Today's Bikerbits news

The information compiled in this newsletter is gathered from news publications on and off line. The information in no way suggests the views of the editor compiling the information; nor is she responsible for the contents. This eZine is just informational containing news from other sources which are credited for the origin.

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Servicing all your insurance needs- Same day Registry Running Service- Carco Inspections performed.

Betsy E Lister Founder of Bikerbits.info inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame 2010

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PLEASE SEND ANY INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE POSTED TO ME AT: GYPSYPASHN@AOL.COM, THANK YOU!

Mark your calendars for March 13! That�s this Saturday for a bike run to be held for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Casa Grande Valley, Arizona City Branch. The event will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Silver Bullet bar in Casa Grande.

The idea for the Fun Run is not intended only for the customary motorcycles and motorcycle enthusiasts, but for all people who want to participate. If you are not a two-wheeler, then bring your four wheels and come and join in. We want everyone included in this run: cars, trucks, vans, and what you have. If you don't want to drive, hitch a ride with someone and show your support.

A Yuma man arrested over the weekend for allegedly running a motorcycle chop shop has been charged with four felonies.

Robert Alan Hagan, who owns One Percent Choppers, has been charged with owning or operating a chop shop, buying or selling vehicles for a chop shop and two counts of theft of transportation.

According to Bart Graves, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the business was raided Saturday by DPS' GIITEM (Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission) task force, Yuma police, the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

"We had obtained information that motorcycles were being chopped there and the parts sold in California," Graves said. "The intent was to locate stolen vehicles or parts."

After finding property that was believed to have been stolen, several pieces of stolen motorcycle parts, Graves said a warrant was obtained to search the entire premises.

During a search of the business, Graves said, investigators found two complete motorcycles, multiple motorcycle frames and two engine cases.

The motorcycles and the parts, Graves said, had all been reported stolen from Mesa, Yuma and Las Vegas.

Hagan has posted bond of $14,000 and is currently out of custody. His next court date has been scheduled for March 25 at 4 p.m.

Joan Jett, A Motorcycle Sissy? Posted by Paul Hooson Published: March 10, 2010 - 2:30 PM Tough girl rock pioneer, Joan Jett, revealed an interesting tidbit on Jay Leno's TONIGHT SHOW last night. She's actually "scared" of motorcycles. She claimed you could get hurt from "one fall"..... Oh, Joan!

For years, Joan Jett has built up a tough girl image, and this might surprise a few of her fans. But Joan still likes to sit on bikes though. And with the new film about her original band, THE RUNAWAYS, coming out very soon, the music of Joan Jett should find a whole new generation of fans of the original tough girl rockers.

Although only an active band from just 1975 into 1979, The Runaways sound of hard rock became a favorite of the punk rock and new wave set. And in Japan, the teenaged band managed to have great success, probably becoming the biggest cult favorite act there since T.Rex. The group's live album was recorded in Japan because of their huge appeal there.

After the group split up, Joan Jett managed to have the greatest solo career of the band, selling millions of albums and singles. Strangely, Joan Jett sometimes did cover versions of the Gary Glitter hits from the UK which failed to chart in America, such as "Do You Wanna Touch Me. Brownsville Station with the late Cub Koda, also had a hit single with Gary Glitter's, "I'm The Leader Of The Gang" as well.

Joan Jett still continues to be the most successful member of The Runaways, although Lita Ford also managed some major degree of success as well with a number of hard rock hits. One modern band that was greatly influenced by the sound of The Runaways is the The Donnas, who have a very similar tough girl sound.

Screwdriver and Bill are hosting �THE BIKERS OF AMERICA,
THE PHIL AND BILL SHOW�
Know your Rights show every Thursday at 9 pm Est/ 6 pm Pac.
We invite you to participate by clicking the web address
www.blogtalkradio.com/bikersofamerica. or by calling
#347-826-7753 and follow the prompts.
Or for direct access, just google
screwdriver@alphabiker.com
from there you will get 2 links the radio show and the blog.
You will not want to miss this show!

