How Michele Smith Became the First Lady of Motorycles

Michele Smith of the famed American Thunder television series on SPEED Channel and then of Two Wheel Thunder on Discovery HD Theater, is by far the most recognizable female face in the motorcycle world, she is the Celebrity that we all know and love. If you've been to a major motorcycle rally just about anywhere in the country, you've seen her for sure. She makes public appearances, signs autographs and has fans getting their photo with her everywhere she goes. How did this happen? How did she become such a celebrity in the motorcycle community? Michele has been a dear friend of mine for the past 4 years when we met on production of American Thunder, and I have produced several other videos with Michele as the subject of admiration. I wrote her the other day and asked if I could do a story about her and she gladly accepted and said "Ask away Shannon, anything for you love." So I did.

I, as well as many others, want to know how she got to be of that stature of the First Lady of Motorcycles. While I was talking to her, I stated a few times about her being a celebrity and she finally stopped me and said "First of all I don't think of myself as a "celebrity", I'm just someone who happened to become a recognized figure in the motorcycle industry." So from there, the word "Celebrity" was out of the conversation. So to begin, I asked her simply "Where did it all start for you and the motorcycle?" Her reply was this (Michele Smith) "My first step of being part of the motorcycle world was taking the motorcycle safety course in Ca. due to a foreign video that I was working on. They had hired a stunt double to do the riding and when this tiny 90 lb girl showed up I almost fell over! For the close up shots they strapped the bike in the back of a pickup truck and I had to sit on it and pretend I was riding while driving down Hollywood Blvd. I thought the heck with this I'm never going to let this happen again so the next day i signed up for the motorcycle safety course and ordered a brand new 883 Sportster. That's how I started riding. My first ride was one in Southern Ca. called "The Love Ride". I had so much fun. Not too long after that I went out for the audition for "American Thunder" and the rest is history!

That explains the beginning of her passion for motorcycles, but I wanted to know more. This is the woman, that is in "The Know" of the motorcycle world, where it has been for the past 10 years and where it is going in the next few. This is a brain that I just had to pick, now if I could just through those beautiful golden locks of hair streaming down like a waterfall of pure gold... ~~ Oops, sorry, end dream sequence, I'll just ask her. Michele, how have things changed over the past 10 years, more appropriately, in the past few years? (Michele Smith) ". I think what has changed since I have been a part of the motorcycle culture is the fact that there are a lot more woman out there riding today than 10 years ago. When women see other women riding they think "gee, if she can do it so can I". Women are no longer satisfied sitting on the back of a mans bike. Look at me I went from posing next to these bikes in my early years of modeling to actually riding a motorcycle, something I thought I would never be capable of doing until that 90 lb girl showed up on the video shoot. I wish I could find her just so I could say thank you! It's funny I guess my style has changed a lot from the early days before I got into the motorcycle business. I was going through my closet the other day and looking at some of the designer pieces of clothing ( now vintage like me ) that I managed to hang on to and thought now what would I look like riding a bike in a Chanel suit! Yes I did dress very different back then but I also spent a lot of time overseas and it was an entirely different lifestyle. I'm much more comfortable these days in a pair of ripped jeans and boots!"

Now one thing I would like to mention here is Michele is also quite the advocate for female riders to get on the bike on the front seat and grab the bars and take themselves on the adventure. I have seen and met many women that have said that they never would have gotten on the front of a bike had they not seen Michele out riding in Daytona or Sturgis or on television at some point, she is their Heroine. Michele is obviously not the first woman to through a leg over some American Iron, look at Margret Wilson, who has logged over half a million miles on a motorcycle and is a Golden Life member of the Motor Maids, Inc. But what Michele has achieved is this, she has brought it to the Main Stream, she used her talent and beauty to change the hearts and minds of people all over the world when it came to the riding position of the woman on a motorcycle.
Moving on, I wanted to know where Michele thought she would be had she joined the Motorcycle Industry. (Michele Smith) ". Let's see where would I be if i wasn't in the motorcycle industry?
That's a tough one. I started out in the entertainment industry and that's pretty much all I know except for designing lingerie ( www.jeweledgs.com ). For a while I was so busy with the lingerie line, that at one time I actually thought about leaving the TV show. Thank god i stayed!" Michele is the designer of the Jeweled G's G-string line that beautifies the backside of the female figure. Michele has also designed the "No Needles Tattoos" T-shirts that make your arms look as if you have these awesome tattoos on your arms. You can find these on her website.
Now you hear all these stories of famous people having problems with Stalkers or Weirdoes after them or the paparazzi just making life miserable, but Michele feels perfectly safe in the motorcycle community. She said, "I have met a few weirdoes in my day but that is to be expected, but nobody has ever stalked me or done anything to really cause any alarm. I feel very safe amongst the motorcycle community, there are just so many personal body guards around that have gotten hugs while Having the Most Fun Ever."

Now that we've learned how you became the Most Famous Woman on a Motorcycle, What are you doing now? (Michele Smith) "I'm still doing personal appearances. Rhode Island was the first stop of the New Year. I will be doing appearances mostly in the East/Northeast as that seems to be the market for a lot of the events that I book. Even in the winter months there are a lot of indoor events. Keep in mind most people can't get out and ride in the snow covered areas so the indoor events gives them a chance to see what's new on the market. American Thunder went off the air at the end of 2009. In 2010 I did a new show for Discovery HD Theater. We did about 10 episodes and now that's gone too! We really need another good informational motorcycle show. I have a following of viewers who would love to see something new, they all miss American Thunder and Two Wheel Tuesdays. The problem is Reality TV took over and it seems like every show out there is reality
based now."

