Original Article from KIVI-TV Today’s 6; Idaho’s News Published Friday May 22, 2009

Treasure Valley bikers hit the open road for muscular dystrophy Sunday. “Bikers have a huge heart,” Dwight Murphy said of the more than six hundred bikers that rode some 90 miles across the valley.

All had their eyes set on raising $20 thousand for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Last year the group raised $14 thousand in the ride. “The biggest strongest brotherhood out there of raising money is bikers and veterans.” Murphy said.

Original Article from OregonLive.com published Thursday May 21, 2009, 9:30 PM

A motorcyclist who crashed around 7 p.m. this evening is in critical condition.

The rider, a 59-year-old from the Battle Ground area, was driving southbound along N.E. Manley Road when he crossed into the opposing lane of traffic and then drove off the roadway, police said.

When witnesses found the man, he was not breathing. A 9-1-1 dispatcher reportedly told a witness how to successfully restore his breathing

The rider was taken to a hospital by the Life Flight Network. Clark County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the crash. A press release tonight said alcohol and excessive speed may have been factors.

– Casey Parks; caseyparks@news.oregonian.com

Original Article from Motorcycle.Com Staff published May. 08, 2009

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation wants drivers to be mindful of motorcyclists as they return to the road for the spring riding season.
May is designated Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the MSF released a list of guidelines for cagers as they share the road with bikers

“It’s a fact that car drivers and other motorists are at fault most of the time in multiple-vehicle crashes that involve a motorcyclist,” says Tim Buche, MSF president. “That’s why we’ve initiated several public outreach tools specifically targeting the driving community. MSF has life-saving messages for everyone, whether they are behind a handlebar or behind a steering wheel.”

The following list is available on a website created by the MSF for drivers, http://www.forcardrivers.com/. The site provides safety tips, instructional videos and other resources car, truck and bus drivers.

1.  Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t “recognize” a motorcycle – they ignore it (usually unintentionally).
2.  Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.
3.  A motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
4.  Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say three or four seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
5.  Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
6.  Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
7.  Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
8.  Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”
9.  When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle – see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.
10.  If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.

Original Article from MotorcycleUSA.com published Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Ride for Kids program has enjoyed the backing of the dual sport motorcycling community for many years. In Southern California alone, dualies have raised more than $847,000 for the PBTF’s medical research and family support programs. Now a new book targeted to dual sport enthusiasts is contributing even more to the cause.

The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling is a comprehensive, fully illustrated handbook that offers riders at all levels a broader perspective of the dual sport experience. It also gives readers a chance to help cure childhood brain tumors, because author Carl Adams is donating his royalties to the PBTF.

Adams, a seasoned rider and former enduro racer, says, “The satisfaction from writing a book is transitory, but the satisfaction from helping the PBTF is enduring.”

The PBTF enthusiastically endorses the book, as does off-road racing champion and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith. “I found that The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling is packed with useful information, presented skillfully, and illustrated abundantly,” he wrote in the book’s foreword. “[It] conveys the fun of the sport without trivializing the need to learn to do it properly.”

The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling is available here from Whitehorse Press. The next Ride for Kids dual sport event takes place June 14 in San Bernardino, Calif.

About the PBTF Ride for Kids®
The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. America’s motorcycling community has helped the PBTF become the world’s largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research.

This year there are 39 Ride for Kids events around the U.S., including a new event in Franklin, Tenn., on May 17. For more information, go to www.rideforkids.org/ or call 800-253-6530.

Original Article from Motorcycle.Com Staff, published May. 07, 2009

Buell wants riders to describe their ultimate American riding adventure, and the company will help one rider’s dream trip come true.
The Wisconsin-based company announced the Buell American Adventure Grant program. Buell is asking riders to submit a 250-word essay describing their vision of the ideal American riding adventure, including destinations, a planned route, their previous riding experience and their reasons for wanting to complete the trip.

One applicant will receive a grand prize of a 2009 Buell Ulysses XB12X motorcycle, $2,500 in credit for Buell part and accessories and a check for $2,500 towards completing their dream trip.

“Since we introduced the Ulysses in 2005, riders have been sending us ideas for two-wheel adventures that they’ve dreamed of taking on one of our bikes,” says Chad Hockerman, Buell market outreach project manager. “For many of them, something was getting in the way of their dream ride – they didn’t have a bike, there wasn’t enough money, they didn’t have the right gear. We wanted to put together a program that would help make their dreams a reality, and the Buell American Adventure Grant will do just that for one lucky winner.”

