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Proactive Management of Bills During COVID-19 Crisis

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The Times they are a Changing

Laurie Montoya, Publisher

There is a song by Bob Dylan that is called The Times They Are A-Changin’ and as I was writing this article, I put on the song, closed my eyes and just took a moment to listen to the words and all the stress just took a back seat to a song and lyrics that are so relative in these unknown times.

Right now I want to focus on what everyone can do to try to take care of their monthly bills if your income has been affected by the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. As many of you know, I am the President and Founder of BikerDown Foundation, a non-profit that helps injured motorcycle riders.  For 10 years, we have helped injured riders with financial guidance and strategy when their income has been immediately impacted by an accident. The current coronavirus health crisis has suddenly put millions of Americans in that same uncertain financial position that injured riders often experience.

Strategies for Managing Finances Now

When you are injured and out of work for the foreseeable future, you must come up with ways to restructure your finances such as car payments, mortgage, rent and other bills. By restructuring or deferring some financial payments, it enables you to save your cash and possibly make another payment paid that you cannot defer (like food).  BikerDown encourages people to be PROACTIVE with their bills before they go in arrears and a computer starts spitting out delinquency bills and the collection calls process begins.

Here are a few helpful suggestions on what everyone can do right now to try and stay ahead of the inevitable financial fears that you may have.

  1. Car payments – call your financial institutions including Ford, GM, Hyundai, Chrysler as well as others and ask to have 2-3 of your vehicle payments deferred to the back of the loan.  You will find that most, if not all, of them during COVID-19 are offering these deferments that will help enable you to pay critical bills such as your mortgage or rent.
    1. New car purchases – if you are in the market for a new car, Ford, Chrysler and GM are offering (based on your credit) new car purchases with no payments for 6 months. 
  • Motorcycle payments – deferring motorcycle payments thru Harley-Davidson finance (www.myhdfs.com) are also offering up to 60 days deferments on bike payments.  Other motorcycle manufacturers are also stepping in line to help our riding community overcome the financial obligations that we are all experiencing.
  • Cable/Internet bills – If you have a high cable bill and/or are no longer part of a VIP package you are probably wondering how you are going to stay connected.  Most packages such as Dish, Comcast or Direct TV won’t want to lose your business and now is an excellent time to re-negotiate your package.  Most recently I called Direct TV with the intent of cancelling, and they re-organized my DirectTV bills down to 59.95 per month.  Please note that when they re-organize or restructure your cable bills, you will be entering into at least a 1 year or more commitment.
  1. Amazon Fire Stick – this is a great option to be able to get out from under any cable commitments and Fire stick and other providers devices just go into your USB port on the back of your television.
  2. Smart TV – Most TV’s now come with smart options where with an internet connection you can get many of the programs that you get with a cable provider.  Today I checked at Walmart.com and you can buy a SAMSUNG 55″ Class 4K Ultra HD (2160P) HDR Smart for $399.00.  So, imagine, if you got rid of a 200.00 per month cable bill and kept your internet and bought a smart tv, the money you could save over the course of a year.
  • Utilities – Utilities are more difficult to restructure.  However, many electric and water companies offer you the option to average out your bills over the year.  As an example, in the spring/summer months when your electric or water bills are much higher, companies like Xcel can average out your electric bill based on an estimated usage to even out your payment.  Please note however, that if you do that, in the off-season when your electric bills are normally lower, you will see it go up a little bit.
  • Credit Cards – Many will use their credit cards to try and get through the next 30-60 days or until your government checks or unemployment arrive. Call any of your credit card providers and ask for a credit line increase or possibly ask what these financial institutions are offering for payments. Talk with your credit card company before you rack up bills so you know what to expect.

As you can see, by taking a few proactive steps and restructuring your monthly obligations, you can free up your cash to enable you to continue to make your rent or monthly mortgage payments and get thru the next few months.

The biker community is strong and at Colorado Rider News we are doing all that we can to help! If you have any suggestions on other comments, we would love to hear from you. Remember #ColoradoRidersCare

Resources

#2Wheels4Meals

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DONATE NOW – will redirect to our Facebook fundraiser page
Laurie Montoya, Publisher

We all knew that the COVID-19 situation was serious, but it wasn’t until our Colorado government shut down dine-in restaurants and bars that we saw the potential for small business to severely suffer. This sudden enforcement of the social distancing directives was immediately crippling to the places we bikers love to relax after a ride with friends.

Our Colorado Riders Care team knew that we needed to find ways to support these businesses if we wanted them to be here when the dine-in bans were lifted. It was clear to us that many want to help – but how?

Helping a neighbor

Certainly, encouraging people to order take-out and delivery from their favorite biker bar was a start.

