Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Winter 2014 | IRON BUTT MAGAZINE  who simply shook their heads in disbelief. Little did they know that I was motivated most by their prediction that I’d never ride again. I even went on to ride over , miles that summer! Eight Lessons Learned ■ On longer rides, avoid riding alone. Riding with a buddy or two can be a lifesaver if faced with an accident. ■ Use a SPOT Tracker. If riding solo, such a device could help locate an injured and unconscious biker in a secluded location. ■ Have good insurance. My -minute helicopter emergency airlift bill was $, ($, per minute of transport airtime). In all, my medical bills tallied more than $,, but thankfully my medical insurance paid for all but $,. ■ Have disability insurance. Before riding, think about your eligibility for short-term and long-term disability insurance. If you are laid up for weeks, months, or possibly forever, you will at least have a backup plan to stay financially secure. ■ Always wear protective gear. All The Gear All The Time. My helmet was badly gouged, yet I had no head or face injuries. I was wearing a thick leather jacket with double thickness protection on the shoulders, arms, and back. I firmly believe that had I not worn protective clothing, I would not have survived or would have been paralyzed for life. ■ Work toward a goal. Use it as motivation. Getting back on a motorcycle following a major crash is different only in degree than getting back on a horse after being bucked off. The longer it takes to remount that “Iron Horse,” the more difficult it will be to ride again. ■ Minimize riding at night. Whenever possible, minimize riding after dark to help avoid catastrophic collisions with animals. If you plan to ride at night, install auxiliary lights. The expense of illuminating the road ahead is much less costly than crashing. ■ Take rest breaks. Fatigue can be extremely hazardous, so heed the warning signs and stop if you think you’re getting overtired. Scott D. Gottschalk lives near the small rural town of Kimball, Minnesota. He has recently written a book titled, Nine Lives To Eternity, which chronicles his long-distance riding experiences, as well as Scott’s love and passion for motorcycle riding. To learn more, as well as to purchase an e-book, a paperback, or a hardback, visit this web address www.GottschalkBooks.com. MAX BMW Troy, NY MAX BMW Brookfield, CT MAX BMW N. Hampton, NH MAX BMW S. Windsor, CT Four locations. Just one brand. Whether you are setting up a bike for a globe-crossing adventure or endurance rally, or you simply need a reliable shop to help with service, repairs and afford- able tires while you’re on the road, MAX BMW is uniquely equipped to meet the needs of long distance BMW riders. We have an unparalleled inventory of new and used BMW Motorcycles, parts and accessories in-stock. Our service departments are staffed with BMW certified technicians who only work on BMW Motorcycles. Plus, we have low prices on tires every day! BMW riders from all over the world choose MAX BMW because we concentrate solely on the product you rely on to go the distance. Learn more and order parts online 24/7 at www.maxbmw.com.