Back to the brain picking.. Ooohhh, silky.~ Sorry, got lost in the golden flow again.. I've personally seen a lot of changes in the motorcycle world over the past few years, and I was sure that Michele would have an opinion on the subject as well so I said this. Michele, Tell me where you see the motorcycle world going in the next 5 years from the rides to the enthusiasts and how they ride. (Michele Smith) "Over the last few years I really have seen the industry take a dive. A lot of builders and vendors closed up shop and moved on. But I do see a positive change coming and things are slowly picking up again. There will always be motorcycle enthusiasts and as long as you have people who love to ride, you will also have people who will buy bikes, parts and accessories. They may not be spending big bucks on a custom anymore but the desire to own a motorcycle for some is still there. I meet motorcycle enthusiasts at events all the time that tell me they have not one but two or more bikes in the garage. And now they are just taking good care of them and putting little extras on them to still make it their own.

It would seem by what you see or are not seeing on television that the Michele Smith tour is coming to an end, but I know Michele pretty well, if there is any person out there that can take a lemon and make it into lemonade, she is the one. The motorcycle industry has been boosted in so many ways by Michele Smith and many people, including manufacturers owe it to her for getting the word out about their products, events or even just giving them the confidence to jump on a bike for the first time. She is a celebrity to us even if she doesn't see it that way, we look up to her, we admire her and of course, we cannot keep our eyes off of the Twins. So Michele, thank you for taking the time to enlighten our readers with your story, it's one we all wanted to know about and we certainly hope to see much more of you in the future, maybe something like your job in July/August of 1991 for those that are true Michele Smith fans. Until next time, I'll see you on the road.

More information about Michele Smith including booking information can be found on her website, http://www.michelesmith.tv

Motorcycle Parts and Accessories

Choosing the right motorcycle parts and accessories for your motorcycle, whether it's a Harley Davidson, Kawasaki or a Gold Wing.  There are a few things to consider.

1. Is this a piece for beauty or function?    If this is for beauty, make sure that the piece is going to go with the bike.  There is nothing worse than adding a piece of chrome on a bike where it doesn't fit.  Some may say that chrome goes everywhere.  But if you put a single piece of chrome on a blacked out bike with red trim, that one piece of chrome might as well be a custom sissy bar and kind and queen seat on a bagger.. Just doesn't look right. Also, when deciding to buy a piece for your motorcycle to make it look better, plan out your design.  Make certain you know what you want the bike to look like in the end. Nothing worse than buying something on impulse and getting it only to realize that it won't look good with the rest of the theme you are heading for.
2. Functionality, These parts are pretty easy to purchase, however, take a look at fitment on the website before purchasing.  Many bikes in the same 3 year separation will have totally different models of parts to fit the bike.  When I say that, I mean that when selecting new tires, spark plugs etc. Be sure you are getting the right part.  Motorcycle manufacturers change things up sometimes year to year, either because they found a better way of something to work, or the supplier changed for that part and they cannot get the exact same thing anymore.
3. Take care to check out the source in which you are purchasing also, does the company have a good return policy?  Can it be returned if opened? Do they offer any tech support and if so, does that support cost anything?  Every retailer will have different or special offerings.  Another thing to keep an eye or for is a savings program.  Retailers offer ways for you to save money over time and keep you as a customer, these can be used to your benefit.  If you are planning on doing a lot of work to the motorcycle over the next year, see if they have a preferred customers program.  This might cost you $50 up front, but sometimes you can get a cool item in return, but then you get 10% off most of your purchase, an extra discount on sale days or even a bonus savings on your birthday.  If you just need that one part, check the manufacturers sight for any rebate offers or coupons also.  Get on the mailing list for several online retailers, they sometimes send out emails with specials, discounts or others based on the type of bike that you have registered with too, this can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long run.

I have worked in the retail end of the motorcycle parts and accessories world and have discovered many of these things to ring very true.  I have even experienced the pain of puchasing the wrong part because I didn't check my manual or the fitment properly, waiting a week for the part, only to find it not the right one, sending it back, hassling with the company and end up ordering it from another place that saved me $2.00 and not getting the part until 3 weeks after the initial purchase.

Your motorcycle is an extension of your personality, take the time to really research what you are buying before you are buying and it will make the privilege of owning a motorcycle and putting parts and accessories on it much more fun and enjoyable.  

Until next time, this is Shannon Appleby saying, We'll see you on the road.

Blazin the Winter Blues Away Bike/Tattoo Show & Swap Meet.

 It’s bitterly cold outside and there is a fresh layer of light snow on the ground. What is there to do for the motorcycle rider that needs to get a quick fix? Find a swap meet in a small town in Northern Iowa, drive 3 hours in a van without a heater that is packed so full of old parts that you cannot put your seat all the way back and a cooler with some ham, mayo, cheese slices and mustard.

