TwoWheelLife.com Stickers!

Can you get any more O.G. than black and chrome?

Represent your TwoWheelLife by slapping 2 of these badboys on your ride(s) for $1.50 (incl. shipping). These are 8.5" X 1.38" and are black with CHROME lettering. Sick, huh?

Send payment via PayPal to orders@smhooligans.com

Flatland Session in Castro Valley - Come Join Us!

Flatland ain't dead!

This Sunday, July 6th, Craig "Mutt" Walters, O.S.G. (Old School George) and I attempted to set up a little rider get together to roll and scuff some flatland. We plan on doing this every 1st Sunday of every month with hopes of re-kindling the Bay Area, Ca. flatland scene. If you're curious about trying it or if you're already a flatland rider, come out and ride with us! We go from 3:00pm in the afternoon 'til sundown.

The location is called the "BBT" or the "Big Black Top". It's a real nice, quiet area with ZERO hassle. It's a little hot, so bring lot's of water and sunblock. You can get more info on the BBT HERE. Here's just a few pics I was able to pop off yesterday.

Seller Beware! Protect yourself when selling your motorcycle...

Disclaimer: I am NOT a lawyer, nor do I pretend to be one. The following article is a practice I've developed when selling a used motorcycle (or anything of high value) based on experience. Before entering any contract, you should seek legal counsel by a professional and licensed individual. This article is for demonstration/narrative purposes only and is not intended to be used as legal advice. I hereby release myself from any liability in any non-personal civil disputes.

There are many websites that give advice when buying a used motorcycle, but I've found very few that have discussed the issues of safety when selling your motorcycle. In the world of the internet and sites like Craigslist and eBay, it is easier than ever to buy and sell used merchandise in a worldwide market. As great and useful this is, it also opens ourselves up to dealing with a broader range of strangers: some decent folks, and some not-so-decent folks.

I've bought and sold many used motorcycles. Most, with the exception of ONE experience (I was the seller), have been positive. From the one negative experience I've had, where personal threats, harassment, the police, and eventually court, was involved, I've learned a lot and have taken precautionary steps when selling items on the internet. I once believed that most people are inherently good... but as I've come to realize, you may have a potentially annoying, and possibly dangerous situation on your hands when selling a high ticket item. Again, this is the way I personally handle my private motorcycle sales, adopted after my last negative episode.

1. Initial contact: I do not post or give out my phone number unless the interested party is ready to buy. In most cases, I avoid giving my phone number altogether. Your phone number, especially a land line, can be reversed-searched and your personal information can be brought up. I prefer to communicate only through e-mail, and if a phone number is absolutely necessary I give my cell phone number which is not as easily reversed-searched.

2. Meeting: I never let a person come to my home unless it is absolutely necessary or that I feel comfortable with the particular individual. When you invite somebody to your home, they may be "casing" your house for valuables, posing as a potential buyer. It gets worse when you have "tire-kickers" or multiple people coming over. I try to meet the potential buyer during the day in a heavy traffic area, such as a shopping plaza. That way, a mugger or scammer will have less of a chance to take advantage of you. There have been incidents where sellers have been greeted by a "buyer" who really ends up robbing them. Also, have a friend or relative accompany you not only for safety, but as an eye witness of the sale in the event there is a dispute that ends up in court.

3. Bill of Sale: In my opinion, if all is safe and good with your buyer, this is the most important part of the sale. I feel it is important to have a solid Bill of Sale that will hold up in a courtroom if any civil dispute ever were to occur. A "Bike is Sold As Is" scratched across a napkin just won't cut it. This is the Bill of Sale I use:

* * * * * * * *
Motorcycle Bill of Sale

1. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE:

1.1 THE SELLER:

Name(s): ___________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

___________________________________

1.2 THE BUYER:

Name(s): ___________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

___________________________________

The parties choose the above stated addresses as their physical addresses at which legal proceedings may be instituted.

2. THE OBJECT OF THE SALE IS:

2.1 Type of Motorcycle:

2.2 Make and Color:

2.3 Model:

2.4 Year:

2.5 Registration Number:

2.6 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):

2.7 Odometer Reading:

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

3. OWNERSHIP:

3.1 The Seller guarantees that he/she is the true and lawful owner of the above-described motorcycle and that it is free of all encumbrances and any and all legal claims.

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

4. WARRANTY:

4.1 The Seller warrants that at the date of signature of this agreement there are no licensing fees or fines or other penalties outstanding against the registration of the motorcycle sold in terms of this agreement.

