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For many bikers, their favorite childhood memories revolve around their family and motorcycles or dirt bikes, and they pass this love along to their own children. If you’re new to biking and would like to get your children involved, here are a few tips.
Begin as early as possible.
Young children tend to be fearless, and the motorcycle will fascinate them. If bikes are part of their lives from a tender age, they are less likely to be afraid of them and more likely to enjoy riding them.
However, if something goes wrong, the child may become so fearful of motorcycles that he or she never rides again. If you are new to riding yourself, you may wish to wait a year or so until you’re confident in your riding ability—or ask a biker friend to help you introduce your kids to motorcycles.
Ignore the naysayers.
Well-meaning family members or friends may try to discourage you from teaching your children to ride. Remind them that this is no different from taking them fishing, skiing, hiking, or go-cart racing. As motorcycle and auto accident lawyers who handle all types of accident cases, we know that many outdoor activities can be dangerous to children without appropriate adult supervision and common sense. Biking is no more or less hazardous than other activities.
Start slowly.
If you’re ready to introduce your child to biking, you can try several things:
- Take your child to a motocross track or other dirt bike gathering to watch—preferably one where children are riding.
- Introduce your child to other kids who ride.
- Buy your child some protective gear and allow him or her to get used to it.
- Ask your child to help you wash or work on the bike.
- Sit on the bike while it’s off, put the child in front of you, and let him or her grab the handlebars and pretend to ride.
- Start the bike, safely set the child on it, and let him or her acclimate to the sound and feel.
- Take the child for a short ride across the street.
Be ready to stop at any time.
Do not push your child to go farther than he or she is willing. This is not to say that you shouldn’t encourage your child to face fears, but if he or she expresses extreme reluctance or has a fearful reaction, back off a little and try again later.
Every child reacts to bikes differently, and each has his or her own timetable for learning to ride. Be aware of your child and adjust accordingly. What tips would you offer for teaching kids to ride?
Summertime typically evokes happy memories of cookouts, boating, family vacations and fun in the sun. While sunburns, jelly fish stings and broken air conditioning units represent some of the not-so-fun summer experiences, DUI arrests fall into their own category of a summer nightmare.
In a recent decision by the South Carolina Court of Appeals, State v. Herchek, the issue before the Court was whether police are required to videotape a suspected DUI defendant’s conduct for the required 20-minute pre-breath test period if the defendant refuses to take the breath test. While the opinion rendered in this case is unpublished, and therefore can not be cited or used to set precedent, it nevertheless provides important guidance on this issue.
Mr. Herchek was detained under suspicion of driving under the influence and refused to submit to a breath test. While it is required by South Carolina Statute § 56-5-2953, to record a Defendant’s conduct at the breath test site for a 20-minute observation period, the officer failed to do so, as it was not required under South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) policy. The Magistrate in Herchek’s case, therefore, dismissed the DUI charge on this ground.
The State appealed to the Circuit Court, which upheld the Magistrate’s dismissal. The State then appealed the Circuit Court’s ruling to the Court of Appeals, where the dismissal was again affirmed.
It is worth noting that as of May 2011, SLED policy had not changed in light of the Court of Appeals recent Opinion. Officers are not required to record the observation period when the driver refuses the breath test; however, many are recording the full 20 minutes, as required by South Carolina law.
One of the main focuses of the Uricchio Law Firm is criminal defense. We handle DUI cases in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. For more information about Uricchio Law Firm and our criminal defense practice, please click here.
We would like to thank Bobby Frederick, an attorney in Myrtle Beach, for bringing this case to our attention through his excellent criminal defense blog. To read his post of this case, please click here.
What is your opinion of this South Carolina Law? We want to know.
Motorcycle recalls beginning in June 2011 are listed below. Manufacturers will notify owners of affected bikes, but if you have not been notified, or if you’re not sure whether your motorcycle is on the recall list, customer service numbers are listed.
Image to the left of a 2011 KTM 450 EXC, taken from KTM.com.
KTM / Husaberg
KTM has recalled over 1,200 KTM and Husaberg motorcycles manufactured from November 2009 through November 2010. Some handlebar clamps were not heat treated correctly, and they can develop cracks that allow the handlebars to move unexpectedly, causing loss of control or a collision.
The following KTM and Husaberg models are affected:
- 2011 Husaberg FS 570
- 2011 Husaberg FE 570S
- 2011 KTM 450 and 530 EXC
- 2010-2011 KTM / 690 ENDURO R
The recall began in June 2011, and owners can contact KTM Customer Service at 1-888-985-6090. Any authorized KTM dealer can replace the defective clamps free of charge.
For more information, contact KTM directly, or click here.
