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The DEAD END KIDS MOTORCYCLE CLUB
is a group of motorcyclists from Morris County and the surrounding counties in northern New Jersey. We come from all walks of life but meet on common ground through motorcycling. We enjoy the fun and adventure of riding individually and appreciate a 'brotherhood' amongst us when we are together. While each of us can feel the freedom and sense of independence one experiences from riding, we also keep in mind the sense of organization and civil respect for each other that brought us together originally. We leave our attitudes and egos at home (and off the Message Board) and just accept each other for who we are as individuals and what we each can do to contribute to fun in riding for the group.
Harley Davidson or metrics, it makes no difference to us. In fact we have a wide variety of makes and a proportionate number of each. And we don't make you feel like you should buy a new or bigger bike to know and ride with us. Most of us do however, ride touring and cruiser class bikes. We are experienced riders and enjoy short evening runs after work during the week as much as longer trips on weekends. Some have found longer trips of a week to ten days alot of fun as well as challenging. Most of the states east of the Mississippi River have been ridden to by different members. Americade, Laconia Bike Week, Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis Bike Week, Rolling Thunder, Honda Hoot and other major national events have all been graced by the appearances of Dead End Kids MC members. A small group took an 11 day trip up to Maine and then toured the coastline of Nova Scotia between 7/23 and 8/2/05 adding some international riding time to the club's accomplishments.
Weather permiting, many of us ride all year round but the majority of the group starts to ride regularly starting sometime in March and enjoys a season of short jaunts or major touring until winter returns in December. And of course there are those who ride only when its 75 degrees or better, bright and sunny and no clouds in sight. Fortunately very few.
Cruises to any one of several weekly "Bike Nights" in the area, quick hops down the street or a 30 mile ride for a cup of coffee and a snack could happen any night of the week. Trips to the Jersey shore or up into northern mountains or out to western most parts of the state are common rides for any nice Sunday. And there is always the option to stretched out a ride to include Pennsylvania or New York state (or City). We enjoy going on some of the many charity rides and Poker Runs and support the efforts of other riding groups in the area.
Some of us have taken weekend or longer camping/motorcycling trips; just you, your bike and everything you need in the woods, very methodically stored in or on the bike. Pretty simple for one rider but try planning it for 'two-up". It takes some thought to get it all right. A great pre-season brainstormer during the cold winter months.
You can usually find some of us 'on The Green' (see yellow rectangle in second picture below for exact location) in Morristown or hanging out on John Street (the 'Dead End') at Dragon Exhaust (yellow rectangle in center of first picture below) (web-site is currently 'parked') . John Street has pretty much everything a biker needs. There was a gentleman's night club (Double D's, now closed and the building is empty), and an old books store (if he wasn't lucky at the gentlemen's club). The county jail is at the end of the block, and a conveniently located bail bondsman before you reach the slammer. An auto body shop, a welder, a high performance garage and a lumber yard at the road's entrance round out the rest of John Street. It all (except the lumber yard) happens to be on the opposite side of the tracks from the rest of Morristown. John Street., a real man's dead end.
John Street (curved roadway just above Interstate 287)
Dragon Exhaust in yellow rectangle
THE GREEN
'Bike Row' in yellow rectangle
WE BELIEVE . . .
that motorists need to be made more aware of our existence and our right to be on the highway. . . that we are often as vunerable as pedestrians risking loss of life or limb due to an accident involving an over aggressive driver or one unaware of our presence. . . that the readily accepted excuse in court . . ."I did not see the motorcycle", should in many cases, be recognized as an admission to driving a vehicle oblivious to its surroundings, or carelessly driving in an effort to just get passed a motorcyclist with complete disregard for his or her life or right to equal access to the roadway. . . that laws defining 'Right of way' for motorcycles in intersections, similiar to those for pedestrians, be written and be enforced, and motorists who fail to yield to a motorcycle in a intersection receive the same penalty as for not yielding to a pedestrian. . . that use of the electronic message panels along New Jersey's Parkway, Interstates and other major arteries be used to remind drivers of motorcyclists... that public awareness commercials be put on television reminding
motorists to Keep an eye out for us . How about it State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission? What can you do for us 'main stream media'? Hey NJDOT, are those signs only good for telling us about obviously bad weather and traffic backups possibly behind an accident? Possibly behind an accident involving an innocent motorcyclist?
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