No Comment from Cliff’s, Triumph Back in Show

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Random oil drips on the garage floor…

Cliff’s Cycle Revolution owner Cliff LaMotta is, understandably, keeping mum on the reported sale of his BMW-Ducati-Indian dealership to Max BMW, which currently has stores in New York and New Hampshire (see previous post). In  reply last night to an email inquiry from RIDE-CT, LaMotta declined to comment but reported that he will be able to speak more freely later this week. “I have (a) statement that I will also share when appropriate,” he wrote. Cliff’s Cycle Revolution, which is normally closed on Sunday and Monday, will be closed Tuesday through Thursday this week for “inventory.” Does this mean the store will reopen at 10 a.m. Friday under new ownership and with a Max BMW sign out front?

After a multi-year absence, Triumph returns to the national series of Progressive International Motorcycle Shows, including the Jan. 21-23 stop at the Jacob J. Javits Convention Center in New York. Triumph will use the shows to showcase the new Tiger 800 and Tiger 800XC adventure bikes as well as other new models.

In a webcast last week, Polaris CEO Scott Wine reported that the company’s Victory motorcycle line is targeting “performance-focused” riders and said, perhaps surprisingly or perhaps not, “We tend to compete more with BMW and Triumph than we do with Harley.”

The addition of another line of bikes snuck under the radar but Mark’s Motorsports in Enfield had added the Royal Enfield brand, becoming the second dealership in the state to carry the bikes that are made in India. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Enfield in Enfield. New Haven Powersports also carries Royal Enfield, having pick up the line when Canton Cycles in Winsted closed.

Finally, RIDE-CT’s resident riding instructor Steve Smith has some tips for cold weather and winter riding in a new posting on the Safe Riding page.

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Since 2010, RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland has been reporting about motorcycling in New England and portions of New York.