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Common Ground Common Sense: Comfort, safety found in three-wheel cycles spurs popularity by Scott Richardson

by KEARNEY | June 2, 2007 at 10:14 am | 1704 views | 7 comments

This article is posted in a A Biker Thread I run on Common Ground Common Sense.

Comfort, safety found in three-wheel cycles spurs popularity By Scott Richardson

BRANSON, MO. -- Tricycles are made for small children. TRIKES are for the BIG KIDS.

The three-wheeled motorcycles once drew only people who wanted to stand out among the bunch of traditional motorcyclists. Trike enthusiasts say individuality still counts among the main reasons to ride on three wheels instead of two.

But trikes also have a practical side, insists Jim Sickler, founder of the Brothers of the Third Wheel, an international club of trike owners. The machines are experiencing a surge in popularity as baby boomers, formerly content with two wheels, begin searching for ways to comfortably and safely ride motorcycles well into their golden years, he said.

That's not to say the 1,500 people who will gather June 3-10 at the organization's 25th annual Trike-In at Forsyth, Mo., will all sport gray hair. Brothers -- and sisters -- of the Third Wheel reflect the range of the motorcycle-riding public, he said.

Take Mary Jo and Dwight Dunn, officers in the Pride of the Prairie chapter of Brothers of the Third Wheel. She is 39, he is 45. They'll drive from their home in Tuscola to the Trike-In on a trike Dwight built about 20 years ago from a converted Volkswagen Beetle that dated to the late '60s.

Mary Jo Dunn started riding when they married 5½ years ago.

"I think his parents were hoping I'd talk him out of it, but I think we ride it more than he used to," laughed the stay-at-home-mom whose husband works for Ameren. "It's like a couch in the back seat. I feel like the queen riding around on it."

Sickler, who noted that May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month, started riding trikes when he bought his first one in 1970. The Harley Servicar was a three-wheeled motorcycle designed originally for traffic police and meter maids. Indian Motorcycle also built a version at the time.

Innovators soon came on the scene. The late Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, a custom car builder and creator of the famed hot-rod icon Rat Fink cartoon, became a trike pioneer.

"When I first got into it, it was back in the days of choppers. People built them to be different. Trikes were the same way," said Sickler, who owns four trikes.

After he retired from his job as a machinist for John Deere in the Quad Cities, Sickler's dream was to ride around the perimeter of the United States. That was accomplished a few years ago after 14,000 miles and side trips to visit relatives of his wife, Lady, in her native Canada. She is an officer in the Brothers of the Third Wheel.

Like Dwight Dunn, many people still cut, hammer, bend and weld VW Beetles into trikes. They offer the advantage of a basic mechanical system devoid of 21st century technology. No space-aged tools are needed to fix them if they break down, and owners can still do the work themselves.

Sometimes, Sickler said, it seems all it takes is a bigger hammer to make them run. The oldest VW-to-trike conversion Sickler knows of started as a 1955 Bug, which still runs. The grandson of the original creator is currently restoring it. Another advantage is a VW conversion is often the cheapest way to go.

"You can buy an old VW and put one together for $3,000," Sickler said "After that, the sky's the limit."

Harley and Indian quit making trikes years ago. But about 15 after-market companies convert standard two-wheel motorcycles in three-wheels, he said. The move may add $5,000 to $10,000 to final cost compared to the price of the original two-wheeled version.

Most trikes cost about $35,000, but he insisted that's not so bad compared to higher-end, two-wheeled motorcycles like his brother's $38,000 Harley. Other trikes that leave that amount in the dust.

"The most expensive one I know of is $100,000," he said.

The VW engines produce about 50 horsepower. A converted Honda Gold Wing may produce 80- to 90 horsepower, he said.

As testament to the three-wheelers' growing popularity, Harley Davidson is rethinking its decision to abandon the market, Sickler said. Word on the street is the company is working with another company called Lehman on a production model trike.

Lehman, which uses marketing mottos like "Enjoy the three-dom," and "Leader of the three world," currently makes after-market trikes using Harleys, Hondas and Suzukis. But a production model would shave several thousand dollars from the cost by eliminating the need to redo the entire rear end, Sickler said.

The market is there, he added. Comfort is a big selling point. The operator has ample backrest. The passenger can have, as Mary Jo Dunn said, a space like a couch. That's especially important for older riders and there are plenty of those now and more to come. Sickler's 5,000 members from 14 countries formerly held their annual rallies during the huge motorcycle gathering each year in Sturgis, N.D.

"At Sturgis, you look out in the crowd, and you don't hardly see anyone without gray in their beard anymore," he said.

