According to the police, Lorenza Bernasconi-Galli from Switzerland was travelling on a 2007 Honda BTM (a 3-wheeled motorcycle) west on the Massachusetts Turnpike when she lost control over the trike. She reportedly drifted into the breakdown lane hitting the guard rail.

Speed and inertia send the motorcycle going 188 feet west before the rider was ejected. Bernasconi-Galli was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was travelling with two other bikers who were not injured.

While the crash remains under further investigation, we offer our sympathies and condolences to the family of Lorenza Bernasconi-Galli.

News Sources: Boston Herald, Boston Globe,  iBerkshires.com.

The latest updates of his progress can be found on his website:

- June 20, 8:18 pm  Carlos has reached the 1st check point and the next check in is 904 miles away at another HD Dealership! 

- June 21, 10:55pm Carlos has reached the 2nd check point. He has now put on 1,576 miles. Next check point 2,753 miles (they are taking the long way) Flaming George Harley Davidson in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

You can also read his blog here and follow Carlos on the map here.

The Union Leader recently reported the motorcycle/bicycle collision between a city police officer on bicycle patrol and a Manchester motorcyclist in Laconia, NH, last Thursday. The police officer was struck by a drunk motorcyclist on Lakeside Avenue who was afterwards charged with DWI.

According to the authorities, officer Kathleen Yale, 56, suffered multiple minor injuries in the collision.

The motorcyclist, Zachary Morton, 27, who was driving a 2008 Triumph, was not injured.

There are traps and hazards on every mile, whether it is a city street, interstate highway, or a picturesque country road. And since motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to crashes, inattentiveness can cost you a serious injury, and even death.

Nature can pounce on you in unexpected ways, so it’s good to keep a few things in mind before going on a ride.

- Expect to see wild life on the road.

When you’re riding country roads, especially in New England, be prepared to see some beautiful beast of nature trying to cross lanes seemingly totally oblivious of oncoming traffic. Remember, more than one life can be wasted in a moment of mutual inattentiveness.

Wildlife, especially deer, can cause major car and motorcycle crashes. While smaller animals are easier to avoid, and in the worst-case scenario, easier to run over, deer pose a greater hazard to the lives of unwary motorcyclists and motorists.

- Know your wildlife.

It never hurts to know a little more about nature, but in this case, it’s good to focus on a few facts about deer behavior at different times of day and seasons.

Demure and darling, these gorgeous animals are cautious by nature, yet have been known to suddenly leap on the roads and startle drivers and bikers. Since they like to feed on tree leaves, they can often be seen in forested areas or river beds all across New England. Deer also like fresh grass, so they can even come up to the side of the road to munch on lush roadside grass (kept thick and green due to regular mowing by the highway department).  

Knowing their feeding habits, you shouldn’t be surprised to see deer grazing along the shoulder of the road, especially in shady areas.

Usually, during the daytime, if a deer is feeding it will have its head down - at a casual glance it can easily be mistaken for a log, or a mossy boulder. However, as they are cautious of predators, they prefer to feed at dusk or dawn, unlike their close relatives – the elk, moose and the antelope, who can be seen feeding in plain view at broad daylight.

This means that deer strikes are more likely to occur when there is limited visibility. So, keep your eyes peeled at before sunrise or after sunset.

Another thing to keep in mind is that deer doesn’t reflect much light, except with its eyes, which makes it difficult to tell if the brilliant white spots reflected from your headlight are on a post or on a deer. One way to tell the difference is to see if the reflected light is steady. Deer blinks, road posts do not. So, chances are, if you see a reflected light winking at you, it’s coming from a deer that’s facing you.

It’s also helpful to know that deer are social creatures, so if you see one, chances are there are at least two more nearby. Deer can often move in groups of 3 – these can be does with twins, who stay with their mom for over a year. They can even stay with her while she is busy raising the new set of fawns .

Also, depending on the season, deer can also move in larger groups. They seek higher elevations in the spring, and move down to lower lands in the fall. Often times, their migration routes cross with highways and smaller roads. In areas where that occurs you’ll see Deer Migration signs, which takes me to the next point:

- Respect signs with animals on the road.

