This section of the website is designed to keep you a little more up to date of the happenings as they relate to bikers around north America and sometimes around the world. Most of the information will come from the the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), but from time to time other information we receive from other sources will be inserted as well.

A date line of when we first received it will be inserted to help aid you in determining the history of the news.

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to
Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of
Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard
M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit
us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

Remember that AIM is also the sole financial support of NCOM, the National
Coalition of Motorcyclists, and they're all online now at www.aimncom.com or
www.on-a-bike.com. Sam's got biker info at
www.YourInjuryLawyers.com/motorcycle-lawyer.php, which is part of his firm's
website.

NCOM BIKER NEWS BYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

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April 2009
 
NEW MOTORCYCLE AND SCOOTER SALES SET RECORDS
Despite the economy, U.S. sales of new motorcycles in 2008 still topped the one-million mark, and did so for the sixth straight year. That beats the longest run of million-plus sales ever recorded by the Motorcycle Industry Council, during the five years from 1970 to 1974. Also, scooter sales last year reached their highest annual level ever.
 
The MIC’s preliminary estimate for all motorcycles and scooters sold nationwide in 2008 is 1,087,000, down just 3.3 percent compared to 2007. The MIC is currently estimating 2008 scooter sales at 222,000, a new record. Back in 1992, total motorcycle and scooter sales combined were just 278,000.
 
“All in all, our industry has not declined as precipitously as many others,” said MIC President Tim Buche. “Many Americans certainly want motorcycles, both for recreation and transportation. When they aren’t buying now, it’s down to personal economics, not desire.”
 
While total sales have declined slightly during the past two years, they are following in the tracks of some very big years. There were 1,124,000 new bikes sold in 2007. In 2006, that number was 1,190,000, the biggest year for motorcycle sales in more than three decades. The record for most new bikes sold in a year is 1.5 million, back in 1973.
 
CONGRESS CONSIDERS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MONTH
A Congressional committee has passed a bill encouraging all road users to be more aware of motorcyclists and their safety, and encourages motorcyclists to take rider training and practice safe riding skills. House Resolution 269, a bill entitled "Supporting the goals of a motorcycle safety month", received unanimous approval from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
 
The resolution is co-sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), an avid rider who is co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus, and caucus co-chair Rep. Michael Burgess M.D. (R-TX).
 
The measure now goes to the House floor for a full vote.
 
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY -- MAY 1st
Women riders are hitting the road in record numbers, with the latest statistics showing that 12.6% of motorcyclists and scooterists are now women, a 29% increase from 2003. Now, the ladies even have their own day to kickstart the riding season!
 
Flagged for the first Friday of May each year, International Female Ride Day has become the globally synchronized day for women to -- just ride!
 
Supported by the motorcycle industry around the world, it now encompasses a range of international cultures and locations including Canada, United States, South Africa, Australia, Greece and the UK to name but a few, with Poland joining in this year.
 
In conjunction with International Female Ride Day, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has declared May as the first-ever Women Riders Month and has planned a series of events around the world to celebrate the ever-growing numbers of female riders hitting the highway and to encourage more ladies to take life by the handlebars.
 
Harley-Davidson is also encouraging women to learn to ride via either the Harley-Davidson Rider's Edge New Rider Course or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse training program, and is backing a Guinness World Record attempt for the number of women motorcycle riders trained in one weekend during the first weekend of May.
 
CALIFORNIA SMOG CHECK BILL PASSES COMMITTEE
Most motorcycles would have to pass the same smog inspections as cars and trucks under legislation approved by a California legislative committee. SB 435, introduced by Senator Fran Pavley, passed the Senate Transportation Committee on April 14 and has been referred next to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
 
The measure seeks to include motorcycles in the state’s Smog Check Program beginning in 2012 and would cover about 72%of all motorcycles in the state -- year 2000 and newer models with large, class-three engines.
 
No state currently requires motorcycles to undergo regular emissions testing, since motorcyclists in Arizona and Kentucky successfully lobbied to end such test procedures.
 
MILITARY REQUESTS MANDATORY TRAINING FOR CIVILIANS
Combat injury or death are always possibilities in a war, but last year more U.S. Marines were killed here at home while off-duty riding motorcycles than from enemy fire in Iraq, prompting all military branches to require completion of rider training courses and mandatory personal safety equipment on and off base.
 
Now, in a move encouraged by military leaders at different Armed Forces bases, a bill is making its way through the North Carolina legislature that would extend the mandatory training requirement to civilians, making it tougher and more expensive to get a motorcycle license.
 
The legislation, Senate Bill 64, passed the State Senate on March 11. It would take effect July 1, 2010 and require would-be motorcyclists to pass a safety class before they can get a motorcycle endorsement on their licenses. The bill, which is currently pending in the state House, would also prevent riders from taking advantage of the “perpetual” learners permit by making it valid for just 6 months with a rider having one year to get a full motorcycle endorsement or quit riding.
 
It's estimated there are 48,000 motorcycle riders in the Department of the Navy, many of them choosing sport bikes which are designed for speed. Nationwide, the military lost 41 people to motorcycle crashes in fiscal 2001. That tripled to 124 in 2008.
 
WASHINGTON STATE BIKERS PROTEST WSP SURVEILLANCE
A motorcycle rights group is demanding answers from the Washington State Patrol. During an annual rally at the Capitol this year in Olympia, a state trooper was seen on video as he recorded the license plates of those visiting their elected officials. The sergeant was seen wandering through the parking lot and using a voice recorder to take down the license plate numbers from motorcycles as their owners were inside the statehouse advocating for issues important to them.
 
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Martin D. Fox, a Seattle lawyer representing several local motorcycle groups, is spearheading an inquiry into the incident and wrote an angry letter to Governor Chris Gregoire protesting the WSP's January 22nd surveillance activity, noting; "I may be old school, but I always thought that the Capitol was supposed to be a sanctuary for free speech and assembly, and not an opportunity for clandestine intelligence gathering on citizens trying to be involved in the political process."
 
Fox, an attorney for ABATE of Washington and legal counsel for the Washington Confederation of Clubs, distributed his letter to numerous Washington media outlets, along with a DVD with images of a trooper "crawling around the bushes of the Capitol to record license plate numbers of motorcycles into his tape machine," the letter reads.
 
"My concern is anyone going to the Legislature to have their views heard are being put on a list and it's not what we do in America," said Fox.
 
ABATE and the COC are awaiting a written reply. "They want to know why it was being done and where this information was going," said Fox.
 
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS BAN BIKIE “GANGS”
Two of Australia’s biggest motorcycle “gangs” could soon be banned and their members arrested for associating with one another under new anti-bikie laws passed in response to escalating violence between rival clubs.
 
The New South Wales government has drawn up emergency legislation that it claims will dismantle the biker gangs and bring the violence to an end. Under the proposals, the police would be able to apply to the courts to have a motorcycle group declared a "criminal organization" and outlawed on the basis of intelligence about its alleged activities.
 
"The new legislation was about declaring a particular organization a criminal group, and I would say that this is a path that we will now be able to go down," NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Catherine Burn told reporters.
 
The Rebels and the Comanchero, clubs that were involved in a widely reported fatal brawl at Sydney airport, are likely to be the first gangs so proscribed. Police could then arrest any member wearing gang colors or associating with other known gang members.
 
In the meantime, gang legislation enacted in South Australia last June to dismantle the clubs has had the reverse effect - serving to unite rival clubs. Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels, Rebels, Finks and Descendents bike club members have, for the first time, joined together in protest against the Serious and Organised Crime Control Act, described by the government as being the toughest anti-gang law of its kind in the world.
 
The alliance, known as the FREE Australia Party, is only a few application process steps away from forming a legitimate political party. The party's leader, Paul Kuhn - a committee member of the Motorcycle Riders Association of SA and a Justice of the Peace - said the group was formed because of deep concern anyone associated with a member of a club would be found guilty under the law. "The Government is now controlling and dictating relationships," he said.
 
WEIRD NEWS: MUSICAL HELMETS
A European recycle program could turn music and movie disks into motorcycle helmets. A recycling plan proposed by the Swiss supermarket chain Migros aims to reduce the number of old CDs and DVDs landing in the regular trash by collecting and using them for an unrelated end product.
 
The recycling program aims to reduce the number of old CDs and DVDs destined for the dumpster. Collection points will be available across Switzerland, and they plan to shred the disks, using the resulting granular remains to make new products such as motorcycle helmets.
 
According to a store spokesperson, the discs contain the valuable petroleum product polycarbonate, and far too many of them end up in the normal trash. If the program is successful, an old Madonna CD or Brad Pitt movie could be made into head gear.
 
MILLION MILE MAN
Congratulations to Dave Zien, former Wisconsin State Senator and longtime champion of bikers’ rights, for his unprecedented ride into history on April 4 as the odometer on his 1991 FXRT Harley-Davidson turned 00000 for the tenth time! Zien became the first person to ride the same Harley-Davidson motorcycle 1 million miles, which may be the most mileage on any motorcycle ever!
 
The feat earned him a world record from the Iron Butt Association, the international organization that oversees and governs safe, long-distance motorcycle riding challenges, which was present at Hal’s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin, WI to witness the achievement.
 
During his time in the saddle, Zien has collected numerous riding records, including logging 1,616 miles in 24 hours and riding 3,032 miles in 48 hours, and through 48 states in eight days. He also has gone through three engines, a couple of transmissions and too many tires to count.
 
The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. recognized Dave’s accomplishment by presenting him with a 2009 FLHXR in exchange for his Million Mile Bike, which is reportedly headed to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. The long-serving legislator is already inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame for not only his riding achievements but for his motorcycle rights advocacy during his 18-year tenure in the state legislature.
 
During his years as a lawmaker, Zien was known for becoming the state’s first motorcycle-riding legislator. Bikers’ rights got Zien involved in politics, as he founded the Wisconsin Better Bikers Association after returning from Vietnam and helped repeal the state’s mandatory helmet law. He has also served for many years on the Legislative Task Force for the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM-LTF), and has lobbied against adult helmet laws in numerous states and on the federal level.
 
In addition to his staunch support of bikers’ rights issues, as a Marine combat veteran he dedicated much of his public service to advocating for veteran’s affairs.
 
At last report, Dave was reluctant to leave his trusty stead behind, but as the first digits roll across his new odometer, a journey of a million miles begins anew.

________________________________________________________________________

March 2009 

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RIDERS
On March 4, by voice vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed
bipartisan legislation to strengthen health insurance coverage for injuries
incurred while participating in legal recreational and transportation
activities, such as motorcycling, riding ATVs, snowmobiling and horseback
riding.
 
