Minneapolis PD's condition improving:

The condition of radio programmer Steve Konrad, who was critically injured when a mattress flew off the roof of a cage and directly into his path, is improving. Mr. Konrad is gradually being weaned off the ventilator, the condition of his right leg is improving, and doctors hope to begin physical therapy soon. We've supplied a link for those who would like to keep up on Steve's progress.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevekonrad/journal

Meanwhile, a fourth biker has passed away as a result of a tragic mishap in the Cave Creek area of north Phoenix. According to KPHO tv, a group of eight bikers, waiting for a stoplight were run down by a dump truck. One of the dead, a lady, was on her very first ride without her husband. Two Arizona bikers, and one from Louisiana were killed outright. Nine riders, on eight bikes were idling behind an suv when the dump truck plowed over them, and into the vehicle. Cops say Micheal Jakscht, 46, was not impaired, but had been issued two speeding tickets just days before killing the four bikers. Why he has not been charged with vehicular homicide remains a mystery. Suppose he had hit a school bus full of kids? Do we sense a double standard?

Ohio Town Triples Ticket Take:

Does it seem like squad cars and their laser gear seem to be lurking behind every bush and billboard? May not be your imagination. Take, for instance, one Ohio town where the cops wrote a few more than before: Last January, 450 tickets. This January, over 2,000 tickets. ABM has been warning you that 35 is the new 40. Five over ain't getting any respect these days. There's nothing illegal about getting a ticket for doing 39 or 38 in a 35. The green back is king. Say hello to another 3 points, and take this for what it really is; A tax on those who do 3,4,or 5 over the limit.

Daytona Ride In Bike Show Pix:

Parts is NOT Parts! Home made eye candy is better.






Parts is NOT Parts! Home made eye candy is better.














Compliments of Willie's Tropical Tattoo's Spring Bike Week Show, Daytona, 03-2010.

3 Bikers Killed, 6 Injured, at Red Light Stop:

Phoenix-

A group of bikers, likely enjoying a ride to the northeast of.. "The Valley of the Sun", at 27th ave and Carefree Highway, were patiently waiting for a green light, when they were cut down from behind. Some riders were caught underneath a dump truck, others scattered about the highway. They say the driver did not seem to be impaired. That doesn't mean he's not an ah--e. How preoccupied does one have to be in order to not see EIGHT freakin' bikes at a light? Makes you wonder if there may have been some sort of an ulterior motive involved here.

Always the brunt, rarely a beneficiary:

Legislators are quick to pass laws restricting bikers in the name of their own "safety". Damm few care to pass laws which do more to protect, than restrict us. How about reminding motorists via those huge lighted traffic advisory billboards, when they'd normally be dark? How about reminding cagers to watch for us, instead of waging another simplistic war against cagers who don't wear seat belts? I think we have that one down pat. Well? How about it?

Breaking a bad habit:

ABM will come clean. Our most dangerous habit is that of slipping the bike into neutral at a six way traffic light. For years, one of our riding bro's has said over and over, "keep it in gear, and cover your rear view mirrors". Good advice. Keep it in gear, watch behind you, and have a good escape route by leaving a cushion of safety between you and the cage in front.

Wilie's Tropical Tattoo Ride In Bike Show Pics!

... Crowd grows little bigger each year...You won't find any "posers" at this one. You shoulda seen the crowd out back! Willie, please order a few extra porta potties for next time..




Here's a vid of the front parking lot. Twice as many bikers hanging out back. If you're in town for Biketoberfest, or Spring Bike Week, & you want to meet real people, and see real handcrafted bikes, US-1 south, just north of Daytona's Beach Street, is where you got to be.

More pic's coming next week. Easiest way to know when they're posted is to friend us at Facebook.com or follow us at Twitter.com/abmrocks. Details soon.

Twin Cities Biker PD Medical Update:

Konrad's Condition Improves:

Steve Konrad, a Minneapolis-St Paul program director at KSTP-AM, was involved in a freak accident last week involving a flyaway mattress which broke loose from a cage on Interstate I-94, just as Mr. Konrad was commuting home from work on his motorcycle. Latest updeate is that a responsible person has been found, with charges in particular pending on a judgement as to whether there was an intent to commit a felony. Mr. Konrad's condition was recently upgraded from critical to stable. He is still under sedation.

