Walter Edward Williamson is our holiday promotion winner for 12/20! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/19 Winner

Thomas Atkinson is our holiday promotion winner for 12/19! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

Holiday Giveaway Agreement

For all winners of the holiday promotion: please claim your prize by 12/31/12 in order to be eligible for a prize. If you do not contact Rider Insurance by 12/31/12 by 11:59PM, your chance to claim a prize will be null and void.

12/18 Winner

Courtney Brookman Kukovich is our holiday promotion winner for 12/18! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/17 Winner

Traci Hopper is our holiday promotion winner for 12/17! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

Weekend Winners

12/14/12 - Lori Eshlemen


12/15/12 - Biz DeadSerious

12/16/12 - John Cordileone



Please contact us through Facebook messages or by email: promotions@rider.com. Please include your full name, address, and contact info.

12/13 Winner

Home Slice is our holiday promotion winner for 12/13! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/12 Winner

Scott Truglio is our holiday promotion winner for 12/12! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/11 Winner

RM Jacob is our holiday promotion winner for 12/11! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

Rider Holiday Gift Swap (Updated)

Swap a motorcycle gift idea for a chance to win a $25 gift card! Starting Black Friday (11/23), for every motorcycle gift idea you post on the Rider Facebook or Twitter page through Friday, 12/21, Rider will enter you in for a chance to win a $25 gift card daily drawing with no one person winning twice! Share our post and get a bonus entry! The daily winner and updated motorcycle gift ideas list will be posted on the Rider Blog starting 11/26. Weekend winners will post the following Monday. Check back daily to see if you’ve won and get some great ideas for gifts for the special motorcyclist in your life!

Here is the list so far:

-H-D Museum Gift Card
-Gerbings Heated Gear
-Leather Jacket
-Riding Boot
-Motorcycle Ship Gift Card
-Riding Glasses
-Cold Weather Under gear
-Guardian Bell
-Heated Grips
-Riding Gloves
-Maintenance Class
-Lights
-Insurance Payment
-Detail Gift Certificate
-Face Mask
-Detailing Kit
-Face Mask
-Rain suit
-Motorcycle Safety Course
-Bunny PJs
-Trip to Sturgis
-New Tires
-Rinehart Exhaust
-Fuel Injection Mapping
-Motorcycle
-Chrome Cup Holders
-Roller Chain Key Chain
-Motorcycle Cover
-Tank Bib
-Detachable Windshield
-Personalized Motorcycle X-Mas Ornament
-Heated Leathers
-DOT Riding Glasses
-Chrome Lockable E-Z Pass Holder
-Electronic Deer Alert
-New Tires
-Go-Pro Mounted Camera
-Reflective Vest
-H-D Snow Globe
-Motorcycle Alarm Clock
-Reflective Decal
-Neon Lighting

2013 T-Shirt Design Contest Winning Design

Congratulations to Lonnie W., he is our 2013 T-Shirt Design Contest winner! Here is his winning design. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest as well as all of the people that voted for the designs.

12/10 Winner

Joe Perez is our holiday promotion winner for 12/10! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

This Weekend's Winners

12/7/12 - Andrew Strycharz

12/8/12- Tanya DeBoer

12/9/12 - Jason Vitale

Please contact us through Facebook messages or by email: promotions@rider.com. Please include your full name, address, and contact info.

12/6 Winner

Dawn Steiner is our holiday promotion winner for 12/6! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/5 Winner

Shaun McNally Sr. is our holiday promotion winner for 12/5! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/4 Winner

Beth Farrell is our holiday promotion winner for 12/4! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

12/3 Winner

Jo McKeon is our holiday promotion winner for 12/3! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

This Weekend's Winners

11/30/12 - Brenda Cohen

12/1/12 - Paul Young

12/2/12 - Dave DiGiuseppe

Please contact us through Facebook messages or by email: promotions@rider.com. Please include your full name, address, and contact info.

11/29 Winner

Karen Wilson is our holiday promotion winner for 11/29! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact info.

11/28 Winner

Mike Smith is our holiday promotion winner for 11/28! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact.

11/27 Winner

Elyse Dai is our holiday promotion winner for 11/27! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact.

11/26 Winner

Andy Hickman is our holiday promotion winner for 11/26! Please contact us via Facebook message or email: promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact.

Thanksgiving Weekend Winners!

Friday 11-23 Winner: Robin Pomeroy


Saturday 11-24 Winner: Beth Farrell


Sunday 11-25 Winner: Justin Fxwg

Please contact us through Facebook messages or email promotions@rider.com with your full name, address and contact information. Congrats!

 

1948 H-D Brochure

http://panheadjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/1948-harley-davidson-brochure.html

On the road again...

