Manufacturers hate to terminate dealerships. It’s a real hassle for all parties concerned and it raises questions about the brands involved. Prior to terminating an authorized dealer, a manufacturer will almost always try to help the dealer resolve its problems so they can remain a dealer for the brand. In …
Read More »Off The Beaten Path: Transitioning To Off-Road Riding
BRIDGEWATER, CT – So, you’ve got several years and miles under your belt on tar and are feeling pretty confident in your on-road skills. And then spring arrives and you stop at your favorite two-wheeled Sunday meetup spot and hear some buddies talking about their awesome off-road adventure. They appear so …
Read More »Always Riding: The K12RS That I Will Never Sell
This evening I found myself sifting thru pictures of motorcycles that I have owned. I like to do that from time to time. In doing so, I got stuck looking at several pictures of the 2003 BMW K 1200 RS currently within my herd. Though it wasn’t purchased new, I …
Read More »Motorcycle Market May Heat Up In 2017
HARWINTON, CT – It has been a schizophrenic end to winter. Warm one day, cold and windy the next, with occasional rain or snow. One day I’m toasty while riding to New Haven to meet a friend for lunch, the next I’m shivering while hauling logs for the wood stove. …
Read More »RIDE-NewEngland: Collection Has Valmobile, Welbike
WILLIMANTIC, CT – Mark Turkington is a familiar figure at motorcycle shows around New England. The 72-year-old Bolton resident is a life-long rider and a collector of rare, vintage models, and he enjoys showing off his two-wheeled artifacts. For Brit Jam in 2015, he brought a British-made 1924 Douglas SW/24. …
Read More »Dealer Perspective: “Worksheet” Shopping Tool
After the first few teaser days of the coming riding season, some folks are thinking about a new bike. Perhaps interest began after an NYC visit to see all the shiny objects at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show extravaganza. Or maybe a winter of reading every bike magazine you could …
Read More »Hill Country: Mudgett’s Sportster Getting A Makeover
CHESTER, VT – A string of bright, sunny days here in February holds the promise of spring, yet we are still about a month away from the Vernal Equinox, or the first day of spring. This is my 46th year of holding a valid motorcycle license, so naturally these spring-like …
Read More »Film Festival Seeks Entries
BROOKLYN – Submissions are now being sought for the fifth annual international Motorcycle Film Festival, which will be held at the Wythe Hotel here Sept. 20-23. The deadline for entering is July 15. The festival celebrates “the world’s best dramatic, documentary, short, and experimental films created by the international motorcycling …
Read More »National Powersports Is A Used Bike Bazaar
PEMBROKE, N.H. – Ever traded in a motorcycle at a New England dealership and wondered what became of it? In some cases, the dealer may have simply tied a price tag to the handlebar and put it on the showroom floor for resale, not even bothering to inspect or clean …
Read More »“Doc Martin” Star Behaving Badly?
While it doesn’t rank up there with selfishly using a handicapped space without a placard, “Doc Martin” star Martin Clunes nonetheless recently stirred the ire of one person for improperly parking his big BMW car in a space reserved solely for motorcycles in England. In a video shot by disgruntled …
Read More »Always Riding: Bike Shop Muscles Into Granby, CT
NORTH GRANBY, CT – There isn’t a single time when I ride that I’m not grateful for the beautiful scenery that surrounds me. The roadsides are filled with farmlands and adorned with post and beam barns as well as century-old New England homes – all filled with history. The major distraction …
Read More »Bucket List Checked Off
HARWINTON, CT – There comes a time of reflection when one reaches and passes the age where the hair turns gray. For some folks, realizing that time on earth is fast running out, that provides an incentive to compile a “bucket list” of goals yet to accomplish; of places to visit; …
Read More »RIDE-NewEngland: Customizer Eric Pleil Ups Workload
WINSTED, CT – Sometimes moving forward in life requires a leap of faith, a belief in one’s abilities, and the guts to take a chance. And there’s no better time to move ahead than the start of a new year. Eric Pleil recently gave his employer
Read More »Off The Beaten Path: Iron Butt Advice
BRIDGEWATER, CT- A special something showed up in the mail to usher in the New Year – my Iron Butt Association Saddle Sore 1000 certification! From here forward, I shall be known as
Read More »Self-Balancing Bike From Honda
If you’ve owned a motorcycle for any length of time, you’ve probably dropped it. Maybe you forgot to extend the kickstand upon coming to a stop. Maybe the bike has just lurched and fallen over at a stoplight. Regardless of the situation, there may soon be a solution to this …
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