Applicants must be 18 or over, be legal U.S. 50-state residents at the time of entry and possess a valid motorcycle license. Participants can submit their essays at http://www.buell.com/en_us/experience/adventure-grant before 5 p.m. EST on June 23, 2009.

Original Article from KTVL.com published May 13, 2009 - 6:40 PM

ADEL, Ore. — A Medford man died Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a rock wall on Highway 140E just west of Adel in Lake County.

The victim was reportedly en route to Washington, DC to attend a POW and veteran’s memorial event called “Rolling Thunder,” Oregon State Police reported.

OSP Sgt. Steve Yates reports that at 1:45 p.m. Walter Smith, 64, from Medford, was operating a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle traveling with a friend on a separate motorcycle eastbound on Highway 140E near milepost 25. As Smith attempted a sharp right curve, his motorcycle traveled across the highway and off the westbound shoulder where it collided with a rock embankment.

Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was wearing a protective helmet.

OSP troopers from the Lakeview worksite are completing the investigation.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeview Disaster Unit, and ODOT assisted at the scene.

Original Article from KREM.com published 08:09 AM PDT on Tuesday, May 12, 2009

CHEWELAH, Wash. - The father of a nine-year-old girl who died in a motorcycle wreck on Sunday on Highway 195 south of Spokane is devastated with the loss of his only daughter and angry at the elderly woman who caused the wreck.
Nehalah May died from her injuries at Sacred Heart Medical Center Sunday.

The motorcycle she was a passenger on was hit by an Oldsmobile driven by 89-year-old Esther Mae Westlund who was pulling out onto the highway from Meadow Lane Road about 2 p.m. Sunday.

Nehalah’s grandfather, Robin Scholz, was driving the motorcycle and he is recovering at the hospital with two broken legs and internal injuries.

Most of the pictures in Ron May’s Chewelah home show Nehalah hugging her dad or smiling.

“She was a daddy’s girl,” said May.

The little girl was heading home Sunday afternoon after spending the weekend with her grandparents in Colfax.

“I know Nehalah talked grandpa into riding the motorcycle,” said May. He added that the reason they were taking the motorcycle to Chewelah is that Nehalah’s grandmother was hurt and couldn’t ride with them in the car and Nehalah convinced her grandpa to take her on the bike.

May only made it to the hospital in time to say goodbye.

“I told her daddy loves you,” said May. “I’m here for you.”

May doesn’t blame Scholz for what happened.

“He was a good rider,” said May. “He’s had a bike for a while. It’s not his fault.”

Instead, his anger is pointed towards Westlund, who told troopers she saw the bike, but thought she could make it across in time.

“She made a mistake,” said Trooper Allen Larned. “She knows she made a mistake and she feels horrible about it.”

Troopers said Westlund will only face a ticket for second degree negligent driving.

The Washington Department of Licensing will retest her to see if she is competent to have a license.

But even if she fails, Larned says it won’t affect this case.

“There’s nothing else we can do with this situation,” said Larned.

May remains upset at Westlundt.

“I don’t know what to feel about that,” said May. “I’m so angry.”

May said he has a motorcycle, but doesn’t see himself ever riding it again after what happened.

A service for Nehalah is planned for Saturday at Gess Elementary in Chewelah.

Introduction

Welcome to The Northwest Rider’s monthly Commuter Blog, an online journal designed for year-round motorcycle commuters past, present and future.  Over the months to come, an overview of weather, traffic and other factors and observations pertinent to northwest motorcycle commuting will be published here.  The ‘Commuter BLog’ can be accessed from the menu bar at the top of any page on this site by moving your curser over ‘CBlog’ and selecting from the months presented there. Our hope is that this feature will prove useful and entertaining for experienced riders as well as for those considering the motorcycle as a new mode of year-round transportation to and from work every day.

View Larger Map

The commute upon which the BLog is based is a 30 mile round trip from Sammamish, Washington to the northeast corner of Bellevue’s business district.  On a busy day, the commuter can get from door to door in less than 30 minutes, though the trip offers several side-road detours which parallel the freeway and allow as direct a route but at a slower, more relaxed (and scenic) pace.

Gallery

Commuter BLog for April 2009

Calendar

The economic benefit of commuting to work by motorcycle in the Northwest is directly proportional to the frequency with which you ride.  Your motorcycle, combined with public transit and your bicycle, can be a very effective means by which to achieve higher fuel economy while saving money. 

