MIDDLETOWN, CT – While Middletown Motorcycle Mania may never be replicated or replaced, the man behind the memorable 13-year event now unexpectedly finds himself working to bring “mania” to other cities in Connecticut. Rich Greco, who coordinated Middletown Motorcycle Mania for a decade, today provided details for an Elm City …
Read More »Siciliano Recognized For Heads First Effort
HARTFORD, CT – North Granby resident and RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland columnist Paul Siciliano has been recognized for his efforts in co-chairing Heads First Connecticut’s attempt this year to get a universal helmet law reinstated in the state. Along with eight others, Siciliano was presented with a “Thought Leader Award” by …
Read More »CT Bill To Raise Helmet Requirement Advances
HARTFORD – A bill that would require all motorcycle riders under 21 years of age to wear a helmet in Connecticut passed in the House of Representatives in a 113-33 vote on Tuesday evening. The helmet bill now goes to the Senate. Current law requires riders under 18 to wear …
Read More »TSI Harley-Davidson Getting New Ownership
ELLINGTON, CT – After being owned for nearly 50 years by members of the Levesque family, TSI Harley-Davidson at 398 Somers Road (Route 83) is in the process of being sold. Chad Clark and Bryan Castor, who currently own Sheldon’s Harley-Davidson in Auburn, MA and Spitzie’s Harley-Davidson in Albany, NY, …
Read More »When Is A Motorcycle Not A Motorcycle?
HUDSON, MA – When is a motorcycle not a motorcycle? One answer may be when it doesn’t have a rear wheel, rather two treads. Tucked in a corner at the newly-opened American Heritage Museum here is such a vehicle – a German-built “”Kettenkrad” from World War II. Formally known as …
Read More »Wild Rabbit Moto Show Draws A Crowd
CAMBRIDGE, MA – A warm and sunny evening brought out riders to the fourth Wild Rabbit Community Moto Show on Saturday. The event, staged by Madhouse Motors in Boston, was held at Naco Taco on Massachusetts Ave. and attracted riders of all ages on all types of motorcycles. “Something we’re really …
Read More »Rainy Weather Doesn’t Dampen Spirits At Ride1 Rally
SALISBURY, CT – Morning rain may have eventually given way to intermittent afternoon drizzle, but the combination conspired to seriously curtail attendance at the inaugural Ride1 Rally. The event, held today at Lime Rock Park and designed to kick off the riding season in southern New England, didn’t draw many …
Read More »“Courant” Throws Book At Bemer Before Judge Rules
HARTFORD – How long motorcycle dealer Bruce J. Bemer will be sentenced to prison for his involvement with a sex ring won’t be known until June when a judge sentences him, but the “Hartford Courant” newspaper stridently threw the book at him in an online editorial posted Thursday. “He deserves …
Read More »Suzuki “Water Buffalo” Gets Rescued
FALLS VILLAGE, CT – A lot of decision-making is involved when Wayne Olson of Tillson, NY decides to go for a ride. Will he ride an old bike or a new one? Will he ride an American-made cruiser, a classic British bike, or something more sporty from Italy or Japan? …
Read More »Jury Convicts Bemer In Sex Ring Trial
DANBURY, CT – The millionaire owner of New England Cycle Center in Hartford and two other motorcycle dealerships in southern New England has been convicted on multiple felony counts in a trial involving a sex trafficking ring that preyed on vulnerable young men. Bruce J. Bemer, 65, of Glastonbury was …
Read More »Motorcyclist Hit, Seriously Injured By Ladder
HAVERHILL, MA – A 62-year-old BMW rider from Dracut, MA was seriously injured on Saturday when he was hit by a ladder that came out of the back of a pickup truck while he was riding his vintage 1985 motorcycle southbound on I-495 here. The rider, whose name wasn’t provided …
Read More »CSP Reminds Drivers To Watch For Motorcycles
MIDDLETOWN, CT – With the arrival of spring, the Connecticut State Police are reminding drivers to watch for motorcycles as well as providing advice for motorcyclists for a safer riding season. In a recent “Tips from Troopers Tuesday” posting on social media, the CSP offered six tips for drivers, beginning …
Read More »Event Calendar Updated For 2019
There’s no shortage of motorcycle meets, rallies and other events to attend every year. Keeping track of them can be problematic. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why the Event Calendar page on RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland is the most viewed page on the website over the course of a year. …
Read More »“Hartford Courant” Persists In Helmet Law Support
HARTFORD – For years, the “Hartford Courant” has been pushing for the passage of a universal helmet law in Connecticut, and this year is no different. Despite the fact a helmet provision was inexplicably removed from H.B. 7140 last week before the bill was voted out of the Transportation Committee, …
Read More »CMRA Corrects Website, Calls Off Member Protest
HARTFORD – A day after posting incorrect information under a “BAD NEWS!” headline on its website, asking members to protest to state legislators against a bill that it believed called for a universal helmet requirement for riders, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association has now corrected the blunder and called off …
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