11.06.09
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 9:05 pm by Administrator
Many of you who follow the industry are aware of the new Microwire Gerbing’s Heated Clothing is putting in their products now, but what is the real benefit? Having recently received their new Microwired products, I noticed the biggest difference is… you don’t feel the wiring when you have them on. They use to use a round wire that you could really feel across the shoulder blades if you stretched forward and if you just picked up the Jacket Liner, but now you really have to feel for it to notice where the Microwiring is located. Do they heat better than the older versions… that I haven’t heard enough feedback, to make a judgement yet, but they did keep the same connections as the last version so they are fully compatible with any products you may already own. So remember, if you ride all year long or are planning on commuting throught the winter months, then look into the Gerbing’s Heated Clothing Line.
Xerxes,
www.eagleleather.com
P.S. Coming soon a brand new build of our website with some improvements we hope you’ll really like.
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09.05.09
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 12:14 am by Administrator
We had so much fun at our barbecues earlier this summer, we decided to have one on Labor Day, too. The holiday falls on September 7 this year, but we’ll celebrating Sunday, September 6th from noon to four.
Labor Day-a day to celebrate the working men and women who built our country-was first celebrated in New York in 1882. Congress recognized the first Monday of September as Labor Day in 1894.
As the recession begins to turn around, let’s all get together at Eagle Leather for hot dogs with all the fixings and a variety of soft drinks. We can trade stories about our summer motorcycling adventures!
You’ll want to see the new Discount Section at Eagle Leather. We’ve put nearly half a million dollars worth of top-quality merchandise into its own special section of the store. A great opportunity for savings!
We have a new selection of Big and Tall gear, too. We know how hard it can be to find protective Riding Gear. At Eagle Leather, you’ll have plenty of styles to choose from.
And, when you purchase $50.00 or more in gear at the barbecue, we’ll give you a 10% discount! If you’re buying online anytime during the first week of September, enter coupon code 909021 and we’ll give you the same deal.
Remember to vote on whether Dave Lien’s Million Mile Harley should be kept in Wisconsin or in South Dakota. Just put a penny (or more) into the marked jar at Eagle Leather. Remember, all the cash goes to help our military families.
Gear for the Ride!
Mike Toursal
P.S. If you have stories or pictures of your summer rides that you would like to share with other customers of Eagle Leather, send them in. We’ll feature of selection of them on our website soon. Email to sales@eagleleather.com.
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07.08.09
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 7:49 pm by Administrator
By now most of you know that our part time, part brained state legislature has seen fit to rewrite and expand the state’s confusing and ambiguous helmet law. What many of you do not know is that under the existing law novelty helmets and beanies were already illegal. Problem was that the law was poorly written and difficult to enforce. Getting a conviction if a rider pleaded not guilty was all but impossible. That will all change on July 26th, 2009. The new law is extremely well written and includes 10 pages of engineering and legalese that clearly define what a D.O.T. helmet is and what you as a rider must do to establish with law enforcement that what you are wearing is indeed an approved lid.
Please read Phil Wakefield’s article on the legalese but know this: Law enforcement has already begun a heightened degree of enforcement where all motorcycle laws are concerned. With fatalities on the rise you can expect some pretty close scrutiny when you are out riding. An illegal helmet will also invite closer inspection of your scoot by the officer who stops you for it. We have gotten over a dozen calls and emails to this effect and its 6 weeks before the new law even kicks in! Riders are being hit for vertical license plates, loud exhausts, handlebar infractions, lighting violations and more. In short your illegal lid is giving them a legal opportunity to write you a batch of very pricey tickets. Just “ask Arlin” who while riding to work on one of his customs garnered $750.00 worth of paper surprises.
