SHARE THE ROAD AND BE SAFE
By Rocky Marks
Last week, I was involved with a press conference that was held by PennDOT District 11 and the Pittsburgh Police, and hosted by Hot Metal Harley-Davidson. The goal of the meeting was to remind motorists and motorcyclists to share the road and watch out for each other.
This press conference was put together after a horrible start to July with the number of motorcycle related injuries and fatalities. Over the past five years, motorcycle fatalities represented 20% of traffic fatalities in District 11, which includes Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence Counties.
In 2008, more than 200 people lost their lives in motorcycle crashes and more than 3,500 were injured in Pennsylvania. In PennDOT District 11, 24 people lost their lives and another 340 were injured in motorcycle crashes during the same time peiord. Many of these fatalities and injures could be avoided by following these safety tips for both motorcyclists as well as motorists.=
Safety Tips for Motorcyclists
Riders can improve their safety on the road by following some simple safety tips:
• Wear a U.S. DOT-approved helmet, face or eye protection and protective clothing.
• Know your motorcycle and conduct a pre-ride check.
• Be seen. Wear reflective clothing and put reflective tape on your protective riding gear and motorcycle.
• Use common sense by riding sober, obeying all speed limits and allowing enough time to react to dangerous situations.
• Practice safe riding techniques and know how to handle your motorcycle in adverse road and weather conditions.
• Consider attending free training via PennDOT´s Motorcycle Safety Program
Safety Tips for Motorists Sharing the Road with Motorcycles
• Look out for motorcyclists – be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see.
• Allow more following distance – leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
• Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.
Crashes are most likely to occur in high-risk situations such as:
• Another vehicle turning left in front of a motorcyclist.
• Motorcyclists hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot: Drivers should always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections. (a quick turn of the head isn’t a bad idea, either.)
• Hazardous road conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces that usually pose minor annoyances to automobile drivers are in fact major hazards for motorcyclists.
• Weather conditions: Braking and handling abilities may be impared by changing weather conditions.
• Strong winds: A strong gust of wind can move a motorcyclist across an entire lane if not prepared for it.
• Large vehicles can block a new motorcycle from a driver’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
The same rules apply for drivers that fall in both categories. Slow down. Look twice. Pay attention to the road and put away anything that will distract you from operating your vehicle.
Obviously there are many more situations that I didn’t cover in this article. There are just as many rules that I haven’t covered, but the basic thing that we can do as motorists and motorcyclist is to be aware of each other and share the road.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on WEAE 1250 AM
This is Rocky's Blog! It's amazing what crosses his mind. Welcome...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Pick A Lane, Any Lane
By Rocky Marks
Last week I received a phone call at the shop from a gentleman by the name of Fred Miller. He is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Rides section of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He read one of my previous articles and felt that he had to call me and share one of his stories from the road.
He was riding behind a motorcyclist not too long ago that seemed to wonder all over the road. The fact that the motorcyclist didn’t pick a lane concerned him and he thought that it would make for an interesting topic.
As I talked with Fred, I learned that he has had some significant motorcycle training. He’s been through the Pennsylvania Safety Program and he even hired an independent coach to follow behind him and coach him one-on-one through a two-way headset as he was riding!
As motorcyclists, when we go for our motorcycle permits, we are taught that the right–hand lane is divided into 3 mini-lanes. There is the inside (closest to the double yellow lines), there is the outside (closest to the white line) and then there is middle of the road.
A majority of motorcyclists pick either the inside or outside lane and typically stick with it. This is their comfort zone. Then there are motorcyclists who don’t have a comfort zone and they straddle the entire right lane and find themselves in potholes one minute, in rumble strips the next, while crossing over the greasy center of the right-hand lane.
You’re probably saying to yourself that the motorcyclist that stays in either the outside lane or the inside lane the entire time even through corners is the one who’s doing it correctly. You would be wrong in that assumption. The motorcyclist that wonders from one side of the right lane to the other isn’t doing it correctly, either… but they are on the right track.
When you are traveling down a straight stretch of highway or down a straight residential road, then it is good to pick a lane and stick with it. This allows other riders or drivers to better read you and anticipate your moves so that they can safely pass you.
When you live in Western Pennsylvania you have to deal with hills, tight corners, blind intersections and exit ramps that don’t exactly curve in a consistent circle. This requires you to use a larger piece of the travel lane.
This leads to many questions:
• When turning, do you follow more or less in the center of the lane? Do you follow one of the car wheel tracks or do you follow a different motorcycle cornering the line?
• Approaching a sharp turn, do you roll off the throttle, or do you also use the breaks?
• When you need to brake approaching a corner, do you use both brakes, just the rear brake, or only the front brake?
Even though the best practice is picking a travel lane and staying with it, we need to take a look at cornering and explore using the other travel lanes on our side of the road.
Different riding schools have different ways to describe the correct cornering techniques. Having a slogan helps you remember the details. One of the most concise descriptions is the slogan “Slow, Look, Lean, and Roll.” according to David L. Hough’s book “Proficient Motorcycling”
Approaching a curve you want to SLOW down. It’s smart to decelerate the bike while you’re vertical rather than in a lean. Breaking into the turn with both the front and rear brakes pushes your motorcycle down and allows for more traction. You’ll also want to hold on to both breaks just incase you discover that the turn is tighter than you expected or if a hazard comes into view halfway around the corner.
Next you want to LOOK and keep your eyes level while selecting a cornering line. When selecting a cornering line, you should not choose the double right line to the left or the solid white line to the right. Try and figure out where the road goes. If the corner takes you left, get close to the solid line to your right. This will give you the maximum viewing for this type of corner. Likewise, if your road takes you to the right, stay close to the double yellow line WITHOUT going over into the oncoming lane. Again this will help you see more of the road ahead of you. Remember “outside-inside-outside.”
When you have the bike slowed down and positioned for the best view and your nose pointed to where you want to go, it’s time to LEAN the bike over and ROLL on the throttle. The most accurate way to lean any two-wheeler is by pressure on the handgrips. Push on the right grip to lean right. Hold enough pressure on the grip to get the bike leaned over and pointed where you’re looking, then ease up on the pressure to stabilize the lean.
When you have leaned your bike over to your desired angle, you’ll need to ease on the throttle. Not only will it help your speed control, but it will affect your traction, stability, ground clearance, suspension and steering. Rolling on the throttle isn’t just for the race track it’s for the laws of physics. Rolling on the throttle helps balance weight between front and rear tires, sets suspension in the middle of its travel and maximizes lean-over clearance. The throttle also controls which way the bike wants to go.
That being said, it’s best to pick a lane and stick with it, but in order to accomplish everything that is required for smart cornering, you need to use more of your side of the road and stray out of your comfort zone.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on WEAE 1250 AM
Last week I received a phone call at the shop from a gentleman by the name of Fred Miller. He is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Rides section of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He read one of my previous articles and felt that he had to call me and share one of his stories from the road.
He was riding behind a motorcyclist not too long ago that seemed to wonder all over the road. The fact that the motorcyclist didn’t pick a lane concerned him and he thought that it would make for an interesting topic.
As I talked with Fred, I learned that he has had some significant motorcycle training. He’s been through the Pennsylvania Safety Program and he even hired an independent coach to follow behind him and coach him one-on-one through a two-way headset as he was riding!
