On Motorcycles

Lt. Col. (ret) Erik Kramer introduces me to the only nonprofit dedicated to providing long-term assistance to the widows of U.S. special operators killed in combat or training since 911 across all services. They are conducting a Motorcycle Sweepstakes that runs through 24 December 2021 and are giving away a customized Indian Motorcycle valued at $30,000. Dan Toce customized the bike.  Please see the bike        Thinking about starting a new motorcycle group.  What are your thoughts on groups / clubs?

Are Motorcycles Dangerous?   What people say as soon as you want to buy one or they find out you ride?  Some people get involved in near-death accidents and they completely go off motorcycles, while others get back their motorcycles as soon as they are healed and able to ride again.   Not trying to jinx you or put a mojo on you brothers and sisters.  What I am doing is getting rid of the elephant in the room.  Maybe there is a new rider, a future rider, a person listening that is thinking about buying or throwing that leg over.    Motorcycling is a mindset.  It is a lifestyle. Am I right about it?   Lets tell the truth and shame the devil? How dangerous is riding a motorcycle?  The answer is largely dependent on the rider. Operating a motorcycle requires more mental and physical effort than driving, and a motorcyclist has a significantly higher risk of serious injury in an accident than a driver.  However, with constant training to improve your skills, wearing your safety gear all the time, and always being vigilant on the road can reduce your chances of being in an accident.  Cars have a protective structure that surrounds the driver and comes with safety features such as airbags, seatbelts, and crumple zones designed to protect the driver in case of an accident.  A car has four wheels that give it more balance than a motorcycle, which means that it takes more effort to ride a motorbike than it does to drive a car. On the other hand, motorcycles are easier to accelerate and maneuver through traffic In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists died in motorcycle crashes, down slightly from 5,038 in 2018, according to the (NHTSA). In 2019, motorcyclists were nearly 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle miles traveled. Most motorcycle accidents are preventable, and there are some basic motorcycle safety tips that you must follow to stay safe on your motorcycle.  Riding gear includes chaps, , , a full , , as well as a Getting road rash really sucks but having a head injury because you did not wear a proper helmet is very much worse.  You can get breathable gear from motorcycle shops that allow air circulation so you don't feel sticky. Also, consider getting high visibility gear to make it easy for other road users to see you. Road Hazards There is a vast variety of that could affect how a motorcycle operates. From slick streets to road obstructions, many things could cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash. The smaller, lighter frame of the vehicle means riders have less protection in the event of a crash. Therefore, motorcyclists need to take the proper precautions and try to avoid the followings hazards: Wet roads Animals Fallen trees or limbs Potholes Crumbling or uneven pavement Left Turns Thanks For subscribing. join us on Facebook.           List of cool stuff. Merrillsleather on etsy. I've bought leather grips from him. Also bought extra leather for my armrests from him. Nice guy out west in Utah and very reliable for smaller leather needs.    https://captain-itch.com/   Very high quality leather work! Gun and knife holsters as well.    https://www.buffalobrand.co/    Indian motorcycle specific air horns. Very high quality. Husband and wife engineer and designer that didn't like their horn on their Indian. So they decided to create what they wanted.    https://www.bigbikethings.com/ Nice guy in New Zealand, only armrests I could find that fit Indian vintage backrests.    https://www.kuryakyn.com/   High quality after market accessories. I've purchased the arrow floorboards, brake pad, heel shifter and highway pegs.    https://freedomperform.com/    I just added freedom true dual exhaust and freedom liberty slip on exhaust. Great sound and quality!

