Columns

The showroom is filled not with new Triumph models, but with the scent of fresh carpeting. The floor of the service department glistens from the newly-applied sealant that still hasn’t cured in one area. A sign on the exterior of Hamlin Cycles in Bethel, CT has a Union Jack as …

Motorcycle shows are always fun, but the New England Air Museum‘s inaugural indoor event today in Windsor Locks, CT was best summed up by Rick Price of Chester, CT. “It’s such a cool place to have it. There’s certainly a lot of shiny aluminum around,” said Price, who brought his …

It stands upright on a podium, secured from beneath by thin cables and bookended to the front and rear by two other uncommon motorcycles that are posed on platforms that are appropriately lower. Spotlights in the ceiling make its bright blue and pink paint sparkle. The race-bike rarity is so …

By Bob Rosen Known to many, the Adventure Rider forums should be known to all.  Perhaps one of the very best all-round resources on the web. The depth and breadth of information on ADVrider is nothing short of astonishing.  Many a cold winter’s day has been whiled away reading the …

By Bob Rosen Bike EXIF – This blog by Chris Hunter features some of the most creative custom bikes you’ll ever come across.  The blog is updated on a regular basis and never fails to provide thought provoking (and even controversial) examples of bike builders’ creativity from around the world. Most often …

A neighbor recently thinned her bookshelves and deposited a plastic bag filled with paperbacks on my doorstep. Included in the discards that she thought I might enjoy was Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”  In reading it, having missed its gentle wisdom when it was …

  Even before un-virtuous ladies of the night could offer up their services something had to take place to generate interest and awareness for their “business.” They found themselves needing to sell their attributes to potential clients.  Attracting interested parties, emphasizing the superiority of their offering

Mixing smart phones and motorcycling is dangerous, but how about if there was a way to use one when not riding to improve your riding skills and knowledge? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recently announced courses for

By Bob Rosen “Ride to eat and eat to ride” is our motto and Roadfood.com has a seemingly endless collection of destinations. Indexed by state on this page, each of the hundreds of eateries has their own page with reviews and a few pictures of popular items. The emphasis is definitely not on …

By Bob Rosen The Federal Highway Administration has put together a list of 150 highways that have been designated either National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads. The America’s Byways website is searchable by state and each selection provides maps with highlights of interesting and historic destinations along the roadway. Finding a scenic byway …

By Bob Rosen Billy Joel has been playing with motorcycles even longer than he’s been playing the piano and singing for his supper. A while back he decided to share his collection of over 70 bikes with the general public.  Under the name 20th Century Cycles, Billy has put his collection …

By Bob Rosen The website Gear Patrol has a section devoted to The 50 Most Iconic Motorcycles of All Time. Any list with this title is bound to cause some controversy. Whether or not you agree with the models chosen, this group of bikes makes for some interesting viewing. Maybe you’ve even …

An enormous black-and-white photo showing the inside of the BMW motorcycle factory in Germany as it was in November 1923 adorns an end wall of Peter Nettesheim’s private museum on Long Island. In the picture, perched atop wooden tables and surrounded by serious-looking workers clad in overalls, are early R32 models …

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 …

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 …