For example, Deer Crossing signs were put up there for a reason. If a part of the road has a consistently higher number of deer –related collisions, the highway department will put up a sign to warn drivers and bikers of the danger.

When you see these signs, slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. Reducing the speed would allow you to have time to react. The rest is up to the deer.

Note: If you think you’ll be slowing down the traffic behind you, let them pass first. There is no point in rushing like mad through the night when you are in deer country just because you’re annoyed with tailgaters.

- When you spot a deer, hit the brakes.

Deer react to proximity. Even if your motorcycle is loud, and the deer clearly sees you, you can never count on the deer to leap away from your approaching motorcycle. A deer feeding may simply pop their head up to see what’s going on, and if it judges that you’re not close enough, it can continue feeding without much distress – before it’s too late.

Yes, deer can leap unexpectedly. When you come up to 60 feet from the deer, it can jump in a pretty startling way. Keep in mind: the deer’s first leap is in whatever direction it is facing – even towards you. They first go straight ahead, then jump away in a zigzag pattern.

So – don’t go too fast and be prepared to brake.

Swerving doesn’t help much when you are trying to avoid deer on the road – remember the unpredictable retreating pattern, and the possibility of more than one deer present. Your best shot is to simply brake.

Deer collisions can cause great damage to any vehicle, especially motorcycles. While drivers may walk away from such an accident uninjured, motorcyclists are much more in danger of sustaining serious injuries, and even losing their lives.

The most recent motorcycle/deer crash in New England took away the life of a 20-year-old motorcyclist from Merrimack, NH. The crash occurred in the early morning hours – - – when deer like to feed by the side of the road.

A motorcycle accident that happened on May 16th in Milford, MA, could have easily had a fatal outcome if not for the wisdom of one luckly motorcycle rider. The 55-year-old George Claborn of Amherst hit the road that Saturday properly attired and protected, and even though he had a serious motorcycle crash, he survived. 

Yes, he was injured, as it is almost invitable in any type of motorcycle accident, but he survived.

The crash occurred between his motorcycle, Kawasaki Ninja, and a Jeep Cherokee, trapping Claborn under the Jeep. He suffered broken bones and other injures, but after treatment at the UMass Medical Center in Worcester, his condition is improving.

His wife attributes his survival to wearing a proper safety equipment, and we agree. Besides installing loud pipes on motorcycles to boost the noise level so motorists can hear them, in the event of collision, our safest bet is to protect our heads with proper helmets. As we age our brain shrinks, but our skull size remains the same, and consequently the brain has more wiggle room inside the skull.

When a crash occurs, one the of the main concerns is a closed head injury – meaning, the skull is not broken, but the victim still sufferes a head injury due to violent acceleration of the head which causes the brain to move around inside the skull. When the head suffers impact from the front, the brain moves forward, squeezing the tissue near the spot of the impact, and at the same time stretches the tissue on the opposite side of the head. Then the brain rebounds in the opposite direction, doing the same thing – squeezing tissue on one side and stretching the tisue on the opposite end. Depending on the impact, blood vessels that link the brain to the inside of the skull can stretch and break, causing bleeding, which is extremely dangerous.

Unfortunately, the closed head injury is the most common type of motorcycle head injury. So, wearing a helmet is crucial to protecting the brain, and preventing serious head trauma, as well as damages to the brain. Some helmets, like the ones with face shield and chinbar, also protect the face from external injury.

Claborn had his on when the crash occurred, so, even under a Jeep, his head didn’t suffer a serious trauma. Claborn was also wearing boots and a full leather gear, which also played a significant part in his protection.

We are happy for him, and hope that his example will serve as a great lesson for those who forget or refuse to wear proper safety equipment.

Motorcyclists are vulnerable on the road and must do everything to protect themselves. Who do you think is more likely to get injured in a car/motorcycle collision? Just think, in this crash the Jeep Cherokee driver didn’t get injured, so if Claborn forgot to put his helmet on that day, chances are he would have been a fatality.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!!! It helped save George’s life.

We hope George Claborn will have a speedy recovery and we wish him all the best!!!