The next �THE BIKERS OF AMERICA (THE PHIL and BILL SHOW)� will be on
March /11/ 2010 at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. We will be
featuring different topics Guests from around the World. Bikers
Rights, News off the wire and B.O.L.T updates from across the country.

Other potential topics �
� How Bill and I have been involved with over the years;
� The unconstitutional roadside checkpoints;
� The motorcycle only checkpoints;
� The Helmet Law�s Unconstitutional Enforcement;
� Legislation and Politics;
� The Veterans Groups,
� The V.A. Hospitals, and
� Helping Our Brothers and Sisters when asked.

Participation Options: Our show is flexible so we can either control
the topic or we will be happy to turn the podium to you. Should you
wish to hold the podium, please email me, Screwdriver at
Countermeasures Division (strokerz383@gmail.com). Please not that
this e-mail address is being protected from spambots so you will need
JavaScript enabled to view it.

Let�s Not Forget:
The Bolt Liberty Call In Hour hosted by Jan on Tuesdays at 9pm Est
or 6pm Pac through www.talkshoe.com/66775. Call in at 724-444-7444,
show #66775, and
The BikerLowDown Radio Show hosted by Chuck and The Crew. Call in
at 347-237-4874 on Wednesdays at 8pm Est or 5pm Pac at
www.bikerlowdown.com. and our new sister show www.Hermislive.com
on Sunday Feb/21/2010 at 5pm pac, 8pm est.

For broader communication, since these shows are open to the public,
please pass this email along to your family and/or friends, who you
know are interested in Motorcyclist Rights. Remember the bottom-line;
we all have a sincere involvement with knowing, sharing, and/or
enhancing our understanding about our rights as members of the biker
community so I am asking for you, family, and friends to support the
above three (3) shows.

Thank you, in advance, for your anticipated support and participation
in these important discussions.

Philip (aka Screwdriver)
BOLT of California
(760) 207-2965 or strokerz383@gmail.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need
JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information about Bikers Of A Lesser Tolerance, please visit
http://boltusa.org or for California Rights information see
www.boltofca.com

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association joins the Motorcycle Riders Foundation in advocating Right to Repair legislation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to guarantee repairers and consumers unrestricted access to independent automotive service, repairs and parts. The legislation (S.2268) would prohibit the current practice of automobile manufacturers restricting access to repair information utilized by independent repairers and would ensure complete access to diagnostic repair information to independent repairers and to the benefit of automobile consumers. Without complete repair information independent repairers will increasingly be forced to send consumers to new car repair facilities. Consumers should have a choice as to who does their car repairs. The Massachusetts Right to Repair legislation would ensure your right of choice is protected.

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition released an economic impact study late last year showing that vehicle repairs cost an average 42 percent more at new car dealerships than at independent repair shops, and if Massachusetts families were continuously directed to have their vehicles repaired only at new car dealerships, it would cost an average of $258 per family each year, adding up to a staggering $625 million in excess costs annually. The savings in some districts were as high as $600 per family.

Right to Repair has overwhelming support among Bay State consumers. Last week, a survey of 500 Massachusetts car owners revealed that the vast majority, Eighty-four percent (84%), of Bay State Car Owners, support the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Owners� Right to Repair Act. A clear majority of Massachusetts car owners also said they are more likely to vote for a legislative candidate who is in favor of the Motor Vehicle Owners� Right to Repair Act. Even those who took their car to a repair shop connected to an auto dealer (83%) support this legislation.

S.2268 is due to be heard and voted by the MA State Senate tomorrow, March 11th. The MMA and MRF urge all Massachusetts residents to contact their State Senators and ask them to strongly support this important bill.

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Boston, MA) - As you drive underground, through the winding tunnels that are the product of the big dig, you may have seen these seemingly harmless handrails.

