(This article appeared in the September 2015 issue of Go For A Ride Magazine)

So you’ve spent more than eleven hours in extreme pain from the injuries caused when a land mine blew up the vehicle you were riding in. Your body is badly burned and your legs are severely injured. The only reason you’re not dead is that a maverick chopper pilot took a chance that he wouldn’t run out of fuel and made an unauthorized pickup to get you to a hospital. For most humans, that would be enough for them to question their faith and ask “Why me, God?”

Dave Barr is not like most humans. Despite having parts of both legs amputated as a result of that war incident back in 1982, he has gone on to set two Guinness World records for long-distance motorcycle riding and is a staunch supporter of causes for veterans and the disabled. He didn’t ask, “Why me, God?” but he did ask, “What now, God?”

Dave was recently in the Tampa Bay area to participate in a Poker Run and Rally that was put on by the Patriot Express to raise funds for Operation Military Embrace, a Texas-based organization whose mission is to assist America’s seriously injured and ill Warriors and their families. 

Dave explained, “We support the veteran’s families. The families send somebody off one way and they get them back another. There’s a lot of stress put on marriages, the veteran comes back and they can’t hold a job and have a disability and the families suffer as well, both financially and in other ways. The Patriot Express is a money-collecting organization, no one is paid, state captains, myself, we’re not paid. We do this out of a sense of patriotism. We’re all a part of this war effort and this is our way of being apart. We support Operation Military Embrace, they meet the physical needs of the families when they get a loved one back that is in need. Then there’s the Service for Humanity Foundation which works at keeping marriages together. They counsel the entire family – children, wife, and veteran. When there’s PTSD involved, there’s an 86% chance the marriage will end. When there’s a disability on top of the PTSD it’s pretty much over. This is why we’re having so many suicides. The families need to know that we stand with them. We won’t let happen to them what happened to us when we came home from Vietnam. We’re there to say we care and we help. We’re going to do our best with a lot of other great organizations to make sure your life is what it should be for your services.”

Dave told me his return from fighting in Viet Nam wasn’t at all what he expected. There was no hero’s welcome for the returning troops (Dave earned 57 air medals while there as a crew member on a helicopter gunship) and even his girlfriend, who he intended to marry, dumped him upon his return. “I fought the war and it was right. I got home and just got smacked around. My mother and father were only too happy to see me go back to camp at the end of my leave. I really had a hard time with the Marine Corps with everything that was going on in the early ’70s. There were a lot of racial problems. The thing is I got out bitter and angry. They took a victory and turned it into defeat. Like many, I was very bitter. I could not stand living in the U.S.”

One thing Dave did know was that he still wanted to be a soldier. His father fought in World War II in the Navy and was at Pearl Harbor, he also had uncles who had served in the military.  With them as role models and after reading the book, Battle Cry by Leon Uris, when he was about twelve years old, Dave set out on a military path that he has never regretted taking. “Life is about decisions, serving things, and being a part of things. And sometimes those decisions we make as a very young kids will see us straight through to the end of our lives. And that’s been the natural progression for me.”

After the USMC tour, that path led Dave to Israel. Though he wasn’t Jewish, he managed to become an Israeli citizen so he could join the Army. But things didn’t quite work out as planned. “I wanted to be in tanks, I like machines. And a tank is a big machine with a big gun. But I got transferred to the paratroopers; I didn’t really want to go. They took me because they said they didn’t have anyone who had been in the Marines go through their training which is absolutely the most brutal training. It goes on for 14 months. Just the selection course to get in is two weeks. It’s nothing but two weeks of being punished. No sleep. Even the SEAL selection here has five days they call Hell Week, this was two weeks. I’ve done three selections in my life. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to go into tanks. But I went and actually graduated as the Honor Man for Battalion 890.” It wasn’t until 2011 when Dave returned to Israel for a television profile about his life that he divulged his illegal immigrant status. 