But to take it one step further, we needed to connect people who needed help with those wanting to help. So, we created the #2Wheels4Meals campaign. In short, we have created a system where anyone can donate a meal to someone in need through their participating restaurant of choice, which creates immediate income for that restaurant, and a place where people who are in need can get fed.

Immediate Participation

We reached out to local biker owned bar/restaurants in different locations throughout the Denver metro area, to find out how they were adapting to keep the doors open.

These businesses are:

We have asked these businesses to implement our #2Wheels4Meal donation program and have them available to customers who come in to grab a meal to-go and ask them to purchase one voucher/sheet to pay-it-forward to someone who might not be able to afford a hot meal.

This past Sunday, I went to Dirty Dogs Roadhouse to visit Mark and Rob and to see how Dirty Dogs was diversifying since the shutdown. #2Wheels4meals launched at there with $400 in food donation vouchers with each of the following businesses donating $100 in vouchers:

If you need a hot meal and just need a random act of kindness, there are meal vouchers up there.

If you have a biker owned business and would like to be added to our Colorado Rider Cares directory, please do so here.

We are a riding community family made up of many bikers owned businesses – both small and large – and we will get thru this TOGETHER.

Colorado Riders Care Launches

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Laurie Montoya, Publisher

Our riding community and nation are under siege from a virus spreading worldwide called coronavirus (COVID-19).  If you would have asked me in January what the coronavirus was, I probably would have thought it was a new ad campaign for Corona beer. Every part of our daily lives has changed by COVID-19: the way we say hello, the biker hug, handshakes and direct contact. Our Colorado roadways are brisker for those of you going to/from work each day and for some, they are learning how to work from home instead of going to the office.

[Read more…] about Colorado Riders Care Launches

SB20-065: Use of Electronic Mobile Devices

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While the Colorado legislature is on recess due to COVID-19, it would still be helpful if supporters contacted the House Transportation & Local Gov’t Committee to request their support of SB20-065, Use of Electronic Mobile Devices While Driving.  They are currently scheduled to hear the Bill on April 8.  We’ll provide updates on the status of the Bill as they become available on the CORD Facebook page. You can also support the bill (with safe social distancing) by signing the online petition on the Rider Justice website.

[Read more…] about SB20-065: Use of Electronic Mobile Devices

Spring 2020

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Laurie Montoya, Publisher

As we enter in to March and the see the snow still on the ground in Colorado, I am beginning to believe that Phil the Groundhog from Punxsutawney Pennsylvania who revealed that “Spring will be early” isn’t just a fun thing to do on Groundhog Day. Most of us are beginning to feel a little cabin fever and itch to ride but we must remember this is still Colorado, and it appears nature is replenishing its resources in 2020.

[Read more…] about Spring 2020

Prepping for the Riding Season

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Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan

A number of you Colorado Rider News readers are all-season riders but not everyone rides in through the winter season. For those that put the bike away for several of the winter months, the warming weather really creates an itch to hit the road.

[Read more…] about Prepping for the Riding Season

What SB065 Means for You

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What the bill does…

  • 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 (except smart watches)
  • Establishes the following penalties for the respective offenses: $50 and two points for the first violation, $100 and two points for the second violation, $200 and four points for third or subsequent violations, and $300 and four points if the violation involves texting.

What the bill does NOT do…

  • Does not prohibit RTD drivers or other professionals from using two-way radio communication devices for their professional duties.
  • Does not prohibit the use of original equipment screens and controls which can control a mobile device remotely, such as buttons on a steering wheel.
  • Does not preempt the federal law that prohibits commercial drivers from using hand-held mobile telephones and texting while driving commercial vehicles.

Why have more restriction?

  • The bill aims to prevent distracted driving related accidents and deaths.
  • Nationally 3,116 people died in 2017 due to distracted driving affected crashes.1
  • Children and young people between the ages of 15-19, accounted for 23% of distracted drivers who were using cell phones, despite this group only making up of 6% of total drivers.2
  • Distracted driving in Colorado caused over 15,000 crashes in 2018.3

Benefits of the additional standard?

Good for public safety – This bill could help prevent the 53 deaths, and 6,269 injuries in Colorado annually as a result of distracted drivers.4 This bill could help deter the behavior of the 90% of the population which engages in distracted driving behavior in Colorado.5 All of these deaths and injuries are preventable, and this bill will help to deter behavior that leads to these types of losses.