They've been dubbed the "ginsu guardrails" because of the number of serious injuries and fatalities linked to them.

Now MassDOT has launched an internal investigation into the safety concerns surrounding the railings.

Doc D'Errico with the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association said, "You'd think that one fatality should be enough - it often is - for them to look into things. It seems like there's several fatalities, and in this particular case it seems like the majority of fatalities - seven out of nine - were motorcycles."

D'Errico says the railing posts are spaced too far apart, have sharp edges, and are too low to the ground.

"It's surprising that they took safety rails that could have been cheaper and safer and used something far more expensive that turned out to be dangerous," said D'Errico.

Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Mullan released a statement saying, "We convened a committee of senior-level engineers with expertise in safety, crash railing systems, and structural design that will review the issue and detail its findings and recommendations... by the end of the month."

Baddour says once MassDOT completes its internal investigation the Joint Committee on Transportation will decide whether there's a need for an oversight hearing.

"The professionals need to look at it, they need to come up with a report and we'll take whatever action we need to take to ensure the public that the tunnel system is safe," said Senator Baddour.

MassDOT says, "Walkway railings in the Big Dig tunnels... met all federal and state safety standards at the time of construction almost a decade ago."

"They had safety inspections for the ceiling tiles and they fell and so it just goes to show there's a lot more under the covers here and I think they need to look at the whole project and see what else went wrong," said D'Errico.

The big dig contractor who put the railings in had no comment on the investigation.

"MMA District 2 "Safety & Awareness" Meeting" on Sunday, March 28 at 11:00am.

Event: MMA District 2 "Safety & Awareness" Meeting
What: Club/Group Meeting
Start Time: Sunday, March 28 at 11:00am
End Time: Sunday, March 28 at 2:00pm
Where: Jockey Club, Raynham, MA

http://marketer.sendlabs.com/link.php?M=1472915&N=6200&uid=600&L=5000&F=H

hardrock.com/Boston

Rock Your Ink
Tattoo & Body Art Showcase
April 13, 2010 at 6PM
Ages 18 and up. No Cover.

View the work of Talented Tattoo Artists throughout New England, stop by for your chance to win cool prizes, and enjou our complimentary passed appetizers.

State trooper Paul Richter was lying on the ground, looking up at the man who had just shot him. Death seemed all but certain. The Queens-born Richter had been shot in the leg, arm and neck while checking out a vehicle that had been used in the robbery of a sporting goods store, and the shooter seemed ready to finish him off.

"Nah, he's dead," the shooter's accomplice said, giving Richter a reprieve. But the 1973 encounter in Lake Placid left Richter paralyzed for months. Eventually he was able to regain some function of his legs and can walk with the assistance of a cane.

Since then Richter has dedicated himself to helping people paralyzed by spinal cord injuries. "I've never got a penny for doing this. I can't golf anymore, so I spend my time and money this way," he joked.

Now, though, the program that Richter created -- the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board -- is slated to fall victim to the state's fiscal crisis. The board is scheduled to be phased out under Gov. David Paterson's 2010-2011 budget proposals. Supporters of the program say losing it will do immeasurable damage, not only to the field of spinal cord injury research but to the state's overall economy as well.

A Program that Funds Itself In 1998, with the help of friends and influential people like Christopher Reeve, Richter got the state to create the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board, which distributes research grants to facilities all across the state. To fund it, the state placed a surcharge on fines for moving traffic violation.

"It�s a self-sustaining program,� Richter explained. �It was an idea I had to try to raise money, and most spinal cord injuries result from automobile and motorcycle accidents."

Representatives of the budget office say the board is an unfortunate casualty of the state's dire financial situation. Facing a deficit of as much as $9.2 billion the administration says it needs to keep money from the surcharges in the general fund. The budget would cut $6.7 million scheduled to go to the board and instead keep it in the general fund.

