july 2014 issue

N

W E

S

Helm Street

First traffic

light after

making the

turn onto

Sheldon

M-14

Ann

Arbor

Sh

eld

on

Ro

ad

I-275

Plymouth

BMW Motorcycles of

Southeast Michigan

Exit ramp

BMW Motorcycles ofSoutheast Michigan

39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187

734.981.1479 www.bmwmcsem.com

“Redefining your motorcycling lifestyle” SM

Relocation CelebrationSaturday, July 19 , 2014

DON’T MISS IT!

Our move will

be complete

by July 1.

Stop by the

dealership to

check out the

new facility.

For updates

on the

progress of

our move,

visit our

website or

our Facebook

page for

details.

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 3* Visit BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan for details. Always ride safely and wear proper protective gear.

BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan

39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187


“Redefining your motorcycling lifestyle” SM

BMW Motorrad Dealer of Excellence

2014 HP4

Base MSRP: $20,300

including ABS

We have one HP4 and a great selection

of the S 1000 RR, critically acclaimed as

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Stop by our store today to get yours. 2014S 1000 RR

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Relocation CelebrationSaturday, July 19 , 2014

DON’T MISS IT!

July 20144 www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Columns5 To Our Readers6 The Live It Right Dream Ride: Following Your Internal Compass

by Emily Flinkstrom8 Dr. Cycholl10 Tech Talk: Twin Cam Tensioner Bracket by Franz Hoffer17 Motorcycling and Law: How to Find and Contact Your Legislator

by Dondi Vesprini20 Women’s Motorcycling Has Come a Long Way by Jason Waechter22 Open Terrain - Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle:

Overland Expo 2014: Setting the Pace for Life by Nicole Espinosa

Features, News & Reviews9 A Case of Motorcycle Theft by Ken Wikle12 Test Ride: 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 S, High Tech Hot Rod

by Ray Peabody14 Gilmore Vintage Motorcycle Show WOWS! by Ray Peabody16 MSF Quick Tip: Pretend You Are Invisible

Resources5 Advertiser Index21 Event Schedule

How to contact us:

709 Fall StreetSpring Lake, Michigan 49456

(810) 923-8738www.midwestmotorcyclist.com

Copyright 2012-2014 cc media. All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, photocopied, or electronically

transmitted without the expressed written permission of the publisher.Advertisers, their agents, contributors of event information, free-

lance contributors and/or editorial contributors will defend, indemnifyand hold cc media and RTP Enterprises, Inc. harmless in any claimsof libel, copyright or trademark infringement, plagiarism, violation oflocal, national, or international privacy laws and any other claim or

suit that may arise subsequent to publication of said advertisement,stories, event information, and/or editorial. Submission of material for

consideration for publication in Michigan Motorcyclist/MidwestMotorcyclist, American CycleRider either solicited or unsolicited,

constitutes agreement to these terms. Except for thePublisher and Managing Editor, all writers are free-lance contributors.Any and all opinions expressed are those of the authors, and don’t

necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Publisher/Managing EditorRay Peabody

[email protected]@sbcglobal.net

Advertising Sales/ Web Master / DistributionRay Peabody

[email protected]@sbcglobal.net

Cover DesignJulie Kirkendoll

cc media publications

Large cover photo: The 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 S test bike at rest in Cannonsburg,Michigan. Photo by Ray Peabody.

Small cover photo 1: The annual Ural ladies ride at Overland Expo brings smiles tothe entire event. Photo by Paul H. Smith.

Small cover photo 2: A vintage Indian motorcycle in the bike at the Gilmore CarMuseum show and swap meet. Photo by Ray Peabody.

This Month’s Contributors:

Contributing EditorsPatrick ArmitageNicole Espinosa

Franz Hoffer

plus

Emily Flinkstrom, Dondi Vesprini,Jason Waechter, Ken Wikle

IN THIS ISSUE…..

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI

(616) 530-6900 www.bmwmcgr.comLatitude 41.855022 Longitude -85.66382

1984 BMW

R 100 RSWhite, Good cond.,

29,592 miles, 2nd seat

for two people

ONLY $7,950

Year Make/Model Price

2013 BMW K1600GTL $21,500

2012 BMW K1600GTL $20,445

2012 BMW F800GS $11,950

2012 BMW K1600GTL $17,500

2012 BMW K1300S HP $17,950

2012 BMW R1200RT $14,950

2012 BMW K1600GTL $18,950

2011 Ducati Multistrada Sport ABS $13,950

2009 BMW K1300 $9,950

2009 BMW K1200LT $14,950

2008 Honda Goldwing $12,950

2007 Honda Interceptor $5,450

2007 BMW K1200S $8,950

2007 BMW F800S $5,750

2005 BMW K1200LT $6,950

2005 BMW K1200LT $9,950

2005 BMW R1200RT $8,250

2005 BMW R1200RT $7,950

2002 BMW K1200LT $6,450

1996 BMW R850R $3,950

1992 BMW R100RS $7,950

1987 BMW K75S $3,950

Pre-Owned Motorcycles

2006 Triumph

Bonneville

T100Orange & Cream,

9,372 miles, Very

good condition

ONLY $5,250

Midwest MotorcyclistTM 5

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ABATE of Indiana .....................................16A.B.C. Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Battle Creek Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Bent Wheels Competition Club.................5BMW MC of Detroit...........................7, 13BMW of Grand Rapids..........4, 5, 18, 21, 23BMW, SE Michigan..............2, 3, 7, 12Brighton Harley-Davidson .......7, 10, 11C & S Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Capitol Harley-Davidson .........7, 10, 11Classic MotorSports................7, 10, 11Cycle Conservation Club ...........................17Diamond Gusset Jeans ............................10Ducati Detroit..........................................2, 7Fremont Boot........................................20Gildner’s Harley-Davidson .......7, 10, 11Grand Rapids H-D................. ...7, 10, 11Great Lakes Dual Sporters ....................16Great Lakes Harley-Davidson ..7, 10, 11Hamilton’s Harley-Davidson .....7, 10, 11, 15Harley-Davidson dealers ..........7, 10, 11Harrison Motorcycle Service ................12Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ........7, 10, 11Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..24Jerry B’s Cycle Works .......................12Kelley & Sons Trailers ............................19Kersting’s Harley-Davidson.......................10MI Supermoto.................................9Michigan Chrome Shop.......................14Michigan City Harley-Davidson.............8, 19Motor City Harley-Davidson ...7, 10, 11Motor City Underwriters ......................12Motorcity Motorcycles.....................18, 24Motorcycle Mike’s............................8Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................12MC Sport Touring Association..........5, 17Nicholson’s Motorsports............2, 17Perry’s Harley-Davidson ..........7, 10, 11Ray C’s Harley-Davidson..........7, 10, 11Retail Warehouse ............................6, 20Sandy’s Harley-Davidson ...........7, 10, 11Shiawassee Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 22Sweet Trikes ...........................................12Tecumseh Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Thunder Hog.....................................13Town & Country H-D................7, 10, 11Vehicle City Harley-Davidson ..7, 10, 11Wauseon Vintage Flat Track Races...15Wolverine Harley-Davidson ....7, 10, 11Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D..............7, 10, 11

AdvertiserIndex

Now in West Michigan

Check us out on Facebook @MSTAWestMichigan or send

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for more information.

Disclaimer: This ain’t your mamma’s pokey bar hoppin’ motorcycle club. It also isn’ta squidly club. We ride and we ride well. You are expected to ride within your limits.You are expected to wear appropriate safety gear, ride a safely maintained machine,and follow reasonable group riding etiquette. We welcome riders of all skill levels,ages, genders, and marques. You will likely find like-minded members who ride atyour level of skill. The MSTA and Michigan MSTA assume no responsibility for yoursafety, state of mind, average lean angle, or degree of rockin’ fun that you’llexperience with us. Just motorcycle enthusiasts getting together to ride.

JOIN US

This club is like none other - no politics, no B.S. We travel togreat riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to bebetter riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion:

The Passion To Ride!

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The Bent WheelsChapter of the

CCC is looking fornew members.

BWCC has a long history of promotingevents of all kinds and in preserving our

ORV trail system. Weare a familyorientated,

working club andride the trailsalmost every

weekend. If you’relooking for good times

with great people - check us out.Contact Billy Vanderhoff by email at

[email protected].

