RIDE-CT.com Speaking to American Legion Riders

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Years ago – OK, decades ago – when I toiled for “The Columbus Dispatch” in Ohio, I was a member of the “Dispatch Speakers Bureau.” That was the newspaper’s fancy way of promoting the fact that some of its newsroom employees were available for public speaking engagements to talk about their jobs and about the newspaper.

Given the Midwest location, it wasn’t surprising that the most popular speaker was farm editor Bill Zipf, who was an expert not only on agriculture but on outhouses. His anecdote-filled “privy talk” was became legendary in the outlying counties.

RIDE-CT.com doesn’t have a speakers bureau, or much experiences with outhouses, but does appreciate the opportunity to mingle and talk motorcycles. Tomorrow night, I’m speaking to the American Legion Riders at Post 2 in Bristol and I’ve put together a slideshow that recalls some of the fascinating bikes and people that I’ve met over the years.

With a little luck, the slideshow will mask the fact that audience members will probably know more about the internal workings of motorcycles than I do. Looking forward to it!

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More to read:

– Zero Motorcycles has launched a new website that is packed with video of its electric bikes in action.

– Tire company Metzeler is out with a new high-mileage tire called the ME880 Marathon Ultra (called the “Triple 8”) that fits many Harley-Davidson models. The Triple 8’s contact patch is 15 percent wider.

– Harley-Davidson plans a special display of motorcycles at Daytona Bike Week 2013 as part of its 110th anniversary celebration. The display will be at Riverfront Park on Beach Street from March 9 through March 16. Harley has more here.