Mary Jo Dunn likes the fact that driving trikes is easier than driving standard motorcycles. Balance is not an issue, and you don't have to remember to put a foot down for support every time you stop, she said. Many trikes have automatic transmissions.

"We have a lot of members whose wives or girlfriends wouldn't have anything to do with a motorcycle. That's not true with trikes. We have a lot of couples that start out with one trike and wind up with two because he gets tired of his wife driving it," said Sickler.

Sickler said state laws vary on what licenses are needed to operate trikes on the road. Newcomers should check with their secretary of state's office to see what's required. In Illinois, Sickler said anyone with a motorcycle license can drive a three-wheeler, but people who take their motorcycle-license exams on a trike are limited to driving only three-wheelers.

Mary Jo Dunn admits the unusual look of trikes is still one reason people like to ride them. Their appearance adds a certain mystique.

"It's fun to see the people do a double-take: 'Hey, wait a minute, that's not normal,' " she said.

ake a look The Brothers of the Third Wheel's 25th annual Trike-In June 3-10 at Forsyth, Mo., will draw thousands of trikes like this one. The average price for a trike is $35,000, but price tags can run even higher. (For the Pantagraph/BROTHERS OF THE THIRD WHEEL) Trikes like these are becoming more popular among the motorcycling crowd. Their biggest draw is added stability. Many have automatic transmissions, and some riders just like to be different. (For the Pantagraph/BROTHERS OF THE THIRD WHEEL)

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KEARNEY

at 10:19 on June 2nd, 2007

Women motorcyclists not just riders anymore
6/1/2007 4:57 PM
By: News 8 Austin Staff

Motorcycles at the Republic of Texas Biker Rally this weekend aren't all for the boys.

More women are straddling Harleys of their own. Women riders are the
fastest growing group of bikers in the United States. The online
magazine Women Riders Now says one in 10 new motorcycle buyers is female.

One Texas group putting the pedal to the metal call themselves the LOW Riders (Ladies on Wheels).
Members must be at least 25 and own their own bike. Women who ride as
passengers with the LOW Riders are known as BOBs (Babes on Back).


	WATCH THE VIDEO



		Chicks on wheels News 8 Austin's Amy Hadley reports from the ROT Rally.

"For me, when I'm on my bike, this is my Zen Zone. This is, you can't
think about anything - work or kids or anything. You have to be in the
moment and it's just so relaxing and, you get off the bike, it doesn't
matter what kind of day you've had. It's all good," Edie Johnson of
Central Texas Harley Davidson said.

The Central Texas Harley Davidson
on Braker Lane organizes all-women rides with themes like "cupcakes and
kickstands" and "cookies and hot chocolate." There's a riding class for
women on July 12.

KEARNEY

at 10:23 on June 2nd, 2007

Inside the Beltway
By John McCaslin
May 30, 2007

Dueling choppers
Watergate figure and syndicated radio talk-show host G. Gordon Liddy
owns four motorcycles, all nice ones. But he told Inside the Beltway
yesterday that two of his most prized choppers have to be sold.
How come?
"On the 9th of November, I will have been married for 50 years to Mrs. Liddy," he replied.
So?

"Word has come down from on high," Mr. Liddy continued. "I have four
motorcycles [two are Harley-Davidsons, a Springer and a Fat Boy], and
Mrs. Liddy says that is two too many. She who must be obeyed said two
have to go."
Last year, at age 75, Mr. Liddy competed on the TV
show "Celebrity Fear Factor" and he won the right to commission two
choppers, built to his design and specifications by Metropolitan
Choppers of Frederick, Md.
On a whim, Mr. Liddy, who is a
licensed pilot, decided each of the 110-horse-power bikes would
replicate World War II fighter planes, choosing aircraft he remembers
as a 10-year-old boy when they dueled in the skies over England: the Bf
109E Messerschmitt of Germany's feared Luftwaffe, and the Supermarine
Spitfire of Britain's Royal Air Force.
Apart from the detailed
camouflage paint schemes, headlights of the choppers replicate
propeller spinners, wheel spokes imitate propellers, and the
windscreens are replicated to scale. Neither chopper has ever been
ridden on asphalt, he says, and are housed where they were assembled in
Frederick. Starting selling price: $30,000 per bike (inquire at
Liddyspeaks @aol.com, or 410/598-4284).
Oh, and as for the
Spitfire, Mr. Liddy pointed out that the traditional British squadron
markings have been replaced with his initials.
"I don't want anybody to think that I favor the Axis powers," he explained. "I have enough bad publicity as it is."

