Daytona Bike Week 2008-Mid Rally Disfunction

Police Blotter:

(Don't Taze Me, Man!)

Police target adult nite clubs:

In search of public nudity at establishments where alcohol is served, cops busted at three places. Gee, nudity & drinking.. imagine that?

DUI Checkpoint detainees asked for "DNA Swab":

Is our world getting weirder, or is it just me? Cops set up in south Daytona along Nova road, busting for equipment infractions & DUI, asking those stopped to submit to a DNA swab! (Daytona serial killer). Most of us would be really suprised to find out the killer is also a biker..we simply have better things to do, ya know?

DUH...DUH...DUH-Freakkin' DUH!

Once again, proving you don't have to be a sheep to get fleeced, one northern dude lost 12,000 dollars to several dudes behind a motel on Palm Coast, just up the slab from Daytona. One scammer told the dude he'd just won sixty grand in the lotto, & asked DUH if he had any money... The rest is history.. no, there are no leads.. DUH!

Training Wheels Biker Crashes at the White Eagle:

And now the stuff we hate... Five Bike Week fatalities as of today, all in Volusia (Daytona's) county. One person, who we feel sorry for, but refuse to call a "biker", riding with....(and we are not making this up..) TRAINING WHEELS, was struck by a northbound vehicle when he pulled into traffic at the intersection of US1/Old Dixie Highway, in front of the White Eagle. ABM has warned it's listeners many times about this dangerous intersection, situated right on a sharp, banked bend on US1. However, anyone needing TRAINING WHEELS in order to operate a 650 pound motorcycle doesn't belong on the road. Riding aids of this type, which give newbies a false sense of security should not be offered for sale. He'll have plenty of time in rehab to re-think the four-wheel thing..

Daytona Bike Week #2 Begins:

The Big Blow, Ugly Betty, & Watered Down Bloody Marys:

80 Hunker-Down Miles:

Riding a long bike sometimes has it's disadvantages, like when the wind is blowing 30mph. Most Harleys weigh more than the ABM black bike, & at just under 600 pounds, she gets thrown around a bit. Windshield dudes were shifting down at every other exit. The funny thing about those big shades is they're really great for breaking the wind, but only if the wind isn't blowing too hard to throw the bike around. When the 18 wheelers drift left & right a yard at a time, it's blowing us bikers all over the road. Finally, made it to my buddy's place, where she awaited...

Ugly Betty:

As the Black Bike rolled into the lot, they met for the first time: Ugly Betty, the FXSTI HD Softail Standard I bought at auction for 8500 bucks, looked softly at the original ABM Black Bike... I gently assured both that Ugly Betty was for my better half, and in no way were they competitors. Black Bike got assurances that Betty wouldn't be soaking up money normally available for new tires, brake pads, & cleaning materials, Ugly Betty was told about her pending new set Z-Bars, controls, gas tank, & fresh paint. The two became so cozy, they were told to break it off, or get a room!

Watered-Down Bloody Marys?

Jeff, say it isn't so! Leave it to our Canadian Bro from Thunder Bay to point this out to both the barmaid & yours truly: Drawing Bloody Marys from the spigot on a construction worker's jug without a method of keeping the mixture stirred, eventually results in all of the Bloody falling to the bottom, & all of the Mary rising to the top of the jug. "Hulk" asked why she wouldn't pour him one out of the top, which of course, she didn't do. There is, of course, always an answer, and through dilligent research, ABM was eventually able to find another bar pouring BM's the old fashioned way...(actually it was pretty much across the street)...at this time, we think your money is better spent at "Wise Guys" where they pour shots, rather than the "Full Moon Saloon", where they use the pre-mixed stuff. Either way, $2 for a mixed drink is pretty cheap in Florida!

Rides, Ideas, Deep Fried Fish!

Lots of bikers continue to ride "The Loop". Along the beach, then palm-laden marsh full of oysters, & sawgrass, across tiny bridges spanning lazy tidal creeks, where you can see the fish jumping, the loop eventually brings you back around to US1/I-95. You'll roll through the little town of "Korona", home to what may be Florida's oldest Biker Bar, the "White Eagle." For the second time in one year, they were out of "Coronas"... Maybe it's the sign at the town limits? The tiny town of Bunnell continues to serve up some fried opportunity for the munchie-inclined. Yesterday, the whole town smelled like southern-fried Grouper, Oyster, & Shrimp...yummy..one sandwich is all a normal-size person can eat, for around $5.99. Bunnel is on US-1, maybe 10 miles north of Destination Daytona. Bunnell also has a little Biker Bar called the "Dog Pound" on the outskirts of town. $1.50 large drafts, nice porch to kick back on.

