April 2010

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Vol. 16 No. 4

Motorcycle TourMagazine

g n i r p S e h T o t n I g n i d i R

2010 BMW S 1000 RR • MOTO GUZZIS THROUGH SICILY • ZERO GREEN

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M O N T H LY C O L U M N S FREE WHEELIN’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IN SEARCH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

WHATCHATHINKIN’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

MOTO GUZZIS MOTORING THROUGH SICILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

ON THE MARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 WE’RE OUTTA HERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS BMW S 1000 RR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 ZERO S ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

BIG CITY GETAWAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

PRODUCT REVIEWS

BACKLASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

BOOK SPOTLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

AVON STORM-ST TIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

ARAI RX-Q HELMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

INDUSTRY INFOBITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

HOT TOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

BIG SKINNY WALLET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil ~ Publishers Contributors Ralph Angelo, Neale Bayly, Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Roberto Mitchelli, Dan Stafford, Cheryl Stewart, Dr. Seymour O’Life Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

BACKROADS • POB 317, Branchville NJ 07826 Phone 973.948.4176 • Fax 973.948.0823 • email editor@backroadsusa.com • web www.backroadsusa.com For Advertising Sales Information: 973-948-4176

BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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FREE WHEELIN’ Brian Rathjen Backroads has been around now for a decade and half and luckily for us we started this venture right when the motorcycle industry was on a huge upswing and we were able to ride this positive economic current to where we are now the largest and most read regional motorcycle publication in the USA. Still what goes up must come down and we all know what has happened over the last few years.

I am no economist, although I do have an advanced BS Degree from the Learnstitute. So I am not here to lay blame on any one person, party or mind set, but I do have my own thoughts on this - but they are not for this column. Stop by Monkey With a Gun and I’ll edumacate you one evening.

Still, in all the years I have been in this industry I have never seen things ride so far south, so fast, as I have over the past two years.

The season of 2009 was a disaster, both economically and meteorologically for us in the northeast. Juneuary’s wet rains just added fire to the economic chaos and the tumbling markets and fear that ensued kept riders away from the dealers they once flocked to each weekend.

Too many dealerships and shops ended up shuttering the doors and the once incredible palaces that were these brand new Harley-Davidson MegaShops have become more like mega-mausoleums; some closing, some hoping for the best when this spring finally breaks.

This winter has been especially tough for these shops, but I do believe I see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, when we do get out of this tunnel, the motorcycle landscape will be a far different one than when we rode into this dark hole.

Like many other regions of economic business in the United States where bigger was once better, now lean and trim will be more common.

Some of the big shops might have to rethink their size and customer satisfaction and service will be key. We as customers must do our part too.

At this year’s New York Motorcycle Show we had incredible crowds. The Boat Show upstairs was lightly traveled at best. Unlike the “Boat Crowd” WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT

whose membership comes with a very hefty admission fee, we riders get away relatively cheap to enjoy the sport or lifestyle we call motorcycling.

The money we spend this spring and summer to continue this endeavor should be done wisely. When was the last time you stopped by your friendly neighborhood motorcycle shop?

Do it now. If you picked up this copy of Backroads at a shop and are sitting with a cup of coffee and reading these words, go find something you need or can use and buy it. Our dealerships can only survive if we help them do so.

Years ago shops were smaller, cozier places. Establishments where riders gathered during the days to talk bull, peruse the shelves and spend some cash now and again.

In the last decade some shops have become cold places where you went to only as a last resort - they just weren’t fun any more.

The advent of shopping on the internet has not helped much either. Not that I’m against getting specific farkles, that your dealer can not get, from web-based suppliers, but I do think my iMac will never replace all the good times I had at Circle Cycle or AMOL BMW in Bergen county years ago.

Okay, there is this one site....

Still, today I am writing this when the big winter storm is upon us. We already have half a foot outside the office and it is supposed to snow all day and this night as well.

Yesterday it was sunny and in the low 40’s. With things to do I took my GS out for some errands and ending up taking the long way home.

After this winter of discontent it was exactly what I needed. I felt rejuvenated and I know that the first decent weekend will find thousands of riders back on the road, riding for breakfast, riding for the scenery, some just going for a freakin’ ride and many discovering the new motorcycle landscape we are left with.

I only hope one of their stops is their local shop. Stop in. Maybe have some coffee. Let them know they are still appreciated.

And, to all you shop owners - it’s time to remember how your establishments were “back in the day.” Time to make them more customer-friendly.

Now is the time you need to remember that bigger isn’t always better and your family of customers are just that - your family.

Here’s to a full and profitable 2010 riding season!

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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W H ATC H AT H I N K I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL Recently I was having dinner with a close friend and the conversation turned to riding groups and their dispositions. His opinion was that there is a definite hierarchy, whether established or just sort of random. No matter the size of the herd, there will always be the select few who are looked upon for leadership. They may not volunteer or even want this position, but nonetheless, it falls on their shoulders.

Over the years I have been involved with some riding groups and have observed very many more. I absolutely understand this theory. There are several styles of riding groups; the crash of large, organized and established clubs, the mustering of smaller, less formal groups and the murmuration of haphazard ‘let’s go for a ride’ friends. Without a doubt, the larger the group, the more structured the decisions seem to become. There are elections, officers, dues and actual meetings to discuss the activities, future and past. As the size of the group diminishes, so does the orderliness.

Let’s put it in native American terms; there is a tribe of riders who, every weekend, look for a place to ride their motorcycles. Over time, this tribe has developed a string of destinations with which they are happy to follow.

These destinations may have been found by one or two members of the tribe and, with these findings, they have become the information gatherers of the tribe. They may not be the same person/people who actually make the choice on the destination; that would fall to the elders of the tribe, who are actually willing to make a final decision.

I’m sure that you’ve been a part of this at some point in your riding career; the conversation goes something like this: HERD MENTALITY

Rider A ‘Where are we going this weekend?’

Rider B ‘I don’t know, where do you want to go?’

Rider A ‘Let’s go south.’

Rider B ‘Nah, we went south last week, let’s go west.’

Rider A ‘There’s nothing good to the west, let’s go north.’

Rider B ‘What’s north? All the good roads are south.’

Rider C ‘We’re going to Point X Café via my route - follow me.’

Riders A + B ‘Cool, never been there, let’s go, I’m hungry.’

Being part of Backroads, and having put on rallies for the past 10 years, I am fully aware of the need for a pecking order. From the very first rally in the Finger Lakes, where we had 10 people foolishly follow our lead, there seems to have been a ritual established. About a month before the rally, we’ll start to get emails and calls to see where the meeting spot is for the ‘group ride’ to the destination. Sometimes we have one, sometimes we don’t. It really depends on how far the final destination is and what our schedule is. In the beginning, we did our best to accommodate. However, over the year, friendships have been made and subgroups have been formed.

Thusly, our role as ‘elders and leaders’ has taken a step down in this stage of the riding. Like-minded riders and compatriots make their own plans and get there on their own, having found an information gatherer/diviner to lead.

When there is a group ride offered, we adamently suggest folks break into smaller quivers of riders. Invariably, as soon as Brian and I put sidestands up, we have 10 or so bikes behind us and, in about 10 minutes, have lost half of them. We all end up in the same place at the end of the day; no harm, no foul.

If you happen to be part of a rhumba of riders who has no apparent leader, why not step up to the plate and assume the role. There’s no need for absolute dictatorship, just a gentle nudging and some good ideas for places to go and things to see. We have a rafter of GPS routes available for download from our website, which makes your job that much easier. And with our Moto-Inn listings, you can choose from any number of motorcycle-friendly eateries and lodgings who will be glad to see you pull in.

We all know that just tooling around on your bike is a great day, but sometimes having a particular spot to look forward to for a bite to eat or just to stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery makes it that much better. Be the tribe elder, make that decision. As Ty Webb said in Caddyshack, ‘Be the ball.’

For those who question my use of ‘group’ names, let me take a word from Brian and edumacate you. It’s a rhumba of rattlesnakes, a rafter of turkeys, a crash of rhinos, a mustering of storks and a murmuration of starlings. If you’d like to see the rest of these more than interesting names, point your webshooter to www.thealmightyguru.com/Pointless/AnimalGroups.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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that has a long history with some of these concerns this is a slap in the face.

Did they honestly think such policies would help their bottom line, especially when so many patrons of Bike Week can’t afford to attend already?

BILL HEALD Idiots.

So, I took this draconian new policy as a bad sign; a portent in a series of A TRIP UNTAKEN portents that put the brakes on travel. The second in my twofold reason structure of why I’m not Down Under in a Floridian sense this year involves As I concoct this April column, I note a stark what’s happened to the AMA Superbike series, and the Daytona 200. As difference this year: there is no bright sunshine, no endless rumble of you may recall, in 2008 the AMA sold the Superbike racing series (and Harleys, no press room buzz at Daytona International Speedway, no scantiother racing programs) to the Daytona Motorsports Group, which is of ly clad women on Main Street. OK, these things still exist, but they’re not course the folks who bring the world NASCAR. Many of us who have folin the vicinity of where I’m writing this column. Unlike what has been my U.S. Superbike racing for years were concerned when this happened, lowed tradition for several years, I am not attending Bike Week and the Daytona and watched with trepidation as the 2009 season run by these folks tran200 down in Florida. I’m bummed by this fact, because I always have a great Roger Edmondson, who has a long turbulent relationship with the spired. time during this annual trip and it’s a terrific opportunity to grab as many AMA and motorcycle road racing, was put in charge. press bikes as I can for all the manufacturers are (or were) there in force. I After one year, the results of this odd pairing I’ll also cover the AMA racing, and frequent some of o, I took this draconian new policy as let you evaluate yourself. Suffice it to say, my favorite eateries over the week. But this year, I a bad sign; a portent in a series of por- Edmondson is now no longer in charge, and Honda am not engaging in these delightful activities. It tents that put the brakes on travel. and Kawasaki are no longer directly involved with seems to be a perfect storm of evil that has stopped AMA Superbike racing at all. The big sponsors, me from heading south, and it is my hope that maybe next year will be difbig race gurus and most of the superstar riders are absent, and I mean no disferent. But before we predict the future, let us focus on the present for a bit. respect to current competitors (especially the up and comers) as they’re getThe reasons I’m not enjoying Daytona in person are twofold, and the first ting screwed the most.

On top of the general economic climate, the alienis no doubt familiar to pretty much everybody: money. I have to finance the ation of several major manufacturers (due in part to some of the ludicrous trip myself (unlike the good old days when a magazine or two handled changes the DMG has made to the series) has decreased their overall presexpenses), and this is an expensive proposition but ultimately worth it ence at Daytona, with fewer press bikes, events, etc. and this has taken a toll because I get paid for reviews and race coverage. However, this year someon a lot of vendors as well.

The Big Race used to be Sunday afternoon, now thing really set me off. I checked with four of the hotels I’ve stayed at in the its Friday night with 600s instead of Superbikes.

To be fair, these changes past, and for the first time they actually had the unmitigated gall (I love that started before DMG took over, but they’ve managed to just make a bad sitexpression) to, months in advance, announce they would immediately uation worse. charge my credit card for the entire stay. They actually had the U.G. (see However, there could be change in the air. There’s a belief that the overabove) to refer to this charge as a “deposit.” The universe that I inhabit (and all health of the industry will improve in 2010 (I’m actually quite optimistic the dictionary in this laptop) defines “deposit” as “a sum payable as a first about this), and I feel DMG will quite possibly make some major changes installment on the purchase of something or as a pledge for a contract, the to help right the AMA Pro Racing ship. So, it is my hope that next year at balance being payable later.” This does not mean the entire amount up front, this time I’ll be back down in the sun and riding the latest 2011 machinery. with no refund if you cancel less than 30 days in advance of your stay.