Supporters of the board, such as Terry O'Neill, a friend of Richter's who helped get the bill that established the board enacted, say the state cannot do that.

"The statute is written very specifically, saying that the funds must be used for spinal injury research," said O'Neill. "Someone would have to rewrite the law, and I would like to know who that is, and I would go and confront them."

But Jessica Basset, a spokeswoman for the State Division of the Budget, contradicts that notion. "The money moves through the general fund first, and the law says a certain amount may be transferred into the (spinal cord) fund--up to $8.4 million. It provides a limit but does not provide a floor," she said.

According to Basset, the state intends to honor over 40 existing contracts that total over $25 million but will not be making any new grants.

Fighting for the Program Some advocates of the program say they have heard that the health commissioner Richard Daines does not think the program has produced clinical results that are immediately improving lives. Advocates admit they have not heard this directly from the commissioner but the notion is out there. Daines could not be reached for comment.

Jeffrey Hammond a spokesman for the State Department of Health, said that "some tough decisions had to be made during this difficult time." He said the program is being phased out but current contracts will be honored through 2014.

O'Neil has not heard anything specifically from Daines and suggests the cut may be symptomatic of how the budget process works. "I think if it worked as the process usually does the agencies were told to come up with things to cut, and someone just put it on the list to see if anyone protests," he said.

So now the supporters are protesting and publicizing how much they think the program has done in the area of spinal cord injury research. On Wednesday a group including O'Neill, Richter, Ratan and other experts in the field met with legislators to convince them to spare the program. Their final meeting was with representatives of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office. Silver has been an outspoken supporter of stem cell research. The staffers assured the group that they are looking at the value of each program slated to be cut in Paterson's budget but no guarantees were made to save the program. Sen. Neil Breslin who met with the group earlier in the day said it made no sense to cut a self sustaining program that is attracting more money to the state. He said he had written a letter to Sen. Tom Duane chair of the Senate Health Committee. The board, O'Neill said, "picked a very distinct problem -- nerves don't regenerate--and we've funded different ways of attacking that problem: pharmaceutical, physical therapy, robotics, cell transportation."

A ski accident in 2007 left Lieberman a quadriplegic, unable to accomplish some of the simplest tasks, like brushing her teeth. As a powerful Manhattan corporate lawyer Lieberman was used to being in total control, but her accident left her at the mercy of others. Thanks to physical therapy involving the use of robotics, therapy she receives at a clinic partly funded by the state through the spinal cord injury board, Lieberman has been able to regain the use of her hands.

"Because of this therapy I can work. I can turn the pages of a book. You tell me how important that is to a lawyer. How do you quantify that? For the first time I can lie in bed and read the New York Times. How do you quantity being a mother with a 10-year-old son and being able to feed him breakfast?" Lieberman said.

Lieberman receives therapy at the Burke/Cornell Medical Research Institute. The process involves strapping her arm into the "wrist machine," as she calls it. Lieberman looks into a screen and is prompted to make certain motions. Repeating the motions builds strength where once she had none.

Usually, Lieberman said people with spinal cord injuries do not continue to improve three years after their accident, as she has. "The further out you go, what you have is what you get, but the opposite is true for me" she said, Because of the strength I have from the therapy at Burke I can now pull a door open. You tell me if that's worth funding."

"The weight the robots put on the nervous system allow the brain and spinal cord to repair and increase function,� said , director of the institute.

Money Attracts Money Ratan said the program would not exist if it were not for the funding. He says the state provides a little over 10 percent of funding for his program but because of the state money his program was able to leverage grants from a bevy of other sources. He said the state funding led to his recruitment at Burke and has helped establish a network of researchers across the state who share data on what works.

"The state funds are a magnet for money into the state," said Ratan, adding that the state grants not only lead to grants from the federal and private sectors but also to the creation of more medical facilities and the recruitment of students into the field. "So it makes no sense on a moral level or on a strictly financial level" to cut the program, he said.

