Passes & Canyons Blog

After I wrote that post on Monday about needing to get rid of the Colorado Motorcycle Operator Safety Training program (MOST) I decided the most logical thing to do would be to contact the legislator who was carrying the bill. That would be Rep. Tom Sullivan who represents District 37 in Arapahoe County. Here is what I wrote.

Hello Rep. Sullivan. I see that you are sponsoring the sunset renewal of the Motorcycle Operator Safety Training program and that is what I wish to address.

This program seems to be on autopilot for renewal and it really should not be. When MOST was created we motorcyclists supported it and we supported paying extra on our license and plate renewals to pay for it. It was intended to promote rider safety by subsidizing the cost of rider training, and for a long time that is what it did. Administration of the program was to take no more than 15% of the funds raised.

Now there is no trainee subsidy at all and while the state agency doing the administering presumably spends no more than 15%, an outside vendor has been brought in to actually run the program, at a considerably higher cost, in addition to what the state spends. And where does the rest of the money go? No one seems to be able to offer an adequate answer to that question.

We motorcyclists are not getting our money’s worth and I for one am no longer happy to pay that money if I’m not getting what I’m paying for.

But you will not hear the training organizations calling for elimination of MOST because without MOST they would not be able to certify their trainees as having passed the riding portion of the test. Thus, riders would have less incentive to get training and we would probably end up with more untrained and unlicensed riders on the road and the training organizations would suffer a loss of income.

What is really needed, and I’m calling on you for this, is to rewrite current legislation or write new legislation that would allow the elimination of MOST or else its significant revision so that the trainers can still certify but we eliminate all the bureaucracy. I would think simply one dollar on each motorcycle plate renewal would be plenty to pay the moderate costs of ensuring that all training vendors meet the standards and the rest of what we pay can be cut.

Or maybe you have a better idea. I’d be interested to hear it. What I am not interested in hearing is that this Frankenstein thing that MOST has turned into gets automatically renewed for five more years.

Thank you for your time.

Who knows, maybe if a lot of us wrote to him he would pay attention. Wouldn’t hurt to try.

Now it’s your turn.

Biker Quote for Today

Rocket bike is all her own, it’s called a Hurricane. — David Wilcox

Bureaucracies never die, you just wish they would. Take Colorado’s MOST program–please!

The Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) program is up for sunset review this year, as House Bill 20-1285, and although it is no longer doing anything close to what it was intended to do, it appears destined to continue to exist. HB20-1285 will be heard in the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee on March 3 if you want to go register your preferences.

It started out as a good thing. Colorado motorcyclists supported the creation of MOST, willingly agreeing to pay an extra $4 every time we renew our drivers licenses and an extra $2 for every motorcycle license plate renewal in order to fund the program. In return, money raised was used primarily to lower the cost for students taking motorcycle rider training courses. The legislation limited program administrators to using only up to 15% of the funds to cover the cost of administration.

Today the program brings in about $800,000 per year but not one penny goes to reducing the cost of training. And while the administrators say they keep their cost to under 15%, a good deal more than that is used to fund “contract administration,” which is to say, to pay for an outside vendor to run the program. Isn’t that what the state agency was supposed to do with the 15%? And just what exactly are they doing with the rest of the money? Putting up road signs warning drivers to watch out for motorcycles? That doesn’t seem a particularly good return on the investment of $800,000. Per year.

You might think there would now be a concerted effort to get rid of MOST but you would be wrong. I raised this question at my ABATE D-17 meeting last week and it seems the matter comes down to one consideration. All organizations and companies in Colorado that offer motorcycle rider training, if they operate under the MOST umbrella, can sign off a student on the riding portion of their motorcycle riders license presuming they pass the course successfully. Then all they need to do is take the written test and boom, they’re done.

The concern is that if MOST went away, so would this ability to certify the riders, and the impetus to take training would diminish. That would mean more untrained–and possibly unlicensed–riders out there and a lot less income for ABATE, T3RG, and other training organizations.

A number of years ago the MOST program was up for review and was facing harsh criticism. The Colorado Confederation of Clubs was actively campaigning to abolish it. ABATE of Colorado fought to keep it.

Now, from what I gather, everyone hates MOST but we have to keep it or else.

How about a different approach? How about we get rid of MOST but pass a bill allowing rider training vendors to certify trainees as long as they meet certain standards? We could cut the amount we riders contribute to maybe $1 on our plate renewals and that should completely cover the modest expense to monitor the training vendors.