I didn’t have a particular route inmind. After a few hours at the GlimoreVintage Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet,it was time to head home. A quickcalculation had me turning into ourdriveway in two to 2½ hours. I had a Statemap but no GPS. With a strong sense ofdirection, I was confident I could pick myway home while also exploring sometwo-lane roads. This is one of my favoriteways to explore.

I turned right heading north onM-43 just west of the Gilmore grounds.North of Hastings, I turned left off M-37towards the Yankee Springs area. Up tothat point, I was familiar with mysurroundings. Turning left heading westat the second stop sign (not sure of thename of the road), I entered intounfamiliar territory. The road was smooth and curvy as Imade my way west. Before long, I noticedthe sun consistently off to my right andslightly behind me. I was heading south.The ride, cutting through a staterecreation area, was scenic and quiteenjoyable but I was heading away fromhome. I turned right to reset my headingto the west. Not long after the right turn, Ifound myself once again curving backsouth. I knew I was way off course when Irode into Prairieville. How the heck did Iget to Prairieville? I’d never even heard ofPrairieville prior to that ride. I didn’trecall crossing over M-179 (runningbetween Gun Lake and Hastings.) Onceagain, I turned west towards the sun.

Before long, I saw a sign pointingme towards Plainwell. My strong senseof direction had failed me; I was surprisedat how far off track I was. Consideringthe late afternoon time, I opted to hoponto US-131 in Plainwell to slab it home. Yes, I was lost. I intended to headout cross country to pick my way homeand explore some new roads. Missionaccomplished. The roads were good;smooth with a variety of curves. No, Ididn’t expect to end up so far south buthad a great ride, nonetheless. I’m lookingforward to getting lost again soon.

We have a terrific issue for you thismonth. Nicole Espinosa traveled to theOverland Expo (not only did she helporganize the event, she was also apresenter) outside Flagstaff, Arizona andreviews the event for us this month. TheExpo (OX) is one of the premier adventuregatherings in the country. If you’ve everyearned to break away and explore, besure to check out Nicole’s column. Youmight decide to head out to OX next yearyourself. It’s been quite awhile since we lastpublished Ken Wikle’s work but we’rehappy to share his latest writing. Ken is

an Eagle Scout, the highest level in theBoy Scouts. That accomplishmenthelped him out of a tight spot duringhis college days. Be sure to read hislatest contribution to learn more abouthis youthful indiscretion and his closeencounter with law enforcement.Definitely a good read.

The 18th Annual GilmoreVintage Motorcycle Show and SwapMeet was held on June 8. This show hasgrown, both in terms of the number ofshow bike entries and attendees, intoone of the best vintage events in theMidwest. Check out our brief story andpictorial to get a glimpse of what youmissed if you weren’t there. I had the opportunity to test thenew Ducati Monster 1200 S. This newDuc combines theperformancecharacteristicsyou’ve come toexpect from a Ducatiwith the latesttechnologiesincorporated in racebikes. It has someweaknesses but wasa blast to ride. Don’tmiss our review inthis issue.

There’smuch more to like inthis issue. Morenews. More reviews.

More columns. More events. Wehope you enjoy the issue we puttogether for you. Feel free to sendus your comments. Pleaseremember to buy from ouradvertisers and tell them whereyou saw their ad. They willappreciate it and so will we. Thanks for reading. Ridesafe out there. Watch for distractedcagers. They’re everywhere thesedays.

See you on the road or atan event in the near future,


The Live It Right Dream Ride

Following Your Internal CompassBy Emily Flinkstrom

The Live It Right Dream Rideis sponsored in part by:

www.kindsnacks.com/

www.midwestmotorcyclist.com/

www.shadyproducts.com/

At the beginning of June, I traveled to myhometown in Maine to celebrate my youngestbrother’s graduation from high school. This beingthe seventh Flinkstrom to graduate from highschool (yes, you read that right - and there’s stillone more to go) you would think my excitementlevel would have been lacking. My brother,however, was graduating as valedictorian from afairly prestigious private high school where he wasattending on a full-ride scholarship (as they say inMaine, “He’s wicked smaht”). As part of this honor,he was asked to address his class during thegraduation ceremony. Knowing my brother’s drysense of humor, intellect and maturity that arerepresentative of someone well beyond his years, Iknew he would steal the stage. What I didn’t realizethough was how much his speech would resonatewith me at this exact moment in my life as Jay and Iwere weeks away from embarking on The Live ItRight Dream Ride - www.liveitrightdreamride.com.

I was really beginning to feel the anxiety,stress, fear and uncertainty about making this hugeleap into relatively unknown territory. In additionto traveling back to Maine to see my brother

graduate, I also used the trip to dropoff some of our belongings – includingour beloved little dog Cloe who I havegrown so attached to over the pastseven years. The reality was setting inthat our lives were about to changedramatically. It’s easy to think andtalk about all the amazing aspects ofthis adventure - the places we’ll see,the people we will meet, and the roads and trailswe’ll explore on the bikes. It’s not as easy to facethe uncertainty, to encounter the naysayers - theloudest of which can be my own voice, and to workthrough the pressure of making it all happen.

My brother opened his graduation speechby comparing this time in their lives to gettingyour license. He explained that they would now bedriving alone, with no adult telling them what todo or where to go. He continued the analogy byoffering his classmates a choice: they can plug adestination into their GPS and blindly follow theblue line along the road they have been told theyshould travel, or they can throw the GPS out thewindow and listen to their internal compass. He

expanded upon the latteroption encouraging themnot to be afraid to get lost -something he believes is adying art, but necessary toa life fully lived. To drivehome the point, he

implored them to take risks and explore the backroads, trusting that their intuition will lead them towhere they are supposed to be.

As I sat on the lawn of the school listeningintently to my brother’s words, I felt anoverwhelming sense of calm and comfort. Jay and Icertainly are veering off the route prescribed by theGPS of life. While it’s been tempting to listen to themechanical voice telling us to “Take a u-turn atyour earliest convenience”, we are instead choosingto throw the device right out the window. Withthis choice comes discomfort and trepidation, butalso immense satisfaction knowing we are trulyfollowing our hearts. This voyage on ourmotorcycles will bring us down remote, rarelyexplored dirt roads. It will challenge us to live inthe moment, enjoying the journey rather thanfocusing on a particular destination. And it will nodoubt lead to moments of getting lost. Thanks tomy brother, I am back in touch with my internalcompass which is directing me to get on my bikeand ride south.

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Visit your local Harley-Davidson® dealertoday. The complete list of Michigan

Harley-Davidson® dealers can be foundon page 10 and 11 in this issue.

We wantyour used

motorcycle.New Harley-Davidson® motorcycles are selling like hot cakes.We’re replenishing our inventories as quickly as possible. In

addition to the new bikes, we are also stocking up on pre-ownedmotorcycles, either through trade-ins or outright purchases. If

you’re looking to buy - or you just want to sell the motorcycle younow own - take your motorcycle to your local Harley® dealer for a

quote. Do it today to make your best deal.

BMW Motorcycles of Detroit34080 Van Dyke Avenue

Sterling Heights, MI(586) 274-4000

www.bmwdetroit.com

PRE-OWNED MOTORCYCLES2012 BMW K 1300 S

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condition, Akrapovic silencer,

HP Adj Driver pegs, Tall w/s

Only $17,2002009 BMW F 650 GS, Iceberg Silver, $8,000

2007 BMW F 800 S, Flame Red, $6,000

2007 BMW K 1200 LT, Biarritz Blue Metallic, $11,500

2002 BMW K 1200 LT-E, Glacier Silver, $8,500

1986 BMW K 75, Blue, $2,500

1994 BMW R 1100 RS, Marrakesh Red, $5,200

2002 BMW R 1150 RT, Biaritz Blue, $6,000

2004 BMW R 1200 CL, Sapphire Black Metallic, $6,700

2012 BMW R 1200 GS, Triple Black, $17,200

2007 BMW R 1200 GS, Granite Grey Metallic, $12,500

2010 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, Smoke Grey, $16,500

2008 Can-Am Spyder SE5, Full Moon, $10,199


39933 Ford Road, Canton, MI


2009 BMW

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condition, LED driving lights,

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top case, Hyperlite brake

lights

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2008 BMW K1200S, BLACK / SILVER, $10,990

2001 BMW R1200C CLASSIC, “EXCELLENT CONDITION,” BLUE / SILVER, $5,990

2010 BMW R1200GS, Graphite, $13,990

2009 BMW R1200GS, SILVER / SILVER, $13,500

2009 BMW R1200GS, Silver, $13,999

2009 BMW R1200GSA, GRAPHITE, $14,700

2011 BMW Motorcycles R1200GSA, *EXC. CONDITION, LOADED* GRAPHITE, $15,495

2009 BMW R1200RT, Silver, $12,990

2011 BMW R1200RT, *Low SUSPENSION, 4900 MILES,* POLAR ICE / SILVER, $14,490

2009 BMW R1200RT, *ONLY 4400 MILES,* SILVER / SILVER, $12,990

2011 BMW R1200RTP, BLACK/WHTIE / BLACK, Sale Price: $17,490

We take motorcycles of all brands and models as trade-ins.Bring us your bike when you’re ready to buy!