Honda
Honda has recalled over 3,000 model year 2010 and 2011 motorcycles for defective bank angle sensors that could give incorrect readings and cause engine stalling. Affected models include VT750 Shadow and Phantom motorcycles built from June 2009 to March 2011.
Honda will replace defective bank angle sensors, and owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Service at 1-866-784-1870. Reference Honda Safety Recall #R80.
For more information, click here.
Victory
Because of incorrect machining on handlebar risers and clamps, Victory has recalled over 800 Cross Country motorcycles produced from January through April 2011. Polaris, owner of Victory, says the handlebars may slip, causing loss of control.
The recall began in June 2011, and Victory dealers will test and replace the handlebar assemblies of affected motorcycles free of charge. For more information, owners may contact Victory Customer Service at 1-888-704-5290 or click here.
Owners of affected motorcycles, or those with questions about any past or present manufacturer recall, can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit the NHTSA’s website at safercar.gov.
If you love antique motorcycles like myself, then you’re going to love this video! Filmed in 1918, the video illustrates Harley motorcycle daredevils performing exciting and dangerous stunts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Did you enjoy this video? Share it on Facebook.
Motorcycle associations give bikers a chance to connect with other enthusiasts and share information, discuss their travels, or simply show off photos of their bikes. We looked for the top three organizations and found that all of them offer incredible benefits to their members.
American Motorcyclist Association: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/
The AMA is the world’s largest motorcycle organization, and its mission is to promote and protect the motorcycling lifestyle, from weekend riding to crossing the world by bike. The Association was founded in 1924 and currently has over 225,000 members, most of them long-time riders with over 1 billion miles ridden collectively. The AMA employs a full-time staff to defend bikers’ rights and is influential in guiding legislation that affects bikers.
The lengthy list of members’ benefits and discounts includes . . .
- Email newsletters, magazines, and an exclusive members’ area on its website.
- Sponsorship of racing and riding events.
- Over 1,200 AMA-chartered clubs.
- Medical and insurance coverage while participating in AMA events.
- Organized motorcycle tours.
- AMA Roadside Assistance program.
- Discounts on products and services such as garage floor coverings, rain chaps, insurance, motorcycle lifts and transport, and lodging.
Motorcycle Riders Club of America: http://www.motorcycleridersclubofamerica.com/
Part of the North American Membership group of clubs, the MRCA focuses on helping its members build, customize, and ride. With more than 80,000 members, the Club caters to motorcycle enthusiasts and offers them a way to communicate, network, and learn from each other.
Membership offers plenty of benefits:
- Click and Win sweepstakes.
- The ability to test, review, and keep new products, such as boots and toolkits.
- An active online forum for members to share their expertise and accomplishments.
- Exclusive Club newsletter, Compression Ratio.
- Yearly subscription to Rider Magazine.
- Facebook page to comment and share information.
- Gasoline rebates.
The Antique Motorcycle Club of America: http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Founded in 1954, the AMCA has over 11,000 members and 54 affiliate chapters worldwide dedicated to the “preservation, restoration, and operation of old-time motorcycles.” Antique or vintage motorcycles are at least 35 years old, and membership is open to anyone with an interest in vintage motorcycles, including those who don’t own one.
AMCA benefits include . . .
- Local chapter-sponsored meetings, shows, and road runs.
- National swap meets and road runs, seminars, shows, and races.
- AMCA Virtual Motorcycle Library with historic documents.
- Online discussion forum.
- The Antique Motorcycle quarterly magazine with expert information and advertising.
- Discounts at U.S. motorcycle museums.
Which organization is your favorite and why?
I’m excited to announce to my readers that Bikers Helping Bikers will be holding an excellent benefit event in Summerville, SC. The event takes place on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Shooters in Summerville, with the first bike riding out at 11 a.m. The even ends at 3 p.m. at Market Street Saloon in North Charleston.Upon arrival to the Market Street Saloon, bikers will receive chicken wings, provided by the Saloon.
The benefit costs $15.00 per rider and $5.00 per passenger. This registration fee will be split equally among One Lucky Rider and Bikers Helping Bikers.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bikers Helping Bikers, they are “a non profit organization created to assist bikers injured in motorcycle related accidents. It was created and formed by a local group of friends and fellow riders that felt driven to give back to the motorcycling community that we are a part of.”
I’ll be riding in the event, so I hope to see you there!
Contact Bikers Helping Bikers for more information about the event and how to register.
Producing one of the most attractive and high-performance bikes in the world, Victory should be on everyone’s list when looking to purchase a new bike. Learn more about the brand and the engineers behind this exceptional company by viewing the video below:
What do you think? Would you purchase a Victory bike?
The best motorcycle brand is always in constant debate. To me, each motorcycle brand has its pros and cons, making it difficult for me to choose my favorite.
