Colorado Powersports
Colorado Rider News is proud to host the Expo guide for the 2022 Colorado Motorcycle Expo.
Want to know who is VENDING?
Plan out your strategy for seeing everything?
Here is a preview of all that is going on at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo – click here
For several years, the tagline Watch for Motorcycles or Look Twice Save a Life really hasn’t had the punch that we riders would hope for. The biker community continues to be injured in epidemic numbers. In 2021, the State of Florida had over 5k accidents and over 500 fatalities. Colorado and Nevada during a pandemic saw a 33% increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities. This is no longer a local issue, but a national problem that requires motorcycle riders to take a different approach, which is to BE READY and INFORMED.
Today we will talk about 3 topics
At first glance, it might be easy to confuse a trauma kit with a first aid kit. Both are bags full of medical supplies. And they may even carry some of the same equipment. So to understand the difference, you must look at the underlying focus of each type of medical kit.
First off, a first aid kit is designed to treat basic, superficial wounds that people suffer every day. They help with injuries such as small cuts, scrapes, and stings that don’t require a hospital or a doctor. These are the type of injuries most often treated with a first aid kit. Most first aid kits include bandages, burn cream, antiseptic, and over-the-counter medications
On the other hand, a trauma kit is designed to treat severe, life-threatening injuries long enough to treat the injured until paramedics or EMTs can arrive on the scene.
We’re talking about life-threatening injuries from situations such as car or motorcycle accidents. Tragic events when getting someone stabilized and transported to an emergency room is of the utmost importance. In such situations, most over-the-counter first aid kits are not nearly enough, and a trauma kit is best.
Now, it’s important to keep in mind that the primary focus of a trauma kit is to save lives. This means they often forgo items that might alleviate a victim’s temporary discomfort and pain. Why? Because these items are considered secondary to keeping them alive.
It’s a bag full of life-saving tools designed to keep someone’s vital functions working.
Trauma kits on your bike can be vital to stabilizing an injured rider until medical assistance can arrive. Trauma kits can be purchased for a reasonable amount given the care they can provide to render aid. If you are interested in getting a trauma kit, there are some motorcycle organizations that can help you get the trauma kit you need.
If you are interested in making the PLEDGE today to have this life-saving item on your bike, BikerDown Foundation offers riders a fully loaded trauma kit that will fit easily on your motorcycle – click here. You can also contact RoadGuardians (ASM) also offers a fanny pack trauma kit – click here
For 10 years, BikerDown Foundation with the help of RiderJustice, Full Throttle Law, and other sponsors has sponsored Accident Scene Management Basic (ASM) and Advanced classes to give motorcycle riders basic training. ASM has trained nearly 40,000 motorcycle riders through the expertise of its instructors. ASM is the largest motorcycle trauma training organization in the world and classes can be done in-person or online.
The basic 100 series class teaches you what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Some of the topics you will learn are helmet removal (many believe you don’t do that, but what if the rider isn’t breathing and needs CPR?), securing the scene, rescue breathing, moving the injured rider, controlling bleeding, and much much more.
Legal concerns can come up at the scene of an accident. Questions on legal issues come up in our basic and advanced classes, and there is a part of our instruction that deals with this. Many students ask me, “If I help someone at the scene of an accident, will I get sued successfully?” Fortunately, in most states, there are statutes that legally shield you from liability. In Colorado, we have Revised Statute 13-21-108. This is the Colorado Good Samaritan Law. In Nevada, there is NRS 41.500. The statutes in both states say that you are shielded from legal liability when rendering aid at the scene of an emergency or accident. There are some things you have to remember for this to apply. First, the person you are helping is not a person you are required to treat, and you are not there being compensated as part of your job. For example, Paramedics responding to the scene are not covered as it is their duty to respond and treat them. Volunteers on a rescue squad are protected from liability even though they have to react as they volunteer.
Second, if you act in good faith and do not do something completely negligent, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. There is a scene in a funny movie where a woman performs a minor surgical procedure on someone she believes is choking. She has never been trained to do this and only saw the procedure performed on a television show. This woman would not be shielded from liability. For the record, we do not teach minor surgical procedures in Accident Scene Management, not even the advanced class.
Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike. It outranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it outranks everything. Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or uninsured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers. RiderJustice.com, Full Throttle Law, Upstate Biker Lawyer, and Two-Wheel Attorneys has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers. In Colorado at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth in February and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.
Motorcycle Awareness begins with US, the motorcycle rider.
So in the event of an accident, having these 3 things in your arsenal will not only protect you and help you recover, but also help you help others. We must take control of our ride, in the event of an accident that trauma kit, ASM Basic class that you took, and the right kind of insurance, can actually help you SAVE LIVES of a friend, family member or complete stranger on a ride.
Let’s all just take a moment to enjoy all our beautiful state of Colorado has to offer. Could there be a more beautiful place to ride on 2-wheels?
Rider Justice recently started a new video series called “Lunch Break Rides” that features local Colorado rides that you can squeeze in over a lunch break if you choose. More than likely you’ve done both of these rides – which is your favorite: Lookout Mountain or Evergreen?
