The awards come from Motorrad, the Motorcycle magazine. BMW motorcycles won all five categories in this year’s issue, which is the best result that’s ever been achieved by a single motorcycle manufacturer in the entire history of the awards.

The ceremony was held at the “Motorräder Dortmund 2010″ trade fair in Dortmund, Germany. This award is seen as the most significant motorcycle award in all of Europe.

In the Sports category, the BMW S 1000 RR four cylinder supersport took the honors. This category rated bikes based on their technical conception as well as their performance. The S 1000 RR’s Race ABS and its Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) system are at the core of this amazing sport bike, and contributed greatly to its placing in this category. The reader favorite award also went to the BMW S 1000 RR, showing confidence not only from the industry but from motorcycle enthusiasts, as well.

The Touring category saw two different BMW motorcycle models place. The BMW K 1300 GT won the category, and the BMW R 1200 RT took the bronze. This demonstrates BMW’s ability to produce a comfortable and safe vehicle that’s good for travel.

Three BMW motorcycles placed in the Enduro/Supermoto category. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure won the segment, with the BMW R 1200 Megamoto in fourth place and the BMW F 800 GS in fifth place in the category.

Two other categories rounded out BMW’s wins. The All Rounders win went to the BMW K 1300 S, and the Naked Bikes category went to the BMW R 1200 R respectively.

If you’re looking for a high-quality motorcycle that’s known for performance as well as style, get to your BMW dealer, pick one out, call up your motorcycle insurance agent and get it insured and then get on the road today.

Photo via 9GIX9

I am the law

On the one hand is the question of legality: whether or not you should be required to wear a motorcycle helmet by the force of law. Those that believe it should be required by law to wear a motorcycle helmet usually cite issues like public health costs and increased costs for medical insurance, motorcycle insurance and hospital care. They advocate for legislation to make it illegal to ride without a helmet, and many states have such laws on the books. Penalties for not wearing a helmet are usually not too severe, but are significant enough to act as a deterrent.

Opponents of motorcycle laws argue that it ought to be their decision whether or not to wear a helmet. They argue that it is their responsibility, not the government’s, to make sure they’re safe and healthy. They don’t always argue that wearing a helmet is a bad idea. They argue that it should be up to them, however.

Is it safe?

Almost no one in the motorcycle helmet debate will suggest that riding without a helmet is more safe than riding with a helmet. Those who support helmet laws cite statistic after statistic about how much safer it is to ride with a helmet than without.

In many cases, however, they miss the point entirely. Opponents of helmet laws don’t argue that wearing a helmet is less safe than not. They argue, again, that it should be up to them to choose.

Personal choice and social responsibility

The real core of the motorcycle helmet debate is a question of how much individuals should be compelled by the force of law to be socially responsible. We have laws every day that make such requirements. Carrying auto insurance or motorcycle insurance are some examples.

However, the impact of the personal choice not to wear a helmet doesn’t necessarily extend as far as some would suggest. The ultimate risk is to the individual. While there is some overall impact on society, the fact remains that it’s no more or less than the risks involved in many other activities.

The helmet issue isn’t going away anytime soon, but perhaps if the sides can listen more closely to one another they can come to an understanding, and focus on getting the word out about the dangers of riding without a helmet rather than trying to force behavior based on laws.

Photo via ~MVI~

Today’s GPS receivers are cooler and more advanced than ever. There are even GPS devices specifically built for bikes that include shockproof memory. Today’s GPS boxes have detailed road maps, and may have extra features like MP3 player capabilities, support for Bluetooth connections and even Satellite Radio.

Which GPS device will work best for you is, in many ways, a matter of your individual situation. It depends on where you’re going to be riding, and what kinds of things you want the device to do.

For example, you might want your GPS receiver to do more than just go with you on your bike. You might want to be able to take it hiking, or out on a boat. You might want a GPS device that has a large enough screen to read while you’re going down the road, or you might want one you can reference when you’re stopped. You might want one that has a voice-based route directions, or that may not be a part of what you’re looking for.

