New England News

DANBURY, CT – Custom-made, one-off motorcycles have always been an extravagance and a bit of an enigma in terms of purpose. Are they created to be displayed as expensive artwork in the lobbies of corporate offices or in man caves? Or are they crafted to actually be ridden; at least …

Dealers who serve beer and other alcoholic beverages during on-site events are looked upon unfavorably by more than 70 percent of riders, results of latest RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England poll reveal. While most dealers don’t ever serve alcohol, a few actively engage in the practice and heavily promote their boozefests. …

ATHENS, NY – The seven-week “Head Out on the Highway: A Love Embrace” exhibit of vintage motorcycles and cultural items associated with motorcycling comes to an end this weekend at the Athens Cultural Center here with special “Hog Days of Summer” send-off events planned for Saturday. A “Motor Mouth” story …

EAST HAMPTON, CT – After a one-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brit Jam returned to the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds today, packing the show ground with hundreds of vintage models and drawing a large crowd of enthusiastic motorcycle owners and riders. “It feels normal out here,” said Tom Reitsma, …

TERRYVILLE, CT – It’s not uncommon when attending a vintage motorcycle show to spot a brand with an unfamiliar and/or rarely-seen name. The standout Friday at the opening day of the National Meet staged by the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America was a British-made 1919 Sparkbrook. …

TERRYVILLE, CT – Maine “Ted” Smith wasn’t making any predictions today as to crowd size at this weekend’s National Meet at the Terryville Fairgrounds being staged by the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. However, the organization’s president did drop some clues as to why the turnout …

NEW MILFORD, CT – It’s not often that a 20-year-old motorcycle looks like it just rolled off of a showroom floor. It’s even rarer for one to look even better than new. Mike Metcalfe’s 2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200R Eddie Lawson Replica does, though, as the Waterbury, CT resident is fastidious with …

SUFFIELD, CT – No way will Indian Motorcycle of Springfield owner Dennis Bolduc ever restore the recently-acquired 1916 Indian Powerplus that he brought to “Hendee Day” at Hilltop Farm today. To those who innocently inquire if a paint job is in its future, Bolduc has a succinct, pleasantly curt response: …

ASBURY, NJ – The plan to shift the popular Split’n Lanes Dodgin’ Gutters classic motorcycle show in Brooklyn, NY to an outdoor site in New Jersey this year under the name “Split’n Lanes … Hits the Road” has been scrapped. Having booked the event for Aug. 20-22 at Long Tall …

GILL, MA – It’s amazing what a motorcycle dealership can accumulate over the years in terms of models, signage, tools and more. The recent closure here of Green River Powersports and retirement of owner Steve Luzi provides an example with an “Everything Must Go!” auction set for July 10 at …

SHOW CANCELED… SANTA MONICA, CA – Given an earlier date on the calendar, a new location and a rebranded name and approach this year, the Progressive IMS Outdoors tour stop in New York (Brooklyn, actually) will be able to offer an attraction that has been impossible to do in the …

FORT MONTGOMERY, NY – Rockwell Cycles has set aside Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to remember and celebrate the life of its co-owner and president, Nick Rockwell. Rockwell, 71, passed away on June 12. A post the next day on his Facebook page by Ron Troiano …

AMESBURY, MA – A long-running motorcycle news and information website aimed at riders in Boston and across New England, and which had a memorable logo that showed a Minute Man riding a chopper, is no more. Operator Paul W. Cote recently shut down Boston Biker/New England Biker (bostonbiker.com). What now …

Harley-Davidson’s new Pan America 1250 adventure model has a solid future, results of RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England’s latest poll show. Nearly 70 percent of readers believe the model will be a success, and nearly one-third suggest that it can singlehandedly change the trajectory of the company, which has had declining …

NEWINGTON, CT – The designation “Newington Motorcycle Madness” is a bit misleading. It’s anything but a rowdy event, despite attracting hundreds of riders, having a beer tent, and a live rock band in Shovelhead. Held at Mill Pond Park this afternoon and evening, the well-organized gathering put on by the …