HomeFreedom of Speech, Loud and Clear
Brian "Bruin" Allen
From high brow discussions and low brow brooding I get the feeling that there is no love lost for the local Hate Cult. How to deal with them becomes the next item of debate. The first reaction is to kick their irritating asses. Unfortunately the legal system is their playground and these litigious paper bullies would own your home. More importantly, they hide behind one of our most sacred freedoms, the freedom of speech.
Well then, the easy answer is to sick the government on them . . . [More]
Heidi Jo Stacer
It's that time of year . . . Thanksgiving is right around the corner which brings to mind the things we have to be thankful for! Personally I can think of many things . . . family always tops the list but how many of us stop to think about the other things . . . such as our freedom of speech . . . our right to vote . . . our right to decide how we live our lives . . . to choose to ride a motorcycle or to wear a helmet. We have our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, our mothers and . . . [More]
Give Me Shelter From the Storm
Brian "Bruin" Allen
If you like to ride there is no argument that it's the journey, not the destination, that counts. But eventually you reach your destination and you have to find shelter from the storm. There are as many shelter options as there are riders.
As a young skirt chaser full of bravado I use to hit the road with a poncho and a blanket. Tie the poncho to the handle bars and tail light then stake it out lean-to style. A simple but effective shelter for ground sleepers and bug lovers. I took . . . [More]
31st Annual ABATE of Kansas National Labor Day Rally
Crazy Eddie
What a fantastic weekend! Weatherwise it was a little cooler this year, but don't complain. We had 100 to 115 degree days in July and August. The chilly nights were a definate change that was most enjoyable. You need to come to this rally no matter what the weather forecast is. You know the saying, “In Kansas if you don't like the weather, wait five minute, it'll change!”
Since Labor Day is the last major holiday weekend of summer, a lot of people took advantage of the . . . [More]
The 31st Annual Labor Day Rally
Brian "Bruin" Allen
What a great rally!!! The usual hot weather broke and the gloriously cool days justified wearing leather and made our air cooled engines purr. The nights were nippley and made snuggling into a sleeping bag a treat. This time around I had a different approach to the rally. Typically I set up camp and don't ride much further than the American Legion breakfast in Ozawkie. But this corner of NE Kansas has some fine riding to offer and I planned to spend more time in the saddle. Friday I . . . [More]
A.B.A.T.E Dist. 8 Pre-Sturgis Rally
Crazy Eddie
The best way to describe this year's party is: a group of friends getting together to have some fun. It wasn't a large group, but everyone really enjoyed themselves. Les Walton's pasture, east of Newton, has been a favorite spot of mine for years, and obviously for Dist. 8 also. Last year was the first year that there wasn't an event at Waltons. It was good to be back. It was scheduled as a one day event, but you could camp Friday night if you wanted to enjoy this hot Kansas weather . . . [More]
Brotherhood (Doesn't Get Any Better Than This)
Mike Hill
July 27th I left Little Rock, Arkansas, on my way to Sturgis by way of Colorado, when suddenly about 90 miles south of Dodge City, Kansas in the middle of nowhere my 2003 Harley Road Glide (32,670 Miles) began to indicate that it was discharging. Apparently, I had just lost my Stator or something. It was about 105 degrees, I am in the middle of nowhere and I am clueless where the closest HD dealer was. All I knew was that I did not want to shut the bike off. So I kept hammering on . . . [More]
Riding The Range
Brian "Bruin" Allen
Like a lot of people we see most of our state in the rear view mirror during vacations. But this summer my gal Tucker wanted to exercise her new Triumph Speedmaster so I haded the map and compass over to her. A native Kansan and first time tourer, she plotted a relaxed circular route around the state where we were going nowhere and seeing everything. We hit Cassody on the first Sunday. A thousand or more bikes of every make and model converge on the little one horse town. Grannies on . . . [More]
Out of the FOGG
A few days back I had the good fortune of meeting two brothers on the way north from Texas. They had gotten turned around near Topeka and stopped to ask directions about noon. Six hours later they had only managed to make it to Perry and they seemed more confused than ever. Several people along the road had given them directions but everybody seemed to have a much different route. One rider was willing to visit but when it came time to help them, he did not seem to have the time. They were only . . . [More]
Tempting Fate
Brian "Bruin" Allen
You know the truism about the difficulty of kick starting a bike is in direct proportion to the number of people watching multiplied by the rider's ego? . . . A debt of honor required I attend the local Hooters “Bike Night.” (Thanks Bill.) I rode the '63 BSA Bobber over and parked it in a sea of stock Harleys and Sport bikes. As the only BSA, the only backstreet chop, the only bike with a kick peddle: It stood out like a freckle on Michael Jackson. My obligation . . . [More]