Either way, take a few minutes and enjoy this beautiful scenery from wherever you are now!
If you want to see first-hand the difference between a law firm that says they represent injured motorcycle riders and a motorcycle law firm, then call RiderJustice.com. For over 20 years, Scott O’Sullivan and his team at RiderJustice.com have been fighting for motorcycle riders. They offer
By Scott O’Sullivan, Founder, Rider Justice
What do you do when you’ve got a motorcycle dream – a big, roaring, airbrushed, custom, community-building dream – and you don’t know the first thing about making it a reality?
According to Cody Kiebler, you take the first step. Then the next step. Then “take advantage of everything that comes your way.”
Cody and his business partner, Kevin Bolser, are the owners of Broadway Customs, a tiptoe-tail, full-service motorcycle shop. Walking in Broadway Customs (which they encourage EVERYONE to do, not just motorcycle geeks), you’d never know that they’ve got biology and aerospace degrees between the two of them. How did these two ever open a motorcycle shop?
Actually, it starts with a motorcycle crash.
Kevin, an American military veteran, got hit on his Harley, and it was totaled. When he got a check from his insurance company to rebuild it, he called his good friend Cody. The two of them had always dreamed of owning a motorcycle shop but didn’t know how to start. Now, thanks to Kevin’s insurance check, they had enough money to build a motorcycle. That seemed like a good place to start.
They built their first bike: a hardtail, bobber-style Sportster. They worked out of Cody’s garage. Then a buddy came by and asked them to turn his dirt bike into a café racer. They said, “Yeah, we can do that!” And they did.
With two bikes under their belts, Kevin headed to Motorcycle Mechanic School at Universal Technical Institute, and he earned his Harley certifications.
Cody was already working in the aerospace industry and was skilled at computer animated design (CAD). He was ready to put his design and manufacturing skills to work on motorcycles. Together, they opened their first, small commercial bike shop.
That’s when the Old Bike Barn selected the two of them as a builder in their Greasy Dozen Builder Collective. Not only did that experience expand their own skills and their reputation, but it helped them to articulate their mission: To bring the motorcycle build community back together.
“A big part of what the Old Bike Barn does is to share knowledge,” says Cody. “They got frustrated with the bike build culture of the 90s, when nobody shared their knowledge. With the Greasy Dozen, they bring 13 winners together, give them the prize money up front, and encourage them to work together as a community. We want to replicate that culture in our shop.”
As the men were establishing themselves as full service bike experts, they were on the lookout for more space. They discovered an old building at 4398 S. Broadway, which had been a motorcycle shop since the 1980s, and it felt like serendipity.
“The price was right, the timing was right, the location was right,” says Cody, who says that the traffic on Broadway has expanded their business exponentially. Broadway Customs was officially born.
Dream realized, right? Wrong. Cody and Kevin just keep expanding their dream and taking the next step, then the next step to make it a reality.
For example, they invested in a carbon fiber 3D printer, which enables them to print custom parts for custom jobs, and they have also created their own retail shop with custom products. Because the parts are so much lighter than typical motorcycle parts, they anticipate this work will revolutionize the racing industry.
But it also helps them serve their individual clients better. “We had a customer come in and he needed a lever bracket,” says Cody. “We brought the bike in, designed the part, printed it and had it on his bike that day!”
Next up: they want to purchase another 3D printer that prints in aluminum, titanium and steel. But that item will have to wait while the guys install their new DynoJet 250IX, which will enable the shop to performance-tune any bike, trike, or powersports equipment with wheels. The Dyno also allows the shop to expand their diagnostic capabilities with digital accuracy.
Throughout all of this expansion, Cody and Kevin have also sought ways to put their mission into practice: they seek to constantly build community as they build bikes.
“The motorcycle build community doesn’t have a reputation for sharing,” explains Cody. “These guys have a lot of pride but when they refuse to share their knowledge, it pigeonholes them into a very small avenue of work.”
He continues, “For us, the motorcycle community is vast. We want to share our techniques with everyone. We want our shop to be a comfortable place for everyone, no matter their skillset or experience.”
Broadway Customs hosts bike nights every other Thursday, where the shop’s employees teach important, fun maintenance and customization skills. Cody also rides with members of his church, the Red Rocks Church, hoping to meet as many riders as he can. “We want the build community to be open to everyone.”
Today, Cody says that Broadway Customs can do just about anything a person could dream of doing to their bike… or just provide regular maintenance. From cracked frames, to ground-up new builds, to next-level airbrush design, to oil changes, Broadway Customs does it all.
Cody says they are now dreaming about building a bike that could break a land-speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats. “I’ve got a Honda that we want to work on,” says Cody. “In the Honda’s class, not a lot of records have been set at Bonneville, so we’d like to build it and break a record at Bonneville.”
It’s all about taking the next step.
