Columns

***CLASSIC RIDE-CT*** By Bud Wilkinson Tim Van Deusen was mystified when a postcard arrived at his Torrington, CT home from Forza Motorsports inquiring whether he might be interested in selling his 1984 Yamaha RZ350. Forza Motorsports is a dealer of high-end exotic cars and motorcycles in Gaylordsville, and Van Deusen …

***CLASSIC RIDE-CT*** The 1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane is unforgettable. It’s an attention-grabbing, three-cylinder motorcycle with a fan-like exhaust that is worthy of display in a museum of fine art. To hide one of these rare bikes, to have it covered and stored away in a basement spits in the face of …

Safe Riding columnist Steve Smith’s contribution last week titled “Getting Ready for the Riding Season,” in which he suggested that it’s a wise idea to give your bike(s) and your gear a going over now that the weather’s changing and the riding season approaches, got me off my butt and moving. …

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com The ugly truth is that residing in New England areas means that most riders experience PMS, or parked motorcycle syndrome. Now it’s the time when many  motorcyclists are coming off their winter hiatus and the excitement of getting the bike out for a ride on …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Seated in a Starbucks in Seymour not far from his home, Dan Van Epps was explaining over coffee how Norton motorcycles are made, drawing upon the company’s iconic name and emphasizing how they’re “hand-built British motorcycles built by British hands.” He flipped over a stapled …

By Steve Smith A few years ago, my son was struck in the leg and foot by a vehicle that nearly rear-ended him while he was stopped at a traffic light. He was 19 years old at the time and a fairly new rider. The driver swerved

Besides being a 1909 graduate of Cornell University and an astute mechanical engineer, Norbert Schickel was also a pack rat. Even after his Connecticut-based business went out of business, the self-described “born mechanic” retained financial statements, contracts, photos, correspondence, schematics, promotional literature and even parts from his creations. “Grandpa never …

By Bud Wilkinson So-called “reality shows” on television are anything but real. They’re orchestrated and staged just like a sitcom or drama. The action is largely preordained and the open, middle and ending are tightly scripted. The purpose is storytelling, not truth, because actual reality can be

By Steve Smith In a very simplistic view of the types of motorcycle crashes, it can be said they fall into two types: Motorcycle only and those with other vehicles. It’s important to note that there is rarely a single cause of motorcycle crashes. Most times a combination of

Update: The light bulb finally went on and I learned to properly tuck the laces down inside the boot. Having worn them now for nearly 18 months, I’ve found them to be comfortable and durable, so the rating gets revised upwards by one star. —– Ever put your feet down …

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com Ever drop a motorcycle? Drops are a not to be confused with a crash. What I’m talking about is a mishap that occurs from a standstill or while riding slowly. Gravity takes over and leads to an “Oh, Shit!” moment.  If this has happened to you, …

By Steve Smith Many riders have never had any formal riding training. Years ago, there was no rider training, so they learned to ride at the school of hard knocks. Maybe a parent or spouse provided some basic instructions to get rolling. Some, like me, started out on dirt bikes …

By Bud Wilkinson Headed north out of Litchfield on Route 63 on a recent Sunday morning, I came up behind two motorcyclists who were riding in staggered formation at a speed that was at times a little south of the posted limit. As we approached a passing zone, the rider …

By Bud Wilkinson The brand and style of motorcycle that someone rides often makes a statement about that rider, projecting a real or desired self-image. The same can be said about companies and the models that the many manufacturers produce. In a 2009 article, “Motorcyclist” magazine recalled the late 1970s …

By Steve Smith Motorcycling is mostly an activity between rider and machine, but it is enjoyable to ride with a group of like-minded individuals. Whether on tour or just out for a day ride, the camaraderie and the discussing of