Garmin makes a line of GPS receivers that are specially designed to be used by motorcyclists. The Zumo 665 is waterproof, has map data included for all of the United States and Canada, includes a car kit, has Bluetooth capability, includes XM radio receiver, and even has a weather radar. That one would certainly be toward the top of the heap, and the price tag shows it.

A step down from there is the Garmin Zumo 660. This one is also waterproof, has US and Canadian maps, a car kit and Bluetooth, but does not have XM or radar. The Zumo 550 is similar, and offers XM Radio as an option.

Most of the other major GPS manufacturers offer similar products. Each comes with a variety of accessories, as well. You can get mounts for most of them, and some of them allow you to subscribe to a service that will put real-time traffic data right on your device.

Finally, you need to make sure that your GPS is covered for theft or loss on your motorcycle insurance policy. The last thing you want to do is have that sucker stolen after paying through the nose for it.

Photo via dawidone

Forgetting for a moment the environmental concerns about burning more gas than you need to, there’s a very practical issue at stake, as well. One of the reasons that most people cite for wanting to ride a motorcycle is for the sake of saving gas. And, while 30 to 45 miles per gallon is much better than a car, it’s not the best it can be.

Here are some quick and easy ways to improve your motorcycle’s gas mileage:

1. Keep your engine clean. A clean engine is an efficient engine. Make sure you regularly use a fuel additive to keep things humming along on the inside.
2. When you can, drive on the highways. Long stretches of road without stop signs are better for fuel efficiency. All of that stop and go of traffic just sucks the gas right out of your tank.
3. If you ride in the city, consider a lighter bike. If most of your driving is in the city, a lighter bike will help to reduce the amount of fuel you’re using.
4. Keep your tires inflated. While the amount of fuel you can save by keeping your motorcycle’s tires inflated is less than what you’d save in a car, it can still help your overall mileage.
5. Don’t drive aggressively. Brake and accelerate slowly. Keep a constant speed whenever possible.
6. Watch your speed. Stay at or under the speed limit. For every 5 miles per hour over about 55, you could be costing yourself as much as 2 miles per gallon or more. Not only that, keeping free of tickets will be a boon to your motorcycle insurance.
7. Dress aerodynamically. A full-faced helmet is much more aerodynamic than other helmets, for example.
8. Watch for accessories that create drag. If you have accessories attached to your bike that stick out, they’re going to create drag and reduce your fuel efficiency.
9. Use higher-grade fuel. How much this will save you depends largely on the price of the fuel, but it will allow you to use less fuel.
10. If all else fails, consider an electric motorcycle. The world of electric bikes has made great strides in recent years.

Photo via Rob Speed

Here are some of the best motorcycle names ever to hit the industry:

1. Katana. This one rocks. The name invokes sleek, sharp and deadly steel, and the bike more or less lives up to the name. A good idea.
2. Ninja. With apologies to all of you pirate devotees, anything named after ninjas is cool. The only thing cooler is if this one were combined with the Katana. Then, you’d not only have a sword, but one wielded by a ninja.
3. Goldwing. For me, this one has always invoked the memory of Burt Reynolds Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit. The Goldwing is Honda’s version of Burt’s Trans Am. Therefore, it makes the “cool” list.
4. Valkyrie. This bike looks like it was inspired by Ancient Nordic female warriors. It has a strong feel to it, and riding one makes you believe you could crush any puny human with a mere pinch.
5. Thundercat. Maybe I just loved the cartoon as a kid, but I always pictured Lion-O riding one of these. I wonder if Mum-ra required him to carry motorcycle insurance?

Unfortunately, there have been more not-so-cool motorcycle names than there have been cool ones. I’ll limit my list to 5, though, just to keep things fair:

1. Dominator. This might have been an OK name if the bike weren’t so wimpy.
2. Eliminator. This one suffers from the same problem. This bike looks and rides like anything but an eliminator. “Eliminated” might have been more appropriate.
3. Fazer. Really? Shall I set your motorcycle to “stun?” Perhaps the remake will be better than the original.
4. Pan-European. This sounds more like an airline than it does a motorcycle. Even if you do try to associate it with a motorcycle, you wind up thinking more of a delivery scooter than a real bike.
5. V-Max. OK, I’ll be the one to say it. Any motorcycle whose name sounds like a feminine hygiene product really should be taken off the market.