Event ListingsAre FREE!

Ducati Detroit33828 Woodward AvenueBirmingham, MI 48009

248.792.8999www.ducatidetroit.com


2013 Ducati Diavel AMG, Very Rare, #107/500, 1,061 miles, Mint $22,5002004 Ducati Monster S4R, Blue, Only 900 miles!, Mint condition, $8,0002013 Ducati Multistrada 1200, Red, 1,900 miles, Termi slip-on,

Factory warranty, $14,0002008 Triumph Tiger 1050, Orange, 13,700 miles, Mint condition, $7,5002006 Ducati Monster S2R, Black, 7,500 miles, Carbon fiber exhaust, $5,5001992 Ducati 851 Superbike, Red, 8,700 miles, Carbon fiber exhaust, $7,000

2004 Ducati ST3Mint ConditionOnly 100 miles!

One owner$8,000


The Dr Requests your help! I need your questions! This columnwill be only as good as your questions. If you have a question, it isvery likely it will be answered quickly, via Email or snail mail and, inthe pages of Michigan Motorcyclist/Midwest Motorcyclist magazine.Please send them in!

Dr. Maurice D. Cycholl is a world-renowned expert inMotorcycle Safety, Riding Techniques and Touring. In addition, whilehe is not a recognized expert in motorcycle mechanics, he does possessa fair degree of knowledge in the area of mechanical, and electricalsystems found on many motorcycles. He welcomes your questions onthese subjects. While you may submit questions on any subject, hisadvice on other subjects may, or may not be, as reliable. Please submityour questions via email to: [email protected] or via snail mail to: Dr. “Moe” D. Cycholl, c/o CC media,709 Fall Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456

ASK Dr. CychollQ&A Column

For Your Questions Relating to MotorcycleSafety, Riding Techniques and Touring

By Maurice “Moe” D. Cycholl

2968 N US Route 421

Michigan City, IN

219.878.8885

www.hdmichigancity.com

EXPLORE

Call our store today to reserve your rental.Benefits: Use of a recent-model Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.

Use of a helmet that meets DOT specifications & rainsuit. Secure,ample short-term luggage storage is available onsite. 24-hour

emergency roadside assistance. Insurance is available.

HD of Michigan CityChicago

Lak

e M

ich

igan

Chicago, both coasts ofLake Michigan and Northern

Indiana with a Harley-Davidson®rental from our centrally-

located store. Welcome to Motorcycle Mike’s(formerly of Blue Water Tires)

We carry the most popular brands of tiresfor every style of motorcycle you ride:

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• American V-twins• Metric Cruisers• Large Touring• Sport Bikes• Sport Touring• Racing• Vintage

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Visit our storefor your tires ratherthan going to a swap

meet. We don’t charge forparking nor do we chargean entry fee. Instead, youwill enjoy the same prices

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The riding seasonis here.

Dear Dr. Cycholl,

I ride a 1993 GL1500 Goldwing with a Tulsa aftermarketwindshield. It is much more aerodynamic and generally better in therain than the stock windshield. I do have a problem with some waterdroplets coming over the top and running down the backside of thewindshield though. If I hit a bump the droplets drop off onto the dashand me. Can I use Rain-X on this windshield?

Thanks, Bobby Miller

Dear Bobby,

Don’t use Rain-X on plastic windshields. I have used CarnubaCar wax on my windshields with Rain–X like success. But I have stillhad the problem you describe. I still use the wax but along with MicroSwirl Windshield Edging by Saeng T/A http://www.saeng.com/ At14.90 per ft, it seems expensive for what it is but it solved this problemcompletely for me. Thank you, Dr Cycholl

Dear Dr. Cycholl,

It seems that in the past Harley seemed to own the market for policemotorcycles. Recently I have seen cops on many competitor’s bikes. Why?

Bob La Grange, Patriot Guard Riders

Dear Bob,

The police did primarily use Harleys during most of the past years. Harleyoffered bikes to law enforcement at very favorable rates. It seems that this losingproposition is going away, opening opportunities for competitors. There were times in thepast that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) used Moto Guzzi and Kawasaki motorcycles.Remember the period-correct Kawasakis used in the old CHIPS TV show? Today the CHPuses BMW as are the Michigan State Police. Other departments are using Polaris Victorys,Honda Goldwings and ST1300s, Kawasaki Concours 1400s and KLR650s, Yamaha FJR1300s,BMW R1200RTs and R1150s and the still popular Harleys. More makes and models are madeavailable every month. Each make and model has its strengths and weaknesses. Manydepartments have different needs and will find something in today’s market that bettersuits their needs than the past when there were fewer good choices.

Thank you, Dr Cycholl


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In my junior year at the University ofMichigan, I moved into an apartment with a groupof guys who were on the same floor of mydormitory the two years prior. There were six of usin a three-bedroom apartment just off the maincampus.

Since arriving at school my freshman year,I became motorcycle crazy with all the student-owned bikes constantly circulating the sprawlingcampus. The University is central to the crowdedstreets of the hilly town of Ann Arbor. To getaround you either walked long distances or used amotorcycle. I bugged my Dad for a year to buy me aHonda. He finally gave in and bought me a whiteHonda S-65 in my sophomore year. The Honda was65 cc’s of “raw power” to get me around campus.

Five of us in the apartment had boughtHonda motorcycles (or should I say our Dadsbought them). One roommate had a “nifty-thrify”Honda 50. One roommate had a Honda Super 90.Two of us had Honda S65s and the last bike was aHonda 305 SuperHawk, a pretty large motorcycle atthe time. It was 1967 and there were many smalldisplacement Honda’s, Yamaha’s, and Suzuki’s oncampus. The super cool guys were buying Triumphsor BSAs. Most of us had no idea what a Harley-Davidson looked like, let alone ridden one. Collegestudents rode Japanese motorcycles or scooters fortheir main mode of transportation.

My roommates and I parked our Hondas ina motorcycle parking lot under the apartmentbuilding.

As Thanksgiving vacation approached, wewere all headed home to either the Detroit suburbs,or Northwest Ohio (my home). The Honda 305owner lived in Staten Island, New York.

As we were getting ready to depart forvacation, I told the rest of my motorcycle-owningroommates that I was planning on coming backearly on Saturday afternoon. I offered to start theirbikes and idle them to charge up their batterieswhile they were gone. They all agreed and showedme where they kept their keys.

I arrived back in Ann Arbor on Saturdayafternoon as planned. After spending what seemedlike hours studying in my room for a test, I wasgetting “studied out” and remembered that I hadcommitted to start my roommates bikes for them. Igathered the motorcycle keys and started up eachbike and let them idle for a while. When I got to theHonda 305, I decided to take it for a ride instead ofjust letting it idle in the parking lot. I had neverridden a bike of this displacement and wanted toknow what it was like.

After riding it around town for a fewminutes, I was impressed with the power comparedto my Honda S-65. It had a cool sound. It had a twin-cylinder engine and accelerated a lot faster than mypuny little single-cylinder Honda.

After riding it around for a little while,really enjoying the bike, I decided to ride a littlelonger. I headed north out of town on NorthTerritorial Road and then took one of the Mileroads into the outer suburbs of Detroit. I was reallyloving the ride on the SuperHawk!

After an hour or two, I decided to return to

A Case of Motorcycle Theft orHow My Eagle Scout Card Got Me Out of Jail

by Ken Wikle

Ann Arbor as it was already after dark and, since itwas Thanksgiving weekend, became chilly afterdark.

Back in Ann Arbor, I started fantasizingabout buying a larger Honda for my own. I thenremembered that one of the students living in ourold dorm, Mary Markley Hall, had a Honda 305Scrambler for sale. It used the same engine as myroommate’s bike. The “Scrambler” model waspopular at the time. Mary Markley Hall was not farfrom our apartment, a short motorcycle ride at best.I decided to ride over there and check out themotorcycle parking lot to see if this bike was thereand still for sale. By this time, it was about 10 p.m.