Campers vs RV's:

On the ride out to the "Cabbage Patch" yesterday afternoon, we noticed not too many RV's parked in the Flea Market lot, although a nearby lot look packed. That seems to be just the way it is, some places are packed, some are not. We saw a few "vacancy" signs on area motels, away from the beach, but this may be normal for the Monday thru Wednesday period. Main Street/Daytona was packed, as always, & it took two passes to score a good parking spot. Last weekend, as is the custom, all cages were banned from a 6-block section of Main, but yesterday, they were back, clogging up traffic, & taking pictures of us... Hey cages, buy a bike & join the fun. I'll show you where to get some really "nice" pic's!

Unwelcome Puppies:

On the sunny side of Main, (the north side), you have a few bars with second story balconies. Last weekend, girls were "flashing", so we weren't too suprised to find a bunch of dudes wearing brightly colored tees with "security" watching over those naughty girls, girls, girls...

American Biker Minute

will continue to blog on Datona Activites, so check back often, & remember:

Only 16 days until the first day of spring--you'll be back on the scooter soon!

Daytona Bike Week One Report:

Bikers Ignore Hard Times, & Party Anyway!

Daytona Bike Week (dbw) is on it's way to becomming a two crowd rally. The earlybirds during week one, & as many return home, the second crowd arrives. We've seen this in Sturgis too, but so many bikers were on Daytona's Main Street the first Saturday, many vendors were sold out of some styles of shirts & hoodies, & that is a first.

One of my old radio dj friends had his Canadian buddy from Thunder Bay down to help him rip out the sheetrock from a project home, & he brought his '01 Fatboy, a nice bike w/a beautiful paint job, for which he gave about 13,000 bucks. (more on that later.) He was asking all of the usual "Rally Virgin" questions, like how to get there, (80 mi south on I-95 & hook a left!), where the action was, (everywhere, everywhere), & other questions typical of a person from another country. As the sun was falling, & I packed up to head back to the ABM compound, he couldn't bring himself to leave, & found a room for 100 bucks, south on Atlantic off Main, opposite side of the ocean, we got to try that. A plumber by trade, "Hulk" proudly announced his intent to move here as soon as he retires in 5.5 years. Great, more people moving here, like it ain't crowded enough now..

Destination Daytona's Manheim Auction & ABM's Basket Case:

You pay 100 bucks for the right to bid on tired iron. All makes, but mostly Harleys & a few Choppers, over 300 of these mostly repo'ed bikes from Harley Credit went for bottom dollar. How cheap? The dude from Thunder Bay went pale when he saw an '06 Fat Boy go for three grand less than what he paid for his '01 on EBAY! My dj buddy hooked himself an '07 Harley 1200C Sportster in blue for $6,000. That bike will bring $8700 retail. Yeah, we're saving the best for last. The day before the auction, ABM inspected every Night Train & Softail Standard in the lot, all 5 of 'em...that's right, they're that hard to find, because they're lightweight, fast, & offer a lot of bang for the buck. Had my heart set on either of two '06 Night Trains, but they went for around 14,000, way over the paltry ABM budget. Near the end of the auction, my nemesis appeared, an '06 FXSTI, that's a 2006 Harley Softail Standard in black, with a bald 200mm rear tire, new front forks, front wheel, dented gas tank, scraped pipes, bent right footpeg...gee, wonder how that happened. As luck would have it, I know the auctioneer has to state the case if there is frame damage. ABM WENT TO THE PROM & CAME HOME WITH THE UGLILEST GIRL! $8500 for a 13,000 bike. She needs attention, probably 2-3 thou, but we see potential. The handlebars are loose, the rear brake don't work but she tracks straight as an arrow, & the engine, transmission & driveline are strong. Can't wait to get her torn down for a rebuild. Listen for details on future American Biker Minute programs!

License Plates Seen:

Everywhere, from everywhere, but Sunday morning, more Quebec plates than you'd normall see in... well, Quebec! Also Carolinas, Tenn, etc, & tons of bikers from NY & PA. Lots of people opted to camp this year, & so far, the weather has been great. Almost no rain, with 70-80 degree days, 40-50 degree nights. Cold as it's been up north, believe me, they're eating it up, especially the Canadians. The combo of our cheap dollar (compared to their strong "Loonie" currency) makes everything they see a bargain at 30-40% off retail, & they're buying up everything in sight.

Today's another day, so we pack the tour bags with plenty of H2O, sunblock, and of course, our fine array of audio equipment, so you, the home listener may be treated to the smell of beer & burnt rubber!

Ride safe, spring's almost here, & check back soon for our next blog!