Up To Speed

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com New spy shots of the all-new BMW R1200RT have surfaced on MCN’s website in the U.K. (here) and they show that the new 2014 model will have the same water-cooled, 125-horsepower engine that’s being used in the recently launched R1200GS adventure bike. MCN spotted the …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Suzuki dealers in Connecticut and the rest of New England are breathing easier following the revelation earlier this week that bike maker planned on trimming about 10 percent of its U.S. dealer network. Apparently no dealers in the state, and reportedly only six in New …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The medium doesn’t matter for artist Craig Smith. He shapes metal, carves wood and even sculpts pumpkins. His largest creation, the 22-foot-long and 10-foot-high “Metal Monster,” is on display at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT. Less massive but becoming well known among riders is …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com In a new study that shows the relationship between “Likes” on Facebook and intelligence, researchers at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. conclude in their findings that Harley-Davidson owners have low IQs. The study is headlined “Private traits and attributes are predictable from digital …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com It’s been said that there’s a motorcycle for every butt. While two-wheeled beauty is in the eye of the bike owner, some bikes are just plain butt ugly.  That’s rude to say, I know, because of the hours and the dollars that go into designing …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Before he became a huge movie star with films ranging from “Ed Wood” to numerous “Pirates of the Caribbean” excursions, Johnny Depp starred on a TV series on the then-fledgling Fox television network. The show was “21 Jump Street.” It ran from 1987 to 1991 …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The revived Norton Motorcycles company is getting new digs down the road from its current operation inside the famed Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit. The company today announced the purchase from

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Remember back in late January when 24-year-old Hector Martinez of Covina, CA and his riding buddies held up traffic on the I-10 freeway so he could propose marriage to girl friend Paige Hernandez? Well, the stunt has now resulted in the arrest of Martinez and …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-com As promised, Indian introduced its new engine for upcoming models under the ownership of Polaris over the weekend at Daytona Bike Week. Dubbed the Thunder Stroke 111, the 111 cubic inch (1811cc) V-twin powerplant features a 49-degree angle and 9.5:1 compression ratio. It recreates the …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Another day at Daytona Bike Week, another new bike revealed. At noon today, Star Motorcycles took the cover off of the new Bolt model, a bobber-style bike with loads of attitude, loads of accessories and an affordable price – $7,990 for the base version and …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Harley-Davidson unwrapped a new Softail model at Daytona Bike Week this morning, showing off a less expensive, non-CVO version of the CVO Breakout. While the CVO Breakout, introduced last August, has a starting price at $26,499, the less flashy version will start at $17,899 in …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A bill that would require the registration of all ATVs – meaning quads, snowmobiles and dirt bikes – is moving forward in the Connecticut General Assembly with a full bill having been drafted and referred to

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com “Motorcycle” and “comedy” are words that aren’t often linked. Except for the movie “Wild Hogs” and the antics of Eric Von Zipper (played marvelously by Harvey Lembeck) in the beach movies of the 1960s, there isn’t much in the way of motorcycle comedy. Coming soon, …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com BMW is out with a new TV ad campaign that implores viewers to “Feed Your Restless.” Here are a couple of the spots: — Victory is challenging riders to reject its bikes. It’s offering a money-back guarantee on 2013 models. There is some fine print. …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A rider in Las Vegas was on his way to work at Planet Hollywood about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 when he got rear-ended by a city cop, who then proceeded to place the blame on the rider for applying his brakes. The rider, John …