Ratan describes a 21-year-old who jumped into the shallow end of a pool and became paralyzed seven years ago. "Seven years later he has regained muscle function. We were able to restore function in ways that are really unheard of," he said.

Richter and his associates have been lobbying legislators on the effectiveness of their program. They point to research the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board funds at Columbia University, the University of Rochester and the University at Albany-- all programs that have demonstrated real results.

Stem cell biologist Sally Temple, whose research at the New York Neural Stem Cell Institute receives about 20 percent of its funding from the state program, won the 2008 MacArthur "Genius" award for her research into treating spinal cord injuries. She says losing funding could lead to layoffs of her staff. She said a number of her colleagues who were considering moving their labs to the region are now looking elsewhere because the program is in jeopardy. The state has built a reputation as a bastion for this kind of research since the program was formed in 1998 and now the network of researchers and the reputation hangs in the balance.

Long-term Savings O'Neill and Lieberman both say the state should not cut back on funding for this kind of research at a time when so many veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered head, neck and spinal injuries. "How are we going to tell veterans that we can't fund this research?" asked Lieberman. "They are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan paralyzed. Do we tell them that they have to live like that?"

Treating people so they can return to work also will save the state money in the long run, Lieberman notes. "They say Medicaid costs are killing the state," she said. "Well, I agree. So they should use the money and put people on these machines. Fund the research that has let me go back to work. I couldn't do anything, but now I'm back at work as a lawyer."

Ratan said the machines cost anywhere from $12,000 to $75,000 to purchase. His main concern is testing the machines to find out exactly which kind of spinal cord injuries the machines benefit and how long therapy should be used. He said plans were underway to start a study of robot therapy on 500 patients. Ratan said the study will not likely take place if the state funding program is canceled.

Lieberman says she knows it will take collaboration and work on a number of different therapies just to help her improve. "There is no silver bullet," she said. "Spinal cord injury is very complicated. No one is going to inject me one day and I will be able to walk the next day. My muscles are atrophied. I would need all sorts of therapy to get that back. It might not be stem cells; maybe robotics, all sorts of electronic stimulation to solve the problem."

But she has made real progress. She can now lift a toothbrush -- an electronic one at that -- to brush her own teeth. When her van is in the shop she now feels capable enough to take the bus home by herself. And she credits all that improvement to the therapy she receives at Burke. She just hopes more people will get the same chance she had.

"I met a man who said the state pays $300,000 a year for his care. Why can't we take that money and put people on these robots?" asked Lieberman. "Think of the money. You can't quantify that -- giving someone back the ability to support themselves."

http://blog.cleveland.com/parmasunpost/2010/03/eleven_indicted_in_motorcycle.html Eleven indicted in motorcycle theft ring By Bob Sandrick, Sun News March 10, 2010, 7:02PM PARMA -- Six Parma residents were among 11 people indicted last week for their parts in a motorcycle theft ring that police have been investigating since 2004.

Estil Duncan III, 33, Jacob Carroll, 24, Jacqueline Smith, 29, William Smith, 22, Laura Duncan-Jones, 49, and Jeff Grimes, 28, allegedly were members of the ring.

Also indicted were Dale Batke, 29, Sandra Grimes, 24, and Jacob Karlowicz, 26, of Cleveland; Jeffrey Petzold, 32, of Parma Heights; and Shawn Neelon, 21, of Lakewood.

The 11 are scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Two of the 11 � Batke and William Smith � are in prison serving time on other charges, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor�s Office.

According to prosecutors, members of the ring stole motorcycles between 2004-2009 throughout Cuyahoga County.

Ring members then stripped the motorcycles, re-assembled the parts on different frames and sold the bikes as custom made.

In 2004, Parma police received a tip that several area men � including Batke, Carroll, Duncan and William Smith � were stealing Japanese-brand motorcycles like Hondas, Suzukis and Kawasakis.