Good for Colorado’s economy – Distracted driving leaves quit a toll on drivers in Colorado by causing 43 crashes per day.6 By deterring drivers from this dangerous behavior, Coloradans could save money from costly accidents and higher insurance premiums. The additional revenue generated from the financial penalties of distracted driving will also help fund law enforcement agencies, particularly in small rural areas, to continue to protect and serve Coloradans.7

1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
3 Colorado Department of Transportation
4 Colorado Department of Transportation
5 Colorado Department of Transportation
6 Colorado Department of Transportation
7 Rocky Mountain PBS

Wide Open Saloon Opening

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After a year of painstaking work, it appears that Wide Open Saloon is in the final stages and should be open this March just in time for riding season. Bikers and cagers who regularly drive to Castle Rock or Palmer Lake have been counting the days to have their local watering hole and restaurant back on Santa Fe (Hwy 85).

Owner Todd Hills has left no stone unturned when it comes to renovating this historical landmark in Sedalia. In fact, in my conversations with Todd, we confirmed that it probably would have been easier and more efficient to have torn down the whole building down and started over. Todd stated, the building has great bones and we wanted to keep the integrity of the older building and historical value.” We gave her a fresh look and have added some great additions including:

  • Brand new stage
  • All new seating
  • Extended patio that is enclosed
  • Motorcycle parking and so much more!

With renovating it has come with its own set of challenges and rumor is that this week Wide Open will get their final inspections and is hoping to soft open the doors on March 7th.

The name Wide Open Saloon is personal to the owner as in 2009 he hosted a Wednesday night bike night at Top-Gun Motorsports off 58th and I-25 and the name of the bar was Wide Open Saloon. Todd knows how to throw a party and create a biker friendly environment.

On behalf of Colorado Rider News, we want to WELCOME BACK Wide Open Saloon to our riding community and we hope that all our readers will stay updated on their website and Facebook pages. For more information please visit their website.

Colorado Motorcycle Expo 2020 Recap

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By Stormy

Motorcycle enthusiasts get excited when the Motorcycle Expo is in town. It reminds them that spring is coming and which in turn means it will be riding season soon. A lot of biker attendees noticed that there was something different about the Expo; they felt it in the air, ambience, and attitude. Well they are correct; there is a new owner of the Expo, an actual biker, Scott Schultz! He wants to take the Expo back to its original status and run it like a biker would run it. That means allowing the motorcycle clubs back into the Expo, and more specifically even allowing the club that the rider was killed a few years ago return. Another great reason to have a biker run the Expo compared to a Joe Blow businessman is that he understands the motorcycle community and knows firsthand what they want and what they want to see. He is going to bring back the great vendors that quit exhibiting because of all the red-tape restrictions. Most importantly, Scott wants to bring back the strong and loyal following that attended each year.

I was lucky to have a chance to meet the new owner, Scott Schultz. I learned that he is 42 years young and a life-long motorcycle junkie and accomplished businessman. He said that he is a transplant from North Dakota and has called Colorado home for 26 years. He is committed to his vision of bringing together bikers from all walks, united by a common love for these amazing machines.

The motorcycle show competition was great to see! They had over 100 bikes competing in more than a dozen categories.

  • Ortiz Custom Cycles of Lakewood cleaned house and won first in Custom Fat Tire Bagger, and second and third place in the Custom Bagger category. The red 2014 Street Glide that won first place was bought from Munky Mark last year and Ortiz Custom Cycles revamped it and did a ton of work to it. It was dedicated to Munky. The second place Custom Bagger winner was Manual Arellano’s 2012 CVO Road Glide also done by Ortiz Custom Cycles. This one had awesome airbrushing and a lot of custom work that took about a year to complete.
  • The third-place winner is a 2019 Road Glide that was bought at Sun HD by owner Larry Ortiz. He tore it down, cut the neck, and turned it into what you see today with a 1000-watt stereo and tons of custom parts! Go visit Ortiz Custom Cycles in Lakewood and see what they can do to your bike everything from paint to custom work. Everything is done in-house, no outsourcing except the seats.

Walking the Expo was so much fun. You run into so many friends; it’s like a big family reunion! It is also fun to shop and spend money at the vendors’ booths. One of my favorites was Vatos Y Viclas Magazine. They had some cool merchandise and a cute little chunky chihuahua named Athena running around in the booth. Vatos Y Viclas works towards helping Homies Unidos, a gang intervention/prevention program here in Denver.

My other favorite was Glitter Biker Boutique owned by Aimee Leigh. She has the best blingy bandanas ever! There were so many to choose from and in different colors

I also ran into Scott O’Sullivan and Chere Martin of Rider Justice. They are both awesome people in the biker community. They stand up for us bikers. In fact, for the third straight year, they are working to make it illegal for anyone to hold an electronic device in their hands while driving. Scott said, “We support SB20-065 because we believe this law will help make Colorado roads safer for everyone.” He goes on to say that if SB20-065 passes, all drivers would be prohibited from using a wireless communication device unless used in a hands-free manner. Navigation systems would be permitted if the address information was entered prior to operating the vehicle or in an emergency situation.

