VERNON, CT – Asked on Saturday afternoon at the opening of the New England Motorcycle Museum what his plans for Sunday were, museum founder Ken Kaplan replied simply, “Sleep.” He quietly added, “I haven’t slept much in the last couple weeks.” The Café Fever motorcycle show that officially launched the …
Read More »Eats: It’s No Yolk, Eggs Up Has Sense Of Humor
PORTLAND, CT – If you ride by a place often enough, it’s only natural to get curious about it. Is it any good? Eggs Up Restaurant on Route 66 in Portland, CT (but nearer to Cobalt) was such a place until last weekend. Up until Sunday, the time to stop …
Read More »Kaplan Adds Motus In Advance Of Museum Opening
VERNON, CT – With only three days to go until opening day, the activity level at the New England Motorcycle Museum was persistent today. The second floor exhibit space was filled with roughly 100 old motorcycles and attention was beginning to shift to the incomplete third floor space of what …
Read More »Oberhauser Originals Capture Motorcycling’s Past
HUDSON, MA – Kerri Ann Oberhauser is a landscape designer by profession, a 1987 graduate of the UMass Amherst, and a familiar sight at motorcycle shows across New England. At each event, she sets up a booth and sells T-shirts, illustrations and other items that display intricate drawings of old …
Read More »Brit Jam Meet Reflects British Builders’ Glory Days
EAST HAMPTON, CT – Peter Thiel of the British Association of Connecticut stood amidst the rows of vintage motorcycles on Sunday morning at the 33rd annual Brit Jam meet here and marveled, “I really have to hand it to people who are bringing their bikes. It’s incredible.” He wasn’t embellishing. …
Read More »Video: Middletown Motorcycle Mania
MIDDLETOWN, CT – The 13th annual Middletown Motorcycle Mania was staged Wednesday evening and the turnout was huge. RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland put together a short video that captures the excitement of the huge gathering:
Read More »Middletown Motorcycle Mania Brings Out The Bikes
MIDDLETOWN, CT – There may be only one number attached to Middletown Motorcycle Mania that can be proven accurate; the rest of the stats are merely guesstimates. This year marked the 13th event, held downtown Wednesday night. The rest of the numbers, such as number of bikes, number of people …
Read More »Fire Department Dispatched To MAX BMW For Electrical Fire
SOUTH WINDSOR, CT – A fire in an electrical panel filled the MAX BMW motorcycle dealership here with smoke Tuesday morning. The South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department responded at 9:40 a.m. to 1535 John Fitch Boulevard (Route 5) and found “heavy smoke coming out of the building,” Chief Kevin E. …
Read More »Vintage BMW R 80 RT Gets Passed On When Rider Sells
TORRINGTON, CT – There eventually comes a time when every motorcyclist gives up riding. At 91, Jack Potter has finally decided to sell his motorcycles. He actually stopped riding eight years ago. It wasn’t because he’d lost his nerve, rather his decision was mostly triggered by an abrupt decline in enthusiasm, …
Read More »Trump’s Latest Salvo Against Harley-Davidson
BEDMINSTER, NJ – A day after welcoming “Bikers for Trump” into the crystal-chandeliered ballroom at his golf club’s clubhouse here, President Donald Trump has gone on the offensive again against U.S. manufacturer Harley-Davidson, saying in a Sunday morning Tweet that many of the brand’s “owners plan to boycott the company …
Read More »Keeper Of Schickel Flame Dies
OLEAN, NY – The name of the Schickel Motor Company of Stamford, CT would have been long forgotten were it not for the persistence of Ken Anderson, who died Friday at 75. The company lasted for 13 years in the early 20th century and was one of more than 100 …
Read More »Yankee Chapter National Meets Brings Out The Best
TERRVILLE, CT – Perhaps the greatest pleasure in attending a vintage motorcycle meet is seeing long-forgotten brands and being able to get up close to rare models that aren’t often seen in public. The two-day National Meet of the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, which kicked …
Read More »August Events – AMCA Meet, Brit Jam And More…
August is always a busy month when it comes to motorcycle meets, etc. and this year is no exception. Among some of the events worth attending are the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America’s National Meet, which moves to a new location; the always crazy Middletown Motorcycle …
Read More »Staff Inflection: What The Future Holds
Time for another Staff Inflection, and the question posed to RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland staffers was really rather basic: Where do you see the motorcycle industry in the U.S. in 20 years? Staffers were told they could be optimistic or pessimistic, serious of flippant. They could take the business aspect or …
Read More »Harley-Davidson Expands Beyond Cruisers
MILWAUKEE – With a goal of “unlocking new markets and segments” and creating “a more diverse rider base,” Harley-Davidson today announced plans for new models that embrace the sport bike, adventure touring and electric categories of motorcycles. In the pipeline are a Streetfighter model for sport bike enthusiasts, a Pan …
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