The expression "You can't keep a good man down" has never been more appropriate than as applied to Mike Simonson. In 1998, then 26-year-old Mike was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mike's situation turned critical, but a miracle drug came on the scene and saved his life. Three years later he was cancer-free. Usually, surviving cancer would be the happy ending to the story. Unfortunately, because of steroids used during chemotherapy, Mike needed a double hip replacement. And that wasn't the worst of it: Two years after beating cancer Mike developed radiation myelitis, a side effect from his treatments that caused incomplete lower-body paralysis. While Mike has a minor amount of sensation and muscle movement in his legs, he needs a wheelchair to get around.

Ever feel like your head's spinning? I do. Seems old notions are being brushed aside like tumbleweed these days and longstanding institutions are fast crumbling. It's enough to give me heartburn.

As previously reported on July 11, 2008, Harley-Davidson announced that it was acquiring Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta. That purchase has now been completed for $39 million (25 million euros) plus the assumption of another $69 million (45 million euros) of debt. H-D already has a solid presence in Europe but this acquisition further consolidates their position and diversifies their market into the high-performance sportbike arena.

This is actually The Motor Co.'s second foray into ownership of an Italian company. In 1960, H-D acquired 50% of Aermacchi, with the other 50% purchased in 1974. Aermacchi motorcycles, with two-stroke engines displacing between 125cc and 350cc, we're rebadged and sold as Harley-Davidsons. H-D even won the 250cc GP World Championship with those bikes with racer Walter Villa in 1974, 1975 and 1976. H-D, under the control of AMF, sold Aermacchi to Cagiva in 1978.

Many-and perhaps most-of you have never taken a rider-education course. There you go, zipping around your city, state and beyond, never questioning your motorcycling skills. Who taught you to ride? What were their qualifications? How many bad habits and misconceptions about motorcycle riding did you pick up? Or are you self-taught? A little learning, indeed!

AMA Museum hosts MotoStars, Harley-Davidson Museum to finally open

Once upon a time a 750cc bike was considered the big leagues, and almost every oem made one. in 1988 there were five cruiser models between 675 cc and 825 cc and only 24 that were larger. in 2008 there are seven bikes in the smaller category and 92 larger than 825 cc. But don't be fooled-the last of the 750s are only small on the scale. representing the traditional side of the cruiser aesthetic is the Honda shadow Aero. similar in appearance to a Harley-Davidson softail Deluxe, the shadow boldly proclaims its status as a classic cruiser, starting with the ubiquitous V-twin engine, big swoopy fenders, wire-spoke wheels and tank-top instrument cluster, and finishing with a separate pillion pad, stacked twin exhausts (new for 2008) and a generous helping of chrome. the Aero even has its own heritage stretching back through more than 20 years of shadow models, starting with the original '83 shadow Vt750c. And it's still one of Honda's best-selling streetbikes.

I had a disturbing experience a few sundays back. i was attending a monthly meeting of my Blue Knights chapter, and my riding buddy, a retired motor officer, suggested our group start offering motorcycling skills training. He opined that staying alive on a bike in the metropolitan washington, D.c., area is no small task. roads clogged with distracted soccer moms and self-declared ViPs who were due at cosmically important meetings 15 minutes ago make every ride a potentially life-ending experience, not to mention roads strewn with tractor-trailer tire carcasses and construction debris.

Got a bike you'd like to flaunt? send prints or high-resolution digital files (300 dpi, please) of your cruiser plus info to motorcycle cruiser, 6420 wilshire Blvd., los Angeles, cA 90048 or evan.kay@primedia.com.

Motorcycle Cruiser is usually champing at the bit to test the latest and greatest from the Big Guys-but what excited us this time was the opportunity to test a "new" entry-level motorcycle, since that class remains virtually stagnant year after year.

Mankind has grown almost 4 inches in height in the last couple of centuries, but that hasn't stopped dealerships from finding ways to lower popular motorcycles. Case in point is Victory's Vegas, a prime candidate for a lowering kit-although if the wiring harness isn't rerouted, the rear tire might bottom and do the harness grievous harm.

