Up To Speed

There were some open spaces on showroom floors last year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers who were anxious to buy motorcycles and escape were a big part of the reason for the gaps, but factory shutdowns also presumably played a role. If dealerships did well in 2020, they may …

NEW HAVEN, CT – For the first time in the more than two decades, Connecticut is without an Aprilia dealer. New Haven Powersports in the Elm City is no longer selling the niche Italian line of sport bikes after having carried Aprilia since 1999.  Demands by Aprilia played into the …

In a normal year, most decisions would have been made by now. Dates would have already been selected by dozens of organizers of motorcycle events throughout the Northeast. CHECK OUT 2021 EVENT CALENDAR Last year certainly wasn’t a normal year. The spread of COVID-19 forced the cancelation of nearly all …

HARWINTON, CT – It sounds ridiculous given the model’s shoddy reputation. Of all the vehicles that have come and gone over the years, close to 30 if motorcycles are included, it’s a limited edition 1973 Chevrolet Vega GT that I wish was still in the garage. No, it wasn’t as …

Moto Guzzi marks a milestone on Monday – exactly 100 years since the Italian marque launched in Mandello del Lario. Currently owned by Piaggio, Moto Guzzi was conceived during World War I by two Italian Air Force pilots and their gifted mechanic, Carlo Guzzi. It was Guzzi who supplied the …

At this stage, it’s still anyone’s guess when the riding landscape will significantly shift to electric motorcycles from those that are powered by gas. However, just-released results from a survey done by the BikeSure insurance company suggest a rapid switch may happen fairly soon, at least across the pond. More …

Six weeks have passed, so it’s definitely time for a fresh helping of “If You Had Asked Me, I Would Have Told You…” It’s the column that updates recent stories, adds some items that didn’t get a full post, and tosses in a bit of opinion. Here goes: “If You …

SAINT-JEAN, FRANCE – It’s named in memory of legendary British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat and writer T.E. Lawrence (aka “Lawrence of Arabia”) who died in a motorcycle crash in 1935 while riding an original Brough Superior SS100. Unveiled Monday by the revived Brough Superior brand in France, the Lawrence model …

GARDNER, MA – A former Motus dealer in this north-central Massachusetts town is now selling sporty Energica electric motorcycles. Rob’s Dyno Service at 45 Fredette St. here quietly added Energica of New England signage to the shop early this year. And owner Rob Swartz has continued what has now become …

ROCKVILLE, CT – Ken Kaplan is back asking for donations. This time he’s trying to raise $50,000 via a GoFundMe page to put a new roof on an unrestored, 20,000-square-foot, multi-story brick building adjacent to the main factory building that houses his New England Motorcycle Museum. During an 11-minute video …

NEWINGTON, CT – Reduced highway traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in riskier riding during 2020 and a significant rise in motorcycle deaths on Connecticut, preliminary statistics from the state Department of Transportation reveal. The preliminary death toll for 2020 stands at 56, a more than 20 percent increase …

SPRINGFIELD, MA – The owners of the Westfield Transport Inc. pickup involved in the crash that killed seven riders in New Hampshire in June 2019 have been indicted for falsifying driving logs, federal prosecutors announced today. Dunyadar Gasanov, also known as Damien Gasanov, 36, was arrested this morning. He is …

MILWAUKEE – After nearly three years of teasing the Pan America 1250, Harley-Davidson today finally took the wrapper off its nascent adventure model. Set to arrive in showrooms in May, the model will come in two variants – the base Pan America 1250 at $17,319 and the Pan America 1250 …

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – It took several attempts to revive the Indian brand before success was realized under the ownership of Polaris. Can Buell do it quicker? We’ll see. An announcement was made this evening that Buell Motorcycles are being built once again, with a plan to “launch 10 performance …

WEST BRIDGEWATER, MA – Firefighters were able to save 28 motorcycles and a classic car from a Friday morning fire that spread through a building here that housed Spitshine Motorcycle Repair & Detail Shop and the new clubhouse for the Wings of Gold Motorcycle Club. Four motorcycles were lost, including …