	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
AM
PM

The graphic calendar above represents a month in the life of a typical northwest motorcycle commuter.  Weather conditions during the morning and evening commutes are shown, accompanied by the mode of transportation used on each day during the month of April, providing a comprehensive graphic summary of the month’s commute.

Profile

Weather is a primary factor in the life of a typical northwest commuter.  April brings longer days and rising temperatures to the Northwest with significantly less precipitation than during the winter months.  But as the seasons change from Winter to Spring, riders are forced to compromise predictability for generally improved riding conditions.  The challenge you face, as a commuter, is that you will be riding twice each day, with a span of 8 to 10 hours between trips, during which conditions can change dramatically.  As a result, the northwest rider must be prepared, by leveraging flexibility of schedule (being willing to wait out the occasional rush-hour squall,) by bringing along a wide range of insulated and waterproof riding gear and by keeping backup transportation (car, bicycle or public transit) at the ready, in the event that motorcycling isn’t an option.

Motorcycle accidents are frequent during the month of April with a dramatic increase in the number of fatalities.  Many factors contribute to this statistic.  Primary among them are new and seasonal riders, inspired by warmer, dryer days, heading out into traffic for the first time in months (or for the first time ever.)

Photos

These photos were taken along Sahalee Way NE in Sammamish, Washington from the same location but on two seperate days in April to illustrate the dramatic range of conditions experienced by commuters in the Northwest.

Original Article from Motorcycle.com The Sidecar published May 11, 2009

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month so we here at The Sidecar and Motorcycle.com want to make you AWARE!

The lovely folks at Motorcycle.com have posted an interesting article on the SEE system. Search, Evaluate and Execute. This handy acronym is to help remind you, as a motorcycle rider, to make yourself visible on the road to other vehicles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when compared to operators of a passenger vehicle, motorcyclists on American highways in 2006 had a 35 times greater chance of being killed per vehicle mile traveled.

Studies show that because motorcycles are much smaller, they may not be “seen” or fully, consciously registered in the minds of other motorists.

35 times greater!

It’s a cruel world out there, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation believe it all comes down to you to protect yourself.

Head over to Motorcycle.com to read their article on how to use the SEE system to make sure you are seen on the road. Check out our related posts below to see more on motorcycle safety.

Original Article from RoadRUNNER published Friday May 8, 2009

Anyone who has taken the MSF Basic Riders Course knows that a motorcycle goes where you look and that effective cornering technique depends on a rider “looking through” the curve. But, in many ways, that only scratches the surface of what I call “Rider Sight Management.”

Focusing your sight on the proper primary and secondary targets is important both to achieving a smooth and effective riding technique and mitigating the dangers incumbent to riding a motorcycle on the street. Primary targets are those of the highest priority and they demand your immediate, primary focus, while secondary targets are monitored by your secondary focus, or peripheral vision. At any moment, for example, your peripheral vision may suddenly detect a pothole or other road hazard that immediately elevates it to a primary target. But instead of focusing just on that hazard, you should visualize and focus on the best path to avoid it. After the danger has passed, riders should then refocus their attention to the new primary target (i.e., the one with the highest priority).

In the absence of an immediate threat, riders generally should focus their sight down the road, but also keep their eyes roving 360 degrees (by using their mirrors) to detect potential dangers. The farther ahead you focus, the easier it is for your brain to process what you are seeing. It’s as if your motion is progressing at a slower pace. As you focus closer to your front wheel, the activity being processed by your brain seems to be happening much faster, which often results in jerky rider inputs through the handlebars, brakes and throttle.

If all of this sounds too conceptual, let’s consider this example:

When riding in a group, particularly if it’s tightly packed, there’s a strong tendency for riders to focus on the motorcycle directly in front of them, making it their primary target. Because the following rider is not focusing on the road ahead, he or she is constantly braking, accelerating and executing erratic corners. And, if the leading rider crashes on a curve, there’s a high probability that the next rider will follow suit. If, instead, the road becomes the following rider’s primary focus, and the other riders ahead are placed in peripheral vision, the following rider will be smoother and safer.

It’s a good idea to practice sharpening up your peripheral vision even when walking down a sidewalk. For example, try to pick out details in your surroundings without looking at them directly. With a little practice, you can improve both your sight management and your riding technique.

James T. Parks
Director of Public Relations
RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel
www.RoadRUNNER.travel
240-423-3631