Jan 15th, 2011 in Kensett, Iowa, Population about 200, not exactly the place I ever expected to be in the freezing cold to sell some bike parts. This little town has some residents with really big hearts and the drive to push on despite the hurdles. I met Lisa Lestrud, her husband Scott, who originally started the event and their 7 year old son Ryder who put on the event under their company flag of Wandering Wheels, for the Biker Who can roll with it. Lisa said the event started out of their love of motorcycles and a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department that her husband served on. Over the years, the event has grown so much that they were completely full on vendors this year and may need to look for a bigger space in the future. She doesn’t really want to take it out of their local community but she said in order to keep up with the growth, it may need to go to Mason City, the largest community nearby that has a facility to accommodate the 300 plus visitors and ever growing number of vendors and attractions.

Last year they rose over $1,500.00 for charities and this year, they were raising $1,600 for the Outdoor Adventure Foundation, an organization for kids & young adults with cancer and life threatening diseases and disabled veterans who are wheelchair bound or have lost a limb and take them on hunting and fishing adventures. Locks of Love, the organization that takes Human hair to make wigs for Cancer patients, has been a recipient of the events hospitality also by visitors getting their hair cut off in the name of charity and giving to others. About the most profound one to donate was the web guy for the North Iowa Motorcycle Awareness Group, that had his 13 inches or so of hair cut off to be donated. This was quite the sacrifice to do and everyone raised a whooping holler and round of applause as he got it cut off up on stage for everyone to see. Additionally the Missing in America Project receives support through this event. This is a project with the American Legion Riders that locates the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans in funeral homes and hospitals to make sure they receive a proper military burials that they deserve.

Some of the really cool silent auction items included all 6 of Sonny Barger’s books signed from Sonny himself, a signed print from the artist of the Ducks Unlimited Stamp, S&S donated T-Shirts, and every vendor made a donation as well. One of the biggest items to be given away in the raffle was a $500.00 tattoo from River City Tattoo Company, a great local tattoo artist that had several tattoo customers showing in the Tattoo contest.

There was a custom bike show that brought out some local builders that had some cool customs to show off, the winner of course is the one that I voted for, had a custom build chopper with a KZ1000 P model motor, rigid frame, flat black with a cool peanut tank on it. There were 2 Triumph choppers, one that was so rusted 2 weeks ago that he said it looked like hell, now after several days of scrubbing down with Strong Arm brand products; this black beauty was showing off its original luster of classic British engineering. In all, I there were 7 bikes in the show and it was nice to see some wheels out and about since it seems like it’s been the longest winter in history.

Topping off the event, in my opinion, had to be the caliber of people that attended the event. I met some fantastic individuals, from the North Iowa Motorcycle Awareness Group guys to the vendors, and the people from the community that came out to help out. I had a nice conversation with the Outdoor Adventure Foundation group that has just recent started a chapter in Iowa and of them all, I would have to say that I truly made some new friends. This is an event that I will definitely be attending again next year and one that I think everyone will be seeing a lot more if in the future.

If you would like more information about the Blazin’ the Winter Blues Away event, you can find them on FACEBOOK @ Wandering Wheels for the biker who can roll with it, LIKE them and keep up to date when the next event comes up. Until next time, keep the shiny side up and we’ll see you on the road, as soon as the ice and snow are gone.

Digital Marketing research

Ok, so I've been pushing the Motorcycle Parts and Accessories videos thing pretty hard, so my wife says to me today, "Why don't you just do videos and marketing for any and all businesses, it can't be that different." And she's right.  Why have I been trying to stick just in the motorcycle industry, obviously there isn't much work there right now. 
So, begins the next adventure.  I'm brushing up on some of the latest trends in Digital Marketing and production distribution in order to position myself as a front runner or Leader in the local Digital Marketing arena.  I'm not sure what the other ad agencies are doing right now, I guess I'll have to get back into the swing of things, do some more research to find out what they are doing locally and find out what I need to do to be better than them, more successful for my clients and keep ahead of the game. 
In this ever changing market of new social medias, outlets and ways of getting your info to your customers quickly, efficently and with targeted results, it's getting harder and harder to grab peoples attention and get them to act on something.
The social media platforms offer soo many different ways to create results that it can make your head spin.  But as I dig deeper into what works and doesn't work, it gets suprisingly simple.  There are some tactics to use that can generate 10 times as many feedbacks, responses and clicks for customers as to others.  Now what I'm trying to do is find that winning formula, when I find it, I'll build a package around that, allow for variances and room to play depending on the client and then run with it.
Don't be suprised if I make some announcements shortly as to some great things that are coming down the pipe.
Hope to see some of you as customers in the very near future.

Summer is gone and the winter has set in. Bummer, where did that time go?

I still have the feeling of the wind in my hair, bug splatter on my teeth and the rumbling vibration itch on my butt, however I just cannot get over the feeling that the long set in winter is going to be dismal and gloomy. I'm going to miss hanging out with my friends at my buddies garage, I'm gonna miss wing night at Scooters and the chicks in leather chaps and booty pants. The time spent polishing the bike, putting on those really cool new parts that I ordered online or from the catalog that sits in the bathroom and on the garage bench is all but gone, I won't see it again until the spring. I'm so miserable. But how can I get over these Winter Motorcycle Blues?
I've been in the same situation many times but now I've compiled a short list of ways that you can get over those Winter Motorcycle Blues and they are as follows. Remember, you don't have to take my word for it, but these are some suggestions that get me through those short days and long nights of winter.

