Staff

Bud Wilkinson…

A life-long print and broadcast journalist, Bud Wilkinson is a native of Harwinton, CT and a graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxtons Rivers, VT and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH where he earned a B.A. in journalism.

Early in his career he was a reporter and TV/Radio Writer for “The Columbus Dispatch” in Ohio before spending 10 years as TV/Radio Columnist for “The Arizona Republic” in Phoenix.

That was followed by an eight-year stint as Entertainment Reporter for KSAZ-TV/Fox 10 in Phoenix (where he won a Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for commentary) and entertainment reporter for news/talk KTAR radio.

Wilkinson then launched the syndicated radio show “Broadway’s Biggest Hits,” which aired nationwide for more than a decade. For the past 10 years, he has written the RIDE-CT motorcycle column for “The Republican-American” newspaper in Waterbury, CT.

He currently owns two bikes – a 1994 Moto Guzzi California 1100 and a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650, having sold a 1983 Yamaha XT250, a 1974 Honda CB750 Four and a 1969 Triumph T100R Daytona in the past two years.

Besides writing the column and hosting this website, Wilkinson also writes occasionally for “Motorcycle Classics” magazine. He has been riding for 11 years.

When not riding or writing, Wilkinson is an active member of the Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department and is deputy chief of the Harwinton Fire Police. He enjoys craft beer and cider, a good Sherlock Holmes story and free time to ride.

Email: budw@ride-ct.com

Phone: 860-485-3118

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Bob Rosen…

Born in Berlin, Germany, Bob Rosen was raised in Cleveland where his love of motorcycles began with a 1974 Honda CL350.

Rosen spent seven years as general manager of Cliff’s Cycle Revolution, the former BMW-Ducati-Indian dealer in Brookfield, CT. He now owns Practical Business Solutions and consults dealers as a start-up expert and sales accelerator. His column is devoted to bridging the gap between customers and dealers.

Since beginning his riding history many years ago, Rosen has traveled more than 250,000 road miles on a wide variety of motorcycles.  His rides have taken him to destinations far and wide – the western U.S., multiple trips to Nova Scotia, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and as far away as South Africa.

After an extended career in manufacturing and business management, Rosen has spent the last 15 years in motorcycle dealership operations management. As founding general manager of Cliff’s Cycle Revolution, he worked with dealer principal Cliff La Motta to create a “destination dealership” that was highly regarded.

Rosen has also been general manager of one of the largest multi-line dealerships on the East Coast and, most recently, as a dealership consultant, he was instrumental in establishing a new Triumph/Ducati dealership.

Rosen resides in Little Neck, NY.

Email: bobr@ride-ct.com.

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Steve Smith…

New York native and Waterbury-area resident Steve Smith is a nationally-certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider coach and an instructor with the Connecticut Rider Education Program. He has nearly two decades of motorcycle safety experience and during that time has provided training to thousands of beginner and experienced riders.

Smith is a graduate of Fairfield University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Management of Technology.

He began riding off-road at the age of 13 and rode several dirt bikes over the years. His (legal) on-road experience began at age 20 with a Honda CB400T. His current ride is a 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14.

Smith is an avid sport touring rider and enjoys long weekend trips to the Great Smoky Mountains, West Virginia, Vermont and New Hampshire. Most times when not instructing on a weekend, you can find him out for a Sunday morning worship of the asphalt ribbon around Connecticut and New York.

Besides writing for RIDE-CT.com, Smith has also been published in other motorcycling magazines. He is on the board of directors of the Concours Owners Group for more than 10 years. He has organized local, regional and national club events.

Email: steves@ride-ct.com

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Victoria Zandonella…

A native of Trumbull, CT and current resident of Bridgewater, CT with 35+ years of riding experience, Victoria Zandonella started as a dirt bike rider (MX & Enduro) at 10 years of age and became a licensed road rider at 16 years of age. Left the sport in her 20s but her love of motorcycles eventually brought her back to riding after a hiatus of more than 20 years.

Zandonella is a former co-organizer of Greater Hartford M/C Enthusiasts and founded Northeast Dualsport Riders in 2013. She created NDR to share her love of dual-sport riding with other on/off-road enthusiasts in the Northeast. Since inception, NDR has grown to over 100 members with over 50 events per year.

Zandonella currently own a 2008 Yamaha XT250 (NDR’s lead steed), a 2005 BMW F650gs (for road use), and she has just ordered a 2016 Zongshen RX3 Cyclone for dirt road touring, which should be in the stable by the end of March.

She has a B.S. degree in Business Management from Fairfield University with a 20+ year career in the Finance industry. Upon retirement, she hopes to expand upon her passion for following the paths less traveled by leading dual-sport motorcycle tours in the northeastern U.S.