The GUNNY'S SACK

May 2006 This issue of the Sack is coming a little early this month so I can get on my way to the National Coalition Of Motorcyclists NCOM Convention in Louisville, Kentucky just prior to Mothers Day. I've told ya'll about it every year for as long as I've been writing this mess. I really hope I'll see many of you there this year. When I return I'll have some thoughts to share will everyone about the festivities. Now, on to the rest of this month's Sack:

NEWSBITS ‘N' PIECES:

FROM THE ARKANSAS POST: Quote of the Day "I can fill this tank (motorcycle) about once every two weeks or I can fill the truck each week at $3 a gallon each time. Driving the motorcycle saves me about $50 a paycheck and makes the payment on the bike." — Jeff Kelley of Rogers, AR who rides his motorcycle to work to save money on gasoline. And he knows something that the rest of us motorcycle riders KNOW: Bikes ARE eco-friendly, and they get GREAT gas mileage. They also don't pound up pavement like four-wheelers! Meanwhile, the cost per gallon just continues to escalate.

SLOW WAKING TICKET: Mayvis Coyle, 82, believes she's not getting a fair shake from the Los Angeles Police Department. She says she was shuffling with her cane across busy Foothill Boulevard in Sunland on Feb. 15, carrying groceries, while a traffic police officer watched and waited. Even before Coyle finished crossing the intersection at Woodward Avenue, he had scribbled a $114 ticket for crossing against a don't-walk signal, the Daily News reported.

"I entered the crosswalk, it was green," said Coyle, who is fighting the citation. "It turned red before I could get over. There he was, waiting, the motorcycle cop. He said, 'You're obstructing the flow of traffic.'” Hey now, this Gunny AND his boss Sam are gettin' into the senior category here, and I think we deserve a little more respect, along with ALL our senior citizens, don't you?

WOMEN "EMPTY-NESTERS” on Bikes! So says the AARP. Field Reporter for The Sack, my editor Sam Hochberg, who's also the Oregon AIM Attorney, is a fellow old-guy – well, he's got some catching up to do with your Gunny – but he saw a short biker-news article in, of all places, the AARP Newsletter! Yeah, that's a group for seniors, but seniors aren't what they useta be when WE were kids! This article talks about something Sam says most of us who actually RIDE already know: There are a helluva LOT MORE women on bikes these days; more and more who are in all-female riding groups. The manufacturers are responding with more ergonomic bikes, and products aimed at women riders. In particular, these associations and clubs are gettin' a lot of "empty nesters," the AARP says, whose kids have grown and left home. DUH! How many women do YOU know with two or three little babies and maybe another job too, who still have the TIME to ride?

CARBURETOR TUNERS BANNED: Effective July 1, 2006, the sale of mercury carburetor tuners and the replacement mercury for them will be banned in the states of California and Maine. It's already banned in Connecticut and Rhode Island and then next year in New York and Vermont. These tuners (Carb Stix, Motion Pro, etc.) are usually four long glass or plastic tubes that are attached to a vacuum spigot on each carb of a four cylinder bike. Vacuum sucks the mercury up the tube and the four carbs are balanced so that each has the mercury going up to the same level. This has been how ya' do it on multi-carb bike for years. My boss Sam Hochberg will tellya; he used to ride a KZ-650 back in the 80's, and it ran with four carbs. Because the mercury is toxic it will now be banned. There's gotta be SOMETHING to replace those suckers! Meanwhile, don't break yer carb-stick; soon ya can't get a new one!

BOMBAY, INDIA: Another actor who rides is in the news: Actor John Abraham was cited by police for riding his motorcycle into bystanders and injuring two people. Local police registered an infraction against him. John was taken to the Lilavati Hospital. He is a rider himself, and in the film "Dhoom" he was made to race away on a bike after committing thefts. Oh yeah, so I don't get in trouble with the PC folks, "Bombay" is now called "Mumbai" – just ask the next airline reservations clerk ya' talk to!

NHTSA: A new report projects the eighth straight increase in motorcycle fatalities. In 2005, 4,315 motorcyclists died, a 7.7% increase. In 2004, there were 4,008 motorcycle fatalities, the report said. NHTSA estimates show that highway crashes in general cost society $230.6 billion a year, about $820 per person. I guess the huge increase in ridership in this country has nothing to do with the increase in accidents, does it?? GUNNY ASKS: Why doesn't NHTSA tell the whole truth? Guess I didn't need to ask.

GLOWING PRAISE: Yamaha of Japan has developed a glow-in-the-dark film to coat motorcycles with, to make them more visible on highways at night. They've figured out this vacuum pressure process that sticks an even, thin layer of phosphorescent plastic film to irregularly shaped fenders, engine covers and cowlings. I like this idea a LOT more than Honda's air-bag system, available as an option on the ‘06 Gold Wings. Cage drivers might even see us and avoid running over us! Check it out at your local Yamaha dealer; they're using this stuff now on the EC-02 electric scooter.

NEW GPS navigation for BIKES: Garmin, the well-known GPS manufacturer, has come up with one for motorcycles! It's called the "Street Pilot2820," and can be used hands off. Great idea for the rider who can't find his way home. You can even call home for directions if you buy the correct interface system. The thing has hotels, restaurants, stores (so momma can shop) and many other neat features. Don't have pricing, but this critter can't be cheap.

THREE STATES pass "Right of Way” Laws: Georgia, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma have enacted new laws to punish drivers who violate our right-of-way and injure or kill someone. Oklahoma adds a fine of up to $1,000 above other penalties for drivers found guilty of right-of-way violations that cause serious injury or death. Georgia law has a fine of at least an extra $250. New Hampshire mandates 45 minutes of motorcycle-awareness classroom instruction as part of all driver-ed courses for right-of-way violators who cause serious injury or death.

Take a gander at the Sons of Liberty Riders (SoLR) website about bikers' Right of Way issues ("ROW") online, and really OPEN your EYES: www.bikers4row.org. I tellya, THESE folks are becoming one of the BEST places online for bikers rights info. Start at www.SoLRiders.com and surf ‘em from there. Biker groups all over the country are making headway to safeguard our rights to ride and enjoy our lifestyle. Kudos to all the people who supported these efforts. More of the same can and will occur if we stick together, and get those grassroots growing!

NEXT MONTH: This Gunny's report on the National NCOM Convention, and a feature about a DAILY resource for biker news, "Biker Bits" email, from our friend BETSY!

GUNNY AGAIN: For what it's worth folks, this column is supported by the strong editing of our Oregon AIM attorney Sam Hochberg. He and all the rest of the AIM attorney family around the country work tirelessly in our behalf daily, and many times without fees, to support the motorcycle community we live in. Many of them act as pro bono counsel for the Confederations of Clubs (COC's) around the country, and attend all meetings to protect us from the outside influences that would shut us down. They work for us in the courts and spend untold hours of their own time on our behalf. IF YOU find yourself in trouble or in any sort of accident – car or bike or truck -- call your nearest AIM ATTORNEY. The very least they will do is advise you as to what to do. You can reach any AIM Attorney in the U.S. and Canada by calling 1-800-531-2424, or instead, just remember: 1-800-ON-A-BIKE!