Have You Heard About the Apple No iPhones on Motorcycles Warning ?   What are your resources for buying aftermarket gear?  What do you think of horns?  Who would you get one from? Have you heard of ? Are you going to Ocean City Bike Fest?     Support the show:                 Apple Warns Riders Not To Mount iPhones On Their Motorcycles Bike vibrations can apparently wreck iPhone cameras. Who needs navigation, anyway?     Sep 13, 2021 at 11:31am ET By: Janaki Jitchotvisut   On September 10, 2021, Apple published a new support bulletin advising many late-model iPhone users against mounting their devices on motorbikes. What’s the reason? To quote the document directly, “exposing your iPhone to high amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges, specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines, can degrade the performance of the camera system.”       The language is, shall we say, somewhat imprecise. For example, Apple doesn’t give any clue as to the specific frequency ranges involved, nor what it defines as a “high-power motorcycle engine.” It’s worth bearing in mind that in some countries around the world, bikes over 400cc are considered to be “big bikes,” whereas other countries like the U.S. seem to think that anything under 1,000cc is small. Actual numbers are helpful when you’re an international company seeking to address the needs of many and various groups of people.  Still, maybe Apple wasn’t all that concerned about that lack of specificity, because it went on to recommend that iPhone owners probably shouldn’t use them on smaller-engined two-wheelers either, such as mopeds or scooters. The exact wording there is, “attaching your iPhone to vehicles with small-volume or electric engines, such as mopeds and , may lead to comparatively lower-amplitude vibrations, but if you do so a vibration dampening [sic] mount is recommended to lessen the risk of damage to your iPhone and its optical image stabilization (OIS) and autofocus (AF) systems.”    It then goes on to add that “It is also recommended to avoid regular use for prolonged periods to further lessen the risk of damage.” Again, what constitutes “prolonged periods” and/or “regular use”? Tell riders you want them to cease using iPhones on all types of motorbikes without telling riders you want them to cease using iPhones on all types of motorbikes, Apple. Sheesh.   What iPhone models are affected? MacRumors, which first spotted the new support document, adds that the OIS and closed-loop AF systems that Apple cites as potentially being negatively impacted by motorcycle vibrations have been in use from the iPhone 7 forward. Additionally, the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus also make use of these systems.   Now, riders who are also iPhone users have brought up problems they’ve had pertaining to this issue on forums in the past. However, this September 2021 support document from Apple is the first statement the company has officially made about it. It’s not clear why it’s making this statement at this exact moment in time. In any case, that’s clearly going to frustrate a large number of people who use their iPhones for , music, and just the general fact of modern life in 2021.   Sources: , , ,

My first 500 miles  Using Apples CarPlay Stuff I just bought New helmet Battery tender Riding shoes Air cushion Cell phone holder Jackets -  is the spot to shop.   Taresa Uncaged and I parted ways   Support the show at   IG @indianmotorcycleradio FB

On this episode we are going to talk about some influential women in motorcycle history. Since I have started reading about the history of Indian Motorcycle, I got curious. Motorcycling is a male dominated activity, but more and more women are joining the riding community each year. So, when did women start riding motorcycles?   Today I took a ride. Big surprise there huh?! My son finally got his big brother’s bike fixed and road worth again so of course we had to ride to brunch. Then we parted ways because he’s a teenage boy and had to go show his friends his motorcycle, so I went and did a few things. As I was getting close to home, like literally around the corner, I remembered taking my first big step in riding. I guess you could say it was a beginner’s milestone. My block is actually 2 smaller blocks chunked off from a bigger block. Then there are a bunch of those bigger blocks that make up this section of the neighborhood. It’s about 2 and a half miles to go all the way around this chunk. I was thinking about when I was finally brave enough to ride around this chunk of blocks. The speed limit is a whopping 30 miles and hour. I felt joy and exhilaration overcoming that next obstacle and getting more comfortable on the road. So today as I was coming home, I remembered all those feelings and decided to ride that ride again. I thought about how nervous I was coming to a stop at all 6 of the stop signs. I remember waiting for traffic because I was unsure of my ability to get going and up to speed. I laughed at myself thinking how far I have come. It was fun to think about the past and see all I have accomplished. And once again I thought about other women motorcyclists.  