Tilted Horizons: August 2008

Nostalgia Run in Thurmont, MD

Now this looks like a fun event! An AMA-sanctioned poker run for vintage and classic motorcycles at Community Park in Thurmont, MD on September 7, 2008, sponsored by the Western Maryland Motorcycle Association. I recall reading about this nostalgia run last year in one of my favorite motorcycle magazines, RoadRunner. I'd like to try to make it this year, as a spectator of course, not a participant. Here's the website for the event.

New TV show: "Sons of Anarchy"

UPS just delivered a DVD containing an advance copy of the first 2 episodes of a new TV show called "Sons of Anarchy". A publicity manager from FX network asked me to review and comment on the episodes, which I hope to find time to do. As we know, motorcyclists have been depicted in a negative and largely false light in most fictional TV shows and films. We (non-fictional) motorcyclists can only hope that this one will be different eh? This from the FX P.R. person:

Wednesday, September 3^rd at 10 PM ET/PT, we are launching a new television show called Sons of Anarchy starring Katey Sagal (The Shield and Married with Children), Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Charlie Hunnam (Queer as Folk). This brand new drama explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that: Charming. It is action-packed, full of bikes and well…it’s one hell of a ride! For more information, go to http://www.fxnetwork.com/shows/originals/soa/#Nav/Homepage.

Ron Pearlman sans horns and cigar

In GPS We Trust...Mostly.

On the way home from work last Friday, I was reading my GPS and noticed a nice shortcut through a state park. I knew it would be narrow, but hopefully shady and with no cars. It was all that...and closed. Of course, I didn't discover that until about a mile down the road. (Sorry for the crummy cell phone image).

I'm Master of my Domain!

Yup, the domain is in my hands now -- the www.tiltedhorizons.com domain to be specific. I obtained the domain name from Lisa Paully, a photographer in southern Florida who was using it as a redirect to her photography business site, which you really should click over and visit 'cuz she does some amazing work (thanks Lisa!). If you have my site bookmarked or linked, or if you subscribe to my RSS feed, you don't need to change anything as the .com URL auto-redirects to the .blogspot URL, and Tilted Horizons remains hosted on Blogspot/Blogger. Speaking of the RSS feed, I've begun syndicating text-only summaries, so you'll need to click on over for the full text posts with links and images. Receiving summaries v. full posts should keep your newsreader tidier, and for the 3 or 4 newsbots on my feed it'll keep your forum posts smaller and quicker to load.

AMA Benefits & Discounts

I just renewed my American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) membership online. If, like me, you're a member who forgets to use the available benefits (in part 'cuz you simply can't remember them), I've cut 'n' pasted the list from AMA's site. You may want to bookmark this post and check it prior to ordering those new farkles or reserving lodging for that planned tour. Note that I've deleted certain discount codes to prevent them being used by non-members; check the members-only section of AMA's website to obtain the codes.

Bank of America Visa 3% rebate program
Every time you use your AMA Visa card at a qualified motorcycle retailer, the transaction is rung up at full price, but you get a 3% rebate on your credit card bill. Apply online or call (800) 523-7666 and mention code (deleted). The 3% AMA Credit Rebate applies to purchases up to $7,500 made at retailers assigned merchant category code 5571. Check with your dealer to determine their category code.

Discounts on insurance from Nationwide
AMA members receive a discount of up to 10% on motorcycle coverage from Nationwide insurance. Coverage is available for motorcycles, ATVs, trikes, scooters and more. Also, encourage your non-member friends to get a quote from Nationwide. If they buy a policy, Nationwide will pay for their AMA membership. See your local Nationwide agent for details. To find an agent, visit the Nationwide website or call (877) OnYourSide®.

Discounts on motorcycle parts, gear and apparel

Visit BikeBandit.com for a 6% discounts on motorcycle parts, gear and apparel. Enter your AMA number when checking out to receive your discount.

Roadgear.com: AMA members get a 10% discount on riding gear, luggage, accessories, and books at Roadgear. To get the 10 percent discount when ordering online, enter the code “AMA,” plus your membership number, in response to the checkout question, “What brought you to our site?” Or, call Roadgear at (800) 854-4327 and give your AMA number when you order.

