HOLY CRAP!

Mother Nature is a bitch! Tuesday she tried to flood us out and yesterday she sent a super cell thunderstorm after me! This storm came barreling down the Rt 495 corridor. I knew the shit was going to hit the fan. The sky was churning and everything got real quiet and still.

Framingham and Hopkington MA got hit the hardest. Parts of Rt9 had to be shut down. The first thing I though of was that I hoped there were no bikes caught out in this!

Its been a long time since I saw rain being blown side ways with hail the size of marbles! They call it a "Micro Burst" when the wind explodes in a massive down draft. What ever you call it, I am glad I was not out on my bike when this thing hit our area!

June was shitty because of the rain. July is starting out on the weird side. I do have to say that the 4th of July weekend was FANTASTIC! We spent time in Worcester, MA. Every year the city of Worcester ( it's pronounced "wor-ster"...NOT "wor-chest-er") pretty much turns the city over to the gear-head auto clubs. It reminds me of what Laconia was back in the 70s and 80s. The best way to describe it is "organized chaos". The local city officials MUST be car nuts. If we as bikers ever tried to pull something like that off, they would call in the National Guard!

The lack of safety procedures was amazing! I was walking around with my jaw open in disbelief most of the day on Saturday. To be honest, I was in heaven! It took me back to the old days when us Bikers could actually have fun. Its to bad life has changed so much for us.

Today the sun is out and I can see patches of blue sky . Thank you Mother Nature for a beautiful day.......but your still a bitch!

Banned In Boston

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of motorcyclists crying. Why are they crying you ask? It’s because of the latest crack down on noisy motorcycles in Massachusetts. Last night on the news they had a report about the city of Boston cracking down on loud motorcycle in the North End area of the city. City officials and now checking for “EPA/DOT STAMP” on all motorcycle exhaust systems in the city. If your bike does not have said stamp, your handed a $300 ticket and told to have a nice day!

I told you folks this was heading our way months ago. The MMA can file all the law suites it wants but they will not be able to stop this and what’s sure to be a much more restrictive noise law for next year. All the MMA is doing is forcing the hand of the state to adopt the Federal standards. This will require us inspection dealers to sound test ALL motorcycles. Yes, once again I’ll be put in the wonderful position of being the bad guy.

The argument that motorcyclists bring money into the city won’t fly either. Look what Myrtle Beach, Laconia, Daytona and several other areas have done. They have made it clear that we are not welcome no matter how much money we bing into town. Why are we so unwelcome you ask? NOISE, LOUD BIKES, and ASSHOLES that act like teenagers and can’t control their right hands (insert your own bad joke).

PLEASE take my advice and dig out your stock and quiet exhaust systems. YOU WILL NEED THEM. Hey I’m only trying to save you a $300 ticket AND higher insurance costs...on EVERY vehicle you have on the road!

The MMA will NEVER get the State to repeal the helmet law...and they will NEVER win this battle over loud pipes.

Faded Tattoos

The other weekend I was sitting on a picnic table at a charity run put on by a local club. I was minding my own business as always do. I listening to the entertainment and looked up at the sky thinking to myself that the clouds were looking mean and nasty and I should think about heading back to the barn.

I’m not sure why I tend to be an asshole magnet. I don’t go out of my way to meet strangers when at these types of events. If anything I tend to keep to myself. I meet enough people during the course of my normal work week at the motorcycle shop to satisfy any need I might have to feel social.

So this "dude" strolls up to my picnic table and makes some sarcastic comment about the entertainment or the crowd or something stupid. I was not really paying attention at that point. I look up over my glasses and just give him a half ass smirk and a nod hoping he would keep walking and leave me in peace. But no such luck. He sits down on the other side of the table and starts to talk. You would think that after a few nods, and a couple of grunts from me he would get the idea I really did not want to be social and he would get up and leave. But no, he keeps talking at me. I was not even looking at him and he was continuing to yammer on. I started to feel like Charlie Brown when the teacher was talking. All I was hearing was WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH.

Then I hear something that ALWAYS pisses me off. It came though crystal clear. This "dude" says to me....."so what’s that tattoo mean?" as he points to my arm.