Hope springs eternal, even if it gets rained out from time to time.

The room rates are already bad enough, but considering I’m a customer

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE

S

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

ON THE MARK MARK BYERS My friend Michael was a helluva rider. He had a Silver Smoke BMW R90S and a blue K75S and was a hard man to follow on a winding road. Someone said he raced at one time, but that was before I knew him. He was a cabinetmaker - a great one.

He married late, but well, to a lovely woman and became a doting, full-time father.

I had the pleasure to work with him as a motor referee at bicycle races.

He was always the consummate professional, except in one regard: he was rarely, if ever, on time. The rest of us would show up at the requisite hour early and...no Michael. We’d put a radio aside for him and he’d roll up just as his race was departing, grab the radio on the fly, and do his thing. It became his trademark, along with his sunny attitude, salt and pepper ponytail, and ever-present pipe.

Michael had a great sense of humor: he and his buddy Simon were assigned as motor referees to the women’s field at the Tour de Toona in Pennsylvania and they had shirts that said “JOBS: Jews On Bikes - We’re the ones your mother warned you about!” They always appeared to be having a great time no matter what and were a popular pair among the women who raced in their fields. We had several spirited rides on the way back from race stages and he rode that K75S as if it was a knife spreading butter.

MEMORIAM

An artist as a woodworker, he was equally accomplished with stringed instruments and “The Wingman” and his guitars accompanied jazz and blues vocalists and bands in the DC area. That was a part of his life in which I never partook: his home and the clubs he played were always just a little too far away for me to conveniently make the trip and I never got to hear him play. If I had known what life had in store, I would have made a special effort. Isn’t that always the case?

In October 2008, Michael was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. He went through a long, hard battle that included months of experimental chemotherapy. On many occasions, the health care workers were surprised to see him ride up on his K75 with a guitar strapped to the back so he could entertain his fellow patients. On one occasion, his heart got balky and they were shocked to see him arrive for the checkup astride the BMW. That’s who he was: he wasn’t going to stop living (or riding) just because of some damned disease.

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In the midst of the chemo, our friend Stefan arranged a ride for he, Michael, Simon, and their friend Dirk. Stef sent me photos showing the four amigos clad in riding gear before and after the ride. I remember two of Michael in particular: one of him astride the K-bike, flip-up helmet raised, grinning, and another of him just sitting there in his leathers, gesturing as he talked. It was a special ride: a treasured moment and a calm eye in the storm that had become his life.

Michael’s wife, Tara, kept a blog and our spirits rose and fell with his health. We cheered his victories and lamented the setbacks. Unfortunately, the tide ebbed more than it flowed and finally, hospice called. In his final days, Tara asked what he’d like by way of a wake. Typical for him, he said “Why wait: let’s do it while I’m still around.” Plans were made, strings were pulled, and a block party was held. Beer flowed, music played, and Michael presided over it as best he could, receiving well-wishers between catnaps.

When the hospice people arrived the next day, instead of gloom, they found the flotsam of a massive fiesta.

Shortly after, on 21 September 2009, Michael Dennis Blom played and rode no more. The K-bike that once carved graceful arcs through corners all over the East coast was as still and silent as the guitars that once accompanied song and dance. Michael wouldn’t want us to be maudlin, however, he’d want us to ride and play and sing until our call comes. All he’d ask is that we ride and play well. I prefer not to think of him as gone, just a little too far ahead to see - a fleeting glimpse of the taillight of a well-ridden blue K75S disappearing around a tight curve on a mountain road and the lingering echo of a guitar note. Godspeed, Wingman.

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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Bergen County Harley-Davidson/BMW Presents

WE’RE OUTTA HERE

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

THE OLD WHARF COTTAGE & THE BAYARD HOUSE 10 BOHEMIA AVENUE, CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD 21915 877-582-4049 • WWW.BAYARDHOUSE.COM

Each moth in this column we do our best to find a place that shines a bit brighter than the rest. Maybe it’s a special inn, hotel or town that begs to be explored. Sometimes it is all about just a quiet getaway and that is what we have for you this month with this We’re Outta Here!

Right on the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, the third busiest canal in the world, you will find the historic town of Chesapeake City. This town is about as pretty as they come and you will find plenty to do in and around Chesapeake City. But what we want to let slip here are a few words about the Old Wharf Cottage, which has to be one of the most romantic abodes we have found in a long time.

The saying goes that “good things come in small packages” and the Old Wharf Cottage proves that out. The Old Wharf Cottage features a sitting room with sofa bed, full kitchen, and bath located on the first floor. The second floor bedroom is complete with a queen-size bed and private balcony overlooking the canal.

Rip & Ride® • THE OLD WHARF COTTAGE & THE BAYARD HOUSE 10 BOHEMIA AVENUE, CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD 21915 • 877-582-4049 • DOWNLOAD THE GPS ROUTE TO LANCASTER HERE: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/FILE/GR21AU THE SECOND PART WILL BRING YOU TO ROUTE 40 WHERE YOU WILL MAKE A LEFT, NOT RIGHT TO RTE. 213. GOT IT? START IN COLUMBIA, NJ AT ROUTE 94/I-80 INTERSECTION CROSS RIVER TO RTE. 611 SOUTH RIGHT AT 512 RIGHT AT ALPHA OR NORTH BROADWAY BEAR LEFT AT OLD PA - 115 LEFT AT MOUNTAIN ROAD STRAIGHT AT BUSKIRK / UPPER SMITH GAP / 3002 BEAR LEFT AT LITTLE GAP - THROUGH PALMERTON RIGHT ON RAMP TO 248 SOUTH RIGHT AT 873 - BECOMES MAIN ST. LEFT AT MOUNTAIN RD. LEFT AT 309 RIGHT AT 142 CROSS I-78 HARD RIGHT AT MOSELEM SPRING RD. LEFT AT MAIN ST. RIGHT AT SHOEY RD. RIGHT AT MAIN ST. LEFT AT IRISH CREEK RD. LEFT AT SHARTLESVILLE RD. LEFT AT 181 RIGHT AT N. HEIDELBERG RD. RIGHT AT W. PENN AVE. LEFT AT NORTHVALE BLVD. LEFT AT W. HIGH ST.

WWW.BAYARDHOUSE.COM

RIGHT AT S. 2ND ST. BEAR RIGHT AT NEWMANSTOWN, RD. / 419 LEFT AT 501 LEFT AT CHESTER RD STRAIGHT INTO 202 EAST STRAIGHT AT 30 EAST LEFT AT RTE. 896 STRAIGHT AT MARY POST ROAD. RIGHT AT 372 LEFT AT HESS ROAD RIGHT AT DRY WELLS ROAD LEFT 472 RIGHT AT PUSEYVILLE ROAD (YES..THAT’S RIGHT) LEFT AT 227 STRAIGHT AT RTE. 22 RIGHT AT RTE. 1 LEFT AT 623 / 161 RIGHT AT TRAPPE CHURCH ROAD BL 136 PRIESTFEND ROAD RIGHT AT COOL SPRING ROAD LEFT AT THOMAS RUN STRAIGHT ACROSS RTE. 22 TO SHUCKS ROAD RIGHT AT EAST WHEEL ROAD LEFT AT RTE. 24 LEFT AT RTE. 40 - LONG HAUL RIGHT AT RTE. 213 TO CHESAPEAKE CITY (LEFT AT RTE. 213 IF USING GPS ROUTE)

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

You’ll find the cottage nestled in the midst of a meticulously restored 19th century shipping village, the Old Wharf Cottage offers the perfect private hide-away.

A sunset glass of wine while watching ocean bound vessels from the balcony can’t be beat.

Some afternoons you can listen to music from the old fashioned bandstand across the street from the cottage. The Old Wharf Cottage is located at the foot of Bohemia Avenue along the banks of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Right next door you’ll find the Bayard House Restaurant, or you can enjoy a drink at the “Hole in the Wall” bar - a hospitality tradition dating back to the early days of the canal.

The cottage is also within easy walking distance of several antique shops, gift shops, artist galleries, and other restaurants; you’ll find much to see in this town. For your riding pleasure

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you will find you are just minutes away from the Chesapeake Bay with its many rivers, parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and we have a route that will lead you along a number of tiny backroads that will ensure a great ride when visiting the Old Wharf Cottage.

Dining at the Bayard House is always a pleasure, especially on a nice day sitting outside, right on the canal. While there Shira chose the Turkey & Brie served on a warm pretzel roll. I enjoyed the Crab Bisque and a dozen Prince Edward Island Drunkin’ Mussels steamed in a tequila lime butter with andouille sausage, pepper jack cheese and plum tomatoes. Both were awesome and everything else on their menu looked equally inviting.

While staying at the Old Wharf Cottage you’ll get a Continental breakfast as well.

When you are looking for that very special and amorous getaway set your sights on The Old Wharf Cottage in Chesapeake City. You can rent the cottage for the night or for the week if you desire, but it is very popular and you will want to do this way in advance.

We’d love to give you a worthy Rip & Ride for the cottage, but you’re best bet is to get down to Maryland’s Route 213, right off I-95 and slide into the bay area. But since you might insist, here is something we Frankensteined together from our Fall Fiesta routes. This is a long day’s adventure.

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents

Dr. Seymour O’Life’s M Y S T E R I O U S THE STOOGEUM Nyuck, Nyuck.... 2 made up words that mean so much to so many people.

There are few comedic teams that have such iconic status in these Untied States, and the rest of the world, than the Three Stooges.

Most folks remember them from the Three Stooges television show, with officer Joe Bolton as host or from their short films from Columbia; but many do not know the “stooges” had their start back in 1925 as a Vaudeville act called Ted Healy and His Stooges.

904 SHEBLE LANE, AMBER PA • 267-468-0810 • WWW.STOOGEUM.COM

Later on the Three Stooges got involved politically and patriotically with what director Jules White considered their best film to be You Nazty Spy! This 18-minute short subject starred Moe as “Moe Hailstone”, an Adolf Hitler-like character, and satirized the Nazis in a period when America was still neutral and resolutely isolationist. Curly played a Herman Goering character, replete with medals, and Larry a Ribbentrop-type ambassador. You Nazty Spy! was the first Hollywood film to spoof Hitler, as it was released in January, 1940, nine months before Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. Reportedly this film caused the Stooges to be placed on Hitler’s so-called “death list” because of its anti-Nazi

AMERICA

stance. Chaplin, along with Jack Benny, would also be on this list due to their later anti-Nazi films.

This was back when Hollywood remembered that it was part of the United States... Nyuck, Nyuck!

Moe and Larry were staples of the act, but Curly, always a favorite, had a stroke in 1946, from which he never recovered. Moe Howard turned to his older brother Shemp Howard to take Curly’s place.

Ten years later comedic actor Joe Besser replaced Shemp. Besser was the only “third” Stooge that dared to hit Moe back in retaliation and get away with it.

Still to this day you might find the Three Stooges on during a rainy day at Backroads Central, as Rathjen and Kamil have a great adoration for the Stooges - one wonders why?