At first the men just rode the bikes until they destroyed them. Then they realized they could make money by selling the bikes and-or parts to friends.

However, police eventually learned the men bought motorcycle frames � containing legitimate vehicle identification numbers � at junkyards for $400-$600 a piece.

The men attached stolen motorcycle parts on the frames to create Japanese super bikes. Then they sold the super bikes, some on eBay.

For example, Petzold, Karlowicz, Duncan-Jones, who is Duncan�s mother, Jeffrey Grimes and his wife Sandra Grimes � along with Duncan � bought frames and sold the super bikes.

Meanwhile, Jeffery and Sandra Grimes, Neelan and Jacqueline Smith, who is William�s Smith�s sister, stored motorcycles and hid evidence.

At first the ring kept stolen motorcycles and parts in a storage locker on Cleveland�s West Side.

Petzold, who did most of the mechanical work on the bikes, rented the storage locker until 2008.

After that, ring members began storing stolen motorcycles in their home garages.

Over the years, Parma police have issued searched warrants and recovered some of the stolen bikes.

For example, in late 2005-early 2006, police issued a warrant to search a Cleveland house and recovered one of the stolen bikes there.

Police didn�t make an arrest, however, because their investigation was ongoing.

Some ring members also sold drugs, including OxyContin, and have been arrested and convicted on those charges.

Charges against ring members include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, attempted theft, receiving stolen property, attempted receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and tampering with records.

Other charges include failure to comply, telecommunications fraud, forgery, conspiracy, money laundering, breaking and entering, possessing criminal tools, drug possession and drug trafficking.

This marks the seventh year Motorcycle Events, Inc. has brought together a mixture of motorcycle dealers, accessory and apparel retailers and related businesses.

Many in the motorcycle community recognizes this annual event as the official kick-off of the new riding season. Local motorcycle enthusiasts can gather with friends to see the new bikes and gear while watching extreme stunt competition

The events include a custom street bike and chopper show with cash prizes, as well as a tattoo showcase featuring Johnny Jackson from Texas Body Art, a three-day swap meet and sponsored by Texas Scooter Times and an expanded stunt competition

52-year-old Joseph Kenvin of Berkshire will spend 11 months to a year behind bars for negligent operation.

Kenvin was under the influence of prescription drugs. But since he was prescribed the drugs, he was convicted on lesser charges.

Do you have an aftermarket exhaust system and or airbox on your motorcycle? Have you ever wondered whether or not your motorcycle is too loud? Testing your decibel limit may not be enough.

Sound expert Chris Real demonstrates how to perform the new SAE J2825 motorcycle sound test. This is the official test procedures for all motorcycles operating in the United States.

The test has a number of interesting procedures and it is not as straight forward as a simply noise level at a certain RPM. How to perform the SAE J2825 motorcycle sound test is explained step-by-step in this video.

� Performance: S&S Shorty Carburetor, SikPipes Exhaust, Joker Controls, Dakota Digital speedometer gauge

� Exterior: Savage Cycles frame and gas tank, clamp-on handlebars, Black Ostrich Upholstery on seat pan, Hammer Cycles grips and accessories

Mike Ziehl would never strike you as the kind of rugged biker who uses his motorcycle as a means of intimidation. Yet the "Mad Max"-inspired low-profile chopper is enough to make you wonder whether Ziehl's dark side gets something of an ego boost each time he straddles the seat and revs the 1200-cc engine.

Ziehl's interest in motorcycles remains a large part of his identity. Through the years, he attended many bike shows, researched reams of paper magazines and searched the Internet tirelessly in an effort to build a profile of what his perfect bike would be. A meeting with Savage Cycles of Frostburg, Md., at the 2008 Delmarva Bike Week became the impetus to put his long-rehearsed plans to work. Savage simply doesn't sell bikes, it builds them from start to finish, fabricating parts and even applying trick paint jobs in house.