I rode over to Mary Markley, parked myroommate’s Honda in a spot in the motorcycle lotwhere three or four dozen student-ownedmotorcycles were parked and started walking upand down the line looking for the Honda 305Scrambler in question.

Suddenly, two men came out of nowhere,identified themselves as police officers and took meinto custody. Before I knew what was happening, Iwas put in the back of a police car and taken to theAnn Arbor police station.

I was in quite a predicament! My 10-minuteride to the police station was filled with paranoidthoughts of what was going to happen to me. Myprevailing thought was that, although I hadpermission to use my roommate’s key to start hismotorcycle, I certainly wasn’t given permission totake it for a ride. If asked, I didn’t have theregistration to prove I hadn’t stolen the motorcycle.

When we arrived at the police station, theyused some kind of garage door opener to enter themain police garage and then we drove into anothergarage that was all bricked in with a walk throughdoor in one corner and a heavy metal garage doorthat immediately closed behind the car. Anyonecoming in this way was not going anywhere otherthan where they were toldto go!

I was led into asmall room with a deskand a single chair whereone of the detectives, aburly no- nonsenseofficer, my interrogation.This detective had a shortcropped flattop haircutand a tough demeanorthat sent a message thathe wasn’t taking anybaloney from me. AnnArbor in the late 60’s wasfull of long-haired collegestudents. I was in the hotseat because he and hispartner thought they hada bonified motorcyclethief in custody.

I don’t knowwhether it reallyregistered with them thatthe young man they werequestioning was also

clean cut and well-spoken in spite of thecircumstances. I was a Navy ROTC midshipman onscholarship at the university. Although I was notcompletely on the up and up, having taken myroommate’s bike for a ride without permission, Iwas not a motorcycle thief!

I was out late at night on a mostly emptycampus with a pocket full of motorcycle keysriding a motorcycle that was not mine. I was atleast a suspicious character involved in what couldbe construed as questionable behavior. Things didnot look good for the kid!

They began to question me wanting toknow what I was doing lurking in the motorcycleparking lot where motorcycles had disappearedrecently. They had the lot staked out hoping theycould catch a thief in the act.

My only explanation was that I hadpermission from my roommates at my apartmentto start their bikes to charge up their batteries. Iexpanded on the truth in the case of the Honda Iwas riding to include that I was told I could ride itto charge the battery which is the best I could do toexplain why I did not have any registration for it. Ialso explained that I was in that particular lot at thetime looking for the motorcycle that I knew was forsale. That was my story and I stuck with it as thedetective tried several different angles ofquestioning to see it he could get me to confess tostealing motorcycles. I was indignant about beingaccused of multiple motorcycle thefts. I remembergetting angry and popping out of my chair. Thedetective told me to sit back down while he wastalking to me. He wasn’t buying my entireexplanation. Although I knew it was only partlytrue, my story was going to have to stand up.

I could tell that he thought I was lying. Istarted to cast about in my mind for a way to proveI was telling the truth. All of a sudden it occurred tome that I needed some kind of proof to show thedetective that I wasn’t telling him a big fairy tale. Itoccurred to me that in my wallet I was carrying myEagle Scout card. Boy Scouts are supposed beupstanding citizens and worthy members of thecommunity!

One of the few major accomplishments inmy young life, up until then, was earning my Eagle

Continued on page 16


Cement CityTOWN & COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

US 12 & US 127

CEMENT CITY, MI 49233

(517) 547-3333

www.cementcity-harley.com

BrightonBRIGHTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

5942 WHITMORE LAKE RD.

BRIGHTON, MI 48116

(810) 225-2915

www.brightonhd.com

FlintVEHICLE CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

2400 AUSTIN PARKWAY

FLINT, MI 48507

(810) 234-6646

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Battle CreekBATTLE CREEK HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

5738 BECKLEY RD

BATTLE CREEK, MI 49015

(269) 979-2233

www.battlecreekharley.com

Farmington HillsMOTOR CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

34900 GRAND RIVER AVE.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335

Phone: (248) 473-7433

www.motorcityharley.com

Birch RunSHIAWASSEE HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

11901 N. BEYER ROAD

BIRCH RUN, MI 48415

(989) 624-4400

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FremontSANDY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

SPORT CENTER

11940 N. MAPLE ISLAND RD

FREMONT, MI 49412

(231) 924-3020

www.sandysharley-davidson.com

Bay CityGREAT LAKES HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

3850 S. HURON ROAD

BAY CITY, MI 48706

(989) 686-0400

www.greatlakeshd.com

Clinton TownshipWOLVERINE HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

44660 N. GRATIOT AVENUE

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48036

(586) 463-7700

www.wolverinehd.com

TECH TALK

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I met with Jerry B of Jerry B’s CycleWorks on Harper in St. Clair Shores for thismonth’s Tech Talk column. I asked himabout the V-Twin Cam Chain TensionerSystem, also called the Follower Bracket bysome. I’ve heard about the Tensionerdisintegrating and causing catastrophicengine breakdowns from what seems likean abnormally large number of friends whoare riders. Owning a 2011 Road Glide Ultra,I’m worried if that’s going to happen to me.I take a lot of long trips on my bike besidesmy annual pilgrimage to the holy land ofthe Harley, Sturgis, South Dakota and in theback of my mind is the fear of breakingdown a long way from home without anytype of qualified Harley mechanic around.

My first line of defense has been toreligiously, and I do mean religiously, takemy bike to Jerry B for preventive maintenance andrepairs; he has never let me down. My bike hasalways performed flawlessly and brought me backin one piece.

Twin Cam Tensioner (Follower) Bracketby Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer with Jerry B

The Preacher (TP): Hey Jerry, good to see you. Thanks fortaking time to talk with me today, I see you have a lot of bikesto work on so I won’t take too much of your time. I’ve heard alot about the cam chain system on the big H-D V-Twins; seemslike riders have their share of problems with them. Can youshed some light on the issue?

Jerry (JB): Sure, be happy to. As that guy on TV used to say,“I’m glad you asked me that.” I see a lot of repairs/replacements on the Twin Cam Chain system, specifically theTensioner Bracket. I’d estimate I replace about 20 per season ata cost that approaches $1,500 to replace the bracket with a newone and about 4 hours to do the job. It can get fairlycomplicated. It’s not a repair I’d recommend doing yourself.

TP: What’s going on with that, what’s causing the failures?

JB: Easy partner, you need a little more background first.From 1999 to 2006, H-D had designed the tensioner bracket onthe newly introduced V-Twin Cam motor (that replaced the



GaylordZIP’S 45TH PARALLEL

HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

980 S WISCONSIN AVE.

GAYLORD, MI 49735

(989) 732-8000

www.zips45thhd.com

LansingCAPITOL HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

9550 WOODLANE DRIVE

DIMONDALE, MI 48821

(517) 646-2345

www.capitolhd.com

HudsonvilleGRAND RAPIDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

2977 CORPORATE GROVE DR.

HUDSONVILLE, MI 49426

(616) 896-0111

www.grandrapidsharley.com

KalamazooPERRY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

5331 SPRINKLE ROAD

KALAMAZOO, MI 49002

(269) 329-3450

www.perryharley-davidson.com

SturgisHAMILTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

68951 WHITE SCHOOL ROAD

STURGIS, MI 49091

(616) 651-3424

www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com

LapeerRAY C’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

1422 IMLAY CITY ROAD

LAPEER, MI 48446

(810) 664-9261

www.raycsh-d.com

Mt. PleasantC & S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

4741 E PICKARD

MT PLEASANT, MI 48858

(989) 772-5513

www.candssportcenter.com

MuskegonHOT ROD HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

149 SHORELINE DRIVE

MUSKEGON, MI 49440

(231) 722-3653

www.hotrodhd.com

WaterfordA.B.C. HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59)

WATERFORD, MI 48328

(248) 674-3175

www.abc-harley-davidson.com

West BranchGILDNER’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

MOTORCYCLES

2723 S M-76

WEST BRANCH, MI 48661

(989) 345-1330

Traverse CityCLASSIC MOTOR SPORTS

HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

3939 S BLUE STAR DRIVE

TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49687

(231) 943-9344

www.classictc.com

TecumsehTECUMSEH HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

8080 MATTHEWS HIGHWAY

TECUMSEH, MI

(517) 423-3333

For more information, visit www.mhdda.com

There has never been a better time to buy a pre-owned Harley®.Visit your local Harley-Davidson® dealer to see their selection of pre-owned motorcycles.

