Columns

(Update: Big W’s closed its doors on May 16, 2021.) WINGDALE, NY – One of the pleasures of motorcycling is spotting a previously-unexplored road and, on a whim, taking it. Sometimes the result is a dead end. A more common outcome is discovering a route that becomes part of a …

Engine braking is the phenomena experienced whenever a rider rolls off the throttle and the motorcycle slows down due to the resistance provided by the engine and transmission. The affect is enhanced by changing to a lower gear. Prior to the downshift the wheels, engine, and transmission have a matched …

Mention the word “grill” and I’m apt to smile. For me, the word doesn’t only conjure up an image of a backyard barbecue or a heavily-chromed front end of a car produced by Detroit automakers in the 1950s, but also a line from an audio recording that I heard many …

Looking to buy a new bike and planning to spend $10,000, $15,000, or more?More people are answering “yes” to this question. Sales are up modestly in most street bike categories this year, despite the fact those shoppers often hear the same thing from dealership sales persons when asking for a …

EAST HAMPTON, CT – Maybe it’s because some friends rebuild vintage Indians. Or maybe it’s because a late riding buddy owned an old Indian Chief. Or maybe it’s because the revived Indian models have gotten so much attention, but my head always turns when an Indian appears. And two antique Chiefs that …

Imagine just for a moment a gorgeous and peaceful botanical garden where, once a week, a swarm of invaders descends. Most of these visitors are honey bees and butterflies. They’re colorful, generally non-threatening, and beneficial because they pollinate the flowers and blooming shrubs. They’re welcomed, or at least accepted without complaint. However, in addition …

Can a three-wheeled vehicle that has side-by-side bucket seats in an open cockpit, a steering wheel and a stick shift located in a console between those seats – but also has a swing-arm and is belt-driven – be considered a

KENT, CT – Friends Neil Tolhurst, Dean Mojon and I were seated on a wood bench across the street from Kent Coffee & Chocolate in downtown Kent on a recent Sunday around midday when a bright yellow Honda Gold Wing pulled to a stop in front of us. As we …

Maybe I’m just a doofus when it comes to modern motorcycles. Or simply inept. But I inevitably scare myself nearly every time that I test ride a modern bike with “throttle-by-wire.” The instant on/instant off nature of the system makes “unintended acceleration” a common occurrence, and I’m lucky that I …

RHINEBECK, NY – Motorcycle lovers who attend the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet at the Duchess County Fairgrounds in New York always have hundreds of vintage bikes to admire and thousands of parts and accessories to consider buying. The recent annual gathering had many alluring bikes, including a 1914 Excelsior, but …

In previous columns, we’ve had a look at how the sales and service departments affect the financial health of motorcycle dealerships. They are two legs of the “three legged stool” of dealership success. The third critical business area for successful dealerships is the revenue (and profits) generated from the sale …

Not all motorcyclists embrace the rolling sofas that cruisers represent or stick to the relatively smooth surfaces of state highways. There is an adventuresome breed of riders who prefer the challenge of a dual sport; testing their skills on

Lovers of vintage Indians would certainly notice the blending even if the rest of us didn’t, and last evening Rob Mathias took his “Chout” for a test ride up Route 4 from George Yarocki’s shop in Torrington, CT through Goshen. What’s a “Chout?” It’s a

We’ve all heard of “sticker shock.” That’s where something costs so much that the heart nearly stops beating upon discovery of the price, such as $495 for a single round of golf at Pebble Beach, cart not included. Less common but equally startling is “reverse sticker shock” where something costs …

It seems more people use motorcycles and scooters in an effort to reduce personal transportation costs when gas prices rise. Some smaller-engine motorcycles and scooters can get 60-70 mpg or better. The under-50cc mopeds can reach or exceed an impressive 100 mpg. Mopeds are also gaining in popularity, but I’m …