Up To Speed

TERRYVILLE, CT – Maine “Ted” Smith wasn’t making any predictions today as to crowd size at this weekend’s National Meet at the Terryville Fairgrounds being staged by the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. However, the organization’s president did drop some clues as to why the turnout …

TORRINGTON, CT – For some motorcyclists, old models have a magical allure. They’re certainly much easier to work on than their modern-day counterparts, and they also spur the imagination to speculate on their past adventures. “I always think about the history,” said collector Richard Nelson of Torrington recently as he …

NEW MILFORD, CT – It’s not often that a 20-year-old motorcycle looks like it just rolled off of a showroom floor. It’s even rarer for one to look even better than new. Mike Metcalfe’s 2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200R Eddie Lawson Replica does, though, as the Waterbury, CT resident is fastidious with …

CATSKILL, NY – We live in a world where packaging/portion sizes seem to be shrinking while prices keep rising. Have you checked out a box of pasta, carton of crackers or a can of shaving cream at the grocery store lately? The containers are smaller than they once were, yet …

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – BMW is expanding its R 18 heavy cruiser line for 2022 with bagger and dresser versions. The new R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental will arrive in dealerships in August and give brand lovers some long-distance touring options. They join the existing R 18 and …

Being able to take a test ride is crucial to the motorcycle buying experience and can potentially heavily impact sales, results of RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England’s latest poll suggest. A total of 63 percent of those casting ballots in what was a record turnout said they would not buy a …

SUFFIELD, CT – No way will Indian Motorcycle of Springfield owner Dennis Bolduc ever restore the recently-acquired 1916 Indian Powerplus that he brought to “Hendee Day” at Hilltop Farm today. To those who innocently inquire if a paint job is in its future, Bolduc has a succinct, pleasantly curt response: …

HINCKLEY, LEICESTERSHIRE – Triumph today announced plans to expand its model offerings beyond the street and build “a comprehensive range of all-new competition Motocross and Enduro motorcycles” as well as launch a factory race program that will compete in “top tier championship racing.” “Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a …

ATHENS, NY – It’s often the case when a gallery or museum chooses to spotlight motorcycle culture that the emphasis is more on the machines than on the trailblazing men and women who have made riding popular over the decades. The current “Head Out on the Highway: A Love Embrace” …

WASHINGTON, CT – It’s only been open since October, but The PO café on the green in this elegant Litchfield Hills town is already getting regional attention. Owner Maggie Colangelo enthusiastically pulled out a copy of the current issue of “Yankee” magazine when RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England visited to show …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson unleashed its new, next generation Sportster S model this morning, a model that uses a Revolution Max 1250T liquid-cooled V-twin engine. The 1,250cc engine’s adjusted from the company’s Pan America 1250 adventure model; retuned to be more torque based. The compact 2021 entry has a squat, bulbous …

FALLS VILLAGE, CT – It’s a task with no requirements other than a pulse and a willingness to pick a favorite. Unlike other motorcycle shows, the two-wheeled portion of the Falls Village Car & Motorcycle Show doesn’t have categories, year restrictions or demands for original perfection. It’s a “come one, …

BAR HARBOR, ME – Be on the lookout for lots of scooters in northern New England early this week. For the first time in more than a decade, the biennial Scooter Cannonball returns to the Northeast. It’s a “time, distance, regularity rally where points are awarded based on miles completed …

MILWAUKEE – Does having the Harley-Davidson name on a motorcycle make it worth nearly $8,000 more than the same model without the badging? Owners of Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire electric model may be irritably questioning paying that premium today. Either that or they’re content in believing that their Harley-Davidson LiveWire may someday …

ASBURY, NJ – The plan to shift the popular Split’n Lanes Dodgin’ Gutters classic motorcycle show in Brooklyn, NY to an outdoor site in New Jersey this year under the name “Split’n Lanes … Hits the Road” has been scrapped. Having booked the event for Aug. 20-22 at Long Tall …