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32743 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073(248) 549-4300

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Vintage: *Biltwell Helmets & Grips *Custom Blockoff Plugs *OEM Replacement

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Toledo, OH | 419-720-4313

Is the OEM part you’relooking for OBSOLETE?

Give us a try!We stock a large inventoryof parts and accessories nolonger in production by The

Motor Company. Stop by ourstore or give us a call to find

the OEM parts for your H-D project!

Located at 25430 Harper in St. Clair ShoresTwo blocks North of 10 Mile Road on the East Side

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www.bmwdetroit.com(586) 274-4000Sterling Heights, MI, 4831234080 Van Dyke AveBMW Motorcycles of Detroit

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Best Burgers! Cold Beer!No soft serve ice cream!

My inner hooligan loves naked bikes.Sportbike performance and a comfortable saddle andseating position designed into many naked bikes canmake for a fun day of riding. With that in mind, Ijumped at the chance to test out the new DucatiMonster 1200 S when the opportunity arose during arecent visit to Fox Powersports of Kentwood. Fitment Specialist Ozzy Elian had the bikeready to go when I arrived at the dealership.Operating most modern motorcycles is a fairlysimple task. However, with the introduction of newelectronic technologies, getting familiar with a newmotorcycle can take a few minutes. Ozzy reviewed the operation of the Monsterfocusing most of my attention on the TFT instrumentdisplay (all of the electronics can be seen andadjusted through the display) and the three operatingmodes: sport, touring and urban. In “Sport” mode,the ride has access to the full 145 horsepoweravailable. The engine is set up to rev up quickly toget to top speed. The “Touring” mode also makes the145 horsepower available but doesn’t rev up as

2014 Ducati Monster 1200 S Test Ride:High Tech Hot Rod

by Ray Peabodyquickly. Ducati probably thought that touring riderswouldn’t need to accelerate quite as quickly as asport rider. The “Urban” mode restricts thehorsepower output to only 100. Switching betweenthe various modes is quick and easy with a switch onthe left handle bar. The 1200 S also has eight traction control



Hickory Corners, Michigan – The Gilmore Car Museum held its 18th annualVintage Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet on their grounds in HickoryCorners on Sunday, June 8. This show, featuring 1985 and prior model yearmotorcycles, continues to grow, attracting thousands of visitors each year. This is a terrific show for a variety of reasons. The Museum is situatedin south central Michigan (northeast of Kalamazoo on M-43) and is anenjoyable motorcycle ride from almost anywhere in the state. With sunnyskies and warm temperatures, the ride to Gilmore was especially enjoyablethis year. A second reason for the growth of the Show is the quality of theentrants. Pristine examples of motorcycle brands from around the world - asgood as any you’ll see anywhere - can be found on display at the site. Third, in addition to the motorcycle show and swap meet, the $10admission fee allows visitors to also enjoy the many classic cars on display inthe museum. The car museum alone is worth the trip to Hickory Corners. Finally, the Show offers an opportunity to commune with like-mindedmotorcycle enthusiasts who share a passion for vintage iron. You’re likely tosee different types of riders who might not otherwise be seen together – ahard-core Harley biker and a European rider, for example – talking over thestrengths and weaknesses of a particular vintage bike. The common interestprovides a starting point for people to talk. There are other reasons the Gilmore show is becoming a favoritevintage motorcycle event for many people. To see what you missed if youdidn’t make it this year, check out our pictorial. If you want moreinformation and want to attend next year, visitwww.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call (269) 671-5089.

Gilmore’s Antique MotorcycleShow Wows,

A PictorialWords and photos by Ray Peabody


If you’re looking for fantastic dual-sport riding and the company ofgreat friends, join us. Check out

our website at www.gldsmc.org tolearn about our group, our eventsand much more. Only $10 to join!

www.GLDSMC.org

The Great Lakes Dual Sportersis a like-minded group of off-road motorcyclists who enjoy

riding Michigan’s vast two-tracktrails and back roads. All done

using a street legal dirtbike alsoknown as Dual Sport.

Continued from page 9 - Ken Wiklebadge back in my home town prior to graduating highschool. I had been a Boy Scout for years and worked myway up to the highest level in scouting with my motherpushing me all the way. I was proud of this and carriedmy Eagle Scout card in my wallet with me all the time. Idug into my wallet and pulled out my Eagle Scout cardand showed it to the detective. Once he believed that thecard I showed him was genuine, things started turning inmy favor and in a matter of minutes I was freed. Mystory held up and the veracity of my statements weresealed with proof that I was a scout.

The good news was I was released from policecustody. The bad news was my roommate’s Honda was“towed” to the police impound lot while I was at thepolice station. I had no proof of ownership so it had tobe claimed by the legal owner. I was going to have totell my roommate what had happened to his motorcyclewhen he got back to campus on Monday. I was also

going to have to pay the fee to get it out of impound.On Monday, I had to confess to my

roommate; fortunately, it didn’t go over too badly.Things did get a little tense when he got hismotorcycle back and we discovered that the towtruck had thrown a chain around the motorcycle andlifted it causing the rubber intake manifolds to thetwin carburetors to dislodge. This was notpermanent damage and was easily fixed but did notplease my roommate who was not into working onhis own bike.

Everyone was back into the swing of thingswithin the week and my little escapade wasforgotten. No one was offering to let me start uptheir motorcycles again and I wasn’t asking. The AnnArbor police did not follow up on my arrest. I neverdid find out if they collared the motorcycle thievesthey were seeking. I didn’t care either!

I never did tellanyone at the time aboutmy two hour “joy ride”into Detroit on the HondaSuperhawk. I was justsupremely happy that Ihad wriggled my way outof a really tight spot.

My advice is tonever under estimate thepower of an Eagle Scoutcard!

I have kept thecard all these years. It isover 50 years old now. Idon’t carry it with meanymore but remember itas the best “Get out ofJail” card a young mancould have.

If you ride a motorcycle, you know that outon the road you might as well be transparent,because car drivers often look right past you. Theymight notice the car or truck behind you, but you, inall your “narrowness,” may not register in the visualcortex of even the most alert drivers.

Sadly, drivers might behave this way evenwhen they’re not distracted by their cell phone, GPS,satellite radio, or other form of in-car infotainment.So how do you compensate for being “invisible” todrivers? Be as conspicuous as possible. Wear brightclothing and a light-colored helmet. Always haveyour headlight on, and use your high beam or anaftermarket headlight modulator during the day(where allowed).

Take an approved rider training course.Learn how to maneuver your motorcycle in normaland emergency situations, and practice braking andswerving maneuvers often. Also understand that saferiding depends as much on the mental skills ofawareness and judgment as it does on the physicalskill of maneuvering the machine; respond early topossible hazards instead of having to react instantlyto an emergency.

Pretend you’re invisible. If you assumeothers on the road can’t see you, and any car that can

Safety Tips from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)

Pretend You Are Invisiblehit you will hit you, you will tend to ride in a hyperawaremindset and learn to notice every detail in yoursurroundings. In other words, you will take extraresponsibility for your safety and ride defensively. You willvary your speed and lane position to place yourself in thebest spot on the road to avoid collisions, plan escape paths incase a driver violates your right-of-way, cover your brakecontrols to quicken your reactions, use your horn to alert adriver who doesn’t notice you, and always ride within yourlimits.

CAR DRIVERS ONLY SEE WHAT THEY EXPECT TOSEE, AND MOST DON’T EXPECT YOU TO BE PART OF THETRAFFIC MIX. RIDE WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS, STRATEGIES,AND ATTITUDE. BE SEEN – BE SAFE.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation® promotes safetythrough rider training and education, operator licensing testsand public information programs. The MSF works with thefederal government, state agencies, the military and others tooffer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetimeof safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established bythe MSF® have been recognized worldwide since 1973.

The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsoredby BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki,KTM, Piaggio, Polaris Motorcycles, Suzuki, Triumph andYamaha. For safety information or to enroll in theRiderCourse nearest you, visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800)446-9227.


We Ride!...All Makes of Bikes

...All Over the Country

...On Back Roads

...On Racetracks

...At Novice-Advanced Levels

...In Our Sleep!

Our members come from all across the Midwest (and beyond)

and we ride many makes of street bikes - including:

We travel to great riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to be

better riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion: The Passion To Ride!