Seriously, when did women start riding?   Recently I talked about the beginnings of the Indian Motorcycle Company. FYI there is so much more to that history, but that’s for future episode. Anyway, as I was reading, I was wondering where all the ladies were. Yeah! Where are the women that made motorcycle history? Well, they are out there, just harder to find. But I have been doing some digging.   You know what I found out? Women started riding immediately. Motorized bicycles came out and women started riding. Motorcycles were never a men’s only thing. The practicality of them made them an ideal choice for everyone. And because motorcycles were half as expensive as the new Model-T Ford, they were preferred methods of transportation. Well, at least for a little while.   Ok let me take you back and tell you a smidge of Indian Motorcycle history to get this to really make sense. Between 1901 and 1916 Indian Motorcycle increased its success 10-fold. They were on top of the motorcycle game in every capacity, and not just in the United States but around the world. It was around 1916 that Indian modified its engine and thus the Powerplus was born. Basically, they added metal to the combustion chamber creating turbulence that increased power. That’s the cliff notes version.        The VanBuren Sisters   Anyway, this Powerplus motorcycle is what a set of sisters used to ride across the country to prove that women could help in the war efforts. Adeline and Augusta VanBuren figured that if they could prove that women could ride through the hardships of crossing the treacherous country from New York to California then they could help the war efforts as dispatch riders. This would allow more men to fight in positions women could not. These women were the first to ride a motorized vehicle up Pike’s Peak and encountered countless hardships along their journey. Unfortunately, media only reported on the amazingness of the motorcycle and glossed  over what these two ladies had done in 1916! However, because women didn’t have the right to vote, this did push more women to break stereotypes and show the world that women can do anything a man can. These two women made history. They did something that not may people did, and their story is inspirational.   Theresa Wallach   The next woman that I think was an inspiration to motorcycle history was Theresa Wallach. She was originally from Europe but eventually moved to the United States. Over her lifetime she was a true motorcycle adventurer. She grew up surrounded motorcycles and learned to ride from some of the best of the time. As she grew, she learned wrench on bikes in addition to honing her riding skills which led her to win numerous local competitions. But this was the 1930’s so her behavior was very unbecoming of a lady. Theresa did what the VanBuren’s couldn’t. She was able to become a military dispatch rider, but this was only one small accomplishment for her. She took what is considered one of the most radial rides ever from London, England to Cape Town, South Africa! This rocketed Theresa to celebrity status and helped her get accepted into the British racing establishment. When she came to America, Theresa became known for her mechanical abilities and worked in a shop until she opened her own motorcycle dealership. She wrote 2 very successful books about her motorcycle journeys and began teaching new riders in 1959. She opened the Easy Riding Academy and still had time to serve as the first Vice President of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association. Theresa never owned a car and rode up until she could no longer see well enough to ride in her 80’s. Theresa was a pioneer for women riders around the world.   Bessie Stringfield   These last few ladies were inspirational and truly pushed for women, but this next lady was such a pioneer in her own rights.  I’m talking about the Motorcycle Queen from Miami, Bessie Stringfield.  