Up To Speed

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 …

WINDSOR, CT – They’ve become somewhat of a colorful relic from the days before smartphones, but a wall calendar can still be a useful and attractive addition to an office, a workshop or a garage filled with motorcycles, especially if it’s a motorcycle calendar. Photographer and motorcycle collector Steve Cote of …

PICKERINGTON, OH – The American Motorcyclist Association has locked in July 5-7, 2019 as the dates for next year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH. Honda will be the featured marque as well as sponsor of the event, which includes vintage racing in …

LITTLE NECK, NY – Dealers and manufacturers have always had an “interesting” relationship. They very much need each other but are occasionally at odds when it comes to certain details of that relationship.  In general, manufacturers (OEM) hold the larger share of power when it comes to product, pricing, and …

COLOGNE, GERMANY – Indian Motorcycle today unveiled two new non-cruiser models for 2019 and used the INTERMOT trade show here to do it. The flat track-inspired FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S models will arrive in dealer showrooms next spring with MSRPs of $12,999 and $14,999, respectively. Both models are …

MILWAUKEE – In a move announced today that’s bound to have a negative impact on its dealers, Harley-Davidson has opened an online store with retail giant Amazon. It’s offering “select Harley-Davidson apparel and riding gear.” Merchandise is available as of today, with two-day shipping for Amazon Prime members. Harley-Davidson expects …

It takes gumption, fortitude and a hefty checkbook to ride a pre-1929 motorcycle from coast-to-coast. Eight men and women from across New England, including three from Connecticut, did just that this month. They were among the nearly 125 riders who registered to compete in the biennial rally known as the …

As much as some riders might wish it were so, it wasn’t Harley-Davidson (or even Indian) that invented the V-twin engine that has been the staple power plant of motorcycles for well over a century. In fact, the V-twin wasn’t even invented in the United States. No, its origin can …

WATERBURY, CT – A warm, sun-drenched day brought out a crowd on Sunday to Doc’s Customer Appreciation Day and Bike Show that also included numerous vendors. Here are some pictures from the annual event:

KENT, CT – Making a good first impression can set the tone for a relationship, and a recent introduction to a 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan courtesy of Iron Horse Customs/Royal Enfield of Kent began positively. Having thrown my right leg over the 31.5-inch seat, I instantly discovered that I could …

KEENE, NH – The first leg of the 2018 Motorcycle Cannonball from Portland, ME to Portland, OR had mostly finished by late Saturday afternoon, although a few stragglers were still riding their vintage motorcycles into the parking lot at the Best Western Plus motel. Riders and their mechanics were already studiously …