Hey all.  Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.  Winter set in and I got a little lazy.  We wisely (ha! ha!) used the time to gather steam for our vigorous show season schedule.  We did do a couple of indoors shows during the winter months and did OK but we much prefer the outdoor rallies and events with bikes all around.  Website sales also kept us busy over the winter as did our customer support service for those that purchased “do it yourself” light kits.  (You know, it’s a great feeling to be on the phone with someone who bought your lights, installed them themselves, and had you on the phone when they hit the switch for the first time.)

We have done two terrific outdoor rallies so far this year; Geico’s Toys for Tykes and Troops in Virginia Beach, VA and Outer Banks Bike Week in Harbinger, NC.  Both were very successful events and we plan to return to them next year.  (I hate to say it but the problems with Myrtle Beach Bike Week and the decreasing attendance there probably had something to do with the attendance at the other “beach” rallies increasing).

So, we’re on a roll now and we’ll do a better job keeping you posted.  Thanks for checking in.

There are seven bills pending in the Maryland General Assembly that directly impact motorcycle and ATV riders

The hearing dates and times vary but all hearings take place at the following location:

Maryland General Assembly

90 State Circle

Annapolis, MD  21401

PENDING MOTORCYCLE BILLS

Senate Bill 766 - Vehicle Laws - Protective Headgear Requirement for Motorcycle Riders - Exceptions

If this bill is passed, the current law will be revised to make it legal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet if you are at least 21 years old and have either had your motorcycle license for two years or successfully completed a Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved motorcycle-rider course.  The effect of this revision will then be reviewed in 3 years and adjustments made accordingly.

Hearing:  March 10th at 1:00 p.m.

Link to bill:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0766.htm

Senate Bill 784 - Vehicle Laws - Motorcycle at a Red Signal - Affirmative Defense

Some traffic lights are controlled by sensors and motorcycles may not be detected by these sensors.  This bill, if passed, will  make it legal for a motorcycle operator to use their inability to trip the sensor as a defense should they be charged with a violation for going through a red light.  Certain conditions apply such as no other vehicles were there capable of tripping the sensor; the motorcycle remained stopped for at least two minutes or one complete cycle of the traffic signal; and no pedestrians were attempting to cross the intersection.  (Note:  Just to be clear, this bill does NOT make it OK for motorcycles to go through red lights and DOES NOT guarantee that if a motorcyclist relies on this defense the ticket will be dismissed.  This bill merely provides for the possibility.)

Hearing:  March 10^th at 1:00 p.m.

Link to bill:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0784.htm

House Bill 877 - Vehicle Laws - Motorcycle at a Red Signal - Affirmative Defense

This is the house version of Senate Bill 784.  

Hearing:  March 3^rd at 1:00 p.m.

Link to bill:  http://house.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0877.htm

PENDING ATV BILLS

Senate Bill 547 – All-Terrain Vehicles - Protective Equipment

If this bill is passed, there will be a law in place requiring all ATV riders to wear a helmet and eye protection.

Hearing:  March 3^rd at 1:00 p.m.

Link to bill:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0547.htm

Senate Bill 548 - Vehicle Laws - All-Terrain Vehicles - Safety Standards and Training

If this bill is passed, anyone under the age of 18 will be required to successfully complete an ATV Safety Course and the State will determine course content and approve course instructors.  This law also prohibits anyone under the age of 6 from riding on an ATV.  In addition, it requires that individuals conform to the age recommendations stated on ATV labels and it further provides that if there is no age recommendation label on an ATV then the following restrictions apply:  1)  an individual under the age of 12 may not exceed 70cc and 2) an individual under the age of 16 may not exceed 90cc

Hearing:  March 3^rd at 1:00 p.m.

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0548.htm

House Bill 817 - Vehicle Laws - All-Terrain Vehicles - Safety Standards and Training

This is the house version of Senate Bill 548.

Hearing:  March 3rd^th at 1:00 p.m.

Link to bill:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0817.htm

House Bill 1169 - All-Terrain Vehicles - Protective Equipment

This is the house version of Senate Bill 547.

Hearing:  March 3^rd at 1:00 p.m.

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1169.htm

ABATE of Maryland will be there fighting for your rights.   I know they would appreciate you coming to the hearings to show your support for them and if you want to take it a step further and testify at the hearings contact ABATE of Maryland directly  (http://abateofmd.org/).

If anyone feels compelled to provide additional support to ABATE by testifying at the hearings, they should contact ABATE of Maryland directly.

Well, Thunder in the Streets was just what the name implies.  The night before the event, the storms raged.  This waterfront park became a water park.  The streets were flooded and some of the vendor tents were either torn, upside down or gone.  We were fortunate in that we decided to wait until the following morning to set up.  For once procrastination paid off!  By noon the following day, the place was drying up and vendors dotted the landscape.  We were initially worried but, the show must go on (not a bad use of an old cliché’ huh?) and it did.

Soon to be “on the road again”…..

The Sanford BikeFest (Thunder in the Streets) in one of Florida’s many successful motorcycle events.  This year it will be held October 10-12, 2008 on the waterfront in Sanford, FL.

Wyked Illuzionz will join other food and motorcycle related vendors at Fort Mellon Park this year to sell and install LED lights on motorcycles.  Sanford is a great location for this event, as the surrounding community also offers a marina and river boat rides on the beautiful Lake Monroe (not to mention that it is beginning to get a little chilly up here).

We hope you will visit Wyked Illuzionz and the other motorcycle businesses at Fort Mellon Park in Sanford, FL during the 2008 BikeFest.

Seeya there!

P.S.  As always, we are accepting appointments for light installations during this event.

Well, we just got back from York, PA. This past weekend was the open house at the Harley Davidson plant. We were at the local Harley dealer, Laugerman’s. I have to say, we’ve been to a lot of Harley dealers in our time and this place has to be one of the greatest. It is family owned and operated and they are all so incredibly friendly (I know, I am beginning to sound like the leader of the Laugerman’s fan club but they never cease to amaze us).

Anyway, about the event……it rained and rained and rained so there is not a whole lot to say. The plant had to cancel the demo rides for most of the weekend. Despite the weather though, we did well. We lit up a fair amount of bikes and want to thank our customers that hung out in the rain while we did them.

We will definitely be returning to York next year, rain or shine.

To all of our many friends, clients and future customers: We are starting this blog as our way of keeping in touch with our community. We consider every one of our customers as family and will be using this blog to communicate regularly.  We can’t say what our topics will be; guess they will be whatever strikes our fancy at the time. We will write about events we have attended, events we plan to attend, special customers, some motorcycle news or whatever.  We welcome your comments on our blog. We are excited about this new adventure and hope that you will accompany us.

Bob, Carol and Jon Silverman