Up To Speed

CHESTER, VT – When I bought a BMW motorcycle, it was like stepping into another culture. I quickly discovered that BMW motorcycle riders are a unique breed. When I attended my first BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMW MOA) rally, I met a lot of intense motorcyclists. Many of them …

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Indian Motorcycle is returning to its city of origin. No, it doesn’t plan to build a new factory in the city where the original company produced motorcycles between 1901 and 1953, but it was announced this afternoon that the Polaris-owned brand will open its first-ever Indian Motorcycle …

CLIFTON, NJ – It was the near the end of a 20-minute phone conversation last week about her new autobiography that Gloria Tramontin Struck paused for a moment to reflect on her life. “If my brother had taken ‘No’ for an answer, my life would have been so different. So sad, …

MINNEAPOLIS – Indian has just made a big statement about what the future holds for the growing brand. It has hired Ola Stenegärd as its Director of Product Design. A native of Sweden, Stenegärd has spent the past 15 years working for BMW Motorrad where he has played a crucial role …

Despite some sales setbacks of late, Harley-Davidson knows how to “move the metal.” The company has more than 600 dealerships in the U.S. and those stores will soon be used to sell a line of electric models. There should be no doubt that Harley-Davidson will surmount the technical challenges and …

PICKERINGTON, OH – The dates and location for the 2018 AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship have been circulating for months, but the American Motorcyclist Association has now confirmed via a press release that the Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club will host the event in Monson, MA from July 27-29. This will be …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson is following through on its recent promise to “invest more aggressively” in electric motorcycles. This morning, the company announced that it has made an equity investment in Alta Motors, the Brisbane, CA-based builder of lightweight electric bikes for both off-road and street use. The two companies plan …

Would you let a stranger ride your motorcycle? Maybe, but maybe not. If it were a friend of a friend and you had a “good feeling” about the person, possibly. If you wondered about the person’s ability, certainly not. One Monday morning last September when meeting Phil Cheney of MAX …

HARWINTON, CT – What’s to become of Harley-Davidson? The news of late hasn’t been good for the iconic American brand that produces half of the heavyweight motorcycles sold in the U.S. The company announced late last month that it’s closing the Kansas City, Mo. assembly plant that builds Softail, Sportster and …

NAUGATUCK, CT – As the riding season approaches, so does the motorcycle training season, and the recent annual training session for Connecticut Rider Education Program (CONREP) instructors reminded me that I’ll soon be back in the classroom and on the training range. The day-long session brought together all of CONREP’s instructors …

LOUDON, NH – Some 20 new exhibits will be on display this year at the North East Motor Sports Museum here, including a BLT OSSA motocross bike built by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Joe Bolger back in the 1970s. Also new is the #20 car that NASCAR driver …

MADISON COUNTY, FL – An Indian demo truck carrying 15 motorcycles that was on its way to a dealership in Tallahassee, FL went up n flames late Thursday morning when a tire blew out and sparks started a fire. News reports placed the estimated damage at $100,000 or more as …

BETHEL, CT – Hamlin Cycles is now selling Aprilia motorcycles as well as those made by Moto Guzzi after purchasing the franchise from the existing dealer, MotoFIT in Danbury. Hamlin Cycles owner Jim Hamlin handed over a check Wednesday afternoon and came back to his shop with Aprilia parts, tools …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson is out with two new Sportsters for 2018 as the company shoots for the introduction of 100 new models by the year 2027. Unwrapped today were the Iron 1200 and the Forty-Eight Special. Both have high handlebars and throwback styling. “Since its inception, the Sportster has offered …

NORTH GRANBY, CT – It was 42 degrees Friday when someone in a car shouted at me, “It sure is a wonderful day for a ride.” With a big smile on my face, I replied, “It sure is.” The person’s motive in getting my attention was likely to get a picture …