After Israel, Dave joined military forces in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia and then South Africa where he was involved in the land mine accident. That was when he started asking “What now”? “Because I’d been a soldier and I’ve been serving something all my life. I’d been in four Armies, and fighting communism or Islamic terrorism. My life had a purpose and a direction, Freedom. The idea of freedom, to propagate it, not only for Americans but elsewhere in the world, so people can live free of tyranny. So I acted on that. So what now? I knew, just as everything has a beginning, it has an end. I spent nine and a half months in a hospital and then I went back to finish out my time. Never took a day off for rehabilitation or anything. I trained machine gunners and my specialty was heavy machine guns and light LMG’s. I repaired machine guns, and when we were up in Angola I did on-the-spot training but I also did repairs in the field. I brought a bag of parts and I’d cannibalize parts and I’d have my tools and I’d get up there and find a broke down machine gun and instead of that gun coming out of service and that firepower being lost, I would fix it on the spot.”

After finishing his enlistment in 1982, Dave headed home again where he faced more discrimination as a disabled Vietnam veteran. But he had his 1972 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide in the garage. He and his dad put it back together and had the dealer install an electric start. Dave says the first few moments were a bit shaky but any fear was overtaken by the joy of riding and it was then that his vision of riding that bike around the world first came into view. That was when he knew, what now. “I know that there’s nothing by chance. There were other vehicles that rolled over that land mine but it was set by a ratchet number and boom. I knew why it was the left rear wheel. I knew why it was me. God said to me you’re finished with this now, I have other plans for you. Follow my will; He doesn’t care if it causes us pain to put us on the right path. What He cares about is us doing His will. He’s the Master of the Universe.”

Of course, everyone told Dave that his idea was foolish and impossible and it took him another seven years and nine months from that point to actually get on the road but once he started there was no doubt in his mind that he would finish. After all, good things come to good people.

During Dave’s first journey around the world in 1990, he started out at the southern tip of Africa and headed north crossing the Sahara Desert during winter so the temps were only about 100 degrees. During a layover in London, where he worked in a small motorcycle shop, he made the acquaintance of Lord Leonard Chesire. Lord Chesire was a British war hero who founded a charity to provide homes and assistance for disabled persons. Lord Chesire was impressed with Dave’s journey and asked him to stop in China and Russia at two homes for disabled soldiers. The friendship proved fortuitous to Dave as a year later when he was broke and broken down in Brazil he called home to let his mom know he was ok and she told him about a $5000 check that had just arrived from Lord Chesire. As Dave recalls, “The whole journey was like that and I just kept faith in it. Every time I’d be about to run out of money, it would just appear out of nowhere.” 

With all the obstacles he faced, I asked Dave if he ever considered quitting. “No, no one asked me to do it and for years people told me you’ll break yourself financially and maybe kill yourself out there. Maybe maim yourself or worse. Believe me, it almost came to pass several times. The thing is, no one asked me, but I knew that was what I was supposed to do the first time I rode the motorcycle. It took me seven years and nine months to get on the road from the time I conceived it. Once I started it I never ever thought of throwing in the towel no matter how grim, broke down in the snow, the mud, the heat, the sand, wherever it was in the world, twenty-six flat tires, I never thought about quitting. ” 

Well, Dave, did you ever think about riding something besides a Harley on this trip?

“I could have picked a better motorcycle, but it never would have drawn the attention. I was in the Amazon and people knew what a Harley Davidson was. I went into one place and the guy had a big Easy Rider poster on the wall. I was in a petrol station in Brazil and getting ready to leave when all of sudden a crowd got in front of the motorcycle. I didn’t feel any malevolence from them; they just didn’t want me to go. I said what’s the problem? Problema? No. TV. They had called a television station and they came out to do an interview. Afterward, we were all shaking hands, and off I went.” 

Though Dave gets credit for making his record-setting rides alone, he’s quick to point out that on many occasions he wouldn’t have accomplished his goals without the help of others. I’d like to believe that’s good karma coming back to Dave for all that he’s done and all he will continue to do. In his own words, “Life is not just about us. God didn’t put us here just to be comfortable and have a good time. There’s more to it than that. For me, being a Vietnam veteran, and what we came home to, guys like me will not allow our veterans to come home to that again.”