All this brings me to The Stoogeum, the only museum totally dedicated to the Three Stooges.

But listen you knuckleheads, before you ride down to Amber, Pennsylvania, listen up when I tell you the museum is only open one day a month. That’s right, youze wise guys - one day a month! But, it’s well worth the ride, I tell ya!

You’ll find all sorts of the Stooges personal effects and props like the “flying submarine tank” from The Three Stooges in Orbit, the Quinto puppet and the outfits worn by the Stooges in Snow White & The Three Stooges, as well as the jackets worn on stage by the Stooges during their live shows from the 1960s.

Look around and see hundreds of rare candid photos, studio publicity stills, and on-stage shots spanning 50 years of Three Stooges history. Take in some of the Three Stooges incredibly rare 1-sheet posters and lobby cards dating back to the Stooges’ earliest films. You will also discover hundreds of vintage and current items depicting the Stooges on every imaginable type of merchandise, from bowling balls and thimbles to guitars and toilet paper!

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

There is an entire floor devoted to artists’ depictions of the Stooges.

Pieces by both professional and amateur artists include charcoal drawings, watercolors, folk art, pen & ink sketches, animation cels and more. All in all you’ll discover nearly 3,500 pieces of Stoogeum at The Stoogeum. It’s 10,000 square feet of total Stoogeness.

Page 13

Rip & Ride® • THE STOOGEUM 904 SHEBLE LANE, AMBER PA 267-468-0810 • WWW.STOOGEUM.COM DOWNLOAD GPS ROUTE: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/FILE/LD89QC 70 MILES ONE WAY

I-80

SOUTH

ON

STRAIGHT

AT

CR 519

AT

BRASS CASTLE RD.

RIGHT

AT

GREENWICH STREET

AT

CROSS

WATER STREET

INTO

STRAIGHT

Like music? Why not sign up for Backroads Song of the Week. New tune every week for your listening pleasure. email editor@backroadsusa.com to be added

CR 521

RIGHT LEFT

You can log onto The Stoogeum website to find what dates the museum will be open and then plan your ride for that day - you mopes! The next open house will be Saturday, May 8 from 10am to 3pm.

So follow our Rip & Ride to The Stoogeum and try not to slap your best pals around while you’re there!

12 HOPE

TO EXIT

BEAR

AT

LEFT AT

WEST LEFT

PA

ON

AT

BEAR

RTE. 611

RTE. 202

RTE. 309 BETHLEHEM TURNPIKE

RIGHT AND STAY ON

DON’T

BETHLEHEM TURNPIKE

FORT WASHINGTON EXPRESSWAY, KNUCKLEHEADS!

GET ON

YOU

LOOK

MARTINS CREEK

FOR

SHEBLE LANE

ON LEFT, WISE GUYS!

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 14

B I G C I T Y G E T A W AY

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

Riding up along the Hudson Valley, towards Poughkeepsie, you can’t help to notice the expansive iron bridge crossing the river, just north of the city.

You should, as it is the oldest surviving steel cantilever bridge on the planet. When it was completed in 1889 this bridge was the longest bridge in the world. During the World Wars the bridge carried troops to be shipped overseas. In its heyday, over 3,500 train cars crossed the bridge on a daily basis.

about to recreate the bridge, bring new life to the huge structure and a new mission and thus the Walkway over the Hudson came about just 5 years ago.

To complete this project in time for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the river by Hudson and the crew of the Half Moon, it would take nearly $40 million and years of work to transform what was a railroad bridge into a walkway spanning one of the most beautiful rivers in the United States. Serious work refitting the bridge took only a year and a half and the Walkway was official opened this past October 3rd.

We have always loved the Hudson so as soon as we could we planned a day ride up to take a stroll on the walkway.

Unlike so many bridges today the Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge is a serious structure. It looks muscular and strong, with its steel lattice of trusses and struts reaching high above the dark river, it was the gem of the Hudson during the Industrial Revolution, and allowed a rail link between east and west of the Hudson for goods and coal.

Your best view of this bridge has always been when crossing the MidHudson span, just to the south of it. In the early ‘70s the bridge was abandon and it sat for 30 plus years, a giant of a bygone era.

To demolish this monster would have cost millions and the idea came

Our ride started not too far from Backroads Central and the GPS file and Rip & Ride will lead you on our route from Branchville, New Jersey where our post office is conveniently located.

Our ride spun us through the northwestern farmlands of New Jersey and then into New York State, right near Interstate 84. We were soon in the shadow of the Shawangunks, the very northern edge of the Appalachian Mountains and heading east along Route 55 to the town of Highland, where we followed the route to the western entrance of the Walkway over the Hudson.

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Even on a pleasant fall weekday the bridge had plenty of visitors. School kids on a class trip, white haired couples holding hands as they walked over the river, people walking their dogs and a few bicyclists as well.

This time of year, the leaves were just past their prime, but still the dusky hue of the fall foliage was grand to see.

We parked the bikes near the entrance and headed east across the mighty span that ran huge locomotives for nearly a century past.

The view of the river to the north and south was nothing less than stunning and what I had only glimpsed while riding over any of the bridges that cross the Hudson, this day I could drink it all in.

We strolled out to the mid-point, reading the signs and information that abound along your walk. If something piques your interest, you can dial from your cell, enter the sign number and get the 411 on that particular tidbit, for a price, of course.

From high above we could see a road that wound down to the river and we spotted the Mariner’s Marina and Restaurant which seemed to be the perfect place for lunch, not to mention getting a good view of the Walkway over the Hudson from the ground up.

Heading back to the bikes we did just that and before you knew it we were dockside with burgers and lobster mac & cheese - a great way to end a wonderful day of seeing the Hudson from high above the middle of the river.

The Walkway over the Hudson is open daily from sunrise to sunset and is well worth the ride simply to see why so people, many of them artists, felt this part of America is one of the most beautiful.

In addition to the Rip & Ride for this jaunt, you can download the GPS route to and from the Walkway at www.sendspace.com/file/wngzky and www.sendspace.com/file/intz9k.

Enjoy the ride and the bridge!

The return route brings you by the Quaker Creek Farm, which was featured on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdaine. Quaker Creek is a sausage place - take away only. To see their offerings visit their website at www.quakercreekstore.com. They are only open during the week but if you call ahead, they may open for you on the weekend. Their address is 767 Pulaski Hwy, Goshen, NY and their phone is 845-258-4570.

Mariner’s on the Hudson, 46 River Rd, Highland, NY 845-691-4711 • www.marinershudson.com

Page 15

Rip & Ride® • WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON FROM BRANCHVILLE, NJ

OR P/U ROUTE WHEREVER

CR 519 NORTH STRAIGHT AT BRINK ROAD LEFT AT RTE. 23 NORTH RIGHT AT CR 519 CROSS INTO NEW YORK - BECOMES CR 55 BEAR LEFT AT CR 73 - TOWARDS OTISVILLE LEFT AT CR 11 IN OTISVILLE RIGHT AT RTE. 211 QUICK STRAIGHT AT CR 90 STRAIGHT AT CR 65 STRAIGHT AT CR 62 / 61 STRAIGHT AT CR 7 RIGHT AT RTE. 52 LEFT AT CR 7 - NEW PROSPECT ROAD RIGHT AT RTE. 55 RIGHT AT CR 10 LEFT AT CR 15 RIGHT AT RTE. 44/55 RIGHT AT TILLSON AVE. CROSS 9W TO HAVILAND AVE. TO WALKWAY

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 16

G R E AT A L L A M E R I C A N D I N E R R U N

tasty places to take your bike

GUNNAR’S LANDING When we say that this month in the Great All American Diner Run we’ll be heading to a place alongside the river in western New Jersey your mind will probably call out that we’ll be heading to some place on the Delaware.

Well, this time you’re close, but not exactly.

Running east to west through this part of the Garden State, along the very western ends of Route 46 you’ll find the Pequest. This river, which runs for some 27 miles, has its start not far from Backroads Central, in a large swamp just outside Newton and meanders alongside the Allamuchy range and eventually, in a series of small waterfalls, runs into the far larger Delaware right where the free bridge into Pennsylvania is found in Belvidere.

Pequest means “Open Land” in the native tongue and even though some might think of Route 46 as anything but open, here in the western part of the state the road winds along in a very open and rural manner.

Along this part of Route 46 you will find this month’s stop on the GAADR - Gunnar’s Landing.

A few months back I found myself solo for a day and went in search of some errant little backroads that may have slipped by us in our travels. Heading south I moseyed along into Warren county and over the Allamuchy hills and in a short while I found myself on Route 46.

It was around lunchtime and I had passed this eatery, Gunnar’s Landing, many times while in the area and had it in my mind to stop by and see why this place is so popular, especially with fellow riders on a bright sunny weekend day.

From the front Gunnar’s is a little nondescript, but that all changes when you enter the restaurant with its warm 487 US HIGHWAY 46 EAST, BELVIDERE, NJ 07823-2655 • 908-475-4900

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

and inviting bar and splay of indoor tables, but it is the wide deck with a good view of the Pequest River that gathered my attention.

Now I was there on a warm Indian Summer day in November - on a Monday - so Gunnar’s wasn’t exactly packed, but you could instantly see how this place could appeal to so many on a warm summer’s day.

Talking with the waitress, Andrea, she assured me that the crowds do come, and being where it is, surrounded by so many excellent roads, many motorcyclists make Gunnar’s Landing their lunch stop of choice while cruising through the region.

The menu has a wide array of treats, some considered bar food, but we consider it bar food with a twist.

The basic starters are found, chicken wings, nachos and steamers, along with garlic clams and shrimp. You’ll even find potato pancakes, just like Grandma used to make, applesauce and everything.

Gunnar’s Landing serves a great Maryland Crab Cake that somehow swam up the Delaware and then the Pequest. Their Macaroni & Cheese

Page 17

is about as comfortable as it gets and the Tex-Mex Chili is anything but.

You’ll find a number of hot sandwiches and we have been assured by those who know that their cheesesteak rivals anything down the river.

I gave the Bayou Burger a try and added bacon just ‘cause I could. Scrumptious and really hit the spot.

For you skinny salad types you are covered here as well as they have six to choose from and even we carnivores could dive into the Old Bay shrimp salad.

With Gunnar’s Landing you also have the great view off the deck of the river and they can easily handle even the largest riding group.

So, next time you are ripping along the river’s head towards the Landing at Gunnar’s you’ll not be disappointed.

As usual we bring you to lunch in grand Backroads style. This ride starts where the river does, right outside Newton where Routes 15 and 206 meet in Augusta, NJ.

Rip & Ride® • GUNNAR’S LANDING 487 US HIGHWAY 46 EAST, BELVIDERE, NJ 908-475-4900 • DOWNLOAD GPS ROUTE: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/FILE/OEGZLP

ONE

WAY

40

MILES

RIGHT AT PRICE ROAD LEFT AT AUGUSTA HILL ROAD LEFT ONTO CR519 RIGHT AT CR 626 FIRST RIGHT ONTO STAGE COACH RD. LEFT AT CHURCH RD. RIGHT AT CR 626 LEFT AT PARSON RD. RIGHT AT JUNCTION RD. RIGHT AT CR 622 LEFT AT CR 521 RIGHT AT MILLBROOK RD. LEFT AT BIRCH RIDGE RD. RIGHT AT CR 602 MILLBROOK RD. LEFT AT GAISLER RD. LEFT AT MOHICAN RD. RIGHT AT RTE. 94 SOUTH LEFT AT LAMBERT RD. STRAIGHT AT CR 616 CROSS I-80 CR 616 BECOMES KNOWLTON RD. BEAR LEFT ONTO KOECK RD. RIGHT AT CR 609 LEFT AT RTE. 46 TO GUNNAR’S LANDING

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 18

BACKLASH

LETTERS

An Age Old Story of Frustration

This letter came to us a few months back. We read it with amusement until we saw the name on the permit.