Small Town BBQ Contest
Robert Cardona
On Saturday, June 3, 2006, McLouth, Kansas held its 15th Annual BBQ Blowout Championships. As usual, for a mere donation at the gate, the public was invited and welcomed to sample the barbecue meats from all the competitors. The judging started with sauces followed by chicken, pork ribs, port meats, beef brisket and sausages. In addition to these good eats, some locals also brought out freshly baked goods for the publics enjoyment. ABATE District 1 hosted a Ride-In Bike Show . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
From: Vickie
Summer has arrived and with it comes Independence Day, Labor Day Weekend, vacations and all the fun we can pack into 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the next 4 months no matter what the weather is like. Safety and well being are the main keys. Be sure to drink plenty of water and watch out for our little ones who are too busy having fun to worry about such things as vehicles or swimming and firework safety techniques. Some of our older dear ones may need to be reminded from time to time to . . . [More]
Camping Information
If you plan to camp on our leased area at Paradise Point on Lake Perry, you must obtain a camping permit from the ABATE office prior to camping. Please remember that the office is not normally open on Fridays and arrangements would need to be made by Thursday if at all possible. Camping permits are required by the US Army Corp of Engineers and any violation of this requirement is a Federal offense. Individual camping permits will be restricted by the following: the last weekend in April is . . . [More]
A Rainy Memorial Day
Brian "Bruin" Allen
Memorial Day Tucker and I wanted to ride out to the Overbrook, KS cemetery. The town's claim to fame was being a resting spot on the old Sante Fe Trail. You can actually see wagon wheel ruts running westward through the cemetery. Unfortunately a driving thunderstorm forced us to go by car. The acreage of the burial grounds reflect the one bank, one grocery store, one horse size of the town. But like so many small crucibles throughout the heartland it turned out men of iron. Men of the land . . . [More]
Geeks Wear Black, Too
During this chapter on the scourge of viruses, I've discussed only a few ways through which viruses enter your system. The nefarious horror of reality is that there are literally thousands of other ways in which a virus could get on your computer. The most numerous are called ports. Ports are a special number attached to data packets so that computers know for what that data is used. For example, when your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) communicates through the web to a . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
From: Vickie
Flag Day is June 14th. To most it is a symbol of freedom. Many people have paid the ultimate price for this symbol. Others have also come to their country's aid when called to serve. Most Americans hold the flag in great esteem and pride. WE get outraged when we see our flag burning in a protest or otherwise being mistreated. Our country will be 230 years old this year and has been built on the tears, sweat, and blood of many Americans. Between wars, racial injustice and terroristic . . . [More]
Funeral Protesters
Elaine Allenbrand
By now word has spread about a group of protesters that show up at funerals of American Military personnel. Their home base is in Topeka, Kansas, but they have traveled to other States. The Patriot Guard, made up of many groups, including ALR (American Legion Riders) started showing up to be a barrier for the grieving family and friends. I attended one of the funerals. It was an experience of learning and mixed emotions. I remember the day starting out cool. I was at a gas station with a . . . [More]
Out of the FOGG
I guess I'm back. Someone asked me if I understood what ABATE was about. He said he understood when there was a helmet discussion going on, but what do we do now. The thing is this question and statement came from a life member. This person should already know what we are doing now. I understand that sometimes we all get side tracked, but keeping on top of your personal freedoms should never be out of your thoughts. Right now this country is going through some very rough times. Our rights . . . [More]
Lobbyist Report
Chris Maurich
My wife Carol and I attended the Kansas house transportation committee hearing concerning house bill 2296, the handlebar height repeal of the existing state statute, scheduled for March 16th, 2006. Due to a lengthy session on the house floor, we were asked to return the next day, March 17th. The bill could have been dead then and there, as there is no requirement by the legislature to reschedule un-heard bills. I was informed that the plan was to amend this bill onto a Senate . . . [More]
Geeks Wear Black, Too
Dystar