KEARNEY

at 10:33 on June 2nd, 2007

Drive Aware — Look for Motorcycles31 May 2007
With summer vacations in full swing, DPS reminds drivers to always look for motorcycles. The most frequent cause of motorcycle crashes is the failure of motorists in other vehicles to detect motorcycles.
DPS NEWS - http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/press.htm

KEARNEY

at 10:44 on June 2nd, 2007

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KEARNEY

at 10:49 on June 2nd, 2007

Street Survival – On the Ride

50 Ways to Save Your Life

Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine, February 2007

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Motorcycle Cruiser's
mothership, Motorcyclist magazine, recently published the following
advice to an overwhelmingly appreciative response. We have decided to
republish the list of living-saving techniques-in its entirety-for our
own readership.

Assume you're invisible

Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the
assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye
contact.

Be considerate

The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off start
out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and think again

Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom

Sure, Joaquin's Fish Tacos is a five-minute trip, but nobody plans to
eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a
T-shirt and board shorts

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light
goes green, with or without a turn signal.

Leave your ego at home

The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.

Pay attention

Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. And the chrome needs
a polish. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus.

Mirrors only show you part of the picture

Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear.

Be patient

Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride
away from a curb or merge into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's
what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt.

Watch your closing speed

Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.

Beware the verge and the merge

A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty
McDonald's bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for
potentially troublesome debris on both sides of the road.

Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists

Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too.

Think before you act

Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25-mph zone or you
could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns in
front of you.

Beware of cars running traffic lights

The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection.

Check your mirrors

Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use

Mind the gap

Remember Driver's Ed.? One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the
old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for
potential trouble.

Beware of tuner cars

They're quick, and their drivers tend to be young and aggressive, therefore potentially hazardous

Excessive entrance speed hurts

It's the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads-some
cruisers can make unheard of amounts of power. Use it on the way out of
a corner, not in.

Don't trust that deer whistle

Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those
big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow
down and watch the shoulders.

Learn to use both brakes

The front does most of your stopping, but for a lot of heavy cruisers a
little extra rear brake can really help haul you up fast.

Keep the front brake covered-always

Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.

Look where you want to go

Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle
goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem.

Keep your eyes moving

Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble.
Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're
actually dealing with trouble

Come to a full stop at that next stop sign

Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble.

Raise your gaze

It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of
your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and
change trajectory.

Get your mind right in the driveway

Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40
mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway

Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic

Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until it's too late to do anything about it.

Don't saddle up more than you can handle

If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. Get something lighter and more manageable.

Watch for car doors opening into traffic

And smacking a car that's swerving around some goofball's open door is just as painful.

Don't get in an intersection rut

Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If
you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise
when it doesn't.

Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group

Riding over your head is a good way to end up in a ditch. Any bunch
worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to
link up again.

Give your eyes some time to adjust

A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto
dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, you're essentially flying
blind for the first mile or so.

Master the slow U-turn

Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the
bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot
around the rear wheel.

Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?

Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr.
Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally-and smoothly-to pull away.

If it looks slippery, assume it is

A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter
Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow
down for nothing than go on your head.

Bang! A blowout! Now what?

No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a
little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake
gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the
shoulder. Big sigh.

Drops on the faceshield?

It's raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's
been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is.
Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness.

Everything is harder to see after dark

Adjust your headlights, carry a clear faceshield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours

Emotions in check?

To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yo self before you wreck yo
self. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every
time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put.

Wear good gear

Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If you're too hot or too cold
or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're
dangerous. It's that simple.

Leave the iPod at home>br />
You won't hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care.

Learn to swerve

Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around
the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The
bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the
briquettes. Now practice until it's a reflex.

Be smooth at low speeds

Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of
rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome
weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash.

Flashing is good for you

Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps
on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more
eye-catching to trailing traffic.

Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets

Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone
running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances
of getting nailed in half.

Tune your peripheral vision
Pick
a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you
can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see
without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble.

All alone at a light that won't turn green?

Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor
wire-usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round
or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't
change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should
be on your way in seconds.

Don't troll next to-or right behind-Mr. Peterbilt

If one of those 18 retreads blows up-which they do with some
regularity-it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging
huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance.

Take the panic out of panic stops

Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some
safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between
maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again and again.

Make your tires right

None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take 'em
for granted. Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check
for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as
for general wear.

Take a deep breath

Count to 10. Visualize whirled peas. Forgetting about some clown's
80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or
ending it

KEARNEY

at 10:51 on June 2nd, 2007