Of course, passing the legislation is the sticker. That requires finding sympathetic legislators, crafting a bill, and building a constituency to get it passed. That’s not easy. It’s just so much easier to renew the program for another five years and move on to the next bill. Even if the program is not doing what it was created to do. This is why bureaucracies never die.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if you pile boxes and laundry on your car, but your bike must have 6 feet or clearance in the garage.

February 1 and 2 were good days to ride so I did. I took my Honda out of what we call the workshop and when I came back I rolled the Kawi out so I could put the Honda in first. That put the Kawi in position to come out easily so I could ride it next time. The V-Strom lives in the garage so I end up moving cars to get it in and out.

While I was doing all this shuffling of bikes, pushing them around, rocking them back onto their center stands, it struck me that these are heavy machines. I realized that at some point, still quite a few years down the line, fortunately, there is likely to come a time when I won’t physically be able to do it anymore. I’m healthy as a horse now, but inevitably there will come a time when I’m old and frail. What am I going to do then?

It was interesting that the answer presented itself immediately. I’ll switch to a scooter.

That’s not the only possible answer to that question. For a lot of people the answer is a trike. I know a lot of people who ride trikes now, and several of my riding buddies have spoken from time to time of switching to a trike when it becomes an issue. But I don’t like trikes; they steer like cars. They don’t lean. About the only way that they’re like motorcycles is that you’re out in the open. But heck, I could get that with a convertible and it would be almost the same thing, and a lot more versatile.

One three-wheeler that I might consider would be a Piaggio MP3. Like the Can-Am Spyder, they have two wheels in front and one in the rear, but the front end is totally different, and unique to Piaggio. On an MP3 the two front wheels work like one and you do actually lean. Don’t ask me to explain it, it’s a sophisticated design, but I rode one once and it was very nice. Then of course there are several other newer bikes like the Yamaha Niken that I’ve read good things about, although the Niken is said to be pretty darn heavy itself, what with a double fork up front.

No, I figure a scooter will be the way to go. First off, they’re light, but they can be pretty powerful. During the week I scooted everywhere a few years ago I spoke with a scooterist who told me he could easily hit 90 mph on his 250cc ride. I doubt I’ll need more speed than that when I’m 85. Even now, the speedometer on my Honda CB750 –an old bike–tops out at 85 mph.

Of course, there could be another alternative by that time. Electric motorcycles are getting better all the time and the ones that are out there now are light. They have to be in order to get any good distance on today’s batteries, but I’m betting that in 20 or 30 years you’ll be able to buy a great electric bike that is comparable to an 800cc motorcycle of today and it will weigh half of what my 750cc Honda weighs.

Nope. I can see me possibly owning a number of different bikes sooner or later, but I just don’t see a trike in my future. And I do hope to be riding in my 90s.

Biker Quote for Today

Why bikes are better than women: Wearing two fresh rubbers makes riding a bike MORE enjoyable.

Riding motorcycles in the snow is not a lot of fun (unless you’re doing the annual Elephant Run or going ice racing), so for most of us winter is pretty much down time.

For the hard-core rider, at least those who don’t live where a “cold” day means 40 degrees, this time of year is sort of like doing jail time. What can you do to while away those days until Springtime springs you from your cage (pun intended)? Here are some ideas.

First off, just as farmers use the winter to mend their equipment, so should we. Take the time finally to give that bike a good cleaning. If there are repairs you’ve been putting off, now is the time. Or perhaps, more along the fun route, there are some new enhancements (otherwise known as “geegaws” or “farkles”) that you’ve been wanting to add to your bike. If Santa didn’t bring them to you, or you could play Santa yourself, to yourself. Your bike will thank you.

Of course, there’s no time like now to be planning next summer’s trip. Get out the maps, hit the Internet, and let your imagination run wild. The more you crave a ride the more you’re going to enjoy visions of next summer on the road. Take all the pleasure you can get from it. I know people do this because traffic on this website really spikes right after the first of the year and the pages being visited say “trip planning.”

On occasion you may want to drop by your favorite motorcycle dealership and enjoy the eye candy. Touch those gleaming tanks, sit on a few of those beauties. Again, let your imagination get carried away. The truth is, this may stoke your fever more than assuage it, but that’s still a lot more fun than sitting home moping.

Have you ever watched “On Any Sunday”? Surely you’ve at least heard of it, the motorcyclist-favorite 1971 documentary about racers and racing fans, including Steve McQueen, but have you ever watched it? If the answer is no, you owe it to yourself to do so now. This one will definitely get your motor running. And you can find it for free online.

