Up To Speed

TORRINGTON, CT – Kaiba, the motorcycle-riding blue and gold macaw, is suddenly and seriously ill. Owner Thea Everest of Torrington, who often takes the bird along when riding her 2013 Honda Sabre, revealed Friday that Kaiba is under the care of veterinarians. “Kaiba has an abscess on his liver. His …

TORRINGTON, CT –    When avid motorcyclist Thea Everest of Torrington indulges in what’s commonly referred to as “wind therapy” by many riders, she often takes along a passenger who can literally spread his wings in the breeze as they roll down the byways.  Rather than occupy the normal pillion …

VALCOURT, Quebec – Can-Am moved closer to selling electric motorcycles this week by announcing that select dealers in Canada, the United States and 11 other countries are now taking pre-orders for its Pulse and Origin models. Production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year with global …

VERNON, CT – Connecticut now has a third Indian dealer with the addition of Indian Motorcycle of Hartford. It’s located a dozen miles northeast of the capitol city in Vernon. The franchise was granted to the owner of Scranton Powersports in mid-June, but new models didn’t begin arriving until two …

SHARON, CT – It’s not a stretch to suggest that Scott Rabeler became a BMW motorcycle enthusiast and collector by happenstance. Had dealers selling other brands been better stocked or shown more interest when he walked in their door, he likely wouldn’t have ended up with a basement workshop and …

PEMBROKE, NH – National Powersports Distributors is going back to its roots; surrendering new bike brands at its stores in New Hampshire and New York and returning to selling only used motorcycles. The switch is effective this coming Thursday, Aug. 1. The company is giving up Triumph in Pembroke, NH …

FALLS VILLAGE, CT – It’s one of the largest shows in the state each year, but the number of motorcycles that get displayed tends to vary from year to year. There was a sizable number of bikes this year, including vintage BMWs, Harley-Davidsons and Hondas as well as rare models …

It took a bit of easy burrowing to come up with some statistics that just may shock many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. Unit sales over the past 10 years show a company in severe retreat. Sales have cratered.  To be precise, Harley-Davidson sold in excess of 100,000 fewer motorcycles worldwide last year …

WOODBRIDGE, CT – It’s about time. After a five-year hiatus initially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Upcycle Helmet Art Show is being revived by Jim LoPresti. It will be staged from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 at LoPresti’s Lucky Soul Tattoo shop on Route 63 (214 Amity …

By Steve Rossi / RIDE-CT BETHEL, CT – Moto Guzzi says that the new Stelvio is “synonymous with fun and discovery,” which is exactly what we Guzzisti enjoyed when Jim Hamlin and Co. swung the doors open on Connecticut’s sole Mandello del Lario dealership on Thursday to welcome the new …

DANBURY, CT – Harley-Davidson of Danbury is engaging more in “forward planning” than aggressively seeking to sell after nearly 30 years in operation, dealership co-owner Al Lucchino said today. His assessment was in response to a story earlier this week by Hearst Newspapers in Connecticut that reported that the business …

Out of all the charity rides across Connecticut during the course of a year, this one stands out. It’s called the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. It features dapperly dressed riders navigating classic and vintage-looking motorcycles while raising money to battle prostate cancer and prevent suicide. “We need lots of motorcycles. It’s …

NEWINGTON, CT – After a more than three-week delay due to high water levels on the Connecticut River, the seasonal Chester-Hadlyme and Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferries resume operation today following the winter hiatus.  Ferry service is set to start at 7 a.m. and will run daily through Nov. 30. Hours of …

Motorcycle deaths have soared in Missouri in the wake of that state’s repeal of a universal helmet law in 2020. Last year was the deadliest ever for riders with 174 fatalities. Only 77 of the victims were known to be wearing a helmet. The new data from the Missouri Department …

HARTFORD – The line of five motorcycles parked outside of Petrolhead Café early Saturday afternoon made a subtle statement by the badges on their gas tanks. There were four Triumph models – a Trophy, a Street Twin, a Thruxton and a Bonneville – and a lone Harley-Davidson Sportster variant. A …