Do you know the purpose of those small round white metal signs you see along the roadside? They are official FDOT Memorial Markers and are meant to pay homage to someone who has died as a result of a motor vehicle accident as well as being a means of promoting highway safety to the public. 

The ritual of honoring a person where they died has been practiced for centuries in many cultures and has been adapted to our transportation-dependent society. The roadside memorials are an expression of grief and love for the deceased. They are usually created by family or friends and may include ribbons, wreaths, flowers, balloons, or other items. Many times a white cross will be placed near the accident site. While the memorials are placed with the best of intentions they can cause problems. They can distract drivers. Sun, wind, and rain eventually take their toll on anything outside. Displays may not be maintained over time and can create a traffic hazard. They might be set up on the private property. 

To help keep things under control, the Florida Department of Transportation instituted the Memorial Marker Program in 2017. The markers themselves are round 15-inch aluminum signs mounted on 5-foot posts. The sign reads “Drive Safely, In Memory” followed by the person’s name. They are constructed and installed at no charge. A request must be submitted to FDOT and if done by friends it must include permission from the deceased’s immediate family. They’ll normally be installed for at least one year (the family can request a one-year extension) though they can be removed for reasons such as road maintenance. If there are space constraints or safety concerns, they might not be located at the exact accident location. The markers are only placed on roads that are under state control but there are some counties and cities that have their own memorial marker programs. Google it or check with your local public works department. 

FDOT has a website where you can download the form in PDF or Word Doc format. You then find the email address for the county where the marker will be located from the list and attach the completed form to your email. They say you should get a response in 5-10 business days. There’s also a phone number for each county if you need more information about the program.

Hopefully, the next time you pass one of these markers you’ll give some thought to riding safely.

How to get a DD-214

To qualify for any veteran benefits you have to be able to prove you served and that’s done with a DD Form 214. If you don’t have a copy, you can request a new one from the National Archives at  archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records.

Veteran’s Designation on Driver’s License 

You can have the Veteran’s designation added to your license for free making it easy for you to provide proof of your veteran status at any time. If you’re a veteran with a one-hundred percent service-connected disability, there is no fee for your driver’s license or an ID card. You can also get a “DV” license plate at no charge. Visit your local driver’s license service center with the necessary documentation (DD-214 and proof of disability.)

Educational Benefits 

Florida waives out-of-state tuition fees for honorably discharged veterans. You must be a current resident and attending one of the public, post-secondary institutions. There are scholarships for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died during service or are one-hundred percent disabled. Details are available at floridastudentfinancialaid.org

Honorably discharged veterans who didn’t complete high school prior to joining the military may be awarded a standard high school diploma by the Florida Department of Education. The application is online at fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/veterans-diplomas.stml

Theme Parks (and other) Discounts

Too many to list. Discounts and offers vary at different theme parks, stores, restaurants, sports events, and state parks. Check out their websites for details or give them a call.

Burial Benefits. Yep, we’re all gonna kick the bucket eventually and as a veteran you may qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery, of which, there are nine in Florida. The burial benefit includes a gravesite, the opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the gravesite. Spouses and some other family members may also be eligible. The family may also request a military funeral honors ceremony which includes the folding and presentation of the burial flag and the playing of Taps.  va.gov/burials-memorials/

You can be pre-approved for burial in a national cemetery which will make things easier for your survivors when the time comes. The application doesn’t apply to Arlington National Cemetery or the United States Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. It asks for your preferred cemetery but doesn’t guarantee a reservation. Space is allocated as available.  va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility.

Style Matters

I recently spotted a meme with an old style motorcyclist’s cap on a biker skull. It made me think about the old style riding caps worn back in the 1930’s up until the 1960’s and why they went out of style. 