Finally, there is one option you should never forget when the winter doldrums have you down: Go ride.

OK, sure there are times when you absolutely can’t. Two feet of snow on the ground and streets that are impassable even for four-wheel-drive vehicles will not miraculously open up for a motorcycle. But how often does that happen each winter? Watch the forecast, keep the bike well-charged so you know it will start, and be ready.

Never mind that it’s freezing cold out there–man up! Dress warmly (an electric vest is a wonderful thing) and get out there, if even just for half an hour. You’ll be glad you did, and you know you’ll be telling all your buddies about it. And all the time they’re telling you you’re crazy they’ll have that wistful look in their eye wishing they had done it, too.

Biker Quote for Today

Even as a second commuter vehicle, it knew when to dance into an opening and when to open its joy and race past every standing fool on the road. — tomisb

The time may finally have come for this piece of legislation. The Colorado Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved Senate Bill 65 (SB 20-065) that would make it illegal for drivers to operate cellphones or other electronic equipment while driving unless they were using a hands-free device.

The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee and from there to the full Senate for consideration. If approved, as it was last year, it will move to the Colorado House, where it died last year. This year’s bill has been amended to address concerns that led to its failure in the House.

Commercial truckers already face this prohibition nationally, with much stiffer penalties, so one amendment specified that they will not be affected by this bill. Potential penalties for drivers were reduced from last year’s bill in order to mollify House opposition. One addition was to impose penalties of $300 and 4 points on any violation, first, second, or third or later, that involves texting. Texting while driving is already outlawed in Colorado, so this would be like saying that if you break both these laws at the same time we’re really going to hit you hard.

Motorcyclists and others who support this bill would do well to contact their state senators before it comes to a vote in that chamber to urge their support when it comes to the floor. You can find how to contact your senator here. Then, assuming the measure moves on to the House, it will be even more important to contact your representative to urge their support.

Biker Quote for Today

Die Living

After passing the Colorado Senate but dying in the House last year, the ever-recurring “Hang Up And Drive” bill is back.

Senate Bill 20-065, “Limit Mobile Electronic Devices While Driving,” will be considered on Tuesday at 2 p.m. by the Senate Transportation and Energy committee. If we can get a bunch of folks to show up in support it can only help.

The other thing that would help would be to contact the members of the committee to express your support. Here is their contact info:

Faith Winter, Chair – Faith.winter.senate@state.co.us – 303-866-4863

Kerry Donovan, Vice Chair – Kerry.donovan.senate@state.co.us – 303-866-4871

Mike Foote – Mike.foote.senate@state.co.us – 303-866-5291

Dennis Hisey – Dennis.hisey.senate@state.co.us – 303-866-4877

Ray Scott – Ray.scott.senate@state.co.us – 303-866-3077

Here is a summary of the bill.

The bill limits the use of a mobile electronic device while driving to adult drivers who use the mobile electronic device through a hands-free accessory.

The bill establishes penalties of $50 and 2 points for a first violation, $100 and 2 points for a second violation, $200 and 4 points for a third or subsequent violation, and $300 and 4 points if the violation involves text messaging.

This evolving bill has been promoted for years by Sen. Lois Court, who introduced it this year, but who has since been forced to resign due to health issues. It has been picked up by Sen. Chris Hansen and Rep. Dylan Roberts.

This year’s bill has been modified to address concerns raised in the House last year that led to its demise. Maybe this will be the year it finally becomes law.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker when you subconsciously wave at another motorcycle and you’re in your car.

My curiosity was piqued recently when I received a notification of a silent auction to be held at Fay Myers Motorcycle World. “Aren’t silent auctions generally for charities?” my wife asked. Yes, so I had to go see what it was all about.

I got to Fay Myers and as usual there were a number of bikes outside plus a whole lot more inside. You could identify the ones being auctioned by the tags. Outside were generally older, used bikes, while inside were newer and new bikes.

It was a full range. The cheapest bike I saw was this 1987 Honda VF700C Super Magna, shown above. It listed a starting bid of $200 or you could buy it now for $380 (plus tax). OK now, that’s an inexpensive bike! I wonder what condition it’s in and how many miles it has on it.

There were some others outside that were pretty cheap: a 2002 Suzuki VS800 Intruder starting at $980; a 1998 Yamaha XVZ13 starting at $500; a 2006 Harley FXDI starting at $4,600. Inside the prices were much higher.

