Up To Speed

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com He was kicked to the curb by Harley-Davidson, but it now appears that Erik Buell will finally release a new street machine from his new company, Erik Buell Racing. A week ago, Buell posted a teaser photo of a sport bike on his Facebook page and …

Ever thought that all of the family fireworks involving the feuding Teutel clan and their employees at Orange County Choppers in New York was just staged for the cameras for the “American Chopper” television series? The “Times-Union” newspaper in Albany reported over the weekend that

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com It has been a Danbury institution for decades and a Sunday gathering spot for riders seeking breakfast and a launching point for a morning ride, but Marcus Dairy Bar has finally closed for good. “The News-Times” newspaper in Danbury has the story of its last …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com A representative of the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association is planning to be in the hearing room today when the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee invites testimony on some 81 proposed bills, including ones that would require a valid driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement to register as motorcycle and that would …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Unlike other motorcycle companies, which routinely unveil their lineups at one time, and then maybe follow up with a new model or two during the year, Honda engages in a frustrating habit of revealing its lineup for a model year in dribs and drabs over …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com The state legislature is taking on the issue of loud exhaust pipes on motorcycles. Separate bills proposed in the General Assembly by Sen. John Fonfara (D-1st District) and Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-21st District) would, respectively, “prevent the operation of motorcycles with tail pipes that violate maximum …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Harley-Davidson continues to modify its entry-level Sportster model and has now come up with the 1200 Custom for 2011. It features a chunky 16-inch front wheel, a pull-back handlebar (with a mini-apehanger option) and a reshaped LED tail lamp. There’s also wider fork spacing and wider …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Italian bike-maker Moto Guzzi, part of the Piaggio Group, rolled out two prototype models at a dealer show in Monte Carlo last week. Of course, someone took cell phone pictures that quickly got leked to European motorcycle websites, which prodded the release of some official photos.  In the …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Forget massive amounts of chrome and bling, Harley-Davidson’s new 2011Blackline model, a member of the Softail line, keeps it simple with a sparse look and loads of black. From its bobbed rear fender to its Split Drag handlebars with internal wiring, the Blackline is a bike that’s been …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Bridgeport Harley-Davidson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday, listing debts of between $1 million and $10 million and similar assets. The “Connecticut Post” quotes owner W. Fritz Blau III as attributing the dealership’s problems to the bad economy of the past three years. Bridgeport …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Harley-Davidson and Victory used the opening day of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York today to unveil new models, while other manufacturers used the event to show off previously announced 2011 models for the first time. RIDE-CT got up at 4 a.m., drove through heavy …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com Nearly 100 competitors and 200 spectators from southern New England kicked off another season of ice racing today at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club in Sturbridge, Mass.  The weather was perfect – temps in the upper 20s and no wind. The crowd was enthusiastic. The competition spirited. …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com In trying to pin down the date for this year’s IMOC meet (staged by the Italian Motorcycle Owners Club), I chatted this week with Jeff Lussier of the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club in Sturbridge, Mass. That’s where IMOC holds it annual event. Lussier informed me …

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com “The Hour” newspaper in Norwalk yesterday heaped some editorial praise on the new Connecticut law that requires all new riders to take motorcycle safety course before obtaining an “M” endorsement on a driver’s license, and then took up the issue of the lack of a helmet …

By Bud Wilkinson  Ever since Gengras Harley-Davidson bought the BMW and Triumph franchises from Canton Cycles in Winsted and brought them to East Hartford in mid-2006, pairing them with Ducati, it has acted much like a nerd in an unlikely relationship with a supermodel – unsure of how to treat …