As motorcyclists, when we go for our motorcycle permits, we are taught that the right–hand lane is divided into 3 mini-lanes. There is the inside (closest to the double yellow lines), there is the outside (closest to the white line) and then there is middle of the road.
A majority of motorcyclists pick either the inside or outside lane and typically stick with it. This is their comfort zone. Then there are motorcyclists who don’t have a comfort zone and they straddle the entire right lane and find themselves in potholes one minute, in rumble strips the next, while crossing over the greasy center of the right-hand lane.
You’re probably saying to yourself that the motorcyclist that stays in either the outside lane or the inside lane the entire time even through corners is the one who’s doing it correctly. You would be wrong in that assumption. The motorcyclist that wonders from one side of the right lane to the other isn’t doing it correctly, either… but they are on the right track.
When you are traveling down a straight stretch of highway or down a straight residential road, then it is good to pick a lane and stick with it. This allows other riders or drivers to better read you and anticipate your moves so that they can safely pass you.
When you live in Western Pennsylvania you have to deal with hills, tight corners, blind intersections and exit ramps that don’t exactly curve in a consistent circle. This requires you to use a larger piece of the travel lane.
This leads to many questions:
• When turning, do you follow more or less in the center of the lane? Do you follow one of the car wheel tracks or do you follow a different motorcycle cornering the line?
• Approaching a sharp turn, do you roll off the throttle, or do you also use the breaks?
• When you need to brake approaching a corner, do you use both brakes, just the rear brake, or only the front brake?
Even though the best practice is picking a travel lane and staying with it, we need to take a look at cornering and explore using the other travel lanes on our side of the road.
Different riding schools have different ways to describe the correct cornering techniques. Having a slogan helps you remember the details. One of the most concise descriptions is the slogan “Slow, Look, Lean, and Roll.” according to David L. Hough’s book “Proficient Motorcycling”
Approaching a curve you want to SLOW down. It’s smart to decelerate the bike while you’re vertical rather than in a lean. Breaking into the turn with both the front and rear brakes pushes your motorcycle down and allows for more traction. You’ll also want to hold on to both breaks just incase you discover that the turn is tighter than you expected or if a hazard comes into view halfway around the corner.
Next you want to LOOK and keep your eyes level while selecting a cornering line. When selecting a cornering line, you should not choose the double right line to the left or the solid white line to the right. Try and figure out where the road goes. If the corner takes you left, get close to the solid line to your right. This will give you the maximum viewing for this type of corner. Likewise, if your road takes you to the right, stay close to the double yellow line WITHOUT going over into the oncoming lane. Again this will help you see more of the road ahead of you. Remember “outside-inside-outside.”
When you have the bike slowed down and positioned for the best view and your nose pointed to where you want to go, it’s time to LEAN the bike over and ROLL on the throttle. The most accurate way to lean any two-wheeler is by pressure on the handgrips. Push on the right grip to lean right. Hold enough pressure on the grip to get the bike leaned over and pointed where you’re looking, then ease up on the pressure to stabilize the lean.
When you have leaned your bike over to your desired angle, you’ll need to ease on the throttle. Not only will it help your speed control, but it will affect your traction, stability, ground clearance, suspension and steering. Rolling on the throttle isn’t just for the race track it’s for the laws of physics. Rolling on the throttle helps balance weight between front and rear tires, sets suspension in the middle of its travel and maximizes lean-over clearance. The throttle also controls which way the bike wants to go.
That being said, it’s best to pick a lane and stick with it, but in order to accomplish everything that is required for smart cornering, you need to use more of your side of the road and stray out of your comfort zone.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on WEAE 1250 AM
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Q&A (Karyn wobly bike & Re Tread)
By Rocky Marks
This past week, I received a question via Facebook from an old high school friend who now lives in Allentown.
Hey Rocky!
I need some advice...I just got my motorcycle license a few months ago. I love being a passenger but now I'm nervous as the driver and I know that's not a good thing. I have a Harley Sporster and it probably wasn't the best choice for a first bike but I got a good deal and it is in great shape with really low mileage....and it’s a Harley!!!!
So I guess I just need some wise words from an expert!! ;-) its a heavy bike and I think that's one of the things that makes me nervous but I don't want to dump it!!
Can you help an old friend out?
Thanks,
Karyn
Karyn,
Congratulations and welcome to the saddle. You should be LESS nervous because you’re in TOTAL control. A Harley-Davidson Sportster really isn’t a bad bike to get started out on. Some people make the mistake of starting out on a bike that is too small, get frustrated within a year, and when they go to upgrade, they lose equity in their trade. If you are a fan of a specific brand, and if the motorcycle fits you, then go for it.
You’ll learn something new about yourself and the bike with each trip out of the garage. I’m constantly experimenting on my bike.
I wouldn’t worry about dropping it. It happens to the best of us! It’s nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, last month I dropped my bike twice. It’s a 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra. It has so many extras like saddlebags, the faring, and the windshield that could get damaged with one slip up in the driveway.
Fortunately, when I dripped my bike, it didn’t cause any damage. One of the great things about the Ultra is that it comes with guards especially made for that. Not only does it protect key components to the bike, but it also prevents your leg from getting pinned beneath your bike when it falls over.
If you don’t have one already, my suggestion would be to get an engine guard for your bike. They aren’t that expensive, and it will more than pay for it self should you drop the bike.
Once you get your engine guard, you may want to take your bike into a flat spot in your yard and gently lay it down… and pick it back up. Practice it a few times. It’s easier than you think. Lift with your legs and use as much leverage as possible.
Once you pick your bike up, you’ll get the feeling that it’s not as heavy as you originally though it was. You’ll also establish a feeling of control (there is that word again)—in your mind, that you can handle the bike whether it’s upright or laying on its side.
Picking up a 300 lb may sound tough, but motorcycles today are very well balanced. Don’t think of it as picking the total weight of your motorcycle off the ground. You’re simply just shifting it to a neutral position to where you can put the kickstand down and assess the situation.
Remember when you first started riding your bicycle how wobbly you were until you pedaled faster? The same rule applies. Dropping a motorcycle due to weight happens due to an unexpected shift in balance at very slow speeds, so the good news is if you do drop it, the risk of injury or damage to the motorcycle will be minimal.
I hope this helps, and enjoy that drivers seat!
This next question came via e-mail from Dave in Crafton.
Dear Rocky,
On my way home from work last week I was following a very large dump truck when I heard a loud bang. The next thing I knew a piece of rubber came flying at me and I had no choice but to throttle up and go over it because of how fast we were going. I spoke to the driver who asked me if I was okay and he told me that it was a re-tread that blew off the tire.
It seems like I see these pieces of rubber all over the highways. Why are truckers still allowed to use re-treads if they break so much.
Dave
Dave,
Thank you for your e-mail. That happened to me once before and I can’t even begin to describe the sound that a blown tractor-trailer tire makes. I hope that you didn’t get hurt.
I think we need to put your concern about the number of these blow-outs into perspective and ease your mind.
The reason we see so much debris on the road is because tractor-trailers have 18 wheels. Our vehicles only have 4 wheels. Every tractor trailer has the same number of wheels that you would find on 4.5 automobiles.