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

5. NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES:

5.1 The Seller or his/her agent gives no warranty or guarantee other than those specified in 3.1 and 4.1

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

6. DISCLAIMER:

6.1 The motorcycle is sold "As-Is" and the seller shall not be liable for any defects, patent, latent or otherwise.

6.2 The Buyer admits having inspected the motorcycle to his/her satisfaction and that no guarantees or warranties of any nature were expressed or implied by the Seller or his/her agent regarding its condition or quality.

6.3 The Seller has disclosed the mechanical and cosmetic condition of this motorcycle and has discussed parts and/or work done to this motorcycle while in his/her possession to the best of his/her knowledge.

6.4 The Seller does not guarantee the nature of mechanical work nor the parts bought and installed while this motorcycle was in his/her possession.

6.5 The Seller will not provide any full or partial refunds, exchanges, credit(s) or buy-backs of the motorcycle in part or in whole after this sale has occurred. The sale of this motorcycle is FINAL. The Buyer accepts full responsibility of the motorcycle and its mechanical condition after the sale.

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

7. LEGAL AGE:

7.1 The Buyer is of legal age and legally competent to enter into this agreement.

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

8. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AND COSTS:

8.1 The Parties agree to sign all documents necessary to transfer ownership of the motorcycle from the Seller onto the name of the Buyer within 7 (SEVEN) days of signing this agreement of sale.

8.2 The Buyer shall be liable for all costs relating to the registration of the motorcycle into his/her name and all costs relating to the Roadworthy Certificate.

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

9. PURCHASE PRICE:

9.1 The Purchase price is the sum of ______________________

9.2 The Purchase price is to be paid in full by bank guaranteed check or in a manner as agreed by both parties (specify):

9.3 Ownership of the motorcycle will only pass onto the Buyer once the bank honors the check or other legal instrument of payment.

9.4 The motorcycle will only be delivered to the Buyer once payment has been received in full as per 9.3

SELLER’S INITIALS ______ BUYER’S INITIALS ______

10. POSSESSION AND TRANSFER OF RISK:

10.1 The Risk passes to the Buyer once the Buyer or his/her agent receives the keys to the motorcycle or takes possession of the motorcycle.

Signed at ______________________on this ______day of _________________20____

SELLER: _______________________________________________

BUYER: ________________________________________________

* * * * * * * *

In my personal opinion, this Bill of Sale is as complete as possible and protects me, the seller, in every possible scenario. Print two copies of this and have both copies initialled and signed by you and the buyer in blue or black ink.

4. Exchange of Money: Except CASH only. I know this seems obvious, but there are still those out there accepting other forms of payment, and that can bite you back in a bad way. As uncomfortable as it may seem, have the buyer count the money and then re-count it yourself once it exchanges hands. Immediately give the buyer the keys and/or title once the money count is good. This closes the deal.

5. Post Sale: Mail the DMV Release of Liability as soon as possible; best if mailed that same day. In the event the motorcycle is used in an illegal manner or is involved in an accident, this will keep you safe. Don't forget to make a copy of the Release of Liability and keep it with your copy of the Bill of Sale. Keep your copies in a safe place and make sure you have access to them in the event a dispute occurs.

6. If a Dispute Occurs: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Every e-mail, phone call, mailing, communication, police report(s), etc. either directly or indirectly with date and time if possible. Keep everything neat and organized and have it ready at all times.

As I've stated before, all of my motorcycle sales and purchases have been positive except ONE. And that one really made life stink for a bit there. Remember, you are dealing with strangers, and you don't really know the mental state or temper of these strangers you are dealing with. Most of the time, buyers are decent people and understand the nature of a personal, used item sale. But sometimes we encounter a complete weirdo who may think you have a return policy, and you don't - and this is why you must protect yourself as a seller.

Be safe, sell safe, and protect yourself. You really never know who you are dealing with.

The BYKE Project - BMXISGIVINGBACK

*Every once in awhile, something very, very selfless and good comes out of the two-wheel community. Browsing www.global-flat.com, I followed the link to The BYKE Project and was immediately moved. Of course, I ordered a couple t-shirts to show support and asked Hector, the man in charge, if I can direct some of you motorcycling BMX'ing types over to his site through here. PLEASE make a donation or buy some swag. I think this is a very worthy cause and worth every effort. -Dion

