Up To Speed

MANCHESTER, NH – Having been “disappointed to be disappointed” upon taking a first test ride of a new Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 on Friday at a dealership that I dubbed “Dealer A,” I nonetheless kept my appointment for the second ride on Saturday at a different dealership. Everyone else …

WINGDALE, NY – The smoker is being shut down at a longtime favorite barbecue haunt of riders. “No tears, please,” says a message on the website of Big W’s Roadside Bar-B-Q announcing that the the place will be closed forever as of 7 tonight. “It’s been such as amazing adventure, …

NORTH HAMPTON, NH – Harley-Davidson’s new 2021 Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special seem to be all anyone in the ADV community can talk about these days – and for good reason. The Motor Company has broken new ground with this ground-up model.  Spoiler alert: Harley-Davidson has done …

BRANFORD, CT – With a promise to deliver a “fresh, energized approach,” the rebranded Freedom Road Harley-Davidson opened for business here on Thursday. It replaced Brothers’ Harley-Davidson, which sold out to FRG, LLC, co-owned by Mario Galasso of Southbury, CT and Mark Smith of West Hartford. “I’m excited for the …

IRVINE, CA – Motorcycle sales in the U.S.rose dramatically in every category in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time frame in 2020, data contained in the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Report issued today revealed. On-highway, off-road, dual purpose and scooter sales all grew significantly …

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – It opened in January, and Dunkin’ even put out a regional press release in early March, but the story went largely unnoticed outside of the Philippines where riders of bikes, mopeds and motorcycles now have the option of riding through a dedicated drive-thru lane to buy …

MILWAUKEE – As of today, the LiveWire will no longer be an electric model branded as a Harley-Davidson, rather an independent brand sold by “participating” Harley-Davidson dealers. The company’s goal is make it “the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world,” according to Harley-Davidson chairman, president and CEO Jochen …

(UPDATE: Friday, May 14 at 4:50 p.m. – New story with new owner’s perspective.) (UPDATE: Friday, May 14 at 9:50 a.m. – The sale of Brothers’ Harley-Davidson to FRG, LLC was completed Wednesday and the dealership began operating on Thursday as Freedom Road Harley-Davidson. RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England has so …

MONTEREY, CA – Ever asked a motorcycle dealership a question via its website? If you got a response, you most likely inquired of a Harley-Davidson, Indian or BMW store. If you didn’t get an answer, you probably were reaching out to a Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph or Yamaha dealer. That’s the …

MANCHESTER, NH – In a move that’s already alienating and aggravating a portion of its potential customers, Manchester Harley-Davidson has revealed plans to hold a “Miss Manchester H-D Bikini Contest” over the next three months. Skimpy cash prizes will be awarded for preliminary rounds on June 3 and July 1 …

Spotted While Out Riding: 1978 Laverda 1200 All it took was a ride on a friend’s Laverda RGA1000 and the availability of a used 1978 Laverda 1200 for Louis Frazier of Stratford, CT to change his allegiance from one Italian brand to another. “It would take me faster than I’d …

OLEY, PA – It was a “come one, come all” sideshow to the springtime National Meet of the Perkiomen Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. The 110-year-old Reading Motorcycle Club up the road opened its drag strip on April 23 to both old and new bikes, allowing friends …

MILWAUKEE – It looks decades old, but it’s new. It’s Harley-Davidson’s new, limited-edition Electra Glide Revival model, the initial offering in what the company is calling its Icon Collection. Going forward, the company plans to bring out one or two limited run models each year that will invoke the past …

REINHOLDS, PA – The first step once the decision was made a few weeks ago to attend this past weekend’s antique motorcycle show in Oley, PA was to book lodging. While a friend suggested a chain motel near the show grounds, I instead went online and found a much more …

OLEY, PA – They are defunct German motorcycle companies that ended up being owned by major carmakers. NSU began building motorcycles in 1901, ended in 1963, and was eventually swallowed by what’s now Audi. Horex began in 1923 and survived until 1960 when it was acquired by Daimler-Benz and dissolved. …