Volume Three Number 10
Early Early Birds!
Hats off to two couples from Monroe, Washington. They sent in their registrations for The 4th Annual Mother Road Ride/Rally® August 25th!
Frank & Sue Miller will join R. J. & Hazel Townsend for the ride. They plan to meet the other Eastbound riders on the Santa Monica Pier, Saturday, June 13, 1998, then head for Chicago, IL. A mere 2,448 miles away.
The Millers are our favorite kind of people, "Repeat Offenders." They registered for the 1996 & 1997 runs and have been kind enough to "tell their friends" about the event . . . and bring them along! Many thanks, Frank & Sue! Your kind of enthusiasm is what keeps us plugging away at what we believe will become America's premier event for the serious touring motorcyclist.
3rd Annual Mother Roaders
We're indebted to Pauline Ralston and Richard Smith of Florida for the picture and a
terrific diary of their 14,000 miles on two
wheels this summer. They first went to
Americade, then The 3rd Annual Mother
Road Ride/Rally®, then up the west coast on
Highway 101. Then back through Glacier
National Park to Marysville, OH and finally
home. Whew!
Texas Helmet Law(s)
Texas became a "helmet optional" (sorta) on September 1, 1998. I say "sorta" because the state legislature put some hooks in the final version that advocates of "choice" were not too happy with.
Only riders over 21 years old or over (see my picture - I qualify in spades) have the option. They must have taken the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course or carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage.
Advocates feel they can "clean up" the law in the next session of the legislature. Opponents point out that Texas repealed a helmet law in 1979 and motorcycle fatalities increased 91% in the first year following repeal.
It is tough to argue against the value of MSF training, but I doubt that the debate regarding mandatory helmet wear will be put to rest anytime soon.
BMW Newbie
That checkerboard design is
very trick but at
$16,000 a copy,
I don't know that
we'll see many
on the Mother
Road. It sports a
cast aluminum
chassis and a new Telever front suspension.
The engine is liquid cooled, 1,171cc's, 16
valves, 4 cylinders delivering 130hp. Anti-Lock II brakes pushes the price up. You can
also order heated handgrips.
The buzz I've gotten from some BMW owners is that they aren't too excited about BMW's new cruiser bike, but this sport tourer breaks a good bit of new ground for BMW.
Opportunities for
Progressive Companies
In the next few weeks we're going to be making a mailing to companies we "guesstimate" might like to become involved in The 4th Annual Mother Road Ride/Rally®. Let us know if you know of someone. We'll send them our various "plans."