Dilivering some donations for Project Give!

Project Give

Project Give

In light of Hurricane Sandy, Rider Insurance is giving back to the community. Throughout the month of November, Rider Insurance will be collecting donations for Project Give. We have already donated $2,500 in supplies to various shelters and charities throughout Southern New Jersey. That is not all, for every dollar donated, Rider Insurance will match it. At the end of November all funds will be donated to the Red Cross to assist in the relief effort of Hurricane Sandy. Help all those effected get back on their feet! Send all donations here:

http://www.rider.com/projectgive/give.html

 

Thank You!

Vote Now!

Election Day may be over, but you can still cast your vote for our 2013 T-Shirt Design! http://www.rider.com/tshirtcontest/vote.html
 

We're open!

We are happy to announce that power has been restored at our Springfield office and is re-openning today! Our office will be open from 8:30am to 5pm today and you may reach our customer service department by phone from 8:30am to 9pm. To file a claim by phone, call toll-free (866) 211-0055
(24 hours).

Selling your bike?

http://www.rider.com/motorcycle_community/selling-your-motorcycle.html

2000 Likes on Facebook

If we get to 2000 likes on Facebook by the end of October, we will donate an additional $1000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation! Help get us to 2000!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Tech Tuesday

 

(The Basics of Welding, Part 2)
This is the next article in the welding series. First and foremost, the actual welder will either need to be purchased or borrowed. Respectable brands usually yield good results. A typical flux core mig welder can run from $200 to $500, while an argon shield mig welder can go from $400 to $2,000. Tig welders are quite expensive and can get into the thousands of dollars. Other things needed before welding include a welding helmet, gloves, a wire brush, an angle grinder, a hammer and pliers. Some welders come with helmets, but helmets are another item that can get expensive. One great feature some welding helmets have is an auto darkening feature. Early welders would have to flip the mask down as he welded and then flip it up to see what he had done. Auto darkening helmets have an electric shade that automatically comes on when welding and turns off when welding is finished. A foolish way to weld is with no shield at all. Some people think if they close their eyes they will be fine. That is not true and is very dangerous. Welding emits light brighter than looking into the sun. Professional welders tend to get flash burn, which is like sun burn on the eyes. A person closing one’s eyes is still at risk to this light, because it passes through the eyelids and burns the retina. For safety reasons, please wear a mask!

Two dissimilar metals cannot be welded to each other. This means metals such as aluminum and steel cannot be welded to each other because of their metallurgy. However, metals of different thicknesses can be welded to each other. The thickness of the metal determines how hot and fast the weld needs to be. Stick welding is used on very thick metals because it carries a lot of amps (measure of electric current). The amps are needed to penetrate the thick metal. Unfortunately, welding sheet metal with a stick welder is tricky because it tends to burn through. Mig and tig welders can weld varied thicknesses of metal. Sheet metal is measured in gauges like wire. A good start to practice welding thin metal is 20 to 18g sheet metal. Many manufactures make clamps and pliers to hold sheet metal in place. Welding pliers are generally known as vise grips with long reach. Some welders make jigs, which are essentially position holders. The metal can be placed in a jig and welded the same, time after time. Jigs work very well when welding motorcycle frames.

There are different types of joints for welding. Taking two pieces of metal and butting them up to each other is called a butt weld. Laying one piece of metal over the other is called a lap weld. Lap welds tend to be stronger because there are two pieces of metal supported underneath each other. Unfortunately, metal cannot be lapped in every case. Another type of welding is plug welding. For example: A frame tube of a motorcycle is wrecked and needs to be replaced. Taking two pieces of rolled tubing and butting them up against each other seems like the most logical solution. However, this is not the right way. (In some applications when the stress of weight is not pushing down at every instance, this may apply.) A motorcycle frame sees a lot of stress from weight. Rather than just butting two tubes against each other, a slug is inserted inside of the tube. A slug is a solid piece of metal just smaller in diameter to fit inside the tube. It would, however, be impossible to hold in place when the tubes are butted against each other. A hole is drilled through the tube but not the slug. A weld can then be applied inside the hole to the slug. This holds the slug in place and then it can be solidly welded around the tube. Welding through a hole is called plug welding. Spot welding, which is something common on cars, actually uses no welding wire. A machine uses pressure and heat to fuse metal panels together. It forms a little spot; hence spot welding.

Getting excited yet? There are formal teachings of welding at colleges and trade schools. Some people find it too expensive to go out and buy a welder. Welding can be practiced in these classes before a welder would actually have to be purchased. The next article will get into welding and practice. Stay tuned for more of the welding adventure!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Fight back! Join us in raising breast cancer awareness! Throughout October, Rider we will have “Check Your Headlights” t-shirts and magnets available for purchase on our Facebook page as well as an area to make donations. Click Here

Happiness?

