The GUNNY'S SACK

January 2006 Now that the Holiday season is past us we can settle down and do the things we need to do to get ready to ride this new year. Many of us are looking forward to showing off those new saddlebags and all the other goodies we got from Santa.

The rest of us are busy getting our scoots ready to ride. New tires where needed and all the maintenance we let go during our last year because riding was more important than a wax job or fresh oil. Do that work during the winter months so you will be ready when the sun comes out and things thaw out.

Have ya got all those “Honey do’s” done? Now is the time to get that stuff outta the way too. That good woman that puts up with ya all summer when yer gone every weekend on some run or another deserves some time now that things are cold outside. She’s the one that feeds ya and keeps ya warm at night, right? Now you WOMEN out there, you can just put the Gunny in reverse and apply all that to your old man!

Enough of my foolishness.

WINTER SAFETY: It IS the time to GET THE SAFETY CHORES DONE on your ride. I for one don’t want a breakdown on the first ride of the new season, or any other time for that matter. Check those tires, change the oil, and other fluids. Give the bike a good cleaning, and a coat of wax won’t hurt either. Maybe even sign up and take a riding course. Who knows, ya might just learn something or be reminded of a trick that will save your bacon this year.

NEWSBITS ‘N’ PIECES

RECALL! RECALL! RECALL! MILWAUKEE: Harley-Davidson Motor Company has issued a voluntary safety recall on 2006 model year Dyna series motorcycles built between June 9 and October 19, 2005. Approximately 13,400 motorcycles are included in the recall. The transmissions in the affected motorcycles have a defect which under certain circumstances may allow them to go into a false neutral position even though the neutral indicator light is illuminated. As part of its Initial Care Program for 2006 Dyna motorcycles, the Company will provide owners with free pick-up and delivery, if desired. This service will commence and recall kits will be available at dealerships beginning the week of December 12, 2005.

The Company estimates that the costs associated with this voluntary recall will be less than $5.0 million and it will reserve these costs in the fourth quarter of this year. The Company also expects to meet its previously-announced wholesale shipment target for 2005.
SOURCE Harley-Davidson Motor Company

THE EVER-LOVIN NEED FOR SPEED Speeding is not necessarily reckless, even at 128 mph, a judge ruled regarding a motorcyclist who tried to flee from state troopers.

County Judge John Steinheider ruled that Jacob H. Carman, 20, was not guilty of reckless driving when he was spotted by a trooper who then chased him at the top speed of his cruiser's odometer - 128 mph.

He said "As much as it pains me to do it, speed and speed alone is not sufficient to establish reckless driving." He did say that if he had a passenger he’d have thrown the book at him. Nevertheless, Carmen was fined $300.00 for trying to elude the cop and expired tags. I’m sorry folks, but running because your tags are out of date is foolish any way ya look at it.

DUCATI: Whooee! The DUKE has done it again. They have a new machine that’s gorgeous! It’s called the“Hypermotard.” I’m told this critter is the cats whiskers on mountain roads. It took “Best of Show” at the recent 63rd International Motorcycle Exhibition. At 385 lbs it’ll hit 135 mph, and it’s air cooled. Right now, it’s a concept bike, but it won’t be for long.

UNITED KINGDOM: No Luxembourg Compromise! The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG-UK) is calling for the UK Government NOT to accept the Luxembourg Compromise for the 3rd European License Directive, regarding motorcycle licensing. Y’see, WE still worry about HELMET LAWS in the USA, and we should be paying more attention to what’s going on in Europe. The European Parliament is calling for structured licensing across the board in Europe. That means if you’re 35 years old, for example, and a new rider, YOU WILL BE RESTRICTED to a lesser license than what your friends might have, and forced to ride a bike with a smaller engine! MAG says this will have a detrimental effect on motorcycle riding all over the continent. Remember folks, when it happens in Europe, it isn’t long before we are dealing with it right here in the good ol’ US of A.

WASHINGTON: Supreme Court Allows Hells Angels' Lawsuit: According to the Associated Press, The Supreme Court refused to muscle into a dispute between the Hells Angels and California law enforcement agencies over the shooting of three family pets during a police search. That means the MOTORCYCLE CLUB can sue the police for the 1998 raids that an appeals court said went too far. “THE INTRUSION WAS SEVERE,'' the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in allowing the Hells Angels to sue. During a raid, the police shot and killed pets belonging to plaintiffs that are members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Even though many items were seized, NONE were used at trial. It’s about time that justice is for all people, not just for everybody EXCEPT members of Motorcycle Clubs. They are clubs, not criminal gangs and it’s about time they were recognized as such.

BIKE STAMPS: On Aug. 7, during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the role of motorcycles in American culture will be recognized on four "American Motorcycles" stamps, with digital illustrations of a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper. The Cleveland, Indian and Harley-Davidson stamps are based on motorcycles in existence today. After next August 7th, you’ll see this Gunny at the local post office. I think I’ll buy those suckers up, and put ‘em on my mail!

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL: These minions of the law are using a new approach to seatbelt cheaters. In Spanaway, WA a State Trooper, in plain clothes with a cardboard sign around his neck that read "Happy Holidays - Buckle Up," stood on a corner and helped bust 30 people for not wearing their seat belts. When he spotted someone who wasn't wearing a seat belt he radioed fellow troopers parked nearby who pulled over the offender. I guess most people thought he was a panhandler, and I would have too, and some even offered him money. I call that entrapment.

FROM THE Online version of the PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER, "SUN STAR," in Dumaguete, Philippines. We've seen some stories before here in the SACK -- usually in third-world countries -- with bikers riding by and "snatching" purses and lots of other stuff -- and it's NOT just PURSES anymore; they’re motorcycle-mounted snatch-thieves. These people operate in pairs; one rides the bike, and the passenger does the "snatching" of anything from cell phones to laptops. The LATEST in this trend? In the Philippines, there are now some WOMEN doing the snatching. Used to be just guys, from what I can decipher reading this article. Yeah, equal pay for equal work; maybe EQUAL PUNISHMENT would work here. One woman was knocked down so hard she went into a coma. These folks are worried!

GUNNY AGAIN: As always, I remind everyone that the Aid to Injured motorcyclists attorneys are our best source for redress when we find ourselves in a pickle. AIM now has criminal attorneys at our disposal so we don’t find ourselves left behind if we’re in a jam. Call your nearest AIM attorney if you have any questions about the law as it affects you. They will advise you. It’s not just about accidents anymore, but if you have one, you damn well want to TALK to an AIM lawyer. It’s FREE to talk. Call 1-800-ON-A-BIKE, or use the old number, 1-800-531-2424. Doesn’t cost ya any money up front, maybe not at all.