• Aprilia• BMW• Buell• Ducati

• Harley-Davidson• Honda• Kawasaki

• Suzuki• Triumph• Yamaha....and brands in between

In Michigan, contact:

Gregg Mitchell

[email protected]

Sport Touring is Our Middle Name!

For information about membership, meetings, events or rides,

contact the MSTA group in your state:

In Indiana, contact:

Donald “Moose” Parish

[email protected]

In Kentucky, contact:

Gary Dehner

[email protected]

In Ohio, contact:

Doug McPeak

[email protected]

In Wisconsin, contact:

Alan Tesch

[email protected]

Motorcycling & Law

How to Find andContact Your

Legislatorby Dondi Vesprini

Dondi is a licensed attorney in the state of Michiganand is recognized as an expert in cases involvingmotorcycle accidents. He has obtained millions ofdollars in recovery for injured motorcyclists over thecourse of his career as a trial attorney. Dondi’srepresentation of motorcyclists extends beyond thecourt room. He is a member of the Board of Directors ofABATE of Michigan and meets frequently with bothlegislators and lobbyists regarding legislationaffecting injured motorcyclists and the rights ofmotorcyclists to ride free.

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When I was a young boy, myfriends and I spent our recesses and lunchbreaks in elementary school playing “horse”on the basketball court. For the few of youwho may not be aware, “horse” is a gamewhere each player takes a turn attempting tomake a basketball shot and if a player missesthey get a letter. Ultimately, the player whoaccumulates the letters H O R S E first is theloser of the game. We had one friend whoalways took 2 turns instead of the 1 turn thatthe rules of the game called for. When weasked why he was allowed to take 2 turns, hewould tell us because “those are my rules.”

This story has relevance to me eventoday as my time is spent less on basketballcourts but more in Michigan courts of law.As an attorney, I am required to pursue myclient’s legal issues, which are ultimatelydecided by a set of rules or laws that apply tothe case.

Wouldn’t it be nice if a person hadthe power, as my childhood friend had, tochange the rules of the game he/she wasplaying? Especially if the “game” was thegame of life and the rules were the laws thatgovern motorcyclist’s rights?

The beauty of our democracy is thatit provides the power to change the laws thatgovern issues that motorcyclists deemimportant to them. As an advocate for themotorcycling community in Lansing, I haveseen this power wielded resulting in billsbeing passed into law which changes the pre-existing rules so as to make this a betterState for motorcyclists.

For example, most recently, lawshave been passed in Lansing which haverestricted the number of temporaryinstructional permits a motorcyclist mayapply for without having to get an actualendorsement on their license and there is abill in the works which would allow amotorcyclist to claim his/her deductibleagainst an at fault driver for damage to his/her motorcycle.

However, in order to wield thispower, you must contact your legislator tovoice your concerns and comments

regarding rules that need changed, asthese legislators are the vehicle thatcarries your voice into the halls of theCapitol.

Now more than ever, thispower is needed as it provides not onlythe power to make change but also thepower to prevent bad bills from everbecoming law, perhaps mostimportantly with respect to thenegative changes the insurancecompanies are trying to institute to theNo Fault law. The motorcyclists’collective voice has grown louder overthe years and has gained respect withmany of the legislators.

It is an incredible power thatwe wield. In order to use it, I haveprovided a website which will giveyou the contact information for eachlegislator in Lansing. The website ishttp://www.legislature.mi.gov/ Clickon the legislator’s link on the left sideof the page and it will bring up eachlegislator. You can then click on thelegislator for your district and will beprovided his/her contact information.

Contact them and use them tobe your vehicle to make your ownrules and protect your freedoms as amotorcyclist.

As always, if anyone has anyquestions or if I can be of legalassistance to you or anyone you knowwho has been injured in a motorcycleaccident, please don’t hesitate tocontact me as I deal with these types ofclaims on a daily basis on behalf ofinjured motorcyclists statewide. Giveme a call at (248-569-4646) or shoot mean e-mail at [email protected].


single cam EVO motors); the chaintensioner seemed to wear outprematurely. The system utilizes a kindof shoe, for lack of a better description,to tension the cam chain; the shoe isspring loaded and rides right against thechain and that spring has a lot ofpressure behind it. The shoe is made of aplastic or nylon (from DuPont calledVespel) that, because of the pressurecaused by the spring loading or becauseof the type of plastic/nylon, wears outprematurely. That alone will probablynot stop you in your tracks, but whathappens is that once the shoe hasdegraded far enough, you end up withthe metal housing or bracket that holdsthe shoe riding up directly against thechain with a lot of pressure from thespring loading mechanism. Metal underthat type of stress starts to shred and deterioratedropping metal shavings into the housing/oil.These metal shavings and the pieces of thedeteriorated plastic/nylon shoe can clog the rotarygear oil pump preventing oil from distributingproperly; the metal shavings will disperse into theoil prior to going through the oil filter. In extremecases this situation can destroy your engine. What’sdifficult is that even when the tensioner first fails,you won’t hear any rubbing sounds or really noticea whole lot of difference in your bike’s operationuntil it’s too late. There may be a little morevibration, but Harleys vibrate anyway so mostpeople don’t even notice it.

Continued from page 10 - Tech Talk

TP: So…am I playing Russian roulette with my2011 Road Glide Ultra?

JB: No, you are relatively safe. H-D tested aredesigned Twin Cam Tensioner Bracket in the 06Dyna Glide series which was new at the time. H-Droad tests new designs and systems on a particularmodel for a year or longer and if they deem itsuccessful, they then introduce it to the rest of theline; they did the same with fuel injection and thesix-speed transmissions. Anyway, they installed aredesigned Tensioner that is still spring loaded, butthe bracket and shoe were redesigned and shoe,where it snugs up against the chain, is hydraulically

controlled. The pressure isnot as great as the springloaded model and moreevenly delivered. Thatseemed to take care of theproblem. That’s not to saythe new system won’t wearout as well, but you cancount on at least 50,000 to70,000 miles before thathappens if it happens at all.

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TP: How long does the stock system last on the 99 to 06models?

JB: There is no definitive answer to that. I get about 1out of 100 that have a little more than 5,000 miles onthem, probably 30% of the repairs I’ve done are in the20,000 mile range and the balance are right around35,000 miles.

TP: Is there anything that can be done to prevent it?

JB: No, unfortunately it’s not a question of if it’s goingto break, but when is it going to break. About the onlything you can do is have the Tensioner checked every sooften and if it’s showing excessive wear, replace thesystem. The old system (pre 2006) also had a ballbearing for one cam and a roller chain for the other. Theball bearing also presented problems with longevity;the new (post 06) have roller chains for both cams, muchmore efficient and less likely to cause problems.

TP: Is the Cam Tensioner issue covered under warranty?If not, what type of system or fix do you recommend forreplacement?

JB: I don’t have firsthand knowledge about thewarranty on this, but from what I’ve been told by ridersand others, the Cam Tensioner Bracket is covered underwarranty but it requires that it be inspected by anauthorized H-D mechanic/repair shop every 15,000miles or it invalidates the warranty. Inspecting theTensioner is not an easy task. When the system doesfail, the key word here is “when”…I recommend andinstall the Andrews Cam Conversion kit. I’ve had noproblems with these kits and they are designed to exacttolerances and specifications.

TP: Well, there you have it my friends, a gooddefinition of what caused the problem, what to expectfrom the stock system, and what fix is - including costand time spent. This is not a repair I would try myself. Iknow what would happen; I’d be done putting ittogether and end up with one or two “extra” parts.There are some repairs that only a reliable authorizedmechanic should do for you, this is one of them. Thanksto Jerry B for the information. Now, Jerry, get back towork. Everyone wants their bike back so they can ride.


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settings. Each operating mode has a pre-set tractioncontrol setting that can be adjusted by the rider forthe conditions in which he or she will be riding.Other than serious hooligans and stunters, streetriders will not likely access traction control systemexcept in an emergency. With the pre-ride reviewcomplete, I puttered out into urban traffic.

At the first stop light, I pressed my foot onthe rear brake pedal and grabbed a handful of frontbrake. I almost went down. The single disc rearbrake was mushy; it took a long press down to getactuated. The twin disc front brake is incrediblysensitive. An easy one or two finger pull wouldhave been plenty to bring the Monster to a quick,controlled stop. Lesson learned without damage tothe bike. Whew!

Out in the country, I switched from“Touring” mode to “Sport” mode. You can makethis change while riding by rolling off the throttlewhile making the switch. Since I was unfamilar themachine, I pulled over to the side to change modes.Sport mode engaged, it seemed like a good time totest the Monster’s acceleration.