Most young riders today don’t even know about them unless it’s from the movies. They were worn by Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” (the jacket & cap obviously copied by Shia LaBeouf in “Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls”). They were very common from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s. They have been out of style for a long time but motorcyclists are starting to wear them again. They are so much more stylish and classy looking than a common baseball cap. Just like flared thigh riding pants (“jodhpurs”) and high riding boots are versus jeans & sneakers. This was from back in the day when motorcyclists dressed to ride.

Either I gravitate towards things that are old school, or I was born too late into a time that I don’t really fit into. I haven’t figured out which it is yet. But what I do know is that somehow, some way, “Motorcyclists” have somehow become known by modern day society as “Bikers” although that is not really the correct term. “Motorcyclist” is the correct term because the term “Biker” comes from the word bicycle.

In the early days of motorcycling, it was called “Motorcycling”. Somehow that term changed to include an “R” in it. Motorcycles came into being almost at the same time the first motorized carriages appeared and those first motorcyclists wore almost the same type of clothing as the early automobile motorists. Pork pie hat, gauntlet gloves, goggles, and a long motoring coat. The women riding in the early automobiles would wrap scarves around their heads, or tie their hats tightly on with scarves under their chins.

Motorcyclists soon realized the long riding coat could get caught up in their drive chains. Many switched to waist length coats or jackets that would not entangle in the drive chain. They also switched to the type of military officer’s riding breeches, which were flared at the thigh to be roomy and tight from above the knee down, coupled with high riding boots or leg wrappings known as “Puttees” (to avoid catching in the open chains of their motorcycles), They kept the goggles and also adopted leather helmets like early aviators wore. This style continued throughout the nineteen teens and into the 1940’s. 

In the 1930’s, leather helmets were still being worn but many riders began wearing military, or police style visor caps. Motorcyclists also started wearing high horseback riding boots instead of the puttees. The flared thigh officer’s riding pants (Jodhpurs) were still worn and kidney belts were used to protect the rider’s kidneys from the vibration. Gauntlet style gloves were worn to protect the hands from road stones. This was a reflection on what the motorcycle cops were wearing at that time. Their snappy uniforms had a cut and style that made sense for motorcycle riding.  

In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, things began to change. Riders had for the most part abandoned the Jodhpurs and began wearing blue jeans. The civilian riding boots got shorter. They became more like the shorter jack boots that enlisted German soldiers wore in WW2. That look became known as “The Greaser” look, popularized in many movies and TV shows like Fonzie from Happy Days. Rolled up at the bottom blue jeans, black Brando style jacket (it came out long before Brando but he really popularized it), hard visor motorcyclist hats, a white T shirt and a Brylcream laden ducktail haircut. 

What happened next was a major shift in motorcycle clothing fashion. In July of 1969, the movie “Easy Rider” was released and drastically changed the clothing fashion of motorcyclists. The black leather jacket was replaced by fringed Indian style leather jackets and the blue jeans became bell bottoms. It also popularized the look of chopper style motorcycles. 

Even more than the Greaser era, the late 1960’s completely destroyed the motorcycle fashion of the previous generation. Gone was the classy look of the motorcyclist with the visor cap, traditional black zippered motorcycle jacket, riding breeches, high riding boots, kidney belts, gauntlet gloves, and the neck ties worn by their parents and grandparents. It was replaced with images propagandizing the public that what was cool was to look like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider. To ride stoned, on a chopper, long hair flying, giving the finger to anyone on the road.

Along with the hippie fashion look, the outlaw motorcycle clubs were getting a lot of press. The public saw how they dressed with head wrapping scarves, denim jackets and vests adorned with pins and patches and the club’s “colors” on the back. Movies and television picked up on the look which created an unfair negative stigmatizing of all motorcyclists which lasted for a long time.  

Somewhere, the term “Motorcyclist” changed to “Biker” and the term has stuck. It’s universally used today by everyone, even motorcyclists. Is it because it’s shorter and easier to say? To this day, the  “outlaw” motorcyclist look permeates the  motorcycle fashion scene. Go to any motorcycle meet, and you will see shirts, jackets, and vests with patches and pseudo biker gang “colors” back. 

