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.

Book Review: Perfect Touchdown For Peter Egan’s “Landings In America”

HARWINTON, CT – Peter Egan is revered among car and motorcycle enthusiasts for his many contributions to “Road & Track” and “Cycle World” magazines over the decades; mainly the “Side Glances” and “Leanings” columns that were later collected into book form. His columns mixed romance with nuance, precise details with scope, …

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Honda Reaches 500 Million Sales Milestone After 76 Years

ALPHARETTA, GA – It’s a milestone worth bragging about, and Honda did so today with a press release touting that it has built 500 million motorcycles since beginning mass production in Japan in 1949. The first model produced 76 years ago was the 1949 Dream D-Type (shown above). Honda was …

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CT Gets New Motorcycle, Scooter Store In Motoplex Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT – Connecticut has a new motorcycle and scooter dealership with the opening this month of Motoplex Fairfield. It’s selling Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycles and Vespa and Piaggio-branded scooters, all made in Italy and owned by parent company Piaggio. The store’s arrival at 301 Commerce Drive came at …

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Reduced Days For Trail Riding At Thomaston Dam In 2025

THOMASTON, CT – Off-road motorcyclists will get two fewer days each week to ride the 13 miles of trails behind Thomaston Dam in 2025. A federal hiring freeze has resulted in a staff reduction at the popular recreation area which serves about 40,000 riders annually. The U.S. Army Corps of …

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“Itchy Boots” Scraps U.S. Book Tour; Says “It Doesn’t Feel Safe”

She’s among the best known motorcycle riders in the world and, just possibly, the most adventuresome having ridden throughout Africa and South America, from India to Europe, and in numerous other countries worldwide over the past eight years, and doing so on a variety of bikes. Her popular YouTube channel …

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Did Low Sales Or Bad Look Prompt Price Drop For Nightster?

MILWAUKEE – In a move that certainly raises questions about motivation, Harley-Davidson on Friday reduced the price of its entry-level Nightster model, bragging the “model is now available for under $10,000.” Not much under $10,000, though. Actually, just a measly $1 less. The base Billiard Gray version of the Nightster …

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BSA Appears On Verge Of Starting U.S. Sales, No Official Word Yet

There hasn’t been an announcement, but RIDE-CT can report that the revived BSA motorcycle brand appears to be very close to selling models in the U.S. with one dealer saying Wednesday morning that sales may commence within two months. This news follows a speculative RIDE-CT story back in late November …

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What’s The State Of The Motorcycle Industry? Rosy For Some, Not So For Others.

How a motorcyclist views the current state of the motorcycle industry may depend upon the brand of bike a person owns and/or on their loyalty to a specific brand. If a rider’s brand is doing well, that person might think all is rosy. If the opposite is true, concern might …

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Max BMW Closes In South Windsor, CT After 11 Years

NEW MILFORD, CT – Max BMW has closed one of its two stores in Connecticut, shuttering its South Windsor location while retaining its flagship operation in New Milford. In an email today to “South Windsor customers,” owner Max Stratton wrote, “All the friendly faces you know and love from South …

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