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.

Percentage Of Women Owners Continues To Grow

IRVINE, CA – The percentage of women owners continues to grow and nears one in five who have a motorcycle. Newly-released survey statistics from the Motorcycle Industry Council show that women now make up 19 percent of motorcycle owners. That’s up from 14 percent in 2014, 12 percent in 2012 …

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New Motorcycles And More At IMS In NYC This Weekend

NEW YORK – The Progressive International Motorcycle Show returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this weekend with dozens of new 2019 models, vintage motorcycles, vendors, the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show and a new “Discover the Ride” element designed to introduce non-riders to the joys of …

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More Ken Condon Seminars Offered By H-D Dealers

Harley-Davidson dealers in the northeast are ramping up their efforts to improve riders’ skills by offering six more seminars staged by author, instructor and motorcycle magazine columnist Ken Condon over the next six months. “We’re going to very strongly go in for a brand agnostic approach this year,” according to …

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NER Calendar Showcases Contest Winners

They just may be the best motorcycle pictures that most riders never get to see. Unless someone checks out the NER Photo Contest group page on Facebook or buys the NER’s limited-edition annual wall calendar, these marvelous photos – featuring motorcycles and shot by motorcyclists – don’t get viewed.  NER …

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Can-Am Seeks To Revive Sagging Three-Wheeler Market With Ryker

HARWINTON, CT – Depending on one’s perspective, they’re either odd or exotic. To many motorcyclists, three-wheelers such as Can-Am’s Spyder and Polaris’ Slingshot that don’t conform to the traditional trike layout of one wheel in front and two in the rear can’t be mentioned in the same breath as a motorcycle. …

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Vintage Steele Shutting Down After Six Years

BRATTLEBORO, VT – Less than two weeks after thanking customers in a Facebook post that noted the shop’s six-year milestone, Vintage Steele announced this afternoon “with deepest sadness and greatest regret” that the motorcycle repair and custom operation is shutting down.  “We are finishing out the riding season and won’t …

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Massive Recall By Harley-Davidson For Clutch Problem

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson said today that it’s recalling nearly a quarter-million motorcycles due a clutch problem. Affected are about 238,000 of 2017 and 2018 model-year Touring, Trike and CVO Touring models as well as some 2017 Softails. The problem involves the hydraulic clutch assembly. Harley-Davidson announced the recall in a …

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Harley-Davidson Sales In U.S. Plummet In Q3

MILWAUKEE – Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the U.S. tanked in the third quarter of 2018, dropping 13.3 percent from the same period a year ago, earnings results released this morning revealed. The company sold 36,220 motorcycles in the U.S. during July, August and September, down from 41,793 in 2017. …

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BMW Launches Online Store For Parts, Gear

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – Just a couple of weeks after Harley-Davidson announced the launch of an online store in conjunction with Amazon, BMW Motorrad USA has unveiled its own web shopping presence (www.shopbmwmotorcycles.com) for owners to buy parts, accessories and gear. Unlike Harley-Davidson’s direct-to-consumers approach, BMW reports, “Individual purchases are …

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American Flat Track Coming To New England In 2019

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The 2018 season may have just wrapped up, but American Flat Track is already out with a provisional schedule for 2019 that includes a new event in New England during Laconia Motorcycle Week. The season will launch at Daytona International Speedway with the Daytona TT on …

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