By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The piggy bank may seem empty at this time of year, but J.D. Power and Associates reports that motorcycle owners seemed more willing to spend in 2011, compared with 2010. In its annual motorcycle satisfaction study, which was released Friday, the company reported that buyers …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Massachusetts residents who live in the Berkshires or the Pioneer Valley in the western and central portions of the state are more apt to own a motorcycle than those living in more heavily populated areas, such as Boston. Using census figures, the state Department of …

By Bud Wilkinson Mention the name “Husqvarna” to anyone who lives in the country and images of chain saws and lawn tractors inevitably come to mind. There’s one of each sharing space with the bikes in my garage. They’re orange-colored time thieves that curtail riding and cause a sore back …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A few years ago, with the help of a few friends and acquaintances, I wrote a RIDE-CT column in “The Republican-American” on the telltale signs of “Dunkin’ Angels,” a peculiar specie of motorcyclist that is more poser than rider. As I noted at the time, …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A motorcycle business in Gastonia, N.C. buys gently used Harley-Davidsons, adds some bling and then sells them to customers around the world. In four years, the three-man shop has sold nearly 800 Harleys via eBay. – It wasn’t mentioned in this morning’s column in “The …

Victory designers reached into the parts bin and regurgitated a new model Friday evening in Long Beach, CA with the unveiling of the 2012 Hard-Ball at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show. The Hard-Ball mixes the ape-hangers and beefy rubber of the High-Ball with the hard bags from the Cross Roads …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Five-time Moto GP World Champion Mick Doohan makes a point about safe riding in this safety video that Steve Smith sent me. Admittedly, I had to watch it a couple of times to “get it,” but only because of Aussie Doohan’s accent when he explained …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A motorcycle stunt rider in Brazil misjudged the paths of some oncoming cars while doing a wheelie and got catapulted roughly 80 feet through the air during a performance. The mishap involving the rider who is wearing black comes at the end of the video:

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Some riders were standing on the sidewalk in Kent yesterday afternoon when one of them observed, “You don’t see many Harleys at this time of year.” Even though there were a couple of Harley-Davidsons parked nearby, the comment still drew chuckles because it reinforced a …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Honda’s recalling Gold Wing/GL1800s for the model years 2001-2010 and 2012 for a possible braking system problem. The company reports that “the compensating port hole inside the secondary master cylinder can become blocked… If this occurs, the rear brake temperature and pressure progressively increase.” The …

By Bud Wilkinson By the time the Sunday motorcycle adventure ended, and riding cohort Gary Randall’s 1968 BMW R50/2 was securely strapped on a trailer, the sun was setting in the Berkshires and a bovine chorus was serenading us from beyond a barbed wire fence. Something that I feared happening …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The revived Norton brand is having some growing pains across the pond. BBC News reports that the British biker-maker is behind on delivering models to anxious customers. One customer who paid up front even sued to get his money back. The company is hoping to …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Received an email yesterday evening from Cliff LaMotta, former of owner of Cliff’s Cycle Revolution (now MAX BMW) in Brookfield, on behalf of the Motomarathon Association. He extended an early invitation to RIDE-CT to participate in next year’s Motomarathon. It’s a four-day endurance tour that …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Today’s glorious weather had the roads loaded with bikes. RIDE-CT thought it wise late this afternoon to “exercise” all three bikes in the garage – get the oil circulating and the gas tanks topped. The 1969 Triumph T100R Daytona proved to be balky, though, requiring …

By Bud Wilkinson Members of Torrington’s Reservoir Dogs Motorcycle Club hit the intersection of Route 4 (East Elm St.) and Main Street between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today to solicit donations for Christmas Village, the Friendly Hands Food Bank and St. Jude’s, marking the ninth year the club has …