From a dead stop, I accelerated hard.

Rolling on the throttle and snick, snick, snickthrough the six-speed transmission, I watched as thespeedometer passed 80 within seconds and keptclimbing. The rider had better be holding on tightwhen accelerating hard. The 145 hp, 1198.4 cc,liquid-cooled, fuel-injected Testastretta 11ˆ L-twinhas plenty of juice for any type of road riding. Thehydraulic wet clutch with slipper is quieter andmakes for a relatively easy clutch lever pull unlikethe dry clutch set ups of the past. I slowed to morereasonable, legal speeds.

As if on cue, I entered an area with somenice sweeping curves; nothing too tight but enoughto get a feel for the motorcycle’s handlingcharacteristics. The Monster weighs in at 461pounds (wet) but feels compact. That small feelcombined with a 59.5 inch wheelbase and relativelystiff Ohlins suspension (front and rear) contributesto light and effortless handling. The Monsterfollows the line set by the rider but allows for quickchanges should the rider encounter debris or poorroad surface conditions mid-turn. It would have

been nice to test the handling on a track wheretighter turns and faster speeds would likely changethe handling characteristics. On the road, the 1200 Shandles like a well-sorted sportbike.

The 1200 S is comfortable even after acouple hours in the saddle. The rearset foot pegs arehigh as might be expected on a sportbike. The seatheight can be adjusted to either 30.9 or 31.9 inches.The seating position and reach to the handlebarswas comfortable with only a slight forward lean.

Two hours passed far too quickly. My innerhooligan could have kept riding. The Monster 1200S is a joy to ride; a solid combination ofperformance and comfort. Just what I like.

Thanks to Ozzy Elian and Fox Powersportsof Kentwood for making the Monster available forthis test. 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 S MSRP: $15,995

Continued from page 13 - Ducati Monster 1200 S


A lot of people associate motorcycling withmen: bearded, burly, leather-clad men roaringdown the open road. However, women have beenriding motorcycles for over a hundred years, andmany of the earliest female motorcycles havefascinating and under-shared stories. These womenwere trailblazers for today’s modern women bikers,and because July is Women’s Motorcycle Month, Ithought I would look back at a pair of pioneeringwomen riders to show the differences between thenand now.

In 1916, two sisters from New York set outon a cross-country ride that would makemotorcycling history. Augusta and Adeline VanBuren’s lives were anything but ordinary. Theywere so-called “society girls”, coming from awealthy New York City family, but they wereallowed to participate in many sports throughouttheir youth, which was uncommon for young ladiesof the time. If sports were uncommon for girls,motorcycling was unheard of, but the Van Burensisters took it up anyway.

The Van Burens were actively involved inthe National Preparedness Movement, an effort toprepare the country for war. They believed that ifwomen could serve as military dispatch riders,taking messages from place to place by motorcycle,they would free up more men to serve in combat.They also had an ulterior motive: they wanted tohelp women get the vote. One of the reasonswomen were denied the right to vote was becausethey didn’t participate in the war effort. Augustaand Adeline saw this as an opportunity to advancewomen’s rights while helping to serve theircountry.

They left New York on the July 4, 1916,both riding Indian Model F motorcycles with PowerPlus 1,000 cc twin motors and Firestone tires. Thesize and weight of their bikes was a challenge, aswere road conditions. At that time, there were no

Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorneyspecializing in the areas of motorcycle and motorvehicle injury litigation. Mr. Waechter has collectedmillions of dollars in settlements, awards and verdictsfor his motorcycle clients over the past 20 years. Jasonfeels a duty to give back to his community. A portion ofeach case settled goes to educational resources forbikers, funds to help bikers while their cases are beinglitigated and our motorcycle accident preventioncampaign. Call Attorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877-BIKER LAW. Or visitwww.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com Legal disclaimer:The law is very fact dependent and there are manynuances and exceptions depending on your particularcircumstances. Therefore, given the limited space, it isimpossible to cover everything. Do not rely on theshort article to protect your rights.

Women’s Motorcycling Has Come A Long Wayby Jason Waechter, Esq.

highways and few paved roads; they dropped theirbikes and got stuck in the mud many times in thetwo months they were on the road. The Van Burenswere the first women to summit Pikes Peak on amotorized vehicle. They travelled over 5,500 milesfrom New York all the way to Tijuana, Mexico,before returning home.

The sisters faced more than physicalchallenges while on their trip; for example, theywere arrested several times for wearing men’sclothes. After their trip, Adeline applied to be amilitary dispatch rider and was rejected. In coveringtheir voyage, the top motorcycling magazine of theday published an article about their motorcycles,but not about their accomplishment. It wasn’t until2002, when the Van Buren sisters were inducted intothe AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, that theiraccomplishment was acknowledged.

Obviously, a lot has changed for womenmotorcyclists in the last 100 years. A 2008Motorcycle Industry Council Owner survey showedthat ridership among women increased by morethan fifty percent between 1998 and 2008. More than

twelve percent of motorcycle owners in the US arewomen, and there were more than 5.7 millionfemale riders in 2008. The survey also showed thatabout thirty-six percent of women riders have acollege degree, and about forty percent are married.It may be time to revise society’s impression of themotorcyclist as a burly, bearded man in light ofthese increases.

As more and more women take upmotorcycling, companies are scrambling to offerproducts and services geared specifically for thisgrowing demographic. Probably the mostprominent manufacturer targeting female riders isHarley-Davidson. In the last couple of years, Harleyhas really started reaching out to female riders. Theyrecently launched two new bikes specificallydesigned to appeal to women. They also have a hugewebsite dedicated to female riders, providinginformation about everything from choosing a biketo finding a certified rider training course. Harleyalso has an interactive feature that allows women tosubmit their motorcycling photos and stories,providing inspiration and encouragement for otherladies’ looking to get started.

Women-only rider safety courses are alsopopping up across the country. The course materialsare the same in mixed-gender classes, but providinga women-only class can be less intimidating for newriders, and allow them to feel more comfortableasking questions. Safety training seems to stick withwomen riders; in 2012, non-passenger female ridersaccounted for less than three percent of motorcyclistfatalities, according to the Insurance Institute forHighway Safety (IIHS). Obviously, it would be betterto see no motorcyclist fatalities, and everyone whorides needs to step up and help promote motorcycleawareness and safety.

These days, seeing a woman go by on amotorcycle isn’t so uncommon. Granted, more thaneighty-five percent of motorcycle owners are stillmen, but the number of women riders has beensteadily increasing for a long time now, and it seemsto grow faster and faster each year. A lot has changedfor women motorcyclists in the last 100 years andjudging by the rate at which ridership has increasedover the last ten years in particular, I think there aremore changes yet to come. Female motorcyclists

today should thank pioneers like the Van Burensisters for challenging the rules of society andpaving the way for the bikers of today.

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EventsEvents do change. Please call ahead.

Michigan

Indiana

June 212nd Kathy Prieto Kindred Poker RunThe Oxford Tap36 S. WashingtonOxford, MI$20/bikeLeaving Oxford Tap at 11 a.m.

June 20-22Thunder at the RiverSalute to Veteranswww.rollingthundermichigan1.com

June 221st Road Poker RunStevens Cycle3636 S. Huron RoadBay City, MI$10 / personReg 9 a.m. to 12 noon989.501.0911989.297.2588

June 28Vern Haggadone MemorialPoker RunHarrison Moose Lodge #22355185 N. Clare AvenueHarrison, MIReg 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.$20 / per poker hand$25 after June 21989.578.7663810.333.0718July 11 & 1212th Annual Wheels of ThunderDowntown Jackson, MIon Michigan Avewww.TheWheelsOfThunder.com

July 11Observation RideWest Branch FairgroundsReg 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

July 12STAR Chapter 249s Anniversary BashSt. Helens Power Sports1901 N. St Helen Road, St Helens, MIEveryone welcomeEvent from 10:00 to 2:30Stands up at 12;00; ride to last about 1and1/2 hourLunch from 1:30 - 2:30Door PrizesActivities withWUPS & Micheal J50/50’sDonation of 10.00 per bike1-231-429-9244

July 12ABATE Region 72014 Shoot & ScootFarmer’s Taverndowntown Ruth, MIReg 10 a.m.$10/person(810) 712-1600

July 17-20Muskegon Bike TimeHot Rod Harley-Davidson149 Shoreline Dr,Muskegon, MI 49440(231) 722-0000hotrodhd