ABM believes that if traffic enforcement were broadened to include penalties, or at the very least, written warnings to those who, through ignorance, may create an accident scenario, by attempting to play Mayflower Van Lines, we could save lives, especially those of us on two wheels, who depend on agility and balance to maintain a margin of safety.

Get Well, Steve Konrad-

Tragic Accident Leaves KSTP-AM Program Director in Coma:

ABM sends best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Steve Konrad, pd of KSTP-AM in Minneapolis-St Paul, who was critically injured in an accident last Thursday night, on his way home from work. Mr. Konrad was riding his bike on I-94 when a mattress, strapped atop a cage suddenly flew off, and directly into the his path, effectively blocking his view, causing the crash. Doctors have him sedated for the time being. Friends, well wishers may send flowers by calling 651-647-1500, and speak with the receptionist.

Every year or so, my hometown, plagued by interstates, experiences a nasty accident scene of a similar nature to the above story. The last time, it was an 8-foot step ladder laying in the middle of the eight lane. A vehicle roof is no place for a mattress, or any other object. We'd appreciate it if cops would write up this type of highway infraction, and lighten up on those easy speeding tickets, but our thought will likely fall on deaf ears, it's always about the money, isn't it?

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'

Tiger Paws?

Gossip from the hills of Hollywood indicate that Sandra Bullock may have vacated their home, after rumors of a Jesse James dalliance with a tattoo model surfaced. Allegedly, Jessee brought the woman in for an "interview", late one week night, which turned into a session of closely inspecting couch fibers. Anyone watching the Academy Awards show could tell, by their expressionless stare, that something large was in the air. Not good. She is angry. He is clueless.

Pump Gas...Going Up, up, up?

Just one year ago, a barrel of crude oil, as priced on the world market hit 40 bucks, sending OPEC into a Prozac frenzy, providing relief to American consumers. Here we are, 12 months later, and the spot price for a barrel of oil is over 80 dollars. Here's where it gets scary: If pump gas prices had followed the price of oil, you'd be paying four bucks a gallon for regular. One of two scenarios will likely play out before the mid-summer high demand driving season...either the price on a barrel of oil will fall, or pump gas will rise. Some analysts say oil could rise to just shy of $100 a bbl. If that happens, your local station will get somewhere around four bucks a gallon, make that $4.50 on the west coast. You might want to hang on to that little 250cc Honda Rebel for a bit longer..

55k$ Wheelchair Access Trike!

Who would have thought?

Modern technology is making it easier for wheelchair confined bikers to have their day out on the open road.



What's really cool about this trick setup is how easy it is for the rider to simply roll up to the back on a wheelchair, actuate the lifting mechanism, and be lifted up and on to the bike. We've never seen anything quite like it.




Sure, $55,000 is a lot of money for any motorcycle...making the purchase decision is simply a matter of how bad you want to be..in the wind.

Hey Orkin Man...You Suck!

Pest Control Company Rags On Sport Bikers:

Commercial shows especially gross human-size termite face down the pest control dude. He gives it a shot of nasty chemicals, & the bug blasts off, doing wheelies on a blue sport bike. Orkin hates sport bikers, so we hate Orkin.

Why should ABM care? We don't own a sport bike.

An attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us. Obviously, someone at the brain-dead Orkin ad agency is a hater. Some other inbred pig gut sucking moron far up the food chain at Orkin Pest Control thought it'd be cool to rag on the bikers. ABM doesn't care what you ride, as long as it's a motorcycle. Seeing this stupid commercial hacked me off just as much as last summer's McDonald's anti-chopper commercial. For these attacks, both companies suck. I wouldn't do biz with Orkin if my entire house was crumbling from an attack by those wood munchers, and the last time I was in a McDonald's it was only to use the bathroom. Orkin's too expensive anyhow. This prime example of a corporation going out of their way to inflame the public against bikers is a good excuse to do business with someone else.

Hey, motorcycle hating Orkin, YOU SUCK.

Weird Science? 2 Foot Tall Bird Lands In Middle of Daytona Speedway Traffic Jam!

Daytona Speedway? Bird uses cage as launch pad?