"This bill requires health insurance companies to be up front and honest
with their policy holders when limitations or restrictions are placed on
benefits," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) who introduced the measure with Rep.
Michael Burgess (R-TX).. "Many Americans are unaware that their health
insurance may not cover injuries resulting from certain recreational
activities because their policy is unclear or overly broad."
 
H.R. 1253, the "Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification
Act of 2009", would establish new disclosure rules requiring health
insurance plans to provide a description of limitations and exclusions in
their policies.  Specifically, the bill requires that coverage exclusions
must be "explicit and clear" and that they must be disclosed to plan
sponsors in advance of the point of sale.  The bill further requires that
plan sponsors and insurers must disclose such coverage exclusions to
enrollees "in a form that is easily understandable" both before enrollment
and upon their enrollment at the earliest opportunity that other materials
are provided.
 
In January 2001, a rule was issued that created an inadvertent loophole in
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Because of
the way the rule was written, it has allowed insurers to deny health
benefits for a covered injury resulting from participation in recreational
activities such as skiing, horseback riding, ATV riding, snowmobiling and
motorcycling.
 
In many situations the exclusions are unclear or overly broad, creating
confusion for individuals who may ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles,
ATVs or participate in other legal activities that could result in an
injury.
 
"Passing this straight forward legislation would protect those across the
country who ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, ATVs or participate in
other recreational activities from being caught by surprise," Stupak said.
 
Stupak is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which
has jurisdiction over health policy. H.R. 1253 awaits consideration by the
full House of Representatives, which previously approved the legislation in
September 2008, but the bill was not considered by the Senate in the 110th
Congress.
 
KIDDIE BIKE BAN COULD COST BILLIONS
The new lead-content rules that have banned the sales of many youth
motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles could cost the industry over $1 billion
in lost economic value this year, predicts the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Last year, more than 100,000 of the youth-oriented vehicles were sold.
Today, more than 13,000 dealers nationwide are stuck holding onto millions
of dollars in inventory as the off-road industry now finds itself crippled
and rather confused in the destructive wake of the CPSIA in an already harsh
economy.
 
Motorcycle dealers across the country are fuming, saying the ban couldn't
have come at a worse time, making sluggish sales in a tough economy even
tougher.  Powersports manufacturers are advising their dealers to pull the
banned models off the sales floor or risk heavy fines under the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which went into force February 10th.
 
Intentionally or otherwise, the CPSIA has effectively banned the production,
importing and sale of kids' motorcycles and ATVs because certain parts of
the vehicles unavoidably contain more lead than is deemed allowable on
children's products - for instance, on the battery terminals, brake
components and valve stems - and the CPSC has interpreted this to mean that
OHVs (off-highway vehicles) present a lead-poisoning threat to children 12
and under. Not only can they not sell the new vehicles, but they're not even
allowed to sell parts for them!
 
Dealers from every corner of the country and other concerned individuals
have flooded the CPSC and Congress with calls, e-mails and more than 100,000
letters complaining about the new law and urging support for exclusions from
the act for powersports vehicles, parts and accessories.
 
They claim in part that the lead present in their products pose no health
risk to children because the only interaction would be by hand, not mouth,
and that a toxicologist study reveals that exposure is substantially less
than the intake of lead from food and water.
 
UTAH MAY REWARD HELMET WEARERS
In a unique and interesting twist to mandatory helmet laws, the state of
Utah is considering a bill that would reward riders who break the law while
wearing a helmet.
 
The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a proposal from Rep.
Ronda Rudd Menlove (R-Garland) that would knock $10 off of the fine for
motorcyclists cited for traffic violations if they are wearing a helmet at
the time.
 
"Instead of just punishment, why not give an incentive for people to use a
helmet?," Menlove told the Standard-Examiner newspaper.
 
The committee also unanimously tabled a bill that would mandate helmet use
for all riders in Utah's largest cities.&nb sp; Additionally, the measure
would have increased the age limit at which motorcycle riders in Utah are
required to wear helmets from 18 to 21; require anyone riding with a
passenger under 21 to wear a helmet; and require riders of any age operating
on a learning permit to wear a helmet.
 
A contingent of bikers came to the committee meeting to voice their
opposition to the bill. Eric Stine, education coordinator for ABATE Utah,
said the focus of motorcycle safety should be on educating the public about
watching for motorcyclists while driving. "We believe in accident
prevention, not safer crashes. Many sports and activities are more dangerous
than motorcycle riding. We will never be able to legislate the risk out of
living."
 
SHOW-ME FREEDOM
Missouri is the latest state looking to give adult motorcycle riders the
choice of wearing a helmet while riding. The Missouri Senate has endorsed
legislation that, if signed into law, would repeal their decades-old helmet
law and allow motorcyclists 21 and older the option to ride without a
helmet.
 
Many feel the bill stands a good chance of passing because Senators this
year tacked the helmet provisions onto a larger bill regarding motorcycle
insurance. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Luann Ridgeway of District
17, was approved with little debate and is expected to pass easily in the
House, whic h generally has been more receptive to efforts to repeal helmet
requirements for adults. According to Freedom of Road Riders (FORR-MO), a
non-profit motorcyclists' advocacy group, the change in legislation would be
a welcome one.
 
In the meantime, several other states are reviewing motorcycle helmet laws,
including Arkansas where a proposal to require motorcyclists to wear a
helmet or carry thousands of dollars in health insurance failed to make it
out of committee.
 
Senate Bill 29 by Sen. Kim Hendren (R-Gravette) would have compelled
motorcyclists to provide proof of at least $10,000 in health insu rance
coverage if they opted to not wear a helmet, but the proposal failed to get
a motion recommending its passage and died in the Senate Transportation,
Technology and Legislative Affairs Committee.  Legislators were overwhelmed
by calls to committee members from motorcycle enthusiasts, lead by ABATE of
Arkansas, who argued that the measure would unfairly target them, negatively
impact tourism, and would drive business away from the state's motorcycle
dealers.
 
In Nevada, Assemblyman Don Gustavson (R-Sparks) has introduced AB300 to
repeal state law which has mandated helmet usage since 1971. In seeking to
modify current law to allow choice for motorcyclists 21 years or older with
at least one year experience, Gustavson is citing studies which prove that
mandated helmet laws injure the economy while doing little to increase
safety. Using California as an example, Gustavson said the death rate was 2%
higher after passage of mandated helmet usage, while revenues continually
declined due to loss of registration fees and sales taxes from weakened
motorcycle sales. "Our neighbor suffered a 26% drop in new motorcycle sales
in 1992-93 after passage of their mandatory helmet law resulting in job loss
and costing the state nearly $17 million in lost tax & fee revenue."
 
Gustavson said that tourism will increase in Nevada after the law is
modified. Using Pennsylvania as an example, Gustavson pointed out that
"Thunder in the Valley" saw attendance jump from 70,000 to over 100,000 the
very first year after their law was modified.
 
Gustavson also emphasized that repeal of current law will add jobs and
multiply revenues to Nevada through additional sales and payroll taxes
without increasing any new fees or taxes. After Florida reformed their
helmet law, motorcycle sales jumped 143% in Florida in five years generating
$166 million in sales tax revenue.
 
Last November, Assemblyman Gustavson was selected by the NCOM Board of
Directors to receive the Silver Spoke Award for Government at the upcoming
NCOM Convention, May 7-10, 2009 at the Nugget Casino & Resort in Reno,
Nevada. For more information, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists
at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
 
RIDE SMART - MOTORCYCLES IMPROVE BRAIN FUNCTION
Riding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains,
the scientist behind popular "Brain Training" computer software said
recently, citing a new scientific study.  "The driver's brain gets activated
by riding motorbikes" in part because it requires heightened alertness,
Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima said after his research team and
Yamaha Motor conducted a string of experiments involving middle-aged men.
 
"In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to
setting the hurdle low," he warned. "Our final conclusion is that riding
motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."
 
Kawashima is the designer of "Brain Training" software, which incorporates
quizzes and other games and is available on the Nintendo DS game console
under the name "Brain Age".
 
A self-professed motorcycle fan, 49-year-old Kawashima cited a new study
conducted jointly by Yamaha and Tohoku University, for which he works.
 
One experiment involved 22 men in their 40s and 50s who held motorcycle
licenses but had not operated a cycle for at least a decade. They were
randomly split into two groups, with one asked to resume riding motorcycles
in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or
cars. Kawashima says research showed the motorcycle-riding team demonstrated
improvements in memory, space recognition and other functions of the
prefrontal area. The area covers memory, information processing and
concentration functions.
 
"The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function
tests," Kawashima said.
 
In a test requiring the men to remember a set of numbers in reverse order,
the riders' scores jumped by more than 50 percent in two months, while the
non-riders' marks deteriorated slightly, he said.
 
The riders also said they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.
 
"Mental care is a very big issue in modern society," said Kawashima. "I
think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your
mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute."
 
In 2003, Kawashima authored "Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain".
More recently, he teamed with Toyota to help develop intelligent cars
designed to help seniors drive safely.
 
SMOG CHECKS MAY INCLUDE MOTORCYCLES
SB 435, introduced by California State Senator Fran Pavely (D-Beverly
Hills), would include motorcycles in the state's Smog Check Program.  In a
review of the Smog Check Program, the California Inspection and Maintenance
Review Committee's recommendations included "implement a non-loaded mode
biennial Smog Check inspection on motorcycles."
 
In a brief explanation of their strategy, the report states:
"Inspection of Motorcycles: Include motorcycle inspections as part of Smog
Check. Studies indicate that motorcycles are subject to high rates of
exhaust system tampering which subsequently increases the vehicle
emissions."
 
Existing law exempts motorcycles from inspection "until the department
implements test procedures applicable to motorcycles," which the legislation
seeks to accomplish. If passed the new emissions law would require
motorcycle owners in California to get Smog checks for their motorcycles
once every two years. The law would take effect January 1, 2012 and cover
all on-highway motorcycles model year 2000 or newer.
 
Opponents say the bill is simply a thinly veiled attempt to levy yet another
fee to offset the states record budget deficit and point to a recent raid of
the OHV trust fund of $90 million dollars for non-OHV related expenditures.
The bikes potentially affected are in fact the cleanest in the nation,
having already been required to meet the stricter California CARB emissions
standards years prior to similar requirements being adopted nationally by
the federal EPA.
 
