GREAT Ride to see Kid Rock!

by Rocky Marks

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson had kicked off the summer in Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary fashion with the 3rd Annual ride to see Toby Keith.  Since Kid Rock was part of Harley’s celebration in Milwaukee, what better way to wrap up the summer with one last ride out to First Niagra Pavilion to see the self-proclaimed “American Badass” himself.

Over 500 tickets were sold at the dealership in just a few short weeks and over 400 people showed up for the pre-tailgate party at Hot Metal on Saturday, September 7th!  The party included music, free food and refreshments, and a chance to go back stage at the venue.

During the party Hot Metal Owner, Toby O’Brien and General Manager, Lori Flanigan dished out the food while Rocky Marks played music to a crowd overflowing the parking lot with motorcycles, excitement, and anticipation of the hour-long journey to Burgettstown. 

At 4:30 the Allegheny Sheriff’s Department started leading the bikes out of Hot Metal’s parking lot bringing with them a trail of over 250 motorcycles!  The bikes and their passengers wound their way through the South Hills of Pittsburgh at leisurely, yet non-stop pace.  

Sirens wailed and lights flashed while cars halted as the riders were escorted through busy intersections.  The line of motorcycles gliding down the road two-by-two stretched for an impressive mile during the most of the ride according to the police.

Once out of Allegheny County, the Washington County Sheriff swept in front of the pack of motorcycles aided by Cecil, Smith, and Hanover Townships.  Cecil’s Volunteer Fire Department even placed a truck on the side of the road with it’s ladder stretched out over top the riders as a sign of respect and pride that comes with the gathering of so many free-spirited individuals who share a common love for riding.

The ride lasted about an hour and ended when the parade of motorcycles were escorted into the VIP parking lots.  The smiles, high fives, and general feeling of excitement was apparent as the riders dismounted their bikes and headed for the gates.  They were ready for the show.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson is already working with Live Nation and the First Niagra Pavilion on dates for next year’s rides.  You can go to hotmetalharley.com or faceboook.com/hotmetalharley to get a complete list of events and details as they become available.

Buying a Used Motorcycle? What You Need to Know

Written by Attorney Edgar Snyder of Edgar Snyder & Associates

Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows that the expenses behind riding don’t stop after you buy a bike. Maintenance, insurance, and registration fees really add up, so for many, buying a used motorcycle can provide all the enjoyment that riding has to offer with a lower price tag. However, there’s a lot to consider when you’re buying a used bike, so here are some basic guidelines to help you make a responsible decision.

Before You Buy

o   First, know what type of bike you’re interested in buying—sport bike, cruiser, etc. If you’re new to riding, don’t buy a bike that’s too advanced, and don’t buy a beginner’s bike if you plan to use it for sporting purposes.

o   Set a realistic budget, and take into consideration potential repairs, maintenance, tax, registration fees, and insurance. Remember that the cheapest bike isn’t always the best deal, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. While you might not see anything wrong with the physical bike, there’s always a reason why it’s cheap—forged title papers, fees that come with expired registration, etc.

o   Consider bikes and sellers in your area first. If you buy locally, you’re more likely to know the reputation of the seller, and it’ll be easier to inspect and test ride a bike before you commit to it.

Inspection and Test Ride

o   If you’re going to inspect and test ride a bike, be prepared. Have a valid motorcycle endorsement and current motorcycle insurance policy—you don’t want to get stuck if you run into any problems. If this is your first bike, bring an experienced friend who can help you make a good decision.

o   Review the bike’s maintenance and repair records. A bike may run fine, but if it was in an accident, a faulty part may give you trouble down the road.

o   Pay close attention to the bike’s title. Check the list of previous owners and transfers, and make sure the current owner’s license matches the name on the title. Confirm that the vehicle year, model, and VIN number on the title match the motorcycle. If something on the title doesn’t seem right, walk away.

o   Ask that the seller doesn’t warm up the bike before you arrive. Starting a bike cold will clue you in to any issues that may be masked by a warmed bike, and it’ll also allow you to safely inspect parts of the bike that become too hot to handle.

o   If you’re considering a custom bike, use extra caution. Some custom features can affect drivability and safety.

o   Consult a professional to inspect the motorcycle. If the seller is honest and legitimate, they will allow a third-party professional to take a look at it.

After You Buy

o   Always obtain a bill of sale so that the chain of ownership remains clear.

o   Of course, remember to insure your motorcycle. If you can, include it under the same insurance policy as other vehicles and request “stacking,” which allows you to multiply the number of vehicles on your policy by the per person and per occurrence coverage on each vehicle. Thanks to stacking, these higher totals then become your new entitled coverage amounts. Also keep in mind that saving a few dollars on your premium now won’t help you in the case of an accident. I recommend having Bodily Injury Liability Coverage ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence), which pays for any claims against you if you’re legally responsible for the accident, and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence), which protects you if the responsible driver cannot fully compensate you for your losses. In the terms of protecting your health and finances down the road, these are both relatively inexpensive.

o   If you buy the bike in your home state, you’ll need to register it. It’s easy enough—you complete the registration process and title transfer process with your local DMV.

o   If you buy the bike in another state, you’ll need to obtain a temporary registration from the state you’re buying in as well as registration from your home state in order to ride it home. Otherwise, you’ll need to find another way of transporting the bike, like towing it.

Remember, never hesitate to consult a motorcycle professional at any point—it could protect your time, money, and, most importantly, safety later on.

For more information, visit our Motorcycle Safety Resource Center.

Attorney Edgar Snyder has over 45 years of experience helping injury victims. He founded Edgar Snyder & Associates, a Pennsylvania law firm that has represented hundreds of motorcyclists. Learn more at EdgarSnyder.com.

NOT EVEN RAIN CAN STOP HOT METAL'S EVENTS!

by Rocky Marks

It was a dark and stormy night…. Well, maybe it wasn’t night, but it sure was dark and stormy start for the Annual Roll for a Cause Motorcycle Run to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.  This year the run was hosted by Parkhurst Dining, a division of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.

This is one of South Western Pennsylvania’s most popular runs do the longevity of the ride and the partners including Hot Metal Harley-Davidson as well as Steel City Harley-Davidson.

On August 3^rd, the ride kicked off at 10:30AM after a 9:00AM Registration at Steel City.  The route was mainly composed of back-road country riding through the South Hills of Pittsburgh, eventually making its way to Hot Metal Harley-Davidson for the after-party ride.

Typically the ride boasts 150 to 200 riders, but because of the rain, that number was cut to 50 riders.  Additional would-be riders opted for their vehicles and showed up for the after-party picnic when the clouds parted and the sun started to dry the riders out.

The picnic included beer, food, entertainment, and of course Eatn’ Park Smiley Cookies.  A band and DJ were on-site to entertain the crowd with music, and several chefs were on-site serving up one of the most elaborate motorcycle run buffets courtesy of Parkhurst Dining.

The rain seemed to be the theme for many of our Activities at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson.  On Saturday, July 20^th, Hot Metal Harley-Davidson held our 2^nd Annual Custom Bike Show in the rain.  It rained last year for this event as well.  Nevertheless, a good time was had by everyone in attendance.

There were over 50 bikes on-site to look at and judge.  The categories included Sportster, Dyna, Softail, Softail Modified, Classic, Non Harley, Touring, Touring Modified, Best Paint, and Best of Show.  AJ Hadad, our Sales Manager who organized our show wanted to split the Softail and Touring categories between stock and modified “so that the casual rider without major frame and wheel alterations could compete and not feel like they had to spend $80,000 on their motorcycles.”

Despite the rainy start, once again, the clouds gave way to partly-cloudy skies with just enough time to hand out the awards and send almost everyone home with a smile on their face and a trophy on the mantle.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s next major event is on Saturday, September 21^st.  It’s our New Model Open House where we will be showing off and taking demo rides on the new 2014 motorcycles, playing music, and serving up a free buffet for anyone who is in attendance.  

Going back to remember the Toby Keith Ride!

Harley-Davidson and country music were both born in the United States.  Synonymous with hard work, craftsmanship and loyalty, fans of both came together at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson for a special benefit:  the dealership's  fifth annual ride to see headliner Toby Keith perform at the First Niagara Pavilion.   The tickets for this specific concert and Hot Metal's ride and party were available only at the dealership, several weeks prior to the event.  

Choice pavilion seat tickets in the “Hell Raiser Section” were sold for $35 each and $11 of each ticket price went to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  Over 280 Hot Metal H-D VIP ticket packages were sold.

This was by far the largest turnout to date. On the day of the concert,  those 280-plus country music fans and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over southwestern Pennsylvania rolled in for the 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. tailgate party at Hot Metal H-D, where they enjoyed country music, prizes, food and refreshments, and a chance to win a backstage tour of First Niagara Pavilion.

Keith's 'Hammer Down Tour' with special guest Kip Moore began at  7 p.m. so once the tailgate party wound down at Hot Metal’s parking lot, all 280-plus Toby Keith fans mounted their bikes and enjoyed a leisurely hour-long police escorted ride over the winding back roads of the South Hills to the venue. The best part of the ride? Riders were able to keep moving, without any stops at intersections or for traffic because of the Allegheny County Police Department's and several other municipalities' assistance along the route. That procession of motorcycles, thanks to the accompanying police, was an awesome sight to behold.

When it came time to reach the front gate of First Niagara's parking lot, our riders were waived right in and ushered to a VIP parking area, designated specifically for motorcycles, while other concert-goers had to wait their turn at the gate. 

The three major television stations in Pittsburgh came out to cover the event at Hot Metal because of the size of the ride and the charity it supports.  For me, the day was a blur, but in the end, the event was all about the Ronald McDonald children, and the money we motorcyclists raised to help their families.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson is holding another police-escorted ride to the First Niagara Pavilion and tailgate party at the dealership for the Kid Rock, ZZ Top, and Uncle Kracker show on Saturday, September 7th.  The tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson Monday through Sunday.  More information can be found atwww.hotmetalharley.com.

Be Prepared: Know What to Do in a Motorcycle Accident

Written by Attorney Edgar Snyder, Edgar Snyder & Associates

No matter how safe you ride, it’s true that motorcyclists are more vulnerable than other vehicle drivers on the road. You have to pay attention to not only controlling your own bike, but you also have to watch out for dangerous riding conditions, distracted drivers, and drivers who just don’t know how to share the road.

Even if you’ve ridden for years, you can still be in a motorcycle accident. Whether a driver, road hazard, or another situation is to blame, an accident always catches you off guard. You’ll probably be shocked and overwhelmed right after the accident, so it’s important to be prepared and to know what to do in case you’re ever involved in a collision.

Here’s what to do after a motorcycle accident:

1) Call 9-1-1 and get immediate medical attention for all those involved with the accident. Even if you feel fine, you may have an injury and not even know it.

2) File an accident report with the police, even if the accident wasn’t serious. Use basic facts to tell them exactly what happened, but don’t blame anyone.

3) Preserving evidence is crucial to a potential case. If you’re able, take photographs and video of the accident scene (cell phones come in handy for this). Be sure to get photos of any damage to your bike, any resulting injuries, and the area around the accident. The road you were riding on is important—were there any potholes, pooling water, malfunctioning or confusing traffic signs and signals, or adverse weather conditions? If you’re injured, try to get a friend or family member to take photos for you. Evidence disappears quickly, and photos of exactly how the accident occurred could hold the key to proving your case.

4) Exchange contact information from everyone at the accident scene, including any witnesses. Be sure to record the following information:
• Make, model, year, license plate number, and VIN of any other vehicles involved
• Name, address, birth date, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information from any other drivers involved (If the driver isn’t the owner of the vehicle, try to get the owner’s information as well.)
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of any involved passengers
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses

5) Remember to write everything down, detailing exactly how the accident happened, the weather and road conditions, what you saw, etc. Don’t rely on your memory: if you remember something happening one way, you don’t want to second guess yourself later on. Writing information down immediately will prevent doubt and accidentally falsifying information.

6) Call your insurance company and notify them that you were in an accident. Pass along all the contact information you obtained, but never agree to giving a recorded statement, whether it’s for your insurance company or someone else’s. Your words could be taken out of context and hurt your case.

7) Don’t agree to any insurance company settlements or sign any papers until you’ve spoken to an experienced attorney. Insurance companies often try to give you a cheap settlement right away (even while you’re still in the hospital and potentially unable to make reasonable decisions due to injuries, medications, etc.). It sounds appealing to have a quick settlement, but by doing this, insurance companies give you less than you deserve and keep the money in their pocket. Once you’ve cashed that check, you’ve signed away your rights to any future compensation.

Motorcycle accidents do happen, and it’s not always the rider’s fault (unfortunately, riders often get blamed when it’s not their fault!). Over a one-year period in Pennsylvania alone, there were 3,746 motorcycle accidents that resulted from many different causes. By continuing to ride safely and defensively, you can help protect yourself from accidents.  But if you ever happen to be in an accident, being prepared can help you protect your legal rights.

Attorney Edgar Snyder has over 45 years of experience helping injury victims. He founded Edgar Snyder & Associates, a Pennsylvania law firm that has represented hundreds of motorcyclists and is active in the motorcycle community. Learn more at EdgarSnyder.com.

Ladies Garage Party 2013 at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson!

by Rocky Marks

Another successful Ladies Garage Party as Home and Gone at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in West Mifflin and we would like to thank the 30-plus women in attendance.  The Garage Party “concept” was created by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company to allow women to feel more welcome in the predominantly male-skewed Harley-Davidson Dealerships.

I had the chance to ask Dani Jurnak, an experienced female motorcyclist about whether having a “ladies only event” was belittling or empowering?  She quickly responded without hesitation “Empowering!  It’s a great way to bond with new & future female motorcyclists, and ask questions that may be obvious to some but not to those who are new to the passion of riding.”

The event was held at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson on Tuesday, May 21st at 7PM and was designed to go over everything from headlights to tailpipes to teach the the basics, and to find the gear and motorcycles that fits the style of the rider.

There were 5 stations set up throughout the dealership. The first station was the “pick-up the fallen motorcycle station.”  Carrie from service had almost everyone in attendance gave it a shot, and you can see videos on our YouTube channel to see how well the ladies did.  Needless to say Carrie was very sore the next day from setting the bike down after it was picked up almost 30 times.

Tim and AJ took over in Station 2 with the introduction to the different families and models of bikes.  Each participant had a chance to sit on a few Harley-Davidsons and ask plenty of questions that they could have answered there or take over to Station 3 in Parts to find out about customization from Brett and Anthony.  

In the parts station, a FatBoy was used to try on different seats and handle bars to demonstrate how easy it is to customize a bike to the rider’s comfort needs and wants.  With the customization of the basics, the guys did show off some custom styling that is available for different models.

Speaking of style, David and Raeann in MotorClothes demonstrated a balance between function and fashion in Station 4.  With the selection of merchandise, it was difficult to speak about each piece of safety gear available in the allotted time, so some catalogs were sent home with the ladies when it was time to switch stations.

Finally in Station 5, the women got to enjoy a seat on a bike with a movie stage-sized fan blowing their hair into the breeze.  Everyone got a chance to take a picture home with them along with a goodie bag from Hot Metal Harley-Davidson.

This is a very important event that we look forward to and host every year.  It’s always great to introduce the future riders to the dealership behind closed doors without them having to feel worried or embarrassed about the smallest of questions.  Each question is valid and was addressed during the Ladies Garage Party with Hot Metal Harley-Davidson.

Tips for Group Riding... Charity Runs Are Around The Corner!

Often times we see large groups of motorcycles riding together with 15, 20 or 30 bikes. These large groups of motorcycles are generally spread out over one, two or even three lanes of traffic. The motorcycle riders in the rear of these big groups find themselves in a precarious position of having to run red lights to keep up with the group, thus endangering themselves and others on the road. There is a safer way to ride even if there are a large number of riders.

You can divide a large group of riders into several smaller groups of motorcycles. Since the entire large group of riders are all headed to the same place, one smaller group arriving moments ahead of a second, third or fourth small group for the sake of safety is an easy decision to make. If you have ten motorcycles, divide into two groups of five riders, eight motorcycles into two groups of four, etc... Before you ride make sure everyone is aware of the destination and the route, then ride your bikes in a staggered formation.

Ensure the lead rider of each small group is experienced and conservative. The lead rider should keep the group in the center lane when possible and avoid constant lane changes. Additionally, the lead motorcycle rider should be aware of the traffic and do their best not to have the group hinder others. It is perfectly acceptable if you have to move over to the right to allow motorists to pass. Hand signals are always a good idea, but best used at a minimum and discussed before the ride.

The riders in each small group should do their best to stay together and allow enough space between the motorcycles for a safe stop, but not so much that an automobile can feel they have enough room to pull out from a side street between the group. The rider in the rear should keep the other riders from falling back too far.

Discuss the ride before leaving so all of the riders in the group know where they should be in the formation. It never hurts to have a conversation about motorcycle safety tips beforehand, ask other riders about their pre-ride checks of their motorcycle and discuss any hand signals you may use during the ride. New motorcycle riders should avoid group riding until they become familiar with their bike and different situations in traffic. Most importantly, give the road your full attention and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

HOT METAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOMERS WIN BIG AT THE WORLD OF WHEELS!

The 52nd Annual World of Wheels was held Jan 25 - Jan 22 at the David L. Lawrence convention center.  The World of Wheels is known for custom hot-rods, tricked out trucks, and the baddest motorcycles the city has ever seen.  Put that horsepower together with some “B-List” celebrities, and you have gear-head heaven!

