A very interesting article on the demise of the Motorcycle & its Culture

There is an extremely well written editorial over on www.bikernews.net

Motorcycles And The Culture They Inspire

USA - Motorcycles And The Culture They Inspire 1868-2017by LJ James

Many of the "facts" in this story are based on Legend and Myth as much of the history of the Motorcycle and it's Culture was lost in the great rebellion of 2057.

Taken from a history book in the year 2095…

Motorcycles And The Culture They Inspire 1868-2017Motorcycles started out as steam engines strapped on to bicycles in 1868. Soon after the gas engine took its place in the 1900's there were Motorcycle shops and Dealers all over the World. For awhile, Motorcycle were simply used as transportation. In 1907, when Henry Fords, Ford Motor Company, released the Model-T at a price everyone could afford, the Motorcycle soon went from a necessity to a luxury item.

The writer goes on to express his feelings on the demise of the motorcycle and its culture.
Very similar feelings are expressed by him - to the feelings I expressed in an article I wrote 2 years ago.

By the time the Bikers realized how much they were connected and needed each other, it was too late. Their numbers were certainly sufficient to achieve victory, but their failure to come together as Brothers and Sisters and work for the common good ultimately spelled their demise. Had they been victorious, it may have been enough to stop all of the oppression and tyranny that soon followed.

History is full of stories just like this one, over and over again. The ones who love and honor Freedom the most are taken down first and the rest fall like dominoes. Until the rebellion of 2057, we as a Global Society did not realize how important it was to put aside our differences. It may have taken awhile, but we finally figured it out…Just in time!

Now this is an American writing this but I look here in Canada and I see the same crap happening here. Everyone wants to do their own thing, no one wants to work together on the issues that affect all of us.

Every weekend we have a new bar or a new charity that see motorcyclists as a mean to an end.
They host events without considering what else is going on in the motorcycle community and what other cause or charity they might be hurting.They want to line their coffers with our money - I call it getting on the motorcycle band wagon. Will they be there to support us when the crunch comes - a few will; maybe, but most will just move on to the next fad or craze and forget us and what we did to help their community or cause.

Bikers/Riders/Motorcycle Enthusiast, Weekend Warrior - no matter what you call yourself - we tend to be A type personalities...independent thinkers and lovers of freedom.

And while that is wonderful it can also cause the problems noted in LJ James' article.

We DO need to learn to work together. It is vital and imperative that we do.
Our community will be legislated right out of existence if we don't watch out.

Its already happening in the USA - as population densities increase, and noise pollution becomes a bigger and bigger issue - Rallies with 60 year histories are being shut down - why? Predominantly - NOISE.

If enough non riders squawk we will see aftermarket pipes, performance modifications and the like become illegal. Whole segments of the aftermarket industry will fall, badly leaving thousands out of work and the rest of us riding stock machines.

Whether we as individuals understand how politics work or not - politics is what is going to bring this community to its knees if we don't stand united - if we don't use a little common sense and a little bit of consideration and courtesy.

And that's what I see in my little crystal ball, like the Native Indian of the North American Continent - a once proud and vibrant culture that had survived all natures of violence, disease and war - politics brought them to their knees - all but wiped them out and why? Because the various tribes wouldn't work together.

History as Bro LJ James' says, is repeating itself, the writing is on the wall.
So, the 64 million dollar question is - what are we going to do about it?
Let it happen or start learning how to work together?

Each individual needs to make a choice - is this way of life something we want preserved and how do we want it preserved? In history books or on the highways?

Your thoughts are always welcome....
Ride safe and be smart and have a blast....

Belt Drive Betty

Big Bear Choppers & Nasty Boy Frames

Many of you may have read Raoul Matagora's story about 2 bikes coming in to his shop, 5150 Bike Werks in Rocky Mountain House AB - One bike was a Big Bear Chopper that was subject to a recall for a steering neck issue involving lack of weld penetration.