Dear Backroads, Once upon a time there was an older lady who wished to surprise her son and daughter-in-law for Christmas. She wanted to present them with her motorcycle license as a Christmas gift.

This woman went and took her permit test, which she shocked herself by passing and then proceeded to sign up with an MSF class in the state of Pennsylvania - specifically Baer Harley-Davidson, in Honesdale. This class, like all MSF classes, had classroom and range training.

WFO

inc.

You can see our amazement, as this “woman” was our mother. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Good for you Mom - your 2010 Hummer will be delivered by the end of the month.

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The first class, indoors, went peachy. The second, on the range, actually on a bike - a Blast - did not go so well.

Hereto the nemesis. You see this woman had never driven a car with a standard transmission. As a result the idea of a clutch and the need to shift were basically Greek to her. As hard as she tried she could not get the idea down.

She fell. Then fell again; the second time bashing her ribs and leaving herself all sorts of black and blue for about two weeks.

Was this woman sorry? Not really. She was disappointed in failing the class, but not in trying.

She wasn’t happy about the pain, but was smiling that she gave it a try after years of just talking about it. At least she tried.

Her main regret was that she didn’t do this years back, when she was younger and maybe could have beaten her nemesis - that pesky clutch and shift thing!

Enclosed is a copy of the lady’s permit...maybe she’ll try again.

Oh, by the way, did I mention this woman’s son was not all that keen on her obtaining her license?

Signed, Frustrated in PA!

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Real Women Riders

Dear Brian I have to STRONGLY disagree with your premise that “women only events hurt any progress that has already been made.” These events offer women who ride the scarce opportunity to meet and ride with other women riders.

I have been a member of the Sirens NYC Women’s MC for over 20 years and still today when we ride as a club and stop somewhere we are ALWAYS approached by women who tell us how inspired to ride we make them feel. One would like to think that by now all women who ride are “sure and confident” but alas some are not and seeing a group of women riders both encourages and inspires by the best way possible: example. It takes people with a real spirit of adventure to become a motorcyclist and for many women that spirit needs to, dare I say, be nurtured and not necessarily by a well intentioned spouse who would just love to buy his wife a bike and have her learn to ride the darn thing already. These women-only events just happen to be where much of that nurturing and encouragement take place.

Those of us who have had the opportunity to experience a track day also know that it is one of the safest places to advance ones skills. And by far the SAFEST track days are indeed the ones with zero testosterone on it...so why wouldn’t any woman want to practice on a no crash track day? DUH! So Brian, if these women-only events help introduce more women to riding and provide us with a place to hone our skills, buy merchandise, mingle with like minded women and, yes, maybe even learn about skin care (can you say melanoma) why do you care?

Maybe it is too many men making too big a deal of the women versus men thing?

With much affection, Helene (and Laura) Hey General Rathjen, You get the balls prize (as opposed to the No-balls Peace Prize) from me, yet again. I just read what you had to say about the delicate flower female riding gang. I am just so sick of that crap. Like you, I am

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

jazzed that more women ride motorcycles. I accept anyone, and I mean anyone, who rides, as a fellow rider. Period. It’s all good.

Now when some group of riders deliberately removes itself from the mainstream of all riders, well that’s their call. Don’t blame me, they chose whatever it is the hell they chose. Most all of the female riders I know are females who happen to ride motorcycles. Their gender generally isn’t an issue when we’re riding or talking about riding. Never enters the picture. Amen.

You keep saying the stuff that needs to be said, and I will keep reading it and saying out loud, “Thank God Brian said _________.”

Be well, mon ami!

Cheers, Jeff Adams

I would hope that everybody who read that article would see the problem with one woman charging a ridiculous amount for a rider course, by adding fluff to it, and basically taking advantage and money from women who just want to get involved with riding.

We have always been pro-women riding and always will be. But, be honest, if I held a “Men-Only Anything” I’d be crucified! - Brian

Page 19

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Just a short note. I have truly enjoyed the SOTW. My attraction is your attraction to Pink Martini. I thought I discovered them. My first knowledge of them was when I visited my full Japanese sister-inlaw in Portland. She tells the story she helped the Martini group learn to sing properly the words to Kikuchiyo To Mohshimatsu. I bet you know the song from “Hang on Little Tomato”. We won’t care who discovered them-they are just worth enjoying on the ole’ iPod. Say hi to the pretty wife.

Best to ya’ Wiley

I actually want to go online and buy a Pink Martini CD to support them. So, which one should I start with? Is there a favorite? It’s like with Buffett in that I truly believe A1A is his finest album. But, this is largely because where I was at the time (Port Aransas/Austin/Key West) when I wore the sucker out.

BH

Spain with Manfred

Backroads, Janet and I were lucky enough to have Manfred as our guide on our 2007 Alps tour. This was his last season before forming MF-Tours GmbH. He _is_ a fantastic guide and an all around blast to hang with.

His local road knowledge was astounding, not a GPS in sight. All the while, he’d shoot onboard pictures, backwards a la “Annie Oakley”. A week after we returned, a photo CD showed up in the mailbox, loaded with scores of action shots to augment our static snaps.

We’re saving up for another tour with Manfred, maybe after the 2011 BR-Edelweiss Alps trip.

Cheers, Glenn

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Brian, For years now every time I hear this song I think of you and Shira. Just saying cool song.

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 20

And the Answer is…

A character in the Robert Parker “Spenser” novels?

Byrd - Feb. 25

Dear Editor; I am impressed by your magazine, your selection of monthly articles, your advocacy of motorcycling, your editorials, the beautiful format of your magazine and the user friendly web site with GPS down loads and now the Moto-Inn program. But I am especially impressed that Vinnie Morris, the dark, smooth thug from the Spenser detective series by Robert B Parker, is a culture hero of yours. The only thing Morris may have on you is his name! Sounds tough....Brain Rathjen....well sounds kind of ninja esq.

Enjoy yourselves....

CJ - Feb. 28

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Hi Brian and Shira, Related to your shooting range article, Vinny Morris was a character in several Robert Parker Spenser novels. My pretty sure I won’t be the first to respond as I’ve had the magazine since Tuesday. It took me a few seconds to get the Vinny Morris connection since I usually read my motorcycle magazines as bedtime stories and my brain was probably functioning in slow motion.

As always, best regards and ride safe.

Your friend, Jerry - Feb. 28

Mail:

BACKROADS PO Box 317 Branchville NJ 07826

Email: editor@backroadsusa.com Fax: (973) 948-0823

DO NOT WASTE SPACE ANYMORE

Don’t ride your BMW GSA without back up oil, always on your bike.

Got something to say? We’d love to hear it.

Letters may be edited, never censored, to fit.

MAY 13-16

SPRING BREAK Where: George Washington Hotel • Winchester, VA www.wyndhamgeorgewashington.com • 540-678-4700

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 21

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 22

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD LOOKING FOR THAT SPOT

No matter what we ride, many of us routinely find ourselves legally discouraged from riding, especially in NYC and its environs. Discouragement comes in many forms, some of it inadvertent, and some quite deliberate.

Who hasn’t had their bike knocked over while legally parked on a NYC street? Two friends actually had their bikes totaled by errant parkers last year. Luckily for both of them, they were insured. Unluckily for all of us, that becomes a public cost when insurance companies raise all of our rates in response.

NY State riders are exempted from no-fault coverage. While many have very legitimate complaints about the no-fault system, it’s currently the law in NY State. Why, then, are we riders the only class of people not covered under the no-fault policies we’re all obliged to purchase? My no-fault policy would have covered my passenger had I had one when I was seriously injured while hit from behind in 2002.

The car driver who hit me could have claimed some injury and collected money to stay home. I, however, was obliged to use my private insurance for medical care, and had no income while I healed my broken parts. Worse yet, I was forced to seek redress in court which is a place I would normally choose to avoid. There are so many ways in which we’re discouraged that it’s a tribute to the joy of riding that so many of us continue to do so.

What if we lived in a place where our vehicles were considered an asset?

What if we were actively courted and encouraged to ride? This is not a fairy tale. Wise city planners have long recognized the advantages of our fuel

Cheryl Stewart, NYMSTF President

efficient, congestion reducing vehicles in places as diverse as San Francisco, Toronto, London and Sydney, just to name a few. Toronto exempted all motorcycles and scooters from Muni-Meter fees within the city limits in recognition of the fact that we have no place to secure the receipt. San Francisco has extensive two-wheel parking areas with steeply reduced parking fees at their paperless Muni-Meters. Sydney provides slick O-rings embedded into the street so that we can secure our vehicles in their dedicated parking zones.

Wise city planners in London U.K. saw increased two-wheeled vehicle usage as one of the key elements in their congestion plan, and commissioned a 24 page study to outline ways in which motorcycles and scooters could be enticed to ride into and around their city. An important part of the London Congestion Pricing Plan is a toll exemption for two-wheeled vehicles. So why did Mayor Bloomberg eliminate that exemption when he attempted to impose an otherwise identical Congestion Pricing Plan in NYC? That was the moment when I knew we had to have a new kind of motorcycle advocacy group in New York.

The New York Motorcycle and Scooter Task Force became a reality almost one year ago. One of our projects has been NYC parking. We have a two pronged agenda which includes getting NYC to follow Toronto’s example exempting us from paying Muni-Meter fees, and establishing dedicated two-wheeled parking areas throughout the city. Legal, set aside motorcycle parking in NYC? Haven’t we seen our parking areas taken away one by one? Yes, we have, which is one reason why we started the Task Force.

Parking is an issue best addressed at the Community Board level.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

B OOK

Page 23

SPOTLIGHT

MODERN SPORTS HELMETS: THEIR HISTORY, SCIENCE AND ART BY JAMES A. NEWMAN PH.D. AND THE MOTORCYCLE HELMET: THE 1930S TO 1990S BY RIN TANAKA

We’re big ones for real protective gear here at Backroads so when these two books came our way we were very interested in diving right into them.

Both books delve deep into the history of protective head gear and both were packed with a great amount of detail on how helmets have evolved over the decades.

Dr. Newman’s is a bit more analytical on his approach (C’mon he’s got a Ph.D.) and his is not necessarily just about motorcycle helmets, but all sports helmets in general - winter sports, football, etc.

It is very detailed and reading through this one will get an excellent idea of how helmets have changed and how new technologies and applications have improved helmets in their assigned task to disperse energy and minimize injury.

We found it a fascinating book and certainly one that will be looked back on over time when researching the subject.

At press time we found Modern Sports Helmets: Their History, Science and Art at Amazon for $35.

Rin Tanaka’s The Motorcycle Helmet The 1930s to 1990s is more coffee table fun and looks at motorcycle helmets specifically. He also has books on Motorcycle Jackets and Motorcycle Fashions, so it is obvious he enjoys the subject.

As analytical as Dr. Newman’s is, this book is a far easier read. It is full of helmets you might remember and ads you can’t forget.