Pizza Anyone?

White Rose Thunder

We have more GIVEAWAYS! Up for grabs are 20 VIP All Access passes to White Rose Thunder in York, PA. Bands like KIX & Vince Neil will be performing as well as flat track racing and charity rides all weekend. It is held at the York Expo Center, Sept 27-30. Enter to win by emailing promo code ROSE to promotions@rider.com along with your full name, address, and email. Winners are selected at random. #RiderGiveaways

Never Forget

Future Rider Customers

Who needs a fuel guage?

Happy Labor Day!

Our office will close early Friday 8/31 at 3pm ET, and remain closed through Monday 9/3 for Labor Day.

Tech Thursday

Yowzah! Thats hot! 

(The Basics of Welding, Part I)

In the world of custom motorcycles, fabrication is what makes bikes stand apart. As a conventional rider, not everyone will feel the need to change their bike or repair broken parts. Yet some aspects of maintenance may require minor welding. Welding is not something to mess with. If the welded part contains structural integrity, the weld has to have structural integrity. These types of welds should be performed by an experienced welder. Other types of parts such as spacers or cosmetic changes can be performed by a less experienced welder. A typical life lesson is relevant here: the only way to get better at welding is PRACTICE!

What is welding? The simplest term: welding is the fusion of metal. There are many types of welds, as well as many types of machines and techniques. Welding can even be done underwater (We DO NOT recommend this). It can be broken up into two categories: gas and arc. Gas welding is done through means of a torch using gases like acetylene and oxygen. Arc welding uses electricity and a shielding gas. Shield gas is usually a non flammable (inert) gas that prevents oxidation. Oxidation has to be prevented so that the weld can penetrate. Penetration is a key word when in conjunction with welding. Even though metal seemed to be fused from the outside, it may not have been fused all the way through. This is VERY important when welding something structurally. On buildings, some engineers use X-Ray machines to check the penetration of the weld. Differences in metals need different types of welds. Two dissimilar metals such as steel and aluminum cannot be welded to each other because of their properties. Steel and cast iron are not the same, but share similar properties and can be welded to each other. One would think a degree in metallurgy is needed to weld!

For this article’s sake, it will mostly be about arc welding or electric welding. From traditional standards, arc welding has been considered “stick welding”. The stick is an electrode. The electrode is covered in flux, which in this case is its shielding material. Imagine a wire covered in a chemical that looks like concrete. A clamp holds the electrode and electricity transmits through it. Other types of arc welding are mig and tig welding. A mig welder has a spool of wire inside; this is then fed through a gun with a small tipped end. Electricity passes through the wire into the metal it is welding. Mig welders can use inert gases such as CO2 and Argon mixture as shielding gases. Others use a flux core wire, which is very similar to the “stick welder” electrode. It is a wire covered in an anti-oxidation chemical. Aluminum can be tricky to weld as the material and electricity source need to be in a close proximity. Unlike steel mig welders, the welding wire spool is not located in the base of the machine. It is located in the welding gun. Tig welding uses an inert gas as well. The welding material is held in one hand and gas and electricity pass through a non-consumable tungsten electrode, which is in the other hand. The energy is controlled by a foot switch.

Yes, this can all be very overwhelming to the average low maintenance rider. Who would have thought welding could be such a complicated process? Once the trade is learned, it really isn’t very difficult. The next e-newsletter’s article will go into the actual steps of welding, so stay tuned for more!

New MD Laws for Mopeds and Scooters

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2012/08/16/259673.htm

Tech Thursday

 

Going Tubing!

 
Unfortunately, this tech article isn’t going to talk about water or snow tubing. Yes, tubing is fun, but replacing a tire and tube on a motorcycle takes some patience. Unless a motorcycle comes with mag wheels, it is going to come with spokes. With spokes, it is almost impossible to run a tubeless tire. Spokes on rims create a problem of air seepage. The spoke is connected to the rim with a nut which is not air tight. Motorcycle manufacturers ran an inner tube inside the tire to solve this problem, however inner tube installation can be difficult.

Tube tires have been around for a very long time. Though the first automobiles and motorcycles may have had hard rubber tires, some of the earliest pneumatic tires were tube. Spoke rims have been around for nearly 100 years. This article won’t really get into changing a 100 year old inner tube. Motorcycle manufactures have spoke rims on many models, new and old. Whether it’s a Kawasaki, Honda or Harley-Davidson, changing an inner tube is pretty close to the same process.

First and foremost, changing the inner tube correctly is very important to the safety of the rider. Since there are only two wheels, if the tires are not properly inflated, it presents a huge hazard to riding a motorcycle. This tech article is only an aid to changing a motorcycle tire with a tube.