The Hoka Hey Challenge, starting on June 20th, is one of the toughest rider competitions in the world. The race begins in Key West, Florida, where the riders will get a map of the next 1,000 miles and the next check point (somewhere in Mississippi) , where they will be given a map to the next 1,000 miles and so on, until the final stop location on Kenai Peninsula, Alaska is eventually revealed.

Carlos, who is a Marine Veteran of the Gulf War and Commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment #1302, and currently working as a Lawrence Detective, is a fearless Harley rider with a passion for adventure. He said he has been preparing for the challenge for over a year.

His preparations included getting his Harley in shape, buying the right gear for the trip, keeping an eye on his diet, as well as sleeping on the floor for over a month to prepare his back for the rough nights ahead. Hoka Hey challengers face a whole range of rules such as only sleeping outdoors, no use of GPS devices, getting maps only 1,000 miles at a time, having no support teams on hand, and so on.

Carlos will have to bring all the necessary equipment for the journey with him. Since they will go through 33 national parks and 62 mountain ranges, he has prepared different camping items for the different outdoor environments he’ll have to stay in, ranging from insect repellants to bear fences and sprays.

Carlos will have to rely on his Harley more than ever. In case the motorcycle breaks down, the responsibility of fixing it falls only on him.

The goal is to ride the 7,000 miles in 10 days without exceeding the speed limit.

We will follow Carlos through a special GPS locator that will be attached to his motorcycle. He also promised to take lots of photos of all the amazing places he is going to pass through.

“My reasons for taking this challenge are many,” Carlos wrote on his website, “I want to reflect on my life and the goals that I have achieved, not for bragging rights but for the pride and hard work that I have put forth for the experiences that I have.”

He is proud to represent the Officers and Veterans of the City of Lawrence.

The 1st place prize is $500K, which will be given in Sturgis on Aug 9 – 15. The 2nd place gets nothing. If he wins, Carlos says “the money will go for my daughter’s college education.”

After this challenge, Carlos will go on another “personal challenge” from Barrow, the northernmost point in Alaska to Tijuana, Mexico, then drop by in Sturgis, just in time for the rally, where the $500K prize will be presented to the Hoka Hey Challenge winner.

We will keep our fingers crossed for Carlos!!

The Kiley Law Group, LLC  is a proud sponsor of Carlos Vieira’s take on the Hoka Hey Challenge.

New bikers are great for the community but let’s be honest, new bikers can be annoying. Bikers with little riding skill and who lack of knowledge about riding etiquette can not only be a pain to deal with but can also be dangerous. Although most new riders who have completed motorcycle safety courses in their states have basic skills, the classes can’t possibly cover everything.

I remember when I first started riding, there were lots of things I didn’t know and fortunately, I met a few bikers who quickly straightened me out.

Instead of being annoyed, school the new biker on the dos and don’ts of biker life:

• Gear: Most rookie bikers don’t know how to avoid looking like a RUB when first riding their bikes. I had a cool leather shirt that I used to wear when I first started riding and my new biker buddies teased me to no end. If you see a rookie looking RUBish, make sure to give them a hard time and then give them some good advice.

• Parking: When going to biker bars and motorcycle events, parking can be a tricky thing. Often there is not much room and a mistake can knock over several motorcycles at once. If you see a rookie struggling to park, help them out and give them some tips.

• Wearing Patches: New bikers will sometimes think it’s cool to come up with their own ‘club’ and ride around with club markings like the movie Wild Hogs. This is a definite no no. If you see a biker wearing motorcycle club gear, make sure to tell them why it’s a bad idea.

Remember, bikers are all part of the same creed. Giving a little help is a good thing and makes the entire biker community better.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in the Boston or Andover area, contact personal injury lawyer and avid biker Tom Kiley! Or order a FREE copy of Tom Kiley’s motorcycle accident guide, Do Loud Pipes Save Lives.

And Harley is really trying. All you have to do is watch one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) major events and you will see Harley logos everywhere. These testosterone filled events are perfect for Harley marketing since they are filled with affluent men and women between 25-40 years old. It’s also great to be attached to one the world’s fast growing sports, mixed martial arts.

