Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2010
The biker community is one of kinship, camaraderie, and fun. We can attest to the fact that being a social biker adds a new dimension to the riding experience and benefits everyone involved.
In fact, anyone who rides is a member of the motorcycle club; the subgroups differentiate themselves in many ways. Ninety-nine percent of motorcycle club members conduct themselves with the utmost in dignity and respect. The motorcycle riders often portrayed on television are what bikers call the one-percenters—the 1% who give everyone else a bad name. These groups are not gangs, and prefer not to be addressed as such.
Security.
Joining a club or biker’s group gives you safety in numbers. When you’re traveling, you have people there to lend a hand in case of breakdown. If you need help with a personal issue or a legal issue such as running from blue lights, you have a safe place to talk and many minds to help you come up with a solution.
Brotherhood or sisterhood.
A biker club is like any other club: it’s a group of friends you can trust. They’ll help you and your family any time you need it (and keep it quiet), make sure you’re all right, and do what they can. The words “brotherhood” and “sisterhood” describe perfectly what bikers consider their club to be.
Many, if not most, biker’s groups do good works for charity, and those organizations will tell you that the bikers are the most generous and dependable donors and volunteers they have. Typically, bikers are generous with their time and money and consider it their mission to help those who are less fortunate.
Companionship.
The bonds of friendship fostered in a biker’s group are long-lasting and deep. These are true friends and great companions who are dedicated to each other and consider themselves brothers and sisters—friends for life.
The latest information about legislation.
In every club, there are a few who stay abreast of the latest laws and regulations pertaining to motorcycles. Also, with so many people involved, the club stays informed about the biker’s life in general and relays that information to the rest of the group.
Are you in a club, and what’s your favorite part of belonging to the group?
Image above of Chancho (to the right), the Uricchio Law Firm office pup, with his buddy.
As motorcycle accident attorneys and riders ourselves, we frequently see people riding with their dogs. While we’re dog lovers and think taking pups along is a wonderful idea, all too often we see riders not taking the precautions for their pets that they should. Following are some questions to ask yourself along with ideas to make your journeys with your dog safe and fun:
Does Rover like to ride?
The first question you need to answer is whether your dog should ride with you. Is your dog adventurous, or does he or she love lying on the couch and sleeping? If your dog is older or prefers to be indoors, he or she might not want to take long motorcycle trips.
How does your dog deal with the bike? A dog that gets nervous or sick likely won’t enjoy riding no matter how comfortable or secure you try to make him or her. This is not to say your dog can’t get used to the bike and eventually enjoy it, but we are saying that if he or she hasn’t ridden often, an extended trip isn’t a good idea right now.
When acclimating your dog to the bike, take it slow. Make sure he or she is comfortable with the sound first, then take a few rides, each one a little longer than the last.
Can your dog sit still and ride?
Some dogs settle in and enjoy the ride, while others bounce around and want to see everything that’s going on. How your dog acts will dictate how you secure him or her and what kind of carrying case you buy. Our next blog post will discuss carrying cases and other doggy riding accessories in detail.
Will you be able to focus on riding without being distracted?
No matter who or what your passenger is, you still need to be able to ride safely and focus all your attention on the road. If your dog fidgets or gets restless, you can be distracted—and if your dog is large and not used to the bike, his or her weight moving around could pose a problem.
Do you travel with your dog, and how do you keep him or her safe while riding?
Tis’ the season for some great holiday events and parties in the Lowcountry. We’ve compiled a list of some upcoming biker events in the Charleston area. We hope to see you there!
Friday, November 26: Black Friday Sale at Lowcountry Harley Davidson (starts at 8 a.m.)
Sunday, November 28: Lowcountry ABATE Toy Rally
Sunday, December 5: Bikers Helping Bikers Christmas Party
Saturday, December 11: Charleston Hog Christmas Party
Sunday, December 12: Photos with Santa at Lowcountry Harley Davidson 12 – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 14: Photos with Santa at Lowcountry Harley Davidson 12 – 4 p.m.
Email us at blog@uricchiolaw.com if you have an event you’d like us to add!
Ethenol (ethyl alcohol) is an alternative fuel made from corn, sugar cane and other grains. Currently, gas in the United States can contain up to 10% ethanol (known as E10), however the federal government is considering increasing that amount to 15% (E85). Unless you ride a “flex-fuel” designated bike, you are advised not to use E85.
While an overwhelming majority of us fill up our cars with E10 and have no problems, this alternative fuel can have a very different effect on motorcycles. For starters, it can seriously damage and corrode steel, aluminum and rubber parts in the fuel system.
Known to loosen sludge in fuel tanks, ethanol can clog fuel lines and filters and block carburetor jets and fuel injectors. Also, for those of us who aren’t able to get out on our bikes as much as we would like to, ethanol is known to attract water. If your bike is left with ethanol blend gasoline in the tank for a long period of time, I have been told that adding a stabilizer is essential. Otherwise condensation, particularly an issue in high humidity climates, can cause the ethanol and water to separate, leading to serious engine trouble.
A variety of fuel conversion kits are available to convert your motorcycle to run on E85, but I am hesitant to make the switch myself. The American Motorcycle Association is not yet convinced, either, and has questioned the lack of research proving that an increase in ethanol will not harm motorcycle engines and parts. For the time being, I plan to be ethanol free!
As a personal injury, criminal and workers compensation lawyer practicing across the South Carolina area, I find myself frequently fueling up. Below is a map I started, which identifies gas stations in the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county areas that sell ethanol-free gas. Some of these stations may be limited on the type of ethanol-free fuel they offer.
There’s also a great post from the Post & Courier about Ethenol. Check it out here.
I plan to keep updating this map and welcome anyone to add to this list by posting a comment. To visit the map in your web browser, click here.
