Up To Speed

Labor unions representing Harley-Davidson workers in the U.S. are strongly criticizing company plans to open an assembly plant in Thailand. The new factory, set to open in late 2018, will build bikes from parts made at U.S. facilities. “Harley-Davidson has been the crown jewel of American manufacturing. Management’s decision to …

WATERBURY, CT – Mother’s Day weekend didn’t go as uneventfully as Taig Rehmel had hoped. He’d anticipated a wonderful reunion with a fondly-recalled motorcycle model from his earlier street riding days and an exhilarating ride from Connecticut to his home in Georgia. Instead, he was confronted by pain and the challenge …

TORRINGTON, CT – A midday fire heavily damaged the unoccupied residence and shop of late Indian expert George Yarocki. Firefighters from the Torrington Fire Department responded quickly to 679 Riverside Ave. and prevented three vintage motorcycles valued at more the $50,000 from being destroyed. Saved were a 1931 Indian 101 …

There are many who are all-year riders here in New England, but many wait for spring to bring their motorcycles out of hibernation. Experienced riders know it’s a good idea to perform an inspection and possibly some servicing of the bike prior to each ride, especially the first time the …

These are uneasy times for Ducati owners. Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati is now reportedly up for sale as car company VW scrambles for cash the wake of its diesel emissions scandal. A story Monday by “The Times of India” says Royal Enfield has been approached about buying Ducati. Ducati could …

WESTFIELD, MA – If it seemed at all odd when Polaris Industries, maker of Indian motorcycles, came out with the Slingshot roadster three years ago, it was really a case of history somewhat repeating itself, and with a good deal more success. The three-wheeled, belt-driven Slingshot is really more automobile …

The recent video from electric motorcycle-maker Zero is titled “For Us?” It shows a guy going through some mental gymnastics in trying to figure out how to justify his purchase to his partner. Interspersed are shots of the guy riding the bike to the beach, to the desert and to …

The motorcycle season revs up in many May events, including shows, bike nights and even a blessing: May 6 (Saturday) – Hot Bike FXR/Dyna Day starting at 3 p.m. At Barnstorm Cycles, 24 Wall Street in Spencer, MA. May 7 (Sunday) – The 34th annual May Day Breakout Party held …

SOUTH BERWICK, ME – Reclusive author Robert M. Pirsig, who wrote the 1974 best-seller “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values,” died at his home here on Monday. He was 88. Pirsig had lived in the York County community for the past 30 years.

Maybe it was the muscle aches from yard clean-up, exacerbated by start-of-season riding with arms, legs and butt unaccustomed to being in a locked-in seating position for extended periods, that prompted the thought. At age 63, I probably have more riding days behind me than ahead of me.

BATON ROUGE, LA – Riders ticketed for wearing helmets? Odd as it sounds, there’s a bill currently in the state legislature in Louisiana aimed at stopping police officers from ticketing motorcyclists for wearing helmets when operating their machines. The bill, authored by Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport), would exempt riders from …

FALLS VILLAGE, CT – Celebrants of the Church of Two Wheels joined for an Easter gathering at Toymakers Cafe this morning. The non-denominational get-together was attended by many BMW, Honda, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha owners. Surprisingly, no Ducati, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson or Indian followers arrived – at least not …

With spring finally here, it’s time for another installment of “If You Had Asked Me, I Would Have Told You That…” Its purpose is to share a bit of opinion, to burn off some news items that maybe don’t deserve a full post, and to simply kvetch. Let’s begin in …

Motorcycles are only a minor consideration in travel writer Michael Milne’s latest book, “Roadster Guide to America’s Classic Car Museums & Attractions,” but the fact he mentions the collection of old Indians at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History in Massachusetts and the bikes on display at …

CHESTER, VT – No, this isn’t about me having some kind of vision, or about some psychic that I employed to interpret it. Not even close. This is about the creative process. It actually stems from the rather arrogant assumption (on my part) that I can do it, or have …