MotorcycleAds.com: AMA members get $10 off the annual subscription rate to this online resource for buying and selling bikes, parts, and accessories. To receive the discount, sign up at this special web page for AMA members.

ProformanceUSA.com: Save 10% on Bike lubricants and other supplies. Enter coupon code (deleted) at checkout to receive the discount.

Discounts on uncrated motorcycle transport
In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Allied Van Lines, at (877) 518-7376. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 245-8726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also offers temporary international insurance.

Motorcycle rental discounts
EagleRider offers a 15% discount on Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901 or see their website.

Discounts at KOA campgrounds
AMA members can get a 10% discount on stays of up to four nights at 450 KOA campgrounds in the United States and Canada. Download the discount coupon (PDF) or call the AMA Membership Services Center at (800) AMA-JOIN to request a coupon. To find a KOA location, visit www.KOA.com.

Racing & off-road riding instruction

Ed Bargy Racing Services offers a discount. Call (770) 345-6474.
Penguin Racing School offers a 10% discount. Call (508) 339-4673.
Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School offers a 10% discount. Call (800) 849-7223.
Lee Parks' Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic offers a 10% discount. Call (800) 943-5638.
OHV Training offers a 20% discount. Call (360) 748-4365.

Lodging discounts

Choice Hotels offers 15% off best available rates at participating Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay®, Rodeway Inn® and Econo Lodge® hotels. Call (800) 258-2847 and mention ID # (deleted) or go to www.choicehotels.com, click on “Enter Special Rate ID” and enter ID # (deleted).
Motel 6 offers a 5% discount. Call (800) 4-MOTEL6 and use discount code (deleted).
Red Roof Inns offers a 20% discount. Call (800) RED-ROOF and use code (deleted).

Auto rental discounts

Alamo: For up to 15% off rentals, call (800) 354-2322 and mention discount code (deleted), or see the special AMA member site.
Avis: For up to 15% off rentals, call (800) 225-7094, and mention code (deleted), or make reservations and check rates online.
Hertz: For up to 15% off rentals, call (800) 654-2200 and mention discount code (deleted), or see the special AMA member site.
National: For up to 20% off rentals, call (800) CAR-RENT, and mention discount code (deleted), or see the special AMA member site.

Motorcycle show discounts
Get a $1 rebate on your admission at any ADVANSTAR International motorcycle show

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum houses some of the finest and most famous bikes in motorcycling history. Members receive a $5 discount on admission.

Honk Honk! Motorcycle Horn Comparison Test

We all know most OEM horns attract about as much attention as Roseann Barr at a Playboy party, so 'canning them in favor of something louder is highly desirable, particularly for commuters. webBikeWorld just posted a comparison test of some of the most popular aftermarket motorcycle horns. The results may surprise you. Go check out the test, and if you're not already a dedicated reader of wBW, peruse the rest of the site; odds are you'll be bookmarking it.

Ephrata "First Sunday" Rally, August 2008

Last Sunday, I rode up to my American Legion post in Ephrata, PA for the August edition of its famous "First Sunday" motorcycle rally/breakfast ride-in. The weather on the ride up was just about perfect (sunny, low 60s F), which may explain the humongous crowd. I've attended the event quite a few times, and I don't recall a larger crowd. As usual, both motorcycles and motorcyclists represented just about every type, size and shape imaginable. I enjoyed catching up with a few motorcyclists I know from Retreads, Americade, and the blogosphere and various online m/c forums. I've posted photos of just a few of the interesting motorcycles in attendance. The blue, rally-striped Yamaha scooter belongs to Gerry of the ScootLancaster blog. That super-clean red Moto-Guzzi V65 Lario is about 20 years older than the grey 'Guzzi Breva 1100, which is owned by Dennis and Lori Frick, who recently added a Moto-Guzzi franchise to their business, Machinna Europa in Lewisberry, PA. They seem very enthusiastic about 'Guzzi and its parent corporation Piaggio & Co. No website at present, but call 'em at 717-932-6600. 'Guzzi has always made beautiful and unique bikes; I wish the Fricks and Machinna Europa all the best. Other bikes shown in the photos are an old BSA Rocket 3, a custom-painted Suzuki Hyabusa, a Ducati 750 cafe racer (early '80s?) and a futuristic 3-wheeler.