Trucking companies can save up to 60% by choosing re-treaded tires which keep down on the costs of transportation which eventually trickles down to the consumer level. Because the companies can keep transportation costs down, the products we purchase at the store will be less expensive.
Not only is it a cost savings benefit to the operators, but it’s good for the environment. Every re-treaded tire is one less tire that ends up in a landfill somewhere. More than 80% of the airplanes flying today use re-treaded tires. Re-treads are common in school busses, fire trucks, and even every cab in New York City uses a re-tread.
The biggest factor in determining whether or not a re-tread is safe depends on the maintenance of the tire. Re-Treads will continue to be safe so long as the tires are inflated properly the trucks are not overloaded, and if the tire is replaced at the first sign of wear.
As long as the operators of the vehicles stay on top of their maintenance schedule, we’ll see less rubber on the roads, fewer tires in land fills, and safer driving conditions for everyone.
Rocky Marks is operations manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in West Mifflin and host of the radio show "On the Road With Rocky," which airs Saturdays at 7 a.m. on WEAE-AM (1250).
This past week, I received a question via Facebook from an old high school friend who now lives in Allentown.
Hey Rocky!
I need some advice...I just got my motorcycle license a few months ago. I love being a passenger but now I'm nervous as the driver and I know that's not a good thing. I have a Harley Sporster and it probably wasn't the best choice for a first bike but I got a good deal and it is in great shape with really low mileage....and it’s a Harley!!!!
So I guess I just need some wise words from an expert!! ;-) its a heavy bike and I think that's one of the things that makes me nervous but I don't want to dump it!!
Can you help an old friend out?
Thanks,
Karyn
Karyn,
Congratulations and welcome to the saddle. You should be LESS nervous because you’re in TOTAL control. A Harley-Davidson Sportster really isn’t a bad bike to get started out on. Some people make the mistake of starting out on a bike that is too small, get frustrated within a year, and when they go to upgrade, they lose equity in their trade. If you are a fan of a specific brand, and if the motorcycle fits you, then go for it.
You’ll learn something new about yourself and the bike with each trip out of the garage. I’m constantly experimenting on my bike.
I wouldn’t worry about dropping it. It happens to the best of us! It’s nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, last month I dropped my bike twice. It’s a 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra. It has so many extras like saddlebags, the faring, and the windshield that could get damaged with one slip up in the driveway.
Fortunately, when I dripped my bike, it didn’t cause any damage. One of the great things about the Ultra is that it comes with guards especially made for that. Not only does it protect key components to the bike, but it also prevents your leg from getting pinned beneath your bike when it falls over.
If you don’t have one already, my suggestion would be to get an engine guard for your bike. They aren’t that expensive, and it will more than pay for it self should you drop the bike.
Once you get your engine guard, you may want to take your bike into a flat spot in your yard and gently lay it down… and pick it back up. Practice it a few times. It’s easier than you think. Lift with your legs and use as much leverage as possible.
Once you pick your bike up, you’ll get the feeling that it’s not as heavy as you originally though it was. You’ll also establish a feeling of control (there is that word again)—in your mind, that you can handle the bike whether it’s upright or laying on its side.
Picking up a 300 lb may sound tough, but motorcycles today are very well balanced. Don’t think of it as picking the total weight of your motorcycle off the ground. You’re simply just shifting it to a neutral position to where you can put the kickstand down and assess the situation.
Remember when you first started riding your bicycle how wobbly you were until you pedaled faster? The same rule applies. Dropping a motorcycle due to weight happens due to an unexpected shift in balance at very slow speeds, so the good news is if you do drop it, the risk of injury or damage to the motorcycle will be minimal.
I hope this helps, and enjoy that drivers seat!
This next question came via e-mail from Dave in Crafton.
Dear Rocky,
On my way home from work last week I was following a very large dump truck when I heard a loud bang. The next thing I knew a piece of rubber came flying at me and I had no choice but to throttle up and go over it because of how fast we were going. I spoke to the driver who asked me if I was okay and he told me that it was a re-tread that blew off the tire.
It seems like I see these pieces of rubber all over the highways. Why are truckers still allowed to use re-treads if they break so much.
Dave
Dave,
Thank you for your e-mail. That happened to me once before and I can’t even begin to describe the sound that a blown tractor-trailer tire makes. I hope that you didn’t get hurt.
I think we need to put your concern about the number of these blow-outs into perspective and ease your mind.
The reason we see so much debris on the road is because tractor-trailers have 18 wheels. Our vehicles only have 4 wheels. Every tractor trailer has the same number of wheels that you would find on 4.5 automobiles.
Trucking companies can save up to 60% by choosing re-treaded tires which keep down on the costs of transportation which eventually trickles down to the consumer level. Because the companies can keep transportation costs down, the products we purchase at the store will be less expensive.
Not only is it a cost savings benefit to the operators, but it’s good for the environment. Every re-treaded tire is one less tire that ends up in a landfill somewhere. More than 80% of the airplanes flying today use re-treaded tires. Re-treads are common in school busses, fire trucks, and even every cab in New York City uses a re-tread.
The biggest factor in determining whether or not a re-tread is safe depends on the maintenance of the tire. Re-Treads will continue to be safe so long as the tires are inflated properly the trucks are not overloaded, and if the tire is replaced at the first sign of wear.
As long as the operators of the vehicles stay on top of their maintenance schedule, we’ll see less rubber on the roads, fewer tires in land fills, and safer driving conditions for everyone.
Rocky Marks is operations manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in West Mifflin and host of the radio show "On the Road With Rocky," which airs Saturdays at 7 a.m. on WEAE-AM (1250).
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Helmet 101
Helmet 101
In the state of Pennsylvania, we have the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a helmet so long as we are over the age of 21. While I don’t want to get in to the debate over whether or not to wear a helmet, I figured an article on how helmets are made and how they protect your head shouldn’t ruffle the feathers of anyone on either side of the fence.
Helmets have 4 main components in their construction.
• The outer shell. The outside of a helmet can be constructed of fiberglass, polycarbonate or TriComposite material. Either way, it spreads the energy from an impact across a wide area, reducing the chances of head injury in the exact spot where the impact occurred.
• The impact absorbing lining. This is sandwiched between the outer shell and the comfort padding and it is usually made of a dense layer of expanded polystyrene. It crumples to absorb the impact.
• The comfort padding. This inner most layer of soft foam and cloth conforms to your head and is primarily responsive for how comfortable the helmet is.
• The retention system. This consists of the strap—connected to the bottom of the helmet—that goes under your chin and holds it on your head.
Helmets come in a variety of style from small, bowl-shape half-helmets that may protect your brainstem, to sleek fully enclosed helmets that protect everything above your neck. In between are three-quarter or open-face helmets which cover most of your head but leave your face unprotected.
When purchasing a helmet, you want to make sure that you’ll be comfortable riding with it on. You want to make sure that you get a good fit.
A helmet that is too lose will move around in an accident, potentially causing neck injury, and a helmet that is too tight will give you a headache every time you wear it. The best case scenario is finding a helmet that is comfortably tight.
You always can’t go brand-specific, because just like our heads, each helmet is created differently. What you’re looking for is a helmet that won’t slide around your head that is hard to pull off with the strap undone, but one that doesn’t create a pressure spot anywhere on your head.
