Show Conflict Coming In January

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Winter is the time when motorcycle shows draw our attention away from snow and ice and get us thinking of the spring ahead. We check out new models and load up on gear and accessories that we might need or desire for the coming riding season. In the past, the Northeast Motorcycle Expo in Hartford and the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York have fallen on different weekends, but not this year. Both will be held the weekend of Jan. 20-22, 2012.

The New York show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center runs three days (Jan. 20-22) and this year every major motorcycle manufacturer will have bikes on display. The Northeast Motorcycle Expo in Hartford runs two days (Jan. 21-22) at a new location. It’s moving to the XL Center (the former Civic Center) from the Connecticut Expo Center. Last year, the Northeast Motorcycle Expo was held in February and put some space between the two events. Now riders will likely and unfortunately have to chose between the two.

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Ever had a spark plug pop out while riding? My regular riding cohort Gary Randall had it happen to him yesterday while we were up in Massachusetts. One second he was cruising along Route 57. The next he was feeling a gust of air on his leg after the spark plug ejected from his 1968 BMW R50/2. How we dealt with it will be the subject of this Saturday’s RIDE-CT column in “The Republican-American.” Thanks to the couple on the Harley from Enfield who stopped to offer assistance. Here’s Gary and the bike: