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Midwest Motorcyclist
3
IN THIS ISSUE…..
Columns
5
7
13
16
17
To Our Readers, Correction
Safer Riding: Highside vs Lowside Crashes by Pat Armitage
A Few Points About Points by Jason Waechter
Motorcycling & Law: Profiling Against Motorcyclists by Dondi Vesprini
The Preacher Speaks About... Tech Talk About Exhaust Systems by Franz Hoffer
Features, News & Reviews
cc media publications
This Month’s Contributors:
Contributing Editors
Pat Armitage, Franz Hoffer
plus
Ian Orr, Gene Southard,
Dondi Vesprini, Jason Waechter
6
12
14
Exclusive Profile: Gregg Mitchell, Fast Guy / Club Builder by Ray Peabody
David Allen Racing Motorsports Rises from the Ashes of Devastating Fire
Book Review: Malcolm!, The Autobiography by Gene Southard
Resources
5
14
17
Advertiser Index
Event Schedule
Michigan Harley-Davidson Dealer Event Schedule
Large cover photo: Gregg Mitchell, former Michigan Squadron State Director, taking a break during a
Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) riding event. Photo by Ian Orr, MSTA- MI Newsletter Editor.
Get Ready for Spring
New Shipment of Saddlebags
& Travel Bags!
Publisher/Managing Editor
Ray Peabody
publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.com
rpeabody@sbcglobal.net
Over 30 Styles of Saddlebags
to Choose From!
Advertising Sales/ Web Master / Distribution
Ray Peabody
publisher@midwestmotorcyclist.com
rpeabody@sbcglobal.net
Over 30 Styles of Tank Bags &
Sissy Bar Bags to Choose From!
Cover Design
Fork Bags, Windshield Bags,
Magnetic Tank Bags
Julie Kirkendoll
>>>>>New Items for Spring Arriving Weekly<<<<<
How to contact us:
709 Fall Street
Spring Lake, Michigan 49456
(810) 923-8738
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
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transmitted without the expressed written permission of the
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will defend, indemnify and hold cc media and RTP Enterprises,
Inc. harmless in any claims of libel, copyright or trademark
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4
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March 2016
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ABATE of Indiana ....................................7
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ABATE of MIchigan, Region 11..............6, 16
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A.B.C. Harley-Davidson ............17, 18, 19
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Battle Creek Harley-Davidson....17, 18, 19
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BMW Motorcycles of Detroit................7, 11
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BMW of Grand Rapids...............2, 5, 12
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BMW, SE Michigan. .........................8, 9, 16
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Bubba’s Old School Swap Meet.........12
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C & S Harley-Davidson ........17, 18, 19
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Capitol Harley-Davidson .......17, 18, 19
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Classic MotorSports........,......17, 18, 19
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Cycle Conservation Club .........................11
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Diamond Gusset Jeans ......................13
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Gibraltar Trade Center.....................15
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Gildner’s Harley-Davidson ...........17, 18, 19
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Grand Rapids H-D....................... .17, 18, 19
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Great Lakes Dual Sporters ...................13
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Great Lakes Harley-Davidson......17, 18, 19
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Hamilton HarleyDavidson ..........6, 17, 18, 19
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Harley-Davidson dealers ............17, 18, 19
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Hot Rod Harley-Davidson ............17, 18, 19
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Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer..20
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Kelley & Sons Trailers ...........................18
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Motor City Underwriters ......................10
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Motorcity Motorcycles.......................3, 20
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Motorcycle Solutions, LLC......................10
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MC Sport Touring Association..........11
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Perry’s Harley-Davidson ............17, 18, 19
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Ray C’s Harley-Davidson.....
17, 18, 19
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Retail
Warehouse
.........................4,
5
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Sandy’s H-D .........................
17, 18, 19
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Shiawassee H-D ..........................17, 18, 19
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Sport Bike Track Gear ............................ 6
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Sweet Trikes ...........................................10
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Tecumseh Harley-Davidson ..........17, 18, 19
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Town & Country H-D.....................17, 18, 19
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Zip’s 45th Parallel H-D...................17, 18, 19
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Advertiser
Index
Springtime greetings from the world
headquarters of Midwest Motorcyclist™ /
Michigan Motorcyclist®. The 2016 riding
season is fast approaching and we’re ready to
ride.
This month, we’re featuring a profile
of Gregg Mitchell, formerly the Michigan State
Director for the Motorcycle Sport Touring
Association. Gregg, with the help of many
members, has built the club into one of the
more successful - in terms of both
membership and participation – motorcycle
groups in the State. Check out our story to
learn a little about the background and
leadership style that have contributed to his
success.
Pat Armitage is back with another of
his Safer Riding columns. This month he
defines a couple of terms – Highside and
Lowside Crashes - that we often hear but
some might not fully understand. If you’ve
ever questioned the meaning of either of these
terms, be sure to check out Pat’s column this
month.
Franz “The Preacher” Hoffer offers a
Tech Talk about how exhaust systems can
impact performance. Loud pipes might not
save lives but they can improve engine
performance. For details, check out Franz’s
conversation with Jerry B of Jerry B’s Cycle
Works in this issue.
There’s a lot more in this issue. The
event schedule is already starting to grow
with plenty of solid events coming up in the
near term. We have other news and
information as well.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to
share this copy with your family or friends or
point them to the online versions at
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com. Please buy
from our advertisers. They pay the bills
around here. They will appreciate it
and so will we.
Have fun as the winter
winds down. Hope to see you
at an upcoming event or out on
the road,
Comfort & Security
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SPRING TRACK
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6
Strong leadership and member
participation are the keys to any
successful association, motorcyclerelated or otherwise. Some are more
successful than others in finding the
right combination. More often than not,
it’s a request from the leader to a
member take over the leadership role
that changes the direction and success of
the club. Such was the case with Gregg
Mitchell.
Gregg began riding at 14. (He
crashed his friend’s Honda 50 in front of
a police officer on his first ride.) AFter
buying a Gilera 125, he rode 12 months
a year all the way through high school.
He stopped riding only after he was
married and had kids of his own.
In 1982, he moved to Texas and
decided to get back into riding. He
bought a Honda Shadow before moving
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
up to a Magna. People who know this
guy might be surprised that he ever
rode, much less owned, a cruiser. He
kept that bike for years eventually
taking it with him to Massachusetts.
As sons will, Gregg’s son took
up riding despite his father’s objections.
In 1991, that son was killed on his
motorcycle when an oncoming driver
turned left in front of him. Gregg was
devastated. He stopped riding for
several years.
He eventually moved from
Massachusetts to Plymouth, Michigan
and then later from Plymouth to
Rochester. It was during that last move
that he began to reconsider riding.
Gregg needed to get his Magna to
Rochester and decided to ride the bike
to his new home. A ride to the Upper
Continued on page 8
March 2016
Safer Riding
Highside vs Lowside Crashes
By Patrick Armitage
Many times, when I read articles in
motorcycle magazines, I find an author writing
about “Highside”or, “Lowside” crashes, and most
often it is assumed by the author that the reader
knows what these terms mean. I have been asked
about these terms often enough that I know there
are many people who are confused as to what these
terms actually mean. I thought it would be
worthwhile to devote an article on this subject, and
explain both terms in detail.
A “Highside Crash” occurs most often
when the motorcycle is leaned over, and traction is
momentarily interrupted. A tire begins to slide out,
and when traction is restored, the sliding wheel,
(usually the rear) snaps back in line with the front
wheel. This causes the chassis to quickly straighten
up from the lean. The rider is often tossed off, in the
direction opposite of the original lean, over the
“High Side”
This can happen in a number of ways. The
most common causes include:
1)
When leaned over in a curve the rider
applies too much power, too abruptly. The rear tire
loses traction and slides out. As the rear tire slides
out, the rider snaps off the throttle and the tire stops
sliding. The rear wheel quickly snaps back in line
with the front tire, tossing the rider over the “High
Side.”
2)
During an emergency braking situation, it
is easy to over brake and skid the rear wheel. If the
rear wheel begins to fishtail, and the rider releases
the rear brake, the tire stops skidding and begins
rolling. If the fishtail angle was too great when the
rear wheel snaps back in line with the front wheel,
the rider is tossed off, over the “High Side.”
3)
Again during emergency braking, the front
wheel slides out; typically
caused by grabbing instead of
progressively squeezing the
front brake. If the front wheel
has slid out far enough, and
doesn’t continue to slide
when the rider releases the
front brake, the front wheel
snaps back, tossing the rider
2012 BMW K 1600 GT,
off the “High Side.”
out far enough to snap back, instead of continuing
the slide; the rider is tossed off the “High Side.”
Highside or Lowside? My advice is, DONT BRAKE
AND SWERVE SIMULTANEOUSLY!
Highside crashes are quick, violent crashes
that often end with serious injuries. The rider often
lands on their head and shoulder. Head, shoulder,
and collarbone injuries are common.
A “Low Side” crash occurs most often,
when the motorcycle is leaned over. The limits of
traction are exceeded; traction is interrupted and not
restored. The tire slides out, and continues to slide,
until the rider crashes. It is difficult to recover from
this situation. Once the tire starts to slide, the
motorcycle will usually crash, quickly. This results
in the rider falling in the direction of the original
lean, the “Low Side.” The most common causes of a
“Low Side” crash are:
Both brake and swerve situations are
common crashes, and are the origin of the common
“Old Biker’s Story” (Old B.S.) “I saw I was going to
crash so, I had to lay the bike down.” The storyteller
braked and swerved simultaneously and the bike
layed itself down. Deliberately crashing, to avoid a
crash, is a poor accident avoidance technique.
If you need to maximum brake in a curve,
you must straighten your path, then maximum
brake.
A steady throttle roll-on is the correct
technique in a curve. The throttle must be smoothly
rolled on, and not overdone.
Of course, there are some other situations
that can cause either type of crash. The ones I have
discussed are just some of the most common ones.
I hope this helps you to understand the
meaning, as well as the causes of both Highside and
Lowside crashes.
1)
While leaned over in a curve, the rider
applies too much power, too quickly. The rear tire
loses traction, and slides out. Over braking the rear
wheel while leaned over in a curve will have the
same effect. If it continues to slide, the rider falls, to
the “Low Side.”
Ride Safe, Pat Armitage
2)
While leaned over in a curve the front
wheel loses traction, and slides out. This happens
when the limits of traction are exceeded. Over
braking the front wheel while leaned over, or
taking the curve at too high a speed can have this
effect. Again the rider falls to the “Low Side.”
3)
In an emergency braking situation, the
rider brakes and swerves simultaneously. If the
either wheel skids, and continues to slide, the
rider will crash, to the “Low Side.” A rider can
brake, or swerve, but not both simultaneously.
Notice that either “brake and swerve scenario”
results in a crash. The only choice you have is:
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During an
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simultaneously, one, or both
wheels will likely slide. This
can, and usually does, cause a
crash. If the rider releases the
front brake during the skid,
and if it has slid out just far
enough to snap back, instead
of continuing the slide, the
rider is tossed off in a “High
Side.” During a swerve, the
rear wheel is over braked. If
the rider releases the rear
brake and the wheel has slid
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Midwest Motorcyclist
7
Upcoming Events
We’re throwing a
GARAGE PARTY
Saturday, February 27, 2016 beginning at noon.
Join us to celebrate our newly expanded 6,000
square foot service department and motorcycle new and used - showroom!
Food • Refreshments • Demo Rides
Charity Fashion Show
Friday, April 22, 2016
Newest rider styles from BMW, KLIM, Rev’It, and
Schuberth. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Good time for a great cause.
Visit our Facebook page for details.
10th Anniversary
Open House
Celebration
Saturday, May 21, 2016
This is the BIG one. The best food and refreshments
you’ll find at any Open House. Demo rides and
entertainment. Join us in celebrating our
10th anniversary in business & the 2016 riding season!
BMW Track Day - Monday, May 23, 2016
The Grattan Raceway track day costs $165, which
includes track time, class room instruction and lunch.
All makes and models
of bikes are welcome to
attend our track events!
To register, please call
Audrey at
(734) 453-0500
BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan
14855 N. Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI
734.453.0500
www.bmwmcsem.com
8
Continued from page 6
Peninsula with a friend from Texas was
enough to reignite his passion for
riding.
He eventually traded his Magna
for a Honda ST1100 at Anderson’s
Honda in Bloomfield Hills. He had
heard about the Honda Sport Touring
Association (HSTA) and joined the
group in 1995. At that time, the club had
55 members but only 16 or so would
show up for the monthly meetings at a
local Big Boy. The meetings mostly
consisted of kicking tires in the parking
lot after breakfast. The Michigan
Squadron had only occasional rides in
those days.
In 1998, Michigan State Director
Doug Pippen announced that he was
retiring from his leadership role and
moving south. He asked Gregg to take
over and he agreed.
Not long after assuming the
directorship, Gregg moved the meetings
to Kerby’s Koney Island in Farmington
Hills, Michigan. The restaurant had a
separate room available for no charge in
which to hold meetings but Gregg had
to guarantee that at least 20 people
would attend and buy breakfast or he
would have to pay a $25 fee. Despite the
fact that the group never had 20 people
attending the previous meetings, he
agreed. Gregg figured that, with
membership up to 68 members, he
should be able to get at least 20 people
to attend the meetings. He was right.
Membership continued to grow
as did attendance at the meetings. By the
time the Michigan Squadron moved to
Karl’s Kabin in Plymouth, Michigan,
membership had grown to 100 with 40
people attending each meeting.
I joined the HSTA during the
period when meetings were held at
Kerby’s. What I found were well
organized, fun meetings. Gregg kept the
meetings on track and on time. There
was an ongoing, friendly banter
between him and the other members
throughout the meeting. The other
members were friendly and welcoming.
The group didn’t seem to have any of
the political intrigue that so many clubs,
regardless of size, suffer. That
atmosphere continued even as the
Michigan Squadron grew.
There are a number of reasons
that the club grew – members
introducing new prospects to the club,
members creating appealing riding
events in Michigan and surrounding
states, etc. – but I attribute much of the
Squadron’s growth to Gregg’s
leadership.
As a volunteer, he spent many
hours preparing for meetings, creating
and distributing the newsletter,
participating in meetings with the
national organization, and managing
the membership database not to
mention planning and organizing two
of the Squadron’s annual events. But
despite all of his hard work in growing
the club, he gives credit to one of the
members when membership exploded
in 2007 after the HSTA changed its name
to the Motorcycle Sport Touring
Association (MSTA).
John Horner, owner of BMW
Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan, was
a member of HSTA but had told Gregg
that he couldn’t do much to help
promote the club as long as it was
known as the HSTA. Once the name
changed, Mr. Horner got more involved
and began promoting the club to his
customers. As a result, Michigan
Squadron has enjoyed double digit
growth every year since 2007 with 150
riders joining in the last three years.
Membership is currently at 260 and the
monthly meetings regularly attract 80 to
100 people.
The Michigan Squadron is the
largest in the MSTA. Michigan members
attend State, regional, and national
events in numbers far greater than any
of the other MSTA squadrons. These are
riding events unlike those of any other
motorcycle organization. Attendees get
up early, ride all day, and then rejoin the
group in the evenings to kick tires. As
Gregg says, “the riding is the reason for
the event.”
As the club has grown, new
members are eager to get involved in
leadership. Gregg knows that new blood
is essential for any organization to
continue to appeal to riders. When Bart
Reiter and Augie Fernandez stood up to
take over the Squadron as Co-Directors
and Ian Orr offered to take over the
newsletter late last year, Gregg knew it
was time to let others lead. He resigned
as State Director at the end of December.
Mr. Mitchell now has more
time to ride his three Aprilias, three
Ducatis and one Suzuki. Most are pure
sportbikes with a naked model and a
pseudo adventure bike included for
some riding diversity. He is an
experienced, skilled rider who is also
well trained, having participated in
numerous rider training schools such as
the California Superbike School as well
as more track days than can be counted.
He will continue participating in MSTA
events without having responsibility for
managing what has become one of the
most successful motorcycle clubs in
Michigan.
It’s not difficult to see the
impact Gregg has had on the club.
Attend any of the meetings and you’ll
see the affection the membership has for
their long-time leader. Other motorcycle
clubs should be so lucky as to have a
guy or gal like Gregg in leadership.
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9
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www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
www.sweettrikes.com
March 2016
Sport Touring is Our Middle Name!
We Ride!
...All Makes of Bikes
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...On Back Roads
...On Racetracks
...At Novice-Advanced Levels
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Our members come from all across the Midwest (and beyond)
and we ride many makes of street bikes - including:
• Aprilia
• BMW
• Buell
• Ducati
• Harley-Davidson
• Honda
• Kawasaki
• Suzuki
• Triumph
• Yamaha
....and brands in between
We travel to great riding destinations close by and far away. We learn to be
better riders. We share camaraderie and a common passion: The Passion To Ride!
For information about membership, meetings, events or rides,
contact the MSTA group in your state:
In Michigan, contact:
Bart Reiter
banjobart@aol.com
In Indiana, contact:
Don Payne
don.payne@gmail.com
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
11
David Allen Racing Rises From
the Ashes of Devastating Fire
Sponsored
by
Fremont, Michigan – Fire swept through
David Allen Racing Motorsports
(formerly Powers Motorsports) in the
evening hours on November 14, 2014.
The showroom and service area were
destroyed. 30 motorcycles and 52 other
units (ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, etc.)
were lost as were all of the parts and
accessories.
The only part
of the
building left
standing was
the cold
storage area.
While
many
business
owners might
have closed
for good after
such an event, David Allen was
committed to his dealership. The store
remained open for business, operating
out of the cold storage area that escaped
the fire.
A year later, on November 21,
2015, the store re-opened. A new, wideopen 12,000 square foot showroom
provided the dealership with sufficient
space to display the full-lines of
motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles
from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Polaris,
Victory and Ski-Doo not to mention a
wide variety of apparel and accessories.
The dealership, which has historically
Pre-Owned Motorcycles
2015 BMW F 700 GS,
Alpine White, 10 miles,
$11,080
2015 BMW F 700 GS,
Black Met/Red, 10 miles,
$10,685
2015 BMW F 700 GS,
Racing Blue Matt, 10 miles, $10,735
2015 BMW F 800 GS,
White/Black Storm,
$12,190
2015 BMW F 800 R,
Blue Met Matt, 1,900 miles,
$8,950
2015 BMW R nineT ,
Black Storm, 1,500 miles,
$12,448.25
2015 BMW R 1200 GS,
BLACK STORM, 12 miles,
$18,860
2014 BMW G 650 GS,
DEEP BLACK, 794 miles,
$7,450
2014 Ducati Hyperstrada,
IVORY, 1,700 miles,
$8,950
2013 BMW K 1600 GTL,
DAMASK RED , 10,000 miles, $18,950
2013 BMW R 1200 R,
6,300 miles,
$10,950
2012 BMW F 800 GS Triple Black, BLACK, 8,904 miles,
$8,950
2012 BMW K 1600 GTL,
ROYAL BLUE, 18,000 miles, $17,450
2012 BMW K 1600 GTL,
Blue, 22,000 miles,
$17,750
2012 Suzuki GSX™ R750,
YELLOW, 13,656 miles,
$7,450
2012 Triumph Speed Triple R, BLACK, 7,588 miles,
$7,950
2010 BMW F 800 ST,
BLUE, 18,600 miles,
$7,950
2009 BMW K 1200 LT,
Black , 72,000 miles,
$8,950
2009 BMW R 1200 GS,
SILVER, 62,000 miles,
$8,950
2009 Yamaha V Star® 1300, WHITE, 22,000 miles,
$4,950
focused on dirt riders, is recommitting
their sales efforts to better serve street
riders with a wide variety of street bikes,
apparel and accessories. More than 3,000
people attended the Grand Re-Opening.
David Allen and General
Manager Brandon Gerth have big plans
to rebuild the dealership’s customer base.
They plan to
offer free hot
dogs, chips,
and a drink on
Saturdays
through Labor
Day. They’re in
the process of
developing a
Customer
Loyalty
Program in
which points
are earned on all purchases that can be
applied to future purchases. Finally, they
plan to hold a variety of events and
demo rides to help draw riders to the
dealership.
For more information about the
dealership, their products or upcoming
events, visit the store at 11995 N. Maple
Island Road in Fremont, give them a call
at (800) 924-1921, or check out the DAR
website at www.darmotorsports.com.
You can also find information about
David Allen’s original store, located at
1951 N 24th Avenue in Mears, Michigan,
by calling toll free at (888) 873-4047.
Largest Inventory of
pre-owned BMW Motorcycles
in the Midwest!
2007 BMW F 800 S,
Yellow, 14,000 miles,
$5,950
2007 BMW K 1200 GT,
CRYSTAL GREY, 41,325 miles, $7,950
2007 BMW K 1200 R Sport,
52,562 miles,
$6,950
2007 BMW R 1200 R,
Grey, 24,286 miles,
$7,950
2006 BMW K 1200 LT,
Graphite, 40,017 miles,
$17,950
2006 BMW R 1200 RT,
GREY, 37,408 miles,
$8,450
2006 BMW R 1200 RT,
Graphite , 62,682 miles,
$7,950
2005 BMW K 1200 LT,
Graphite, 45,425 miles,
$7,450
2005 BMW K 1200 LT,
8,487 miles,
$7,995
2005 BMW R 1200 GS,
BLUE, 131,000 miles,
$5,950
2005 BMW R 1200 RT,
Red, 71,444 miles,
$7,750
2005 BMW R 1200 RT,
Red, 71,000 miles,
$7,750
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan® 750, BLACK, 26,064 miles,
$1,495 as is
2004 BMW R 1200 CL Custom, BLACK MET, 33,924 miles,
$6,950
2003 Honda® GL1800 Goldwing, BLACK, 63,007 miles,
$9,450
2002 BMW K1200LT ,
Silver, 70,002 miles,
$5,950
2002 BMW K1200RS,
GREY/RED, 99,526 miles,
$3,950
1992 BMW K75RT,
BLACK, 43,918 miles,
$3,450
1981 BMW R 100 RT,
Smoke Red, 117,366 miles, $1,750 as is
BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids, 5995 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 530-6900
www.bmwmcgr.com
12
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
March 2016
A Few Points About Points
by Jason Waechter, Esq.
Save the date! March 13, the clocks
“spring forward”, the days start to get even
longer, and we can officially start prepping
our motorcycles and planning rides for the
upcoming season. To tide you over for a few
more weeks, I thought I would touch on a
few key points about drivers license points.
Most people are aware of the points system,
but don’t necessarily understand exactly
how they work, or realize how much
damage points can end up doing.
I wanted to start by mentioning that
Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Oregon, Rhode Island,
Washington, and Wyoming don’t use a
points system (or at least not in the format
we are talking about today). Also, please
keep in mind that I can’t cover every aspect of the
points system in every state in a single article. This
is just general information; to learn more, contact
me (www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com) or your
Secretary of State office. Now that that’s out of the
way, here are five important things to understand
about driver’s license points.
ONE: Points are cumulative, and can stay on your
driving record for up to ten years. In Michigan, if
you have points assigned to your license, they stay
on there for two years without exception. In
California, points assigned for minor offenses will
stick for three years, but points for serious offenses,
like a DUI or hit-and-run conviction, will stick for
ten. That’s a really long time.
TWO: The more points you get, the more problems
you could have. Most attorneys will recommend
fighting every ticket you get, instead of waiting
until you have points on your license already; if
your attorney can’t win your case for you, and you
end up going over the maximum allowable points,
your license could be restricted, suspended, or
revoked. There is a process of escalation within the
points system. Once you get to a certain number of
points within a specified period of time, the
Secretary of State will contact you to tell you that
you have more points than average. If you continue
to get points within a specific time period, the
Secretary of State will contact you again, this time to
warn you that you could lose your license (or have it
suspended) if you don’t stop breaking the law.
Finally, if you go over the maximum number of
points within a particular period of time, you
will be called in by the Secretary of State office
to do any or all of the following: review your
driving record, take or retake certain written or
practical driving tests, submit to a vision test, or
others. The results of this meeting and the
testing will determine any action taken to
restrict, suspend, or revoke your driver’s
license.
THREE: The more serious the violation, the
more points assigned, and the faster you will
move towards restriction, suspension, or
revocation. In Michigan, for example, serious
violations like vehicular manslaughter or
reckless driving carry a six-point penalty. Drag racing,
failing to yield to police, ambulance, fire truck, or
other emergency vehicles, and driving while visibly
impaired are all four-point offenses. Careless driving
or failing to stop at a light or sign are three-point
offenses. Driving with an open container or going up
to 10mph above the posted limit are two-point
offenses. Remember, points are assigned upon
conviction, not upon being charged, which is why it’s
so important to hire an attorney, no matter how minor
an offense may seem: if they can help you avoid
points, it’s worth it. It’s important to note that the
above examples are not a complete list of offenses that
can get you points, and that these point values are for
Michigan only; visit your Secretary of State website to
get the most up-to-date information about point
values and offenses.
New York, you can be assigned points if you have
an unbelted child (younger than 16) in the vehicle.
In Arizona, if you are nabbed by a red-light camera,
you can be assigned points. In Michigan, if you get a
DUI while riding your snowmobile or off-road
vehicle, you can get points on your driver’s license.
There are other exceptions in other states, some that
add points and some that don’t.
The point here is this: getting fined is bad
enough, but having points assigned to your driver’s
license is even worse. Read up on the laws in your
state, and make sure that if you get a ticket with
points, that you make an informed choice about
whether you want to fight it or not. Often, it’s worth
it in the long term.
Sit tight, everyone, spring will be along
shortly, and so will the riding season. If you have a
story to tell about getting a ticket (or getting out of
one), drop me a line… we are always looking for
great stories to share! Find us any of the following
ways: Facebook.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer;
Twitter.com/CycleLawyer1; or
writer@lawyerforlife.com.
Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorney
specializing in the areas of motorcycle and motor vehicle
injury litigation. Mr. Waechter has collected millions of dollars
in settlements, awards and verdicts for his motorcycle clients
over the past 20 years. Jason feels a duty to give back to his
community. A portion of each case settled goes to educational
resources for bikers, funds to help bikers while their cases are
being litigated and our motorcycle accident prevention
campaign. Call Attorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877BIKER LAW. Or visit www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com Legal
disclaimer: The law is very fact dependent and there are many
nuances and exceptions depending on your particular
circumstances. Therefore, given the limited space, it is
impossible to cover everything. Do not rely on the short article
to protect your rights.
FOUR: Yes, insurance companies do
look at your driver’s license points and
yes, they may charge more for drivers
who have points on their license; they
may also cancel your policy if they
perceive you as too great a risk. In
addition, insurance companies often
keep their own “points” system, and
can assign points for your driving
convictions as well as for any claims
you might submit.
FIVE: You can get points for all kinds of
things depending on where you live. In
The Great Lakes Dual Sporters
is a like-minded group of offroad motorcyclists who enjoy
riding Michigan’s vast two-track
trails and back roads. All done
using a street legal dirtbike also
known as Dual Sport.
If you’re looking for fantastic dualsport riding and the company of
great friends, join us. Check out
our website at www.gldsmc.org to
learn about our group, our events
and much more. Only $10 to join!
www.GLDSMC.org
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
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13
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VERTISERS
Book Review
Malcolm! The Autobiography
by Malcolm Smith
reviewed by Gene Southard
I have had the opportunity to
talk to Malcolm Smith several times and
I am always surprised at how down to
earth this famous off-road racer is. If you
didn’t know who he was, you would
think he was a local farmer who had just
come to town, not the world famous
racer with eight ISDT (International Six
Day Trials) Gold Medals and many offroad event wins. Malcolm is soft spoken
and very laid back. “Malcolm! The
Autobiography” is described as a coffee
table book and I was
afraid that it would be
just a collection of color
pics with not much indepth text. But I found
that Malcolm is also a
great story teller and
recalls many exciting
stories from his youth.
Malcolm was
born to an 80-year-old
Alaskan adventurer
father and a 30-year-old
mother. His early youth was spent
exploring British Columbia in Canada
before his family moved to San
Bernadino after World War II. Malcolm
tells many humorous stories of growing
up in the foothills of Southern
California. In one of my favorite stories,
he tells of “borrowing a crawler tractor”
to make a race track in the foothills, only
to be called to the high school principal’s
office the next day to talk to the police
about his tractor hijacking.
His first bike was a Lambretta
scooter; not much of a start in dirt bikes.
But he soon had the scooter’s rear tire
modified with cleats from a pair of track
shoes for more traction in climbing hills
behind his house. “Not much traction on
the pavement” was his description of the
rear tire. He soon moved up to a real
motorcycle while still in high school; a
Matchless single. After starting work at
one of the local motorcycle shops, his
racing career began at the local flat
tracks.
His early racing career was
almost cut short after a bad crash while
play riding. The broken leg he sustained
was very painful and took awhile to
heal. But he found that he could not stay
away from riding for long. and soon he
was winning at the many off road events
in the area.
While Malcolm was working at
K&N Cycle, Edison Dye, the importer
for Husqvarna, offered Malcolm a chance
to ride for Husky as well as sell this
famous Swedish brand. Since then,
Malcolm has been riding and winning
with Husky.
Along with being one of the
first Husqvarna dealers in the nation, he
was also offered an opportunity to ride
his first ISDT (now called the ISDE,
14
International Six Day Enduro) in 1966.
At this event, he won his first medal, a
silver, followed by his eight gold
medals in the following years. The bike
on which he rode to his first medal can
be seen at the Moto Amory museum in
East Moline, Illinois. (I did a story on
this very large dirt bike museum in the
Sept ’14 issue of this publication.)
During Malcolm’s ride in the
1970 ISDT, Bruce Brown filmed parts of
“On Any Sunday” — the best
motorcycle movie of
all time. Malcolm did
not expect his part in
the movie to be very
large but it made
Malcolm a household
name among dirt bike
riders. From his
experience riding in
Europe, Malcolm
started importing and
manufacturing dirt
bike accessories and
selling them in his new distributorship
called MSR, Malcolm Smith Racing.
Malcolm moved his racing
efforts to other events outside of the
U.S., like the ones held in Baja, with
great success. Some of these were done
in four-wheel buggies and trucks. He
rode in the Roof of Africa Rally on a
KTM in 1975, then the Safari Rally in a
Dodge Ramcharger truck all with
amazing results. Later, he raced The
Morocco Rally in Africa then the Dakar
Rally in 1988 in a Range Rover. As I am
writing this story Malcolm’s son, Alex,
is competing in his first Dakar Rally on
a Husky. The apple does not fall far
from the tree.
Malcolm and his wife, Joyce,
had always wanted to see Machu Picchu
so he accepted an invitation to race the
Inca Rally in Peru promoted by Franco
Acerbis, the owner of the Italian plastic
manufacturing company. I have ridden
the Peruvian Andes and I can state that
they are very challenging. Later, he also
rode the Australian Enduro held in New
South Wales.
After selling his MSR
distributorship, which eventually
became the property of Tucker-Rocky
Distributing, his business interests
moved to the growth of Malcolm Smith
Motorsports. Now, as Malcolm moves
into his 80s, his children, Ashley and
Alexander, are running the store.
In reading this autobiography,
you will find that Malcolm Smith has
indeed led a very exciting life. You will
likely enjoy reading of his adventures.
This book can be purchased from
Malcolm at www.themalcolmbook.com
or at any motorcycle shop that
purchases product from Tucker-Rocky
Distributing.
Events
Events do change.
Please call ahead.
Michigan
February 27
Saturday Seminar
Call for topic details
BMW Motorcycles Southeast Michigan
14855 N. Sheldon Road
Plymouth, Michigan
734-453-0500
March 18-19
2016 PigFestRamada Lansing Hotel &
Conference Center
7501 West Saginaw Street
$35 / person
Lansing, MI
www.harleyrider.net
March 19-20
9th Annual Custom Motorcycle Show & Expo
Best Custom Bikes in the Midwest
$7,000 in prize money
Dare to Bare Bikini Contest
Vendors
Gibraltar Trade Center
237 North River Road
(I-94 to Exit 237)
Mt. Clemens, MI
(586) 465-6440
www.GibraltarTrade.com
March 19
ABATE of Michigan Region 7
MRF Fund Night
$10 / person
Spaghetti dinner, Games
3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Famrers Tavern
Ruth, MI
(989) 864-3714
March 19
ABATE of Michigan Region 15
Bowling for Motorcyclists Rights
9-pin no tap, 4-person teams
$15 / bowler; $9 / non-bowler
Food provided, awards, Raffle prizes
Reg. 7 p.m.; Bowling at 8 p.m.
Biddle Bowl
708 Biddle
Wyandotte, MI
(313) 613-4703
March 26
Bikin’ for Burns Bowling Charity Fundraiser
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
$20 / person incl. 2 games of bowling and
shoe rental, 2 slices of pizza, med. Pop
Grand Blanc Lanes
5301 Saginaw Street
Grand Blanc, MI
(810) 771-4273
April 2-3
Detroit International Bike-O-Rama
Ultimate Build Competition: $10,000 prize
Tattoo contest, Combat Barbie
Swap Meet, Bikini contest
Cobo Hall
1 Washington Blvd
Detroit, MI
www.detroitbikeorama.com
info@detroitbikeorama.com
April 24
Bubba’s Old School Swap Meet
Birch Run Expo Center
11600 North Beyer Road, Birch Run, MI
Doors open at 10 a.m.
Admission: $6 / person
(989) 893-5187
www.midwestmotorcyclist.com
April 24
11th Annual Blessing of the Bikes
Bike show, Vendors
Gibraltar Trade Center, 237 North River Road
(I-94 to Exit 237)
Mt. Clemens, MI
(586) 465-6440
www.GibraltarTrade.com
Indiana
March 6
ABATE Region 1 Elkhart County
Swap Meet - NEW LOCATION
Northern Indiana Event Center / RV-MH Hall of
Fame
21565 Executive Parkway, Elkhart, IN
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Price $5 per person. Everyone Welcome. Open to the
public. Multiple buildings of vendors & activities
10am-5pm
Portion of proceeds support Elkhart County
Treasures for Kidz
Vendors 574-202-6217
Info: 574-370-3392.
March 13
Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet
Witham Building
Boone County Fairgrounds
NW of Indianapolis, I-65 Exit 138
Admission: $7
Vendors: 10’x10’ $40 pre-register
$45 day of event
www.bcswapmeet.com
March 19
ABATE Region 7 Motorcycle Swap Meet
Jennings County Fairgrounds
Hwy 3 & W. County Road 500 N
North Vernon, IN
Admission $5.00 per person.
Swap meet 8:30am-4:00pm.
Ride-in bike show sign-in starts at 9:00am, judging
starts at Noon
Bike show info: 812-767-2182
Vendors: 812-522-2988
Info: 812-614-2979
March 19
ABATE Region 3 Spring Bash
Fraternal Order of Eagles
1221 East Lincoln Rd
Kokomo, IN
Doors open at 6:00pm
$10 per person, $15 per couple, Eagles members $5
Info: hogryder65@hotmail.com or (260) 403-2379
March 26
ABATE Region 11 21 st Annual Mardi Gras
Greenwood American Legion Post #252
334 US 31, Greenwood, IN
6 p.m. to Midnight
Must be at least
$15 / person; $25 / couple; 18 years old
(317) 457-2513 or(317) 496-7298
April 16-17
Indiana’s Largest Swap Meet & Bike Build-Off
Buy – Sell – Trade
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Marion County Fairgrounds
7300 East Troy Avenue
Indianapolis, IN
Vendor info: (317) 997-8729
Info: Call Curly at (317) 248-9970
June 26
Northern Indiana Ride for Kids
Pinhook Park, 2801 Riverside Park, South Bend, IN
www.curethekids,org
(219) 363-6071 or (574) 208-2499
March 2016
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
15
Motorcycling & Law
Pr
of
iling Ag
ainst Motor
cyclists
Prof
ofiling
Against
Motorc
by Dondi Vesprini
In my last article, I discussed
discrimination against motorcyclists.
In this article, I will discuss a specific
type of discrimination against
motorcyclists that many riders have
experienced. I am referring to
profiling, which essentially means the
illegal use by law enforcement of the
fact that a person rides a motorcycle
or wears motorcycle-related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to
stop and question, take enforcement
action, arrest, or search a person or motorcycle with
or without a legal basis.
Unfortunately, Michigan currently has no
statutes which specifically prohibit profiling of a
motorcyclist. Also, our United States Supreme
Court has previously held that pretextual traffic
stops (stops where the officer may have ulterior
motives for the stop) are perfectly legal so long as
there existed probable cause to believe that a traffic
violation occurred. However, under Federal law, a
motorcyclist may pursue a claim for damages if the
law enforcement officer’s conduct deprived the
motorcyclist of any rights secured by the
United States Constitution.
The 14th Amendment guarantees
equal protection under the laws. However, motorcyclists are not a “suspect
class” of individuals entitled to a strict
application of the amendment to challenge discriminatory conduct, as are
classes based on race, national origin,
religion, alienage and other classes
concerning fundamental rights. Thus, it
is unlikely that any challenge to profiling
of a motorcyclist will be sustained under the 14th
Amendment.
Instead, the constitutional rights most likely
to be violated in a case of motorcycle profiling are
those secured by the 1st and 4th Amendments.
The 1st Amendment guarantees rights such
as freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, and freedom of association. The United
States Supreme Court has long held that the right to
wear clothing which displays writing or designs
equally applies to motorcycles colors and clothing.
Any action by law enforcement that violates a
motorcyclist’s 1st Amendment
rights is actionable under Federal
law. A great example of such a
claim is a case that a colleague of
mine recently prevailed in
against the State Police in
Florida. In that case, Florida
State Police officers were refusing to allow motorcyclists
wearing colors to enter the
Florida State Fair. Video was
taken of officers turning away
such motorcyclists at the entry
gates to the fair, telling the
motorcyclists that if they took
their colors off, they would then
be allowed entry into the fair. In
that case, my colleague pursued a
claim against the officers alleging among other
claims, that the officers had violated the motorcyclists 1st Amendment rights and he was successful
in obtaining a recovery on behalf of the bikers.
The 4th Amendment, in the context of a
traffic stop, protects against unreasonable searches
and seizures. The United States Supreme Court has
held that a stop, which triggers the protections of
the 4th Amendment, is when an officer restrains an
individual’s liberty “by means of physical force or
show of authority” such that a reasonable person
would not believe that he was free to leave and
ignore the officer’s requests. In the context of a
traffic stop, a stop would be deemed unreasonable,
if there was no reasonable suspicion for the stop or
if the detention and intrusion were not reasonably
related in duration and method to the scope of the
stop and the officers suspicions.
These types of cases can be very complicated and many times pit the word of the motorcyclist against the word of the involved law enforcement officers. My suggestion would be to get the
traffic stop recorded on video so there is no question later as to what actually was said and done by
the parties involved in the traffic stop. In fact, I
believe much of the success in the Florida State Fair
case is attributable to the fact that the entire
confrontation with the police officers was captured
on video so there was no question that the refusal of
entry took place and that the sole basis for the
refusal was that the motorcyclists were wearing
colors.
As always, if anyone has any questions or
if I can be of legal assistance to you or anyone you
know who has been injured in a motorcycle
accident, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I deal
with these types of claims on a daily basis on behalf
of injured motorcyclists statewide.
Further, for those readers who are members of any motorcycle organizations, clubs or
groups, if you would like to have me come out to
your group to speak or give a presentation on the
legal rights of an injured motorcyclist or on any
specific topic that your group may be curious about,
please don’t hesitate to give me a call at (248-5694646) or shoot me an e-mail at
Dondi@buckfirelaw.com. I give presentations statewide and there is never a charge associated with
having me out. I enjoy having the opportunity to
come out and meet motorcycle enthusiasts from all
parts of our State!
Pre-Owned Motorcycles
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2009 BMW R 1200 GS 33,541
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miles, Graphite, Excellent
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2015 BMW S 1000 R,
2015 BMW K 1600 GT,
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www.bmwmcsem.com
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March 2016
Michigan
The Preacher Speacks About...
Tech Talk About Exhaust Systems Harley-Davidson
by Franz Hoffer
Dealer Events
Previously, when I owned a 2001
Electra Glide, while I was happy with the
way my Harley sounded with the stock
exhaust system, I longed for it to sound
tougher, faster, and meaner. I had Jerry B
(Jerry B’s Cycle Works 25430 Harper, St.
Clair Shores, MI 48081; 586-773-2453) install
a Kerker Header System that gave me what
I wanted. I had Wolverine HarleyDavidson install a Stage One Big Bore kit
and it seemed to make sense to get headers
to go along with that. I was fat and happy
with the performance and the sound. But
as time went on, the loud noise seemed to
wear on me. Basic physics says the rider
really doesn’t hear the sound when moving
because it’s behind you, you really only
hear it when standing still…as do those
behind you and your passenger. A 1979
Michigan Law requires that a motorcycle
moving at 35mph or less be no louder than
86 decibels. This level is higher than what
is allowed for automobiles, but less than
allowable levels for trucks. I asked my
friend Gary Lewandowski (Great Lakes
Ride Like a Pro 586-246-4344), Chief
Training Officer for the Macomb County
Motor Patrol about his view of loud bikes.
“Depending on where you are,
there are certain decibel levels that are
considered acceptable,” said Lewandowski.
“If your motorcycle exceeds those levels,
it’s deemed too loud and a noise ordinance
violation. But loud is not bad as long as it’s
within the boundaries of the ordinances.”
As of 2007, motorcycles of a
certain size were required to have catalytic
converters. (I didn’t know that!) As of 2010,
all Harley-Davidson models have catalytic
converters. My current ride, a 2011 Road
Glide Ultra, sounds just fine with the stock
exhaust. Not everyone feels that way about
the stock exhaust. As a matter of fact, I’m
probably in the minority on this one. So as
I normally do, my first point of discussion
is with my mechanic, Jerry B.
TP(The Preacher): Hi Jerry. Me again. I’m
doing an article on exhaust systems and I’m
actually a bit surprised by all of the
information that’s out there. I need some
help.
JB (Jerry Battaglia): Great, you came to the
right place. Shoot!
TP: Stock exhaust systems: I’ve heard of
guys turning them into “straight pipes.”
What exactly does that mean and what does
it do?
JB: In the pre-catalyst days, we would cut
the baffles out of the stock mufflers leaving
a wide open muffler. It’s a good low cost
way to make your bike sound like it was
intended.
For a complete list of Michigan Harley-Davidson Dealer
Association Members, see the dealer locator on page 19.
TP: Will doing that damage the motor?
Does the EFI, etc, need to be recalibrated?
JB: Yes, it does create a lean condition.
Doing this will increase your air flow so
you have to add more fuel with a larger
jet on carb models or one of many tuning
devices for EFI, I prefer the Screamin
Eagle Pro Tuner.
TP: Does a “non-stock” exhaust system
add horsepower?
JB: Yes, reducing restriction will increase
flow and add horsepower, if done right.
Zero reduction systems such as drag pipes
make great top end horsepower but leave
little to be desired in the midrange area.
TP: Will an engine run hotter, colder, or
the same with a header vs stock exhaust?
JB: A good breathing engine is a happy
engine. Good exhaust systems create
more horsepower, give you better
mileage and can cool your engine up to 20
percent.
TP: There are so many brands out
there....Vance & Hines, Kerker, Remus
(RevZilla), Cobra, Rhinehart, Cruiser,
Bassani, and Graves, just to name a few.
When considering a custom exhaust, what
factors should you consider?
JB: The three most import factors for the
average Harley owner would be sound,
looks, and performance, usually in that
order.
TP: What would you estimate the average
cost of a new system?
JB: Funny question. In the pre-EFI days,
we could cut baffles and change a jet for
around $60 out the door. Now there are
so many variables in deciding what to
change and what to change to that it’s a
little complicated. The cost of changing
exhausts ranges from $200 up to the $2,000
area. Touring motorcycles with closed
loop systems can handle a muffler only
Continued on next page
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
February 27
First Responders
Appreciation Day
Battle Creek
Harley-Davidson
5738 Beckley Road,
Battle Creek, MI
(269) 979-2233
February 27
Cabin Fever Party
Are you getting CABIN
FEVER?? Then come out to
our Cabin Fever Party!
Free Food, entertainment,
BEST DRESSED
Lumberjack & Best Beard
contests! chance to win up
to $500 in Gift Cards
ABC Harley-Davidson,
Inc.
4405 Highland Road (M59)
Waterford, MI
248.674.3175
March 6
Biker Helping Babies:
March of Dines Fundraiser
Battle Creek
Harley-Davidson
5738 Beckley Road,
Battle Creek, MI
(269) 979-2233
March 12
Pie Our Staff for MDA
Come enjoy a bake sale
and silent auction where
you can bid to pie our staff
in the face.
Battle Creek
Harley-Davidson
5738 Beckley Road,
Battle Creek, MI
(269) 979-2233
March 12
Vegas Party
ABC Harley-Davidson, Inc.
4405 Highland Road (M-59)
Waterford, MI
248.674.3175
March 17-19
St. Patrick’s Day Event
(new)
Gildner’s Harley-Davidson
2723 South M 76
West Branch, MI
(989) 345-1330
March 19
Boom! Audio Workshop
Battle Creek HarleyDavidson
5738 Beckley Road
Battle Creek, MI
(269) 979-2233
March 19
Guns & Hoses
Ray C’s Harley-Davidson
1491 S. Lapeer Rd.
(M-24 & I-69)
Lapeer, MI
(810) 664-9261
March 26
Heat the Streets
Enjoy live music, free food
and a burnout pit. Chance
to win a 2016 Street Glide.
ABC Harley-Davidson, Inc.
4405 Highland Road (M-59)
Waterford, MI
248.674.3175
March 26
Easter Event
Egg hunt for kids & adults!
Battle Creek HarleyDavidson
5738 Beckley Road
Battle Creek, MI
(269) 979-2233
17
Continued from previous page
change without any tuning and range in price from $400
- $700. Sport bikes with closed loop and non-catalyst
mufflers range from $200 - $700. Removing the catalyst
and/or installing a 2-into-1 system will require a tuning
device. Changing any exhaust component along with
the air cleaner will also require a tuning device.
TP: What is your opinion of “Loud Pipes Save Lives?”
JB: I think loud pipes make a huge difference in your
safety. I’m sure everyone has experienced the vibration
felt in your car when a loud motorcycle approaches. I
have noticed lately, more touring riders prefer their
volume to be a little milder than drag pipes; not as loud
as open headers. Got to hear that radio.
Michigan Harley-Davidson
Dealer Association Members
1. Battle Creek
12. Muskegon
BATTLE CREEK HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
5738 BECKLEY RD, BATTLE CREEK
(269) 979-2233, www.battlecreekharley.com
HOT ROD HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
149 SHORELINE DRIVE, MUSKEGON
(231) 722-3653, www.hotrodhd.com
2. Bay City
13. Sturgis
GREAT LAKES HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
3850 S. HURON ROAD, BAY CITY
(989) 686-0400, www.greatlakeshd.com
HAMILTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
68951 WHITE SCHOOL ROAD, STURGIS
(616) 651-3424, www.hamiltonharley-davidson.com
3. Birch Run
14. Tecumseh
SHIAWASSEE HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
11901 N. BEYER ROAD, BIRCH RUN
(989) 624-4400
www.shiawasseeharley-davidson.com
TECUMSEH HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
8080 MATTHEWS HIGHWAY, TECUMSEH
(517) 423-3333
4. Cement City
15. Traverse City
TOWN & COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
US 12 & US 127, CEMENT CITY
(517) 547-3333, www.cementcity-harley.com
CLASSIC MOTOR SPORTS HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
3939 S BLUE STAR DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY
(231) 943-9344, www.classictc.com
5. Fremont
16. Waterford
SANDY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® SPORT CENTER
11940 N. MAPLE ISLAND RD, FREMONT
(231) 924-3020
www.sandysharley-davidson.com
A.B.C. HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
4405 HIGHLAND RD (M-59), WATERFORD
(248) 674-3175
www.abc-harley-davidson.com
6. Gaylord
17. West Branch
ZIP’S 45TH PARALLEL HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
980 S WISCONSIN AVE., GAYLORD
(989) 732-8000, www.zips45thhd.com
GILDNER’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MOTORCYCLES
2723 S M-76, WEST BRANCH
(989) 345-1330, www.gildnershd.com
TP: Anything you want to add?
JB: Just a little FYI, most exhaust systems perform about
the same when using stock cams so feel free to pick the
system with the looks and sound you like the best. BUT!!
If you decide to change to performance cams, exhaust
systems can make or break your power-band so do your
homework. 2-into-1 systems are my choice when it
comes to HP with cams. Thunder Header and D&D make
some great stuff! If you don’t like the 2-into-1 systems,
check into X pipes. They are growing in popularity and
they scavenge exhaust almost as good as a 2 into 1
system.
TP: Thanks Jerry, you might be seeing me in a month or
so to pick out a new exhaust system.
There you have it folks. Exhaust systems 101. See, or
hear, you out there!
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(616) 896-0111, www.grandrapidsharley.com
6
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PERRY’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
5331 SPRINKLE ROAD, KALAMAZOO
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9550 WOODLANE DRIVE, DIMONDALE
(517) 646-2345, www.capitolhd.com
Mon thru Fri 9 to 6 • Sat 9 to 3
We sell a complete line of open & enclosed
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18
2
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10. Lapeer
RAY C’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
1491 S. LAPEER ROAD, LAPEER
(810) 664-9261, www.raycsh-d.com
(734) 783-6464
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11
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11. Mt. Pleasant
C & S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
4741 E PICKARD, MT PLEASANT
(989) 772-5513
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10
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March 2016
TM
Midwest Motorcyclist
19
MOTORCYCLE WRECK?
Call the MOTORCYCLE LAWYER!
1-877-BIKER-LAW
WE TAKE AUTO & TRUCK CASES TOO!
Hurt in a crash?
Call Jason Waechter - The Motorcycle Lawyer
1-877-BIKER-LAW
www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com
Pre-Owned Motorcycles
2014 Victory
Cross Country
Tour®,
Goldrush &
Black,
502 miles,
$18,999 OUT
THE DOOR!!!
2015 Victory
Gunner™,
Titanium /
Black,
1,826 miles,
$11,999 OUT
THE DOOR!!!
2009 Harley-Davidson®
Ultra Classic® Electra
Glide®, Red, 61,306 miles,
$11,999 OUT THE DOOR!!!
2004 Harley-Davidson®
Screamin EagleSoftail Deuce,
Yellow, 22,151 miles,
$14,499 OUT THE DOOR
2011 Yamaha Stratoliner
Deluxe, Black, 9,152
miles, $10,499
OUT THE DOOR!!!
1765 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
One mile north of Square Lake Rd. on the east side of Telegraph Rd.
248.920.2000 • www.ridemotorcity.com
2014 Triumph America
Standard, Black, 4,9651
miles, $7,499 OUT THE
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2015 Victory
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Titanium
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OUT THE DOOR
2009 Piaggio MP3
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7,236 miles,
$3,999 OUT THR DOOR!!!
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