Oil Drippings: News and Opinion

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Only 10 days until the Motorcycle Cannonball II endurance run starts in Newburgh, N.Y. and participants are fine-tuning their rides. Jeff Alperin, who resides in Florida after living most of his life in Connecticut, is spending the days leading up to the run getting his 1929 Indian 101 Scout (pictured) ready at the Torrington shop of Indian expert George Yarocki. Alerpin bought the bike from Yarocki in 2001.

The Motorcycle Cannonball will go from Newburgh to San Francisco. Only bikes built in 1929 and earlier are eligible to compete.

Two residents of Connecticut are participating. Buzz Kanter, publisher of “American Iron” and “RoadBike,” is riding a 1926 Harley-Davidson J, while Dan Emerson will be aboard a 1925 Henderson Deluxe. RIDE-CT.com plans to be in Newburgh for the start of the run.

—

Kawasaki plans to take over Times Square on Sept. 13 to unveil its 2013 lineup of Ninja motorcycles. The Japanese bike-maker plans a two-block display of bikes – both new and old, including an original 1984 Ninja and a 1973 Z1. The display will be on Broadway between 45th St. and 47th St. and will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riding through Times Square has always been on my motorcycle “bucket list.” I’m thinking that 6 a.m. some Sunday might be a safe time.

—

Out for a ride on Route 202 on Saturday – heading from New Milford toward Litchfield – I came upon a sizable group of riders in formation. Some of them were wearing bright orange T-shirts, suggesting that they may have been road captains for a charity ride. Regardless of the reason , the T-shirts stood out nicely against the background of pavement and foliage. Being visible to drivers is important for riders, and the shirts worked.

—

An email yesterday from Dan Van Epps, who runs Norton’s U.S. operations, contained a press release announcing that “durability and emission testing” for its Commando 961 line has been successfully completed to ensure EPA and CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliance. Norton, under the ownership of CEO Stuart Garner, has been working for four years to revive the brand, but has been getting bad press in England for slow delivery of motorcycles. Hell For Leather has the story here.