It was also cool to stop by Wide Open Saloon’s booth which is opening Saturday, March 7th. Anton Barich the general manager said they have big plans for the opening and have great bands lined up.

I am looking forward to next year’s Expo and see what Scott Schultz has planned.

Best in Show 2020: 2019 Road King Custom

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By: Shawn Cox

I started my Bike build project in 2015 after buying a new stock Harley that my wife didn’t want me tearing down to build a custom bike. I was working with a new builder in town from Arizona who was bringing the big wheel craze into town. After seeing a couple of 23-26 and even a 30 roll out of his shop I knew I wanted to build one. I started watching insurance auctions looking for a bike to start with since I didn’t want to tear down my road glide.

I found a road king that looks to have been wrecked and missing all the parts I was going to replace. I picked it up to find the entire frame and motor was trashed. I was now out some cash and had nothing to work with. I reached out to Chassis Design in CA. and started ordering a custom frame to start my build. They sent out the wrong frame and when I finally got around to mocking it up, I found that the neck was welded wrong and trees wouldn’t fit correctly. After finding out the company had sold and the previous company owner gave me the run around for 6 month I resolved the issue with its current owner who was a great guy to work with and finally got my frame back set up for a 32 inch wheel.

So now I have all the parts including a Competition KIllas rear end from TOL in Las Vegas NV and a 3rd child on the way. Then again, I put my project on hold again for 6-8 months.

I had recently ran across another local shop called Notorious Concepts in Parker who installed a upgraded sound system on my Fat Tire Road Glide. They had done some clean work and I watched some bikes roll out of the shop and decided to work with them on this build. As all bikes start out, I wanted a simple bike 1 color that I could twist around on and have some fun. Well that’s as simple as it got….

As we stood around the shop looking at the bike as it progressed, we started looking at other bikes coming from Dirty bird in Arizona and DA Performance in the Mid-West simple wasn’t good enough any longer. I wanted to play with the big boys and build a showstopper. We started Dimond cutting the fins on a custom S&S 124 ci motor built by Mr. Tom Shoupe a great guy with a rep of building consistent power and good motors. We clear coated the motor and started sending everything else to Lee at Pristine Powder Coating to be done in candy apple green.

When it came time to pick out floorboards and controls, I found a new player in the parts game named Vitty Designs from Italy on Facebook. Mateo was doing things a bit different and caught my eye with his style and details. He also gave an option for brass and gold plating… Once those parts arrived, I was hooked. I thought I need the motor and other parts to match. I sent all my parts out to be chrome and asked what the cost would be to gold certain parts while out for chrome. I about fell on the floor, So I went online and did some research and found a way I could do my own gold plating for way cheaper. I called all my friend to donate any stock parts they would part from to practice on until I finally got it down. So, we began gold plating parts on my bike until we had just enough to bring out the bling and stand out. About that time, we took all the paint sets to Jarod @ Motorsport Concepts to have the paint done. Working with the Mad Scientist Randy Gustafson was the best. He took some conversations with Will, Jarod and myself and took my paint to the next level. I had seen Randy around for years in the car scene but never had anything worth his talent. He took some Fb photos of bikes I liked and added his own touch and as you can see knock it out of the park with the knurling matching gold leaf and hand painted stripes and candy paint.

A lot of people like to talk about this bike. They comment on the paint, the size of the wheel or how it lays frame on the ground, YOU CAN’T RIDE THAT BIKE!!

I sit back and laugh at some of the comments and try to educate them on how lay frames work and what air ride is and how we used a swing arm as our air tank among other unique custom thing that have been done. I ride this bike down dirt country washboards to get to the highway in Elbert county and they are in disbelief.

Do I ride this bike on long trips? No, I have a Road Glide with a 180-18 fat tire that I also ride on longer runs so yes this is a head turning fun around town bike that’s made to catch your attention and have some fun at shows. The first real ride I did with my wife after getting it finally registered and insured, I was being filmed by a couple in a brand-new bright orange Lambo. That made me feel good a 250K car and he liked my bike enough to film it out his window while driving down road. I was drooling on their car while they filmed me wanna trade?

We showed the bike in a booth at the 2019 Colorado Motorcycle Expo for Notorious Concepts and Motorsport Concepts. To date since finishing the bike we have won 2 back to back best of shows with the most recent one being the 2020 Colorado Motorcycle Expo.

We look forward to a long summer of riding enjoying this 32-inch Road King #KingofDenver