The BYKE Project is an outreach effort by Dunamis Media to help repair the bicycles of young kids and teenagers who other wise wouldn’t be able to afford the repairs. As a company that is involved and connected with the BMX industry, we understand how important it is for young people to have bicycles, skateboards, or any other recreational “toys” that actually work and can be ridden. This project hopes to put smiles on young people’s faces as they see their broken “toys” being brought back to life.Most kids don’t know how to work on their own bikes and the ones in families with very little money can’t afford even the most minor repairs. There is no reason why a kid should have to be without a bike or ride one that is a “piece of junk”. It’s rare that you ever see a bike shop going into these neighborhoods to do such charity, and even if they had such an offer taking place at their shop location, how would the kids get there? On their bikes? This is why the BYKE project is so important. We take the bike shop right to them and it costs them nothing. This project helps young people enjoy some of the most basic activities involved with growing up.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Once a neighborhood in town is selected, Dunamis works with a local business, church, or community center in promoting a FREE bicycle repair date. On that date, a tent and repair station is set up and we begin repairing bicycles immediately. These days are usually coupled with lots of music, prizes, and sometimes food, making the whole day a large festive event. Each project date will usually fall on a Saturday or Sunday, devoting the whole day or a few hours to the project. Promotion for the event takes place at least one or two weeks before the project date, ensuring the largest turn-out possible.

WHAT ELSE IS INVOLVED? Most of the time, these events will be coupled with an outdoor concert involving local Houston rappers and bands that will aid in delivering a very positive, anti-drug / anti-violence message. The free bicycle repair provides the opportunity to share a greater message, leaving these young people with more than just a revitalized bicycle,but with a message of hope and encouragement.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? This project operates solely out of “the pocket” of Dunamis Media. There are no outside sources that help fund the project, but is something that we would love to take place and we’re constantly searching for partners for the project. We sometimes receive one time gifts from small businesses or individuals who believe in the project. In order for the project provide all of these services for free, it will require assistance from other outside sources that can help alleviate some of the many costs involved. Right now the project is small, but in the future we would like to operate in more than one city and state. This will require more man power, large vehicles and more finances. We’re thinking BIG!

0.1 - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE / DONATIONS: All monetary donations to the project will go towards costs for supplies, tools, equipment, food, permits, music groups, and other necessary items. Any donations made at the moment should be made to: The Byke Project

0.2 - PARTS DONATIONS: We are in constant need of new and used parts and supplies (tires, chains, tubes, pedals, seats, etc) We are also in need of good working bicycles that need very little repair that can be “fixed up” and given away to young people who have no bicycle.

0.3 - TIME: As this project continues to grow, we will always be in need of faithful volunteers who can help organize these events, work the events, and even serve as bicycle mechanics.

0.4 - SPONSORSHIP: Companies or small businesses that wish to play a more consistent role with this project can serve as sponsors through financial and product donations. Each company sponsor will receive recognition at each event via banners product placement, verbal announcements through P.A., brochures and through this website.To offer assistance in any one of these forms, you can contact us by phone or email. You can also make an online donation through Mastercard, Visa, or Paypal.

Visit: www.bykeproject.com

SM Friends Across the World

SuperMoto has been largely influenced by the Europeans since we Americans dropped the ball back in the 80's. Recently, however, we've really picked up the slack and now have put SuperMoto back into the scene, painted red, white and blue. Fortunately, with the internet, other places in the world have access to our wonderful sport, and we see more and more riders pop up in the most unsuspecting places.

I've had the wonderful opportunity to witness a grassroots enthusiasm emerge for SM in a place that was one of the poorest countries in the world 30 years ago - Indonesia. Still, nowhere near the wealth we have here in the States, Indonesian SuperMoto riders such as Adam Sutawijaya and friends have a "rung what ya' brung" attitude with their wild conversions using dirtbike and scooter platforms.

In our commodity-based American culture, we are so quick to constantly upgrade our bikes by tossing the old and bring in the new. But, there was a time in our motoring history when hot rodders and chopper builders took mom and dad's hand-me-downs or junkyard rust-buckets and turned them into moving, breathing, functional works of art.

Indonesian riders remind me of those past American builders. They don't have the luxury to buy off-the-shelf, race-ready bikes, so they build their own. And, just like our historical hot rod and chopper builders, a piece of their soul goes into each and every one of their bikes.

Check out what's going on with our Indonesian friends at www.supermotoindonesia.com

Can anybody top the DRZ-400SM?

"Dude... the DRZ is a pig. Go with a KTM/Aprilia/Husky..."

SuperMoto, in general, has blown up... like BMX did back in the late 90's with the X-games (seems the X-games does a lot for resurging, old sports). With this increase of interest comes new ridership or current riders getting in on the action. If the demand is high, manufacturers will act accordingly, and so in the last few years, we've seen a few players from the big four (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki) and the Euro companies (Husqvarna, KTM, Aprilia, Ducati) set out to create a street friendly SuperMoto.

In the years I've been involved with SuperMoto, I've just about owned every type: conversion, Euro racer, dual-sport (sportsman), and now, a factory stocker - the 2007 Suzuki DRZ-400SM. My DRZ purchase was influenced by my sweety peety... as she was fed up with watching me wrench more than ride. So as I sold off all my "mechanics specials" I went down to the dealership and bought it (along with a CRF250X - write up on that, soon to come!).

