BikerDown Foundation National Newsletter

Volume IV | April 2022

BikerDown June 2024 Newsletter

June is Get Motorcycle SAFETY Month

Riding a motorcycle is a thrilling experience. Warm weather is our normal now, riders are riding to work, and gearing up for their annual bike trips including rallies like Sturgis or mountain rides like Tail of the Dragon.

Riding whether in the city, countryside or at rallies come with risks that can have devastating consequences if precautions are not taken. Congested traffic areas can have impatient or distracted drivers running stop signs, pushing through left turn signals and just not paying attention.

Breakdowns can happen in the most inconvenience times and places, Do you really know how far your roadside assistance will take you, and will it be a towing company that can get you safely off the road?

April was Distracted Driving and CHECK YOUR HELMET Month, May was Motorcycle Awareness Month. So we have deemed June, Motorcycle Safety Month.

It is crucial for all riders to prioritize safety by ensuring their towing is in place, that your insurance is the best you can afford, and that your safety gear (helmets and clothing) are there when you will really need it the most.

Let's shift towards a proactive mindset when it comes to motorcycle safety, making informed choices that can potentially save lives or maintain your household. Take a moment to absorb the valuable information in this newsletter and always remember: in the face of adversity, the riding community stands together to support one another.

Ride safe, stay vigilant, and know that we are here to support you through every twist and turn of your journey.

Laurie Montoya

President & Founder

BikerDown Foundation.

BIKERDOWN WEBSITE

WHAT CAN I DO TO BE SAFER ON THE ROAD?

Motorcycle Towing - Do You Really Know How Far Your Towing Takes YOU?

Thank you to Michael Levy from Rider Rescue Motorcycle Towing.

Michael Levy, Rider Rescue Motorcycle Towing, Denver Colorado

This great looking 2016 Indian Vintage kept stalling out when it stranded the rider up in Johnstown, Colorado on Father’s Day weekend. It was throwing a fuel code... so the rider called Rider Rescue Motorcycle Towing to get him and his bike back to the Denver area.

What was a problem is that if you call Geico's roadside assistance... they make you wait to find one of their providers. And when they find one... it's more often than not... NOT a motorcycle towing specialist... who knows much of anything about towing a bike.

Geico used to let you source your own motorcycle tow provider... and Geico would pay that provider to get you off the road quickly. But NO more. Now with Geico, if you choose your own provider... they will only reimburse you up to $75 per tow. (And when you're stuck in Johnstown over and hour away with heavy traffic... $75 won't get you that far).

Just know that the best insurance companies that give you the most flexibility in choosing your own tow provider (AND reimbursing you for that tow)... is either State Farm or Progressive.

· State Farm - you must have Comprehensive coverage in order for towing reimbursement to be included with your policy.

· Progressive - towing reimbursement coverage will cost you an additional $10 for the year.

· AAA – will only tow your bike if you have AAA for Motorcycle/RV.

In the Colorado mountains and anywhere you ride... our rides are so spread out, you are on a long road trip... you always want to start with the right insurance company and then layer on any additional roadside assistance coverage that you can.

Another way to add additional tow coverage is through the BikerDown Foundation’s Roadside membership. This membership will enable you to have two tows up to $300 each for the year for only $37.50 for the year.

BE PREPARED for a breakdown. Knowledge is power, Ask yourself, Do I really know how far my roadside towing will take me?

To sign up for the BikerDown Roadside membership, please visit www.bikerdown.org/join-us

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT GOOD MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE IS?

Get a FREE Insurance review by a motorcycle law firm that sues insurance, and doesn't sell it.

You cannot believe that any insurance company wants to pay you the most they can in the event of an accident! Contact BikerDown at office@bikerdown.org, let us show you what you have and what you should have.

We know the #1 way for riders to protect themselves on the road is to buy the proper insurance. However, motorcyclist often receive bad advice from their agents or believe "full coverage" will take care of all injuries and losses in the event of an accident - it doesn't.

The aftermath of a motorcycle crash by a driver, not only brings physical pain but also financial strain and emotional trauma for both the rider and their loved ones. It is disheartening to see the reality while you are recovering that the driver who crashed into you, has little to no insurance to make you whole or that your coverage doesn't cover everything you thought it did.

Bikers are heading up the mountains, or out in the rural areas, and mis-navigate a turn or corner and sustain serious injuries only to realize that their liability only policy won't cover their medical bills, time off from work, and they are left with the reality that this will fall 100% on them.

Riders have spouses, partners or you just met her and she wants to ride on the back of your bike. Does your bike insurance cover passengers in the event of an accident? Countless passengers find out after it is too late that the driver of the car has no insurance or 25k only, and the driver of the motorcycle has liability only or full coverage and neither of these protect the passenger? if you ride someone on your bike, it is your responsibility to make sure they wear a helmet and that YOU have the right insurance in the event of an accident.

RECOMMENDED INSURANCE CHECKLIST

High Seas Rally - The Only True Motorcycle Rally At Sea

Do you like to take cruises? Are you like me that gets tired of the question "Are YOU a Biker?" Do you tire of the kids taking up the hot tub and cruisers that you just don't have a lot in common with?

WELL WAIT NO MORE - The High Seas Rally brings together a community of bikers for the ultimate motorcycle vacation. Here's a little taste of what High Seas Rally has waiting for you for 2024

Concerts: Vixen, Hairball and Black Smoke Sinners
Custom Builders: Xavier Muriel, Rick Bray, Pat Patterson and Mike Rabideau. Wanna win a custom bike, HSR is giving away 4 motorcycles this year!
Special Guest: Jody Perewitz, John Jessup and Tommy London
Theme nights: Pirate Takeover Day, Halloween costume party, Salute to Service, Hillbillies on the High Seas and you can't miss the Biker Ball

You can also visit a great group call the High Seas Rally Cruisers by clicking here

BikerDown New Safety Sponsors

Receive 20% off any order with NBT motorcycle protective clothing when you use the code BikerDown20

The Brake Free Technology's Smart Brake Light is very bright, and improves your odds of being seen from behind. Housed inside the Brake Free's hard casing is a three-dimensional gyrometer and an accelerometer that work in unison to detect any changes in front-to-back movement, but primarily deceleration.

Remember If You Go DOWN....We Step UP!