As for myself, I love the old school 1930’s through the mid to late 1950’s motorcyclist fashion and employ that somewhat in how I dress to ride. I can guarantee you that if that became the fashion again, due to some movie or otherwise, more riders would be dressing that way. I hope it may be coming back full circle. We need a change from the patches covered vests, head scarves, and baseball caps that motorcyclists are now wearing. Time to bring back the old motorcyclist apparel fashion that’s so old, it’s new again. I’m an avid student of all kinds of history and the history of motorcycling too, and wanted to share this with those who may not be old enough to remember how motorcycle clothing fashion used to be.

As a Florida rider, it’s likely you got your endorsement by taking one of those government approved courses that explained all the official rules of the road, gave you some parking lot practice time on an undersized dealer bike, and stamped your passport to the world of riding. Yea, a few of you dropped the bike or ran over the instructor and had to retake the course, but most people are able to demonstrate they understand the basics of operating a motorcycle on their first attempt. That’s a good start, but there’s so much more to know about being a good motorcyclist.

The written regulations are an important foundation but there are other rules of biker etiquette that you should also be familiar with. These rules aren’t written down in a book but instead they are traditions that have evolved through the years to become part of the motorcycle lifestyle. 

The Wave.

I don’t think there’s another group of enthusiasts who engage their brothers and sisters as enthusiastically as bikers when we pass on the road. It’s our way of acknowledging we’re both part of the same community. Waving is not mandatory and some riders refuse to participate. You won’t be shunned if you don’t return the gesture, but you could at least give the other rider a nod of your helmet.   

Look but don’t touch.

Don’t touch and never ever sit on another person’s motorcycle unless you’ve been given an invitation to do so by the bikes’ owner. This isn’t just show bikes, this applies to any bike. Exceptions can be made for showroom bikes at certain dealerships. But even then, you should ask first. You can admire another rider’s bike as much as you’d like but touching or sitting on a bike that you don’t own is strictly forbidden. You’re riskin’ a beatin’. 

Parking 101.

Just because bikes don’t need big parking spaces doesn’t mean you should squeeze your bike into a small spot making it difficult for the guy next to you to get his bike out.

If you can’t park and easily get on and off your bike on either side, go look for another parking spot. And if you’re using a parking space designed for cars, don’t hog the whole space for yourself. Didn’t your mother teach you to share? 

They don’t see you.

Even though the driver at the intersection ahead appears to be looking directly at you, they aren’t. Their head may be pointed in your direction but that doesn’t mean their mind is focused on traffic. Your head should always be on a swivel when you’re riding looking for all of the inattentive drivers.

And, just because you have the right of way, doesn’t mean you should take it.  

Helmet Tapping. 

Ever see a rider passing the other way tapping on the top of his helmet? Slow down, there’s cops ahead. Probably not covered in the hand signal segment of your training course. 

Motorcycles will attract attention and opinion.

It will seem like everyone you meet has a motorcycle story to share with you. People you don’t know will want to talk to you about riding or your bike. Family, friends, co-workers and more will tell you how dangerous riding is and advise you to stop doing it. Smile politely at them, put on your helmet and glasses, and enjoy the ride. 

They’re Not Just For Pedestrians

Did you know that the pedestrian crosswalk signals that are designed to help people safely cross the street can also help you be a safer rider?

It’s believed the first pedestrian crossing signal was the idea of a British railway engineer named John Peak Knight. Installed on Bridge Street in London in 1868, it was a manually operated device controlled by a police constable. Its use was short-lived however when the gas used to illuminate the lights leaked and caused an explosion. As motorized vehicles became more prevalent in the early twentieth century, cities realized that something needed to be done to protect pedestrians, and safer signals were introduced in many urban locations. 

What’s that got to do with motorcycle safety? Well, today’s electronic street corner signals are often automated and synchronized to provide safe passage for city walkers. They come in several different styles and if you pay attention to them, and you have good eyesight, they can make your ride safer by giving you information about the traffic signal you’re approaching. 