1. Repair Manuals - Reading the complete repair manual for your motorcycle takes your mind and puts it right there with your motorcycle. You see every part thats on your bike, you find out new ways to maintain the bike, where things bolt on and how you can now upgrade your bike with parts and accessories. This gives you an opportunity to learn more about the bike that you ride.

2. 10 Point Maintenance - If you've got a motorcycle, you really need to take this down to time to do some real work on the bike. Check the following items on your motorcycle and take care of them. I'll elaborate more in another article. Fluids/Oil/Transmission/Brake - Chain/Belt - Tire Tread - Tire Pressure - Brakes - Battery - Electrical / Lights - Tighten Nuts and Bolts - Filters / Air / Oil etc. - Cables - Wheel Spokes and last but not least make sure your license and tags are up to date.

3. Wing Night - Your favorite watering hole still has specials going on in the winter time and you can still keep up with some of your buddies talking about bikes, rides and upcoming Poker Runs or talk about what happened over the past year. This also gives you an opportunity to hear what others are doing with their bikes over the winter to fight the Winter Motorcycle Blues, it's like a support group.

4. Put New Parts On - You may get some gift cards or extra cash for Christmas and now you can get that set of grips or some new floor boards to put on your bike. Pull out your favorite catalog or get online and find the stuff that you've always wanted and now have the money for and get a little dirt on your hands. Just like doing the maintenance, this gives you a chance to get to know your bike better, the more you have your hands on it, the more likely you are going to find something that could have become a disaster on the first ride of the year.

5. Watch motorcycle movies, pull out the Wild Hogs or Easy Riders DVD and put it in to get back in the zone of riding and having fun with friends.

6. Treat your Leathers - Nows also a good time to get some of your favorite brand of leather treatment and rub down your leather coat, chaps, gloves and vest. This keeps your gear in good condition and ready to go when the weather allows for that first 50 degree day to get things going again.

These are just some of the things that I do to get over those Winter Motorcycle Blues and keep my mind on the road, thinking about the good times with friends, straightening the curves and feeling that rush of throwing a leg over your steal stallion, hearing the squeak of leather as you toss the coat on your back and turning the key and pushing the start button on your motorcycle. Until the next article, Ride safe and we'll see you on the road.

Until the warm breezes start to blow again and the sun begins to shine at 6 am, keep your thoughts on the road, two wheels in your heart and the open road on your mind. One last point, get that new pair of boots that you wanted and start to break them in wearing them around the house.


Shannon Appleby has been in the motorcycle industry since 2005 and has had the opportunity to become friends with some of the most influential people in the world when it comes to the Two Wheel passion. Regularly attending Daytona Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Sturgis and many more, along with building his first bike by finding a basket case and completely rebuilding it just to understand the bike more. Shannon has created over 300 videos covering motorcycle parts and accessories, custom bike builds and motorcycle rallies and events. You can see more of Shannon and his passion for motorcycles at his website http://www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesvideos.com

Motorcycle Safety and Riding Gear from the Ground Up

Most of us ride with some common sense after having several years of riding under our butt and can make good decisions on what to wear while riding. Others yet haven’t had the time on a bike to take a spill, lay the bike down or even see what can happen to someone else when the human body hits the pavement at 60 miles per hour. So, I’m going to give you some tips on what motorcycle riding apparel to wear and not to wear from the ground up, this is an article to help you save your hide, literally.

1. Footwear: First of all, let me get the stuff out of the way on not to wear either because it’s just stupid or you will look like a moron. Open toed anything, sandals, shoes, flipflops etc. They are just wrong. Next would be dress shoes, sneakers, loafers or crocs. These kinds of shoes don’t have any protection to speak of. What to wear: Proper riding boots should be your first choice. Good riding boots can run up to over $200 bucks but they provide the best protection, water proofing and support. Good boots can make the difference between a great ride and a not so great ride. When coming to a stop on a city street, there is oil, tranny fluid or even some soda that somebody dumped out of their window and this can make for a very slippery situation, having a boot with a good slip resistant sole can make the difference when putting your foot down for a red light. Waterproof boots will also keep you nice and dry and warm when on a ride and the weather changes or you have to go through some puddles after a rain has come through. Support in those same boots can reduce the possibility of a broken ankle or foot should you have an accident also. If you are on a budget, at least look into some good hiking or work boots, decent ankle support for the long ride, good traction and waterproofing as well. These can hold up for a long time and this is what I wore when I first started riding.

2. Legs: Denim is a good start as it is a rugged and durable fabric that can last a long time, but when you hit the pavement, that cotton will shred like toilet paper on a drum sander. Leather and new modern textiles designed for motorcycle riding are the best choice. Make sure to select something with re-enforced knees and a proper fit for your body type. There is nothing worse than chaps or pants that bind up on your knees, waist or crotch when you are on a long ride. Besides, if you do take that spill, you will at least keep the skin on your seat, literally. What Not to Wear: Shorts of any kind, it's not safe from the road, bugs or the heat of the engine at all and they simply look stupid while riding a motorcycle.