For a long time the Golden State has been granted special waivers from the
Environmental Protection Agency to enact stiffer emissions regulations for
autos and motorcycles. During the Bush administration, a dozen other states
requested EPA waivers to increase their own regulations to match
California's, but were denied.  It is expected that the new Obama
administration will reverse this decision, which may lead to variable
emissions rules from state to state for automobiles, and potentially for
motorcycles.
________________________________________________________________________

February 2009 

MOTORCYCLISTS REAP REWARDS FROM ECONOMIC
STIMULUS PACKAGE
Motorcycling will reap some benefits from the historic two-year, $787
billion economic recovery and stimulus bill recently signed into law by
President Barack Obama.  Language in HR 1, the largest spending measure ever
enacted by Congress, provides for a tax credit for people buying new
passenger cars and light-duty trucks, and now thanks to eleventh hour
lobbying efforts by motorcycle groups and manufacturers, federal tax relief
will extend to purchasers of new motorcycles as well.

Section 1008 of the legislation includes motorcycles as "qualified
vehicles", and individuals purchasing a new motorcycle will be allowed to
deduct the sales and excise taxes on their 2009 tax returns.

Four senators successfully lobbied for including motorcycles in the
compromise measure: Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Christopher Bond, R-Mo., Russell
Feingold, D-Wis., and Herb Kohl, D-Wis.

"The issues of consumer confidence and tight credit markets have not evaded
motorcycle dealers," the four senators wrote to congressional leaders who
put the finishing touches on the stimulus bill. "The effect of the downturn
not only impacts the dealers - it has hurt manufacturers as well."

Expansion of the tax credit should attract more motorcycle buyers, Feingold
said in a joint press release with Kohl.  To be eligible for this "above the
line" tax deduction, you must make less than $125,000 ($250,000 for those
filing jointly) and purchase a new bike in 2009 for up to $49,500.

GET THE LEAD OUT
With Congress saying "get the lead out," motorcycle manufacturers and local
businesses are wondering if common sense gets chucked along with it.
Retailers across the country are yanking shoes, toys and any goods marketed
to children from shelves to comply with a strict lead law enacted nearly
unanimously by Congress.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which went into effect February
10, 2009 is meant to protect children from lead-laden products, but
unintended consequences of the new legislation are decimating the industry
as thousands of motorcycle and recreation vehicle retailers across the
country scramble to obey the federal law: all of them had to cease selling
small off-road motorcycles and ATVs designed for kids, because according to
a provision of the Act the machines are dangerous.not because a child might
have an accident on the diminutive machines, but because if a child develops
an appetite for the vehicle's brakes or battery terminals and decides to
nibble on the ATV or motorbike, lead poisoning may result.

The ban encompasses some 19 models from just Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and
Suzuki. The economic impact of the CPSC's ruling will be substantial for
both dealers and manufacturers in an already weakened economy. The
regulation takes an estimated $100 million worth of inventory off the sales
floors of some 13,000 dealers immediately. It also impinges on
manufacturers, makers of aftermarket equipment and everything from
racetracks to distributors.

Honda has already informed dealers that their inventories of new and used
youth motorcycles and ATVs will become worthless and legally unsalable
effective Feb. 10. "In fact, under the terms of the Act you cannot even
display these models on your showroom floor, distribute brochures, or
advertise them on your website," Honda told their dealer network.

According to motorcycle and ATV industry sources, most motorcycle and ATV
components are compliant with the CPSIA's lead limits, but some components
unavoidably contain small quantities of lead in excess of the CPSIA's
limits. However, the nature and location of these components suggests a very
minimal exposure risk. Industry reps say the lead used in motorcycles and
ATVs is embedded in alloys but is not easily transferred to humans through
typical use, the way lead in paint or infant toys would be.

Motorcycle riders, activists and enthusiasts are requested to contact their
Congressional representatives and the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) and ask them to exclude youth model off-highway vehicles from the
final rule governing the law.

SALES OF DUAL PURPOSE MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS
OUTPACED CRUISERS AND SPORTBIKES
While cruisers and sportbikes were wondering the consumer love went,
dual-purpose motorcycles were riding off the showroom floors in 2008
according to tentative numbers from the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Dual-purpose bikes as well as scooters were the brightest spots in last
year's MIC Retail Sales Report, which reveals percentage growth or decreases
among all categories of bikes last year.

Scooter sales through December were up 41.5 percent compared to all of 2007.
Dual-purpose bike sales jumped 22.8 percent last year for the major brands
tracked. No other categories in the report showed an increase.

"Overall, motorcycle sales were down 7.2 percent, not nearly as sharp a
decline as many other consumer products in today's economy," said MIC
President Tim Buche. "We'll look at 2008 as a big year for scooters,
dual-purpose bikes and small-displacement motorcycles. If it was
smart-sized, offered great value and high fuel mileage, then chances are it
was a sales success."

The MIC Retail Sales Report compiles U.S. sales information every month from
12 leading motorcycle distributors: BMW, Can-Am, Ducati,
Harley-Davidson/Buell, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, the Piaggio Group, Victory,
Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha. It provides an indicator of market trends. Among
these 12 Retail Sales Report brands, the on-highway segment slipped by just
5.6 percent last year. This includes cruisers, sport bikes, touring bikes
and traditional or standard motorcycles.

The off-highway market dropped 30 percent among six leading brands.

As it seemed to several times in the past, a rise in gas prices may have
pumped up sales of smaller, more economical motorcycles. Preliminary
findings from the 2008 MIC Owner Survey suggest that Americans are looking
at motorcycles more for transportation, not only recreation.

CONSUMER REPORTS TESTS MOTORCYCLES
Fueled by painfully high gasoline prices, 2008 saw many consumers looking
for new alternatives to big-bucks fill-ups at the pump. With rising consumer
interest in lower-priced two-wheelers that sip rather than guzzle gas and
thousands of new riders on the road, Consumer Reports has tested small motor
scooters and motorcycles for the first time since 1981.

"When fuel prices crossed the $4.00 per gallon mark, some consumers shifted
gears and two wheels became a cost-saving alternative," said Rik Paul,
automotive editor, Consumer Reports. "And, despite current low gas costs,
interest in scooters and motorcycles may continue to increase, especially in
urban areas where parking space is at a premium."

Consumer Reports tested a total of eight fuel-sipping, small-displacement
motorcycle and scooter models. Like Consumer Reports in-depth auto testing
process, scooters and motorcycles were subjected to an extensive sequence of
standardized tests to determine their performance in categories such as
acceleration, braking, fuel economy, noise/vibration, top speed and comfort.

The full report is available in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports and
online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

MAKING NOISE ABOUT NOISE
As states like New York and New Hampshire wrestle with anti-noise
legislation that would prohibit modifications to factory-installed exhaust
systems, the Motorcycle Industry Council is seeking to postpone further
legislative action pending their development of a new sound test.

In comments to the N.H. House Transportation Committee, the MIC stated that
they and the Society of Automotive Engineers are finalizing a new stationary
sound test, SAE J2825, which will provide a quick, easy, economical, and
science-based tool for accurately identifying motorcycles with excessively
noisy exhaust systems.

"Our goal is to provide a consistent tool nationwide for identifying
excessively loud exhaust systems without failing those that pass the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency federal sound limit," said Pamela Amette,
vice president of the MIC. "This sound test will effectively achieve the
sound control goals of New Hampshire, and other states and municipalities,
and more so than some of the proposed legislation currently being
considered. On a national level, it will eliminate a lot of the confusion
and frustration for motorcyclists when they ride through different
jurisdictions."

Amette said that California, numerous local jurisdictions, and Canada have
expressed interest in the new test that was developed through extensive
sound testing during 2007.

ROW BILL FILED IN NEW MEXICO
A Failure to Yield the Right of Way bill has been introduced in New Mexico
by State Representative Rick Miera, a longtime motorcyclists' rights
advocate and member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative
Task Force (NCOM-LTF).

The bill will increase the penalties imposed for Failing to Yield the Right
of Way. The current penalties for Failure to Yield is a fine of $25.00 to
$50.00 no matter the severity of the accident. Careless driving which also
falls under the Failure to Yield Statutes is only a $125.00 fine! HB 290
would increase the penalties to $200.00 or 30 day suspension of driver's
license causing NO great bodily harm or death. Great Bodily harm would hold
a penalty of $500.00 or 30 day suspension of driver's license. Failing to
Yield causing Death would hold a penalty of $1000.00 or 6 months suspension
of driver's license.

HB 290 is now headed to the Transportation and Public Works Committee, and
concerned riders are being asked by the New Mexico Motorcyclists Rights
Organization, ABATE and the Confederation of Clubs to contact their
legislators seeking support for the proposed ROW legislation.  Your state
rep can be contacted by calling the switchboard at (505) 986-4300.

WEIRD NEWS:
MOTORCYCLE SURVEILANCE SYSTEM INSTALLED IN U.K.
A new surveillance system installed on eight routes in Derbyshire, England
designed to track movements of motorcyclists on the roads will be
operational by Easter.

The technology can tell motorcycles apart from other vehicles, measure their
speeds and will be able to read number plates under plans. Data such as the
routes taken by individual motorcyclists along with time and date will be
collected and kept even if they have committed no offense.

The project has prompted civil rights groups to express grave concerns about
the potential for invasion of motorcyclists' privacy.

Speed camera bosses behind the scheme have named it the "motorcycle data
project" and the equipment a "motorcycle detection system". It will
scrutinize movements of motorcyclists in particular and be switched on to
coincide with the start of the riding season in April, they say.

The Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership said the aim was to "gather
intelligence" to "prevent motorcycle casualties" through measures such as
speed warning signs, extra police patrols and safer roadside barriers.

But Isabella Sankey, Director of Policy for the civil rights group Liberty,
said: "The road to massive-scale real-time surveillance is paved with good
intentions. We have no problem with ANPR being used to locate vehicles whose
owners the police firmly suspect of having committed an offence but it
shouldn't be used as a tool of mass surveillance."
_______________________________________________________________________

January 2009

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH STUDY UNDERWAY
Southern California motorcyclists who crash their bikes may play an
unintentional role in improving motorcycle safety nationwide, as the pilot
portion of the federal government's much-anticipated Motorcycle Crash
Causation Study kicked off at various locations throughout Los Angeles in
December.

Data will be compiled from LAPD accident reports and information recorded by
mechanical sensors and cameras placed at intersections until at least 27
accidents have occurred and are documented -- a milestone that will likely
be reached by March.

According to Doug Hecox, spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration,
the Department of Transportation entity managing the pilot study, the pilot
is "purely to test the methodology" that will be applied to the broader
Motorcycle Crash Causation Study, which is expected to kick off in about a
year in a handful of different states. Final results of which won't be
available until at least 2013.

Much has changed since the last such motorcycle accident study, the 1981
Hurt Report; about 11 million street bikes have been sold in the U.S.  The
average rider's age has increased from 27 to 41, and the overall rider
population has grown to roughly 7 million.  Traffic mix, driving/riding
laws, and more powerful motorcycles are some other variables.