One of the most common signals is a lighted hand, or an image of a person walking, which will light up in a particular color to indicate whether or not it’s safe for a pedestrian to cross the street. Some also use simple “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” messages. Usually, the signal will light up as a solid red or orange color when people shouldn’t cross the street and white color when it’s safe to cross. If you’re rolling down the street and the crosswalk signal is white, you can assume the light will stay green and allow you to continue. If the light is flashing, it means that the traffic light is about to change. Depending on your speed and distance from the intersection this information can help you determine if you should prepare to stop and avoid needing to lock up your brakes to avoid running the light. 

Some of the signal devices include countdown timers. The countdown will start either at the beginning of the walk phase or will start when the flashing Don’t Walk indicator begins. The numbers may be red or white. Looking ahead for these types of signals can give you, as well as the pedestrians, an indication of how much time is left before the light changes. Again this method is somewhat dependent on how good your eyesight is. But even if it’s only good enough for you to see the numbers counting down, it will let you know that the light is about to change.

Riding a motorcycle requires that you constantly monitor the ever-changing traffic conditions and using the information from traffic control devices such as the pedestrian crosswalk signals can help make your ride safer. 

One Size Fits Most

Need a gift idea for a motorcyclist? While a new motorcycle might be nice it’s likely beyond the limits for most our gift budgets. The good news is you don’t have to spend a bundle to find some very useful gifts that any rider will appreciate receiving. 

Gifts To Avoid

Avoid the temptation to select items like clothing and riding gear. While getting a new leather jacket, a helmet, or a pair of boots is nice, there’s always the issue of size and style. Get either one wrong and you’ve disappointed someone who’s now stuck with a gift they can’t wear or don’t like and will have to trek to the store to make an exchange. If it was bought online, the exchange process can take weeks. 

Same goes with biker bling. There are a ton of accessories that you can add to a motorcycle but again you have to consider getting the right part to fit the right bike model while also ensuring that it’s something that person actually wants to install on their bike. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you make sure the item can be returned for a full refund or unless you’re standing in the dealership and they say to you, “This sure would look good on my bike”. At that point, get the exact part number, color, size, and options available.

Great Gift Ideas

What are some great gift ideas for bikers? Of course it depends on the person, but the simple answer is, “Get them something they’ll use and enjoy”. With that in mind, here are some ideas that will help you take care of the next gift giving event. 

Books or a Calendar 

Print is not dead despite the deluge of electronica that surrounds us. Many people still enjoy turning the pages of a good book. The subject choices are almost endless and include travel, history, biographies, motorcycle maintenance, and books that cater to a particular make or model. Most calendars fall into one of three categories; the motorcycles themselves, motorcycle travel shots, and motorcycle babes in bikinis. The choice is yours. 

Cleaning/Detailing Kit

Most riders like a clean bike, some to the point of obsession. You can find prepackaged kits with everything you need to make it shine or you can put together your own personalized collection.  Who can’t use a new chamois?

Tire Pressure Gauge

They come in a lot of different styles these days including the old fashioned pencil style. Some have dial gauges and others give you a digital readout. You can even get one that talks! In English or Spanish, no less. Tires are important for safety and they should be properly inflated for every ride. 

Portable Air Compressor

Whether you’re at home or on the road, a 12-volt portable air compressor can come in handy. Most will plug into your bike’s power outlet or have battery connection cables. Prices are very affordable, starting at about $30. Low budget alternative – a can of Fix-A-Flat. 

Portable Battery Booster

A dead battery can happen anytime. Modern technology has brought about the invention of anti-gravity batteries which are small yet can hold a charge for several months. In addition to being able to breathe life into dead bikes most of them have adapters for powering up cellphones, laptops, digital cameras and the like. 

Tool Kit

As dependable as modern motorcycles are these days, a lot of riders no longer carry a tool roll but there comes a time when having a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, or some electrical tape can save the day. If not your day, perhaps one of your riding buds. You can buy a prepackaged kit or get creative and make up your own.