3. Jacket: Even in the desert, you may think wearing a nice cool T-Shirt from the local dealership will keep you nice and cool but you are sadly mistaken. As the wind runs past your skin on a hot day, two things are happening that will make for a very bad day. 1. Is a good ol’ fashion sun burn. I know you can slather on some good ol’ SPF 50 to keep the rays away but it’s still not safe against bugs, rocks, birds or anything else that may fly up, not to mention if you biff it. 2. Dehydration, as that glorious wind passes by, it’s evaporating any sweat that may be coming out very fast so you have to put out more. Unless you are drinking a gallon of water every 50 miles, you are going to get groggy, weak and start to have a nasty headache that the best over the counter pill can’t get rid of. When riding you should keep it all covered. A quality riding jacket, whether leather or new modern textiles will make things much more pleasurable. Be sure to select the right fit, something that has a removable liner to let you ride longer in the season or when the temps have dipped overnight and it has good re-enforced elbows and shoulders. Most of these will have zipper vents in them too, this keeps some airflow to keep you dry and cool in the hot summer sun, you won’t get a sunburn and the bugs won’t be like little missiles attacking you. There are several reputable manufacturers out there to buy from, just do some research on this and read some reviews before purchasing. Also, go and try it on in person, I know buying online is easy and compulsive, but make sure the size you pick fits you and what you’ll be wearing. Too loose will just flop in the wind and too tight will restrict your movement and reaction time, plus it can create pinch points on your skin at the elbows, shoulders and back.

4. Gloves: Protect your hands from the bugs, rocks and elements too. There’s nothing like riding with cramped up hands from the cold or just your knuckles getting blasted by flying things. I don’t mean the brown Jersey gloves for 99 cents either, I mean, shell out a few bucks for something that’s going to last you a few years. Padded palms, vents, knuckle blocks and other features go a long way to comfort while riding. I have two different pairs of gloves, one with a lower cut for the summer riding, they still go under my jacket sleeves and allow some breeze up the sleeve too, they have re-enforced knuckles and padded palms with a nice style in black leather, the other pair has the same features with the added bonus of insulation and a longer arm cut to go on the outside of my jacket and up about 4 inches to keep out the elements such as cold and rain.

5. Helmet: This is possibly the most important piece of safety gear you can buy besides an education at any Motorcycle Safety Foundation Training School. Do not purchase your helmets online. Every head size and shape is different. Select a helmet that meets your needs. I personally have a full face flip-up helmet. I like this because I can get it out of my way if I need to grab a quick drink of water or something. Full Face, open face or bucket is a personal preference and each has its own unique characteristics that offer more protection, style and comfort. One helmet that fits a person with a 24 ¼ inch head may not fit someone else with the same size head. Your cheeks, ears, forehead and even your hair style will make a difference. Go to a showroom and try on several different ones, make sure it’s going to fit properly and not be too loose or too tight. Too loose will flop around on your head and give you a pain in the neck and head, plus this will offer less protection in a crash, this could break your neck. Too tight will just make it uncomfortable to ride and discourage you from wearing it. If you choose a helmet without a face shield, always make sure to wear some sort of EYE PROTECTION. This is important, there are tons of manufacturers out there that make Sunglasses or goggles that even fit over your prescription glasses. A Bug or dust in the eye while riding can cause you to crash and your eyes can get very dried out too. This is important even on a short trip to the grocery store.

Remember, This is an investment into your own future and it only takes a fall a few feet from the ground to kill you or injure yourself, so don’t take the risk. Getting lazy with your safety gear just one time is all it takes to do some permanent damage. And make sure you research what you are going to get, it’ll save you time and money right from the start. As you ride more, you’ll figure out better solutions for what makes you comfortable too since the new stuff sometimes needs a little time to break it in.

So get out there, use your gear, ride until the rubber is gone and enjoy your time on two wheels.



Shannon Appleby has been in the motorcycle industry since 2005 and has had the opportunity to become friends with some of the most influential people in the world when it comes to the Two Wheel passion. Regularly attending Daytona Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Sturgis and many more, along with building his first bike by finding a basket case and completely rebuilding it just to understand the bike more. Shannon has created over 300 videos covering motorcycle parts and accessories, custom bike builds and motorcycle rallies and events. You can see more of Shannon and his passion for motorcycles at his website http://www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesvideos.com

Swapmeet

This weekend is going to be fun, I'm going to be setting up a booth for Strong Arm Brands of lubricant and penetrating oil.  This stuff is awesome, I use it on my motorcycles, guns and everything else that needs to be squeek free and protected from water and moisture.
The motorcycle swapmeet is in Ottumwa by the Iowa ABATE District 14 crew.  I hear it's a pretty good swapmeet and we should see quite a few customers.  I've been using the product for a few years now and I truely live by it... I've treated my leather coat with it, cleaned the rust off of the chrome parts of a 1974 Yamaha RD250 bike and everything on my 82 KZ1100 motorcycle.

I hope to be able to do more of these shows in the future, it's a foot in the door for doing the video production for motorcycle parts and accessories.

My other website is http://www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesvideos.com/ and that is where I do the video production of Motorcycle Parts and Accessories, product videos, promotional videos and branding videos.
Check it out if you get a chance, also find it on Facebook and make sure to LIKE it so if you have any friends interested, they may hire me too.  I'll have some samples up soon too.