In 2005 Congress authorized over $2 million to fund a new motorcycle crash
causation study under a federal transportation reauthorization bill (a.k.a.
SAFETEA-LU), with the caveat that federal funds be matched from a
nongovernmental source. Much of the matching funding has come from national
motorcycle organizations, some of which hail the report as long overdue and
necessary for planning safety countermeasures, while other groups fear yet
another typically lopsided anti-motorcycle government report.

FEDS DECLINE TO INCREASE TARIFFS ON EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLES

U.S. trade officials have decided not to include motorcycles on their
lengthy list of European products that will soon face increased tariffs in
retaliation for a European Union ban on imports of hormone-fed beef from
America.

In public comments submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
opposing the possible 100% import duties, many motorcycle organizations,
industry groups, manufacturers, dealers and others pointed to the extensive
economic impact on businesses and jobs affected by such retaliatory tariffs,
as well as a hardship for motorcycle enthusiasts. Also, motorcycle usage
should be encouraged for fuel efficiency and easing traffic congestion and
parking.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab noted her office received
approximately 600 comments regarding which of more than 100 European goods
should be subjected to the tariffs.

"An interagency committee of trade experts and economists reviewed the
public comments and provided recommendations to the USTR with respect to
modifications that would result in a more effective action, while taking
account of effects on the U.S. economy, including consumers," she said
regarding the list of European Union products slated for tariff increases
beginning March 23; but their beef with the EU will no longer threaten to
double the price of imported Euro motorcycles and scooters.

MYRTLE BEACH SAYS NO TO BIKERS

Myrtle Beach has launched a website and printed brochures advising visitors
that from the city's perspective, the May motorcycle rallies are over.

The Website bears a message from Mayor John Rhodes stating that the
"Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally and the Atlantic Beach
Memorial Day Bikefest will not be held in Myrtle Beach", and lists 15 new
laws the City Council has passed to discourage bikers from coming to town.
Designed by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, the top of the site
proclaims; "effective 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC will no longer host motorcycle
rallies."

To deter bikers, the city implemented stricter noise and muffler rules, will
be enforcing a municipal helmet law, require eye protection while riding and
a variety of restrictions on vendors, parties and motorcycle parking. The
city passed a property tax increase to fund the anti-rally campaign.

But the Myrtle Beach Bike Week website counters this, saying that the
rallies have not been cancelled. The Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson website is
still encouraging motorcyclists to come. It states that 90% of the events
and most of the businesses that cater to the 500,000 bikers who come to the
region during three weeks in May are in Horry County, which has not adopted
any new ordinances and welcomes riders to the 69th annual event, scheduled
for May 8th - 17th 2009, if the rally goes on.

MAKING NOISE ABOUT NOISE

Numerous communities around the country are attempting to regulate noise,
and specifically loud motorcycle exhausts.  Although enforceability is
questionable, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is planning a controversial new
ordinance to curtail incessant noise.

Town officials haven't fully explained why the ordinance is necessary, other
than to acknowledge that neighboring municipalities have similar
regulations, but the borough does not. "We ought to be regulating our noise
pollution," said one Councilman.

"How do you pull over 50 motorcycles when one is being loud?" said police
chief Joe Dougherty. "It's violating someone's constitutional rights."

When asked if the department owns noise equipment, Dougherty quipped: "I'm
sure we do, but I don't know where it's at. If I looked for it, I could find
it, but we only have one person trained to use the equipment."

The ordinance is currently being reviewed for legal sufficiency, including
enforceability.

Meanwhile, a bill recently introduced in New Hampshire would prohibit
motorcycle exhaust modifications, reduce permissible motorcycle noise
levels, increase fines for motorcycle noise violations, and requires all
motorcycles to have functioning tachometers.

House Bill 95 authorizes fines of up to $500 for operating a motorcycle that
has aftermarket mufflers installed, or does not have a working tach.

A similar law was enacted in Denver that requires motorcycle mufflers to
have a factory-issued U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sound-test stamp.
But some who have protested the ordinance since it took effect in July 2007
have gone as far as to take the issue to court, arguing that the ordinance
is vague and unenforceable.

One "victim" of the ordinance is Jeffrey Lubbert, who was pulled over on his
motorcycle in August 2007 when an officer testified that he heard exhaust
pipes that were "louder based on my training and experience," according to
court documents.

Lubbert fought the citation that he was issued, making it the "test case"
for the ordinance, according to his lawyer, Colorado Aid to Injured
Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Wade H. Eldridge.

Factory-issued pipes come with the EPA stamp and meet the 82-decibel
standard. But aftermarket mufflers may not come with the stamp, while still
meeting the 82-decibel standard, argues Eldridge. It is nearly impossible to
have the pipes certified and officers do not carry decibel readers.

"It's unreasonable to stop someone and say your pipes are louder than normal
when you don't know what normal is," argues Eldridge, who specializes in
defending bikers. "That just doesn't cut it."

GANGING UP ON BIKERS
In an ongoing effort to reduce crimes committed by criminal street gangs,
many states have passed or are considering anti-gang laws that loosely
define "gangs", violate Constitutional protections and can be used to harass
and intimidate motorcycle clubs and mainstream motorcycle groups.

North Carolina recently joined with California and Ohio in enacting tough
gang legislation that enhances penalties by adding years onto the sentences
for those convicted of a crime who are members of a gang.

The N.C. Street Gang Suppression Act is the state's first attempt to legally
define a street gang, and it makes membership against the law.  The law
defines gangs as "any ongoing organization, association, or group of three
or more persons" that has a primary activity of committing felony acts, has
members involved in gang activity and has a common name, identifying sign or
symbol."

It also gives law enforcement and government the authority to seize property
associated with gang activity.

Likewise, the Michigan legislature has enacted a set of "Gang Bills" and
sent Senate Bill 291 to the governor's desk on January 6th.  Based upon a
similar definition of a "gang", the bill states that "If a person who is an
associate or a member of a gang commits a felony or attempts to commit a
felony and the person's association or membership in the gang provides the
motive, means, or opportunity to commit the felony, the PERSON is guilty of
a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years."


In Utah, a newspaper ad for a Toys For Tots event and flyers distributed by
the Vagos Motorcycle Club spurred one Garland, UT citizen to form a
Neighborhood Watch and spearhead a grassroots effort to toughen state gang
laws, resulting in five bills being introduced to toughen punishment for
involvement in gang activity and to make associating with or being a member
of a criminal street gang illegal in the Beehive State. The latest in a
spate of gang legislation, the sponsor of the bills along with gang
investigators spent months researching other states' gang laws to find ideas
that may be effective in Utah, such as anti-gang loitering legislation and
declaring gang-free zones.

WEIRD NEWS:
NIGERIAN RIDERS WEAR FRUIT TO COMPLY WITH NEW HELMET LAW

As many as 98% of Nigeria's motorcyclists shunned the new national helmet
law when it went into effect January 1st, leading to scores of arrests,
near-riots and sometimes violent confrontations with traffic police.
Professional motorcycle taxi drivers called Okada have now resorted to
wearing fruit shells, pots or pieces of rubber tied to their heads with
string to avoid arrest and impoundment of their vehicles.

In the state capital of Kaduna, hundreds of motorcyclists staged protests
against the crash helmet directive, storming major roads chanting war songs
and causing panic and traffic jams.  In Lagos, at least 2,500 violators of
the directive have so far been arrested as the Federal Road Safety
Commission intensified the enforcement campaign for both riders and
passengers.  In Osun State, the Nigerian Tribune reported that no fewer than
73 motorcycles have been impounded by the FRSC because their operators
failed to abide by the use of crash helmet.

The regulations have caused chaos around Africa's most populous nation, with
motorcyclists complaining helmets are scarce, too expensive, dirty and some
passengers refuse to wear them fearing they will catch skin disease or be
put under a black magic spell.

2009 NCOM CONVENTION IN RENO

The 24th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother's Day weekend, May 7-10,
2009 at the Nugget Casino & Resort in Reno, Nevada. This annual gathering
will draw bikers rights activists from across the country to discuss topics
of concern to all motorcyclists, so reserve your room now for the special
NCOM rate of $89.00 by calling (800) 648-1177.

Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on safety issues, legal
rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right
to ride and Freedom of the Road.

Registration fees for the NCOM Convention are $75 including the Silver Spoke
Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention only. To
pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355
or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot
strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about
prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by
pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by
inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away
people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by
doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), sixteenth President of the United States

________________________________________________________________________

November 2008

GOVERNMENT SEIZES CLUB'S COLORS

Dozens of Mongols Motorcycle Club members were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment in a multi-state sting operation on October 21, but even before a single case has gone to trial federal prosecutors have succeeded in getting a court order stripping the club of their trademarked logo.  Mongols members can no longer wear patches or other items bearing the club's insignia following what appears to be an unprecedented injunction barring members, their family and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo.

"If a Mongol is wearing a vest or jacket bearing the Mongols patch, that item is pursuant to seizure based on this order," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Welk.

"This was an ingenious move to try and strip a club of its identity under the guise of civil asset forfeiture," said Richard M. Lester, founder of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), "but it sets an extremely dangerous precedent if allowed to stand.  All the government would have to do is show that a few members were involved in criminal activity and they could take away your name and logo, and it could affect any organization from ABATE to HOG to the Elks."

Explaining the implications and ramifications of the federal action, Sam Hochberg, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney for Oregon, said the reasoning behind the court order was "The government made a showing to the federal judge that they have a substantial likelihood of prevailing on the merits of the criminal case, including the RICO charge, which is required to get this sort of order. If the club loses on the criminal/RICO charges, they could be subject to the civil forfeiture laws -- the same laws that allow the government to take away cars and houses from drug dealers as 'instruments of the crime'. Here, the government argued that the patch has value, and since they think they'll ultimately be entitled to a civil forfeiture, they want to hold on to that asset, the patch. That was the basis for their legal argument, though publicly and to the press the ATF has admitted they're doing this to break the back of the club."

According to Lester, who also helped to found the Confederations of Clubs across the U.S. and Canada to help organized patch holder clubs to fight for their legal rights, NCOM will be working with the COCs to help overturn the patch seizure by hiring an expert on trademark and civil liberties law.

FUEL CONSERVATION CONTINUES DESPITE FALLING PRICES

Prices at the pump have fallen to half the high watermark of $4 per gallon, begging the question whether the driving and lifestyle changes people made in the past year to conserve gas will stick.

Americans drove 15 billion fewer miles this past August than in August 2007, says the Federal Highway Administration, the largest one-month decline since figures have been collected.  An increasing number are using public transportation. Car sales are at their lowest national levels since 1991, and the federal government projects U.S. fuel consumption will decline this year by the largest amount since 1980.

OPEC has cut its output in an attempt to stabilize prices, but the global recession is pushing down worldwide demand even further.