Ahh, the helmets of the psychedelic ‘60s and ‘70s - or is that cycledelic?

We really enjoyed Rin’s books and look forward to reading his other. Look to Amazon for this at around $50.

The odd thing is, even though these books take a different path on the same subject, and both being from Schiffer books, they have the exact same odd sizing for a book - which will make them perfect mates on our bookshelf.

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THOUGHTS (Continued from previous page)

It’s tedious but it can be done. As a matter of fact, we’re already doing it.

We’ve also worked to defeat Int. 1086, a proposed NYC law so poorly written that it would have exposed any shop or individual selling or servicing any motorcycle or scooter to huge fines. This bill was aimed at loud pipes, but the ignorance of its author put us all at great financial risk, particularly the shops upon which we rely.

The Task Force did not oppose Int. 1086 because it attempted to regulate loud pipes. We opposed it because it was stupid. We support rational noise legislation equitably enforced, such as the AMA model legislation based on real world decibel testing.

Other items on our agenda include restoration of safety funds raised from two-wheel registration fees, which are routinely sucked into the general NY State budget. We are in favor of legalization of lane sharing as practiced in California and throughout Europe.

We advocate for an end to unconstitutional motorcycle-only traffic stops on public highways, full express lane and ferry access, and an end to no-fault exclusion of motorcycle and scooter riders.

Visit our website to find out more or to join in our efforts • www.nymstf.org

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• Arrive on your bike check-in with your coupon; you’ll be entered into • Learn Cornering Techniques; “Visual the free weekend drawing.

Strategies,” and Safety Tips: schedule a Stayin’ Safe Motorcycle Training • Have a drink by the creek, walk team member to speak at your event. to the Natural Bridge and falls, eat Offer half-day “Skills Tune-ups” on lots of good food, pass out, get up, nearby mountain roads, a modified version of eat, and ride some more! the popular on-road training tours (www.stayinsafe.com)

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far from major metro-areas and tourist centers, so you’ll find miles of scenic, lightly trafficked roads: • winding valley roads flanked by mountain vistas • technical serpentine roads that climb up and down the mountains • the Blue Ridge Parkway, practically traffic-free!

• dirt roads and trails in the National Forests.

Download route maps at www.NaturalBridgeVA.com/cycle.html. and all you have to do when you come to Natural Bridge is go out and ride!

To Plan Your Trip call 800-533-1410; visit www.NaturalBridgeVA.com/motorcycle.html to download your “Two Wheels Steal” coupon & route maps, and learn more about Natural Bridge.

To Plan Your Group’s Trip or Event: Group Sales, Sales@naturalbridgeva.com; 540-458-3757; www.NaturalBridgeVA.com/cycle.html

Location: Distance from Washington, DC–190 m; Richmond, VA–135m; Norfolk, VA–195m; Pittsburgh, PA–300m; Philadelphia, PA–330m; We’re on Route 11 at VA 130; off I-81, exits 175 or 180; just south of I-64; from the Blue Ridge Parkway, your choice of two fun roads at mp 45.6, US 60, or mp 61.6, VA 130.

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 24

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival

sure they have a safe and confident riding group. How they could go about vetting out potential troubles before they occur.

It is a difficult problem as Billy Joel sang, “Honesty is hardly ever heard,” Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue.. especially when it comes to potential customers rating their own riding ~ Billy Joel Honesty is hardly ever heard. skills. Except for the usual “Let’s see if we can all ride” jaunt on the bikes I spent most of the end of last summer riding across a good deal of before leaving for the tour, the tour operators really are in the dark on what Europe; Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and then across Italy and will go on once out on the tour. into the Balkans, spinning down into I remember we were on a tour a number of Bosnia and Motenegro. It was a fantabuyears back. The tour company had sent along COULD SEE THIS RIDER, WHO IS A BRILLIANT MAN IN HIS lous ride and for two of the weeks we were tiny bios on the group’s riding experiences , BEGIN TO MENTALLY PSYCHE HIMSELF OUT AND and if and where they had traveled before.

CAREER in the company of a tour group consisting of riders of various skill and talent.

One fellow’s bio told of him riding in EACH DAY IT SEEMED TO BECOME A BIT WORSE FOR HIM. Some of the riders were really capable South America and Asia. I was impressed and had no issues whatever, others seemed and made a mental note to try to ride with out of sorts and, a few times, dangerous to themselves and to others. him often as I am always looking to learn something new and improve my In the mountains of the Balkans the roads are very serious; twisty, someown riding. times only a lane wide and there is the ever looming danger of some maniThe first day out this fellow, Bob, asked me to bring his bike down a very ac Bosnian sliding his Fiat around the turn, right when you are there too. steep drive. When I asked him why he didn’t do it himself, he simply told Some in this group were in way over their heads. me there was no way he could manage it.

Situations like this happen often in the motorcycle touring business and I As time went on we knew somewhere around 3ish Bob was going to fall have talked at length with different tour operators on just how they can be over with his bike.

It might have been a late lunch thing or blood sugar levels, but like clockwork he would come to a light and, well, just tip over.

It seemed when pressed for answers that Bob fell down - a lot. His wife rode in the chase van.

On this last trip we had a fellow that seemed to be a fish out of water as well.

He had owned a number of bikes and even had a GS ~ 9A-4P back home. But, home was flat and straight and boring; certainly not the Durmitor Mountains of Montenegro, and each night this fellow seemed to retreat into himself; reliving each hairpin and switchback.

I could see this rider, who is a brilliant man in his career, begin to mentally psyche himself out and each day it seemed to become a bit worse for him.

Truth was he was on an R1200RT, a formidable touring bike, but not what he was used to and it showed.

Others seemed to struggle as well at various times.

On the tour many years back I remember the tour guide, a man with more miles than few I have known, saying he was bringing the entire group an easy and safer way out of the gorges were we staying, as he felt they were not capable of the skill level needed to go up and over the pass.

I found this admirable, but yet somehow cheated a bit, as I knew a few of us were game for the real ride.

Although “Burt’s Death Ride” in the van in the pitch black mountain roads to recover a downed motorcycle did make up for it.

Both tours have the same equation - in both cases there were folks who signed up for the tour and then realized they were going to be swimming in the deep end of the riding pool.

Sometimes you have to be fair with yourself when it comes to what you can or cannot do. Sometimes you have to take it down a notch to make the day a success.

Riding two-up with Shira on a R1200GS to Ushuaia in Patagonia I had no problem being the last in some evenings; as long as I still rode in. Some limped in.

The bottom line is sometimes you have to be honest with yourself as to your riding skills. And, to be honest with yourself each time you get on the bike.

Some days you can feel like Valentino Rossi, other days Alfred E. Neuman.

Most time honesty is the best policy.

Brian Rathjen

Riding Honestly

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 25

F IRST R IDE

BMW S 1000 RR Words: Roberto Mitchelli • images: Kevin Wing and Jonathan Beck BMW’s history is filled with important new product milestones that have been critical to the very survival of the German marque in the motorcycle business. The /5 models introduced in 1969 marked a turning point from quiet, gentlemanly black touring bikes to sportier, more colorful models. The R90S and R100RS moved the bar a little higher and kept BMW in business.

The R80G/S established the adventure-touring segment and led to a cult of motorcycle world explorers. The K Series bikes were sportier still and the oilhead boxer generation demonstrated that BMW still believed in a strong future for the decades-old design. Yet none of these models were as important for BMW’s future as is the new S 1000 RR superbike according to Pieter DeWaal, head of BMW Motorrad in the US. In the tough economic climate of 2009, BMW’s sales declined less than any other manufacturer in the US, yet like every manufacturer, BMW’s customer base is aging every year. The market segment with the most growth potential for BMW is the superbike segment, one that is currently dominated by the four Japanese manufacturers.

With BMW’s experience in the highest categories of performance automobiles and in motorsport, the engineering and design talent was available to create a true supersport machine. BMW already spent more money in R&D

than any other motorcycle manufacturer, but this decision would commit even more, so the success in the market place would be critical. According to DeWaal, “we have only one chance to get it right-the first time!”

Getting it right meant that the RR couldn’t just be another competitor in an already highly competitive field, but the new supersport had to stand out from its competitors in four categories-performance, design, price and financing programs. In terms of performance, the new BMW is the most powerful 1,000 cc superbike on the market (193 bhp) and the lightest with ABS (455-lbs road-ready with full 4.6-gallon aluminum tank), but numbers alone are not the determining factor, according to DeWaal. Lap times are what count and the S 1000 RR spent much of its development time on the 14.7 mile Nuerburgring race track to make sure that it would stand up to the capabilities of its competition. BMW began campaigning the bike in the 2009 World Superbike series, even before the first showroom production models were built. In the design category BMW was guided by the “form follows function” mantra, which gave them the aerodynamic performance they sought, but also allowed a design that is distinctive from the Japanese competition. The pricing goal was a challenge requiring more than just engineering talent to achieve. BMW wanted the RR to be no more than $1,000 higher than its comparably equipped competitors and at a base MSRP of $13,800 they have added another “wow” factor to the equation.

Finally, BMW Financial Services has developed a package of “responsible” financing programs to help more riders put the RR in their garage.

Achieving the goals set in advance by BMW for the new superbike meant that there were no sacred cows that had to be part of the engineering process. Innovative features found on BMW’s sport, sport-touring or adventure-touring models, such as Telelever, Duolever and Paralever wouldn’t necessarily have a place on this new supersport model. And while the RR does have many conventional features common in this category, there is certainly no shortage of real innovation as well. BMW designed a cast-aluminum bridge-type frame with an aluminum double swingarm and central adjustable strut. Up front, a fully-adjustable upside-down cartridge telescopic fork is fitted. Both front and rear suspensions are adjustable for pre-load as well as compression and rebound damping. Damping adjustments can be made with the tip of the RR ignition key and the ten settings for each are clearly marked.

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Page 26

The 999-cc transversely-mounted four-cylinder engine is also a more conventional approach, yet again, chock-full of BMW’s own innovative technology, some of which comes from BMW’s experience in Formula 1 racing. With the goal of high-power across the rev range, BMW developed features that would provide free-revving, high-rpm capability. Oversquare dimensions (80-mm bore/50-mm stroke) provided the basis for the fitment of large titanium intake and exhaust valves, while ultra-compact cam followers-as opposed to the usual bucket tappets-cut valve train weight by half while allowing the engine to rev to 14,200 rpm. The electronic control of intake track length also results in response and torque that is available throughout the rev band. The result is 193 bhp @ 13,000 rpm and 83 lb/ft of torque @ 9,750 rpm-from an engine that weighs only 132 pounds.

This hardware alone wouldn’t set the RR apart as much as the combination of electronic controls that BMW has incorporated for a rider to manage that power and ride quicker than would be possible for 99 per cent of riders without it. According to Pieter DeWaal, “the most important message we want to tell potential S 1000 RR buyers is that this is the easiest bike to ride fast.”

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

In charge of all this dynamic wizardry is BMW’s new engine management control module, dubbed BMS KP. It controls multiple performance maps, multiple ride modes, a ride-by-wire throttle, two injectors (pre- and main) per cylinder, variable fuel pressure, crossover resonance valves and acoustic control valves for the exhaust system and the engine control for the gear shift assistant.

There is a very short list of options for the RR, but two of them-Race ABS & Dynamic Traction Control ($1,480) and Gear Shift Assistant ($450) are ones that will multiply your experience with this bike many times over.