It’s no secret that Hot Metal Harley-Davidson customizes some of the best motorcycles around. That thought was turned into fact and backed up by several customers who brought their bikes customized by Hot Metal down to the show.  Each customer bike placed in the bike show.

Denny Eggerton’s 2012 Black Denim Road Glide with stretched tanks and bags snagged 3rd Place in the Road Touring Bike Class.  Dani Jurnak’s slammed and bobbed Softail Slim “Stella” won 3rd Place in the North American Class with her blacked out attitude.

Ed Nassan kicked things up a notch with his 2008 Street Glide as he won 2nd Place in the Touring Class.  This bike boasts a 21” front wheel, a ghost skull custom paint job and three pipes that run under and through each of the functional stretched saddle bags.

AJ Hadad scored 1st Place in the Sport Touring Class with his 2010 Street Glide.  The bike boasts an air bag lowering system, a 21” front wheel, stretched bags and a custom paint job from Cut Throat Airbrushing in Finleyville.

Steve Jurnak not only rode off with the 1st Place nod in his Rad Touring Class, but he also was awarded the Outstanding Bike of the Show with his 2012 Road Glide “Rogue.”  The “best of the best” was built and designed over the course of several months by AJ Hadad and Mike Bakos of Hot Metal Harley-Davidson, and Steve Jurnak, the bike’s owner. 

The bike rolled off the showroom floor and right onto the lift where it was parked and quickly dismantled only to be re-built from scratch.  The bike received a 120R Screamin’ Eagle engine followed by stretched bags, tanks, custom fairing and a raked-out 26” custom front wheel just to name a few items in it’s very long and detailed parts list.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson would like to thank our customers for bringing their bikes out in one of the coldest months of the year.  In the end it was all worth it to see everyone return home with a trophy and a little boost of confidence going into the 2013 riding season.

TIME TO CLOSE UP FOR THE DAY...

Hey there it's Rocky. Here is what I see before I close up the shop for the night. I've been seeing this most nights for almost 7 years now. I can't tell you how cool it is to take a look around and see all the bikes in the quiet, alone, with the smell of rubber & leather. It is a pretty cool job!

MON-VALLEY HOG FYBO RIDE, JANUARY 1, 2013

Article written by Rocky Marks, contribution & photo by Brian Kohl.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s Mon-Valley HOG Chapter kicked off another year of riding with their annual “FYBO Run.”  FYBO has many meanings, however “Freeze Your Buns Off” is probably the most politically correct and socially acceptable meaning of that acronym.

This year, the Chapter caught a little break from the cold and rode to their destination in their vehicles due to the weather conditions that would give even the most seasoned rider a white knuckled adventure in the snow.  That didn’t seem to put a damper on attendance.

Over 35 people arrived at Heinz Field which was stop #1 on the ride.  The Chapter took a free tour of the home of our beloved Black & Gold.  The tour began at Gate B, walking through the Great Hall where they replayed the immaculate reception and toured through the lockers of some past Steelers such as Jack Lambert, Lynn Swan, and Jerome Bettis.

In addition to strolling down memory lane, the Chapter strolled through the Stadium’s locker rooms, $150,000 suites, infrastructure, and even the press box which is 95% sound proof.  That is significant because there is very little, if any crowd noise.  In the press box there is absolutely no cheering or speaking in an above normal voice.  Doing so will get you an automatic suspension of the press box privileges.

In addition to the catacombs, corridors, and luxury suites, the Chapter got to make their way out onto the field in the same fashion the Pittsburgh Steelers would using their entrance.  Once out on the field, group and individual shots were taken while gaining a perspective that only the players and coaches know during game day.

After the tour of Heinz Field, the Chapter was treated to free play courtesy of the Rivers Casino.  A buffet was available for those who chose to step away from the gaming area and the FYBO ride ended on the North Side in Pittsburgh.

Because the weather is unpredictable at best, the Mon-Valley HOG Chapter will host several indoor events at Hog’s Restaurant on Prospect Road in Pittsburgh.  This will be done in the first couple months of the year so that members can still participate in the chapter should the weather not be so cooperative when a run is scheduled.

If you are interested in joining the Mon-Valley HOG Chapter, you can send an e-mail to monvalleyhog@hotmetalharley.com or go to Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s website at www.hotmetalharley.com and click on the “Mon-Valley HOG” link.  There you will find information on joining, a biography of the chapter, as well as upcoming runs and events.