Oil Drippings: News and Opinion

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

A hearing will be held today by the General Assembly’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to get input on proposed Senate Bill 303, which would amend state statutes to allow the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to issue a motorcycle endorsement to any active member of the military who has successfully completed a motorcycle safety course conducted or approved by the U.S. Dept. of Defense and whose eyesight is up to snuff.The bill was introduced by Sen. Rob Kane (R-32nd).

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Three-time AMA flat track champion Kenny Coolbeth Jr. of Morris will be at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee on Friday to appear on a panel that will discuss the company’s history in racing. The program is dubbed”Untold Stories: Built for Speed – The History & Evolution of Harley-Davidson Racing.”

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Norton is expected to officially announce some new models later this week, including a dual seat version of the 961 Commando and the Commando 961 SF.

However, British brand is also out with a new digital brochure that contains pictures and specs on the new 2013 models. It has been a slow slog for the Norton company, but maybe momentum is finally turning in its favor.

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More to read:

– From north of the border, motorcycle insurance rates in Saskatchewan could rise dramatically in the near and riders there are ticked off.  A CBC story says the owner of an older sport bike (1982 or older) “with a 1200-cc engine who used to pay $1,001 a year might have to pay $4,309 in the future – a 331 percent increase.” The CBC story is here.

– A blind biker in Scotland is hoping to set a world’s record by going 190 miles per hour. Scotsman.com has that story.

– Harley-Davidson’s former west campus in York, PA, which was vacated by the motorcycle manufacturer last year, is headed for redevelopment. The “York Daily Record” has the story here.