The first step is to remove the wheel from the motorcycle. Taking the front wheel off is usually a much easier task than the back wheel. Front wheels are held in a telescopic front end, usually by an axle and a brake-stay. Disconnecting each of these is usually as simple as removing a nut on the one side. A rear wheel which has the axel, brake and (chain, belt or driveshaft) holding it in place, can be more difficult. Please refer to the manufacturer’s service manual to remove the wheels.

Once the wheel is off, put it on a soft surface. Let the air out of the tire with a valve stem removal tool or small pliers. The tire may be stuck to the rim, so its bead will need to be broken loose. Pry the bead loose or use a special bead braking tool against the tire and rim, being careful not to scratch the rim. Use oil or soap to lube the bead and rim, and with 2 tire irons begin working the tire off the rim. Take small "bites" to work the bead off gradually. Once one side is off, it may be possible to remove the inner tube. Continue to use the tire irons and remove the other bead off the same side of the rim. Examine the rim to make sure it is not bent or has any sharp edges. In the center of the rim, there is a large rubber band that covers the spoke ends. If the rubber band is ripped or a spoke end is showing, replace the band.

To put the new tire on, reverse the process. Some tires have arrows pointing in the direction they should rotate. Work the one bead of the tire onto the lip of the rim. This may involve stepping on the tire to keep the one side in place and lubing the tire. The tube must be installed before the other bead of the tire is put on the rim. The valve stem will go through a hole in the rim and will be held in place with a nut. Put a little air in the tube to help it take shape. Lube the tire bead again and use the tire iron to work it under the wheel lip. With little "bites" again work the tire on. Be very careful NOT TO PINCH THE TUBE. If the tube is pinched and leaks, the whole process will need to be done again. Fill the tube up to its recommended pressure and make sure the bead seats fully. DO NOT OVER INFLATE THE TUBE, as it may burst or the tire may come off the rim.

Make sure the wheel and tire assembly are properly balanced, then they can be mounted back onto the bike. Most shops will only warrantee work if their tire and tube are used. A mismatch tire and tube usually leads to a void in the warrantee. Never patch a tube; always replace it, and make sure everything is DOT approved.

Gooch's Garlic ReCap

The Blue Knights NJ IX celebrated the success of the 25^th Annual Gooch’s Garlic Run at the check presentation dinner this past Wednesday.   The event raised $32,000 in total and each of the 4 families received $8,000!  Thanks to all those who participated in the event.  We hope to see  you again next year!  Here are a few pictures from the dinner. 

Motorcycle Love

Gettysburg Bike Week: Photo Blog

For those who know Gettysburg, they know it is a place of history. It is known as a battleground in the American Civil War from July 1st until the 3rd of 1863. It is said to be the turning point of the war as a huge loss to the South and a halt in the invasion of the North. Visiting the town, there are many stories of what went on during those brutal days. Throughout the town there are monuments, plaques and statues all dedicated to fallen heroes and brave souls. One can take a ghost tour and see a ghastly image of the past. The place is full of ghosts! Replica living quarters and museums have history on display. The center of town is a round-about. Gettysburg was a major hub connecting cities like Baltimore, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Washington. With all this American history, what better place to have a motorcycle rally, right? Gettysburg Bike Week has been chugging along for 10 years now. This year's location was the Granite Hill Camping Resort. Entertainment was supplied by bands like Kix and Mustang Sally, as well as burn out pits, stunt shows and custom bike shows. Vendors stretched the pathways and motorcycles filled the grass lots. The smell of BBQ filled the air and made mouths water. Even dogs dressed as bikers made a visit to the Rider Insurance tent. If you ever want to relive a piece of American history, make your way down to Gettysburg. You never know you might even see a ghost!

Gooch's Garlic Run: Photo Blog

The 25th Annual Gooch's Garlic Run at Rockaway Square June 20, 2012, aimed to raise money to benefit individuals with serious illnesses. It is a 28 mile ride that leaves from Rockaway, NJ and ends in the Ironbound section of Newark, NJ. The run, organized by law enforcement motorcycle club Blue Knights New Jersey Chapter IX and named for retired Andover Township Police Lt. Al "Gooch" Monaco. In previous years the run has concluded in Little Italy NYC, but logistics have made Newark a more logical choice. The Holland Tunnel had always presented issues with the large volume of bikers passing through. The run traveled via police escort along Route 80 to Route 280 East, down Route 21 to the Ironbound. Close to $600,000 has been raised in the run's 25 years through t-shirt and pin sales, sponsorships, vendor fees and donations.

All photos by Bruce G. and Rider Insurance