Many drivers have said despite the recent decline in gas prices, they have indefinitely changed their habits such as running fewer errands, combining trips, driving slower…and riding more motorcycles instead of SUVs. Although sales of cruiser models have fallen with the unstable economy, small motorcycles and scooters have posted record sales because of their mileage ratings.

And even though new motorcycle sales have flattened recently, sales have picked up in other areas, including clothing, merchandise and other accessories, parts and service.  Bike owners who might have traded in their older motorcycles during better times are opting to keep them and put more money toward service and maintenance, reflecting a national trend.

Whether Americans will continue to be more fuel conscious depends largely on the economy, because despite the price of gasoline there's still a need to conserve money.

MORE TOLL ROADS COMING

Federal transportation officials are lobbying state governments to convert their freeways into toll roads, and expect the new administration to continue supporting public private partnership (PPP) initiatives. The Federal Highway Administration has announced the creation of a new office to pursue more toll roads in the future, and placed the new Office of Innovative Program Delivery atop their organizational chart to emphasize its primary place within the federal transportation department.

"The Director of Innovative Program Delivery provides advice, guidance, and research support related to tolling and pricing initiatives and administers tolling authorities," outgoing Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters wrote. "[The office also] promotes the development and use of techniques associated with providing transportation in terms of innovative and non-traditional funding sources, innovative contractual processes, and changing roles and responsibilities involved in designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, financing, obtaining, and procuring highway facilities."

These innovative and non-traditional funding mechanisms have caused concern among local and federal representatives in the wake of the ongoing financial crisis, but such efforts appear to have the support of President-elect Barack Obama who has supported similar measures.

A key component of Obama's agenda includes providing $60 billion for infrastructure projects with "a preference for projects which leverage private financing, including public-private partnerships." Moreover, Senator Obama in March endorsed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's idea to charge a $9 toll on cars and a $22 toll for trucks that enter downtown Manhattan during working hours.

PUSHING PARKING PROTECTIONS
It used to be bad enough to find someone sitting on your motorcycle, but with more people riding bikes, and parking them, an increasing urban problem appears to be with drivers moving two-wheelers out of their way to make room to park in congested downtown areas.  To top it off, they seem to be wheeling them into No Parking zones or onto sidewalks where it's illegal to park.

Recognizing this troublesome trend, the city of Seattle, Washington recently enacted an ordinance making it illegal to move another person's vehicle without their knowledge or consent.  Ordinance Number 122761 passed unanimously on August 4 to "prohibit a person from moving a motor vehicle not lawfully under his or her control when the motor vehicle is occupying a parking stall or space on City property."

In addition to a hefty fine, police also warn that "If you damage it, you'd be liable."

HONDA DEMONSTRATES V2V MOTORCYCLE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

In its efforts to improve safety for everyone, especially vulnerable road users, Honda's leading motorcycle to car communication system was recently demonstrated for the first time in Germany at the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium. The Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) System generates warnings to riders and drivers of other vehicles by continuous exchange of positioning data from satellite GPS sources. This is particularly relevant as road users approach intersections, alerting them to other vehicles that are potentially on a collision course, allowing avoidance maneuvers.  Research data shows that the majority of accidents involving a motorcycle are caused by perception failures and this system will reduce these failures.

The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by the simple failure of other motorists to detect the presence of a motorcycle on the road until it is too late, or to correctly assess its distance and speed. V2V communication rapidly relays information in a simple and concise manner, which supports motorists' and bikers' recognition processes. Information including position, direction and vehicle dynamics coordinates is exchanged between vehicles. Motorcycle riders can safely receive warnings about vehicles near them on a Head-up Indicator Display, and can receive information through an in-helmet audio system, neither requiring them to take their eyes off the road. Drivers can view information on the status of cars and motorcycles in their vicinity and receive warnings on, for example, their navigation system display.

Honda's life-saving V2V System is interoperable and facilitates communication with vehicles from 8 other manufacturers.

TOUGHER NEW MOTORCYCLE LAWS DOWN UNDER

Finding the freedom of an open road on two-wheels could be a little more difficult for some would-be Australian motorcycle enthusiasts next year, as Queensland authorities get tougher on new riders. As with Europe, some Australian legislators are looking to tighten restrictions on novice riders of all ages. The changes taking effect next July in Queensland include restricting new riders to less powerful motorcycles and prohibit them from consuming any alcohol while riding.

Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh told Parliament that novice riders will have to carry "P" plates, there will be a ban on pillion passengers and there will be a zero-alcohol limit for all ages of learners.

In the past only new riders under the age of twenty-five faced zero-alcohol restrictions, with those older allowed to have up to the legal 0.05 limit. Also, the law that restricted new riders to motorcycles of 250cc engine size will be expanded to an approved list that takes power-to-weight ratio into account.

"Given the significant increase in fatalities from motorcycle crashes, it's clear that we need to rethink our licensing system," Bligh said, "The evidence that many older people are starting to ride motorcycles and their inexperience is contributing to serious injuries and fatalities, we can't ignore that."

New riders face the restrictions for one year before going onto an unrestricted license allowing them to ride any motorcycle and fall under the regular traffic laws.

POLICE ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR BIKE BAN, POWER LIMITS

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in the U.K. has called for motorcycling to be banned from certain areas of the country in evidence it submitted to the recent House of Commons Transport Select Committee report, entitled "Ending the Scandal of Complacency: Road Safety beyond 2010".

The ACPO submission said: "There is a need for radical thinking in respect of motorcycles, including consideration of engine capability and the creation of protection zones where all motorcycles other than those specifically permitted, would be prohibited." This apparent call for power restrictions on motorcycles and their prohibition in some areas of the country flies in the face of substantial independent evidence that there is no correlation between a motorcycle's power output and its likelihood of being involved in an accident.

A further inaccuracy presented to the committee by ACPO is that, "Production machines are readily available for use on our roads with top speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour." In fact there are no production bikes capable of more than 200mph, even without the motorcycle industry's voluntary 186mph speed limitation.

"That ACPO can present such nonsense brings into question its suitability as a source of reliable information for the Transport Committee," criticized the Telegraph newspaper, adding that the law enforcement organization's testimony regarding motorcycles is "demonstrably unreliable."

WEIRD NEWS: STUNT VIDEO BUSTS BIKER

A biker in England was brought down by the Internet and his own video evidence was sentenced for speeding and performing stunts on his motorcycle.  The 28-year old rider became the talk of the British press for being arrested after he posted video footage of himself riding a motorcycle at more than 130 miles per hour as well as performing stunts on the popular video site, YouTube.

Last year similar events took place in Spain when a group of riders videotaped and posted their speeding rides between two small towns. They were also convicted by authorities who used the footage posted on YouTube.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Most change in America doesn't come from politicians. It comes from people inventing things and creating. The telephone, the telegraph, the computer, all those things didn't come from government. Our world is going to get better and better, as long as we keep the politicians from screwing it up."
David Boaz, Cato Institute
_______________________________________________________________________

October 2008

AIM ATTORNEY FIRST TO SUE MYRTLE BEACH OVER ANTI-BIKER LAWS
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney Tom McGrath filed the
first lawsuit against the city of Myrtle Beach, S.C. challenging the
constitutionality of two of over a dozen new anti-biker ordinances
passed to shut down motorcycle rallies.

The suit filed September 29 in Horry County's 15th Judicial Circuit on
behalf of two Myrtle Beach residents and motorcyclists, William and
Carol O'Day, challenges the city's new helmet law and noise
ordinances. The suit questions whether it's within the city's "home
rule" authority to supersede state law in both cases.

Both municipal ordinances, according to the lawsuit, are
unconstitutional and in violation of South Carolina state law.  ''It's
pretty simple,'' said Tom McGrath, whose Motorcycle Law Group based
out of Richmond, Virginia, filed the suit. "It's really a question of
whether it's constitutional. Does state law prevail?''

"Home Rule doesn't allow a city to pass laws that are inconsistent
with state law in areas where the state has already acted," he
explained. "and South Carolina already has a helmet law for riders 21
and younger, and they already have a muffler statute in state law."

McGrath is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is
licensed in the State of South Carolina as well as Virginia and
Tennessee.  As an avid motorcyclist and motorcycle rights activist,
Tom founded the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists and provides legal
counsel to ABATE of Virginia. "We go fight for the rights of people,"
he added, "that's what we do…that's the kind of firm we are."

Two additional lawsuits, both filed in federal court on behalf of
local businesses, have since been filed against Myrtle Beach in
response to the city council's unanimous approval of 15 new laws aimed
to crack down on a 70-year tradition of motorcycle rallies in the
city, which include restricting vendor permits, imposing liability on
promoters, limited bike parking, more restrictive loitering and public
drinking laws, and other regulations designed to dissuade rally-goers.

Among other arguments, the federal lawsuits claim the ordinances are
vague, interfere with people's First Amendment rights, do irreparable
harm to businesses and interferes with interstate commerce.

Law enforcement began enforcing some of the new laws at roadblocks set
up recently during the Fall "Pilgrimage" Bike Rally, prompting many
bikers to skirt the city in protest and spent their time and money at
other nearby rally locations, such as Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson,
where a sign warned riders that city limits were 200 feet ahead.

Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach is lobbying other local municipalities and the
county to enact similar ordinances.

"ABATE of South Carolina abhors these types of totalitarian enactments
that remove liberties and freedoms of individuals and eventually, will
start eroding individual rights granted to us under our Constitution,"
said the state motorcycle rights organization in a press release.
"ABATE of South Carolina challenges the council on the grounds that
the municipal power is exceeding the entity's corporate powers, acting
as if it is above state law."

The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally has been
a fixture in Myrtle Beach for 68 years, and is the oldest, continuous
running motorcycle rally in the country, but the city council decided
to get rid of all bike rallies following complaints from residents,
primarily during the Atlantic Beach BikeFest attended mostly by black
urban sportbike riders, after efforts to police the event led to
several discrimination lawsuits filed by the NAACP, which were
eventually settled out of court.

DOT PROPOSES NEW FEDERAL SAFETY RULES TO BAR NOVELTY HELMETS
The best-selling motorcycle-helmet decals at a popular biker website
include fake bullet holes, skull and crossbones, the American flag --
and $1 stickers that say "DOT".

The latter has created a problem for U.S. highway safety regulators,
because fake Department of Transportation stickers can be used to
counterfeit safety certification of cheap novelty motorcycle helmets,
which they claim are one cause of rising accident fatalities.

"We're proposing new safety rules to make it harder for vendors to
sell unsafe novelty helmets or for riders to get away with wearing
them," said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, herself a Harley
rider. "We are proposing to do that by requiring manufacturers to
place a larger, tamper-proof DOT label on the back of certified
helmets that have been through a wider range of safety tests."