With Race ABS & DTC, the rider can select from four different riding modes-Rain, Sport, Race and Slick. The settings for five functions related to performance change depending on which mode the rider selects. As you would imagine, the Rain mode provides the most intervention when conditions are slippery. Sport-the ideal everyday setting-gives the rider more rein to enjoy the power and performance, while Race and Slick (when racing slick tires are fitted) provide riders the most freedom to explore limits when on the racetrack.

Engine power is reduced to 150 horsepower in the Rain mode, but the full 193 horsepower is on tap in the other three modes. Throttle response goes

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

from the least direct level in Rain mode and becomes increasingly direct as the rider selects the next three riding modes. ABS provides the most intervention in the Rain mode, while decreasing progressively as the Ride mode is advanced. In Slick mode, ABS is turned off completely at the rear wheel if the foot brake is activated. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) also comes into play more in the Rain mode and increasingly less in the more advanced modes. Rear lift control is on in Rain and Sport modes, but turned off in Race and Slick modes. Oh, the RR is also equipped with lean angle sensors that work in conjunction with the DTC to keep the rider from breaking traction with the throttle at the rear wheel if the bike is leaned over beyond the angle established for each Ride mode. They are: Rain-35 degrees, Sport-45 degrees, Race-48 degrees and Slick-53 degrees.

Helping the rider get the most out of this technology is a twin-screen information display next to the large tachometer. The rider can toggle between road or track modes to access data pertinent to each, including lap timing capability in the track display. A programmable shift light flashes to let the rider know when to shift and also can be used to make optimal quick starts.

Page 27

Another welcome bit of standard equipment on the RR is a multi-plate oil-bath slipper clutch. A slipper clutch can save your bacon when downshifting if you happen to do it at the wrong rpm or perhaps select a gear lower than anticipated-something quite possible when going fast. It prevents wheel lockup, wheel hop and engine overrevving. It can also keep you off the tarmac.

Backroads was invited to Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida to test the S 1000 RR in the safe environment of the racetrack. BMW racer Nate Kern and BMW AG Product Manager and racer Josef “Sepp” Maechler were on hand to help us get the most from the bike and to make sure we experienced all that BMW’s engineers and designers had included in the new superbike. We began our first track session in Rain mode. With “only” 150 horsepower on tap, we got to experience the ergonomics, braking, flickability and learn the line at the same time. After a couple of laps, we pushed the “Mode” button to advance to the Sport mode, which upped the horsepower to 193 with more direct throttle response. “Holy cow,” I thought,” you mean there are still two modes beyond this?” With this much performance, I was eager to get in a good rhythm of going faster and faster

Page 28

and experiencing how the electronic controls perform, rather than see how quickly I could find the limits in the higher mode settings. There were surely quicker journalists with more track experience than me, but there is no question that even for someone with my level of experience, I was able to go faster than I have ever before in much less time. And for me, the intervention of ABS and DTC was virtually unnoticeable.

Two other exercises that we were encouraged to experience involved the torque range and the slipper clutch. “Shift up to 6th gear, then keep it there all the way around the circuit, no matter how slow,” Nate told us. Sure enough, it was pretty impressive to pull out of a slow corner in 6th gear and feel a strong urge of acceleration.

To experience the benefit of a slipper clutch, we were directed to shift down several gears at various speeds and abruptly let out the clutch-something most of us have learned from experience not to do.

So it was fairly difficult to select

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

first gear at the end of a short straight and release the clutch. Bracing myself for what would normally happen, I was amazed at the utter lack of drama.

Race mode provided even more direct throttle response although the same 193 horsepower. DTC was less of an ally on my team, but I never approached the limits where that was a concern. There’s no doubt that one can become comfortable going fast on this bike in very short time, whether one has a lot of “go fast” experience or not.

Want to experience the S 1000 RR on a racetrack-and get expert instruction to help you get the most out of it? Keith Code’s California Superbike School has just switched over their school fleet to the new RR and the first school session will take place in March. Check it out at: www.superbikeschool.com If you’ve ever ridden in the Alps, you may have noticed billboards depicting a motorcycle rider with an angel flying along at his shoulder. The

Germans call this a schulterengel or “shoulder angel,” who is there to protect you. In the billboards, the message is to pay attention to your shoulder angel who is telling you to ride safely. With the S 1000 RR and its amazing control systems, I feel that BMW has given me a “shoulder angel” to go along for the ride and keep me safe.

Base MSRP: $13,800 Race ABS & DTC: $1,480 Gear Shift Assistant: $450 Anti-theft Alarm: $395 Colors: Acid Green Metallic Thunder Gray Metallic Mineral Silver Metallic Motorsport White/Blue/Red ($750 extra) Limited Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 29

Robert Louis Stevenson may very well have said “to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive” but he wasn’t riding a 2000cc Kawasaki Vulcan Classic LT. Picking up the Vulcan at Kawasaki’s headquarters in California I needed to get going.

I’m a backroads kinda guy and I began riding south to Escondido where I would leave the interstate behind moving onto Highway 78, a twisty secondary tarmac through the mountains. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Vulcan handled as I accepted the invitation of a very long section of mountain curves. The bike tracks very well and its weight’s not an issue.

I quit Highway 78 and signed up for a tour of duty on Interstate 8 east booking for Tombstone, Arizona. Hwy 80 south out of Benson got me to Tombstone. Highway 80 is a comfortable road for motorcycle riding that dips south deep into southern Arizona. Somewhere along this lonely stretch of road north of Douglas, Arizona is a phallic shaped monument marking the area where Geronimo surrendered. I got a photo of the Vulcan and me in front of it but the man handling my camera would not pose. He said “It’s true... there is a little outlaw in ever Texan, but for some it’s more true.

Better that no one see the beautiful face of Cipriano.”

You’re gonna give my camera back, right?

This lonely stretch of highway with its long straight sections provided the perfect opportunity to test for high-speed wobble. Grab a handful of throttle, and the response is immediate, strong, pulling like a magnum delivering all the torque and power you will ever need. Alackaday! No high speed wobble. While I’m at speed might as well do an emergency stop test so I hit it hard and the Big Boy sat right down tracking straight and true never breaking traction.

Now let’s see just how much stopping power the rear brake has on its own. The pedal is large allowing you to get a good grip finding it easily when you access it in a hurry. The bike stops remarkably well using only the rear disc.

I cruised on down the road until darkness fell and in a little town with half a dozen buildings, one being a motel, I slapped a Visa on the counter. Next morning I threw a stiff leg over the saddle of my horse and kicked the big stud hard in the flanks. It’s a very quick bike for a cruiser. words and images: Dan Stafford

IN SEARCH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA

Page 30

The Vulcan’s mirrors are great, checking them at any speed always produced the same results, a non-fuzzy image. Too, they are positioned perfect for checking out your “Six.” Hwy 118 develops a little attitude right away as it sweeps through the Texas hill country. With a twist of the wrist the Vulcan announced its pres-

Literally up with the roosters I eased my way down the mile road to Langtry, Texas to photograph the Jersey Lilly and Judge Roy Beans home and then navigated my way to the Alamo for a photo op.

LEFT: PARKING ON THE CORNER IN WINSLOW, AZ • JUDGE ROY BEAN’S DIGS RIGHT: QUIET TIME ON BOURBON STREET IN NEW ORLEANS

ence with authority. Soon sweepers converted to a roller coaster ride, dipping, banking, climbing, and plunging that lasted for the next hour and a half with the Vulcan responding as if it was made specifically for just such a ride.

The road through Big Bend is as bland as unsalted tortilla chips. I placidly motored up US 385 looking for US 90 into Langtry, Texas.

It’s 11:30 pm when I arrive at the sign declaring Langtry to be one mile away so I shut it down for the night.

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

As soon as I crossed into Louisiana the highway was elevated to carry me across the swamp. Stuck on this bridge for the next 30 miles so I started singing “ Get your motor running - head out on the highway - looking for adventure - or what ever comes my way”... then I realize I’m singing the Easy Rider movie theme song. Further introspect allowed me to speculate that I was in search of Captain America. I then juxtaposed myself and Captain America noting he had long hair as do I. He was on a bike trip from California to New Orleans as am I. He sported the Red White and Blue on his back and I’m flying the Stars and Stripes on my helmet.

I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA! After getting photos on Bourbon Street I lit out for Florida. It was late when I arrived at my resort so I climbed on top of a picnic table by the lake.

The Vulcan’s broke in now and is getting 45 mpg with minimal oil usage.

Traffic consistently runs 90 mph with the lure of a tractor beam that quietly sucks you in and without noticing you’re at speed with them. The giant

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

V-twin is in its comfort zone at 90 mph humming along without strain, effort, vibration, or concern and doesn’t give you any clues that you’re going that fast. The windscreen did an excellent job of shielding me from the wind, bugs and other would be missiles that careened off of it rather than my body.

I’m 6’ 3” 200lbs and wear a size 14 boot so I’m just looking over the windscreen and the platforms provide plenty of foot room for my big feet.

The saddle cradled my butt perfectly and was comfortable. Overall my comfort level was high and I give the Vulcan two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Interstate 85 got me through the Carolinas to Richmond, Virginia and Interstate 95 north. Seven inches of rain up ahead so I called “no joy” exiting stage left on Interstate 64 west at Richmond. I was really disappointed because I did not pass Go and I did not collect $200. I was not able to completely circumnavigate the borders of the USA because of the incessant rainstorms in the northeast and northern tier and had to reroute my trip.

In an effort to remove myself from a herd of slow moving vehicles I accelerate in 5th gear then swept around the car in front of me motoring very quickly to the front of the line. The Torque gods have definitely blessed this engine with an abundance of grunt.

It’s still raining in the northwest so I got off Interstate 94 at Sterling, North Dakota dropping south on US 83 into South Dakota. In the hamlet of Selby I asked “The Lawman” if I could pitch my tent in the city park.

Glad to oblige he bestowed the city’s blessing for a free night’s stay and I set up my gear.

CARHENGE AND MAGGIE’S, OF WILD HOGS

FAME.

Throughout this entire run the Vulcan’s suspension performed excellently and only bottomed out once, but I think I ran over a Volkswagen then.

A little south of Rapid City is the Hart Ranch Camp Resort that hosted me for the night. I pitched my tent then rode to Sturgis to get a photo of main street when it wasn’t on steroids.

In the morning I shot down 79 to Hot Springs leaning west on US 18 into Wyoming. Up ahead I see two bicycle riders so I stopped to query them on their intentions and get a photo. Nicholas and Matt are both 18 and just graduated high school. They are from Yorkville, Illinois bicycling to Broomfield, Colorado. Nice.

US 285 south out of the Mile High City is a great ride. It creates plenty of the motion we look for on a bike ride. Relieves aggravation that builds up from Interstate travel and the tension of watching out for that driver with the I.Q. of a cupcake.

Continuing my trek south on 285 it became necessary to motor west on US. 50 in order to get to the Million-Dollar Highway. Picking it up in Montrose I engaged US. 550 with fervent anticipation of a most tripendickular ride. Not so. As I climbed I encounter a long series of 10/15mph switchbacks. There were no

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Page 31

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

guardrails and the shoulders angled toward the drop off and it’s straight down for forever and a day.

Eventually the road opens up allowing the throttle to be dialed in a little more. I was negotiating a right hand blind curve around the mountain at about 30mph and upon cresting it I was faced with the reality of a head on collision with the car that was passing another vehicle.