It is no longer a question of if your beanie will get you stopped, but WHEN! On June 18th the WAP sent out a media release that clearly states that they are “stepping up enforcement efforts towards motorcycle riders with helmets that are not D.O.T. approved and who are not properly endorsed.” Like it or not, you must wear a legitimate D.O.T. helmet and unlike the old law using a little D.O.T. sticker won’t save you. The officer can and will ask you to prove the helmet is a legit lid and has the right to ask you to remove it and show them the inside label that is sewn into the lining among other ways of proving it’s the real deal. You can and should expect maximum enforcement of this new law taking effect July 26th. If you have received a ticket recently you may be able to beat it under the current law, so plead not guilty and call an attorney like Phil Wakefield or Frank Morris of BikersLawyers.com for some help!
If you are like me, you hate those big, mushroom head, heavily padded conventional D.O.T. hats. For us there is hope. Look into some of the New Kevlar-Carbon Fiber Jobs that are fully D.O.T. approved but are extremely light, and very, very, strong. So strong in fact that they achieve their approval while still using only about 5/8ths of an inch of padding. A bit pricey at $175.00, but they may be the answer you are looking for. Many stores in our area carry them. Eagle Leather’s Helmets To help you we have posted a list on page 13 (Quick Throttle Magazine).
Virtually every motorcycle shop in our state carries a full line of the standard type D.O.T. helmets so you will not have any problems converting over. To quote an old Bob Dylan tune “The times they are a’ changing”
Mike Dalgaard
Publisher, Quick Throttle Northwest
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06.05.09
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 10:45 pm by Administrator
A million miles! Dave Zien racked up a cool million miles on his Harley 1991 FXRT. He hit the million-mile mark April 4, 2009 right in front of Hal’s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin, Wisconsin. The miles are documented with gas and repair receipts.
Zien is a former Wisconsin State Senator and a veteran long-distance rider. When Harley Davidson was celebrating its one-hundredth anniversary with a big party, Zien rode a thousand miles a day (on the average) for the preceding thirty-one days. The Iron Butt Association gave him an award for, among other feats, riding fifteen-hundred miles in a single twenty-four hour period.
That miraculous FXRT has had two new engines and nine engine overhauls. Iron Butt Zien wore out nine seats.
Zien gave the million-mile bike to Harley-Davidson. In appreciation, the company gave Zien a brand new motorcycle. The million-mile bike will be displayed at Sturgis, South Dakota, where the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame has prepared a special display that will let visitors see the cycle from all sides. (And you don’t want to miss the graffiti on this bike!)
Sturgis seems like a great home for this special bike, especially since Zien already has a display in the Hall of Fame.
But Wisconsin, Harley-Davidson’s home as well as Zien’s, has a valid claim, too. After all, most of those million miles were logged in the state. After this year’s rally at Sturgis, Harley-Davidson will display the motorcycle in its new Harley-Davidson Museum near Milwaukee.
And then the million-mile bike will return to Sturgis, permanently.
What do you think? Wisconsin or South Dakota? Which is the most appropriate home for Dave Zien’s million-mile motorcycle?
Come in to Eagle Leather, where we’ve set up two jars, one for Wisconsin, one for South Dakota. Vote with a penny (or more if you like). At the end of the summer, we’ll count the donations and let you know who wins. Then we’ll give all the voting proceeds to the National Military Family Association.
Sure, it’s just for fun—we don’t expect to sway the folks at Harley-Davidson either way. But it’s a good excuse to see what’s new at Eagle Leather, and we’d like to see you. And, it’s a way to raise a little money to support our military families who sacrifice so much on our behalf.
I used facts from Patrick Marley’s article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press (reprinted from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Read more at www.TwinCities.com.
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Posted in Eagle Leather News at 9:57 pm by Administrator
Written by Black Jack
Being a long time rider of the motorcycling community, I tend to hear numerous facts as well as rumors and misconceptions regarding Legislative activity taking place in Washington State. This year is no different, and the topic of conversation is Senate Bill 5482 – Modifying provisions governing two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles, passing the Legislature on April 29th, taking effect as law on July 26th, 2009. So without further ado, let’s get down and dirty…
SB5482 ended up being sort of a ‘catch-all’ for many of the issues at hand this year and for many of the issue specific bills that stalled out in committees.
