May 2, 2011 – Cycle Digest

ROSSMEYER DEALERSHIP CLOSES FOR RENOVATIONS

Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson Beach Street location in Daytona Beach, Fla., closed April 1 for construction and will reopen this fall as a store and museum.
The Beach Street location, at 290 N. Beach St., is the “Original” Bruce Rossmeyer dealership, as it was the first opened under the Bruce Rossmeyer name. When it reopens, it will be the first museum for the group.
The new museum and store will showcase displays, memorabilia and items for purchase across 20,000 square feet. Motorcycles provided by private enthusiasts will be shown, as will bikes from Bruce Rossmeyer’s personal collection. Other displays will depict historical moments in Harley-Davidson’s history.
Bruce Rossmeyer’s dealerships include the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach, Fla., as well as seven other nationwide locations.

VIRTUALLY NO ASBESTOS RISK

A new study has found that the health risk to off-highway riders from naturally occurring asbestos in the Clear Creek Management Area near Hollister, Calif., is minimal, according to the American Motorcyclist Association.
Tens of thousands of acres of the CCMA have been closed to the public since May 1, 2008, because of fears over the asbestos. The federal Bureau of Land Management controls the land.
The study was commissioned by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of the California State Parks Department. The report was produced by Richard Wilson of the physics department at Harvard, the International Environmental Research Foundation in New York and the Center for Applied Studies of the Environment and Environmental Sciences at the City University of New York.
The study says, “Other recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking and snow skiing, are over 100-fold more dangerous.”
Discussions about the CCMA are continuing. A hearing was held by the OMHVR Commission on April 5.
“The report provides additional data which needs to be considered, along with the data from the [earlier] EPA report, before any final decisions are made concerning long-term recreation opportunities at the CCMA,” Daphne Greene, deputy director of the OMHVR division, said in the AMA press release. “We look forward to continuing discussion with the BLM.”
The full report, titled “Preliminary Analysis of the Asbestos Exposures Associated with Motorcycle Riding and Hiking in the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Sand Benito County, California,” is available at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov. More information is also available at www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html.

E-TON RECALLS 25,000 SCOOTERS

E-TON America LLC has recalled about 25,000 scooters due to misplacement of the ignition switch.
The engine on/off switch is supposed to be on the right-side handlebar, while the high/low beam light switch should be on the left. However, on the affected units, the switches are on the opposite-side handlebars, therefore the scooters fail to comply with the requirements of the federal motor vehicle safety standard No. 213, “Motorcycle Controls and Displays.” The concern is a rider might get confused while using the handlebar switches, causing the scooter to lose power during operation. No incidents or injuries were reported with the recall.
The affected units include certain 1999-2010 50cc and 150cc Beamer I, II and III models and 2007-’10 50cc and 150ccc Matrix scooters.

MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WELCOMES SPONSOR, ANNOUNCES BONUS AWARDS

MX Sports Pro Racing has announced that Oakley has made a multi-year commitment as a major series sponsor of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, produced by MX Sports Pro Racing and its strategic partner Alli Sports.
“Oakley’s roots originated in motocross more than 35 years ago, and to this day, the brand is still committed to sponsoring the best athletes in the business,” Anthony Paggio, Oakley’s two-wheel motorsports manager, said in a press release. “It’s only fitting for Oakley to partner with the sport’s most prestigious race series in order to take the brand’s relationship with motocross to the next level.”
In addition to the new sponsorship, the return of the Industry Bonus Awards (IBA) program was announced for 2011. The program offers racers opportunities to make additional contingency money though overall race results.
“Industry Bonus Awards are a great way for some of our motorcycle industry friends and partners to participate in our series and give something back to the riders at the same time through the payment of contingency money,” Davey Coombs, vice president of MX Sports Pro Racing, said in a release.
The IBA covers all three professional classes for 2011, and riders can register at the time of event entry for each program. Bonus award packages are also still available from MX Sports Pro Racing. For more information on the IBA program contact Jeff Canfield at jcanfield@mxsports.com.
The 40th Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship kicks off Saturday, May 21 with the Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic in Racho Cordova, Calif.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER ORGANIZATION

Harley-Davidson Motor Co. is donating $370,000 to organizations that support those with breast cancer.
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of items from the Harley-Davidson Pink Label Collection during 2010 was collected to help fund the YourShoes 24/7 Support Center, administered by the non-profit Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, previously known as the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. The collection includes MotorClothes riding gear, apparel and accessories for women.
“Harley-Davidson and its dealers are proud to make this donation to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization,” Patrick Smith, Harley’s vice president and general manager of general merchandise, said in a press release. “Pink Label is our most successful new women’s MotorClothes product launch ever, and we could not be more pleased that it is helping support counseling efforts and peer support for those affected by breast cancer.” psb