Michigan mulls Motorcycle helmet laws and improvements
Friday, 26 March 2010 | Written by Digits | Print | E-mail
Riders can add Michigan to the list of states tinkering with their motorcycle helmet laws as lawmakers attempt to allow bikers 21 years and older the choice on whether they wear one.
The bill was passed with a vote of 63-46 and under the threat of a veto from Michigan's Governor, Jennifer Granholm who has expressed concerns about safety and what would happen to insurance costs if the mandatory helmet law were repealed.
Granholm has vetoed similar legislation twice in the past few years with a spokeswoman noting yesterday the Governor continues to support Michigan's current law, which requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
The bill leaves the Democrate led House and rides over to the Republican-led Senate for the next vote.
Ironically, this was the week a team of inventive engineering students from Michigan Technological University became one of sixteen teams going to a national inventors conference in San Francisco.
Their invention? A new and promising protective layer for sports and motorcycle helmets.
Chosen from two hundred colleges the team of students from Michigan Technological University used the human head itself as a model for a building a helmet lining that mimics the body’s own tricks for deflecting blows to the head.
Michigan Tech undergraduates and graduate students will be demonstrating a prototype Enhanced BioMorphic (EBM) helmet layer at March Madness for the Mind, sponsored by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and Inventors Digest magazine at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Jesse James Still Wearing Wedding Ring
Jesse James still sports a wedding band as he takes his daughter and two boys to school in an attempt to keep things as normal as possible while rumors begin to unfold about an alleged sex affair with a former stripper and tattoo model, Michelle "Bombshell" McGee. His wife, recent Oscar award-winning actress Sandra Bullock, has been said to have moved out of their family home and even skipped her latest film premiere.
* L.A.-based photographer Brigitte Daguerre is the third woman to claim that she had an affair with Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James.
L.A.-based photographer Brigitte Daguerre is the third woman to claim that she had an affair with Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James. (CBS)
The tattoo model claims she had a steamy affair with Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James
Sandra Bullock is embroiled in a custody battle between her husband and his ex-wife, adult film star Janine Lindemulder.
A look at one of Hollywood's leading ladies.
* Stories
* More "Other Women" for Jesse James?
* Jesse James Scandal Great News for Tiger?
(CBS) Already in hot water with his wife Sandra Bullock, Jesse James faces new embarrassment as more alleged mistresses surface.
L.A.-based photographer Brigitte Daguerre is the third woman to claim she had an affair with James while he was married to the actress and she told TMZ that she has 195 text messages to prove it. It includes one from James that allegedly reads, "I'll be your monkey."
Jesse James is realizing that cheating on Sandra Bullock was probably not a good idea! (PHOTOS)
March 26, 2010 12:07 PM EDT
views: 71
Jesse James cheated on Sandra Bullock and now that he has been caught he is feeling sad and keeping to himself. Well, Jesse if you hadn't of had these affairs (if you really did) then maybe you could have avoided all of this trouble and stress!
Jesse James's employees at West Coast Choppers are now coming forward saying what a great guy Jesse James is and how they don't believe the stories of all the women who are coming forward saying they had affairs with Jesse James. Two of Jesse James's female employees spoke to People magzine and said:
March 26, 2010 12:07 PM EDT
views: 71
Jesse James cheated on Sandra Bullock and now that he has been caught he is feeling sad and keeping to himself. Well, Jesse if you hadn't of had these affairs (if you really did) then maybe you could have avoided all of this trouble and stress!
Jesse James's employees at West Coast Choppers are now coming forward saying what a great guy Jesse James is and how they don't believe the stories of all the women who are coming forward saying they had affairs with Jesse James. Two of Jesse James's female employees spoke to People magzine and said:
Michigan mulls Motorcycle helmet laws and improvements
Friday, 26 March 2010 | Written by Digits | Print | E-mail
Riders can add Michigan to the list of states tinkering with their motorcycle helmet laws as lawmakers attempt to allow bikers 21 years and older the choice on whether they wear one.
The bill was passed with a vote of 63-46 and under the threat of a veto from Michigan's Governor, Jennifer Granholm who has expressed concerns about safety and what would happen to insurance costs if the mandatory helmet law were repealed.
Granholm has vetoed similar legislation twice in the past few years with a spokeswoman noting yesterday the Governor continues to support Michigan's current law, which requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
The bill leaves the Democrate led House and rides over to the Republican-led Senate for the next vote.