Shannon Appleby wants to stay in touch on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Blog Submission, I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Shannon Appleby Shannon Appleby J&P Cycles Inc. Autumn Quest Productions Mediacom Communications KGAN Pro Video Interactive Technical Support at Parsons Technology Cedar Rapids, Iowa Area Confirm that you know Shannon © 2010, LinkedIn Corporation

AMA Awards Motorcyclist of the Year to its Most Harmful Opponent

Post By: Jeff Cobb on Thursday December 9 2010 As Motorcycle News,News

Taking notes from a liberal progressive organization, the ordinarily conservative American Motorcyclist Association has decided to export some good old passive aggression from its humble offices in Ohio back to California.

Specifically, the AMA has named Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as its Motorcyclist of the Year.

Why? Because he did more damage to the industry than any other person in 2010 by signing S.B. 435, an anti-noise law that is poorly crafted, discriminates against motorcyclists, will be difficult to enforce, and will hurt the already struggling industry.

Yes, he did damage, so he gets the annual prize. Makes sense, right?

AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman justified the award by saying, "the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year designation recognizes the person(s) who has had the most profound impact on the world of motorcycling, for better or worse, in the previous 12 months."

Strange criteria to bestow an ostensible honor you say?

The AMA says it modeled its award criteria on Time Magazine's Man of the Year, which at other times has awarded it to Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini.

Okay. We get that. Sort of.

But in Hitler's case, at least, when he was awarded MOTY in 1938, the U.S. was still trying to appease him, and we were not in open conflict with Germany. That same year, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain also issued his misbegotten prophecy that they will have "peace for our time."

But would Hitler have gotten the award in 1945 after he was seen for what he was?

Would the U.S now offer Osama bin Laden Man of the Year?

Any takers? Do any Americans want to nominate Osama bin Laden? After all, has anyone allegedly had more "profound impact" on our country?

How about we nominate the Taliban, and invite its leaders to a banquet dinner to present the award?

Actually, if this doesn't sound absurd enough, Time did consider making bin Laden its Person of the Year in 2001, but decided not to.

That his nomination could be taken seriously sounds pretty perverse to me.

Given that the AMA did cross that line and chose a man seen as most harmful to its cause makes me question the AMA's position, tactics, and forthrightness.

The AMA's award has only existed since 2008, so there's not a long case history of other villains getting the award. In fact Arnie is the first.

According to AMA rep Pete terHorst, "In 2008, the AMA recognized AMA Board Chairman Stan Simpson for helping turn the AMA around, and last year it was America's youth riders because they were/are the victims most impacted by the CPSIA or "lead law."

So clearly, the AMA understands the award can go to positive movers and shakers, and reserves the right to make political statements with its award. But last year it honored victims. This year it called attention to a perpetrator.

Very interesting.

Please don't take us wrong. We adamantly support the AMA, and its endorsement of the proposed SAE J2825 motorcycle sound test, of which terHorst says, "The SAE J2825 is the way to go (which the MIC underwrote) and AMA has been pushing it wherever we could, but it's an uphill struggle."

We do agree with the AMA that the Schwarzenegger has done a horrible disservice to the industry.

It's only noteworthy that Time Magazine's standard was seen as a model to emulate by the normally conservative AMA.

In the eyes of some, we fear this will be seen as an act of passive aggression of the highest order. It might even be seen as shrill.

There is little doubt, the AMA, which was over-ruled, and lost its battle at least for now, gave the award to shame Schwarzenegger.

Dingman ends his press release by saying, "We will continue to work with municipal governments and state legislatures to implement reasonable measures, such as the SAE J2825 standard, to address excessive motorcycle sound. But we now have the added burden of showing how California's new measure is not an effective solution, and we have Gov. Schwarzenegger to thank for that."

So they "thank" him by making him Motorcyclist of the Year.
But heh, what do we know? In today's climate the AMA's posturing may be effective.

But is it setting a solid example of taking the high road in this battle?

We are actually sorry to see the AMA in such a situation. According to Dingman in his editorial titled "Sitting on the sidelines is not an option," the AMA has only 245,000 members out of an estimated 20 million riders.

Is it any wonder it is having to resort to tactics like its latest MOTY award?
We would encourage more of you who've not joined already to do so and send donations to the AMA.

Clearly the motorcyclists of America have their proverbial back up against a political wall. The AMA is fighting as best it can. We understand that.

We think the AMA's ploy ought to serve not only as a wake-up call to politicians (who don't care), but to you who are motorcyclists who say you do care!

We all need to unite more than ever, because there are more politicians than the former Terminator who'd like to terminate your rights as a rider.

What do you think? Did the AMA make the right move with its MotY selection? Please leave a comment or discuss it at this forum thread.

