Dubious Advertising

I live in Texas and was on a ride last weekend through Arkansas.  We stopped at a Casey’s General Store in Fort Smith for gasoline and found at the pump they had E-85 for $1.86, Unleaded 88 for $2.11, Unleaded 87 octane (labeled 10% ethanol) for $2.16, and Unleaded 87 octane (labeled ethanol free) for $2.51.

I was surprised by the poor signage at the pump, which did not list any ethanol content on the Unleaded 88.

A separate sticker was off to the side of the pump that showed Unleaded 88 to contain 15 percent ethanol. This was my first encounter with Unleaded 88. I have read about E-15 becoming available but was a little confused about the way it was presented at the pump.

I know the AMA has been fighting against E-15 and hope you are successful in bringing about better labeling at the pump.

Johnny Jones | Flower Mound, Texas

Thanks, Johnny. Growth Energy’s misleading Unleaded 88 marketing campaign has been called out by the AMA for emphasizing octane rating over ethanol content. So far, Sheetz, Kwik Trip, Protec Fuels, Kum & Go, Minnoco and Family Express have signed on to sell this potentially damaging fuel.

 

---

 

Star Power

I recently rode with some friends to see the MotoAmerica round in Pittsburgh. You may ask: What was my favorite part of the trip?

Was it watching the races? No, although I was glad to have a chance to see our local favorites, the Wyman brothers, in action, and I really enjoyed watching the front wheels of the Superbikes come up entering the straight in front of Spectator Hill after powering through the first couple turns.

Was it the ride there? No, but I had a great time riding to the races with six friends, especially through the Allegheny National Forest.

Was it wandering the pits? No, although I liked being able to see the race bikes in various states of disassembly.

My highlight of the trip was meeting my all-time favorite racer, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Wayne Rainey.

I told him that I had been following him since I went to Daytona and saw him win, the year Kevin Schwantz crashed out (although I embarrassingly got the year mixed up, thinking it was 1989 instead of ’87). We talked about when he won his world championships. I told him I really respected what he did during his racing career, and how much I appreciated all he did putting the MotoAmerica series together.

I didn’t ask for an autograph or for a selfie with him. We just had a really nice, one-on-one conversation, at the end of which he said to bring my friends around and he would say hello to all of them.

Motorcycling and motorcycle racing always seems to attract great people, and I believe Wayne is one of the best of the best. My friends and I are already talking about going to the New Jersey round next year.

Joe Stutzman | Webster, N.Y

 

 

Yamaha Modified

My best friend’s son wanted to build a custom bike but needed some help and guidance. So we found this XJ550 on Craigslist for $250. For the last two-and-a-half years, we would meet every week between weddings, funerals, work and life’s obligations to transform the derelict into a cool ride.

We went through everything and modified each part, plus a ’74 Kawasaki gas tank, freshened-up engine and extensive carb work, fabricating mounts and bodywork as we went. We installed a completely new wiring harness, with all the safety switches integrated. An aircraft-type ignition switch gets it rumbling, and a four-into-one header makes it sound sweet. 

The LED lights pass inspection and add a touch more of coolness.

We used XR 650 footpegs and a drive sprocket cut in half for the brake pedal.

Hope you all like it.

Ralph Williams and Aaron Bogdan

Galway, N.Y.

Goodbye, Joe

On Sept. 8, 2019, we lost another great friend, teacher and companion. Joe Proia, of Uxbridge, Mass., passed away while riding locally. It was verified that he had suffered a fatal attack just before he went off the road.

Joe not only loved to ride, he shared his passion with hundreds, perhaps thousands of others. He operated a very successful Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding school, Ironstone Ventures, which is now known as Massachusetts Motorcycle School LLC.

There is little doubt that Joe, along with his assistants, saved much pain and many lives over the years, simply by showing and teaching novice riders, as well as the experienced, the rules of safe riding. Joe also was a Life Member of AMA.

In addition to his dedication to teaching safe riding, Joe also provided motorcycle tours all around the world for many years. He went on his last tour this past summer.

If there is a motorcycle club in the Great Beyond, you can rest assure that Joe will be a member.

Bob Haigis | Uxbridge Mass.

Correction

A story in the October issue reported the incorrect price for the Energica Ego electric motorcycle. The bike sells for $22,565.