Not only was she breaking barriers for women, but the black community as well. This woman has an award in her name. The Bessie Stringfield award is granted to a person who introduces motorcycling to emerging markets. That explanation in itself should give you an idea of this woman’s influence during her lifetime. Bessie’s first motorcycle was a 1928 Indian Scout, which she taught herself to ride. Then she switched over to Harely, and even though it makes me sad that was a Harley woman, I have to forgive her because of the leaps and bounds she made with her riding. She began by riding all over the country, and as a black woman in the 30’s and 40’s that was unheard of and unimaginably dangerous for her. She would be denied basic needs like a place to stay because she was black, and reports say she would on occasion sleep on her motorcycle if she couldn’t find black folks to take her in. This hardship didn’t seem to bother her much and she went on to ride across the country several times before completing serious training with difficult maneuvers to become a civilian Army motorcycle dispatch rider. Bessie eventually settled in Miami, hence the name Motorcycle Queen of Miami. She got the name from riding while standing on her motorcycle. She started a motorcycle club and even won a motorcycle race. However, she denied her the prize because she’s a woman.    Gloria Tramontin-Struck   Gloria Tramontin-Struck started riding at 16 years old. She loved traveling and was determined to do it on a motorcycle. Because she was riding in the 40’s, like Bessie it was improper for a woman. This is still mind blowing to me. When motor bikes first came out, women used them so when did it become improper? Whatever, it was! And Gloria experienced similar situations to Bessie. Both ladies were refused rooms and basic necessities for their travels. Gloria continued riding and estimates that she rode at least 700,000 miles. She is a regular at motorcycle rallies such as Sturgis and Daytona and has helped to change the way people view motorcyclists.   Dot Robinson   Dot Robinson used her tenacity to get herself into motorcycle racing. She is credited with being the first female racer in many events, but we know that’s not true. Remember Bessie raced but wasn’t credited for it. Some stories tell of Dot winning races then cleaning up and presenting herself as the lady she was. This was ultimately what got her noticed and really helped to start to change perceptions of women in motorcycling, in particular women in racing.   Mary McGee   Mary McGee liked car racing and thought, “what the heck? Let’s learn to race motorcycles because it may help me get better at racing cars.” She was forced to take a test to prove her ability and became the first woman to hold a FIM license in the United States. So, yay legal Female racer!!! Making waves for women in the sport!!! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that she began racing in the late 50’s early 60’s so we are still working on the perception of motorcyclist as normal people, especially women motorcyclists. All of these women played a part in motorcycle history. The Van Buren sisters, Theresa, Bessie, Gloria, Dot, and Mary. I did not do their stories justice, and there are so many more women out there that had pivotal roles. I am in awe at what these women did for the motorcycle community. I am truly amazed at their willpower to continue through every challenge thrown at them. I am inspired by their perseverance in the face of adversity. I am also a little more enlightened on the history of motorcycling. I’m so glad I followed up on women’s motorcycle history. Thanks Taresa.

I was enjoying the music (80s) took me back. Just rambling and glad to talk to you. Hope you are doing ok.   Thanks for supporting the show    Thanks for being a member of our Facebook page   Just happy.   Thanks for rolling with a brother    Next show: Taresa Uncaged shares some Women in History.  Don’t miss it.

Ok so the beginning. Well first I want to talk about the beginning of the brand I love. Can you guess what it is?  When I say beginning, I mean the first 15 years ISH. Why you ask, uh because that is truly the beginning….and that’s the only chapter I’ve read so far so then there’s that.    FYI I’m reading 120 Years of America’s First Motorcycle Company, Indian Motorcycle since 1901 by Darwin Holmstrom. And anything I say is me paraphrasing. So, let’s get right into it.   Indian Motorcycle was started by a highly accomplished penny farthing racer named George Hendee. Now I know I already lost some of you with the penny farthing comment. That is the alternative name people in the late 1800’s gave to those weird looking bicycles with the giant front wheel and tiny back wheel that was actually called a High-wheeler, so original right?! Well, these cool high wheelers were really dangerous and not very practical.    So Hendee decided to stop racing and start selling bicycles, why you ask? He was very accomplished and raced in front of nearly 30,000 people winning nearly all of his races. Why would he stop at the top of his game?  The answer is because he was a smart businessman. He knew the game was changing. The creation of the smaller safety bicycle created a demand for sales!!   People needed a faster way to get around before the rise of the modern car. Safety bicycles could help you get to town and back in a day, which previously took about 2 with traditional horse and buggy. Now all this was happening in the late 1890s, so the Hendee Manufacturing Company was way ahead of its time producing and exporting motorized bicycles for average everyday use.    