Up To Speed

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Whether you’re a rider who practices ATG-ATT (All the gear, all the time) as I am or someone who chooses to ride in a T-shirt without a helmet, I’m pretty sure we can agree that wearing protection can help reduce injuries in accidents. A pair …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Nick Lingenheld’s yard in Harwinton, CT is filled with his motorized acquisitions, all in various states of decay. There are Wheel Horse, Beaver and Speedex lawn tractors, a Harley-Davidson golf cart made more than three decades ago when AMF owned the company, and two 1974 …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Yes, Harley-Davidson has used a liquid-cooled motor in its V-Rod models for years, but but it hasn’t put one in a “traditional” model until now. The company’s new “Twin-Cooled” engine will be used in some 2014 Touring models, which prompts a new poll question: Is …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com In what it’s calling “the largest scale new model introduction in the company’s 110-year history,” Harley-Davidson this morning unveiled eight new touring motorcycles that feature liquid-cooled motors, linked ABS and touch-screen electronics. Developed under the name Project Rushmore, the eight bikes include the Road King, …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com No price yet, but Suzuki has unveiled a limited edition GSX-R1000 SE model for 2014. Only 100 will be produced and each will be numbered. It will feature a “polished and chrome plated frame, plus … machined and polished chrome rims with clear-coated blue spokes.” …

Dick Clukey of Torrington, who owns and rides a Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, journeyed to Wagner Motorsports/Indian Motorcycle of New England in Worcester, MAWorcester to ride the new Indians. Here’s his take: By Dick Clukey “OK, guys and gals, just got back from Worcester, MA and test rode a new Indian Chief …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Middletown Motorcycle Mania keeps getting bigger and better. The eighth annual event brought a crush of riders and motorcycle lovers to downtown Middletown on Wednesday night to ogle bikes, chat with friends and sample some tasty food. Four blocks on Main Street were shut down and …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The McCann-Erickson ad agency in Israel is just out with a yummy new print ad (above) for Honda’s CRF250R. It’s dubbed “Your Weekend Treat,” which begs to ask “Which is the treat?” It is the track made of chocolate or the bike itself? — The …

Famed custom bike builder Eddie Trotta will be the celebrity guest Wednesday night at 8th annual Middletown Motorcycle Mania on Main Street in Middletown, CT. 2012 edition of Middletown Motorcycle Mania The event, which attracts thousands of riders and a wide variety of bikes, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The ritual will continue. A motorcycle will undoubtedly get rolled from the garage and parked at the top of the driveway on Sunday morning. The armored jacket, helmet and gloves will be brought outside in advance of a very lonesome ride. Missing, this Sunday and …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Plans are proceeding for a New England Trike Talk Rally on the weekend of Aug.23-24, with the Quality Inn in Torrington, CT serving as rally headquarters. More than four-dozen trike enthusiasts have already registered for the rally, which will include a Saturday night banquet at …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Indian Motorcycle used the Sturgis rally tonight to unveil it new lineup of three 2014 Chief models, with base prices ranging from $18,999 to $22,999. The models are the Indian Chief Classic (above at left) at $18,999, the Indian Chief Vintage (above at right) at …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com This is truly the little motorcycle website that could. RIDE-CT.com set a readership record in July with 8,384 page views, nearly doubling the 4,407 page views of July 2012. Unique visitors to the site year-to-date totaled 21,518, up from 14,209 for the first seven months …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Is it me, or is Victory the Rodney Dangerfield of motorcycles; a brand that doesn’t get the respect it deserves considering the fit, finish and reliability of the bikes it build? Is it merely matter of Harley-Davidson owners being so loyal that Victory hasn’t made …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Anthony and Lisa Sebastiano of Watertown, CT were headed to the Dalton, MA this morning to check out the American Legion post there and had stopped for a moment at the Becket General Store in nearby Becket. That’s where RIDE-CT.com spied Anthony’s handsome 1977 Harley-Davidson …