Ear Plugs

Did he say ear plugs? Yes, and maybe the reason you didn’t hear me is because you’ve been riding for years without wearing any ear protection. You may think the loud pipes are to blame but actually it’s the wind noise which can cause irreversible hearing loss over a period of time. A custom set of fitted ear molds is the best solution but even the inexpensive foam plugs will help lessen the effect. The ones with the cord attachments look geeky but you’ll lose them less often.  

Roadside Assistance Package

You don’t want to be stranded with a bike that won’t run, but if you are, being able to dial up AAA for a rescue tow will save the day, or night. The coverage is an add-on to the regular AAA membership so you also receive all of the other AAA benefits in addition to towing, emergency fuel, locksmith services, bike trailer coverage, and motorcycle travel interruption coverage.  Motorcycle coverage is only available for AAA members in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico.

Digital Video Camera

We live in a digital world and th0se miniature sized video recorders can deliver a high definition record of your latest ride. Attachments let you hang them on your bike or fasten them to your helmet for hands free recording sessions. 

Gift Card

And if, by some chance, you don’t find any of these ideas inspirational, go the gift card route. One size fits all.

The best testimonial I’ve heard for having a windshield on a motorcycle came from my wife, Darla. It was a few years ago and she had been riding for several months when we added a detachable windshield to the front of her Sporty. We headed out and had been riding for about an hour when she pulled alongside me at a stop light. She was grinning ear to ear. “I can’t believe how much easier it is to ride with a windshield”, she shouted. “I don’t feel like I’m going to be blown off the bike anymore.”

While I enjoy the feel of the wind against me as I roll down the road I could also understand where Darla was coming from and if the windshield made her more comfortable riding, so be it. The best and safest riders feel comfortable on their bikes. Using a windshield has many benefits including diverting the wind around you which reduces rider fatigue and can make you a safer rider.

Some riders consider it a personal badge of honor to be able to tell tales of dodging road debris or being hit in the face by a bug the size of a golf ball. They’d never consider riding a bike with a windshield. But if you take a look at some of the best selling bikes on the market today, you’ll find most come with windshields and/or fairings as standard equipment. Times have changed, my friend.

All windshields are not created equal. There are different sizes, styles, and you can even get them in tinted colors. Some come as factory equipment and there are after-market versions, some of which are detachable. You have to decide which one fits your needs and your bike. Some people will want function while others are more style oriented.

As a matter of physics, the larger the windshield, the more wind resistance it will have. While this cuts out more wind it can also lead to increased buffeting, especially on windy days. A large windshield can also distort your vision if you’re looking through a piece of plastic. The recommended riding position will have you looking over the top of the windshield. You want one where the top edge is about the same height as the tip of your nose. That will give you a clear view of the road ahead.

While the main purpose of a windshield is to deflect the wind, it can cause new problems. Some styles will allow wind to blow up on you from under the bottom edge which reduces its effectiveness. It can also cause helmet buffeting. Some windshields will have vents or side panels to help control these problems. You have to decide if the side effects are worth the benefits.

Motorcycle windshields are made of acrylic or polycarbonate. These materials are not as hard as glass and need to be cleaned with non-abrasive cleaners. The best, and simplest, way to clean them is with some dishwashing detergent in warm water and a soft cloth. Commercial cleaning products may contain chemicals that can damage the windshield. There are some specifically made for plastic but you need to shop carefully. Adding a good coat of polish can make it easier to remove bugs and keep it clean.

Darla, like many riders, wasn’t sure she would want to ride a bike fitted with a big piece of plastic on the front. Thought maybe she wouldn’t look as cool when cruising. So she went with the detachable model so it could be left at home if she felt like riding without it. So far, the only time the windshield comes off the bike is for cleaning, after that, it goes right back on.

A Harley Marketing Miscue

Don’t touch that patch, man.