Are you a motorcycle rider who has been injured? RiderJustice.com has been helping injured riders for over 20 years and the majority of our practice is motorcycle accident-related. We understand your injuries and what you are going thru. We offer all riders FREE Insurance Reviews to make sure you have the right coverage in the event of an accident. Rider Justice is devoted to the biker communities events and causes that are important to you. Give RiderJustice a call today at 303-865-3934
Pretty much everyone on the planet is looking to get the hell out of their homes right now. And it seems like camping is one of the most popular getaway ideas for Summer 2021. Have you seen the stories about how the National Park System is being overwhelmed? Even State Parks are facing extremely high demand for their camping spots.
But it is still totally possible to find campsites if you’re willing to be flexible. Have you tried Googling “Dispersed Camping Colorado” or “Dispersed Camping Tennessee” or “Dispersed Camping Georgia?” (You get the idea.) Basically, dispersed camping is the term used for camping spots that are outside of for-pay campgrounds. Usually, it’s free but you can’t reserve spots, so you have to show up and hope one comes available. (I recently found an open spot near Grand Lake, CO, so it’s possible!)
Clearly, to camp in a dispersed campsite, you have to be flexible. But what’s more flexible than motorcycle camping? People hauling giant fifth-wheels or trailers have a lot more to think about when they decide to go camping. (Are there hookups? Will I be able to back this thing into the spot? Can I drive through?)
Motorcycle riders have the luxury of knowing that pretty much any camping spot will be big enough for their bike.
But how do you prepare for a motorcycle camping trip? Those fifth-wheels mean that the owners can chuck just about everything and anything into the camper and take every luxury with them. (Camping snobs would NOT call that camping!) But motorcycle riders need to plan very carefully for successful camping trips.
You have to pack light for a motorcycle camping trip. That much is obvious, right? But HOW do you do it? Well, ask yourself a few questions first: How long will you be gone? Will you be able to shop for food if you’re gone several days? Does your campsite offer any amenities? The answers to these questions will guide you through some of the details.
You probably know by now that I’m a gadget geek. I love researching fun stuff like camping gear. Honestly, you don’t need a lot of newfangled gear to go motorcycle camping but
there are a few things you will probably need no matter where or how you camp:
I can’t help myself. I fell into a rabbit hole on this topic… There are so many cool tents for motorcycles! Here are a few brands that I ended up falling in love with:
If you go motorcycle camping this summer, send Rider Justice some pics! We’d love to share your adventures on our social channels. Find us everywhere @MotorcycleRiderJustice.
Rider Justice is proud to announce our partnership with Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, an event with a storied past and an exciting future!
Founded by Ben Nighthorse Campbell – “The Harley-Riding Senator” – The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally draws riders from around the country. And, because 2020 was so hard, we expect this year to be bonkers fun, like a family reunion!
The annual event is held every Labor Day weekend in Durango, CO. 2021, Labor Day Weekend and the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally action will be on Friday, September 3 through Sunday, September 5 and the festivities will include:
Watch the official website for hotel packages, camping and the full event schedule.
Originally called the “Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally,” this event was launched in the early 90s as the brainchild of Senator Campbell, who was a lifelong rider and understood not only the vibrant motorcycle community, but also the economic impact of great rallies and rides. Sadly, after several decades of success, managerial infighting brought the event to its knees by 2017.
That’s when John M. Oakes, owner of Freeze Management, and friend of owner of Durango Harley-Davidson, Trevor Bird, purchased the rights to run the event. And they are people with big plans and big hearts.
The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally has a long history of fundraising for various causes. One of this year’s benefiting nonprofits is the Warrior Built Foundation, which honors the service and sacrifice of combat veterans and wounded service members by providing vocational and recreational opportunities. Learn more by watching this video. As well, Building Homes for Heroes as a national organization has gifted over 300 mortgage free homes to Veterans. Four Corners Motorcycle Rally with other community businesses is committed to raising funds to building a mortgage free home in the Durango area through various annual fundraisers until they meet their goal.
Oakes said, “This event has a long history of supporting our nation’s heroes. It’s one of the many reasons I wanted to grow it back to its original, proud roots as a destination rally for motorcyclists from around the country. The location is spectacular, everyone needs to ride to Colorado and hit the Million Dollar Highway.”
Scott O’Sullivan, founder of Rider Justice, loves the story and the cause behind this historic rally.
“There is no community on the planet more generous and heartfelt than motorcycle riders,” said O’Sullivan. “I am so proud to partner with John Oakes and Durango Harley-Davidson to help make this event amazing and to raise as much money for great causes as we possibly can.”
While the main hub of the rally will be in Durango, specifically around Durango Harley-Davidson and the Million Dollar Highway Saloon, events will be held all over town and throughout the region, including:
Participants will enjoy Hooligan Racing, concerts, stunt shows, charity rides, bike shows, Wheelie Pig’s Hill Climb Challenge, a fishing derby, camping and more. Less than 70 miles away, Four Corners Monument enables you to stand in the only place in the country where four states meet: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. You can also plan to visit the astonishing Mesa Verde National Park just an hour’s drive away.
Watch the official Four Corners Motorcycle Rally website for updates as our plans unfold! YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THE PARTY IN DURANGO!
Scott O’Sullivan and his team have been helping injured motorcycle riders in Colorado since 1998. If you need assistance after an accident, please call us at 303-865-3934 or visit our website www.riderjustice.com