The current federal standard, implemented in 1974, requires a DOT
emblem on the rear of the helmet, indicating it passed certification
tests. Manufacturer and model data are located on a label inside the
helmet.  The new proposal calls for a DOT-symbol decal to be applied
to the helmet beneath its clear coating, with the manufacturer's name
and helmet model added above the symbol and the word "certified" below
it.

The new rule also would refine the tests manufacturers do to certify
their helmets to meet DOT standards for impact, penetration and
retention.

Novelty helmets, which have thin protective liners, failed all the
federal performance tests, said Stephen Kratzke, associate
administrator for rulemaking at the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, but when police spot a helmet that doesn't look like
the real thing, riders can claim they thought the DOT sticker meant it
was certified. Sellers of the labels say it stands for "Doing Our
Thing".

"It makes it really hard to enforce helmet laws," said Kratzke. The
goal of the new rule is "to make sure in helmet-law states it is
easier for police to enforce the law."

NHTSA estimates that 15% of the motorcycle riders in the 20 mandatory
helmet law states wear "beanie" helmets that don't meet the current
FMVSS218 federal standard. "It's a political statement against the
helmet laws," said Eric Anderson, chairman of an industry helmet task
force. "It's fashionable to be anti-helmet."

Regulators estimate it would cost manufacturers, who turn out 5.2
million certified helmets annually, only about 2 cents each or
$100,000 to comply with the new rule.

Motorcycle groups said the time and money would be better spent, and
more lives saved, through rider education and motorist awareness
programs. Public comments will be taken until Dec. 1.

ABATE OF NEW YORK TO PICKET SAFETY CONFERENCE
ABATE of New York announced their intention to picket the NY Highway
Safety Conference, October 21st, in Syracuse, where the New York State
Police are presenting their Motorcycle Safety Roadblock Scenario to
more than 350 professionals from local, state, federal and private
agencies "involved in the effort to reduce deaths and injuries related
to traffic crashes."

ABATE of New York has obtained an all-day public assembly permit to
conduct an informational picket/protest outside of the Conference
Center to express their dissatisfaction with motorcycle-only
roadblocks, as well as draw public attention to the irony of New York
State's misdirection of designated motorcycle safety funds to those
very same enforcement tactics being promoted at the conference.

With support from ABATE of NY and in cooperation with the National
Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), A.I.M. Attorney (Aid to Injured
Motorcyclists) Mitchell Proner recently put the NY State Police and
DMV on notice that a class action suit will be filed in protest of the
discriminatory road checks being conducted on state highways during
events that draw thousands of motorcyclists.

"Since motorcycles operated in New York are already required to pass
annual safety inspections, the current NYSP initiative serves only to
harass, intimidate and inconvenience motorcyclists, and is an abuse of
discretionary power as specifically acknowledged by the New York State
Court of Appeals," said ABATE in a statement.

WYOMING BIKERS FEND OFF NOISE ORDINANCE
A proposed noise ordinance is on the "back burner" after scores of
motorcyclists flooded the Casper City Council chambers.  The council
voted unanimously and to a raucous applause to table the proposed
change to a noise ordinance, which means it will not be discussed
again unless a council member brings it back.

The proposed change read: "No person shall operate any motor vehicle
in the city in such a manner that the public's attention is drawn to
the noise created by the motor vehicle."

One biker after another spoke before the council to testify about how
"loud pipes save lives." Loud exhaust keeps drivers aware of bikers
and prevent accidents, said Jim Siri, a member of Wyoming Central
A.B.A.T.E., a motorcycle advocacy group. "Many things distract
drivers, and if they aren't paying attention they won't always see
motorcyclists, but they may still hear them," he told the Jackson Hole
Star-Tribune.

Abuse of a motorcycle on city streets is unacceptable, but
motorcyclists also don't want to be unfairly targeted, said Russ
Reddick, vice-president of Wyoming State A.B.A.T.E. and co-director of
the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) in region three. He
told the newspaper that he wants to educate riders on how to ride
respectfully and also educate drivers on how to be more aware of
motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists and the council plan to work together to help solve
"irresponsible riding" through residential neighborhoods, both groups
agreed.

ABATE OF CALIFORNIA JOINS NCOM
The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) proudly welcomes ABATE
of California as the newest NCOM Member Group, joining in unity with
over 2,000 rider groups, clubs and associations, including motorcycle
rights organizations from 38 states and over 50 Confederations of
Clubs from 35 states. NCOM is a nationwide umbrella organization that
provides legislative assistance, information network and legal
resources, and also reaches out to the Christian Motorcycling
community, women riders, sport bikers, clean & sober groups and
minority motorcyclists -- helping to form coalitions and foster
cooperation between all segments of motorcycle riders.

Following is an open letter received October 1, 2008 from Tim
Tennimon, Executive Director of ABATE Of California, Inc., with a
request to forward it on:

ABATE of California Inc., is resolute in our commitment to move
forward and stand strong in the motorcycle rights movement. With
mounting pressure from state and federal agencies we are facing
motorcycle smog laws, low noise ordinances, a motorcycle safety summit
that is working in conjunction with the CHP and NHTSA to impose more
restrictions on riding your motorcycle, helmet laws and cities that
want to limit gatherings by motorcyclists.

In order to strengthen our position we are committed to working with
all MRO's including NCOM, MRF, AMA, MMA and any state motorcycle
rights organizations that strengthens our lobby on legislative issues
and on motorcycle safety.

Our united front with these other MROs make us better prepared to
attack issues on a broader scope by having access to legal assistance,
promoting the sharing of information among the SMROs and different
groups, supporting and increasing political and legal effectiveness
through free assistance with legislative strategy, safety projects,
public awareness, information updates and assistance in both the
legislative and judicial arenas.

We are proud of our alliance with these organizations and look forward
to the success that this collective effort is sure to bring.

WEIRD NEWS: NBA PLAYER SUSPENDED OVER MOPED ACCIDENT
The Golden State Warriors suspended 22-year old guard Monta Ellis for
30 games without pay for violating his contract after he seriously
injured his ankle in a Moped accident and then compounded his mistake
by lying about spraining his ankle playing pickup ball.

The high-scoring high-paid guard probably never imagined that trouble
would cost him about $3 million - there's no doubt Ellis violated
Paragraph 12 of the NBA's uniform player Contract, which prohibits a
player from engaging "in any activity that a Reasonable person would
recognize as involving or exposing the Participant to a substantial
risk of bodily injury," including "driving Or riding a motorcycle or
Moped."

Ellis, who agreed to a six-year deal worth $66 million in July,
underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament and is unlikely to be
healthy enough to return before mid-December anyway, but the
suspension means the guard won't be paid during his absence.

He was the second-leading scorer for the NBA's highest-scoring team
last season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are
made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true.
Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard
and who vote - a very different thing."
Walter H. Judd (1898-1994) politician, 1981 recipient of Presidential
Medal of Freedom
________________________________________________________________________
September 2008
________________________________________________________________________

DEPLETED LICENSE PLATES, OVERBOOKED RIDER ED COURSES
As a sign of the times, with a record number of motorcyclists on the
road and increasing numbers of motorcycle registrations, rider
training courses in numerous locations across the country have been
booked solid and now officials in Kansas have reported running out of
motorcycle license plates.

The Hutchinson News reported that the problem is bad enough that
counties with plentiful plates are being asked to share with other
counties. "We are out of motorcycle tags, and we don't know when we'll
get more," said Reno County Treasurer Clark Miller. "We've begged and
borrowed from other counties," he told the newspaper, "but we can't
get more."

When the state made its annual tag order, gas prices hadn't reached
their current levels and officials didn't anticipate the resulting
demand from motorists switching to more fuel-efficient transportation.

At least one motorcycle owner complained to the newspaper of being
sent away from the DMV office this week and advised not to drive his
motorcycle until it was properly tagged, with no promise of when tags
might be available.

MYRTLE BEACH APPROVES HELMET LAW AND OTHER ORDINANCES TO DETER BIKERS
Myrtle Beach City Council recently gave initial approval to more than
a dozen city-wide ordinances specifically aimed to limit bike rallies
and dissuade bikers from coming to town.

On Tuesday, September 9, the council unanimously approved all but one
of 15 proposed new laws pertaining to two back-to-back May motorcycle
rallies, though the restrictions would remain in place year round.

The proposed ordinances that were passed on first reading ranged from
a ban on the operation of motor vehicles that do not have required EPA
(federal) stickers on their mufflers, to prohibiting more than one
vehicle parked in a single public parking space, to implementing a
mandatory helmet law and eye protection requirement for anyone riding
a motorcycle within city limits and authorizing authorities to impound
their motorcycles. The helmet ordinance also outlaws the sale or use
of any non-DOT compliant helmet in the city.

In June the City Council not only passed a property-tax increase
dedicated to funding an anti-bike rally campaign, but also started the
process to enact ordinances aimed at ending motorcycle-related vending
within city limits.

Another vote on the approved anti-rally measures is required before
they can become law, which may take place before riders arrive in
Myrtle Beach for the "Pilgrimage" fall bike rally, giving local police
agencies an opportunity to begin enforcing the new ordinances.

Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who once said he'd like to use
his car to "nudge" a biker who wore an offensive T-shirt, said he's
all for the city strictly enforcing the laws and said the city should
bring in as many police officers as it needs. "If they enforce the
laws," McBride told the Sun News "people will not want to come back if
their good time is curtailed."

CAN RISING MOTORCYCLIST FATALITIES BE BLAMED ON LACK OF HELMET LAWS?
Author Jacob Sullum begs the question in his article "Hit & Run" in
Reason magazine's August 20th online edition, and goes on to answer
those who blame the increase in rider fatalities on the repeal of
helmet laws in several states.

Citing federal government data that indicate the number of fatal
motorcycle accidents rose in 2007 for the 10th consecutive year,
hitting 5,154, 7 percent higher than the 2006 total, Sullum writes
that "the chief culprit recently seems to be higher gas prices, which
have encouraged people to take advantage of motorcycles' vastly
superior fuel efficiency: Motorcycle ridership appears to be rising
even as the total miles for all vehicles drops....The highway safety
authorities say that about 75 percent more motorcycles are registered
today than 10 years ago. They suspect each motorcycle is ridden more
miles, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it
does not have a reliable measurement of use. The lack of such data
makes it difficult to tell how much of an increase in fatalities
following repeal of a helmet law results from less helmet wearing and
how much results from more riding."

"While wearing a helmet reduces the risk of certain injuries,"
continues Sullum, "research suggests the overall impact on fatalities
is modest. The unimpressive numbers are one reason motorcyclists have
been so successful at defending their right to decide what, if
anything, to wear on their heads. 'We are the only industrialized
country in the world where there is an organized effort to weaken or
repeal motorcycle helmet laws,' complains Russ Rader of the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety. Is that a sign of backwardness or a
point of pride?"