A sight to behold in the bright sunshine of yesterday afternoon, hundreds of bikes/cars in the immediate vicinity, 10 lanes wide, a two foot tall Florida White Egret landed right on top of the roof of a red imported car, not 50 feet from us, the driver never noticing that hundreds of people were yelling, pointing, & staring at his roof! The drunken bird (see previous DWF {drunk while flying} blog), landed, and kind of rocked back n forth for the couple minutes it took the traffic light to change, then ambled off afeather when we got rollin', probably headed for the nearest tall palm tree to snatch a few more fermented berries. At a buck a beer, ABM should be so lucky, but I had a space heater last night, so we can call it even. Never pack away the camera. I never seen anything like this before. That bird had to be smashed.

Bottom Line:

Basket sunburn cases aside, we've see bikers with a healthy glow. Bright sun will do that to ya. This may have been the coldest Daytona Spring Bike Week in 30 years, but the bikers took it in stride, riding to their favorite dives & hanging out, it's what we do best. Vendors with stuff like leathers, chaps, headgear, anything to keep you warm did a killer business. Hot Leathers was nearly sold out of some stuff. Food vendors selling "comfort" food like chops, legs, seafood, and sausage did well too. Prices of souveniur stuff like tee shirts actually went back up after the middle of the week, before dropping this weekend.

60 degrees and sunny over 80 degrees and rainy? Sorry. Got to go with the sunshine!

Hog Dealer Belly Up? Outlaws vs Cops? Drunken Migratory Birds? It's all in a Daytona Day..

Outlaws vs local Police:

Media outlets cover as local cops converge on the new "Outlaw" mc's clubhouse, which welcomes Outlaw bro's from far away during bike week. Police have established a briefing area right across the street from the clubhouse.

Now here's where it gets weird:

Tv stations went throughout the neighborhood, from home to home, asking residents if they wanted the bikers gone, and to a person, they all said the club had enabled them to take back their street. Residents from all walks of life say their street is tranquil, and crime has disappeared since the motorcycle dudes moved in. No more smashed car windows, no prostitution, no muggings. More than one went on camera to say the Outlaws moving in down the street is the best thing since sliced bread. Cops say the club dabbles in crime, and they must be stopped. ABM reports. You be the judge.

ABM's Streetwise Reporter Hears the B-i-g Rumor...Chapter 13? Say it ain't so!

Imagine the world's largest HD dealer scrambling to shield their assets from creditors? Look up the definition of Chap/13. Not a pretty sight. We keep trying to distance ourselves from this unconfirmed story, but the rumors grind on every day, saying the plant will announce after bike week is over, so we ain't saying what dealer it is.. You're smart enough to know, anyway. Expect the big news after next week.

Drunken Birds? (Birds exhibiting "biker behaviour")

Does it seem like lately, bikers are pretty much normal, while the rest of the world is insane?

Example: Robins, Purple Grackles, etc, stocking up on fresh palm tree berries are reportedly DWF!!! (Drunk While Flying). Due to the extreme temp changes of this winter, the Cabbage palm tree fruit, which looks like little black berries, and hangs from the top of the palms, has fermented. As we well know, fermentation may produce a little "buzz" for those who imbibe, and now our little feathered friends are becoming what they normally eat...bar flies! Still too cold to continue on up north, for now, the little beggars are trying to fatten up for the fly home, but wind up getting drunk, and staggering around the campground. It's funny as hell, and after dark, in the campground, and the bikes are put up for the evening, it's hard to tell 'em from one of us..

Off to a sleepy start this morning, but we expect lots of locals to join the party beginning today. With a temp warm up into the seventies this weekend, the party is on! We're almost afraid to mention to the snowbirds that next week the cold breaks, and we get back into the eighties.. For now, the wind has settled down, and it's actually pretty nice outside.

Cops Surround Outlaws-Largest Hog Dealer in Trouble?-Drunk Birds??

Police Blotter: Chiropractors Nabbed By Daytona Bike Theft Squad!

It doesn't get any weirder! Who's got back pain now?

The Daytona Beach News Journal reports that David Nudleman, and David Hershkovitz, both in their thirties, were nailed right on Main Street for grand theft auto, & posession of a vehicle with an altered vin. Nudelman sez he has the registrations, and can prove he's not guilty. Assuming the dudes are innocent until proven dirty, what really makes this one a head scratcher? Nudleman says he bought one bike four years ago, but cannot remember when he bought the other! These are fast, desirable sport bikes, one a Kawi ZX-10, the other, a Yami R1. Cops say they believe the bikes were stolen in Georgia, one as recently as January. The two split with an empty trailer after posting 5 grand bail.