When you try on a helmet, wear it around the store for a while, and when you take it off, note any soreness or red spots. Some people will pick a helmet they like, even though it may have a pressure point, take it home and pound that pressure point out of the comfort padding. That completely destroys the inner-workings of the helmet and makes it basically useless should you get into an accident.
Never purchase or wear a used motorcycle helmet. Helmets protect your head in an accident by destroying themselves. In a spill, the outer shell will flex and the inner shell will crumple often leaving no visible damage to the exterior. Hitting the damaged area a second time will result in zero head protection
In the state of Pennsylvania, we have the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a helmet so long as we are over the age of 21. While I don’t want to get in to the debate over whether or not to wear a helmet, I figured an article on how helmets are made and how they protect your head shouldn’t ruffle the feathers of anyone on either side of the fence.
Helmets have 4 main components in their construction.
• The outer shell. The outside of a helmet can be constructed of fiberglass, polycarbonate or TriComposite material. Either way, it spreads the energy from an impact across a wide area, reducing the chances of head injury in the exact spot where the impact occurred.
• The impact absorbing lining. This is sandwiched between the outer shell and the comfort padding and it is usually made of a dense layer of expanded polystyrene. It crumples to absorb the impact.
• The comfort padding. This inner most layer of soft foam and cloth conforms to your head and is primarily responsive for how comfortable the helmet is.
• The retention system. This consists of the strap—connected to the bottom of the helmet—that goes under your chin and holds it on your head.
Helmets come in a variety of style from small, bowl-shape half-helmets that may protect your brainstem, to sleek fully enclosed helmets that protect everything above your neck. In between are three-quarter or open-face helmets which cover most of your head but leave your face unprotected.
When purchasing a helmet, you want to make sure that you’ll be comfortable riding with it on. You want to make sure that you get a good fit.
A helmet that is too lose will move around in an accident, potentially causing neck injury, and a helmet that is too tight will give you a headache every time you wear it. The best case scenario is finding a helmet that is comfortably tight.
You always can’t go brand-specific, because just like our heads, each helmet is created differently. What you’re looking for is a helmet that won’t slide around your head that is hard to pull off with the strap undone, but one that doesn’t create a pressure spot anywhere on your head.
When you try on a helmet, wear it around the store for a while, and when you take it off, note any soreness or red spots. Some people will pick a helmet they like, even though it may have a pressure point, take it home and pound that pressure point out of the comfort padding. That completely destroys the inner-workings of the helmet and makes it basically useless should you get into an accident.
Never purchase or wear a used motorcycle helmet. Helmets protect your head in an accident by destroying themselves. In a spill, the outer shell will flex and the inner shell will crumple often leaving no visible damage to the exterior. Hitting the damaged area a second time will result in zero head protection
Monday, June 8, 2009
MY INTERVIEW WITH JESSE JAMES
MY INTERVIEW WITH JESSE JAMES
by Rocky Marks
Jesse James may be known for his custom motorcycles, cars, television shows, a fast food restaurant, and his own clothing line in Wal-Mart, but few know him as a humble conversationalist. Fortunately, I got to know that side of Jesse first-hand.
Recently, I had a chance to talk with him for a one-on-one interview for my radio show called “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturday Mornings at 7:00 AM on 1250 WEAE-AM. As I prepared for the interview, I became seemingly more intimidated with each piece of information that I gathered on Jesse. I’ve seen his television shows and interviews before, but I was still nervous and not sure what to expect.
I don’t know why I was so nervous. I’ve worked in radio since 1994 and had the opportunity to interview dozens of musicians, comics, actors, and reality television stars. I even got to sing on stage with my favorite band of all time at Star Lake, Poison!
Nerves aside, the show must go on. The morning of the interview, I remember staring at the little red light on the telephone waiting for it to start blinking. Not only did that light designate the direct line into the studio but it also represented my chance to interview one of the most famous names in the sport of motorcycling.
After what seemed like eternity, the light started to blink. This was it, Jesse was on the phone. As I reached for the button, I could feel my face getting flushed from the neck up. My palms were warm and sticky with anticipation as I thought about how I would greet Jesse? How will I start the interview? What if I stutter?
I hit the button and said “Hello?” A voice came through my headphones and said “Hey Rocky, what’s up, brother?” All of the sudden the anxiety disappeared. He called me by my first name. He called me brother. It was at that moment that I realized, he’s a fellow motorcyclist and just one of the guys.
All of the questions that I spent hours preparing went out the window and a fifteen minute conversation between to people passionate about the sport of motorcycling started to flow. The first thing we started to talk about was West Coast Choppers. After all, it was his first venture that helped make him the household name that he is today.
He started the business in the basement of his mom’s house in 1992. Shortly after he moved his operations to a larger garage and the Discovery Channel picked him up for a documentary called Motorcycle Mania. The show was such a success that they created Motorcycle Mania II and III.
During these shows, the world got to see Jesse’s true talent as a metal fabricator, a skill that he picked up in a high school shop class. His love for high quality toys without having any money fuelled his passion for metal fabrication and welding.
It was his passion for creating the most obscure choppers and cars that lead to a new reality show called Monster Garage. In this series, he created everything from flying cars to lawn mower mustangs. Each show created a “monster” vehicle and during our interview, Jesse told me that he kept all of the “cool stuff” and the production company retained the remaining vehicles which eventually sold at an auction.
As out conversation continued, I learned that In addition to churning out 12-14 hand crafted motorcycles per year through West Coast Choppers and producing shows for the Discovery Channel, Jesse launched a new clothing line that caters to the blue collar worker.
Jessie told me that “it seems like manufactures are interested in making more clothes with less quality to cut costs and in the end it’s the working dude that gets screwed.” Jesse James Industrial Wear was created and is available in most Wal-Mart stores.
I was also amused to learn that Jesse has a retro-style hamburger restaurant not too far from his shop in Long Beach, California. It’s called Cisco Burger and runs entirely on solar energy. He uses biodegradable materials and even delivers in a Toyota Prius Hybrid. I asked him if that cramped his style and he replied, “Dude, it’s done WCC (West Coast Chopper) Style.”
This whole interview went very fast. He talked to me like he would a friend. And he loves to talk. Trying to keep him on subject got to be quite the task. Before we wrapped up our interview, I had to ask him about his new show on Spike TV called “Jesse James is a Dead Man.” It airs Sunday nights at 10:00 PM.
The premise of the show is more than showcasing Jesse doing death-defying stunts. Jesse explains it best by saying “The show follows me preparing for the stunt—which can be as hard as the stunt itself. It’s not some cheesy show where they spend most of the hour talking about the stunt and then do it in the final minutes of the show.”
At the end of the interview, he thanked me for taking time out of my day to talk to HIM. Wait, I thought I was the one who was taking time out of HIS day and here he was thanking me. From the opening seconds of the interview to our good-byes, Jessie James was simply a real, down-to-earth person on the other end of a phone line.
The interview can be heard in its entirety but going to www.hotmetalharley.com and clicking on the “On the Road with Rocky” link.
Rocky Marks is operations manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in West Mifflin and host of the radio show "On the Road With Rocky," which airs Saturdays at 7 a.m. on WEAE-AM (1250).
by Rocky Marks
Jesse James may be known for his custom motorcycles, cars, television shows, a fast food restaurant, and his own clothing line in Wal-Mart, but few know him as a humble conversationalist. Fortunately, I got to know that side of Jesse first-hand.
