Along The Road: Honda and BMW

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes because riders invariably have different needs and tastes. RIDE-CT.com is always on the lookout for interesting rides, whether they be new or vintage. Here are two that were spotted Sunday:

2012 Honda NC700X

Owned by Michael LaRochelle of Meriden, this mid-sized bike replaced a 2006 Kawasaki Concours that needed some pricey repairs. “This is my daily ride,” said LaRochelle, who commutes to work in New Haven every day on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. “I’ve got my rain gear with me, so I’m ready for anything.”

Since buying the Honda in early spring from Willow’s Motorsports in Cheshire, LaRochelle has put on roughly 2,500 miles. He also owns a 1990 Harley-Davidson Sportster, a 2003 Kawasaki ZX6R and a 2010 Harley-Davidson Super Glide Custom.

The only modification that LaRochelle has made to the bike is the addition of a higher windscreen. “I’m very pleased with the bike,” he said, reporting that gas mileage is wonderful. The highest that he has gotten with it has been 69 miles per gallon and the lowest has been 54 mpg.

What RIDE-CT likes most about the NC700X is the storage compartment where the gas tank usually sits. It’s large enough to hold a full-face helmet.

1983 BMW R65 cafe racer 

Owned by Guy Vincent of Winsted, this 30-year-old bike has been in his garage since 1987 and is his only bike. “I parked it for 10 years and brought it back out five years ago,” said Vincent, reporting that the R65 has been stock for most of its life but that it’s now “evolving.”

“I was at an air show in Simsbury and I noticed that all the planes that had aluminum engnes removed all the paint,” he said, explaining that prompted his decision to turn it into a cafe racer with clip-ons and no rear fender.

Vincent purchased the Beemer from Canton Cycles when that dealership was still in Canton. He has no idea of the current mileage after the mods, but said the odometer hit 125,000 miles five years ago. The bike sounds amazing, but Vincent said, “Performance-wise, I’m still messing around.”