Meanwhile, Forbes Magazine points out that a new study released
recently by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that "despite
the relaxation of several state helmet laws, motorcycle helmet use in
fatal crashes climbed from 55% in 1997 to 57% in 2006."

In an August 25th article titled "Expensive Gas, Dangerous Roads",
Forbes writer William Pentland says, "Although helmets are undoubtedly
decisive in some motorcycle accidents, the fact remains that the
fatality rate for helmeted motorcyclists has risen more rapidly than
it has for unhelmeted motorcyclists in the past three years. This
suggests that factors other than helmet use have fueled the rise of
motorcycle fatalities. Enter gas prices."

Pentland's research shows that since at least the 1970s, motorcycle
registrations have tracked the rise and fall of gas prices. As prices
rose in the 1970s, registrations followed.  Similarly, in the 1980s,
as gas prices fell, motorcycle registrations did too. During the
1990s, motorcycle registrations remained low and only began rising in
2000 and 2001.

"Last year, the number of licensed motorcyclists hit an all time high
of 6,227,146," says Pentland, "While the total number of miles
traveled for passenger cars fell in 2007 for the first time since
1994, the total number of miles traveled for motorcycles not only
increased, but reached a new record high."

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!
Silent but deadly, a California lawmaker says electric and hybrid cars
and motorcycles may be good for the environment, but they're bad news
for the blind.

State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, a Long Beach Democrat, has pushed a bill
through the legislature to ensure that vehicles make enough noise to
be heard by the blind and visually impaired when they're about to
cross a street.

The state Senate approved the bill on August 20 on a 23-12 vote and
sent it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who according to the San
Francisco Chronicle has not taken a position.

FIGHTER DIES AFTER RUNNING OUT OF GAS
UFC Star Evan Tanner whose body was found in California's Mojave
Desert appears to have died from heat exhaustion after his off-road
motorcycle ran out of gas. The 37-year-old former Ultimate Fighting
middleweight champion was on a "cleansing" excursion and set out on
foot in the scorching heat of the after his bike lost steam.

"What we were told is that (sheriff's officials who found him) believe
his motorcycle had run out of gas, so he went to walk out in, like,
115- to 118-degree heat," said Douglas Vincitorio a member of Evan
Tanner's management team at Driving Sports Force. "He was miles away
from his camp. That's where the helicopter found him. Right now, they
just think that he succumbed to the heat."

WEIRD NEWS: BIKER KILLED FOR HAULING HAMBURGER ON HIS HOG
Luckily, most bikers do not have to worry about being mobbed and
killed over carrying some hamburger on their bike, but in India it is
a different story.

An angry mob lynched a man in an Uttar Pradesh village in May on
suspicion that he was transporting cow meat on his motorcycle, a
police officer told Thaindian newspaper.

Riding a motorcycle in different countries carries different risks,
but it appears that in India, surviving a bike accident is nothing
compared to residents finding out that you are carrying cow meat,
which is sacred. This type of incident shows that you should always
research the laws or religious practices before you go biking around
in other countries.

TOUGHER IN ALASKA -- JUNEAU BIKER CULTURE SUBJECT OF MUSEUM
Juneau has more motorcycles per capita than most places in the United
States even though there are only 91 miles of road in the city shared
by over a thousand motorcyclists, and is the only capital not
accessible by road.

"That's pretty interesting," said Sarah Asper-Smith, guest curator of
a museum exhibit on local biker culture, adding there were 1,025
registered motorcycles in 2006 in Juneau. "That's something that runs
through the exhibit, is why do we have so many motorcycles in town
when you can't drive out of town? I think it's that sense of freedom
that Alaskans have in common."

"91 Miles to Ride: Juneau's Biker Culture" at the Juneau-Douglas City
Museum highlights Juneau biker culture with memorabilia and
photographs, some of which date to the 1930s, when there were a lot
fewer roads.  Also on display are four classic motorcycles, including
a 1924 Henderson Inline IV, a 1936 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, a 1946
Indian Chief, and a 9-foot-long 1975 customized chopper, all on loan
from local bikers.

"The weather never really bothers us," said Craig "Oz" Rasmussen, who
has ridden his '36 Harley from Dawson City, Yukon to Tijuana, Mexico
and is a member of the Southeast Alaska Panhandlers Motorcycle Club,
which is prominently featured in the exhibit along with the Southeast
Alaska Tongass Chapter of H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), Juneau Alaska
Bikers Advocating Training and Education (ABATE), and other groups.

NEW ZEALAND BARS BIKER PATCHES
Biker patches are not welcome in central Timaru and club members will
have to remove their colors before entering some businesses.

"Businesses can now place stickers on their front doors stating that
gang patches and colours are not permitted to be worn on the
premises," reports the Timaru Herald. Increasing gang activity
prompted the joint initiative from Safer Communities and the South
Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, says the newspaper.

All businesses have the right to refuse entry as long as it is not
seen as discrimination, and the stickers are not classed as
discrimination, say officials.

The Chamber of Commerce designed and paid for the printing of 100
stickers and is assisting in the distribution. Chamber manager Dave
Jack said more stickers will be printed if needed.

Timaru mayor Janie Annear said the stickers were just another tool to
stamp out gang activity, adding that they weren't naive enough to
think the gang problem was over and were always thinking of new
initiatives; "The battle is never totally won."

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "A government big enough to give you everything you
want, is big enough to take away everything you have."
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Patriot and 3rd President of the United States


NEWSBITS 'N' PIECES:
VIOLA, Wis. -- S & S Cycle cut 60 workers just after the company celebrated
its 50th anniversary in June. Company President Brett Smith announced the
cutbacks. The whole thing is blamed on the economy as it is right now. These
are the folks that make high performance engines and other goodies for your
big twin scooters.

EXPENSIVE GAS AND DANGEROUS ROADS:
The high cost of filling the tank may have far greater consequences than an empty wallet. With fewer miles driven, fatalities have fallen from auto crashes, but the opposite is true of motorcycles. Scooter crash fatalities have risen a whopping 120%.

Some say it's the changes of HELMET LAWS in many states. Truth is, rising
gas prices have caused more folks to go to two wheeled rigs, little scooters
and such, along with big motorcycles that newbies have no idea how to
navigate. Worse yet, they don't take rider courses and find themselves in
trouble with traffic that doesn't see them. Educating the rider has always
been the way to go. Education of the cagers isn't a bad idea either, but as
the rider, YOU can at least control your own training.

The grim fact is that when a motorcycle crashes, the rider is about 400%
more likely to die than in a car accident. The fatality rate for helmeted
motorcyclists has risen more rapidly than it has for un-helmeted riders in
the past three years. Maybe that's an argument to dump the helmet laws in
this country. There is a lot more to be said and has been said on that
subject, but space is limited here.

SACRAMENTO RIGHTS: This year's West Coast NCOM Regional Conference will be at the downtown LaQuinta Hotel, on October 25th. It's a free one-day bikers
rights conference, from the National Coalition of Motorcyclists. I'll be
there and I'll look for ya. The big national convention will be in May 2009,
in RENO. It's always the three days before Mother's Day. Details in future
Sacks.

STURGIS, SD: The party in Sturgis this year felt the pinch of fuel costs and
several of the businesses there took it in the shorts. Hotel reservations in
particular were actually down.

There were fewer street vendors and the population did not swell up as it
has in most years past. One report said there were a lot fewer gas-guzzling
RV's there, too. Harley's 105th anniversary rally might have drawn some away
from Sturgis, but the economy was blamed mostly for the slump this year.
Business owners said for a bigger Sturgis Rally next year, gas prices would
have to go down and police enforcement let up, too. Apparently, there was
some police harassment last year and that might have affected attendance
this year as well.

UNITED KINGDOM: NOT VERY SPORTING:
The British BOBBY (their word for local police) is getting real sneaky. They are using unmarked sport bikes with hidden lights and cameras in the bikes, and horse trailers pulled by SUVs are generating speeding tickets for unwary bikers. Riders passing SUVs
pulling horse trailers result in demand notices in the mail for fines up to
$160.00 in US Dollars.

Visordown News published reader photos of the "CopBlade," a Honda Fireblade
equipped with a front-mounted speed camera and hidden police lights. The
170hp motorcycle can cover a quarter-mile from a stop in just 10.8 seconds
on the way to a top speed of 174 MPH. Observers noted that these unmarked
police bikes wait at the side of the road for groups of high-performance
motorcycles to pass. The officer then joins up from the back of the pack,
waiting for any of the bikes ahead to exceed the speed limit by just a few
miles per hour to begin printing citations. This is really a money maker for
the police generating nearly $20,000,000 in 2006. Look out folks, the same
stunt can be used here in this country.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECALL: Harley has recalled almost fifty-thousand 2008
bikes, the FLHP, FLHPE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHRSE4, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU,
FLHTCUSE3, FLHTP, FLHX, and FLTR models. These bikes may lose fuel pressure
due to cracking of the fuel filter shell. This could lead to stalls and
failure starting. And of course, if you stall in traffic you can end up
going down real hard. Harley dealers will replace the fuel filter shell for
free.

NEW ORLEANS: YET ANOTHER BAG OF WIND?
A Southern University at New Orleans
(SUNO) administrator claims to have invented the first motorcycle safety
airbag system, and has won the Louisiana Business and Technology Center
Phase Zero award for his invention. William Belisle, Ph.D, received a patent
for the invention in 2000. Dr. Belisle says that his invention for some
reason is best suited for law enforcement agencies, security entities,
emergency first responders and the U.S. Department of Defense. Honda's
Goldwing bike has an airbag system available as an option, so I'm not sure
how this fellow claims he has something new or different from Honda's. I
still have HUGE reservations about airbags on a bike. You really want one of
those to pop off on you when a rock hits the wrong spot on your bike? It
happens in cars.


GUNNY AGAIN: I realize this is not an advertising piece of work but folks,
ya gotta remember the people who protect us when we are in a pickle.

The accident rate has steadily risen in the last few years and especially
during the fuel crunch we find ourselves in now. More and more folks are
going to the two wheeled methods of transportation, and most of these
"newbies" have no concept of what happens in heavy traffic. Many are
first-timers on these kinds of transportation.

When you see these folks, stop and talk to them about rider courses and
motorcycle endorsements. You might save a life. Let them know there are
attorneys who ride too, and who are there to protect them if they find
themselves in trouble. Take advantage of these folks yourselves. Our AIM
(Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) attorneys will help us when the chips are
down.

