What We Ride

Bob H. from Rocky Comfort Missouri rides a Thoroughbred Stallion, part motorcycle and part sports car. I admit it – I followed him into the gas station to ask him about his unique ride! Bob told me that the Thoroughbred has a Ford motor and automatic transmission, heat and air conditioning, and is a great cross-country ride. As much as he hates to admit it, Bob says he’s getting older and this trike offers him the same feel for the open road as his motorcycle did, but with more comfort and safety. Some of his favorite roads in the area are the no-name country roads along the river between Noel and Pineville.

Read more about What We Ride in "Two Wheels, Four States" magazine. Pick up your copy now!

"Live to Ride, Ride to Eat"

That’s the name of a new cookbook from the Joplin HOG Chapter, Ladies of Harley! Hot off the press, the cookbook is loaded with over 200 recipes and features some of the favorites recipes served at the HOG potluck dinner meetings. The cookbook evolved from everyone asking for recipes at the dinners until someone finally said “we ought to do a cookbook!” These are tried and true recipe favorites! Categories in the cookbook include: Appetizers & Beverages; Soups & Salads; Vegetables & Side Dishes; Main Dishes; Breads & Rolls; Desserts; Cookies & Candy; and This & That.



You can pick up a copy for $9.50 at Cycle Connection Harley Davidson/Buell in Joplin MO or you can mail order one by sending $12.50 per book, shipping included to:

Joplin HOG Chapter – Ladies of Harley Cookbook
5014 S. Hearnes Blvd.
Joplin MO 64804

These cookbooks will make great holiday gifts!

Helmet Laws and Helmets

Helmet Laws and Helmets

Missouri almost repealed the helmet law earlier this year, but Governor Jay Nixon chose to veto the bill. This action continues to make Missouri the only one of the Four States with a mandatory requirement for helmets for all riders. Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have age restrictions requiring helmets for those under 18 in Kansas and Oklahoma and under 21 in Arkansas.

Governor Nixon, in a written statement, said “By keeping Missouri’s helmet law intact, we will save numerous lives, while also saving Missouri taxpayers millions of dollars in increased health care costs. Keeping our helmet law in place was the safe and cost-effective choice for Missouri.”

Pro-helmet proponents cite statistics from every source imaginable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that helmeted riders have up to a 73% lower fatality rate than unhelmeted riders. A study by the NHTSA of 10 states that repealed helmet laws found that helmet-use rates dropped from 99% to 50 % and motorcycle fatalities increased significantly.

The insurance industry supports helmet laws reporting that approximately 66% of the costs of motorcycle crash victims is picked up by private insurance, 22% from public funds, and 12% from other sources. Unhelmeted riders are 46% more likely to be uninsured riders, meaning taxpayers are picking up a large part of the medical costs. Nearly one quarter of the motorcycle fatalities involved riders with invalid licenses.

Missouri Department of Transportation says 80% of motorcycle crashes results in injury or death. In 2008, there were 330,000 licensed motorcycle riders in Missouri. Of the fatal motor vehicle crashes that year, 12% involved motorcycles in which 107 riders were killed. A statewide poll conducted by MoDOT in April 2009 showed that 84% of 2050 people surveyed by phone supported the current helmet law and 9% opposed it.

The Brain Injury Association of Missouri supports helmet laws stating that helmets save lives and prevent serious brain injury. Their stats claim that 81% of people support helmet laws and that riders are 40% more likely to die in a crash if they are not wearing a helmet.

Pick up a copy of "Two Wheels, Four States" Magazine to read the rest of the article...