Ironically, this was the week a team of inventive engineering students from Michigan Technological University became one of sixteen teams going to a national inventors conference in San Francisco.
Their invention? A new and promising protective layer for sports and motorcycle helmets.
Chosen from two hundred colleges the team of students from Michigan Technological University used the human head itself as a model for a building a helmet lining that mimics the body’s own tricks for deflecting blows to the head.
Michigan Tech undergraduates and graduate students will be demonstrating a prototype Enhanced BioMorphic (EBM) helmet layer at March Madness for the Mind, sponsored by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and Inventors Digest magazine at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.
Friday, 26 March 2010 | Written by Digits | Print | E-mail
Riders can add Michigan to the list of states tinkering with their motorcycle helmet laws as lawmakers attempt to allow bikers 21 years and older the choice on whether they wear one.
The bill was passed with a vote of 63-46 and under the threat of a veto from Michigan's Governor, Jennifer Granholm who has expressed concerns about safety and what would happen to insurance costs if the mandatory helmet law were repealed.
Granholm has vetoed similar legislation twice in the past few years with a spokeswoman noting yesterday the Governor continues to support Michigan's current law, which requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
The bill leaves the Democrate led House and rides over to the Republican-led Senate for the next vote.
Ironically, this was the week a team of inventive engineering students from Michigan Technological University became one of sixteen teams going to a national inventors conference in San Francisco.
Their invention? A new and promising protective layer for sports and motorcycle helmets.
Chosen from two hundred colleges the team of students from Michigan Technological University used the human head itself as a model for a building a helmet lining that mimics the body’s own tricks for deflecting blows to the head.
Michigan Tech undergraduates and graduate students will be demonstrating a prototype Enhanced BioMorphic (EBM) helmet layer at March Madness for the Mind, sponsored by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and Inventors Digest magazine at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.
Popular motorcycle attraction, Dragon's Tail possibly closed for months
Friday, 26 March 2010 | Written by Shaggy | Print | E-mail
If you notice some motorcycle enthusiasts with a lost and worried look on their face, it may just be performance anxiety.
The anxiety has nothing to do with any personal issues, but losing the opportunity to flex the motorcycle performance muscle as Mother Nature closes the king of all 'twisties', the legendary Dragon's Tail.
20Located primarily in Deals Gap, North Carolina the mountainside eleven mile stretch of road boasts a mind-blowing and constantly leaning 318 curves attracting bikers and drivers alike from all over the world. A rock slide has blocked the road with authorities expecting the route to remain closed until July 31st while crews cleanup.
The rock slide, occurred on March 14th just as traffic by motorcyclists and thrill-seekers was about to pick up. The clean up process is expected to start on April 1st.
The southbound lane was reopened briefly after the slide but was closed again because of safety concerns.
The Dragon's Tail runs through both North Carolina and Tennesee, the rock slide has closed the road from near Chilhowee Lake to the North Carolina line. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be responsible for awarding the contract to clean up Mother Nature's mess, but its the amount of time the job could take that has local businesses relying on tourism worried.
"There's a possibility that we could lose the business," Jody Montgomery told Knox News discussing the Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort, located near the Dragon's Tail, "No one realized what impact it (the road closure) would have on this community until now."
Authorities say the time is needed for contracters experienced in rockslide clearance and stabilization to transport the specialized equipment needed for such a job.
Friday, 26 March 2010 | Written by Shaggy | Print | E-mail
If you notice some motorcycle enthusiasts with a lost and worried look on their face, it may just be performance anxiety.
The anxiety has nothing to do with any personal issues, but losing the opportunity to flex the motorcycle performance muscle as Mother Nature closes the king of all 'twisties', the legendary Dragon's Tail.
20Located primarily in Deals Gap, North Carolina the mountainside eleven mile stretch of road boasts a mind-blowing and constantly leaning 318 curves attracting bikers and drivers alike from all over the world. A rock slide has blocked the road with authorities expecting the route to remain closed until July 31st while crews cleanup.
The rock slide, occurred on March 14th just as traffic by motorcyclists and thrill-seekers was about to pick up. The clean up process is expected to start on April 1st.
The southbound lane was reopened briefly after the slide but was closed again because of safety concerns.
The Dragon's Tail runs through both North Carolina and Tennesee, the rock slide has closed the road from near Chilhowee Lake to the North Carolina line. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be responsible for awarding the contract to clean up Mother Nature's mess, but its the amount of time the job could take that has local businesses relying on tourism worried.