Photo via travellingtamas

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting for a minute that motorcyclists ought to be forced, by the threat of law, to wear a helmet. In fact, I’m all for living in a world where you make your own choices and where you are responsible for the consequences of your actions.

Let’s forget the legal question for a little while. After all, life is about more than politics. Life is about driving down the road on your beloved bike, and about enjoying your free time with friends and other loved ones.

A question of life

Helmets are the most important piece of protective gear that a motorcyclist can wear. A helmet exponentially reduces the amount of damaged caused to the head in a traffic accident. In fact, a biker who’s not wearing a helmet is three times as likely to have an injury to the brain during an accident as a motorcyclist that is wearing a helmet. Many of those brain injuries lead to death or permanent and severe disability.

Motorcycle helmet laws muddy the issue

When states pass helmet laws, it clouds the issue. The theory behind these laws is that, by passing these laws, there will be fewer brain injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents, fewer dead citizens, and fewer severe injuries that must be cared for at the expense of the public. Proponents argue that these kinds of injuries drive up the cost of hospital care and other health care. They also argue that it has a negative effect on motorcycle insurance rates.

Opponents argue that the laws impede their freedom. They argue that helmet laws unfairly single out bikers. In some cases, they even oppose these laws on constitutional grounds.

A more effective way to save lives

I’d suggest that there’s a better way.

Rather than work to have government force its will (or your will) upon motorcyclists, there are more effective ways to save lives. For example, just getting the word out about how dangerous riding without a helmet can be will save lives. Be as graphic as you need to be. In the same way that pictures of a cancerous lung can be an impediment to smoking, head injury pictures can help convince a biker to wear a helmet.

Laws don’t change hearts and minds. Truly effective, long-term change is harder to accomplish than just getting a law passed.

Photo via Jeremy Burgin

Not that the Expo itself isn’t enough, of course. Here are some of the events highlighted at this year’s Indiana Motorcycle Expo, held February 25^th to the 28^th, 2010 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds:

• Motorcycle license skills test. ABATE of Indiana offers the test necessary to become licensed to drive a motorcycle in the State of Indiana. If you don’t already have your permit, though, you’re going to be out of luck: there’s a 30-day waiting period after getting your permit before you can get your license. In addition, ABATE will be holding motorcycle classes so that folks interested in learning to ride a motorcycle can get the licensing process started right here at the expo.
• Tiny Tots Test Track. It isn’t just grown-ups who get to test at the expo. This track is build for first time motorcycle riders, and is a safe, fun environment for you to take your child to have her first motorcycle ride. There’s also the ABATE Children’s Motorcycle Adventure, a series of hands-on activities aimed at the little ones.
• Vintage Motorcycle Display. The Indy Vin Moto group is a vintage motorcycle enthusiast club in Indianapolis. They feature bikes from as far back as the early 1900s up to the 1980s. This year, they’re showcasing a number of vintage racing bikes including a 1937 Rudge Ulster.
• Bikers Showcase Bike Contest. This contest, sponsored by Lucas Oil (the company that now also sponsors Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts) is one of the coolest in the nation. Bikes entered in the contest will be judged in a number of qualities, including originality, condition, detail, finish, design and workmanship. There will be trophies for several bike types, including American Big Twins, Euro/Asian bikes, Touring bikes, Vintage bikes and Chopper/Radical bikes, as well as a Best of Show.
• Motorcycle Fashion Showcase. Sponsored by Hardee’s, models will strut the latest motorcycle wear on the runway. Get ready to have your engine get revved up for this one.
• Motorcycle vendors. You’ll find everything you need from helmets to motorcycle insurance at the expo, as well.

