Columns

TORRINGTON, CT – There eventually comes a time when every motorcyclist gives up riding. At 91, Jack Potter has finally decided to sell his motorcycles. He actually stopped riding eight years ago. It wasn’t because he’d lost his nerve, rather his decision was mostly triggered by an abrupt decline in enthusiasm, …

NORTH GRANBY, CT – How the ride known as the “North East 7” came to be cannot easily be determined. I first heard about it two or three years ago from fellow CONREP instructor Dollie Fonseca during an instructor training class. She shared that her husband, Ralphie, led a ride that …

BRIDGEWATER, CT – Cultural immersion is one of the greatest benefits of riding outside of the United States, but there’s also the gorgeous scenery and gastronomic delights to enjoy. Doing an out-of-country tour with a local guide only enhances the experience, as I recently discovered by riding through the Tuscany and …

LITTLE NECK, NY – So a rider friend and I decide to stop in to the local Harley-Davidson dealership for a look at the latest models. It was around 11:00 o’clock on a mid-week morning. As you might expect, there were no customers in the showroom at that hour; just three …

THOMPSON, CT – The invitation came unexpectedly. The winner of a contest held by the New England Riders motorcycle group was unable to attend an upcoming non-sportbike track day and organizer Ed Conde wondered if I’d like to fill the slot. Set for May 7 at Thompson Speedway, the street rider …

NORTH GRANBY, CT – Some free time last week prompted the thought that a weekday at midday is the perfect time to ride as the rural roads can be less congested.  Being someone who always take note of what other riders have to say about their rides, I am always on …

Dear Progressive, I have a beef.  Earlier this week, I participated in an informative and carefully-executed instructional non-sportbike “track day” staged by Tony’s Track Days at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, CT. I rode my new-to-me 2014 Triumph Bonneville and did so without insurance coverage after being informed by …

BRIDGEWATER, CT – A few weeks ago when perusing ADV Rider, I happened upon a thread in the Northeast Forum: “Ladies-only event: Over And Out, June 22-24 2018, Hancock.” After over 40+ years as a female off-road rider, I had never witnessed an actual women’s off-road event here in the northeast. …

CHESTER, VT – It may have been around 2004 when I made (for me) a rather predictable purchase a brand new four-wheel-drive ATV with a winch and a plow. I figured that I could justify the purchase just for the snow plow attachment. I used the ATV for a while, learned …

KENT, CT – It’s probably natural to yearn for the “good ol’ days” when life was seemingly simpler, less hectic and far more congenial. When motorcyclists look back, they do so with fond memories of small and cluttered motorcycle “shops” with oily rags and limited choices of new models, not at …

HARWINTON, CT – The endless winter can be a time for mischief because the only alternative to riding is window shopping in preparation for riding. Short days, long nights, cold and snow force a person to go online to visit dealer websites and to check out Craigslist for the used …

As a newbie, I knew little about riding. I’d long driven stick shift cars so learning how to operate a clutch and shifter lever on a motorcycle wasn’t a problem when I took the Basic Rider Course in Connecticut back in 2004. Everything else was foreign. Over the years, I’ve …

NAUGATUCK, CT – Motorcycling is like so many other sports. Training and practice can help immeasurably in mastering skills, learning new ones and correcting bad habits that have developed over time. Think about it for second: Golfers often seek out a pro to improve a swing. So do tennis players. Skiers …

CHESTER, VT – When I bought a BMW motorcycle, it was like stepping into another culture. I quickly discovered that BMW motorcycle riders are a unique breed. When I attended my first BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMW MOA) rally, I met a lot of intense motorcyclists. Many of them …

Despite some sales setbacks of late, Harley-Davidson knows how to “move the metal.” The company has more than 600 dealerships in the U.S. and those stores will soon be used to sell a line of electric models. There should be no doubt that Harley-Davidson will surmount the technical challenges and …