Now, admittedly, I was a little disappointed with the stock power. I mean, it's enough to get you around and loft a front wheel into the air every once in while, but for the demand I expect out of my motorcycles, I went with some minor modifications to get some "oomph" and still keep it from becoming a "mechanics special". Very simply, my DRZ is bone stock with the exception of a Stage II jet kit, a 3 X 3 air box mod, a drop in one tooth on the countershaft sprocket and a few suspension adjustments. That's it. Done. Let's go ride.

For outright hooliganism, the DRZ is just about the best bang for your buck. It wheelies, stoppies, burns, climbs stairs and handles any type of urban trials riding you may dish out. The weight is very unnoticable even dressed in lights, mirrors and street controls. It slides nice and the clutch is smooth and responsive.

People seem to complain and swap out the stock Dunlop SM tires immediately, but I actually like them since they have "breakloose" point: even as they lose traction they don't feel like you are going to slide out of control. For those of us that ride dirt, this is a nice feature. However, if you like to be ultimately stuck to the ground, I would recommend Continental SM tires or something similar. With the style of riding I do, I've completely thrashed my rear Dunlop in 1,000 mi. and I will be switching to the Conti's simply because of the price difference. If the Dunlops didn't cost a small fortune, I'd probably stay with them.

If you plan on riding on the freeway, I would suggest swapping out your gearing. Stock, the DRZ can do a steady 70MPH, but you are not only ringing the little single cylinder wonder machine, but you are being passed by the nutcases that fill our streets. With my gearing, I DO NOT go on the freeway unless it's for a short distance.

Now, the argument always comes into effect when judging between a Euro Hot Rod and the simple DRZ. Euro Hot Rods and StyleMotos are great. They handle great and have GOBS of power (as Euro bikes are known for). However, with that power comes great responsibility: in the form of high maintenance. When I owned my Husqvarna, it was constant oil changes and adjustments. They are finicky motors, and dealerships are few and far between, unlike Suzuki dealerships. Like anything Euro, parts are expensive, and the aftermarket is limited. Getting a Euro Hot Rod is fine... but just expect the maintenance and care. If you can handle all that AND the high sticker price for the bike itself, then looking into a Euro just might be for you.

The DRZ requires less frequent oil changes, gas and a rider. When I was going over the maintenance schedule, I had to look for other things in the book to be sure I wasn't mistaken. But sure enough, the DRZ is a very user-friendly bike. The trade off is a slightly less powerful bike, but in return you get a bike that you ride into the ground and it just keeps going and going and going.

The other three of the big four recently have attempted to copy Suzuki's success with a street legal SuperMoto, and we have yet to determine how good they really are; I've heard mixed things. What makes the DRZ so good is its platform - the modern'ish water cooled dual sport. In comparison, Honda's only street legal dual sport is the big pig called a XR650L (I had one some years ago). Yamaha plugged up a WR to meet street legal specs and created a SuperMoto, as well. We are still waiting on Kawasaki, but the only platforms they have to work with are the KLR650 (I had one) and the KLX300, which is not street legal in California and other states. In the meantime, the aftermarket is booming and supporting the almighty DRZ400-SM.

Some words of caution regarding the aftermarket and tinkerers out there. The DRZ-400SM will always JUST BE a DRZ-400SM. That means, don't waste your time with big bore kits, exhaust, weight saving, etc. Buy or own a DRZ with the intent to ride it and not hassle with it. It's a great bike with great parts and there's no need to dump a bunch of money into something that will take a lot of work to keep up with the Euro's. I know this from experience. If you want to get fast, work on your skills instead of the bike. Maybe some minor mods to the DRZ, and stop right there and have fun.

In conclusion, I would recommend the DRZ-400SM to just about anybody wanting the hooliganism factor in their life without a lot of hassle and without spending their life savings. Tweak it a little here and there and just ride and maintain it for miles and miles and hour and hours of good riding.

Going Flat

Well, I'm reverting back to my original love - FLATLAND BMX. Yeah, I'm old, kinda too big to be riding a 20" bike, and really shouldn't be getting involved in yet another recreational activity, but hey... why not? This is the bike I ordered after finding out the DK Signal is on serious back-order - The KHE Stylus. It's been 17 yrs. since I rode BMX, so there's definetely going to be a learning curve. If you ride flatland (or BMX, or street, or hooligan) please comment and let's organize a jam! Unfortunately, I can't ride street on this poor flatland bike, so it just really, really, sucks that I'll have to use the proceeds from my eBay sales to buy a street bike. Poor me!