Living the life of the UNEMPLOYED

 
Ok, so back in August, I was fired from my job. Of course, this came as no suprise to me, they had slowly been giving my job duties out to other people where I was down to just doing the video shooting and editing.  Well, I went after unemployment... That was my first mistake.  The company fought it and I won, the first time.  Then they were given the chance to appeal it, and they won.  But not until after I had gotten a few months of unemployment benefits. $4,087.00 to be exact.  Since they won the battle, I now have to pay all of that back.  Now, since I don't have a job, I have to pay back the UNEMPLOYMENT benefits that I did receive.  THIS SUCKS!
Anyway, about living while unemployed.  You might think, Great, plenty of time to go fishin, work in the garage, get stuff done around the house......  You would think that.  But some people end up getting into a slump of depression, you don't feel like waking up, you feel like a loser, you aren't bringing any money into the house and above all that, if you do take some time to go fishing, after looking for a job that day, then your wife busts down on you for doing it.  It's like "Your not working, you cannot be going fishing."  I don't know how people can go for months or especially Years without having a job.  I think it sucks.  You sit around on the couch, get fat, lazy, out of shape and above all else, there is still a ton of stuff to do around the house but you just can't get your ass off the computer, facebook, youtube, tv, Xbox etc to go and do anything.
Well, I know this first hand. There are a million and one things around this house I planned on doing while I had the time off.  I was going to clean the garage... Well. I did that but got into another project while doing that and it ended up even worse.  I was going to really insulate the house by filling in some of the cracks in the basement, attic, seal the windows, doors etc.  Never got around to that cause I had to update my status and see what everyone else was up to.
I did however take time to work on my website, updated my social status like every 15 minutes or so and I even did some voluteer work by building a new website for http://www.campwyoming.net/.
My wife said the other day, "I thought you were gonna take like a month off to find a job, it's been 5 months."  I was shocked, where had the time gone?  What had I done in all that time?
I looked back on it and really, I spent a majority of that time on the computer.  I was on facebook, youtube and email most of my day.  I didn't get jack diddly done. Even when it was really nice, I only went riding my bike a few times..  I could have gotten thousands of miles in on my bike, I could have done Temp work, I could have done that household work like laundry, dishes, vacuum and much more, but I didn't.
So, here's my resolution.  Until I find a job, I'm going to set a timer and limit myself to 30 minutes online a day, give or take an hour for work stuff.  I should be able to write a blog, update my status, see what is going on in the world, check the weather, look for a job and go over my schedule in that amount of time.
I resolve to help keep the house picked up, help with laundry and get some much needed things done.  I'm going to start by picking up the house before the wife gets home today, then start going through things on the porch to get rid of for a garage sale in the spring.  I've got really cool stuff and I don't know why anyone wouldn't give a few bucks for it.
So, off I go, on my new adventure of being a housewife.....  

Until I get a job of course......

Mikuni HSR48 Performance Carburetor For Big American V-Twins

Published by Cyril Huze January 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.

Factory or custom built, "High Tech Wonder Bikes" have increased displacement requiring the highest air flow possible, highly accurate fuel metering, and precision throttle response.
Following the popular HSR42 & HSR45 carburetors for stock and mildly modified Harley-Davidson and other V-Twins, Mikuni is now offering the HSR48 Flat Side Carburetor, a must have for highly tuned big American Big Twin motors.
This smooth-bore carburetor offers the highest air flow, a new extended main jet and larger fuel valve to assure ample fuel supply. It has` all the same features and big performance gains as all other HSR carburetors and is designed with an 8-roller bearing flat throttle slide assembly that allows an unobstructed venturi at full throttle to flow more air, while it mixes fuel more precisely at all throttle settings. Mikuni's roller bearing throttle slide offers smoother throttle control and allows the use of a lighter throttle return spring for reduced throttle effort. The Mikuni adjustable accelerator pump provides instant throttle response in any riding or performance application. A high capacity float bowl prevents fuel starvation even under full throttle . The new HSR48 comes complete with rubber mounting flange, choke cable, remote idle adjuster and additional jetting. For more information, contact your local dealer or visi Mikuni Power.

Submitting blogs by email

I now have a way to submit my blogs directly from my email.

This is cool because now I can actually paste text into the email and publish it to this blog.

You can set this up in your settings/email/ and select post immediately.

But don't forget that email address.

FREE INDIAN LARRY STICKERS

Bobby Seeger Jr. at Indian Larry Motorcycles is giving away FREE Indian Larry stickers.
Here are the instructions.

Send a self addressed envelopoe with a stamp to:

Indian Larry Motorcycles
400 Union Ave.
Brooklyn, NY. 11211

FREE STICKERS with your return postage it will go back to where ever you live.
Enjoy.

Dead birds in Arkansas:

Dead birds in Arkansas: Lightning, hail, or just fireworks?
Strange news on birds falling from the skys on Dec. 31st in Beebe, Arkansas.
Read up on some of the news storys on this.
I think it is government experiments.

Welcome to Camp Wyoming

Welcome to Camp Wyoming
Check out the new Camp Wyoming website right here.

Motorcycle Videos

www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesvideos.com is my newest adventure. This site tells all about the services that I am now offering to the world of motorcycles. Product, branding and promotional videos for the Motorcycle industry. Social networking services and much more.
Check it out at www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesvideos.com

Pinewood Derby Fun with the kids.

Coming up in about 2 weeks is the Pack 67 pinewood derby. It's always a great event with Dad's Belgian Waffle breakfast and then the Pinewood Derby at noon. This year, they invited the Boy Scouts to join in on the fun and asked the leaders and scouts to make their own OPEN CLASS entries. This means that it doesn't have to meet reguations for size, weight etc. So, mine may not win for speed, but it should certainly turn some heads with Best of Show hopefully.