Below are my top 10 motorcycle brands (in NO particular order):
1. BMW: One of the reasons why I love BMW is because they offer a wide range of diverse bikes for all preferences. Whether you’re looking for a more urban-based motorcycle, a sports-feel, or wish to take your motorcycle on long, leisurely drives, BMW has something for all tastes.
Image above taken from bmwblog.com.
2. Ducati: Manufacturing some of the most sleek and attractive motorcycles on the market, Ducati knows how to appeal to the eye and motorcycle-lover. With high-performance models, including the Superbike, Monster, Streetfighter, Hypermotard, Multistrada and the new Diavel, Ducati is one of the leading motorcycle brands in the world.
View some of their videos on YouTube.
3. Honda: Great for all motorcyclists, no matter your experience level, Honda produces some of the most diverse bikes that are not only easy to ride but also great looking. Honda offers bikes for long drives, sport touring, cruising, motorsports, and they also offer scooters for short drives and convenient rides.
View some of their great motorcycle models on their website.
Image above taken from HondaVehicles.info.
4. Kawasaki: Arguably best known for their Ninja bike, Kawasaki is a leading motorcycle brand. But Kawasaki also offers dozens of other types of motorcycles, from street cruisers to motocross bikes, and touring motorcycles to dual purpose bikes. One of their most attractive bikes, in my opinion, is the Vulcan® 1700 Vaquero, which is one of their premier touring bikes.
5. Suzuki: Similar to Honda, Suzuki offers motorcycles for all levels of experience. Suzuki provides a great range of choices in their Sport, Cruiser, Touring, Standard, Supermoto, DualSport, and Scooter bikes. And currently, they’re offering $1000.00 off of certain models for a limited time.
Image above taken from TwoWheelsBlog.com.
What’s your favorite motorcycle brand?
Looking for that special gift to get your motorcycle-loving mother? Below are our top five mother’s day gift picks for biker moms:
1. A Ride on My Own Apron: If your mother loves to cook and bike (not at the same time, of course), this is the ultimate gift! To view purchasing details, click here.
Image above taken from Zazzle.com.
2. Bumper Sticker: Who doesn’t love a great bumper sticker? To view purchasing details, click here.
Image above taken from Zazzle.com.
3. Icon Women’s Hella Boots: Your mother will definitely be styling in these boots! Made from cowhide leather, these fashionable boots look great both on and off the bike. To view purchasing details, click here.
Image above taken from RevZilla.com.
4. Motorcycle Charm Bracelet: If your mother loves jewelry, you’ll definitely want to get her this motorcycle charm bracelet to dress up any motorcycle outfit. To view purchasing details, click here.
Image above taken from FindGift.com.
5. I Love Motorcycles Tote Bag: Spread the love with this I “heart” motorcycles tote. Perfect for a weekend getaway, or trip to the beach or grocery store, this tote can serve all different purposes. To view purchasing details, click here.
Image above taken from Zazzle.com.
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Some of my favorite rides happen right here in the Lowcountry. I love the landscapes and the relaxing atmosphere of the countryside and coastline. But there are times when I have to venture into urban areas, which has an effect on my mindset and driving. My mind is no longer clear and calm. Instead, I’m highly attentive to my surroundings and always on high alert with the hustle and bustle of big city life.
When you’re driving into the city on your motorcycle for the first time, it’s important to make a proper transition in your mindset and know primary safety tips to prevent you from being involved in a motorcycle accident.
Below are a few tips for riding in the city:
Keep your distance: One of the best ways to avoid a motorcycle accident is by keeping a safe distance from other drivers. I usually stay a good 20 – 30 feet behind any vehicle to ensure that I have enough time to stop without causing the person behind me to ram into me.
Look out ahead: I always keep my eye on the vehicles in front of me (not just the vehicle immediately in front of me). Often times, the vehicle in front of you might not see that the traffic ahead has stopped and will slam on his or her breaks. This, in turn, requires you to slam on your breaks. To prevent this from occurring, always keep an eye on the first two vehicles in front of you. If you see the first vehicle breaking, you can start to tap your break to anticipate a stop before you have to screech to a halt.
Stand out: Many motorcycle accidents occur when drivers either don’t see a motorcyclist or do not understand a motorcyclist’s right of way. To prevent this, always wear bright colors, don’t drive in a vehicle’s blind-spot (if possible), and be extremely cautious when a vehicle is in close range. If you have the right of way, don’t just assume the driver knows this. Keep an eye out, go slow, and be ready to break or swerve.
And my final piece of advice is to be aware of all your surroundings, looking out for any potential hazards or signs that another driver might not be paying attention.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a South Carolina motorcycle accident, contact the Uricchio Law Firm to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys.
