Safety Report - June 2026

Gary Klinker

June 2026

First, I’d like to thank Buell Bob and Bob Tieberg for the work they did on Knock the Rust Off. Thanks also to the large group who came out and took advantage of the day to ride the circuit of exercises. There were many others who helped run the event and even worked as a tech team to diagnose and replace a dead battery that saved the day for one rider. It was also trike-friendly and there were quite a few trikes that could take part. Trooper Jensen and his State Patrol bike were a hit. He rode down on a cold morning from Menomonie (not Falls). Mark your calendar for the last Saturday in April next year.

Our Safe Rider classes also started that same weekend. The first two classes have been really successful. As of now we are scheduled to be full into July. Calls for a class are coming in regularly.

By the time you read this the 2026 version of Bikers in the Beltway will be in the books. Five of us are planning to ride to D.C. Another group from Wisconsin will be flying out to meet with about 200 people from many other states to lobby for our motorcyclists’ issues. I’m looking forward to the lobbying and the ride, the D.C. traffic, not so much. It is always good to see friends from around the country, even for a short busy time.

On the fun side, motorcycle racing season is in full swing. American Flat Track has such a wide variety of brands competing that there is something for everyone to cheer for. In the twins class the new Harley is doing very well along with Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Honda, Suzuki, KTM, Kawasaki, and even Aprilia. The singles class is a battle between Yamaha, Husqvarna, Honda, and KTM. In MotoGP, the Ducati dominance of last year is being eroded by Aprilia and KTM. The American team, Trackhouse Racing, is also improving as the season goes on. Watching the races is a great way to relax after a day of riding.

Whether you are going for your big summer trip or just a day ride around home, be vigilant to watch for other traffic. Use all your acquired skills to be safe and come back in one piece. It is up to all of us to cut down the statistics of injury and death on motorcycles. To others it is just statistics. To us it is friends and relatives.

Ride Safe,

Gary