"There's a possibility that we could lose the business," Jody Montgomery told Knox News discussing the Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort, located near the Dragon's Tail, "No one realized what impact it (the road closure) would have on this community until now."
Authorities say the time is needed for contracters experienced in rockslide clearance and stabilization to transport the specialized equipment needed for such a job.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Timberlake plays bad-boy biker along with Jesse James
Thursday, 25 March 2010 | Written by Digits | Print | E-mail
23With all the attention being paid to custom motorcycle builder Jesse James and his troubled marriage to Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock, it might be easy to assume all the other celebrity bikers are managing to stay out of the headlines.
Not so, at least according to the gossip columns.
A quick review of last week’s In Touch magazine, the very same that exposed the affair between James and his tattoo model, brings other celebrities into the world of motorcycles and relationships. From a famous name who sung his way to the top, to the talent who created many of the chart-topping songs heard on the radio, the stories from the gossip magazine rode into the two-wheeled world.
Although no surprise to many, Justin Timberlake is reportedly working hard to put the ‘bad-boy’ in front of his biker moniker. In Touch magazine (bought entirely for research purposes in the James/Bullock reporting) reveals Timberlake ‘flirting shamelessly’ with a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas while his girlfriend of three years, Jessica Biel was attending a documentary’s premiere in New York City.
25
24For those not keeping up their celebrity biker scorecards, Justin Timberlake was last photographed saddling up on a custom cruiser at Italian restaurant Cafe Med in Los Angeles in August 2009. Considered a superstar, Timberlake's first two albums made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the world, each selling in excess of 9 million copies which doesn't even include the 55 million albums sold during his time with 'N Sync.
With California having a mandatory helmet law, at the time Timberlake wore a mirrored half-helmet and jeans with a turned up cuff worn in the best motorcycle rebel fashion. Speaking of which, in a stroke of self-promotion he reportedly wore a jacket from his fashion label, William Rast.
And the readers who still have their celebrity scorecards at hand, a new name can be jotted down.
While covering the latest décor of her home and newly revealed husband, In Touch reported that American Idol judge and songwriter Kara DioGuardi (pictured right) enjoys spending time on the back of a motorcycle. Reportedly, husband of nine months Mike McCuddy is a motorcycle enthusiast riding a GSX R with Kara sporting a full faced helmet on the back.
While it can be fun to enjoy In Touch Magazine as a resource, if not a little embarrassing for a hardened motorcycle reporter, it does have to be noted that the publication has had Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie splitting up for nearly two years.
The celebrity couple, and certainly a favorite famous biker of this publication, Brad and Angelina are usually in the final throes of breaking up on a weekly basis according to In Touch Magazine.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?
Union official: Workers won't like Harley CEO's $6.4M pay package
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Updated: 03/16/2010 11:53:47 AM EDT
The union manager for employees at York's Harley-Davidson plant said workers probably won't be thrilled to learn the company's CEO received a pay package valued at $6.4 million during his first eight months on the job.
Keith E. Wandell received a base salary of $650,025 from his start date of May 1 through the end of 2009, according to proxy a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He received a bonus of $780,030 and stock and option awards valued at $4.9 million at the time they were issued.
He also received other compensation worth $22,515, which includes a cash payment of $19,733 instead of perquisites.
Wandell, 60, replaced James L. Ziemer, who retired last year after 40
years with Harley-Davidson and four years as its CEO. Before taking over Harley, Wandell was chief operating officer of the car battery and building ventilation systems maker Johnson Controls Inc.
During his final four months as CEO, Ziemer received a pay package valued at $2.9 million. That includes a base salary of $455,144, a bonus of the same amount and stock and options valued at $1.9 million when they were granted.
He received other compensation worth $44,221, including $14,800 in cash instead of perks and $22,521 in contributions to a deferred compensation plan.
Hard times: The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker has hit hard times recently as consumers put off buying its high-end bikes. The company ended the fourth quarter with a loss $218.7 million, its
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first quarterly loss in 16 years.
The company has been laying off workers, closed factories and shuttered or sold unwanted brands.
Harley is restructuring its plant in Springettsbury Township, laying off workers and downsizing its campus to save money.
York's union members -- represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 175 -- agreed to concessions in a new seven-year contract in December after the company threatened to relocate.
Shortly after, Harley announced it was staying in York but cutting the union staff from about 1,950 to between 700 and 800, with as many as 300 casual workers who are called to work as needed.