The second bike was a custom bike built using a Nasty Boy Frame - however according to Raoul the Nasty Boy appeared to be the exact same frame with the exact same problem. Raoul had both frames x-rayed.

I have made some calls and talked to Mike the Greek at Big Bear Choppers.

We have no idea IF the situation in Raoul's shop is unique or a sign of a larger problem.

You see at one time Nasty Boys used to build frames and other parts for Big Bear.

Big Bear Choppers is pretty sure they have pinpointed the recall issue on their machines to one welder who was not applying enough heat, however, this situation in Rocky Mountain House warrants looking into.

Was Nasty Boy Motorcycles selling frames, kits and motorcycles here in Canada using the same frames they were building for Big Bear?

If not, is it possible that welders in both businesses used inadequate heat?

I do not know and so far no one else seems to either but why take a chance with your life?

If you own a Big Bear Chopper, here is the recall, if your machine is one of these - call your dealer and get the repair done.

Information on the original recall:
Build Years/Makes/Models: 2004 - 2005 BIG BEAR
CHOPPERS VENOM CHOPPERS
2005 BIG BEAR CHOPPERS SLED CHOPPERS
2004 - 2005 BIG BEAR CHOPPERS DEVILS
ADVOCATE CHOPPERS

Units affected: 432

Recall Number: 08V129000

Summary: BIG BEAR CHOPPER IS RECALLING 351 MY 2004-2005 VENOM AND DEVIL'S ADVOCATES CHOPPERS AND MY 2005 SLED CHOPPERS. SOME MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION BETWEEN THE NECK, BACKBONE, AND DOWN TUBES OF
THE FRAME. HIGH LOADS CREATED WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES, STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION MADE TO THE FRAME BY OWNERS, AND/OR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE SPECIFIED TORQUE SETTING OF THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT MAY CAUSE THE AFFECTED WELDS TO CRACK.

Consequence: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN NECK SEPARATION AND FRONT-END COLLAPSE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER TORQUE OF THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT OR MODIFY THE FRAME AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG BEAR CHOPPER AT 1-909-878-4340.

Notes: BIG BEAR CHOPPERS RECALL NO. 1B9/631.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO http://www.safercar.gov/.

In Canada the dealers for Big Bear Choppers are:

Howler Custom Cycles
306.542.3839
408 Queen Elizabeth Blvd East
Kamsack SK
http://www.howlercustomcycles.com/

Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson
807.577.6221
1330 Rosslyn Road
Thunder Bay ON
http://www.tbharley.com/

Speed Trix
450.537.3277
259 Route Du'Long Sault QC
speedtrix@hotmail.com

Underground Performance Cycles
403.901.1000
Hwy #1 1020 A Westridge 1K1
Strathmore AB
http://www.undergroundheads.com/


If you own a Nasty Boy Motorcycle, a rolling chassis or bike built with a Nasty Boy frame that appears to be similar to the three models described above - built between 2003 and 2005 you might want to consider having the steering neck x-rayed just to be safe.

Coincidences happen and perhaps that's all this situation is but I'd rather err on the side of caution. I am not trying to push panic buttons - I just want my brothers and sisters riding safe machines.

Please ride like they are out to get you - Because they are!

Belt Drive Betty

More death and carnage.

So, the news feeds were depressing as all get out yet again today. More riders dying needlessly, more families left torn apart.

We riders are also cagers. Are you cognizant when you drive your vehicle?

I think that every person who gets a drivers license should have to ride on the back of a motorcycle for 1,000 kms before they are let loose on the roadways.

I also think that every driver of a vehicle should have a refresher course of 1,000 kms on the back of a bike every 3-5 years.

Maybe if they saw the things we see they'd be more attentive.

I don't know what the answer is, but I am sorely tired of loosing my brothers and sisters of the family Wind to inattentive drivers.

Defensive and advanced rider training courses just might help save your life. Perhaps it's time to consider taking one....

I invite you all to join AIM-Can - the Association for Injured Motorcyclists.

Your thoughts or suggestions are always welcome!