My tattoos are not the typical tatts you see on a lot of so called Bikers these days. I got mine years ago, one at a time for specific reasons. Each one represents a special event in my life. Some events were great and some were horrible. But each one was important enough to me to carve them into my own flesh. At most runs today you see the usual array of tattoos out there. Harley Davidson logos, flames, dice, an occasional grim reaper or naked lady. Hey that’s fine, if you want that sort of flash to fit in and make yourself feel like one of the crowd then more power to you. Those are the "dudes" that stand around comparing tatts and bragging about how great "their guy" ( the tattoo artist) is and how much money they spent. It’s the same thing they do about their bikes. Almost none of them actually work on their own bikes, they have "their guy" build it and just write him a check. Which is fine to, after all, I make a lot of money in the motorcycle business from "dudes". But trust me when I tell you that the guy with the biggest bank account will never have the same respect as the guy who built it himself.

ANYWAYS, back to my original point. Those people who have the usual tattoos you see out there want attention and don’t mind answering the same old tired questions. That’s why they got their tatts to begin with. They crave attention and want to fit in with all the other "dudes" with the same tatts.


When you see an old Biker with faded tatts that don’t make sense to you, PLEASE don’t go up to him and ask him what they mean! For him each one represents a life changing moment worthy of the pain and discomfort and sometimes not very nice environment he got that tattoo in. True most of his tatts wont win any tattoo contest. But rarely will a road hardened Biker be strutting around showing off his ink like a Hollywood gay boy. His tatts mean something to HIM and that is all that matters. Like the old saying goes.....If you have to ask, you would not understand.

JUNE GLOOM

I know it’s been a while since I last posted. The late Spring was busy with charity runs, and rides that I finally got to do with Crusty’s new love. Life has been wonderful sharing the day to day stuff, but especially the weekends with a woman that has the same passion for motorcycling as I do. Many of my weekends were spent helping prep her for her long distance motorcycle road trip this year. This was a ride she had been working on long before I even met her. Because of business and personal reasons I was not able to go, but I am happy she has been able to fulfill a dream. For a relative new comer, to the motorcycle world, she has quickly become very hard core and can out ride most of the male riders in our circle of friends!

I find myself missing her VERY much when she is not home. Who would have thought that at my age I would be feeling this way? In my past relationships, I could not wait for a little alone time. Now I count the days until she rides up the driveway.

So here we are, June is almost over and the first day of Summer is this weekend. Its been a pretty normal New England June...RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, GLOOM, GLOOM, AND yesterday morning I work up to 44 degrees out! Laconia is looking like a wash out except for a couple of mid-week days that were nice. Im VERY happy I did not step up this year and spend a ton of moolah on a Laconia trip. Crusty has been around long enough to know that Americade and Laconia = RAIN.

Ok, it’s time to Bitch....Hey I have to listen to you folks bitch, moan and complain when you walk in my shop, so its only fair that I get to spew a few complaints about shit that’s aggravated old Crusty.
I happen to be up at Bentley’s Saloon in Maine a few weeks back. Me and the lovely future Mrs Crusty had a fun time and enjoyed some fine people watching. We made a few observations and thought I would pass them along to you as a public service. Someday this information may come in handy and keep you from embarrassing yourself.

#1 For you ladies out there that fancy yourselves "Biker Babes". Trust us when we say "tighter is NOT better" when your picking out the clothes you wear. Muffin tops are cute on chubby high school girls, But NOT...and I repeat NOT on a "fifty something"woman. This is ESPECIALLY true when the "muffin" looks like its made out of cottage cheese!

#2 White people can’t and should not, dance and drink at the same time.

#3 Maine grows some HUGE human beings!

#4 Maine’s Police departments take themselves VERY ,VERY serious. Could be the fact that EVERY pickup truck on the road has a gun-rack with 3 rifles on it.

#5 Maine needs more dentists.

Those are just a few observations made during a great long weekend ride. I do plan to go back again later this year or next year.

I hope everyone is having a good year so far? I’ll try to post more often.

Till then, Ride Safe!

The Peoples Republic Of Massachusetts

I received this email from the MMA ( Massachusetts Motorcycle Association) this morning. They are warning their members of police harassment. Well they might call it harassment, but the police will call it enforcement. As always, the definition depends on which side of the ticket your standing on.

