatalities from 2006-2010) occurred at intersections.


***FACT SHEET***
Dallas County Crash Statistics
Provided by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

• According to TxDOT, there were 569 motorcycle crashes documented in Dallas County in 2010
• Of the documented crashes, 33 resulted in a fatality (6 percent)
• In nearly two-thirds of the motorcycle crashes, another vehicle was involved (362 out of 569)
• According to national figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia, 54 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes were multi-vehicle crashes
• Thirty-five percent of all motorcycle crashes occurred at intersections (199 of 569)
• The goal of Once is Never Enough (ONE) is to prevent motorcycle collisions with other vehicles at intersections
• In 2010, more than half of the Dallas County motorcycle crashes (312 of 569) took place in Dallas, and 10 percent (56 of 569) occurred in Irving

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(Allstate Press Release, Beaman & Taylor,  May 29, 2012)

Have You Had Your Bike Checked?

Back in October we reported that Harley-Davidson had recalled over 300,000 motorcycles for a possible brake failure. Fox News had shared the information that there was a switch problem that can cause failure of the brake lights and possibly even the brakes themselves.

This recall applies to HD Touring, CVO Touring, and Trikes from 2009 thru 2012 model years.  So we ask, "Have you gotten your bike checked out?"  You would have received notification in the mail directly from Harley-Davidson, and it should have directed you to reputable dealers that would install a new switch kit free of charge.

Texas Biker Lawyers of the Cole Legal Group know a thing or two about the dangers of manufacturers defects, and we take recalls seriously.  Automotive defects can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.  Brake failure tops a list of common defects that statistically claims numerous injury victims.

While proving these cases can be difficult, the Cole Legal Group is committed to improving vehicle safety and protecting Texans from these unsafe defects and designs. We will immediately secure and inspect your vehicle for manufacturing or design defects to purse justice from the auto manufacturer, distributor, or retailer who contributed to your injuries.

It's a different story when the manufacturer offers up a recall notice.  They're not always the first to find out about product defects, as many of those victims of the statistics can attest.  We advise you to check your bike out soon, before you make that trek to one of the many summer motorcycle rallies going on this year.

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident in Texas, contact an attorney with riding experience.