The Top 10 Posts of 2013

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Sure, there are few days left in the year, but the odds are pretty good that with all of the holiday distractions there probably won’t be any motorcycle news of significant value before year’s end to displace any of the posts that currently rank as RIDE-CT.com’s Top 10 for 2013.

The most-read posts as logged by Google Analytics span the entire year, reflect a diversity of content, and contain heartache and sadness. Here’s the list of the Top 10 posts, beginning with No. 10 and finishing with the most popular:

10. A tale of a 3,600-mile round-trip to the 73rd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota by Ed Henderson of Waterbury, CT and Bobby Gregorio of Naugatuck, CT and posted Aug.26 captured the imagination of readers. Henderson provided the ride report which told of topless women, tattoos and amazing motorcycles. A visit to Sturgis is an item on most riders’ bucket lists. Henderson and Gregorio got to check it off this year. Cheers to them.

9. Max BMW’s rebuild last week of a 1975 R90S and posted Dec. 18 struck a chord because it answered questions many riders have, such as would it be possible to build a bike strictly from parts and how much would it cost? The answers are “yes”and more than $46,000 for the parts alone. Working at Max Stratton’s store in North Hampton, NH, techs took fours days to assemble the bike, which immediately got a test ride.

8. Rave reviews of the new Indian Chief Classic and Indian Chief Vintage by Tim Aloiso and Harley-Davidson owner/soon-to-be-Indian owner Dick Clukey of Torrington, CT (who predicted that the new Indian “is going to quickly become the finest V-twin, American-built motorcycle ever made”) made readers take notice when posted Aug. 16. Aloisio (pictured below) concluded, “Be afraid, Harley, be very afraid.”

7. A May 29 post in advance of Laconia Motorcycle Week on how it would be possible to ride the track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway got traction with readers; not surprising considering how popular the annual rally is. It will celebrate its 91st year June 14-22.

6. The annual announcement by Harley-Davidson of its models for the coming year always generates excitement and the unveiling of the 2014 lineup with eight new models, posted Aug.19, was no exception.

5.  Getting a few more page views than Harley’s new models announcement, though, was Indian’s reveal in Sturgis of its first-ever designs under the ownership of Polaris. The post claimed the fifth spot on Aug. 5.

4. The news that Willow’s Motorsports in Cheshire, CT would close after 33 years touched a nerve when posted Sept. 4. Too many stores have gone away in recent years, which this year’s disappearing acts also including Branchville Motors in Ridgefield, CT.

3. This one struck too close to home – the death of close friend and riding companion Gary Randall (pictured below). He succumbed to severe head injuries on Aug. 7, two days after riding into a car driven by an unobservant driver who pulled into his path. Gary was a vintage motorcycle enthusiast and collector, whom I recalled in an Aug. 8 post. The heart may have mended somewhat over the past four months but a day doesn’t pass that I don’t think of him and miss him.

2.  In the runner-up spot is a Jan. 8 post showcasing pro racer Kenny Coolbeth Jr., with pictures showing him riding on a ice-covered pond in Warren, CT. He talked of growing up in nearby Morris and his career. Having interviewed many pro athletes, it was nice talking with someone as open and genuine as Coolbeth.

And, finally, drum roll please…

1. Claiming the top spot, a short July 27 post about a couple from Watertown, CT – Anthony and Lisa Sebastiano (pictured below) – who ride a 1977 Harley-Davidson FXE Super Glide. RIDE-CT.com came across them outside of the Becket General Store in Becket, Mass. chatted with them briefly and snapped a few photos. Out of the hundreds of posts and the nearly 78,000 page views recorded this year, this post was the most read.

RIDE-CT.com will now take a couple of days off to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!