Up To Speed

ROCKVILLE, CT – In a threatening, over-the-top vigilante video posted on YouTube, New England Motorcycle Museum founder Ken Kaplan declares that he is going after bike thieves. He’s formed a posse, which he says includes Haymond Law and various motorcycle clubs, and has announced a $2,000 reward to bring to …

They just may be the best motorcycle pictures that most riders never get to see. Unless someone checks out the NER Photo Contest group page on Facebook or buys the NER’s limited-edition annual wall calendar, these marvelous photos – featuring motorcycles and shot by motorcyclists – don’t get viewed.  NER …

It’s way past time for another Staff Infection. The question this go-round is “What’s the worst bike that you’ve ever owned?” It’s certainly a question worth pondering so that a mistake isn’t repeated. What is surprising is the variety of models mentioned by the staff of RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland. Here …

Any hopes that fans of Kawasaki’s venerable KLR650 had that the recently-discontinued model would get an immediate replacement have been dashed. As expected, Kawasaki announced four new models at the EICMA trade show in Milan, Italy on Tuesday, but none fit the dual sport bill. Before getting to the new …

HARWINTON, CT – Depending on one’s perspective, they’re either odd or exotic. To many motorcyclists, three-wheelers such as Can-Am’s Spyder and Polaris’ Slingshot that don’t conform to the traditional trike layout of one wheel in front and two in the rear can’t be mentioned in the same breath as a motorcycle. …

LAKELAND, FL – After losing its long-running Rhinebeck Grand National Meet in the Hudson Valley, the Antique Motorcycle Club of America has now announced plans for a new National Meet in central New York. The meet will be held July 5-7 and will be staged by the club’s Empire Chapter. …

NORTH GRANBY, CT – If you were to ask me what I would give to go back in time to my teens, I’d never have imagined it would be $25. But that’s what it took this week. Since spending that cash less than 48 hours ago, I’ve made a new friend, …

BRATTLEBORO, VT – Less than two weeks after thanking customers in a Facebook post that noted the shop’s six-year milestone, Vintage Steele announced this afternoon “with deepest sadness and greatest regret” that the motorcycle repair and custom operation is shutting down.  “We are finishing out the riding season and won’t …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson said today that it’s recalling nearly a quarter-million motorcycles due a clutch problem. Affected are about 238,000 of 2017 and 2018 model-year Touring, Trike and CVO Touring models as well as some 2017 Softails. The problem involves the hydraulic clutch assembly. Harley-Davidson announced the recall in a …

MILWAUKEE – Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the U.S. tanked in the third quarter of 2018, dropping 13.3 percent from the same period a year ago, earnings results released this morning revealed. The company sold 36,220 motorcycles in the U.S. during July, August and September, down from 41,793 in 2017. …

NEW YORK – A lovely fall day, a tidy collection of Norton Commandos and some scrumptious traditional English eats – all deep in the heart of Brooklyn. That makes for an all together delightful experience, which I had at Union Garage on Saturday as the shop hosted a Norton Commando Bike Show …

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – Just a couple of weeks after Harley-Davidson announced the launch of an online store in conjunction with Amazon, BMW Motorrad USA has unveiled its own web shopping presence (www.shopbmwmotorcycles.com) for owners to buy parts, accessories and gear. Unlike Harley-Davidson’s direct-to-consumers approach, BMW reports, “Individual purchases are …

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The 2018 season may have just wrapped up, but American Flat Track is already out with a provisional schedule for 2019 that includes a new event in New England during Laconia Motorcycle Week. The season will launch at Daytona International Speedway with the Daytona TT on …

CHESTER, VT – Might as well come out and say it: It was a lousy riding season for me. Either my criteria for a good riding day has changed or it was truly a crappy riding season because of the weather.  I am ashamed of how little I rode my motorcycle …

For most riders, motorcycling is an escape, an opportunity to briefly get away from a polarized society where political name-calling and sometimes even outright hatred of those with opposing views is a daily occurrence, especially on social media. How many riders arduously avoid any political conversation when out riding can’t …