PLEASE - Ride safe, be smart - even if I don't know you personally, we are connected and it breaks my heart when a rider goes down.

Belt Drive Betty

Poor Event Attendance and its affects....

The AIM Boogie Bash this past weekend reportedly suffered from low attendance.
A number of factors contributed to the lower than hoped for attendance not the least of which was a venue and date change.

Many did not attend as they thought the weather would be bad - and there was a rumored boycott of the venue not the event. Apparently some of the local riders have a beef with the new owners of 8 Mile Ranch - now named Heartland Ranch - anyway - these people thought they'd hurt the venue owners when in fact all they did was hurt AIM-Can and all of the vendors.

So, I ask you all this:

Do you have any idea what it is like to host an event that is meant as a fundraiser only to loose money?

Do you realize that whether or not you attend an event the organizers still have to pay for the rental of the site, port o potties, security, advertising, entertainment and insurance?

Do you realize that whether you attend or not the volunteers are still required to be there as are the vendors and the entertainers.

It takes months and thousands of hours to organize an event that is meant to enhance our community. When the community doesn't show up it is devastating to the organizers - volunteers burn out and become deflated and pretty soon there are no events to go to because no one wants to put in the effort.

I agree that we have a lot of events going on. Hence why we started the community events calendars 5 years ago. This tool is meant to help organizers to not step on each others toes and to give the rider a great tool for planning holidays and weekends.

I hope to see even more people using this resource over the coming months and years.
Then perhaps we can eliminate some of the over booking that's been happening and ensure that our community has good events to go to for a long time to come.

Working together we all benefit....

Just my 2 bits worth....

Ride safe

Belt Drive Betty

A wild weekend!

I'm home safe and sound after my weekend in Onoway for Dave & Carmel's Wedding.

We had an absolute ball! I can't wait for you to see what a spectacle the wedding was! It was exactly what they promised - a wedding unlike you have ever seen before!

The cold and the rain were so worth it!

I have a question for you....have you ever ridden your motorcycle on a highway/public roadway at speeds over 200 kph?

Well, a couple of guys, one clocked at 243 in Ontario and one clocked at over 260 are finding out that excessive speeding costs - big time!

What are your thoughts on speeds like these on our roadways?

I hope you stay safe out there. There were a lot of Sheriffs out here in Alberta, and I am sure police services everywhere will be out in full force.

Speeding isn't the only thing that will get you in trouble today. There will be a lot of people heading home so please, ride like they are out to get you!

Belt Drive Betty

Ride without a helmet - become an organ donor - Hmm

Although somewhat twisted at first glance (repugnant actually), the comment made by Mary Margaret Towey of Lancaster, PA on June 18th/08 could have some merit behind it.

I was taking some time to catch up on some reading this morning after sifting through news feeds. I had scanned through a full 12 pages of motorcycle death and accident news and was depressed.

I had tagged a few articles to be read and decided I needed to do some reading to take my mind off of the depressing statistics that are now cropping up over motorcycle accidents.

The following article in in Brain Bucket Magazine was one of them....


"I also know that emergency-room personnel everywhere refer to motorcycles as "donorcycles" and not humorously. Well, with this helmet-optional law in place, why don't we make that grim nickname official? By this I mean, let's make it a law that every cyclist who rides helmet-less must have a new license (which the state will gladly provide for free) that identifies him or her as an organ donor."
To read the whole article: http://www.brainbucketmag.com/News/article/sid=3902.html

Her theory - If you want the right to ride without a helmet, you must become an organ donor.

She was responding to a medical article published June 12/08.:

"To evaluate the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law, we assessed changes in helmet use and compared motorcycle-related head injuries with non head injuries from 2001–2002 to 2004–2005. Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%. Head injury deaths increased 66%; non head injury deaths increased 25%. Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased 78% compared with 28% for non head injury hospitalizations. Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders. Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use."

Read the whole article here: http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2007.123299v1

I know how unpopular the helmet laws are. Helmets are uncomfortable, they take away from the feeling of being free. However, we know from many reports that in certain instances that helmets do save lives and in many cases reduce head trauma.