Dirty Gold Wing, Alaska License Plate!

Seen Gawking at the Speedway:

Dude and his lady, putting along International Speedway Boulevard, headed east on an older model Honda Gold Wing, seemed to be shocked at the sight to their right, one of the world's largest race tracks. They couldn't take their eyes off it, eventually swinging into the parking lot for a closer look. We wonder if they're from Anchorage, where ABM has an affiliate. Also wondered how long they've been crusing the south. Had to be one hell of a ride to Daytona. Much respect, and the best to you both.

Flea Market Finds: A huge mix of everyting from fresh farm veggies, citrus, fried chicken, hats, tees, arts, and crafts inside a very large facility. Located a mile or two from the speedway, west side of I-95, first left, on Tomoka Farms Road. If you have a lot of people begging you for free souveniers, this is a great place to get ya some $3 tees, $5 caps from past bike weeks, along with that tourist stuff. Need a few bags of oranges, grapefruits, etc to take home to the great white north? Prices here are pretty good, and you know the fruit's fresher than what's offered at a highway gas station. Bon Appitite!

Is a trend emerging? Yesterday was way warmer than expected, with a nice sunny afternoon break from the morning showers. That's the way it's been all winter in Florida; cool, sunny days, warm when it rains. We're still trying to figure out why so many bikers seem to be fleeing US1 north, and choosing to do their partying downtown. With all of the new biker-friendly activities, and free parking in Daytona, you'd have to admit to actually feeling "welcome" in the city that started it all. Is this a change for good, or a temporary respite until the condo developers return to break ground for another round of sunshine blocking concrete?

Mishap Mars Bike Week

News we hate to hear:

From the Same Town In Ohio; 2 Bikes Collide at Intersection, one passenger dies.

What's Going On?

Karen Davidson, granddaughter of an original HD founder was up bright and early this morning for the ride to support MDA. The girl is letting her hair grow out, and it's a good look for her. HD was expecting several hundred ladies to attend the ride. Line up was to start at 8am. Way too early for us.

Is that a hot dog, or are ya glad to see me?

The ultra-venerable "Lyndhurst" boarding house's barker is yelling from his steamed weenie perch atop the porch loud enough to be heard at the HD store 100 yards away... "Hot Dogs, Cold Beer, One hour rooms, One Buck!". Actually, he's just trying to get your attention with the dollar an hour room bit. (who needs all that time anyway.. how about five minutes?) Bikers roll in, eating dogs smothered with fresh cut vidalias, mustard, ketchup, and that weird green stuff. Bud Selects are flowing like water in a Colorado trout stream. For a buck, it can't be beat. Just off Beach Street, kitty corner to Daytona Harley. One of my regular stops.

Staple foods of bike week--other than hot dogs:

Smoked Turkey Legs: Don't know who started this on trend culinary craze, but bikers are famous for engulfing anything they can eat while holding it with just one hand. Doesn't hurt that it's smoked, either. At one point, STL's were so popular, they comprised 50% of all available woof-her-down foods at the rally. Not so anymore. Maybe we finally got over 'em. I cry, thinking of all those poor turkeys walkin' around on one leg.

You never "Sausage" a thing sandwiches smothered in onions and peppers, on a roll. Simply riding by on your steel pony, and catching a whiff of that big pile being grilled to perfection makes you salivate like a Pavlov's dog. If you're strolling down the sidewalk while they're flipping the pile over, you're hooked. 24 hours later, you wonder..."what was i thinking!"

Burgers: Only problem is trying to get one that hasn't been under a heat lamp since Noah loaded up the ark. Believe me, you'll never get one at a rally that moos when you bite into it.

Poke Chop! Imagine a pound + pork chop, all golden brown, setting smells that drive you to madness...until you find out the sucker's priced like an hdtv set, but you bite anyway..gawd, ten bucks for a pork chop, but it is one hell of a big chop, and look...it's calling your name.