According to Victory, its Kingpin is the company's "rider's motorcycle." The Kingpin has been the closest thing to a standard, versatile motorcycle in Victory's lineup for some time, devoid of certain styling excesses that might look kewl, but can limit a bike's usefulness, such as ultraphat, 250-section rear tires. In short, the Kingpin has been the first choice for riders looking for a mount on which to spend some quality time reeling off miles and chasing sunsets.

As we write this the Tokyo motor show has been history for months, and the eicmA show in milan closed awhile back, too. But the international motorcycle show is in the thick of its u.s. run, so we culled the highlights of them all here.

Say you're an oem with a perennially best-selling model, and it becomes increasingly apparent to you that its owners are heavily modifying the bike-most often with a windshield, bags and backrest. if you had any sort of business acumen your reaction to this situation would be to rig the base model with the aforementioned accessories and squeeze it into the lineup-stat. well, it took three years, but that's exactly what Honda's done with the new Vtx1300t tourer.

It's just been announced that world-famous bad boy builder Jesse James'latest creation, a shimmering aluminum-shod motorcycle and sidecar combo (made for client Airstream - yes, the trailer people), will make its debut at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours event on May 3rd.

Just when we thinking it might be time for the MoCo to rejigger the ol brand statement and embrace some more, ah, forward-looking designs, their latest 2008 release hits the tarmac. And judging by appearances, it seems our assessment was a bit premature. At first blush, the Softail Crossbones would have anyone believing Harley's slipped back into default mode. You know, nipping and tucking an existing model, adding new graphics, rebadging the bodywork and BAM! there you have it - a new custom.

April 03, 2008
Proud owner of a new Honda v-twin? Best check the year of the model.Honda has just issued a recall of 2006 and 2007 VT600s and 2007 to 2008 VT750 and VTX1300 motorcycles because of a fire hazard in the fuel delivery system - an improperly manufactured fuel control valve diaphragm that could leak and potentially cause a fire.

The Tokyo Motor show and the EICMA hoedown in Milan have been history for a while now. Still, the International Motorcycle Show is in the thick of running its U.S. circuit, so let's check out the highlights...

We welcome your comments and criticisms. Send them to Motorcycle Cruiser, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515, or cruiser@primedia.com. All materials sent to the editors will become the property of Motorcycle Cruiser magazine and cannot be returned.

With the October sun hinting at a few more good weeks of cruising in most parts of the country, some might think it a bit premature to sprinkle around phrases like "end of the season" and "2008 model year." But those folks are in the minority, and most of you probably realize (at least subconsciously) that for all intents and purposes, 2007 is over and done with for the OEMs (and the mag you're holding). If the steady rollout of '08 bike intros in the past few months hasn't yet clued you in, the slated industry showcases and new product releases in the next two months are bound to prick up your ears.

Got a bike you'd like to flaunt? Send prints or high-resolution digital files (300 dpi, please) of you and/or your cruiser to Motorcycle Cruiser, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 or evan.kay@primedia.com.

(from August 2007 Motorcycle Cruiser)

On February 27, 2008, Honda of America Manufacturing announced that motorcycle production at the Marysville Motorcycle plant will be transferred to a newly expanded, state of the art factory in Kumamoto Japan in 2009. This realignment of Honda's motorcycle production includes the transfer of motorcycle production from Honda Motor Company's first motorcycle plant in Hamamatsu Japan.

On February 27, 2008, Honda of America Manufacturing announced that motorcycle production at the Marysville Motorcycle plant will be transferred to a newly expanded, state of the art factory in Kumamoto Japan in 2009. This realignment of Honda's motorcycle production includes the transfer of motorcycle production from Honda Motor Company's first motorcycle plant in Hamamatsu Japan.

If you've seen our latest issue (December 2007) then you already know the official word - Triumph has a new touring bike for 2008, and we managed to nab the world exclusive.

It's not like we didn't see this bike coming, but we have to wonder if Victory Motorcycles' hype machine is ready to blow a gasket already. After years of surreptitious announcements, preliminary sketches, sneak previews and soft launches, the New American Motorcycle Company has finally let us lay hands (and butts) on its newest "way out" design, the Vision touring motorcycle. And it's like nothing we've ridden in a very long time.