Most people who ride motorcycles, whether they consider themselves “bikers” or not, understand the meaning of the three-piece patches worn on the jackets and vests of some of their riding brethren. Those patches are used to show membership in a motorcycle club. They are known as a club’s “colors” and are not to be trifled with. 

Motorcycle clubs are different from riding organizations such as H.O.G. or others in that they have a qualification process for membership called prospecting where the other club members observe someone over a period of time and then decide if that person should be invited to join. Earning your patch is a time honored tradition and those who have gone through the process don’t approve of it being disrespected by anyone. That includes someone using it for commercial purposes. You’d think people working for a company like Harley-Davidson would know this little factoid. I’m sure most of them do but somehow they made a marketing miscue on this issue a few years ago. 

If you were strolling through the clothing department of your local Harley-Davidson dealership back in 2015, you might have come across the “Men’s Vintage Denim Vest”. The official catalog number was 96476-15VM and it was made in China. The vest sleeves were frayed and the material was distressed trying to give it a road worn look. On the front were two Harley patches. The branding on the back mimicked a club three-piece patch with “Harley” on the top rocker which is where the club name normally goes. “Davidson” was on the bottom rocker which tells the club’s chapter or territory. They put a skull patch in the middle as a club logo. Then they took it one step further by adding a small square “MC” patch which is normally used as a Motorcycle Club designation. The patches were cloth and made to look crude. Put this vest on and you instantly become Mr. Biker Badass. Not quite. Wear something like that into the wrong place or event and you could have problems. 

The vests weren’t on sale for very long. I wrote a story about them back then and sent an inquiry to Harley asking if they had received any feedback about the vest. They had and informed me that the vest was no longer available. The official response explained that there was a process for reviewing and approving graphics but there was also “some amount of subjectivity involved in the interpretation of designs and combination of graphic elements, as was the case here. The intent of the graphic on the vest was to evoke the feeling of a raw, customized and worn-in look.”  “We did receive feedback from some of our consumers and dealers that this graphic may be unintentionally mistaken for a club patch – and that’s feedback that we took seriously. Due to the potential for misinterpretation surrounding the meaning of the graphics on this garment, we discontinued this item from our apparel line. Customers who purchased the vest will receive a full refund at the original point of sale no questions asked, and we apologize to our customers for any inconvenience.” 

Did they really say, “may be unintentionally mistaken for a club patch”? Actually, you couldn’t copy the layout any better than that. It’s amazing that no one in the marketing approval process didn’t see the problem with this product until it was on the sales floor. 

Harley-Davidson has had many more marketing hits than flops (we won’t mention the Harley cologne and perfume products from the 90’s). They did the right thing in pulling the item from sale and offering refunds. Still, I wonder how many people who bought one decided to keep it as a collectible?

1. Florida’s 719 miles of toll roads are the most of any state.
2. Florida’s longest stretch of highway is US1 running 545 miles from Key West to the Georgia border.
3. The Interstate highway system, which was started during President Eisenhower’s administration, lets individual states set the speed limits for the Interstate highway segments within their borders. 
4. Direction determines the highway number. East/West highways are even numbered, North/South are odd numbers.
5. The Interstate sign shield design is trademarked (Registration #835,635) and can’t be used for commercial purposes. 
6. The only gravity hill in Florida is Spook Hill in Lake Wales. A gravity hill has a surrounding landscape that makes it appear that something, like a car, is rolling uphill.
7. The round white signs you see along the roadways are part of the Florida Memorial Marker Program. They can be requested by the family of someone killed in a highway accident and are inscribed with “Drive Safely, in Memory” followed by the deceased’s name. 
8. The Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys is actually a bit short of being a full seven miles long. If you haven’t rode it, you may have seen it in several big screen movies including True Lies and Licence to Kill.
9. I-95 is the nation’s longest north-south Interstate. It stretches 1,920 miles and passes through 15 states from Maine to Florida.
10. On a multi-lane highway, the lane near the median is called the passing or fast lane. In theory, this lane should only be used for passing. Don’t you wish everyone knew this?