The GUNNY'S SACK

It's the second month of a brand new year, 2007. What are we going to accomplish this year? In Oregon, we'd reelected Governor Kulongoski, which means we may have to wait another four years to get the helmet law off our backs. He's said that he will not sign any bill that would abolish the law. We have people here who have ridden for more than twenty years and never known the freedom of choice in that regard. To my mind that is absolutely sad.

In Louisiana, they slapped the helmet back on their heads, and the Governor bragged about the savings of lives because of the helmets. They didn't take into account that motorcycle sales DROPPED about the same as the accident rate. We need to get our people educated. We are PART OF the traffic, and car drivers need to be educated about that. One thing WE can do is to get our riders to take riding courses and re-take the classes regularly. Education saves lives. I started riding in 1948, and a helmet was not a regular part of my attire until 1988. My God! According to the safety-crats I should have died long ago!

The new year brings other concerns as well. The Iraq situation has deteriorated even more and we have a Democratic Congress and Senate in this country now. It's not hard to guess what they want us to do about that. I won't take sides, but I will address my elected officials as to how I personally feel about the whole thing. I hope the rest of you will as well. We proved the voice of the people has force, now lets put it to good use.

There are people we have elected who would like nothing better than to outlaw motorcycles altogether. Insurance companies that are spending mucho dollars to get laws passed that restrict riding even more than it is now. I'd rather they spend MY insurance dollars on motorcycle awareness for car drivers!

Many new highway designs won't properly consider motorcycles if we aren't vigilant. We are already pretty much invisible without the added burden of roads that are designed without us in mind. All motorcycle organizations need more than ever to put your heads together for the welfare of us all. Our enemies won't go away any more than we will. Anti-tinkering laws and manufacturing restrictions are getting tougher all the time and we need to keep a weather eye wide open there.

Those are a few of the challenges we face as bikers in the new year. More than ever, it's time for us to stick together, and stand up for what's right.

NEWSBITS 'N' PIECES:
KIDS MOTORIZED SCOOTER: Looks like a little Vespa from the fifties. It has a two-speed gearbox (2.5 and 5 mph) powered by a rechargeable battery, along with automatic brakes, working headlight, horn and hazard-warning lights. Aimed at children aged from three to seven, it sells for 195, whatever that is in American money. I haven't seen one in this country yet but keep your eyes peeled. What kid wouldn't love one of these critters. HOLBROOK, N.Y.: Harley hearse? Yeah, from the Internet comes this little jewel, courtesy of Newsday.

Outside the Moloney funeral home here is a Harley-Davidson that has been that has been converted to a hearse. What better way for a biker to go to his rest? Riding in style in a Harley hearse. The conversion was demonstrated here and we are told it will be used on request from families of whomever wants the service. It's actually a modified trike that can haul as much as 900 pounds. Very modified, at over $80k. It's the custom creation of "Tombstone Hearse," of Alum Bank, Pa.

This is a road-worthy machine that, Moloney acknowledges, brings much-needed smiles to an otherwise somber processional between funeral home and final resting place. "We wanted the opportunity to offer something unique," says Moloney, 42, who, with his uncle and two older brothers, runs five funeral homes. "And this is a very unique specialty item," he says. "When we use it, people are overwhelmed with it."

ITALY: Want something REALLY different to ride round on? Look to the Italian bike, the "IRS." These guys triked-out a Suzuki SV1000, but they made twin FRONT wheels that LEAN together with tilting linkage, much like the Piaggio "MP3" twin front wheel scooter. The machine has a new frame underneath the standard bodywork, which is retained like most of the original "donor" machine. More information on this little beast is found at www.irs1000.it SWITZERLAND: Now, take that "IRS" bike a step further, and you're riding the INSIDE of a long, bubble-shaped two-wheeled beast, powered by a BMW K-series motor, the ECO-MOBILE, with other bikes offered by the Swiss firm, PERAVES. Y'gotta SEE these things to believe 'em. Go to http://eco.peraves.ch/ndexe.htm. Oh, and this bubble-boy will do 155 mph, and you can get air conditioning, heat, and even leather seats.

Now, when you're INSIDE this bubble-bodied 2-wheeler, you may be wondering what happens when you STOP for a light? Can't pop your leg out so quickly when you have to open a door, so these two little side-wheels come out by pressing a button! They look like a couple of training wheels, but I could get past that.

This critter runs a 4-speed unit with an electric reverse, and an automatic version is available for those who want to go the whole car route. Car pedals sit below the handlebars that still have a twist-grip throttle. Buttons operate the little stabilizer wheels when coming to rest. The makers claim it's still like riding a bike, since it banks to corner, but you have the creature comforts of a car. The price looks a little steep at $55,599, unless you consider the cost of a custom bike. I've seen some $60,000.00 Harleys in dealerships here in Oregon.

HONOLULU: During President Bush's visit to Hawaii last year, Steve Favela, 30, and two other motor officers crashed their bikes as the motorcade traveled across Hickam Air Force Base. Bush was there to meet the troops there for breakfast. Light rain had been falling, and some roads on the base were slick. Favela suffered internal injuries and died. The President sent his condolences to the family. It's unfortunate, but it goes to show that even the highly-well trained police can die on bikes. Our condolences also to his family.

THE EVER-LOVIN NEED FOR SPEED: Speeding is not necessarily reckless, even at 128 mph, a judge ruled. A motorcyclist had tried to flee from state troopers. 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, Carman was fined $300.00 for trying to elude the cop, and expired tags. I'm sorry folks, but running away from the police just because your tags are out of date is just foolish, any way ya look at it! Plus, our Oregon AIM lawyer, Sam Hochberg, tells me that you might well be convicted of Reckless Driving with speed THAT high, depending of course on the circumstances.

GUNNY AGAIN: Have you got your AIM card? If not and you go to motorcycle runs or swap-meets here in Oregon, there is no excuse. This Gunny sets up at most of them during the summer and is happy to get ya signed up. I'll give you your card on the spot and it doesn't cost you one cent. The idea is to let medical folks know we have some small bits of medical information particular to you and it might just help in an emergency. Not only that but it will help us to notify your people that you have a problem. You aren't obligated to use our AIM attorneys but its not the worst idea you could come up with. They handle wrecks on a contingency fee basis, and of course, the AIM lawyers RIDE, just like our Oregon guy for the past 19 years, Sam Hochberg. Call the main office at 1-800-531-2424, or 1-800-On-A-Bike, and they will send your card! Or, get a hold of Gunny and I'll get you squared away. Reach me vie E-mail at AIMGunny@aol.com or Sam Hochberg, our Oregon AIM attorney, is always available online at SamBikeLaw@aol.com.