Up To Speed

DANBURY – The owner of three motorcycle dealerships in southern New England as well as Waterford Speedbowl was one of three men arrested and charged this week for allegedly being a client of a prostitution ring that exploited young men with mental disabilities for more than 20 years. Bruce J. …

NAUGATUCK, CT – A mix of new and old motorcycles with custom and vintage cars attracted thousands to town this weekend for the first-ever Cabin Fever Custom Car and Motorcycle Show at the former General DataComm building, which has been turned into an event center. Show promoter Don Clady, publisher …

This evening I found myself sifting thru pictures of motorcycles that I have owned. I like to do that from time to time. In doing so, I got stuck looking at several pictures of the 2003 BMW K 1200 RS currently within my herd. Though it wasn’t purchased new, I …

MILWAUKEE – Last year was a very, very good year for Harley-Davidson’s top executives, most notably President and C.E.O. Matt Levatich. His total compensation in 2016 was $9,350,303 – or nearly $180,000 per week ($179,813 to be exact). That takes in salary, bonuses, stock awards and more. This also means that …

CENTER CONWAY, NH – After 28 years in business, Judy and Dan Kennedy are retiring “with mixed feelings” and closing Whitehorse Gear, the warehouse store and online seller of motorcycle gear and apparel. The business began as Whitehorse Press in 1989 as a publisher of motocycle books, including DIY manuals …

HARWINTON, CT – There’s a saying in the news biz that “There’s no rooting in the press box.” It means that reporters – more specifically, sportswriters – should judge and report on events objectively and without favor. But I couldn’t help it last night when watching the Daytona TT on …

HARWINTON, CT – It has been a schizophrenic end to winter. Warm one day, cold and windy the next, with occasional rain or snow. One day I’m toasty while riding to New Haven to meet a friend for lunch, the next I’m shivering while hauling logs for the wood stove. …

CRARYVILLE, NY – The annual open house planned for Saturday by Bultaco Motorcycles here has been abruptly canceled “with deepest regrets.” Tuesday’s blizzard is the reason. In a Facebook post today, Bultaco Motorcycles reported, “We have been brought to our knees by mother nature this late in the winter with …

MEDINA, MN – Government filings often provide a glimpse into corporations and a notice of an annual meeting of stockholders filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Polaris Industries revealed dramatically shrinking compensation for Scott W. Wine, the company’s chairman and C.E.O. In 2016, Wine only earned slightly …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson’s small Street models haven’t been robust sellers for dealers since their unveiling in November 2013, but the company’s belief in the need for a broad lineup that includes entry-level machines hasn’t wavered, and now comes another model dubbed the Street Rod that is a bit more sporty …

WOODSTOCK, NY – We were getting back on our bikes outside of a trendy coffee shop in New Paltz, NY when a man approached, got in my face and growled menacingly, “You guys on your (blanking) cool Italian bikes.” Before I could ascertain whether he posed a threat, the guy burst …

OSSINING, NY – European Cycle Services (ECS) is merging with Hudson Valley Motorcycles with ECS President Stephen Saucier becoming service manager for HVMC. ECS’s technicians are joining the Ducati-Kawasaki-Suzuki dealership as well. ECS was started in 2007 in Middletown, NY and has specialized in performance upgrades and restorations for Ducatis, …

LANCASTER, NH – The MOMS chain of New England powersports dealerships is adding a fourth store. MOMS has signed a letter of intent to buy F.B. Spaulding Co., a Polaris and John Deere dealer that has operated in Lancaster since 1902. MOMS says the expansion will allow the store to …

Some news from dealers around New England (and beyond): – Cumberland County Scooters & Cycles in Portland, ME is now shooting for a mid-April re-opening after being severely damaged by a fire last June 22. No one was injured in that nighttime blaze at 341 Warren St. The business had …

Over the years, RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland has written about many forgotten brands and obscure models. Not many folks today recall the Neracar or the Schickel from the U.S., the James or the Sunbeam from the U.K., or the Griffon from France. For every brand, though, there is an enthusiast. Dipping …