Now I know what you’re thinking, Hendee Manufacturing Company, I thought you said Indian Motorcycle? I did we are getting there. Ok so these new safety bicycles were immediately used in racing because people back then didn’t really have much to keep them occupied. But someone thought “Let’s put an engine on it and use it as a pacer for the races” Genius!! Only problem was the motors sucked and cause more of a spectacle than the actual races did.    Enter Oscar Hedstrom. I know Hendee and Hedstrom. It may get confusing, but you got this!! So Hedstrom was like a mad scientist for machining. He took it upon himself to take the bicycle engine and update it. Basically, he carbureted it! Now I’m not a gear head so I have no idea what else he did, but people loved it. Any Pacer bicycles Hedstrom created, people wanted to buy for personal use.    Now here is where Hendee meets Hedstrom and they join forces. Hendee saw the pacers as a huge selling point for the general public and the two joined forces in January of 1901. And that my friends is why 1901 is all over Indian Motorcycles and the gear. I’ll explain the name change later.   Eventually they figured out bicycle frames didn’t work for these amazing engines that Hedstrom was creating. Enter the motorcycle. The new frame allowed more room for the engine, and I think it helped with the heat no longer melting stuff too. Along with the change in frame came more changes to the engine. They created the v-twin engine in 1907 and eventually created the kick-start around 1913. These innovations led Indian Motorcycle to become a heavy hitter in the world of racing with a 61 cubic inch /998 cubic centimeter v-twin engine. Some of the racing motorcycles could reach speeds over 100 miles per hour. I know insane right!!    During these years the motorcycle business was booming and more than doubling in sales with each passing year. Indian Motorcycle wasn’t just an AMERICAN industry leader, but the worldwide motorcycle manufacturer, until…… the Ford Model T. Cars are more practical for families, and they took over, but this is not where the story ends….   Oh yea, I forgot to tell you about the name. So originally Hendee went with Hendee Manufacturing Company. He was selling his motorized bicycles labeled as Indians. During this time American Indians were actually at war with the United States government, but it wasn’t really publicized. Yea not much news out there so people had a completely different view Of Native American’s as noble and living off the land with a sense of regality. Also, the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show was huge, so this made the name Indian really good for marketing.    And there you have it, Indian Motorcycle’s infant years. The beginning was nowhere near what I thought it would be. Actually, I had no idea where it came from which is why I got the book in the first place. Knowledge is key. But someone started with an idea. And really isn’t that what everyone starts with.    So, you’ve got this idea in your head to ride a motorcycle. NOW WHAT?!  It’s so weird how things happen because I recently had a similar conversation with a friend when we rode to breakfast the other morning. You may remember her. Emy, the one with the new Chief. FYI, I mentioned her in a previous episode and said she finished her masters, but I was mistaken it was her PHD. Anyway, this bad ass lady and I were talking about all the crazy things that go thru our brains especially when we first start out riding. You’re excited and slightly terrified, exhilarated and kinda don’t wanna even try.    So, once you decide to go down the road towards riding a motorcycle, what’s next. Well, for each person the answer is going to be different. I had the idea in my head and decided to drag my friend to dealerships every weekend for 2 months trying to find the perfect bike for me. After the first month I realized I was completely unprepared to actually ride it and better learn. I signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or MSF course at a local dealership. I’ll link the MSF website in the show notes if you want to do more research.    I was really lucky. I did the course over during covid, so my class size was super small. I’m talking 6 people in the classroom and only 4 of us on the range. I was the only one who had never ridden so the instructor was able to spend a lot of time helping me. I’m an uber learner. What I mean is that when I set my mind on something, I am probably going to research the hell out of it to find every shred of information I can. Riding was no different. If you are nervous, there are lots of videos on YouTube that show you the basics and give you a general idea of what to do without actually doing it. My personal favorite was Blockhead. I will link his video in the show notes. His breakdown was easy to understand and fun to watch because you can tell he has a true passion for motorcycles. Side note, he also lives in Florida and I hope to meet him one day!!   