The GUNNY'S SACK
February 2001
Right out of the box this month folks I want to remind you
that the 2001National Coalition of Motorcyclists Convention is
in Orlando, Florida, May10-12. The host hotel is already filled
for some nights, but if you have anytrouble getting a room at
the Marriott, you can still get rooms next door at the Sheraton
Suites at (407) 240-5555.
Be sure and mention NCOM for the best rates.
This promises to be the biggest and the best yet. Our AIM attorneys'pockets
help provide the funds that support the NCOM Convention every
yearand we should take full advantage of it. You will learn more
about motorcyclepolitical activity here than at any other place
I can think of, plus gettingto meet hundreds of other folks working
just as hard as you are for ourrights.
While I'm on my soap box, remember to call your local AIM attorney
ifyou have the misfortune to be involved in an accident. They
are the best inthe business and have YOUR interests at heart.
Call 1-800-ON-A-BIKE or theAIM attorney in your state for expert
help, and not just for accidents, butfor any legal matter.
OREGON STATS: Some statistics are out on last year's Oregon
motorcycleaccidents. The numbers are not pretty. There were 38
fatalities for the year and 29 were the biker's fault. Ofthose,
12 were single vehicle, 4 of which were alcohol-related. There
were 17multi-rig fatalities and 6 had rider alcohol involvement.
The alcohol related10 fatalities had blood alcohol levels averaging
.145. Oregon law says .08 is sufficiently under the influence
that you can't drive safely. 65.8% of these wrecks were caused
by excessive speed. In other words, tragedies from poor
judgment, as I see it. Why do all our cries fall on deaf ears?
Just here in the Sack alone, I don't know how many times we've
pleaded with our brothers and sisters to take a riding course
and don't mix alcohol with bikes.
According to these numbers there would be 29 people who would
probably still be walking and riding this earth if 10 riders had
NOT RIDDEN after drinking too much, and if 19 others had not ridden
past their ability.
NEWS BITS 'N PIECES:
ON NETWORK TV: The very distinguished newsman and host of
ABC TV's Nightline, Ted Koppel, came out of the biker closet on
Jay Leno's show in February. Ted rode out on stage on a Harley,
in a leather jacket -- AND a beanie helmet! He said he rode 30
years ago, but his wife made him stop when they had kids! Ted
says they're all grown now, and he can do what he wants! I like
that attitude. The guy really does have a mind of his own and
I'll just bet his wife rides right along with him too.
PHOENIX, AZ: Titan Motorcycle Co. of America has filed
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Chapter 11 will allow them to restructure
some of their procedures and capitol needs.
Titan is continuing all normal business operations and will continue
uninterrupted services to its dealers and customers. In the last
few years we've seen much improvement in all the big ride manufacturers
because of the competition provided by these kinds of companies.
The latest I have is they've found new financing. Good news indeed.
EUROPE: This is globalization as I see it folks: For some
years now, FEMA (Federation of European Motorcycle Associations)
has taken part in the different committees dealing with Transport
within the United Nations. One committee they're involved in has
been given the responsibility to set up the construction standards
for the ''World Bike'' (Whoops! World Bike?), another is establishing
a worldwide Road Safety strategy.
With the Multi-Directive, the ''Euro Bike'' standards had been
established and FEMA was successfully in the front line to make
sure that the bike was one that motorcyclists would enjoy riding.
Now, they are working to make sure that the ''World Bike'' will
be free of unnecessary restrictions.
The European process, where Parliament and Member States have
to reach an agreement for a proposal to be adopted is very different
from this country.
Within the UN, however, Member States operate independently. This
means the results achieved by motorcyclists in Europe will not
necessarily be taken into consideration worldwide. Remember the
U.S., Australia, and Asia all are
part of this mess.
On the road safety side, the UN strategy for motorcycles includes
promotion of leg protectors in the design of bikes and mandatory
fluorescent and reflective clothing. Oh man! FEMA managed to avoid
making these things compulsory in Europe and now the people that
promote this stuff are back trying to impose their will Internationally!
These people want motorcycles restricted into oblivion, period.
I'm praying the idea will not catch hold.
There is still a lot of work to be done to preserve the future
of motorcycling. We'd better start to work together people or
we will, as my good friend Butch Harbaugh says, go to museums
to look at the machines we had so much fun riding.
WASHINGTON, DC: Kawasaki's recalling about 18,000 motorcycles
because the rear brakes can fail. The recalled motorcycles are
2001 KX series motocross rides with model numbers KX65, KX85,
KX100, KX125, KX250 and KX500.
The bikes were sold from May to November of last year. No injuries
as a result of the break defect have been reported yet but Kawasaki
says STOP using them NOW and get them to your nearest dealer for
the fix, or Kawasaki will send owners the kit to fix'em themselves.
If you've got one of these Kawi's, call your local dealership
or Kawasaki at (866) 802-9381.
BOMBAY, India: Scooters are falling on their faces here.
More people are buying the fashionable, upscale motorcycles now
because the lowly scooter is seen as DOWDY. Uh oh! What next?
Maybe BIG MOTORCYCLES? Could be! Motorcycles grabbed more than
50% of the overall two-wheeler market there last year, up from
less than 10% just a decade ago. Scooter sales have fallen almost
37% in the past nine months. Those trends aren't expected to change.
I don't think
I'd invest in a scooter company in India right now.
TOKYO: Japan's second-biggest automaker, Honda Motor Co.
Ltd, is planning to expand domestic sales of cheap motorcycles
made at its plants in Asia to cash in on growing demand for cut-price
vehicles. The company has released a new series of bikes powered
by 4-cycle 50cc engines, targeted mainly at the youth market to
improve domestic sales of the rides.
GUNNY AGAIN: ''FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM
HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW.'' I don't know who
originally said that, but they certainly spoke the TRUTH. Keep
the round side on the bottom.
Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon A.I.M. Chief of Staff
