On-Line "Safe Weight Calculator" Helps Motorcyclists Avoid Overload

January 13, 2010

AUSTIN, TX — Owners of Harley Davidson, Honda and BMW touring motorcycles can now easily determine their load limits on line. No digging through fine print. No math.

www.unsafemotorcycles.com now offers a "Safe Weight Calculator" [http://www.unsafemotorcycles.com/weight_and_riders_form.html] that can help riders quickly determine how much weight is available for gear -- such as helmets, clothing, and water-- after rider and passenger weights are figured in. A warning is flashed if the numbers show the riders are at risk or have already overloaded their bikes.

"Motorcycle manufacturers say staying within recommended weight limits is key to safe riding, but they often aren't clear about what those limits are. They say that overloading a motorcycle can lead to motorcycle tire failure, injury and death, yet they don't provide any tool for finding out if you're overloaded," said Billy Edwards, the attorney who sponsors the site on behalf of consumers injured or killed by motorcycle tire defects.

Currently, owners of Harley Davidson touring bikes have to comb through owner's manuals to find the bike's weight-related statistics, understand how the weights relate to each other, and calculate the difference to find their bike's maximum safe load. Honda owner's manuals directly state the model's maximum weight limit. But all this information is still buried in small print and not adequately available to buyers and riders, he noted.

"Our experience in defective tire cases is that manufacturers like to claim the operators were at fault for overloading their bikes. But our experience also shows that manufacturers like to bury this information in owner's manuals and that dealers consistently fail to discuss maximum weight limits with buyers, even if it is obvious that the buyers, by their weight alone, may overload the bike," Edwards said.

Edwards has called on Harley Davidson and Honda to investigate reports of "sudden and catastrophic" deflations of tires on large touring motorcycles. The website www.unsafemotorcycles.com, lists 16 reports of such sudden tire deflations involving touring motorcycles.

Edwards can be contacted at 1 -800-475-0971, or through the www.unsafemotorcycles  web site.

For more information contact Teresa Kelly, 512-328-4276, teresapkelly@msn.com

Motorcycle Crashes Related to Goodyear Dunlop Tire Require Investigation, Possible Recall, Attorney Says

June 24, 2009

AUSTIN, TX — Harley Davidson, Honda and Goodyear Dunlop should investigate a number of motorcycle crashes involving sudden deflation of Goodyear Dunlop D402 and other tires, attorney Billy Edwards said today. The tires, installed as original equipment or sold as replacement tires on touring and cruiser motorcycles, may need to be recalled, he added. 

Five more instances of sudden deflation of the Dunlop D402 tire have been reported to the safety website, www.UnsafeMotorCycles.com, he noted. All four incidents involved Harley Davidson Ultra Classic touring motorcycles and occurred in the last 13 months, he said.  The latest incident occurred in Marino Valley, CA, he said.  Others have been reported in Massachusetts, Texas and Georgia, he said.

"We believe this is the tip of the iceberg. The defect in these tires appears to be worsening as the tires age, leading to more instances of sudden deflation and serious injury," Edwards said.

These reports join at least two lawsuits filed recently involving allegations of Goodyear Dunlop tire deflations, one in Butte, MT, the other in Atlanta, GA.

According to the allegations described in a lawsuit in the Butte, MT crash, a defect in the bead seat area of the tire allowed excessive leakage of air leading to a "sudden and catastrophic deflation" of the tire.  Stephen Gageby, Butte, MT, was killed, and his wife was seriously injured in the resulting crash, the suit says.

The Georgia suit  was filed in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division,(Case no. 3:09-cv-74 ), and involved the death of a passenger Patricia Morris.  Among other things, the suit alleges Harley Davidson knew it was "false and misleading" to represent that its 2007 FLHTCU and its tires were safe for carrying up to two riders weighing more than 250 pounds each, plus their cargo and motorcycle accessories.

The Montana suit (Cause No. DV-08- 480) was filed Nov. 10, 2008, in the Second Judicial District Court, Butte Silver-Bow County. Attorneys representing the Gageby estate are Michael McKeon, with the law firm of McKeon and Anderson, PC, Butte, MT, and Billy Edwards, with the Edwards Law Firm, Corpus Christi, TX.

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Lawsuit Faults Dunlop Tire In Safety Advocate's Death

February 26, 2009

BUTTE, MT — The widow of Stephen Gageby, long-time local motorcycle club member and safety advocate, has filed a lawsuit alleging a defective Dunlop tire led to her husband's death and her serious injuries in a motorcycle crash in 2007.

"Were it not for a defectively manufactured tire, Stephen Gageby would be alive today, promoting safe and responsible motorcycle riding. But even the safest drivers cannot guard against corporate negligence," said attorney Billy Edwards, who filed the suit on behalf of Karla Gageby.

Both Stephen, 52, and Karla, 47, were riding their 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic to a son's birthday party May 8, 2007, when the rear tire suddenly deflated. Gageby, who was driving, lost control of the vehicle, which crashed, ejecting him and Karla some 140 feet.  Stephen suffered massive, fatal head injuries. Karla sustained serious, permanent injuries.

Both were active members of the Butte Harley Davidson motorcycle club; Stephen was considered a mentor by many members, who looked up to him for his experience and safety advocacy, and Karla served as club secretary.

The tire in question is a Goodyear Dunlop D402. According to the suit, a defect in the bead seat area of the tire allowed excessive leakage of air leading to a "sudden and catastrophic deflation" of the tire. 

If defendants argue that the bike was overloaded, plaintiffs will argue that the Gagebys also were not adequately warned about weight limits for the Harley Ultra, according to the suit.

The suit (Cause No. DV-08- 480) was filed Nov. 10, 2008, in the Second Judicial District Court, Butte Silver-Bow County.

Attorneys representing Karla Gageby and the Gageby estate are Michael McKeon, with the law firm of McKeon and Anderson, PC, Butte, Mt, and Billy Edwards, with the Edwards Firm, Corpus Christi, TX.

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