Off topic, so where was I??? Oh yeah, if you want to ride a motorcycle then you must take the MSF course. You need it to get your motorcycle endorsement on your license, but it is also amazingly helpful in learning all the basic skills you need to ride. After you pass the course you’ll need to practice.    So what do we have so far? Step 1: decide to make your idea a reality Step 2: find a local Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and sign up Step 3: Get the gear   Having the right gear is vital for safety as well as being a requirement for the MSF. Search for local motorcycle places and go check out what they have. You’ll need a helmet, gloves, boots, and long sleeves. The helmet should have and ECE and/or SNELL rating sticker on the back. If it does not, then do not buy it. There are lots of brands with lots of styles and fits. Find what’s best for you. I have 2 helmets a Scorpion and a Sedici. They both fit me completely differently but well.    Gloves are the same, try them on and find what fits you best. I have full finger for winter and cutoffs for summer, but both have knuckle guards in them.    Boots need to cover your ankle. I found a great pair at Harley, and I wish I had bought 2 because they fit so well. See the trend, fit is everything.    I have about 3 jackets, one for winter, one for spring, and one extra. I chose to have removable liners for water resistance and some extra warmth. I am currently searching for a bright orange vest for summer.   Jeans are a must. I am looking for a good pair of motorcycle jeans that are stylish and protective, but I’m on a budget. I think I want to try the band Tobacco. So, if anyone has tried them, I’d love your feedback. For now, I just wear my regular jeans.    Let’s see. Where are we now? You got the gear and took the course. Now find the bike of your dreams. This process is fun and frustrating. I bounced back and for from Indian to Harley and couldn’t decide. I was also too scared to test ride anything because I was so new. I finally decided on the Indian Scout Bobber because she just felt too good to let go.  Now you get to practice. Ride your motorcycle every day. I rode around the block every day for weeks. One block then 2, then I slowly became braver and went a little farther each time.    Find a friend that rides and ask them to practice with you. See if your local MSF course people offer private lessons. Practice, practice, practice. That really is the key.    Remember, we all started as a beginner. We all felt nervous. We all practiced until we got so good you think we could ride in our sleep. Don’t try that please!!!   I took my journey towards riding alone and with people who love me supporting me, but I am so glad I took my idea to learn to ride and ran with it.      Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Blockhead: How to ride a motorcycle Part 1 - Blockhead: How to ride a motorcycle Part 2 –  Blockhead: How to ride a motorcycle Part 3 –  Blockhead: Blockhead: Taresa Uncaged Facebook: Taresa Uncaged Instagram: @taresauncaged

I ask some questions in hopes you’ll respond to me, in thought (thinking) and actually call me or email the answer to my questions. Thanks for listening, sharing and subscribing to the .   Thoughts and the truth about outlaw bikers, patches, dangers, AMA, colors, segregationalist, Sturgis history, 1% and 13 patches,  Respect others time.       Call me at 202-579-9435      Youtube channel         Taresa will be back next week.   Shalom Baby!

On this episode Taresa shares some personal thoughts and what happened to her last week. About Pop She asks you a question.

Kenn put the first 100 miles on Friday.  She’s in the break in period so taking it easy and learning her.  He almost popped a wheelie in “sport mode”.  You should have seen his 👀 eyes.  She is smoother and twice as fast as his HD Electra-glide was.  Wind therapy is real.  I needed this.   Sometimes life hits you with something that interrupts your flow.  It can stop it sometimes too.  Kenn shares some thoughts on wind therapy.   It’s a real thing, that motorcyclist like us can enjoy to soothe our spirits, destress and unwind.  After a few weeks of sitting in the garage, Kenn puts 100 miles on his 2021 Indian Challenger and reflects on life.  Take the ride with him.  You might need a handkerchief or tissue as he serenades you and murders a classic tune from Bette Midler at the end of the show. Thank you for rolling with a brother. You can support the show at     for decals and comments.