This is a complete concept design that just seemed to jump off the block of wood. I staired at the block for about half an hour before this came to mind. The copper wires were added later when I decided on what color to stain it. Just happened to have some electrical wire hanging around and started drilling holes where it should go, the top 2 bands were the last of the thoughts. Screws were added as accent pieces also. Just like a custom chopper, they look awesome, but aren't usually very functional. Hopefully, this one will net me a Best of Show ribbon or something... The kids are both doing their cars too, Cain is a Tiger cub and his car is somewhat resembling a Light Cycle from TRON and Tyler opted for the School Bus approach. He also has a Tank in mind for another option. He can't decide. Either way, this has been a ton of fun, and I may consider taking this up as a hobby, or some sort of woodworking art.

Inlaying is my next adventure. Maybe even inlaying some sort of fiber optics into the car...

If you get a chance, attend a pinewood derby in your area... See what the kids are coming up with. And see how much fun it is to spend time with your child to create something. They will remember this time forever.

How to Plan for a Motorcycle Trip

I am posting this video done by the guy over at http://www.bywayofmotorcycle.com/. It's a video on How to Plan for a Motorcycle Trip. It's a great video, content is fun and educational and really, this is what I should be doing. But, until I have the experience, I'll just post what this guy is doing. I hope he doesn't mind.

The Motorcycle world and how I came to join it.

For the past 5 years I have worked for J&P Cycles, one of the worlds leading retailers for Motorcycle Parts and accessories. As an employee there (gotta watch my terminology) in the marketing and ecommerce departments I had the opportunity to create videos of products in the motorcycle industry. I had the great pleasure of becoming friends with innovators, marketers and creators in the motorcycle world and met some very interesting people. The passion that these people had for their two wheeled machines and how it directed but not dictated their lives was something that I couldn't keep from yearning for. I have been a bounce around my whole life with a new passion ever 6 months. I've been a hardcore prepper just waiting for doomsday, had the itch for the 4x4 and offroad, and even delved into the occasional non=profit group (for those that know me, this last one is an understatement.).
My buddy Kody Wisner, found an old KZ1100 in a ditch for $100 bucks from a guy and while I had been kinda helping around his shop sweeping up, lifting things, sand blasting or just helping to push bikes around, Kody thought it was time I had a motorcycle. I had been looking for something that I could afford in about the $0 dollar range for a few months already when Kody uncovered this little gem. He said, if I could make it run, that I could have it. He said he would help me so I took on the project and well, for another story, I finished it and made it run.
After some time of learning to ride it, getting my license, immersing myself into learning more about the bike and getting the right riding gear, I finally understood what these new friends in the motorcycle world were talking about.
It is exhilirationg to just hear the sound of the bike underneath of me, cruising down the highway, bugs splattering my faceshield (Helmet Wearer and proud of it.) And watching all of the people in their cars and trucks not paying attention to the road or what is around them.
In a car or truck, you are still allowed to be pre-occupied by the naggin wife (not mine of course) screaming kids, cell phone ringing, the latest text message that you just cannot live without reading and responding to, the news guy on the radio telling you that the government is only trying to help you and some advertisement telling you about a special on ribs at the local restaurant.
When I'm out there, I see the road, I see the cars around me, I see the scenery, I can pull over to look at the sunset and I don't have to get out of the car, I'm already there.
There is a comradery amongst those on 2 or sometimes 3 wheels that you don't get in a car.
When was the last time you were passing a group off cars going the other way on a 2 lane divided highway and everyone of them waved to you to say hello, be safe. Never. This happens on a motorcycle, ever see the guys dropping their left arm towards the ground with a few fingers extended as if to give a horizontal piece sign? Yeah, I had, but I never knew what it was. That is their way of saying Hello fellow rider, be safe and Keep 2 wheels down on the ground.
I really like that. I've now come to meet many more motorcycle riders and they are a group of people that you would never have expected to be such a loyal, caring and giving group of people. My kind of people. Not too worried about what others think of them, although they keep their bikes as shiny as can be, the outfit meets the requirement for the look of the weekend warrior and the depth of the voice drops a few octives as they get on their bike.
This is the primal man coming out in all of us. The Cowboy saddling up to head off into the sunset is about as romantic of a scene as you can get, and when you get on the seat of a motorcycle, that's exactly how you feel every time.
This is why I have joined that wonderful world of Motorcycle Rider, Enthusiest or AKA Biker.
If you ever consider jumping on the back of an Iron Stallion, make sure you do it the right way... Talk to some experienced friends, make some new friends, learn what not to do so as to avoid any embarrassment and don't get a doo rag with flames just cause you think it's cool.. They aren't.

Live life to it's fullest but don't be a dumb ass and ride like an idiot. Take your time and get several thousand miles under your belt before you do too much riding on your own. Besides, riding with a friend is always better than riding solo. Thanks for listening and there is sure to be more to come.

New Blogging

Begin following me as I beging to write about life, video, parenting and more. I hope to make this enjoyable and insightful so as you can learn lessons from my mistakes, or experiences as I like to call them.
Some things to see in the coming articles will be about motorcycles, rallies, Boy Scout events, how scouting has changed my life, being a parent and the fun that comes with that as well as some cool stuff with shooting and editing video.
It may not all be your cup of tea but I'll do my best to make sure everyone has something to read about.