Union leader: Union manager Tom Santone said he wasn't surprised by Wandell's pay. He said every worker from the top down at Harley should be "taking a cut" because of the company's finances, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
He said union employees have absorbed most of the blow from the economic downturn, and they probably won't be heartened to learn their leader makes so much money.
"I'm sure they're going to be upset but I don't think anybody's going to be surprised," he said. "The workers are the ones who always seem to be the brunt of the cuts. This isn't just the Harley-Davidson routine here, this is corporate America."
He said reports of CEO pay turn people off.
The total pay calculations include executives' salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year, according to The Associated Press.
The calculations don't include changes in the present value of pension benefits, and they sometimes differ from the totals companies list in the summary compensation table of proxy statements filed with the SEC.
A company spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday morn
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Updated: 03/16/2010 11:53:47 AM EDT
The union manager for employees at York's Harley-Davidson plant said workers probably won't be thrilled to learn the company's CEO received a pay package valued at $6.4 million during his first eight months on the job.
Keith E. Wandell received a base salary of $650,025 from his start date of May 1 through the end of 2009, according to proxy a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He received a bonus of $780,030 and stock and option awards valued at $4.9 million at the time they were issued.
He also received other compensation worth $22,515, which includes a cash payment of $19,733 instead of perquisites.
Wandell, 60, replaced James L. Ziemer, who retired last year after 40
years with Harley-Davidson and four years as its CEO. Before taking over Harley, Wandell was chief operating officer of the car battery and building ventilation systems maker Johnson Controls Inc.
During his final four months as CEO, Ziemer received a pay package valued at $2.9 million. That includes a base salary of $455,144, a bonus of the same amount and stock and options valued at $1.9 million when they were granted.
He received other compensation worth $44,221, including $14,800 in cash instead of perks and $22,521 in contributions to a deferred compensation plan.
Hard times: The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker has hit hard times recently as consumers put off buying its high-end bikes. The company ended the fourth quarter with a loss $218.7 million, its
Advertisement
Quantcast
first quarterly loss in 16 years.
The company has been laying off workers, closed factories and shuttered or sold unwanted brands.
Harley is restructuring its plant in Springettsbury Township, laying off workers and downsizing its campus to save money.
York's union members -- represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 175 -- agreed to concessions in a new seven-year contract in December after the company threatened to relocate.
Shortly after, Harley announced it was staying in York but cutting the union staff from about 1,950 to between 700 and 800, with as many as 300 casual workers who are called to work as needed.
Union leader: Union manager Tom Santone said he wasn't surprised by Wandell's pay. He said every worker from the top down at Harley should be "taking a cut" because of the company's finances, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
He said union employees have absorbed most of the blow from the economic downturn, and they probably won't be heartened to learn their leader makes so much money.
"I'm sure they're going to be upset but I don't think anybody's going to be surprised," he said. "The workers are the ones who always seem to be the brunt of the cuts. This isn't just the Harley-Davidson routine here, this is corporate America."
He said reports of CEO pay turn people off.
The total pay calculations include executives' salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year, according to The Associated Press.
The calculations don't include changes in the present value of pension benefits, and they sometimes differ from the totals companies list in the summary compensation table of proxy statements filed with the SEC.
A company spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday morn
Friday, March 12, 2010
Yamaha UK offer riders incentives to try out their motorcycles
This spring, Yamaha dealers are giving riders a golden opportunity to try a whole host of Yamaha motorcycles and scooters at their own convenience.
Custom painted YZF-R1We want their opinion too, so as a reward for giving us some feedback on our bikes, from the championship winning YZF-R1 to the best selling Vity 125 scooter, we will send every test rider a T-Shirt celebrating our 3 world championships plus a DVD showing all the great races of 2009.
And it doesn’t end there! Each respondent will also be entered into a monthly draw for VIP BSB tickets and as a grand prize draw, a lucky rider will be drawn from all of the evaluations at the end of the campaign to win a custom painted YZF-R1, signed by the three world champions and complete with Akrapovic pipes AND VIP tickets to be a guest of Fiat Yamaha at the British round of MotoGP – AWESOME!
World championships don’t come easy and in 2009, Yamaha had pretty much a clean sweep. We know that Yamaha riders enjoy the glow from these events in terms of the products we sell, back up, first class dealers and technical innovations.
