Up To Speed

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Why do I feel like I’ve dodged a disaster? Because maybe that’s the case. It’s a darn good thing that eagle-eye friend Neil Tolhurst texted (and called) over the weekend to see if I were free to go for short ride to compare his vintage …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Playing catch-up after taking a few more days off: – Indian today announced the date and location of the reveal of the all-new 2014 Indian Chief. It will be at 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in Sturgis, …

[meteor_slideshow]   They came by the, well, dozens today to recount an era in British history when the leather-wearing “Rockers” squared off against the scooter-riding “Mods,” only this time harmony reigned. It was the 5th annual Mods V Rockers rally, sponsored by the CT Rockers, which began at Scooter Centrale/Vespa …

How popular is motorcycling in the U.S. and, specifically, New England? It depends on where you live. It also depends on how the figuring is done, according to Bill Belei, founder and webmaster of MotorcycleRoads.com. Belei’s gathered some stats that show that

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Yamaha fans can say “goodbye” to the four-cylinder FZ8 and “hello” to the FZ-09, a new model for 2014 that was unveiled today. It’s powered by an 847cc inline triple engine that’s linked to a three-into-one exhaust. With a price tag of $7,990, the FZ-09 will …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Having been shuffled to parking lots far away from the display ground numerous times at motorcycle shows in years past, it was fun yesterday to be riding the proper marque to gain front door access at the 35th annual British Motorcycle Meet in Auburn, MA. …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com After months of rumors, amid reports that owner Alex Gifford was seeking investors to save the store, the closing of Branchville Motors in Ridgefield, CT is now fact. The Triumph, Moto Guzzi and Vespa/Piaggio dealer is currently in the process of shutting down. The bikes …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The start of Laconia Motorcycle Week is only 10 days away. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the event, prompting Laconia Harley-Davidson and New Hampshire Motor Speedway to join forces in a fund-raising effort designed to bring in more than $76,000 for the Boys …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com (Editor’s note: Update at bottom) Sometimes a rider pulls in, parks his motorcycle and you just go, “Wow!” Chris Rasile’s bike offers an example. It’s a 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King, pumped up from 88 cubic inches to 110 and fitted with a front fender from …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com As a dentist, Dr. Mike Maroon deals with apprehensive patients all day, and that’s part of reason why three months ago he bought Scooter Centrale/Vespa Hartford in Plainville. At the scooter store, he gets to see smiles on the faces of potential and returning customers. …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com More B.O.S.S. models will be produced by Suzuki. The initials stand for Blacked Our Special Suzuki and the bike maker announced Friday that it plans three new versions for 2014 – a Boulevard C90, a Boulevard M109R (pictured below) and a Boulevard C50. They will …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com There’s a well-known phrase that you’ve probably heard: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” It was coined in 1967 by graphic designer and copywriter Charles Rosner for an advertising campaign that promoted VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), the …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Have a little money to invest? As little as $1? A start-up company in California called Vectolabs LLC  is trying to raise $50,000 by June 12 so that it can begin producing a product called Vololights. It’s a license plate frame with LEDs incorporated that …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com It was a soggy morning for a ride that got wetter as the day progressed. After having our requisite breakfast at Toymaker’s Cafe in Falls Village, I suggested to riding compatriot Gary Randall that we take the scenic route to Norfolk on some roads that …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Rotec Aerosport in Victoria, Australia was started in 2000 and its products are made “to recapture the yesteryear romanticism of radial engines,” but with modern-day quality. While the company’s engines are primarily designed for airplanes, the seven-cylinder, 110-horsepower, 2800cc Rotec R2800 radial engine and the …