Columns

There are many who are all-year riders here in New England, but many wait for spring to bring their motorcycles out of hibernation. Experienced riders know it’s a good idea to perform an inspection and possibly some servicing of the bike prior to each ride, especially the first time the …

WESTFIELD, MA – If it seemed at all odd when Polaris Industries, maker of Indian motorcycles, came out with the Slingshot roadster three years ago, it was really a case of history somewhat repeating itself, and with a good deal more success. The three-wheeled, belt-driven Slingshot is really more automobile …

Maybe it was the muscle aches from yard clean-up, exacerbated by start-of-season riding with arms, legs and butt unaccustomed to being in a locked-in seating position for extended periods, that prompted the thought. At age 63, I probably have more riding days behind me than ahead of me.

CHESTER, VT – No, this isn’t about me having some kind of vision, or about some psychic that I employed to interpret it. Not even close. This is about the creative process. It actually stems from the rather arrogant assumption (on my part) that I can do it, or have …

Manufacturers hate to terminate dealerships. It’s a real hassle for all parties concerned and it raises questions about the brands involved. Prior to terminating an authorized dealer, a manufacturer will almost always try to help the dealer resolve its problems so they can remain a dealer for the brand. In …

BRIDGEWATER, CT – So, you’ve got several years and miles under your belt on tar and are feeling pretty confident in your on-road skills. And then spring arrives and you stop at your favorite two-wheeled Sunday meetup spot and hear some buddies talking about their awesome off-road adventure. They appear so …

This evening I found myself sifting thru pictures of motorcycles that I have owned. I like to do that from time to time. In doing so, I got stuck looking at several pictures of the 2003 BMW K 1200 RS currently within my herd. Though it wasn’t purchased new, I …

HARWINTON, CT – It has been a schizophrenic end to winter. Warm one day, cold and windy the next, with occasional rain or snow. One day I’m toasty while riding to New Haven to meet a friend for lunch, the next I’m shivering while hauling logs for the wood stove. …

WILLIMANTIC, CT – Mark Turkington is a familiar figure at motorcycle shows around New England. The 72-year-old Bolton resident is a life-long rider and a collector of rare, vintage models, and he enjoys showing off his two-wheeled artifacts. For Brit Jam in 2015, he brought a British-made 1924 Douglas SW/24. …

After the first few teaser days of the coming riding season, some folks are thinking about a new bike. Perhaps interest began after an NYC visit to see all the shiny objects at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show extravaganza. Or maybe a winter of reading every bike magazine you could …

CHESTER, VT – A string of bright, sunny days here in February holds the promise of spring, yet we are still about a month away from the Vernal Equinox, or the first day of spring. This is my 46th year of holding a valid motorcycle license, so naturally these spring-like …

BROOKLYN – Submissions are now being sought for the fifth annual international Motorcycle Film Festival, which will be held at the Wythe Hotel here Sept. 20-23. The deadline for entering is July 15. The festival celebrates “the world’s best dramatic, documentary, short, and experimental films created by the international motorcycling …

PEMBROKE, N.H. – Ever traded in a motorcycle at a New England dealership and wondered what became of it? In some cases, the dealer may have simply tied a price tag to the handlebar and put it on the showroom floor for resale, not even bothering to inspect or clean …

While it doesn’t rank up there with selfishly using a handicapped space without a placard, “Doc Martin” star Martin Clunes nonetheless recently stirred the ire of one person for improperly parking his big BMW car in a space reserved solely for motorcycles in England. In a video shot by disgruntled …

NORTH GRANBY, CT – There isn’t a single time when I ride that I’m not grateful for the beautiful scenery that surrounds me. The roadsides are filled with farmlands and adorned with post and beam barns as well as century-old New England homes – all filled with history. The major distraction …