-Definitions for motorcycles, mopeds, motorized scooters and enclosed three-wheeled vehicles were clarified and amended to conform to federal regulations. Wheel sizes and pedal specifications were removed from the definition of mopeds and now they require mirrors. Motorcycles definitions were modified to state drivers sit on a seat or saddle (instead of astride the motor unit), or on a seat in a partially or completely enclosed area equipped with seat belts and designed to be steered with a steering wheel, and also now exclude motorized foot scooters. Definitions for motorized foot scooters were revised stating a maximum speed of 20mph and require the rider to wear a helmet. And finally, statutes were modified to allow a person with a valid operator’s license to operate an encloses three-wheeled vehicle without requiring a motorcycle endorsement.
-Current statutes regarding motorcycles helmets were not fully in compliance with federal regulations and were amended accordingly. Currently, the existing helmet law in Washington specified that a legal USDOT helmet must have a DOT sticker on the helmet. As we all know, these stickers are readily available and can be placed on any ‘novelty’ helmet so to appear in accordance. The wording was changed, removing the word ’sticker’ and replaced with ‘a manufacture’s certification applied in accordance with 49CFR Sec. 571.218. So what does that mean exactly? 49 CFR Sec. 571.218 is the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard governing motorcycle helmets. That standard simply states:
“Each helmet shall be labeled permanently and legibly, in a manner such that the label(s) can be read easily without removing padding or any other permanent part, with the following: (a) Manufacturer’s name or identification. (b) Precise model designation. (c) Size. (d) Month and year of manufacture. (e) The symbol DOT, constituting the manufacturer’s certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. This symbol shall appear on the outer surface. in a color that contrasts with the background, in letters at least 3/8 inch (1 cm) high, centered laterally with the horizontal centerline of the symbol located a minimum of 1 1/8th inches (2.9 cm) and a maximum of 1 3/8th inches (3.5 cm) from the bottom edge of the posterior portion of the helmet.”
Let me reiterate, the new wording of the law states “a motorcycle helmet means a protective covering for the head… with a manufacturer’s certification applied in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.218 indicating that the motorcycle helmet meets standards established by the United States Department of Transportation.”
The DOT symbol on the back of the helmet constitutes the manufacturer’s certification meeting the requirements of Washington law. By state law your helmet is required to be DOT certified. If you are wearing a novelty beanie, then expectations should be in place that a trooper or officer may want to examine your helmet further during a traffic stop, in essence looking for the additional manufacturer’s information the label inside. If you are wearing an approved DOT helmet, you’ll have no worries whatsoever as you are legal. You’ll actually get the last laugh as he (or she) hands you back your helmet. However, if you choose to run illegal, the expect a hassle.
The bill goes into effect July 26th. So, if you wear a legal DOT helmet now, then it will remain legal. If you’re wearing an illegal helmet now, then it will be just as illegal come July 26th. Prior to this bill being passed into law, Washington State had mandated that you wore a USDOT certified helmet. So in the end this new legislation really isn’t a significant change.
-Traffic signal vehicle detection system regulations were amended to establish procedures to identify and repair (with existing funds) traffic controls to detect two-wheeled vehicles.
That’s it in a nutshell. I hope this helps clear up a bit of the confusion that is common whit the legislative process. Ride safe!
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06.27.08
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 1:53 am by Administrator
For 4 straight years Eagle Leather has been the #1 Gerbing’s Heated Clothing Dealer in the Western Region and in the top 10 Nation wide. With special thanks to all you that have supported Eagle Leather over the years. Congratulations to all our customers who have supported us in our growth into the largest motorcycle apparel dealer on the west coast and the #1 Gerbing’s heated clothing dealer in the western region.
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06.23.08
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 9:17 pm by Administrator
Eagle Leather’s month long Grand Opening celebration culminated in climatic fashion with the drawing of one lucky ticket holder. All during the month of October, Eagle Leather gave anyone who walked through the doors a ticket and a chance to win a new 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Superglide Custom.
“this was a genius promotional marketing idea” said a group of friends who had entered the drawing and ridden together to Eagle’s new 22,000 sq. ft. motorcycle accessories super store. “the tickets did not cost a dime an it gave a chance to check out the new store”, they continued. I must say I heard those same sentiments repeated over and over throughout the day.