I was close enough to the front end of his car to see the light from his brain shining through his eyes that flashed Vacancy! He was actually ahead in his movement but still forced the driver in the car being passed to slam on the brakes being evicting as Mr. Gump returned to the proper lane. I was getting a macro view of the mountainside as I rode as close to it as possible. You should be worried. This guy can carry a gun and vote.

Well I made it to Cortez getting a room at the Aneth motel (least expensive in town). Each time I pack the scooter to leave I’m always astonished at how much gear the hard leather saddlebags will hold.

US. 160 runs into US. 89 south and passes the beginning of the Grand Canyon where it is only a shallow gully. Flagstaff Is where I forced myself to use Interstate 40 west heading for Vegas.

Back at Kawasaki, in Irvine, I reluctantly surrender the bike and take possession of mine. It’s been a long journey and I still have 2000 miles to go before it’s over.

I began riding Kawasakis in 1973 and because of the quality of workmanship, exceptional performance, and reliability of the machines I had a good idea of what to expect from the Vulcan.

I put just under 10,000 miles on the Vulcan and I tried hard to find something I didn’t like about it, but that was a Sisyphean task. It does everything a rider wants a motorcycle to do and it does it very well. At $15,000 it’s within everyone’s budget.

The Vulcan Classic LT has a voracious appetite for the road and with a simple twist of the wrist it will eat up the miles of a day’s journey and not even break a sweat!

The appeal of the bike was pandemic including all the young Turks on their Milwaukee Iron. The Giant V-twin and black wrinkle finished engine got ‘em every time.

Whether you ride the 2000cc Vulcan Classic LT for a fortnight or a protracted adventure around the U.S.A. the consensus will be the same. Nirvana!

I hope this story whet your appetite to ride, and when you’re out there on the adventure of your life and you pull into a rest area and find me lying on top of a picnic table, come on over and we’ll share some granola bars and a can of cream of elephant soup.

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Moto Guzzis Motoring through Sicily

As the night train rattles, shakes and rolls south toward Sicily, I lay back on my bunk half closing my eyes, listening to the sound track of the metal wheels on their metal tracks. Relaxing, the offbeat music begins resonating in my senses, as the ticking of the clock and the passage of time melt into the Italian dusk. Outside, the endless landscape slides by, as houses, trees and buildings next to the track become a horizontal blur, while objects on the burnt orange horizon float passed like boats on a tranquil sea.

Words and images: Neale Bayly

Page 33

Different sounds mean different things. The urgent rush and high-pitched squeal of another train passing, or the various clicking noises as we change tracks in a town or city. The thunderous roar when we pass through long tunnels is accompanied by sudden washes of shadow that cover us. Rolling onward into the night, we are traveling in a sleeper cab that hasn’t changed since I rode this rail as an eleven-year-old schoolboy. Drifting in and out of a mechanical dream world filled with images from the Moto Guzzi factory we have just left behind on Lake Como, the ancient island of Sicily calls.

Surrounded by pastel, azure seas, its clear blue skyline is dominated by the active volcanic Mt. Etna boiling, snarling and spewing smoke 11,000 feet above the sleepy towns and villages that seem to have somehow stopped the hands of time.

Below Etna, in the town of Cantania, three new Moto Guzzi’s, and four days of adventure in the soft golden light that bathes the gently worn countryside await. Tracing their motorcycle lineage back to 1921, the thought of the mechanical experience from the air-cooled, transverse V-twin engine’s becomes one with the clanking and roaring of the night train as sleep finally comes.

Waking to a Sicilian sunrise across the Tyrrhenian Sea, and gazing out of the train window in a semi dreamlike state, the rugged coastline is sprinkled with beautiful haciendas impossibly perched on rocky outcrops in the morning water. Suddenly, to the metallic screech of powerful brakes, we pull into Cantania and head out to find our motorcycles. I am traveling with Dennis Gage and his young son, Sam, and I get to see Sicily reflected in the constant smile of a seventeen year old who is having the time of his life.

Cantania has been in the population business for seventeen centuries, and the Cathedral dominates the town center. Standing magnificent, stoic, and proud, immaculately carved angels look down on sinners and saints without discrimination. With a free afternoon, I chose to wander the crowded streets, linger at the outdoor cafes, and watch the fabric of Sicilian life being weaved in front of me. A stroll through the fish market assaults the senses from the myriad of multicolored fish to the constant musical heckling from one fish seller to another: Suddenly, a spontaneous outburst of deep, rich baritone singing springs from the lips of another and fills the air. Then, an eighty-four year-old man in an immaculate suit sees my camera and strikes a pose. The sparkle in his eye rivals the light that dances and shines across the Mediterranean, and makes me wonder what mysteries he could tell me from this ancient island if we shared a common language.

Warm sun, even warmer people, strong coffee and a slow, deliberate dinner of multiple mouth watering courses calls to us like the Sirens of Anthemoessa as Jason and his Argonauts sailed by. But as soon as my Moto Guzzi Griso jumps to life the following morning, with the rocking cadence so familiar to long time aficionados of this historic brand, like Orpheus’ song, the call of the road, takes over. Diving into the sea of madness that doubles for city driving in Sicily, a quick check in my mirror shows Dennis on his Breva 1100 and Sam on a 750 Nevada in tight formation, so I gun the big twin for Taormina.

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Clearing Cantania under a near cloudless sky, one lone cloud accompanies us, sailing across its open blue sea before stalling out against the slopes of Mt. Etna. The countryside is a lively mix of vibrant yellow flowers, pale pink cherry blossoms, and deep green evergreen trees scattered on the borders of hillside farms. As the most amazing contrast to our Italian hosts’ laid-back welcoming nature in pedestrian mode, it is quickly apparent that we need to watch out when they get behind the wheel of an automobile. They’re reckless! Fighting for every available square inch of empty tarmac like Roman Gladiators in quest for glory, our first few miles are somewhat stressful as both Dennis and I attempt to protect Sam. He doesn’t seem fazed and rides with an air of confidence and ability belying his seventeen years, so perhaps we are more worried for ourselves?

Reminiscent of California’s A1A, the sight of the Mediterranean to our side soon takes away our fears, as the warmth of the sun and the gentle countryside with its run down farm houses melding into the hillsides bring calm. A couple of hours into the ride, rock towers loom up ahead as Mt. Etna fades into our mirrors, the steep rocky hillsides filling with houses and hotels clinging to the sheer, craggy sides. Looking like a sea of smiling faces with their windows facing the sparkling Mediterranean, I am in the Griso’s sweet spot at 4,000 rpm. This equates to 70mph, a speed that seems to suit Dennis and Sam. Having ridden and traveled together on a number of occasions, we need only the basic amount of communication to signal our intentions, and the tone is set for the next four days riding.

Riding up to Castel Mola is a fascinating challenge, as we seem to ride right through Sicilian life along the narrow, winding road. Climbing for a good half hour, it is hard to maintain focus as competing views of the Mediterranean to the one side and Mount Etna standing proud against the clear blue sky threaten to divert our attention for a split second too long.

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Weaned on European traffic conditions, brushing past people, dogs, cars and bicycles is built into my subconscious motorcycle skill set, but it is a challenge for Dennis and Sam and arriving at the Castle and parking on the cobblestones is an obvious relief. Quickly ensconced in an outdoor café with a breathtaking panoramic view back to mainland Italy, the tension is soon gone as we relax in the warm sunshine.

Before long we are threading our way through narrow cobble streets enjoying an abundance of arts and crafts on display to tempt the many tourists who visit what is quoted as one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Basking in warm sunshine, sucked into the lazy pace of life, one thing quickly becomes clear, this motorcycle adventure is never going to break any distance records. So in this vein we meander around in a calm, contented state, seemingly unable to pull ourselves away from these centuries old streets and buildings.

Thankfully, our cameraman breaks the spell, as we pile back on the bikes and head on down the mountain and back to sea level. Twisting, turning, and squeezing our way through small villages, shops opening onto the street, we set a course for the interior of Sicily.

Sometimes we ride over large stones, old, square and rippled as we pass under archways and through these narrow old streets. Occasionally, opening up into some small town square, we watch kids playing soccer, old men in drab olive suits talking with animated hand gestures, their furrowed, craggy faces as worn and timeless as the land we travel through. And always Mt. Etna: Never far from view, we are essentially riding around the base as we decide on the ancient town of Rendozza for our first night on Sicily.

Rendozza doesn’t disappoint by thrilling us with its large cathedral. We are soon chatting it up with a local police officer, and making new friends who seem very interested by the Americans in brightly colored leathers riding Italian motorcycles. A thriving town with its 13th Century cathedral, we

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rode through the old tight stone streets, meandering around and back on each other like a rabbit warren, as the setting sun set the ancient stone of fire. At the controls of the Griso, I was happy to be on a bike with a nice upright riding position and comfortable seat as I gazed around at the endless stream of architectural wonders gliding through my visor.

Climbing out of Rendozza into another cloudless Sicilian day, the old guys in their suits were out early, jawing and gesticulating. It was of course

a battle for pole position at every traffic light, but before long we had cleared town and were entering a near deserted valley filled with clean air, vibrant colors and occasional farmhouses. Various livestock grazed on the greenest grass imaginable, and our old friend Etna put the icing on top of the perfect view. Small villages tucked into the side of the hills and cliffs, with steep, narrow, brick lined roads breaking up the serpentine country roads when we briefly rejoined civilization. Out there in the rural center of Sicily the towns were very quiet, with few signs of life, unlike the manic circus we had left behind in Rendozza. Riding through occasional fields of brilliant yellow flowers and hedgerows of pink cheery blossoms, I started thinking about where I had left my car at the airport. Yanking me back to some sort of reality, it opened up an interesting inner dialogue about how “in the moment” I had so quickly become since landing in Italy.

Riding through Sicily on a bright red Guzzi is as close to the Zen experience we all crave from motorcycle travel as I rode on into right now: the next hairpin turn, the next magnificent vista, and the next gear change. Of

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course I think of my son Patrick and can only hope, like Dennis and Sam, I will be riding with him one day through some foreign land. Later, stopping to chat with various locals, struggling through some crazy exchanges with smiles and sign language at the gas station, I am reminded why you have to travel with happiness in your heart. The world is nothing more than a mirror of our feelings.

And in that vein, the Griso ran like a charm as we rolled and climbed up into some heavily forested mountain roads, the spring sunshine not quite strong enough yet to melt the snow that lay on the side of the road. And then, nearly as quickly as we have entered this near alpine world, we had dropped back down once more on the other side of Sicily and were back at sea level heading for the next time magnet masquerading as a sea side town,

Cefalu. Picking up the Autostrada, it was time to let our long legged two wheeled friends strut their stuff. Built at a cost of over $750 million, construction of the 181 km road started in 1969. Thirty three feet wide, this billiard table smooth, three-lane road floats along twenty feet in the air, as it passed over numerous viaducts and through multiple tunnels following the coastline from Messina to Palermo. At close to 80mph, the speed limit is the highest in Europe, after the Autobahn, but we didn’t exploit this too much as the ride was too perfect to hurry.

Arriving in Cefalu our travel plans hit fly paper, and hours later lingering on the waterfront watching a small boat ply its way across the still water through a brilliant, golden sunset, I realized we weren’t going any further

Page 36

on this day. Finding pleasant accommodation and a wonderful multi-course dinner at a local restaurant, we learned about the town we had spent the afternoon wandering around from our gracious host. Surrounded by a Roman Wall, the town of Cefalu dates back 400 BC and lays 75km from Palermo. Walled in by the Madonie Mountains, and butting up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, its medieval town center and narrow winding streets have warmth and charm that will stay burned in the memory banks forever.