Recently, I had a chance to talk with him for a one-on-one interview for my radio show called “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturday Mornings at 7:00 AM on 1250 WEAE-AM. As I prepared for the interview, I became seemingly more intimidated with each piece of information that I gathered on Jesse. I’ve seen his television shows and interviews before, but I was still nervous and not sure what to expect.
I don’t know why I was so nervous. I’ve worked in radio since 1994 and had the opportunity to interview dozens of musicians, comics, actors, and reality television stars. I even got to sing on stage with my favorite band of all time at Star Lake, Poison!
Nerves aside, the show must go on. The morning of the interview, I remember staring at the little red light on the telephone waiting for it to start blinking. Not only did that light designate the direct line into the studio but it also represented my chance to interview one of the most famous names in the sport of motorcycling.
After what seemed like eternity, the light started to blink. This was it, Jesse was on the phone. As I reached for the button, I could feel my face getting flushed from the neck up. My palms were warm and sticky with anticipation as I thought about how I would greet Jesse? How will I start the interview? What if I stutter?
I hit the button and said “Hello?” A voice came through my headphones and said “Hey Rocky, what’s up, brother?” All of the sudden the anxiety disappeared. He called me by my first name. He called me brother. It was at that moment that I realized, he’s a fellow motorcyclist and just one of the guys.
All of the questions that I spent hours preparing went out the window and a fifteen minute conversation between to people passionate about the sport of motorcycling started to flow. The first thing we started to talk about was West Coast Choppers. After all, it was his first venture that helped make him the household name that he is today.
He started the business in the basement of his mom’s house in 1992. Shortly after he moved his operations to a larger garage and the Discovery Channel picked him up for a documentary called Motorcycle Mania. The show was such a success that they created Motorcycle Mania II and III.
During these shows, the world got to see Jesse’s true talent as a metal fabricator, a skill that he picked up in a high school shop class. His love for high quality toys without having any money fuelled his passion for metal fabrication and welding.
It was his passion for creating the most obscure choppers and cars that lead to a new reality show called Monster Garage. In this series, he created everything from flying cars to lawn mower mustangs. Each show created a “monster” vehicle and during our interview, Jesse told me that he kept all of the “cool stuff” and the production company retained the remaining vehicles which eventually sold at an auction.
As out conversation continued, I learned that In addition to churning out 12-14 hand crafted motorcycles per year through West Coast Choppers and producing shows for the Discovery Channel, Jesse launched a new clothing line that caters to the blue collar worker.
Jessie told me that “it seems like manufactures are interested in making more clothes with less quality to cut costs and in the end it’s the working dude that gets screwed.” Jesse James Industrial Wear was created and is available in most Wal-Mart stores.
I was also amused to learn that Jesse has a retro-style hamburger restaurant not too far from his shop in Long Beach, California. It’s called Cisco Burger and runs entirely on solar energy. He uses biodegradable materials and even delivers in a Toyota Prius Hybrid. I asked him if that cramped his style and he replied, “Dude, it’s done WCC (West Coast Chopper) Style.”
This whole interview went very fast. He talked to me like he would a friend. And he loves to talk. Trying to keep him on subject got to be quite the task. Before we wrapped up our interview, I had to ask him about his new show on Spike TV called “Jesse James is a Dead Man.” It airs Sunday nights at 10:00 PM.
The premise of the show is more than showcasing Jesse doing death-defying stunts. Jesse explains it best by saying “The show follows me preparing for the stunt—which can be as hard as the stunt itself. It’s not some cheesy show where they spend most of the hour talking about the stunt and then do it in the final minutes of the show.”
At the end of the interview, he thanked me for taking time out of my day to talk to HIM. Wait, I thought I was the one who was taking time out of HIS day and here he was thanking me. From the opening seconds of the interview to our good-byes, Jessie James was simply a real, down-to-earth person on the other end of a phone line.
The interview can be heard in its entirety but going to www.hotmetalharley.com and clicking on the “On the Road with Rocky” link.
Rocky Marks is operations manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in West Mifflin and host of the radio show "On the Road With Rocky," which airs Saturdays at 7 a.m. on WEAE-AM (1250).
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Active Scanning
ACTIVE SCANNING
by Rocky Marks
The one thing that I really enjoy about motorcycling is that it keeps my mind active. I can’t truly ‘zone out’ while riding down the road. When riding, you need to constantly provide your brain with input. Because your surroundings are always changing while you ride, you need to continuously update the information you transmit to your brain.
Senses like touching, feeling, smelling, and seeing are all considered brain-input devices. On a motorcycle, unless you are going through a freshly fertilized field on a back country road your primary input device is sight. You get the most information for safe riding with your eyes, which is why you really need to hone in on using your eyes so that you can actively scan your surroundings to give you the most data possible so that you can react appropriately.
It’s important to remember to not let your eyes fix on any one object for more than a fraction of a second. Scan all aspects of your surroundings, and don’t just focus on other traffic. Watch the condition of the road surface. Stay alert for potholes, loose gravel, or oil drippings in the road which can be very slippery. You should also watch for traffic entering the road.
Be careful driving out of driveways, riding in parking lots and going over rail road crossings. All of these obstacles present their own unique dangers to even the best motorcyclists.
As I sit here and write this article, I want to ask you to especially be aware of intersections. Just because your light is green, doesn’t mean that ‘all is clear.’ One of the first lessons that I learned from a friend of mine in high school had to deal with a green light.
I was very much a novice rider. I was just starting out on my dad’s Ironhead Sportie and it was so obvious that I didn’t know what I was doing. I would start out with my kickstand down, I would take my turns wide, and when I would up-shift, I would almost lose my grip on the handlebars.
I needed help learning out to ride, and I found it from a willing friend in high school. He and I went cruising around our little town often. One afternoon during one of my practice rides, we went through a green light. He looked both ways and I cruised on through without a care in the world head forward and feeling invincible. When we got to the next stop sign, my friend unloaded on me.
He made it a point to make sure that I knew you had to look both ways before going through ANY intersection, whether you have a green light or not. I nodded my head, but I never really thought much of the consequences until he was involved in an accident less than a year later. In this accident, someone wasn’t paying attention and he didn’t have time to react. He wasn’t fortunate enough to make it through alive. That particular lesson will forever stay with me.
Because others are careless, we must be vigilant. As motorcyclists, we must be the ones to use our sense of sight to make sure that we make it back to our garages at the end of our journeys. In addition to looking around intersections, keep a look out for animals and pedestrians. Often, they don’t have a set route, and can be very unpredictable when it comes to what path you think they will take. Make certain that you include your rearview mirror in scanning. When moving from right to left rotate your head so that you can check your blind spots.
When driving down the road, focus on your intended path. You should always be looking at 12 to 14 seconds ahead of your path. This will give you enough time to react in an emergency situation. Keep your eyes up because that will aim you vision up. Move your eyes around. By forcing your eyes to move and not fixed on one thing, you will widen your field of perception.
Above all, be alert. Do not zone out. If you feel tired, pull over and get a cup of coffee or an energy drink. When you let your guard down, bad things can happen. The more aware of your surroundings you are and the more you actively scan your route the safer your ride will be.
by Rocky Marks
The one thing that I really enjoy about motorcycling is that it keeps my mind active. I can’t truly ‘zone out’ while riding down the road. When riding, you need to constantly provide your brain with input. Because your surroundings are always changing while you ride, you need to continuously update the information you transmit to your brain.