We are not trained and don't know all the little tricks that are needed to
shake the dollar bill out of that corporate insurance pocket. If we don't do
it right we can SO easily get sold short. Call AIM for your nearest AIM
attorney and bring him into the loop BEFORE you talk to any insurer. It will
save you grief and losses you can do without. My boss Sam Hochberg here in
Oregon is our AIM guy, but for any state, call AIM at 1-800-531-2424 and
they will get you fixed up.


________________________________________________________________________
August 2008
________________________________________________________________________

GAS PRICES FUEL RECORD SCOOTER SALES

Rising fuel prices and recession fears have spurred nationwide
interest in motorcycles and scooters, and a new survey indicates more
people are considering two-wheelers due to soaring prices at the pump.

PowerSports Business reported in July that first half scooter sales
increased by 65 percent, validating a consumer trend towards more fuel
efficient transportation. Other sources published similar reports such
as The New York Times', June 6, 2008 article "As Gas Prices Soar,
Scooters Grow in Popularity"; and The Wall Street Journal, May 21,
2008 article, "Fuel Efficient Scooter Use Takes Off." In an August 1,
2008 article in PowerSports Business, Yamaha Motor Co. reported that
its U.S. retail motorcycle new unit sales grew 12.4 percent compared
to a year ago.
With most motorcycles averaging from 40 to 60 miles per gallon and
many scooters averaging up to 100 or more miles per gallon, a lot of
people are now interested in acquiring these vehicles for
cost-conscious commuting. A recent PowerSports Business article
released the results of a survey conducted by Consumer Reports
National Research Center indicating that more than one-quarter of U.S.
consumers are considering purchasing a motorcycle or scooter. Eighteen
percent are thinking of buying a motorcycle while 14 percent are
contemplating buying a scooter.

"The era of smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles is upon us,"
commented Anthony Havens, CEO of Sparta financial and management
services for the powersports industry. "Until recently, motorcycles
and scooters were considered the choice of enthusiasts, or people who
were just interested in fun and recreation. But, with gas prices
dramatically rising, a growing number of consumers are buying
motorcycles and scooters for extremely practical reasons."

"In 1998, there were about 15,000 scooter sales, which represented
about 5 percent of all licensable motorcycle sales," said Mike Mount,
a spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council. "In 2007, there were
about 131,000 sales, which represents 15 percent of licensable sales.

It might be easy to think scooters and mopeds are only popular among
teenage boys itching to get their first taste of the open road, but
sales figures indicate that both scooters and mopeds are increasingly
being purchased by a maturing demographic. In 1990, the median age for
scooter owners was 26, according to a survey conducted by the MIC, but
by 2003 the median age jumped to 46.

AMERICANS DRIVING LESS

American driving has reached its eighth month of steady decline, a
trend officials say signals an urgent need for new forms of highway
financing to supplement the gas tax. New data released by the U.S.
Department of Transportation show that, since last November, Americans
have driven 53.2 billion miles less than they did over the same period
a year earlier -- topping the 1970s' total decline of 49.3 billion
miles.

Americans drove 4.7 percent less, or 12.2 billion miles fewer, in June
2008 than June 2007, based on vehicle-miles-traveled data collected by
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The decline is most evident
in rural travel, which has fallen by 4 percent -- compared to the 1.2
percent decline in urban miles traveled -- since the trend began last
November.

As Americans drive fewer miles, less revenue is generated for the
Highway Trust Fund from gasoline and diesel sales -- 18.4 cents per
gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon, respectively. During the first
quarter of 2008, motorists consumed nearly 400 million fewer gallons
of gasoline, or about 1.3 percent less than during the same period in
2007, and 7 percent less -- or 318 million gallons -- of diesel.

"We can't afford to continue pinning our transportation network's
future to the gas tax," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E.
Peters. "Advances in higher fuel-efficiency vehicles and alternative
fuels are making the gas tax an even less sustainable support for
funding roads, bridges and transit systems."

In California, a Pay-As-You-Go tax surcharge measure has already
cleared its first legislative hurdle.

U.S. TRAFFIC DEATHS DROP TO LOWEST LEVEL IN A DECADE

Traffic deaths in the United States declined last year, reaching the
lowest level since 1994, reported the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.

Some 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down by more than
1,600 from 2006. It was the fewest highway deaths in a year since
1994, when 40,716 people were killed.

The fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled
in 2007 was the lowest on record, NHTSA said in its report.

Motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year. There were
5,154 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,837 in 2006.

The increased deaths have come while the number of registered
motorcycles has surpassed 6 million, compared with 3.8 million in
1998, and vehicle miles traveled have risen.

Transportation officials said they plan to target motorcyclists in a
$13 million anti-drunken-driving advertising campaign running during
the Labor Day holiday. The department also has discussed new safety
and training standards for novice riders, increased training for law
enforcement and curbing counterfeit safety-labeling of helmets.

INCREASING FATALITIES MAKE MOTORCYCLES A TARGET

As more people turn to two-wheel transportation, tripling the number
of new motorcycles hitting the road over the past decade, the
corresponding increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities has made
motorcyclists a target for stiffer regulations, stricter safety
standards and select enforcement.

State and federal officials fear the problem could grow as higher gas
prices push more first-time riders toward motorcycling without proper
training and licensing. "With gas prices on the increase, more people
are riding motorcycles to work," said South Carolina trooper Lance
Cpl. Bob Beres. "They're not just using them for leisure."

Most motorcyclists who died during a recent 18-month period studied by
the S.C. Highway Patrol either had a beginner's license or no license
at all, and troopers worry that inexperience could put newer riders at
greater risk. Of the 99 fatal motorcycle crashes they investigated
from July 2006 to December 2007, 36 riders had beginner's licenses --
the same number as those with a regular license. Twenty-five had no
license and two had expired licenses.

Motorcycle riders were at fault in about three-quarters of the fatal
crashes. The major causes were speeding, failing to yield the right of
way and driving under the influence.

The S.C. Highway Patrol was awarded a $75,000 grant to create a Ride
Smart safety campaign aimed at motorcyclists, particularly beginning
riders.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are stepping up efforts to curb
rising fatalities by targeting motorcycles. As part of a state funded
Saving Lives program, the California Highway Patrol conducted a sweep
of the 605 freeway looking for motorcyclists not obeying traffic laws,
high handlebars and improper helmets, and will be keeping a closer eye
on cyclists in highly concentrated areas through the summer.

They ticketed 62 motorcyclists, 21 of which didn't have a motorcycle
license. Officers impounded the 21 bikes.

In Ohio, the Ohio Highway Patrol will reportedly be targeting
motorcycle runs and stopping riders to check for sobriety, motorcycle
endorsements and loud pipes.

The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) has recently taken the
New York State Police and NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles to task for
setting up discriminatory "Safety Check" roadblocks for motorcyclists
en route to large rallies, threatening a class-action lawsuit through
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM), but meanwhile other states are
taking similar targeted actions toward motorcycle riders under the
pretense of safety concerns.



UTAH ENACTS TIERED LICENSING FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Effective July 8, 2008, Utah will begin using a tiered licensing
system for motorcycle endorsements.

- If a rider tests on a 90cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will
be restricted to 90cc or less.

- If a rider tests on a 249cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will
be restricted to 249cc or less.

- If a rider tests on a 649cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will
be restricted to 649cc or less.

- If a rider tests on a motorcycle or scooter larger than 650cc they
will be allowed to ride any motorcycle or scooter.

If a rider takes a motorcycle safety class on a 250cc, successful
completion will waive the riding part of the license test for an up to
649cc endorsement. To get an endorsement for motorcycles above 649cc
riders must use a larger motorcycle in the safety class. To use your
own bike in a class you must have a permit, registration, and
insurance. If a rider currently rides a motorcycle over 649cc they may
obtain a skill test waiver by successfully completing a License Waiver
Experienced Rider Course (ERC), a 5 hour course that costs $85.

OKLAHOMA MAY OUTLAW GANGS

State Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R-Oklahoma City) told the Tulsa World
newspaper that he wants to outlaw gangs by passing a law to enable
gang members to be charged with a misdemeanor, even though he admits
that such a law might not pass constitutional muster.

Tim Hock, vice president of the Oklahoma Gang Investigators
Association, said he strongly endorses Wesselhoft's efforts, and that
allowing gang members to be charged with a misdemeanor would give
officers the means to interrogate them about criminal activity in the
community.

Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer said, "There are various types of gangs
-- outlaw motorcycle gangs, white supremacy groups, Asian, Hispanic
and African American gangs."  They can be identified by gang names,
tattoos and, in some cases, the color of clothes they wear, he said.

But Andrew Spiropoulos, a law professor at Oklahoma City University,
said lawmakers "have to be very careful when they legislate gang
membership as illegal, because under the First Amendment, a person
cannot be prosecuted because they are a member of a group."

He said a person can be prosecuted only for conduct. "Generally, what
states and cities have done is that they usually attack some activity
in addition to being a gang member," he said.

"This is very disturbing news," relayed Tiger Mike Revere, State
Coordinator of ABATE of Oklahoma and member of the National Coalition
of Motorcyclists (NCOM) board of directors, "We'll have to keep a very
close eye on this one in Oklahoma, as this type of legislation passed
in other states, as in California and Ohio, has been used to directly
discriminate against and harass Motorcycle Clubs, and not just 1%ers."

BAR OWNER ACCUSES POLICE OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST HER PATRONS

A Green Bay, Wisconsin bar owner says the police department is
discriminating against her because of her clientele. Kim VandenBusch
says 75 percent of the regulars at Kimmers Bar & Grill are members of a motorcycle club.

Last week the city granted the owner a liquor license with a unique
stipulation. The police department asked her to hang a sign in the bar
that says "No club colors," referring to the back patches worn by
motorcycle club members.

"I was very much under duress on signing that because they said if I
didn't sign it I wouldn't get my license," VandenBusch told WBAY-TV,
adding that it's unfair because the bar has a good track record with
the police department. "I felt it was very wrong. I felt it was
discriminating. It should be up to the owner of the establishment to
decide what clientele they want."

But the police department has every right to do this. Last year the
city passed an ordinance that says every establishment wanting a
liquor license must first have its business plan approved by the
police department.

Police Captain Bill Galvin said, "There can be fights, shootings, drug
dealing, drug usage, things like that occurring at places where these
gang members hang out."

Galvin says putting up a simple sign will eliminate potential
problems, but VandenBusch hasn't put one up yet. Instead, she's
appealing to the Protection and Welfare Committee.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "I think legislative assaults on motorcyclists are
totally emotional, disproportionate and totally unfair... They are
instigated and implemented by people who know nothing about
motorcycling, but have a prejudice. It's easy to curb the freedoms of
others when you see no immediate impact on your own."

Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), publisher & avid motorcyclist