Once again, the topic is viruses and how they get into your system. (I swear I'll get off of this topic one day! Just hang in there! You're learning stuff, aren't you?) Last month, the topic was viruses carried in e-mail file attachments, but there's more than one threat through e-mail. This month, we talk about a second threat, embedded script. Scripting viruses are executable programs coded in a scripting language. A scripting language is a computer language used for simple, repetitive tasks . . . [More]
Prairie Fire
Brian "Bruin" Allen
Some of the background music of my youth was Pops' Marty Robbins collection which included the haunting ballad, Prairie Fire. It dramatically tells the story of cowboys and their herd racing a prairie fire, and losing. Never did I think I would reenact it. My experience wasn't half as dramatic, but it was enough to spark a musical flashback. I had just finished rebuilding the '66 BSA Café Lightning and needed to start the break in and fine tune the carbs. I'm lucky enough to live on . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
Vickie
Spring is here and our already busy schedule will start getting even busier very soon. Bike shows have started as well as some charity events have already been held. As always, award sponsors and donations will be needed. Asking for donations is really a year-round need but I have found that it's easier getting award sponsors close to when the event is held. Keep in mind that companies get hit rather hard at certain times of the year for donations by numerous organizations and they can't . . . [More]
Builders vs. Re-builders
Brian "Bruin" Allen
I was watching one of those Discovery Chopper shows and it dawned on me that those big dollar builders couldn't carry the jock strap of a re-builder. Sure, Paul Sr. has plenty of bulging muscles and attitude to spare, but I would love to see him and his crew walk in my boots for a rebuilt mile or two. As we have seen from Mikey, any moron can pull a new engine off the shelf and bolt it in a new frame. Let's see 'em hunt down the platform you want at a swap meet . . . and then try to . . . [More]
Ya Shoulda Seen the One that Got Away!
Brian "Bruin" Allen
When it comes to slinging bull, fishermen and bikers have a bit in common. For some reason the stories about the one that got away are as interesting, if not better, than the one they reeled in. While fishermen may tell fish tales, bike riders like to tell tales of the close one, the almost wreck. Perhaps because no one gets hurt and there is a happy ending. And maybe, just maybe, we can learn how to avoid the same thing. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the saltiest dog on wheels and I'm . . . [More]
18 Ways to Make ABATE Successful
Lucky
In the January 2006 newsletter on page seventeen was a piece titled “18 Ways to Destroy ABATE.” It was actually penned by Fast Fred Ruddock, ABATE of South Carolina, State Coordinator and a Motorcycle Riders Foundation Board Member. Having previously seen this piece I have thought about the other side of the coin and how to present it in my own words. So here is my list of 18 Ways to have a successful ABATE . . . [More]
Geeks Wear Black, Too
Dystar
E-mail is one of the many things we've come to use frequently without knowing how it works. Many assume that the address in the From: line is precisely from whence it came. Viruses often use this assumption. E-mail forging is the very simple process of sending an e-mail with a falsified return address. Hackers do it, Spammers do it, even legitimate corporations do it. (♫ Let's do it! Let's fall in love! ♫) However, why would a hacker care about my e-mail address? Well, like any good hacker . . . [More]
HB 2296, Handlebar Height Bill
Chris Maurich
Last year, ABATE of Kansas, Inc. asked the legislature to change the statute regarding motorcycle handlebars. The House Transportation Committee came up with House Bill 2296, a bill that will remove the handlebar height limitations from state statute 8-1597. A link to HB 2296 is included at the bottom of this correspondence. HB 2296 did not get heard last year, and under the rules of the legislature, it is still an active bill and in order to be heard by committee, voted on, and moved to the house . . . [More]
Geeks Wear Black, Too
Everyone knows that technology is everywhere. And when one says "computers effect everyone's lives," there is the image of the suburban housewife using hers to look up recipes, or the grandparents getting e-mail messages with pictures of their grandchildren. But there is a growing number of us who pack the laptop when we head for our next meeting. We use digital cameras to capture our experiences at rallies. We also use the Internet to plan how we get there. We e-mail each other to . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
From: Vickie
It's been about a year since I started writing these articles and I hope that they've been of some assistance to our new members as well as to the Districts. An organization is only as strong as its membership. We are fortunate in having many members who are willing to help with any project handed to them and are just a phone call away. Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated.