A few motorcyclists, some members of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), have reported incidents of being stopped in the Northeastern part of the Commonwealth by a Massachusetts State Police Officer, most often seen in a semi-marked patrol SUV. The officer is reported to be citing a violation of “title 41” with regard to a lack of an OEM stamp on Exhaust Systems and other infractions such as Motorcycle License Plate Mounting and Helmet Markings. Thus far, no motorcyclists have been cited for an infraction which is why we are concerned that this is a case of possible rogue behavior aimed towards harassing motorcyclists in the Commonwealth.

Reports have included improper sound testing, threats of arrest and towing of the motorcycle, and verbal abuse. Motorcyclists being stopped have included MMA members who seemingly were within the speed limit and not creating excessive noise at the time of being pulled over.

The facts concerning the law in Massachusetts:...

Regarding License Plates, in Massachusetts, it’s illegal to obscure or otherwise render a License Plate unreadable. This would include rotating the plate to a vertical orientation, bending the plate to a contour, covering it, or riding with a plate on which the numbers are no longer readable. Many states including Massachusetts have begun enforcing the readability of license plates for a variety of reasons; these actions are NOT specific to Motorcycles.

Helmets are required in Massachusetts. While the MMA supports Choice for experienced adults, we continue to pursue those changes by legal means, including legislation passed allowing helmet-less riding during permitted parades. The MMA has a sponsored bill in this year’s legislative session which was accepted by the Joint Transportation Committee in last year’s session.

Massachusetts Law states, “Every person operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attached to a motorcycle shall wear protective head gear conforming with such minimum standards of construction and performance as the registrar may prescribe.” In Massachusetts, the existing General Law does not require a DOT approved helmet by writ and there is no published list of approved helmets from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Further, while a “DOT Sticker” does raise the presumption of “good faith” relative to testing, Federal Standards do not mandate application of a “DOT Sticker” on the helmet, and the lack of a DOT sticker on the helmet is not an indication of lack of compliance, nor one that is “illegal”.

As for Exhaust Modification, the officer has been quoted on at least 2 occasions citing “Title 41”. There is no such law in the Massachusetts General Law. Calls to the Registry also confirmed no such requirement for an OEM stamp on their exhaust in Massachusetts. Further research identified the following reference to federal emissions requirements for Manufacturers:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=21a06f85064082d32e62f7f683355e63&rgn=div8&view=text&node=40:24.0.1.2.11.5.17.8&idno=40

This reference to “Title 40: Protection of Environment” is close to “Title 41” and is a standard for Motor Vehicle Manufacturers to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Noise Emission Standards at the time of manufacture. This does NOT apply to Motorcycles after sale.

So, what do you do if you’re stopped?

Without question, you want to be respectful and cooperative. While perhaps ill informed, this is still a duly authorized Law Enforcement Officer.

Obtain the officer’s name – he should be wearing and/or carrying identification. You have every right to it. If the officer refuses to provide any, you have the right to call 911 and inform them you’ve been stopped by someone who has refused to identify themselves.

If possible, identify the vehicle. State vehicles will be marked on the bumper and/or license plate.

Make notes (and if possible take pictures – many cell phones have cameras today) of the procedures being used to inspect and test your motorcycle. You are NOT legally required to assist in those tests.

You are NOT legally required to answer any unreasonable questions.

Contact the MMA with the name and description of the officer and any other details you can provide regarding the incident. If you are issued a warning or citation, we would like a copy of that document and will work with you to fight it in a Massachusetts court of law.

For additional information, please contact legislativedirector@massmotorcycle.org or chairman@massmotorcycle.org

Crusty was warning you folks along time ago that this was going to happen. The MMA did not want to hear it and old Crusty was shot down as being full of crap-o-la. The MMA is famous for telling their members what they want to hear and making them think they are getting their moneys worth. Well folks, this is the start of a VERY interesting riding season here in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts.

Look, you know it, and I know it, and the MMA knows it.....aftermarket exhaust systems are a violation of the law. You can mince words all you like, but they put out more noise then the federal standards allow and are MUCH louder then the stock systems. Weather they are stamped or not makes no difference. If you drill out your stock muffler ,which has the stamping on it, you are in violation of not only noise regulations, but also you have tampered with your emissions. Weather or not we test for emissions does not matter, your still not supposed to modify them. Technically, just replacing the exhaust system changes the emission system. Of course it only matters when your caught. If you do happen to get bagged by a registry officer the hammer will come down on you HARD. Unlike in years past the registry is stepping up enforcement and those are the guys that will make your life a living hell if your bike does not comply. You can say "piftt" all you want, but when you get caught, don't say i did not warn you. ALSO don’t forget, ANY town or city can impose their own noise regulations. We are not just dealing with State regulations now. Every police chief and every board of selectman and mayor can make life difficult for us if they want.