Too bad that banners at a beat-down event are not nearly enough.

If Harley is going to grew and prosper in this century, they are going to have to get their swagger back.

• Back to Basics: Harley gained wide appeal after World War II as the motorcycle of rebel culture. Harley needs to find ways to get their bikes associated with rebel culture.
• Hip Hop Culture: Hip Hop is the greatest marketing tool in the world. When a rapper says it, wears it, or drinks it, people buy. Companies like Mitchell & Ness (authentic sports jersey retailer) exploded once a rapper wore one of their jerseys in a video. Harley needs to do the same.
• College Campuses: Many of tomorrow’s motorcycle buyers are on college campuses across the country. Harley can hedge its future by getting tomorrow’s professionals excited about their motorcycles today.
• Guerilla Marketing: Harley should have street teams that literally ‘invade’ an area to show off their newest machines. These tactics really work and develop a brand identity that is consistent with Harley Davidson’s renegade legacy.
• Women: Hot women sell. Developing a street team of gorgeous female bikers for specialized events will surely get attention and pique interest in younger buyers and future female bikers.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

During the late 1940s through the 1970s, Harley attracted buyers in their mid twenties to mid 40s. This was their primary demographic because these were the people who were most familiar with motorcycles. Motorcycles were used heavily in the WW II in the European campaign and became part of the post war American culture that spawned the modern motorcycle lifestyle.

So, what happened? Why is Harley now considered the old man’s motorcycle?

Looking at Harley’s most recent age studies, the median age of Harley buyers in around 47 years old.  In the 1940s, 47 would be the age of the parents of the young men returning home from World War II.

Here are a few reasons why Harley’s has not been able to keep its edge over the competition to capture younger buyers.

• Cost: As Harley matured into a status symbol and away from a rebel symbol, Harleys became more appealing to older buyers trying to make a statement to their friends and neighbors. As a premium vehicle among motorcycles, Harley limited production of most of its models so that the price for their motorcycles would be at a higher level.
• Speed: With the growth of motorcycle racing in the late 1940s forward, younger bikers wanted bikes that could go faster. As a result, the café racing bike became increasingly popular among younger bikers.
• Choice: Increasing numbers of motorcycle manufactures joined the industry creating a wide array of bikes. From the 1960s forward, the US motorcycle market was flooded with motorcycles from Honda and other Japanese manufacturers.
• Stigma: Harley riding motorcycle gangs arose after WWII giving rise to outlaw motorcycle gangs who for a long time associated Harley Davidson with wild, lewd, and socially unacceptable behavior. This pushed Harley sales away from younger buyers between the 1950s and the 1970s.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

In the original, 4 Harley riding friends all suffering from various stages of mid-life crises decide to get their edge back by going on a cross-country motorcycle trip like real bikers. Almost from the moment they leave their lives, trouble and comedy quickly ensues. The foursome got the name “Wild Hogs’ from a patch one of their wives stitched together for their motorcycle jackets giving them the appearance of a ‘gang.’

The sequel was slated to follow the romantic storyline established in the original film of Dudley (played by William H. Macy), the techie nerd of the Wild Hogs. He and his romantic interest, Maggie (played by Marisa Tomei), plan to get married, and the Wild Hogs were going to ride again as a bachelor party. The title of the second movie would have been Wild Hogs 2: Bachelor Ride.

Sure it sounds silly but silliness was part of the charm of the first film.

Moviegoers seemed to like the silliness too. While critics roasted the Wild Hogs as a lame comedy, the film grossed nearly $40 million on its opening weekend, ranked #1 in box office sales its opening weekend, grossed approximately $168 million domestically, and $252 million worldwide.

With this type of success, it’s puzzling why Disney opted to cancel this movie. The original Wild Hogs, John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy were all on board to reprise their roles. Macy had so much fun during the first production that he bought a motorcycle and has been riding ever since.

Disney is being very quiet about the reasons why this movie has been killed off. All I know is it is a shame. Disney really needs to reconsider canceling the Wild Hogs movie. It appears that bikers and non-bikers alike were gearing up to take a second ride.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.