August 91st AnnualBikers for Billy PokerRunFraternal Order ofEagles Lodge#43607200 Stanwood RoadStanwood, MIReg 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.$25 per poker hand$30 after August 2810.333.0718

August 14-16Michigan State HOGRally PresentsThe Great Lakes RallyBirch Run Expo Center11600 N. Beyer Rd.Birch Run, MIFacebook:Michigan State HOGRallywww.mistatehogrally.com

August 16Carrie’s RideRetail WarehouseSturgis, MichiganReg10:30 a.m.Run starts at Noon$15 person(269) 823-2269

September 14The 32nd AnnualBattle of the BritsCamp Dearborn1700 General Motors Rd,Milford MI 48380

September 20Downtown Homer Car,Motorcycle, Tractor &Bicycle Show9 am- 3 pmAwards and PrizesFree Registration50/50 drawings andhorseshoe tournamentHomer, MIBrad Stuart 517-568-7117Jim Lingenfelter 517-414-8468

June 21-22Heartland SummerfestCar & Bike ShowHeartland Christian Center170 S. State Road 49Valparaiso, INFree Admission(219) 996-4979

June 26-28Vintage JapaneseMotorcycle ClubNational RallySpring Mill State ParkMitchell, IN

June 28The Ice Cream RunWalmart SouthIreland Road at 31/20Bypass SouthReg 10 a.m.$20 /rider; $30 /passengerwww.icecream-run.com

July 12Lt. Michael AndryMemorial RideAmerican Legion Post #101700 S. PennsylvaniaMarion, IN9 a.m. Breakfast11 a.m. Ride begins(765) 628-2469

July 124th Annual In LovingMemory Cruise InParadise Spring, IN3 p.m. to 8 p.m.Motorcycle Run

$10 Rider; $5 Passenger(579) 529-5567

July 13Ride with Us to Cure KidsPinhook Park2801 Riverside DriveSouthBend, IN800.253.6530rideforkids.org

August 15-17Hog Daze RallyHome of the HogMarion, IndianaAdmission $5.00.Vendors, food, bike contests,camping and musicCheck us out by looking upHome of the Hog.

August 15-1711th annual ABATE- Region 1,Elkhart CountySummerFest16611 CR.8, Bristol, IN.46507$15 ABATE members, $20 non-membersFree tent camping, RV’s-$50,Vendors, Field Events, Livemusic, Stage Shows.(574) 596-7266

September 132ndf Annual Lapel Eagles RideBenefit for Tyler Thompson110 East 9th StreetLapel, IN$15 Single Rider; $10/passengerSign up 8 a.m.(765) 617-7720(765) 534-4577



Polio Vaccine Benefit

OPEN HOUSESaturday, July 12, 2014

• Demo rides (weather permitting)

• Live Music

• Wood-fired Oven-baked Pizza

A portion of the proceeds from the wood-fire

pizza sales will go towards the purchase for

polio vaccines.

Join us in the effort to eradicate polio in those

third world countries where it still exists.


Overland Expo 2014:Setting the Pace for Life

by Nicole Espinosa

Open Terrain: Exploring the World and Soul by Motorcycle

As a little girl, I alwayslooked up to those who were livinglife in a bigger way, cheering for thelittle guys who were bucking thesystem. I didn’t like feeling confined insomeone else’s box, nor did I likepeople telling me to draw within thelines. But, I did it their way much of

the time to be “a good girl and getgood grades,” as many of us did. Yet, ifI had my preference, I would berunning barefoot in the woods likeTarzan behind my grandmother’shome, listening to the voices of the

wind and trees, and hearing me answerthem back. I feel this is all of us today,yearning for freedom from theshackles of today’s demands, whilesearching for adventurous states ofmind that will set us free. This may bewhy Overland Expo (OX) is growing atsuch a fast rate, because so manypeople are looking to adventure foranswers to life as we know it.

Roseann and JonathanHanson, founders of OX, have tappedinto this in a big way, and have loadedtheir event with vendors who willgear you up, presenters who willinspire, and classes that will give youthe educational tools to get you outthere. There’s also a film festival toshow us what our adventurous dreamsmay look like by those living it. Thisis one of the biggest adventure travelevents in the world, and no doubt oneof the best with a wonderful venueoutside of the Ponderosa pine countryof Flagstaff, AZ—a gateway to some ofthe best riding in the state. An event so

dialed in to the pulseof the adventuremarket doesn’t justhappen overnight.OX has beenpercolating for sixyears now, and hasreached anintoxicatingly perfectaroma that drawsparticipants in fromall over the world toimbibe.

Each year,the show gets betterand better, yet alwaysseems to maintain a special flavorknown for that year alone. Location atthe charmingly western Mormon LakeLodge and grounds spread over 300acres, shows that this place is up to thetask of expansive growth for thefuture. The OX team arrived weeks inadvance to make sure the event runssmoothly, while bulldozers groomedthe terrain into the challenging LandRover driving course and Moto Village’scorral of whoops and logs for theRawHyde adventure motorcyclingtraining course.

Next to the family activitiesbooth, we carved out a home-away-from-home with friends and familywho form “tent city,” where all wehad to do is roll out of our sleepingbags in the morning to the smell ofour adventure riding neighborsroasting their coffee over camp stoves.With freshly roasted cup o’ Joe in onehand and the famous breakfastwalkabout bacon from Sandy Bordenof ADVTrio in the other, life lookspretty good. All I needed to do washelp my kids hide clues for their“Navigation Treasure Hunt,” set upmy Rugged Rider/Adventure Motorcyclemagazine booth, and catch up with allthe Motorcycle Village vendors whom Ihaven’t seen since last year.

A record number ofparticipants rolled in the nextmorning, and it was no problem withthe help of my ex, Pablo, in the boothto take subscription orders while wechatted with customers. Always theicing on the cake, Ural rides with myfavorite Ural dealer in the world, MarkTetreau of Scooter and Auto Source ofPrescott, AZ. There’s also the annual“ladies ride” where one of the ladyriders hops on the Ural to scoot aroundthe event picking up other gals alongthe way. This year photographerAlphonse Palaima and Jack Borden, the12-year-old from ADVTrio, were luckyenough to climb aboard withouthaving to wear wigs.

What was new this year forme was moderating the panel “AreYou the Adventurous Type? How toIntroduce Reluctant Overlanders toAdventure.” With great audienceparticipation as well as a fabulous

panel of three wide-rangingoverlanding couples, we uncoveredsome beautiful traveling gems thatcould apply to any relationship.What’s some of the best advice at thetop of the list, you ask? Well, if theidea of the journey is born from oneperson, give the other something toplan on the route. This helps to evenout the consideration of control. Ofcourse, listening to your partner is atthe top of the list, but actually“hearing” them and altering yourplans based on their fears orreluctances is even better. This helpsto make them feel safe and securewith you, and builds trust. And, lastbut not least is the idea of startingout on a small weekend adventurethat includes some luxuries likewine/beer, and pillows and a cot orblowup mattress in the tent. Fromthis fun one hour chat, the audiencewalked away ready to try ouradventure suggestions.

The coup de grace for me wasslipping away from the frivolities ofhappy hour to watch German round-the-worlder Daniel Rintz’ film,“Somewhere Else Tomorrow.”Daniel is a Ted Simon Foundation“Jupiter Traveler;” that encouragedhim to share the insights of hisjourney with the world in themedium of his choice. Even thoughhe had no film experience, hecaptured video footage of a soultraveling the world by motorcycle,without a budget or known incomesource. He poured all of hisenthusiasm and energy into editing,graphics, titles, and marketing onceback home. And, the result was apowerfully moving story thatcaptured the hearts of the audience.

Anything that encouragesthese adventures of living is acatalyst that we need right now. It’sa way to see the world in a newlight, without borders, as wediscover we’re all brothers andsisters in the end. As Overland Expogrows with endless inspiration forgetting people out there, we arewitnessing a phenomenon that issetting the pace for living life in abigger way.

Riders in the RawHyde training class learn howto dance with their big-boned partners.

Nicole chats it up with Carl Ribaudo, founder of anotherinspirational event, Carson/Tahoe Rendezvous.


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MOTORCYCLE WRECK?Call the MOTORCYCLE LAWYER!

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july 2014 issue

Documents

winning motorcycles

franz hoffer17 motorcycling

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case of motorcycle theft

right dream ride

ken wikle12 test ride

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