Take a look at the above picture of a new 2015 Yamaha model. Do you see it? Look closer. Have you spotted it yet? You’re looking not for a part that’s missing, rather for one that’s included. See it yet? Yes, it’s a kick-starter. Not only is Yamaha’s SR400 retro-looking, …

By Bud Wilkinson Updated at 1:30 p.m.: A press release has now been issued. Harley-Davidson is bringing back the Dyna Low Rider (pictured above) and coming out with a touring version of the Sportster dubbed the Superlow 1200T (pictured below). Details on the new models as well as pictures have …

By Bud Wilkinson It has taken Jim Hamlin longer than he expected to open Hamlin Cycles in Bethel, CT, but with zoning approval finally secured, he’s now targeting a mid-April opening. “We’re getting there,” he said Wednesday, reporting that the bases for the counters in the parts and service departments …

By Bud Wilkinson A story in today’s “Mirror” newspaper in the U.K. tells of a company called Shaw Speed and Custom, which specializes in customizing Harley-Davidsons, including the one pictured below. It begins: “CUSTOMISING has always been a big part of the Harley-Davidson experience. There is an old joke which says that the …

Riding through Olympia Pass in Peru Rene Cormier jokes that the 2003 BMW F650GS Dakar that he no longer rides has been “put out to stud.” It’s still on the road, though, being trailered to speaking engagements so that it may be seen by other envious motorcyclists – riders who wish …

With the 84th International Motor Show of Geneva only days away (March 6-16), Ducati today unveiled a freshened Diavel as a preview for the 2015 model year. The new Diavel sport cruiser will begin arriving in dealerships worldwide in April. The accompanying press release was filled with extravagant phraseology but …

By Bud Wilkinson Police in New Haven, CT have charged 90-year-old Nancy Cassella of Bethany with negligent homicide and improper turning for a Sept. 7 car-motorcycle accident that resulted in the death of 34-year-old rider Brian McCarthy of North Haven. Cassella was arrested on a warrant Tuesday and will be …

By Bud Wilkinson The American Motorcyclist Association revealed today that Indian Motorcycle will be celebrated as the 2014 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year. The annual event will be staged July 11-13 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH. Indians will be featured in displays and race …

By Bud Wilkinson The province of Manitoba in Canada in now formally listing the Hells Angels motorcycle club as criminal organization, the first government entity in North America to make that designation. The largely procedural moves means that “police will no longer have to prove the motorcycle gang is a criminal …

What’s your image of those who attend the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota? If you pegged them as being older, more proper than hard-core bikers, affluent and educated, well, you’d be right. You’d also be on target if you said rally-goers were mostly Harley-Davidson riders. The results of …

By Bob Rosen Since starting RKA Motorcycle Luggage in 1985, Kathy and Richard (center and right in the picture) have continuously expanded their offerings of well-made, American-built Cordura luggage to feature an exceptionally diverse collection of products.  Their products application page lists just about every popular brand of motorcycle. Those in need …

Lee Ann Sullivan with her collection of motorcycles As a children’s author with 23 titles to her credit, Lee Ann Sullivan of Salisbury, CT is accustomed to researching before sitting down at her laptop to write. It was an assignment a decade ago for what would eventually became the 2004 book …

By Bud Wilkinson It can be extremely painful stopping at the gas pump no matter where you live these days, but that’s especially true in Connecticut. Three bills just introduced in the General Assembly would trim the gas tax in Connecticut, while other bills would add advertising to Connecticut River …

By Bud Wilkinson Back in August, RIDE-CT offered up reviews of the new Indian motorcycles by staffer Tim Aloisio and reader Dick Clukey of Torrington, CT, who was the owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide. In that assessment, Clukey predicted after riding an Indian Chief Vintage, “This is going to …

By Bud Wilkinson In an effort to “reposition the brand,” Royal Enfield has dramatically dropped the MSRPs of its line of  mid-sized motorcycles. The most expensive 2014 model is the new 535cc Continental GT cafe racer  (pictured above). It will sell for $5,999, “much lower than industry observers expected,” the …