"I liked the raw mechanics and style of their work, so I knew I wanted to incorporate their custom parts into my build," Ziehl said.

Ziehl committed to start the build in October 2008. Because it was his first such build, the process would be calculated and slow. He found a reasonably priced 1999 Buell Lightning on eBay and drove out to Michigan to receive the bike. After disassembling the Buell, he sorted out the parts that he would use in the custom build and resold those he wouldn't be using. Any parts that looked worse for wear Ziehl had refurbished before reconstructing the bike.

"I had a lot of 'process of elimination' moments because I wasn't following any kind of guide or instructions," said Ziehl, who accomplished most of the work on his own during free weekends.

After Ziehl had figured out the fuel injection to carburetor conversion, the frame was mocked up at Savage Cycles, and a flat triangular-shaped gas tank was inserted. The handlebars were also bent to be flush with the tank. Finally, Ziehl attached the forward and hand controls and inserted foot pegs.

Once the bike was in a condition where he could roll it down the street, he sent it to Savage Cycles, which did the custom paint work and airbrushed rivets to create an industrial appearance of sheet metal slapped together. The dramatic accents include handlebars that extend into pointed spikes and a spiked exhaust pipe pointing downward. The black-on-metal with chrome is tastefully distributed throughout the whole bike.

Ziehl finally completed the bike this month and plans to drive it wherever the road takes him. The biggest challenge in the build process was a combination of time and knowledge.

"I've worked on car and truck modifications and restorations, but a motorcycle build is completely different. ... Measurements, laws and comfort are the biggest differences. I'm still working the gremlins/bugs out of it and making adjustments. You can't just take it to a dealer when you have a problem, you need to work on it and figure it out yourself."

Ziehl's next project is to fit a passenger seat directly over the rear tire. So much for his fiancee's comfort!

What makes your motorcycle special? I wanted a "Mad Max"-style bike to showcase something different that I could ride the hell out of too.

What is your most memorable experience? So far, watching people's reactions and the stares I get on the road.

What music are you currently listening to (and obviously not on your chopper)? Coldplay, 30 Seconds to Mars, old-school rap, '80s rock, Eminem, Godsmack, etc.

WARNING!! MATERIAL BELOW MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND/OR DEATHS!!

Anthony Jones - Celebrity News Service Reporter Los Angeles, CA, United States (CNS) - "Sex and the City 2" star Max Ryan was hospitalized in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a head-on crash in LA on Monday.

"He's been unconscious at Cedars and just regained consciousness" at around 10am PST, an insider told Life & Style magazine. Ryan was riding his motorcycle in LA when a motorist turned in front him and caused a head-on collision, which left him trapped underneath the vehicle.

"Max is stabilized. According to attending physicians, he has broken five ribs and cracked his collarbone," his manager told Life & Style.

Ryan plays Rikard, a new love interest for Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones in the upcoming "Sex and the City" sequel. He's also appeared in the thriller "Death Race" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

12:51 p.m. EST, March 10, 2010 E-mail Print Share Text Size os-fatal-delayed-volusia-20100310

A man whose motorcycle overturned while he was driving in Volusia County on Sunday has died, Florida Highway Patrol is reporting.

Henry Gordon Johnson, 67, of Deltona, was traveling on Enterprise Osteen Road near Ledford Road about 2:55 p.m. when he lost control of his 2009 Harley-Davidson, according to FHP. The motorcycle left the roadway and overturned.

If you have any news you'd like to share, please send to me at:
Gypsypashn@aol.comthank you!

We try to make sure that you all are kept abreast
with what's going on in the Motorcycling community.

As I live each day, I will do my part,
to make a difference, and touch one heart.
Everyday it will be my goal,
to bring information and enlighten your soul.
Continuous news I'll disseminate
With the hopes that you will participate
One life to lose, is one life too many
If we don't fight for our rights,
pretty soon there won't be any!