Bud Wilkinson

Bud Wilkinson is editor and publisher of RIDE-CT. He writes the "My Ride" classic car column for Hearst Connecticut Media Group's newspapers in CT and for the company's CT Insider website and YouTube channel. The weekly feature began in 2016 in the "Republican-American" newspaper in Waterbury, CT. He also wrote the "RIDE-CT" motorcycle column in that newspaper from 2005 until 2025 when motorcycles were folded into My Ride. A graduate of Vermont Academy prep school, he holds a B.A. degree journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University. He is the recipient of a Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award in 1992 and a 1991-92 regional Emmy Award for commentary. He currently rides a 1987 BMW R80RT and a 1996 BMW R850R.

Bronx Is The Name Of Harley-Davidson Streetfighter

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson has a nasty habit of releasing new model info in dribs and drabs, and that’s the case again with its two upcoming non-traditional models – a streetfighter and an adventure tourer. The company used the ongoing EICMA show in Milan, Italy this week to announce that its …

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IMS Attractions Aim To Create New Riders

SANTA MONICA, CA – With the annual Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York only a month away, plans for the three-day event are coming together. Building on last year’s initiative, the emphasis will be on creating new riders. Returning will be the New Rider Course where the “moto-curious” will …

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Indian Introduces Challenger Line For 2020

MINNEAPOLIS – Indian Motorcycle today introduced a new Challenger line of bagger models for 2020. The new muscle-bound line joins the Scout, FTR 1200, Chief, Chieftain, Springfield and Roadmaster models. In addition to the basic Challenger model, starting at $21,999, there will also be a pricier Challenger Dark Horse and …

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Motorcycle Deaths Declining Nationally, But Not In Northeast

WASHINGTON – Motorcycle deaths in the United States declined in 2018, dropping 4.7 percent from 2017, according to data released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 4,985 motorcycle fatalities were reported in 2018, compared to 5,229 in 2017. However, motorcycle deaths rose slightly in …

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Harley-Davidson Sales Dip Again In Third Quarter

MILWAUKEE – Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles continued to decline in the third quarter of 2019, dropping 3.6 percent in the United States and 1.2 percent worldwide, as reported in a company earnings statement issued Monday. Harley-Davidson sold 34,903 motorcycles in the U.S. in the months of June, July and August, …

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Bemer Arrested For Domestic Incident, Stores Losing Brands

GLASTONBURY, CT – The owner of New England Cycle Center in Hartford and two other motorcycle dealerships in southern New England, who was convicted in April on multiple felony charges in a trial involving a sex trafficking ring, has now been charged with disorderly conduct following an incident last week. …

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Zhukovskyy Indicted On 23 Counts For Deadly NH Crash

LANCASTER, NH – Additional charges have been filed against Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, the 23-year-old truck driver accused of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in June in Randolph, NH. Originally charged with seven counts of negligent homicide, Zhukovskyy now faces a total of 23 counts. If convicted of all charges, he …

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Production of LiveWire Resumes At Harley-Davidson

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson has resumed production of its new LiveWire electric motorcycle model, less than week after shutting down the assembly line for a “non-standard condition” involving the charging system. The company announced Friday that a problem involving one motorcycle caused the assembly stoppage, but that the manufacturing and delivery …

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