Senses like touching, feeling, smelling, and seeing are all considered brain-input devices. On a motorcycle, unless you are going through a freshly fertilized field on a back country road your primary input device is sight. You get the most information for safe riding with your eyes, which is why you really need to hone in on using your eyes so that you can actively scan your surroundings to give you the most data possible so that you can react appropriately.
It’s important to remember to not let your eyes fix on any one object for more than a fraction of a second. Scan all aspects of your surroundings, and don’t just focus on other traffic. Watch the condition of the road surface. Stay alert for potholes, loose gravel, or oil drippings in the road which can be very slippery. You should also watch for traffic entering the road.
Be careful driving out of driveways, riding in parking lots and going over rail road crossings. All of these obstacles present their own unique dangers to even the best motorcyclists.
As I sit here and write this article, I want to ask you to especially be aware of intersections. Just because your light is green, doesn’t mean that ‘all is clear.’ One of the first lessons that I learned from a friend of mine in high school had to deal with a green light.
I was very much a novice rider. I was just starting out on my dad’s Ironhead Sportie and it was so obvious that I didn’t know what I was doing. I would start out with my kickstand down, I would take my turns wide, and when I would up-shift, I would almost lose my grip on the handlebars.
I needed help learning out to ride, and I found it from a willing friend in high school. He and I went cruising around our little town often. One afternoon during one of my practice rides, we went through a green light. He looked both ways and I cruised on through without a care in the world head forward and feeling invincible. When we got to the next stop sign, my friend unloaded on me.
He made it a point to make sure that I knew you had to look both ways before going through ANY intersection, whether you have a green light or not. I nodded my head, but I never really thought much of the consequences until he was involved in an accident less than a year later. In this accident, someone wasn’t paying attention and he didn’t have time to react. He wasn’t fortunate enough to make it through alive. That particular lesson will forever stay with me.
Because others are careless, we must be vigilant. As motorcyclists, we must be the ones to use our sense of sight to make sure that we make it back to our garages at the end of our journeys. In addition to looking around intersections, keep a look out for animals and pedestrians. Often, they don’t have a set route, and can be very unpredictable when it comes to what path you think they will take. Make certain that you include your rearview mirror in scanning. When moving from right to left rotate your head so that you can check your blind spots.
When driving down the road, focus on your intended path. You should always be looking at 12 to 14 seconds ahead of your path. This will give you enough time to react in an emergency situation. Keep your eyes up because that will aim you vision up. Move your eyes around. By forcing your eyes to move and not fixed on one thing, you will widen your field of perception.
Above all, be alert. Do not zone out. If you feel tired, pull over and get a cup of coffee or an energy drink. When you let your guard down, bad things can happen. The more aware of your surroundings you are and the more you actively scan your route the safer your ride will be.
Customize your bike
SO YOU WANT TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR BIKE…
by Rocky Marks
This is the time of the year where the service departments and parts and accessories departments get really busy. Not only does the changing weather bring warmer temperatures and sunshine, it ushers in a whole new season of bike night events, car cruises, and parades.
Many motorcyclists go to these events to see the latest trend in motorcycle accessories. It’s one thing to look at them in a parts catalog, it’s something else to see them on an actual motorcycle. Even though your motorcycle is a reflection of your personality many motorcyclists go with what’s “current.”
The chrome and gold “Live to Ride and Ride to Live” badges once proudly displayed on the derby covers, visors, and mirrors of Harley-Davidsons for the last ten years are making way for the latest trend in dressing up your ride.
The new “chrome” is black. Yep, black. Even though I haven’t given up chrome entirely, I’ve been using much less lately. In ’06 I had a dresser that had every piece imaginable. It was almost hard to tell what color the bike was underneath all of the chrome. Now that bikes that aren’t as flashy, are gaining in popularity, I kind of like where the accessories are going.
Don’t get me wrong, I will still accessorize my bike. That will never go away, but the manner in which I dress up my bike has changed. When thinking about what accessories I want, I try to ‘begin with the end in mind.’ (That’s a term from Dr. Stephen Covey in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”) It makes sense.
As I take a look at my 2009 Ultra, I ask myself the following questions: Do I want to improve a functional aspect of the bike? Do I want to improve performance or do I want to change my bike’s appearance? Those are the three main modifications that one can make to their motorcycle.
I’m actually pretty satisfied with the stock Harley-Davidson’s performance so I can rule out any engine modifications at this time. I just came off of a bike that had thousands of dollars in chrome, so I think that I’m going to lay low on this one. The one area where I think I’ll make a few improvements is in functionality.
In my opinion, the stock Harley-Davidson touring models come with windshields that are just a few inches too high. I like to look over the windshield rather than through it. So I’ll get a smaller windshield. I like back support, so I will add a rider’s back rest. I also need a place to stretch my feet for those long highway rides, so I’ll put on a set of highway bars, and the only other thing I’d add is a luggage rack to go on the Tour Pac. (It’s great to see the looks of people as you unload your entire shopping cart into your bike at the grocery store.)
I think that’s the best way to go about accessorizing your bike. Think to yourself, what am I going to be using the bike for? Is it for showin’ or goin’? Based on that, you can pretty much narrow down your parts and accessories wish list.
I would definitely start out small. Pick one aspect of your bike that you’d like to improve and make incremental changes when possible. This will help you avoid making serious mistakes that will be difficult (and expensive) to correct.
by Rocky Marks
This is the time of the year where the service departments and parts and accessories departments get really busy. Not only does the changing weather bring warmer temperatures and sunshine, it ushers in a whole new season of bike night events, car cruises, and parades.
Many motorcyclists go to these events to see the latest trend in motorcycle accessories. It’s one thing to look at them in a parts catalog, it’s something else to see them on an actual motorcycle. Even though your motorcycle is a reflection of your personality many motorcyclists go with what’s “current.”
The chrome and gold “Live to Ride and Ride to Live” badges once proudly displayed on the derby covers, visors, and mirrors of Harley-Davidsons for the last ten years are making way for the latest trend in dressing up your ride.
The new “chrome” is black. Yep, black. Even though I haven’t given up chrome entirely, I’ve been using much less lately. In ’06 I had a dresser that had every piece imaginable. It was almost hard to tell what color the bike was underneath all of the chrome. Now that bikes that aren’t as flashy, are gaining in popularity, I kind of like where the accessories are going.
Don’t get me wrong, I will still accessorize my bike. That will never go away, but the manner in which I dress up my bike has changed. When thinking about what accessories I want, I try to ‘begin with the end in mind.’ (That’s a term from Dr. Stephen Covey in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”) It makes sense.
As I take a look at my 2009 Ultra, I ask myself the following questions: Do I want to improve a functional aspect of the bike? Do I want to improve performance or do I want to change my bike’s appearance? Those are the three main modifications that one can make to their motorcycle.
I’m actually pretty satisfied with the stock Harley-Davidson’s performance so I can rule out any engine modifications at this time. I just came off of a bike that had thousands of dollars in chrome, so I think that I’m going to lay low on this one. The one area where I think I’ll make a few improvements is in functionality.