For those that missed out, it was pure pandemonium inside and outside the store. Over 3,000 people showed up to see if they would become the lucky winners of new Harley-Davidson. The bike tickets were free, but you had to be present to win. Again, great marketing by Eagle Leather. In addition to the motorcycle give-a-way, Eagle Leather gave each person on Saturday a ticket entering them into a separate drawing for a chance to wind one of several names drawn that would win hundreds of dollars worth of Eagle merchandise.
A couple of hours before the designated 5 pm drawing, anxious customers squeezed through the doors to shop, wait and turn in last minute entries. The cash registers and employees were working at a frenzied pace to keep up with the customers. This was no easy task in light of the huge turnout, yet the staff remained professional, courteous and helpful.
The spinning ticket drum was crammed full of hopeful winner names. I couldn’t help but look around at the vast crowd and wonder which man or woman would indeed win.
Prior to the drawing, Eagle Leather randomly selected an adorable little girl, Jennifer, with the honor of hand picking the winning ticket.
At 5pm the big moment had arrived. The drum was spun several times to insure a good mix of the tickets. The crowd was nearly silent, waiting with anticipation of the name that would be announced…
“Brian Lester you are the winner of a new 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Superglide” Instantly I heard a lady squeal, the a big hearty “WoooWhooo” which was followed by the crowd roaring and clapping. As the masses parted, a big ‘ol guy with a grin a mile wide stood before me. Along side him was his wife, Keri, who I’m sure was responsible for the squeal I heard!
Brian stepped up tot the mic, completely blown away that he was the winner. He thanked Mike Toursal, owner of Eagle Leather and his fantastic staff for making it possible.
Brian and his wife stopped by Eagle Leather every day for a month to shop, pick up a ticket and enter, hoping to improve his chances of winning. It definitely paid off for him.
There was something about 36 year old Brian that oozed ‘nice guy’. I had a chance to sit and talk with him for a while after the shock of winning had begun to wear off and really had set in. I found that my instincts were right on, he is a genuinely down to earth, nice guy.
I asked Brian how it felt to win. He replied “Surreal. I can’t believe it’s mine. Man, how do you properly thank a guy who basically hands you a new 2008 Harley? How do you show that kind of appreciation?” Brian is by his humble words “just an average, married, hardworking guy”. He and his wife, Keri have been together for 9 years and married in April, 2006. They have 3 sons ages 9, 14, and 16, who all share a passion for motorcycles. The first thing Keri did was call their sons at home and say, “Your Dad just won the Harley!” Apparently the kids had bet each other $1 that Dad would not win. Ah, boys don’t you know that Dad’s never wrong!
Brian currently rides a 2007 Road King Custom, but has no intention of selling the Superglide he won. He said, “it’s not only a great bike, it’s a conversation piece.” Hmmm, I couldn’t help but think it seemed to fit his wife, Keri pretty good when she sat on it for pictures… you never know. He did mention changing a few things, some new pipes, forward controls and new bars. You can’t blame a guy for customizing the bike to suit his, or is it her, needs!
It seems that Brain’s life is continually getting better with each passing day. Not long ago Brian found his biological father and their families bonded immediately. Their goal is for his father to buy a Harley-Davidson Road Glide that he has been eyeing so that the two of them can ride side by side to Sturgis next year for some long awaited father and son time.
On behalf of Eagle Leather and the staff at Quick Throttle Magazine we wish Brian Lester and his family the very best. Keep the rubber side down!
Written by Diana Olmstead, Quick Throttle Magazine November 2007
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06.20.08
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 8:44 pm by Administrator
Saturday, September 29th was a great deal of a day for motorcycle enthusiasts who celebrated the Grand Opening of Eagle Leather’s new 22,000 sq. ft. motorcycle accessories super store. By days end over 3000 people walked through the doors to check out the new location and shop! The store was buzzing with non-stop activity. KZOK 102.5 FM was on hand with a live remote broadcast, providing music that riders love most, classic rock! Three of the hottest Hooters girls were on hand, washing bikes, while collecting donations for Children’s Hospital. I have to hand it to these girls, the day was cold and overcast, yet they had a constant stream of bikes and adoring fans waiting their turn throughout the day. Eagle Leather offered some fantastic deals, hidden throughout the store were special discount tags of 70% off, and a few ‘nest egg’ tags meaning the item was FREE! Eagle Leather created a U.S. Register of Official Rider Nicknames and offered free nickname patches. This was a hoot!
