Up To Speed

DES PLAINES, IL – After a nine-year decline, motorcycle thefts rose in the United States in 2015 with a total of 45,555 bikes reported stolen. That’s a six percent increase from the 42,856 stolen in 2014. Thieves preferred Japanese models and Honda was the brand most stolen, according to a …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson brought out a new model for 2016 today; a version of the Sportster called the Roadster. It’s part of Harley-Davidson’s “Dark Custom” lineup and is available in “Vivid Black with a charcoal denim pinstripe; Black Denim with a red pinstripe; Velocity Red Sunglo with a red pinstripe; and …

FALLS VILLAGE, CT – Most riders have heard the phrase “You never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist’s office,” which suggests that motorcycling is so therapeutic that it can supplant counseling. John Grant of Kingston, NY even describes riding his 2010 Royal Enfield as

  LACONIA, NH – “Motor City Madman” Ted Nugent will headline the first-ever LaconiaFest Motorcycle Music Festival, which will run June 11-19 in conjunction with 93rd annual Laconia Motorcycle Week. LaconiaFest will feature two stages and nine acres of attractions at the Weirs Beach Drive-In on Route 3. The event is …

Think we have it bad with the seizure and crushing of bikes that are ridden illegally – at least in NYC? A court in England has sentenced a reckless rider to eight months in prison for taking police on a two-hour pursuit back in February in the city of Luton, …

HARTFORD – A bill in the Connecticut General Assembly aimed at curtailing raucous riders who illegally operate motorcycles and ATVs on city streets would, if passed and signed by the governor, allow municipalities to fine riders. It would also empower cities to confiscate and either sell or destroy the dirt …

BROOKLYN – The bio on Makoto Endo’s website is short and to the point. It notes that he was born in Niigata, Japan and later schooled in Tokyo. He studied graphic design and illustration and worked for an ad agency there before coming to New York where he became creative …

MILWAUKEE, WI – Harley-Davidson is out with a second TV ad using the company’s new global marketing campaign, “Live Your Legend.” Titled “Trophy Wall,” the ad is built around a Street Glide Glide Special and features “snapshots of life-enriching moments as well as the unique and unforgettable bonds of friendship …

Triumph is recalling 120 units of its new 2016 Street Twin model that were manufactured between Sept. 7 and Nov. 21, 2015 for an electrical issue that could result in the bikes catching fire.

NEW YORK – They’re “knuckleheads,” says New York police commissioner Bill Bratton, and a plan is now in place to combat illegal riders who show off on city streets by recklessly stunting on motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs. The plan is to crush confiscated bikes on live television.

Time for another edition of “If You Had Asked Me, I Would Have Told You…” Posting it on April 1 wouldn’t have worked because of the confusion it might have created on April Fool’s Day. Granted, given many of the events and reports in the news and on social media …

THOMPSON, CT – Organizers of the first-ever Thompson Vintage Motorcycle Classic on Sunday, May 15 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park are shooting for a “motorcycle festival atmosphere” with a classic show, swap meet, vendor midway and vintage track day on the

Electric motorcycle brand Zero is turning up the juice in New England. The California-based company has signed two more dealerships in the region – Razee Motorcycle Center in North Kingston, RI and Rahn’s Motorcycle Engineering in Abington, MA – and more are being sought. They join

WAYNE, NJ – American-made sport bike brand Motus has added a second dealer to serve the metropolitan New York City area. Joining Hamlin Cycles in Bethel, CT is Wide World Powersports here. Wide World Powersports already operates Indian Motorcycle Wayne and plans to convert

CRARYVILLE, NY – When I was a kid, the enduro circuit was of endless fascination for me, along with the plethora of great woods racing bikes that dominated these events in the 1970s. It always seemed that team Bultaco had its fair share of podium finishers as well. Bultaco and …