In my opinion, the stock Harley-Davidson touring models come with windshields that are just a few inches too high. I like to look over the windshield rather than through it. So I’ll get a smaller windshield. I like back support, so I will add a rider’s back rest. I also need a place to stretch my feet for those long highway rides, so I’ll put on a set of highway bars, and the only other thing I’d add is a luggage rack to go on the Tour Pac. (It’s great to see the looks of people as you unload your entire shopping cart into your bike at the grocery store.)
I think that’s the best way to go about accessorizing your bike. Think to yourself, what am I going to be using the bike for? Is it for showin’ or goin’? Based on that, you can pretty much narrow down your parts and accessories wish list.
I would definitely start out small. Pick one aspect of your bike that you’d like to improve and make incremental changes when possible. This will help you avoid making serious mistakes that will be difficult (and expensive) to correct.
Educate your Passenger
EDUCATE YOUR PASSENGER
by Rocky Marks
Many people love to get on their motorcycles, head off into the sunset and just ride& alone. It's great therapy for clearing one's mind. Even though I enjoy taking the long way home by myself to blow off steam from work before I walk in the door to see my wife and kids, I prefer to ride with a passenger.
When my wife is available to ride, we are on the road and loving every minute of it. When she can't ride, then one of the Motor Clothes associates will ride with me. (Tough job, but someone has to do it.) I'm not sure why my preference is to ride with a passenger, but it works for me and that's what's important.
Although it's great to have someone along for the ride, adding a passenger brings with it some challenges. The two main challenges are mechanical and physical. The mechanical challenges deal with the way the bike handles with the added weight and the physical challenges are the way in which you, the rider need to compensate for having someone on the back seat.
With a passenger, the weight distribution on the bike is changed. The weight is not only placed very high up on the bike but it is placed at the back of the bike too. This changes the handling dynamics. The bike will turn differently with a passenger on board. You may not be able to maneuver around parking lots and tight spaces as well as you would by yourself.
You most certainly will need more distance to stop. Don't follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Remember the two-second rule? You will have to increase it to the three-second rule when riding with a passenger.
The feel of the bike will be different as well. You can compensate by adjusting your suspension as most bikes have a preload adjustment on the rear shocks. You can adjust the shocks to a firmer setting for carrying a passenger.
You will also want to check the tire pressure. Remember, you are adding 120-160 pounds of extra weight to a 700 pound vehicle. That's a 23% increase. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, because after all, two square inches of rubber are the only thing that separates you and your passenger from the asphalt below.
It may not be a bad idea to go over some of the rules of the road with your passenger. Some of the things that may seem like no-brainers to you may not be as obvious to your passenger. Here is a brief list of things to mention to your passenger:
" They shouldn't get on the bike until you've taken off of the kick stand and are in a secure upright position.
" The passenger should wear the same protective clothing as yourself. Although I encourage the use of helmets, the choice is yours. If you choose not to wear a helmet, but your passenger does, be prepared for a head-but during a sudden stop or even shifting through the gears.
" Holding onto your waist is the best place for your passenger's hands. Even though some bikes have grab rails or back rests to hold on to, you are the best thing your passenger can hold on to. This helps especially when it comes to fighting gravity in the turns.
" The passenger should keep their feet away from all hot parts, especially exhaust pipes and keep them on the foot rests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.
Remember, they may not be as seasoned as you when it comes to riding a motorcycle and this may seem very obvious to you, but it's really important they know what to expect from their riding partner.
Which brings me to another point: Don't try to impress your passenger with your riding ability. I know it's hard not to show off, but you don't want to scare your passenger away. You want them to ride with you again.
If you missed any of this week's show, you can download the podcast on 1250 ESPN or go to www.hotmetalharley.com to listen to an archived on-demand show with On The Road with Rocky.
by Rocky Marks
Many people love to get on their motorcycles, head off into the sunset and just ride& alone. It's great therapy for clearing one's mind. Even though I enjoy taking the long way home by myself to blow off steam from work before I walk in the door to see my wife and kids, I prefer to ride with a passenger.
When my wife is available to ride, we are on the road and loving every minute of it. When she can't ride, then one of the Motor Clothes associates will ride with me. (Tough job, but someone has to do it.) I'm not sure why my preference is to ride with a passenger, but it works for me and that's what's important.
Although it's great to have someone along for the ride, adding a passenger brings with it some challenges. The two main challenges are mechanical and physical. The mechanical challenges deal with the way the bike handles with the added weight and the physical challenges are the way in which you, the rider need to compensate for having someone on the back seat.
With a passenger, the weight distribution on the bike is changed. The weight is not only placed very high up on the bike but it is placed at the back of the bike too. This changes the handling dynamics. The bike will turn differently with a passenger on board. You may not be able to maneuver around parking lots and tight spaces as well as you would by yourself.
You most certainly will need more distance to stop. Don't follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Remember the two-second rule? You will have to increase it to the three-second rule when riding with a passenger.
The feel of the bike will be different as well. You can compensate by adjusting your suspension as most bikes have a preload adjustment on the rear shocks. You can adjust the shocks to a firmer setting for carrying a passenger.
You will also want to check the tire pressure. Remember, you are adding 120-160 pounds of extra weight to a 700 pound vehicle. That's a 23% increase. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, because after all, two square inches of rubber are the only thing that separates you and your passenger from the asphalt below.
It may not be a bad idea to go over some of the rules of the road with your passenger. Some of the things that may seem like no-brainers to you may not be as obvious to your passenger. Here is a brief list of things to mention to your passenger:
" They shouldn't get on the bike until you've taken off of the kick stand and are in a secure upright position.
" The passenger should wear the same protective clothing as yourself. Although I encourage the use of helmets, the choice is yours. If you choose not to wear a helmet, but your passenger does, be prepared for a head-but during a sudden stop or even shifting through the gears.
" Holding onto your waist is the best place for your passenger's hands. Even though some bikes have grab rails or back rests to hold on to, you are the best thing your passenger can hold on to. This helps especially when it comes to fighting gravity in the turns.
" The passenger should keep their feet away from all hot parts, especially exhaust pipes and keep them on the foot rests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.
Remember, they may not be as seasoned as you when it comes to riding a motorcycle and this may seem very obvious to you, but it's really important they know what to expect from their riding partner.
Which brings me to another point: Don't try to impress your passenger with your riding ability. I know it's hard not to show off, but you don't want to scare your passenger away. You want them to ride with you again.
If you missed any of this week's show, you can download the podcast on 1250 ESPN or go to www.hotmetalharley.com to listen to an archived on-demand show with On The Road with Rocky.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Day Trips--SPOTLIGHT JOHNSTOWN, PA
Day Trips—Spotlight Johnstown, PA
by Rocky Marks
Ahhh, spring is finally here! I can see it in the trees, on the lawns, and on the faces of the guests that come into our shop. They are beaming with excitement about what is awaiting them while they stock up on do-it-yourself bolt-ons and cleaning supplies before taking to the roads.
Curiously I’ll ask “Where ‘ya headed?” to start up a conversation. The answers are as different as the riders themselves. I love hearing about the cross-country road trips and the “destination” locations, but I really love talking about local day-trip rides.
At this point in my life day trips are a quick-fix for getting a piece of the road. I don’t get a lot of time to ride with a newborn at home, so I squeeze in what I can when I can.