To celebrate the Grand Opening of the new store and their 12th year in business, Eagle is giving away a brand new 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super-Glide Custom. Each time you visit Eagle Leather you will be given a free raffle ticket just for stopping by. You can earn an additional raffle ticket with any Eagle Leather purchase. The bike drawing will be held, November 3rd, 2007. If you haven’t stopped by to check out Eagle’s new store you don’t know what you’re missing out on. Not only are they the biggest leather store in Washington state, they have an astonishing assortment of riding gear and accessories ranging from hard to fit adult sizes to childrens sizing. Looking for a helmet? Eagle has it in just about any size and style you could imagine. Looking for new leathers? This is the place to find what you need. They have a great selection of jackets, chaps, and pants for men and women at an excellent price. They carry ICON, Firstgear, Joe Rocket, and Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, just to name a few of the top motorcycle apparel lines available. At Eagle Leather you’ll find an array of T-Shirts, vests-reflective and leather, skull caps, facemasks, eyewear, raingear, gloves, patches, wallets, Harley-Davidson boots, motorcycle luggage, and saddlebags. Eagle Leather has dedicated, knowledgeable, and friendly staff available to assist you with sizing and questions. Yueh, Eagle’s renowned leather seamstress, is available on site for alterations and patch sewing.
Eagle Leather has been in business since 1995. Mike Toursal, owner, has had a passion for bikes since his childhood days in Algiers, located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the north-central part of the country of Algeria, when he rode his first bike, a CMG. That bike kick started his dream of dedicating his future to the motorcycle community. Mike immigrated to the United States, a land of opportunity and American bikes, on April Fools Day, 1991 to pursue his goal of understanding and providing motorcyclists with what they needed most, leather. Mike is a genuine biker at heart. He owns and rides 3 Harley-Davidsons and a Boss Hoss V8. He’s traveled to all of the major motorcycle events around the U.S. including Daytona, Laughlin, Street Vibrations, and Sturgis. It was at these events that Mike set up shop selling leathers while getting to know, respect and party with riders of all walks of life. The more Mike spoke to riders the more he came to realize that these riders were in need of a central location and a larger selection of motorcycle gear. He opened a series of stores dedicated to his passion. He quickly out grew his original 1,500 sq. ft. store, moving up to a 3,000 sq. ft. store, then to 9,000 sq. ft., and now to a whopping 22,000 sq. ft. store centrally located off of I-5 at exit 127!
An interesting fact that few may know, is that Eagle Leather provided leathers that were worn by the Del Fuegos in the hit movie Wild Hogs staring John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macey, and Ray Liotta. Stop by Eagle Leather for great deals all year round at the new location 10222 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA. Or visit their website at www.eagleleather.com
Written by Diana Olmstead, September 2007
Quick Throttle Mag
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06.11.08
Posted in Eagle Leather News at 5:47 pm by Administrator
Eagle Leather Supplies Wild Hogs With Motorcycle Jackets!!!
When cast members of the movie “Wild Hogs” climbed aboard their Harleys to ride to the No. 1 spot at the box office earlier this month, some of them were wearing leather jackets from Tacoma. The Eagle Leather Co., 2510 S. 84th St., (now located at 1022 South Tacoma Way) sold 17 jackets to the production last May after costume designer Lisa Jensen saw the garments on the store’s Web site, said spokesman Graeme Bulloch. Eagle’s clientele is primarily motorcyclists. Bulloch believes most of the jackets were worn by extras, but Mike Toursal thinks star John Travolta also may have worn one in some of his scenes. – Soren Andersen, The News Tribune (March 2007)
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