As far as helmets goes, DUH! You should be cracked up side the head if your wearing a $20 novelty helmet anyways. Police are not stupid folks, they know the difference between a DOT helmet and a cheap novelty piece of junk. Yes its your right to be stupid and risk your own life, but the law is specific about APPROVED, DOT helmets, A dumb little sticker will not upset the "look" of your ride. Larger profiles of a DOT approved helmet is not what makes you look funny. If your that concerned with how you look out there on the road...sell that chrome phallic symbol you ride and take up modeling.

License plates that lay forward, non-approved turn signals and a number of other popular modifications are pushing the envelope of the laws in this state. If you want to poke the beast, don’t cry if you get bit! I personally know several police officers. Trust me, they are not out to harass bikers. They have a tough job and are doing their best to protect you from the real shit heads out there.

I laugh out loud when I read the part of the email that states you can call 911 if a police officer refuses to identify himself. SURE YOU DO! First off any of us who has had "dealings" with state police officers knows that’s not gonna happen. The moment you start to give the officer any lip, or question his actions or if your actually stupid enough to pull out anything from your pocket like a phone (which might look like a gun to a cop), you will be tazered, cuffed and stuffed in the back of his car faster then you can hit speed dial. If this does happen you had better pray to god that your bike and you are spotless. I get a kick out of the people that write these emails. They might like spending hours and days mulling around court houses (usually on your dime) but the rest of us hard working folks would rather not be looking out from the wrong side of the cell bars.

The old days are gone my friends. Yes there are still those 1%’ers out there that will flip the bird to authority and do what they want, where they want, and when they want, but I doubt very much most of you fall into that category. Chances are you ride from your quiet subdivision where your bike is garaged under lock and key, polished and kept under a dust tarp, down to your local Dunkin Donuts where you spend 3 hours sipping coffee and pretending to be tough while wearing your village people half finger leather gloves while dressed all in black on an 80 degree day. I’m sorry if the law infringes on your fantasy life, but these days the state is strapped for cash and are doing what ever they can to raise funds. This will mean aggressively enforcing the law. Why make their job easy? Making sure your bike and you comply with the law will guarantee they won’t bother you and mess up your afternoon of standing around pretending to be a biker.

Motorcyclist injured in accident on Rt.20 Worcester, MA

Everyone one of us who rides gets that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see or read about a car or truck turning left into the path of a bike. Tuesday that happened AGAIN in Worcester. A pick up driver made an illegal left into a gas station and a bike hit the truck, bounced into a car leaving the rider seriously injured and fighting for his life.

Usually in cases like this there is blame enough to go around. We know the truck made an illegal turn, maybe the bike was moving faster then the speed limit, maybe the car driver was on the phone? Who knows??? All we know is something BAD happened.

As motorcyclists we can’t just get pissed and stomp our feet and say that its wrong. That won’t fix the problem. We must take safety into our own hands. There are no guarantees in life. Bad things do happen. One of the appeals of riding a bike is the freedom of the open road, and the risk of riding a vehicle that is capable of extreme acceleration and speed. We are not surrounded by two thousand pounds of steel. We have to ride as if every car on the road is out to get us. We must slow down and realize that older drivers have a very hard time judging relative speed to distance of a small object like a motorcycle. More studies need to be done to make motorcycles more visible to drivers. We must make ourselves as visible as possible. Driving lights, bright colors and some of the things we can do. But the number one thing you can do is slow down and drive as if your life depends on it.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20090429/NEWS/904290391/1101/LOCAL

Up....Up....And AWAY!

This Sunday was absolutely PERFECT for riding! After a long, hard Winter, New Englanders go a little nutty on the first Summer like Sunday. You could almost feel it in the air last Friday. Everyone was talking about the weekend and what their plans were. I think every motorcyclist was up early Sunday morning and off for the day. My plans were no different. I was up early and on the road by 7am (ish) . A quick breakfast and West I headed!

One of the cool places I stopped at was the New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. If you’re a fan of aircraft, engines, jets and antique cars and motorcycles , this place has a bit of everything!

Harley Davidson made jet fighters????