Fortunately, Western Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful riding in the country. If you travel a few hours in any direction, you’ll find some relaxing winding roads, and discover the little towns of yesterday that made our region what it is today.
One of my favorite day trips is a ride east along Route 22 all the way out to 56 in Johnstown, which is very rich in history. For whatever reason, I wasn’t much of a history buff in high school or college. Now, as I get older, I’ve grown to really appreciate it.
I like to think of Johnstown as a mini-Pittsburgh. It is a tried and true steel mill and coal mining town that helped bring Pennsylvania into the industrial age and has survived some of the most amazing floods of the 20th century.
Johnstown has many museums, look-out points, quaint restaurants, and they own the bragging rights to the World’s steepest inclined plane with enough room to carry a full-sized automobile (or several motorcycles) up 896 feet of track to the top of the city at a 35 degree angle.
Johnstown also plays host to Pennsylvania’s largest motorcycle rally, Thunder in the Valley. This year, the event will take place June 25th-28th. According to their website: www.visitjohnstownpa.com/thunderinthevalley, the first rally took place in 1998. This event happened thanks to a twenty-one person committee that put the rally on with only six months to prepare. With over 5,000 bikers in attendance, the rally was deemed a success.
Ten years later, the rally is very much alive with 125 vendors and over 200,000 in attendance. It has been compared to a smaller version of Sturgis, Daytona or Laconia style atmosphere.
Johnstown also hosts Folk-Fest which is a free music event that takes place every Labor Day Weekend. Even though the festival showcases various musical acts, my favorite thing to do is to sample as much ethnic food as I can in a 3 day weekend. It’s hard to walk more than a block without being tempted by several food vendors.
This is a ride that I highly recommend. Whether you’re heading to Johnstown for an event, a rally, or something new to explore, it’s definitely worth a Saturday ride and it’s only just a few short hours from Pittsburgh.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on 1250 ESPN
by Rocky Marks
Ahhh, spring is finally here! I can see it in the trees, on the lawns, and on the faces of the guests that come into our shop. They are beaming with excitement about what is awaiting them while they stock up on do-it-yourself bolt-ons and cleaning supplies before taking to the roads.
Curiously I’ll ask “Where ‘ya headed?” to start up a conversation. The answers are as different as the riders themselves. I love hearing about the cross-country road trips and the “destination” locations, but I really love talking about local day-trip rides.
At this point in my life day trips are a quick-fix for getting a piece of the road. I don’t get a lot of time to ride with a newborn at home, so I squeeze in what I can when I can.
Fortunately, Western Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful riding in the country. If you travel a few hours in any direction, you’ll find some relaxing winding roads, and discover the little towns of yesterday that made our region what it is today.
One of my favorite day trips is a ride east along Route 22 all the way out to 56 in Johnstown, which is very rich in history. For whatever reason, I wasn’t much of a history buff in high school or college. Now, as I get older, I’ve grown to really appreciate it.
I like to think of Johnstown as a mini-Pittsburgh. It is a tried and true steel mill and coal mining town that helped bring Pennsylvania into the industrial age and has survived some of the most amazing floods of the 20th century.
Johnstown has many museums, look-out points, quaint restaurants, and they own the bragging rights to the World’s steepest inclined plane with enough room to carry a full-sized automobile (or several motorcycles) up 896 feet of track to the top of the city at a 35 degree angle.
Johnstown also plays host to Pennsylvania’s largest motorcycle rally, Thunder in the Valley. This year, the event will take place June 25th-28th. According to their website: www.visitjohnstownpa.com/thunderinthevalley, the first rally took place in 1998. This event happened thanks to a twenty-one person committee that put the rally on with only six months to prepare. With over 5,000 bikers in attendance, the rally was deemed a success.
Ten years later, the rally is very much alive with 125 vendors and over 200,000 in attendance. It has been compared to a smaller version of Sturgis, Daytona or Laconia style atmosphere.
Johnstown also hosts Folk-Fest which is a free music event that takes place every Labor Day Weekend. Even though the festival showcases various musical acts, my favorite thing to do is to sample as much ethnic food as I can in a 3 day weekend. It’s hard to walk more than a block without being tempted by several food vendors.
This is a ride that I highly recommend. Whether you’re heading to Johnstown for an event, a rally, or something new to explore, it’s definitely worth a Saturday ride and it’s only just a few short hours from Pittsburgh.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on 1250 ESPN
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ESPN ARTICLE Before You Purchase Your Motorcycle, Make sure the dealership fits!
Before You Purchase Your Motorcycle, Make sure the Dealership Fits.
by Rocky Marks
Riding season is finally here and you want to purchase a motorcycle… That's great, but where do you start? There are so many manufacturers in the market place today and for each manufacturer there are several dealerships in the Pittsburgh Area that carry that specific brand of motorcycle. Shopping for a dealership can be almost as overwhelming as shopping for the motorcycle itself. Just like the motorcycle, it's important that the dealership you plan to do business with fits you as well as your helmet.
One of the first things you're going to want to do is find a friendly dealership that has a nice selection of motorcycles along with a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Though it may sound like a cliché and every dealer may claim to provide that, there are some dealerships that deliver, which is why it's really important that you do your research. Ask friends who ride where they've purchased before. Chances are they will be able to get you pointed in the right direction. Walk into dealerships and see how you're received. Observe the interaction of the sales people and other associates with current customers. Sit on the bikes and ask about their demo ride policy. Believe it or not there are still many dealerships that won't allow you to sit on bikes, let alone take a test ride on them. Personally, I think that is poor customer service. If you have a motorcycle license, and you have the proper gear, ask for a demo ride. How will you know if you like the way a bike feels and rides without taking a test ride on it first?
In addition to seeking referrals, look at dealership websites. That website is a 24 hour representation of that dealership. More involved dealers have a clean, modern frequently-updated website that contains their current inventory of both new and pre-owned motorcycles. You should be able to easily find information about each specific model, pictures of the models, as well as customer pictures and testimonials that tell a story of their buying experience of that dealership.
Events are very important when selecting a dealership. Does that dealership have events for their customers to enhance their riding experience and meet new people or does that dealership exist for the sole purpose of selling motorcycles. The sale shouldn't end when you ride off of the lot with your bike and neither should the experience. I want to know that I'm important to that dealership. I think to myself… Do I expect a free hot dog every time I visit? Not at all. Do I want to break the ice and meet other riders just like me? Of course I do. And this is why it's important to look at the dealership's events calendar. Larger and upcoming events can typically be found on the front page.
A really effective new way to research is to use a social networking site like MySpace, facebook and Twitter. I've found so much information out on businesses, friends, and potential new hires thanks to these sites. If the dealership belongs and promotes their social networking site, perfect! That's just another avenue to get an independent referral. Send a message to some of the people you find on the dealership's networking site. More often than not they'll be able to give you an honest opinion of the dealership because they are involved with the dealership and the dealership is involved with them by having such a site in the first place.
Southwestern Pennsylvania is fortunate to have so many great motorcycle dealerships. Pennsylvania has the fourth largest number of registered motorcycles behind Florida, California, and Texas. We really love our motorcycles. That's why it's important to make sure that the dealership fits before you purchase your motorcycle.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: "On the Road with Rocky" which airs Saturdays at 7AM on 1250 ESPN
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