Oil Drippings: News and Opinion

By Bud Wilkinson

When the PSA came out in August 2009, it was credited with getting teens to stop texting while driving and with saving lives. Shot in South Wales and funded by the Gwent police department, it graphically showed the potential consequences of texting when behind the wheel. If you’ve never seen it, or have forgotten about it, give it a look … and then get others to watch it, too:

While texting when riding is nearly impossible, think for a second of the many distractions that we do have as riders. It might be checking out the GPS or tuning the radio, trying to get a strap on a glove back in place or changing the trip on the odometer. Even reaching to turn a petcock to “reserve” while on the fly can cause enough of a distraction to cause an accident. So, just maybe, this PSA provides a lessons for all riders as well as teen drivers.

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U.S. sales of BMWs rose 17.6 percent in 2013 over 2012 with 14,179 bikes being sold. Last year was the second best year in the company’s history. BMW predicts an increase to a record-setting level in 2014 thanks to the introduction of new models and updated models, including the R NineT, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 RT, S 1000 R and K 1600 GTL Exclusive.

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Triumph is recalling 2013 model year Trophy SE motorcycles built between June 1, 2012 and Feb. 28, 2013  due to a center stand mount that may fracture.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, “If the center mount fractures, it will not provide adequate support for the center stand while the vehicle is parked and may cause the motorcycle to fall over, increasing the risk injury to those nearby.”

Triumph will notify owners and will install a new center stand bracket. The recall notice can be read here.