Statistics vary state by state in the US, but consistently it appears that 4o percent or more of deaths involving motorcyclists come from brain trauma.

So, here you have it.

Motorcycle deaths are often preventable. And whether we like it or not, many of our community members who ride will or have died this year.

All freedoms come with responsibility.

If I as a smoker want the right and freedom to smoke, I must do so in such a way that it does not infringe upon your right as a non smoker to have cleaner air to breathe.

If I as a motorcycle rider want the right and freedom to have loud pipes on my bike I must use them in such a way as to not infringe on the rights and freedoms of those who sleep (shift workers and small children), or are ill or infirm to have relative quiet. (Hospitals, seniors homes and residential areas)

The Charter here in Canada and the Bill of Rights in the US are both written in such a way as to express exactly what I say above.

Yes you have freedom to choose but know that your choice has consequences and responsibilities. Your rights and freedoms stop where the freedom of others begins.
We are all supposed to be equal - remember.

When you choose to exercise your right to ride without a helmet you are knowingly putting yourself at greater risk and you have chosen to accept that risk. That's cool in my way of thinking....

So my question is this:

If you are willing to take the increased risk to experience the exhilaration and freedom of riding without a helmet, what would be wrong with signing a donor card?

Some have expressed pretty strong gut level reactions - they have called this gal all sorts on names and slammed her pretty hard, but think of this idea......seriously.


The main objection I see to Mary's idea is the license idea. Instead of a drivers licence that identifies you as a donor and another reason for cops to pull riders over, how about a sticker on your license plate that identifies you as an organ donor?


Bikers have always been known as a community that give back, help out.

Maybe we need to look at this idea as a compromise - as something in keeping with our own culture....you keep giving even after you are gone....is that such a bad thing?

Living in a province where I am told I have to have a helmet to ride, well yah know, this almost sounds to me like a good compromise....

I have my feelings on this subject - what are yours? I'd love to know.

Please - no matter where you ride, with or without a helmet, you are my brother or sister of the family Wind and I want you around tomorrow - so stay safe, ride smart....

Belt Drive Betty

Rider error is most to blame for many fatal accidents....

I have been sifting through the news feeds this morning in my daily attempt to find news on motorcycling in Canada in the main stream media and I came across a number of articles out of the US that caught my interest.
"Wednesday, the Washington State Patrol reported that 80 percent of all motorcycle fatalities in the state were the result of rider error, the most common causes being excessive speed and lane errors, usually a rider unable to negotiate a curve safely."

Link to the original article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/376827_motorcycles01.html?source=mypi
At Why Bike dot Com: http://www.whybike.com/motorcycle_search.php?find=motorcycle+accidents&field=descr&ser=y&search=Search

Consumer Reports: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/08/motorcycles.html
Another article on Motorcycle accidents - the Hurt Report from 1981: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html - this article is used widely as statistical information even though it is from 1981
The common thread in all of the above articles? Rider error, inadequate training, fatigue and inexperience seem to be the causation of many motorcycle accidents.
Many older riders who are getting on motorcycles these days got their bike license when they were a kid, took a 20 year break from motorcycles due to kids and responsibilities and are now riding again. The problem is that most of them have not gone to a motorcycle safety course.

If you are one of those riders, taking a refresher course just might prevent you from being a statistic.

Education of riders is every bit as important as educating cagers....
I read about so many deaths and severe injuries suffered by motorcyclists every day in my quest to find the news that it makes my heart heavy - so many of the accidents I read about are preventable.

So how can you help yourself out there? Get some training. I for one plan on taking an advanced rider's course in the spring.

Becoming involved in an organization like AIM - Can - the Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists might be a good idea too. To find out more about AIM and what they do please visit: http://www.aimcan.com/

PLEASE - Have fun, but ride safe and be smart....I want yah around for a while and I am sure there are others in your life who feel the same way.


Belt Drive Betty