Seafood? For Bikers? Coconut Deep Fried Shrimp, one of the tastiest treats you'll ever clamp your jaws down on, sit on the tray, behind the glass, fresh out of the grease, sparkling in the midday Main Street sunshine. They look so tasty, for just a split second, you contemplate doing a smash 'n' grab, fill up your helmet, and take off, leaving a trail of shrimp tails in your wake...

Tofo: Relax. Not yet, but with electric-powered motorcycles right around the corner...?

Bottom line is, this fancy food will set ya back a pretty penny. Vendors have to cover the high cost of hauling their rigs from place to place, paying for food, equipment, and those expensive vendors permits. That's what makes a $5 chop cost ten bucks +, and that's why we like the Lyndhurst most of the time when we're on the road, it's good solid emergency food.

Daytona is looking for a warm up toward the end of this week, which will probably bring in lots of locals to top off the rally, which would make attendance comparable with last year. I will clue you to one fact: Bikers are having fun. It's what we do best.

Bikers Strip Down?

I-95 Run:

Freezing my bolts off. Seriously. My friends didn't recognize me, wearing a full face brain bucket for cover. In case you haven't heard, this winter has been a tad on the cool side.

Some think it's hot!

Out past the race track, eight HD's all Tennessee license plates. They're stripped down for tanning. It's maybe 62 degrees, but no wind, and this is 11am. brrrr..

A really white chick wearing a skimpy bikini is the first person noticed as we crawl over the intracoastal waterway bridge connecting Beach Street with Main. She must be from Buffalo. Bikini girl is luxuriating in the sun. Off the bridge and at the first light, Main Street looks packed. The sidewalk shuffle is in full swing, not quite as crowded as on the weekend. Takes 2 runs to find a parking spot. People have bags. Looks like some are buying stuff. Full Moon Saloon still has the $2 Bloody Marys. Wise Guys threw us under the bus, but they have $3 beers. Neither one gives ya a straw. A straw shortage?

Beach Street is really happening. You get the feel that Daytona wants to promote this area as party central. Are you sitting down? They're flagging bikers in four locations for off street parking...F-R-E-E. There are a lot of bikes there, in fact, with all of the bikes on Main Street, plus all the bikes on nearby Beach Street, you'd have to think this is a pretty good turnout, being Monday.

Daytona Speedway-lots of people, bikes there, even early in the morning. Really, more people than I figured for a weekday. Didn't have time to pull in, but couldn't get over how may bikes were parked.

US1 North's Ironhorse Saloon has a decent crowd, but nowhere near as packed as downtown. We dropped in to see "Scary Larry", (see past blog), & soak up the ambience that the "horse" is. If it's cold and nasty, this is also a good place to get out of the wind/an/or/rain, maybe even have a dry spot to park the steed.

Tomorrow: Get out the rain gear.

Eileen's Last Creamed Corn Resort?

DBW-2010 Happenings:
(A little cabbage or corn never hurt anyone!)

Creamed Corn -or- Cole Slaw? No, you're not choosing a side order at one of the hundreds of Volusia county eateries, you're being asked for your preference in female wrestling! Down with it? Here are your choices..

The Last Resort: Local beach side joint, south of Daytona. They've always had their lady creamed corn wrestling match on Thursdays, be it DBW or Biketoberfest. Eileen Wurnos, the famous Florida lady serial murderer, made her "last stand" at this joint, where she was arrested while enjoying one for "the road". TLR has a storied history, including movies. At past rallies, they'd gather up a bunch of "metric" bikes, & incinerate the suckers. (They "blowed up" real good.) The fire dept has since stepped in & put a stop to the fun. Thanks a lot.

The Cabbage Patch: Out on Tomoka Farms road, southwest from the speedway. Go under the I-95 overpass, bear to the left, past the flea market, and follow the bikes. Stay in line for the man, until you get there. Don't get sucked in to paying for parking. It's free at the patch. Last BTF, there were thousands of bikes there to enjoy the slaw girls. Lotsa vendors too. We got some great patches & decals. Wrestling slated for Wednesday, and Saturday. Get there early.

Race Fans! Friday, March 5, catch the Daytona 200 at the Speedway. Pretty cool dirt track this year, too.

Vietnam Vets travelling wall: Plaza Resort Hotel, March 4/5, Thursday and Friday. On the beach.

WX: Must be absolutely horrible north of the Mason-Dixon line. Outside of last Saturday's showers, we haven't heard a single complaint. Speaks volumes.