Up To Speed

Updated Oct. 4, 2023 – After roughly 10 days of suspending sales of new and used motorcycles, BMW quietly allowed dealers to begin selling bikes agains as of Sept. 29. In a brief statement issued today to RIDE-CT, BMW said, “BMW Motorrad USA has announced that the Engineering Division has …

Sales of BMW motorcycles have reportedly been halted in the United States until further notice, with dealers blocked from selling all gas-powered models. News of the sales shutdown surfaced Tuesday afternoon, specifically in a forum thread on the Adventure Rider website. One person posting on the forum identified himself as …

ALPHARETTA, GA – Introduced in Europe and elsewhere nearly a year ago, Honda now plans to bring its mid-sized adventure model known as the XL750 Transalp to the United States next month as a 2024 model-year entry. Available in one color (Matte Black Metallic) and with an MSRP of $9,999, …

Photos from Doc’s Customer Appreciation Day & Bike Show held at Doc’s Motorcycle Parts in Waterbury, CT on Sept. 17, 2023. — — — — — — — — —

Photos from the Sunday in the Park car show at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. The show also featured several vintage BMW models as well as some Ducati race bikes. The show was part of the venue’s Historic Festival 41 and drew a huge crowd. — — — — …

NAUGATUCK, CT – Many experienced riders will probably agree that there seems to be many more bad  drivers out on the road than ever before. We see them running stoplights, weaving in and out of traffic, and speeding. The dash cam in my truck recently caught two examples of dangerous, …

FALLS VILLAGE, CT – It doesn’t come out of his climate-controlled basement very often. Dean Mojon of New Hartford, CT guesses that maybe four or five years have passed since he last rode the rare 1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane that he’s owned for 49 years. “I used to think it …

It’s possible to count the names of recognizable motorcycle brands on one hand. Zero, Energica and LiveWire may come to mind. Naming specific electric models is more difficult. While carmakers are pivoting away from internal combustion models to EVs, motorcycle manufacturers are being more deliberate. Now, however, there finally appears …

IWATA, JAPAN – Yamaha Motor Co. is exiting the snowmobile business. The company announced Wednesday that the 2024 model year will be the final one for snowmobile sales in Europe, while the 2025 model year will be the last one for North America. “Yamaha has concluded it will be difficult …

HINCKLEY, U.K. – British bikemaker Triumph has finally announced that it will offer two new small models for 2024 – the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X. Prices for the models, which are expected to go on sale early next year, weren’t revealed but Triumph promised “extremely competitive pricing.” …

TORRINGTON, CT – It was a promise made to myself nearly five years ago when buying a beloved motorcycle from Jack Potter. I vowed then that when he died, it would be ridden to calling hours and parked in front of the funeral home so mourners could gaze upon the …

HARWINTON, CT – For more than a dozen years, RIDE-CT has been providing motorcycle news for Connecticut, New England and beyond. Now, the brand expands into classic cars and automotive news with an advertising-supported, sibling website at classiccars.ride-ct.com and a YouTube channel “RIDE-CT – Classic Cars” dedicated to both car …

LACONIA, NH – It’s billed as “The World’s Oldest Motorcycle Rally,” and Laconia Motorcycle Week is this week celebrating 100 years of attracting motorcyclists to shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. The rally began Saturday and runs through Sunday. Laconia regular Bill Smith of Harwinton, CT has made his annual pilgrimage and …

ORANGE, CT – The word “Motorcycle” wasn’t in the show’s title, but the Iron Range Swap Meet & Car Show on Sunday at Dragone Classic Motorcars had some old motorcycles as well as some old bicycles. None of the motorcycles appeared to be running. Some were for sale in the …

MONSON, MA – In what will be a fitting tribute, a motorcycle procession will travel from Lombard Funeral Home to Bethany Cemetery here on June 30 for an 11 a.m. graveside service for Indian motorcycle enthusiast and expert Richard “Butch” Baer, who died Monday at 96. Born in Worcester, MA …