Riding is believing and with great promotions including Let’s Go finance and Freedom Insured(free insurance), buying a new Yamaha is a very attractive proposition indeed and now customers can ride a huge range of Yamahas before they buy.
To find out what Yamahas are available to test and where they are, riders can click on www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/demo
Of course, terms and conditions apply to finance, insurance and demonstrator promotions. See the website for these details. Demonstration campaign finishes May 31st 2010.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Big Dog Motorcycles introduced its lowest-priced bike to date at the recent Indianapolis Dealer Expo. With the 2010 Big Dog Chopper, the Wichita-based manufacturer gets back to basics, building a chopper reminiscent of the bikes upon which the company earned its reputation. Based on its popular chopper-style platform, the newest Big Dog lists in the $21,000 range and is scheduled for production in May, 2010.
2010 Big dog Chopper
Big Dog Motorcycles realizes in order to stay in the game, price points had to come down. Introducing the 2010 Big Dog Chopper, it's lowest-priced offering to date.
“We are excited to participate in this price range with an uncompromised motorcycle of this caliber,” said Sheldon Coleman, founder and CEO of Big Dog Motorcycles. “The new Big Dog Chopper is loaded with high-quality components and performance specifications, and will appeal to a wide range of riders. Our dealers are very enthusiastic about this strategy.”
The 2010 Big Dog Chopper will be powered by a 111 cubic-inch S&S engine mated to a Baker six speed transmission. In true BDM form it will be long in front, with a 42 degree rake, and stout out back courtesy of its 250mm rear tire. The rear will also feature new suspension. The Chopper will still have plenty of high-end appeal with chrome handlebar and forward foot controls, sharp-looking machined aluminum wheels, and a new handlebar array. Initial photos show the Big Dog Chopper with a monochromatic paint scheme on the frame, swingarm, oil and gas tanks and fenders.
“The new Chopper is agile to ride, lightning-quick off the line and will come from the factory with Big Dog’s legendary bike-show paint and a wide selection of custom graphics. With acceleration from 0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds and 42 mpg, this bike is amazing,” continued Coleman.
Big Dog’s 2009 Coyote was the company’s previous lowest priced offering at $23,900. But the current recession has hit the factory-custom production houses hard and BDM realizes price points have to come down in order to survive. Big Dog, who has been the leader of this market segment with more than 25,000 motorcycles sold over the last 15 years, recently hired the investment banking firm of William Blair & Company to help the company merge, partner or sale. In the meantime, it hopes to secure a few sales by rolling over its 2009 lineup of five Pro-Street motorcycles and two chopper style bikes in addition to introducing its new base Chopper m
2010 Big dog Chopper
Big Dog Motorcycles realizes in order to stay in the game, price points had to come down. Introducing the 2010 Big Dog Chopper, it's lowest-priced offering to date.
“We are excited to participate in this price range with an uncompromised motorcycle of this caliber,” said Sheldon Coleman, founder and CEO of Big Dog Motorcycles. “The new Big Dog Chopper is loaded with high-quality components and performance specifications, and will appeal to a wide range of riders. Our dealers are very enthusiastic about this strategy.”
The 2010 Big Dog Chopper will be powered by a 111 cubic-inch S&S engine mated to a Baker six speed transmission. In true BDM form it will be long in front, with a 42 degree rake, and stout out back courtesy of its 250mm rear tire. The rear will also feature new suspension. The Chopper will still have plenty of high-end appeal with chrome handlebar and forward foot controls, sharp-looking machined aluminum wheels, and a new handlebar array. Initial photos show the Big Dog Chopper with a monochromatic paint scheme on the frame, swingarm, oil and gas tanks and fenders.
“The new Chopper is agile to ride, lightning-quick off the line and will come from the factory with Big Dog’s legendary bike-show paint and a wide selection of custom graphics. With acceleration from 0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds and 42 mpg, this bike is amazing,” continued Coleman.
Big Dog’s 2009 Coyote was the company’s previous lowest priced offering at $23,900. But the current recession has hit the factory-custom production houses hard and BDM realizes price points have to come down in order to survive. Big Dog, who has been the leader of this market segment with more than 25,000 motorcycles sold over the last 15 years, recently hired the investment banking firm of William Blair & Company to help the company merge, partner or sale. In the meantime, it hopes to secure a few sales by rolling over its 2009 lineup of five Pro-Street motorcycles and two chopper style bikes in addition to introducing its new base Chopper m
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