So what was the scoop on the silent auction? Here’s my take. I have to say I think it was definitely a gimmick. That said, if they had something you actually wanted you might have been able to get it for a pretty good price.

Take that VS800 Intruder. Starting at $980. Or buy it now for $1,240. If you really wanted it you could bid just a small amount more than the base price but you would risk someone else outbidding you. So what, bid $1,050 and hope? Or just buy it outright? But I would guess the buy-it-outright price is pretty much what you could have bought it for yesterday. Or could buy it for tomorrow.

With the higher-priced bikes I’m guessing again that the buy-it-now price is pretty darn close to its everyday price. And the higher priced bikes have a smaller percentage difference between starting bid and buy it now. Like a 2018 Honda Goldwing GL1800DJ with a starting bid of $19,167 or buy it now for $19,549. That’s only a $382 difference on a nearly $20,000 bike. Heck, if you can’t negotiate down at least that much you’re not trying.

The one good thing I think you could use this kind of sales event for would be to see what the dealer is willing to sell things for. Then, armed with that info, when you go to buy later you’ll know they’re willing to let it go for that amount so you’ll make sure not to pay more than that.

Bottom line, I was not impressed. But it was interesting to go check it out.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if people know you’re a biker even when you don’t want them to.

I kissed my wallet the moment I laid hands on it. This was when I got back from a ride on Sunday. More on that as it comes.

The forecast called for a high of 70 or 71 on Sunday so of course the RMMRC had a ride planned. So what if the plans were a little confused.

The last message I had seen said meet at the Circle K at Hess and Parker Road, so that was where I went. When I got there I was the only motorcycle in sight so I pulled out my phone and opened the most recent email. How odd–this said to meet at Performance Cycles.

OK, no big deal, I know the objective is to head to Rosie’s diner in Monument for lunch. I’ll just go there.

Navigationally this was not my best day. I must have made three wrong turns on my way over there. Plus, there was construction work going on along I-25 north of Larkspur. I managed to get there OK but it persuaded me I ought to take a day this summer and just ride all over the area between I-25 and CO 105 from Castle Rock down to Monument, exploring every road. It’s on my list now.

I got there before the others so I was sitting outside waiting when a group of a dozen bikes pulled in. This can’t be them, I thought, I’ve never been on an RMMRC ride with that many bikes. But as helmets came off I recognized faces. Wow, everybody wants to ride today.

It was true. I had already seen several hundred motorcycles out on the road. I would see several hundred more before I got home. I decided to declare Sturgis rules and stop waving.

So we ate and headed out, this time going north on CO 105. But before leaving I experienced that sinking feeling many of you have experienced at least once: my wallet was missing. Back I went into the diner and looked around our table. I asked the cashier and she checked with the manager. No wallet had been turned in. They took my contact info in case it showed up.

I was a bit distressed as we headed out, but I told myself that worrying would accomplish nothing and as long as I was out on my bike on this beautiful February day I ought to enjoy it. That did actually help and I was reasonably successful in focusing my attention on more pleasant things than calling to cancel all my credit cards, getting new Medicare and Social Security and all those other cards.

The last time I was out with an RMMRC group we had gone to Daniels Park and gone a short way north and then turned south again. Robert said at the time that the road ahead to the north was unpaved but I assured him it was paved now. So on this next ride it was his intent to go that way. I cannot overstate my befuddlement when we came to where the road turned to gravel. I’ve been on this road numerous times. How could I think it was paved when clearly it is not? At least it has clearly been heavily treated with magnesium chloride and was almost as good as paved.

And then we got to a place where it was not obvious which way to go and I had no idea. So Robert led us into, and then out of, a neighborhood. I’m sure he was getting a bit disgusted with me at this point. I told you, this was a navigationally distressed day for me.

Anyway, we eventually reached University, which became Lincoln Avenue as we headed east, and we reached I-25, turned north and split up to go home. And when I came in the door I was hoping fervently that I would find my wallet on the kitchen table, but it wasn’t there. With sinking heart I checked the pocket of my regular jacket and it was there!!!

Now I will do what I know you should do periodically, which is to take everything out of my wallet and photograph it all, both sides, and then store those photos in the cloud. If you haven’t already done this I recommend you do it, too. That way you’ll know exactly what cards to cancel and all those other sad details that you are faced with if you do actually lose your wallet.

Meanwhile, I’m so glad I had a good ride and the day ended well.

Biker Quote for Today

Why bikes are better than women: If you say bad things to your motorcycle, you don’t have to apologize before you can ride it again.