Just thought I'd pass this motor oil nugget along to AMA members: Shell Rotella T4, 15W-40, is JASO-MA2 rated. Not many automotive-type oils have this rating. Also might mention that there have been some bikes using synthetics that have experienced starter clutch drive slipping with synthetics. Revert to standard oils and problem resolved. Not a long list; just something to be aware should anyone have the problem when using/switching to a synthetic. Otherwise, good stuff. Bring on Summer!

I fully support the AMA continuing to protect the motorcycle community from the inadequacies of autonomous vehicles. This was again brought to mind while reading the Rights Refresh piece in the January issue of American Motorcyclist, along with an accompanying note on distracted driving. But another point of view occurred to me while waiting in the doctor’s office and watching a little old lady — I don’t think she was 5 feet tall — make her way slowly out of the office with the aid of a cane, and then struggle into an SUV and drive away. In her case, our risk as motorcyclists is probably no different between her piloting the multi-ton SUV and the autonomous piloting of an AV; with her right-to-drive privileges only being addressed after some calamity has occurred.
On the subject of distracted driving, it is comforting to note that additional states are introducing legislation to address this matter, but the legislation is of no value to us if it is not enforced. I am horrified at the number of drivers who feel the need to glue their phone to their ear while driving, glibly putting the health and welfare of others at risk. Humans cannot multitask despite the protestations of insistent cell phone drivers. But in the decades cell phones have been readily available to consumers, I have never once heard of someone being stopped or fined for use of a cell phone while driving. Thank you for all your efforts, I recognize you cannot address all the issues we face, but any progress is always appreciated.

When I started reading Aaron Frank’s To The End Of The World And Back pieces in the November and January issues, I didn't look closely at the pictures or his bike, and assumed another KTM or BMW. Oh, I was wrong! It was a Versy 300! I know that bike, as I've done many 1,000-mile trips on Pippin, my very own Versys. Great read, both halves. I know we all wish to do something like that in our lives. So thanks, Aaron, for showing us that little ADV bikes do just fine, and that you don't need to be a Mike to travel the world, or even locally. I hope you can have Kiva and friend Bridget tell their story of riding North to South in a future issue. I’ll be waiting.