We will be having State Board elections this year and many Districts will be having elections as well. In . . . [More]
Lobbyist Report
Chris Maurich
Current Kansas law specifies the position of the riders hands when seated on the motorcycle. ABATE of Kansas wishes to remove handlebar height limitations/restrictions from the Kansas Statutes. We believe that this is, and has been, a potential discriminatory issue, and not a safety issue. This statute was passed in 1974, a time when motorcyclists were targeted as “outlaws”, and certain makes of motorcycles were modified by riders. Statute K.S.A. 8-1597 is titled, “Same; . . . [More]
Brickstart At the Kickstart
Brian "Bruin" Allen
I heard ownership of my favorite biker bar, the Kickstart Saloon, had changed. Concerned that it might be turned into a Starbucks, I decided to scout out the situation. It was a warm day for January in Kansas, so I rolled the BSA out of the barn and saddled up. It was a nice ride over the river into North Topeka territory. Approaching the big red building, I was relieved to see the parking lot full of bikes rather than SUVs. From the outside it looked the same, . . . [More]
Patriot Guard Ride
By Brian "Bruin" Allen
January 16th, 2006, It was a cold bleak January day in Topeka, 38 degrees and windy. Perhaps a day meant for grief. For today we were riding to honor Sgt. Charles Allen, war casualty. My gal Tucker, who hates the cold, fired up her little '74 350 Four and paced me on the '63 Bobber. We headed for the VFW to join up with some Patriot Guard riders who came up from Wichita. By the time we rode for the funeral chapel we were near 200 strong. A lot of Harleys, Gold Wings, and one BSA, joined up to make an honor . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
From: Vickie
By the time you get this, the Republican Convention will have been held. I hope you were able to attend and speak with your Legislators about issues which are important to you. At the time of this printing, I still haven't heard when the Democratic Convention will be held. I believe it's usually held either the end of this month or the first part of March. Some members have told me that they feel uncomfortable talking with their Legislators because of the position they hold in our State and . . . [More]
Not a Creature Was Stirring
Brian "Bruin" Allen
The dreamy white part of Christmas came early and like an irritating relative stayed too late. But somehow I slipped under Santa's naughty radar and he delivered a sunny 60-degree day to follow Christmas. I took advantage of the thaw to winterize (Fire up and ride!) my Bobber. The '63 BSA was sleepy and cranky. The throttle twisted freely, too freely; but a few well-placed taps with a hammer loosened up the old Amal carb's slide. I threw the light cut-off switch to channel all available . . . [More]
THOUGHTS
From: Vickie
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! A new start...a new beginning for a better tomorrow. 2006 promises to be quite active for all of us. In the coming months, we'll need to make decisions that could affect ABATE as an organization for numerous years to come.
Districts are gearing up for their yearly events and some possibly new events. Additionally, all of us have started planning the 2006 National Labor Day Rally. Don't forget that the political conventions start this month and would be an excellent . . . [More]
Lobbyist Report
Chris Maurich
There are many discrepancies in the December newsletter, under "Kansas State Motorcycle Laws" from the AMA website. Listed below are the correct State of Kansas motor vehicle statutes. Those "laws" that were given were not complete, and some were just plain deceitful. The following is not the complete list, all inclusive, of Kansas laws pertaining to motorcycles. These are, however, most of the ones we would expect a motorcyclist to be aware of. If you would be interested in all motorcycle . . . [More]
Lobbyist Report
Chris Maurich
Last year, ABATE of Kansas, Inc. asked the legislature to change the statute regarding motorycle handlebars. The House of Transportation Committee came up with House Bill 2296, a bill that will remove the handlebar height limitations from state statute 8-1597. A copy of HB 2296 is included at the bottom of this correspondence. HB 2296 did not get heard last year, and under the rules of legislature, it is still an active bill and in order to be heard by committee, voted on, and moved to the . . . [More]