Photo via quinet

Still, motorcycle riding has its dangers. Consider just a few specific facts:

• In more than 60 percent of accidents between motorcycles and another vehicle, the other vehicle’s driver caused the accident by violating the motorcycle’s right of way. Other vehicles aren’t always on the lookout for bikes like they should be.
• A motorcyclist is about 25 more times likely to die during a traffic crash than someone in a car. Injury is almost guaranteed, as they’re about 5 times as likely to sustain some form of injury or another. Motorcycle crashes are more harmful and more deadly than typical traffic accidents.
• Those accident statistics extrapolated out don’t bode well, either. On a per-mile traveled basis, motorcycle riders were more than 15 times as likely to die, and about three times as likely to sustain an injury.

Needless to say, the road has risks.

As a motorcycle rider, though, there are things you can do to identify areas of risk and to avoid them. A good biker knows the road, knows what to watch for and is constantly vigilant about bike safety.

Yet, motorcycle safety is different than car safety. Here are a few of the unique safety issues that face bikers:

• Road hazards. What might be a minor annoyance or bump for a car driver can be a major obstacle for a motorcyclist. Things like debris, potholes, ruts, uneven pavement and even railroad tracks pose a threat you need to watch out for.
• Wobbling. At higher speeds, a bike’s front end can start to shake, if the bike’s not properly aligned. That wobble can lead to an accident very quickly.
• Other drivers. A motorcycle is a relatively small visual target. It’s easy to become obscured, especially at an intersection. You need to drive in such a way as to be seen by other drivers.
• Riding skill. Riding a motorcycle takes a lot more skill than driving a car. You need to make sure you can handle your bike well before you ever take it out on the road into traffic.
• Insurance. Motorcycle insurance is a necessity. It helps keep everyone else’s medical costs down, and it helps take care of you if the unfortunate happens.

Photo via doug88888

Police Weigh In

“As a police officer, I’m pro-helmet,” said Columbus Police Captain, Todd Thalken. He used to be a motorcycle owner who rode lid-less before the 20-year-old state helmet requirement went into effect and has also ridden with a helmet. “I can see both sides of the issue.”

Platte County Sheriff, Jon Zavadil, also sees the benefits of helmets.

“I’d think that motorcycle riders would want any advantage they could get (in the event of an accident),” Zavadil said. Riders don’t have much chance without a helmet of escaping injury in the case of an accident, especially on the highway or the interstate, he said.

Zavadil also mentioned that when Texas recently repealed its helmet law, it saw a corresponding increase in injuries.

Other Amendments

Other amendments conspired to have the bill be unsuccessful. This included requiring motorcycle riders to have long term care insurance in case they sustained serious injuries.

Some elements of the bill may gather support such as requiring that only riders who are 21 or older could go helmet free, requiring riders to wear eye protection and relook at the helmet law repeal in five years.

Since 1997, six states have repealed a mandatory helmet law. If passed, Nebraska would be the seventh.

Photo via superde1uxe

Among the many issues to consider when reviewing the bill is one that concerns the motorcycle riders of America—the possible requirement to purchase healthcare insurance and coverage for a motorcyclist involved in a crash.

The Heart of the Issue

Their concern is that not only could they be possibly forced to purchase insurance but that they still won’t be covered when they do!

This stems from the fact that when the HIPAA law, which intended to insure non-discrimination in health coverage, was implemented, insurers were allowed to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injuries. These included injuries from certain types of recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling.

A.B.A.T.E.

ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education.  It was formed in the early 1970’s to protect and assist motorcyclists in the legislate realm.

The group’s mission is to “preserve the universal right to a safe, unrestricted motorcycling environment, and to propose and advocate actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials to protect and conserve the natural resources of the State of Illinois, and ensure through professional management that sustainable use, recreational opportunities and enjoyment of these new resources is available for this and future generations.”

They are urging elected Washington officials to fully understand how the health care bill will impact their constituents including those who partake in so called “recreational activities.”

The ABATE chapter in Florida is also suggesting that if the health care reform becomes law, that all elected officials partake in that plan instead of using their private, tax payer paid for health insurance.

Photo via | El Caganer