Waking to find Cefalu transformed into a gigantic live market, we threaded our way through a vibrant throng of people and out toward the interior of Sicily. Wanting to make a little time, we settled into the ride and enjoyed the feeling of once more stepping back in time as the countryside became dominated by farming and agriculture. The weather was perfect, the roads lightly trafficked, and after a few photo opportunities, we reached our planned destination, Agriegento. Having done some research on this before our trip, we had decided to spend some time here, and we could have spent more. Heading in to explore the Valley of the Temples, just outside town, we learned the site was founded way back in 582 BC. Featuring a small amphitheatre, auditoria, and a number of temples from as early as 450BC it is a stunning and fascinating place to get lost in a while. Strolling through the vast area, we passed through small olive groves and among almond trees

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

as we enjoyed the Temples of Juno, Dioscuri, and Concord, as well as the large telemons standing majestic and proud under the perfect blue sky.

Tearing ourselves away, we headed slightly inland when the next adventure presented itself. Blasting into the dirty, industrial town of Gela, I spotted a damsel in distress beside the highway on a small moped. Out of gas, I did the gentlemanly thing and pushed her to gas station. Looking like something out of the pages of a fashion magazine, Florianna took a quick ride on my Griso, before leaving me to nurse a broken heart as she zipped off into the busy traffic.

Musing on what might have been, we rode into the early evening before taking some cool accommodation outside of Enna, before stumbling into a warm, crowded pizza restaurant for a big feed.

Leaving our comfortable hotel, we made our way around the outside of on old racetrack with the balcony of Sicily above the city of Enna as the last jewel in our travel crown. As the day we were to return the bikes to Cantania and return to our respective lives, the Castello di Lombardia, built by Frederick II in 1233, was high on the list of top tourist attractions, and the challenging Sicilian roads provided nonstop motorcycle stimulation as we made our way to this last destination. On arrival we parked and walked, enjoying stunning views across the fertile landscape to our old friend Mt. Etna, still visible on the distant horizon.

Lulled in again by the warm air, and gentle pace life, thankfully Dennis was thinking and snapped us all in to shape which got us back on the road.

Dropping down the crazy, twisting, tumbling road we picked up some nearly empty highway and got to twist the throttles once more. It had been a magical few days. Good company, a trusty steed, and a historic island packed with surprises and adventures at every turn. We had picked a perfect time of year to travel before the summer crowds, and the summer heat.

Adding the quintessential Italian motorcycles to the mix, which so comfortably blended in with the country that we traveled, has made sure this will go down as one of my top ten motorcycle rides ever.

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P RODUCT R EVIEW

AVON STORM-ST TIRES • TIRES

We have been running a set of Avon Storm-ST Tires on our BMW R1150R since early last season and after nearly 10,000 miles of serious touring we found these tires to be a great investment.

Now 10K on a set of rubber in itself is fairly remarkable but the fact that publisher Shira Kamil was riding this machine for most of these miles may play a factor in this as well; as she is certainly a smooth rider and one who rarely abuses her tires.

The Avon Storm-ST Tires were a marvelous choice for this machine. They offer phenomenal performance utilizing what Avon calls a ‘Reactive Footprint’ which allows the tire’s contact patch the part of the tire that actually comes in contact with the road - to change size and shape depending on conditions and lean angle.

Avon combines this with a long life Super-Rich Silica rubber compound that offers incredible grip in the dry and exceptional grip in wet conditions.

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As so many of you know we here at Backroads are the Gods of Rain & Thunder, so we have a great understanding of riding in overly damp conditions it seems Avon does too. The Avon StormST Tires are aptly named.

Handling-wise, from the very first mile, we found the Avon Storm-ST Tires to be a superior piece of rubber. Handling was spot-on; as was feedback and these tires were never anything less than confidence inspiring; add into that the wonderful life and mileage we got with the Storm-ST Tires and you come up with one of the most serious sport touring tires available in the market today.

We would immediately spoon on another set of Storm-ST but for one thing - Avon has just released another tire the Storm 2Ultra Radial, the next evolution in the Storm series. These tires promise even more mileage and better handling.

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 38

INDUSTRY INFOBITES

NEWS

FROM THE INSIDE

FORMER AMA BOARD CHAIRMAN DAL SMILIE SENTENCED

Former American Motorcyclist Association Board Chairman Dal Smilie was sentenced Monday, Feb. 22, to eight months in prison and two years probation for embezzling more than $100,000 through fraudulent travel reimbursement claims submitted to the AMA over a period of years ending in 2007.

Smilie pleaded guilty to felony counts of grand theft by deception and of receiving stolen property in the Fairfield County, Ohio, courtroom of Judge Chris Martin. He was taken directly into custody to begin serving a sentence that could see him request early release after 30 days.

Speaking to Judge Martin before his sentencing, Smilie expressed remorse for his actions.

“I’ve got much to apologize for, and many people to apologize to, including AMA members, AMA staff, my fellow board members and volunteers,” he said. “I’ve let them down.”

Smilie acknowledged that his fraudulent travel-reimbursement claims stemmed from his time as an AMA board member. “I overstated travel claims,” he said. “I co-mingled funds. That’s misappropriation. That’s theft.

That’s a breach of trust, and I’m sorry for that. I was an honorable person, and I kind of slid into this. I don’t have good excuses.”

Fairfield County Assistant Prosecutor Gregg Marx said after the hearing that the sentence was appropriate, especially in light of the fact that Smilie paid restitution to the AMA for the money in question. “We’re very pleased with the resolution of this case.”

AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman echoed those sentiments. “On behalf of the members of the American Motorcyclist Association, we are satisfied that justice has been served, and we are glad to put this matter behind us,” he said.

BUBBA BLACKWELL PLANNING

Rockingham Park. Back in 2001, Blackwell spectacularly failed to clear 22 cars in an attempt to surpass his longstanding 20-car jump record from 1998. Blackwell hopes this year’s attempt to clear 22 Ford Focus cars will end in less spectacular fashion than seen in this photo from 2001.

KENNY ROBERT WINS JUSTICE BROTHERS-SHAV GLICK AWARD The coveted Justice Brothers-Shav Glick award for 2010 has been won by motorcycle racing legend Kenny Roberts. Roberts was born in 1951, and took to motorcycle racing at an early age. By the early seventies, because of his fearless racing style he was a consistent winner, and was the first American to win the 500cc Road Racing World Championship.

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Championships in 1978, ‘79 and 1980, and three victories at the Daytona 200. Roberts’ fierce competition with Brit Barry Sheene during the 1979 British Grand Prix, is considered one of the greatest races of the decade.

Kenny Roberts was also an innovator during his career. He was the first racer to use an outstretched knee to help balance the bike during hard cornering and to use the engine’s power to steer the motorcycle while exiting turns. This became known as the “throttle steering” technique. Due to his illustrious career, Roberts has been inducted into the Motorsports Hall Of Fame in 1990, the International Motorsports Hall Of Fame in 1992, the AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame in 1998, and the FIM has named him Grand Prix “Legend” in 2000.

ONE MORE MOTORCYCLE

SENATE

That’s right. Another motorcyclist has been elected to the United States Senate. Republican Scott Brown pulled off what will be known as one of the most bizarre outcomes in a state-wide election in history. You see, Brown wasn’t supposed to win. He didn’t have the money or name recognition, and he was in the wrong party to win statewide in the uberliberal state of Massachusetts. So when he handily won the election, the pundits were stunned.

Brown has committed to riding his motorcycle to DC at some point with his biker brethren from Massachusetts. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation Political Action Committee made a donation to Brown’s campaign at the request of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association IN THE

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Once in Indy, the group will stay at excellent accommodations right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis-close to all the excitement. On Saturday evening, guests attend a private Race Preview Party hosted by former Indy car driver Derek Daly. Enjoy drinks and hors d`oeuvres as Derek brings the very latest news on the upcoming weekend. After dinner, guests have the option of heading over to the O’Reilly Raceway for the annual running of the USAC Midgets at Indianapolis Raceway Park...another true spectacle in racing. This Tour is all-inclusive. Guests pay for nothing but gasoline and adult beverages. Motorcycle choices include Suzuki, BMW, Yamaha and Aprilia. Or, tour guests are welcome to ride their own bikes if they so desire. Upscale lodging, great food, race tickets and hospitality are all included.

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569 Route 10 East (1-1/4 miles east of I-287)

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973-781-9090

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M/F: 8-7 • Sat: 9-5 • Sun: 12-4

M/F: 8-7 • Sat: 9-5 • Sun: 10-4

Like what you see? Think your ad would look good here? Why not give us a call and make it happen.

973-948-4176 email: editor@backroadsusa.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 43

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APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 44

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR E V E R Y M O N T H - W E AT H E R P E R M I T T I N G Saturday • Bergen County H-D/BMW Saddle Up Saturdays and BBQ • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com Second Sunday • Philadelphia Breakfast Ride. Meet at Silk City Diner - 5th/Spring Garden, Philadelphia PA - 8am • 215-922-2214 Every Sunday • Eastern Suffolk ABATE Breakfast Run. Crossroads Diner - Calverton NY. 10:30am. Eat and Ride After • 631-369-2221 Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do some benchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish Third Tuesday • 7:30pm ABATE of the Garden State, North Jersey chapter. Black River Barn, 1178 Rt. 10 West, Randolph, NJ. 7:30pm. New members and all mc brands welcome. Help fight for rights as a motorcyclist in NJ! Alex Martinez (973) 390-1918 Every Wednesday • Country Bike Night at the Airport Pub sponsored by the American Legion Riders Post 132, Franklin, NJ • 6pm - ? • CR 639, Sussex, NJ - next to the airport • 973-702-1215 Every Thursday • Red Knights XX PA at the Dairy Queen, Route 209, Marshall’s Creek, PA, exit 309 off Route 80 • 6-9:30pm, weather permitting Every Thursday • Bike Night at The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant, Rte. 206, Downsville, NY • 607-363-7814 Second/Fourth Thursday • 5-pm • Bike Night at Cliff’s Cycle Revolution, 485 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT • 203-740-1279 • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com

APRIL 2010 8-10 • Montgomeryville Cycle Center Spring Kick Off • 2901 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA • 215-712-7433 • www.montgomeryvillecc.com 9-10 • Bergen Sport Cycle Get Out and Ride Open House. 10am-4pm. Great in-store specials and great savings. National drawing to win Raptor 250 ATV or Zuma 125 scooter.

30 US Hwy 46 East, Lodi, NJ • www.bergensportcycle.com • 973-478-7711 11 • Odyssey Production 9th Annual Spring Breakout. M/C Show and Swap Meet.

10:30am-5pm. Ice Time Arena, Newburgh, NY. Parts, accessories, food, fun and more.

• www.odypro.com • 607-863-4295

Line ‘em up!

11 • Chai Riders First Ride of the Season. Sign in: Temple Beth Sholom of Fair Lawn, 40-25 Fair Lawn Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ. 8:30-10am. $20/rider; $10/pass. Scenic ride at our own pace, breakfast nosh along the way, BBQ lunch at endsite and sooo much more. Self guided; AMA sanctioned • 201-791-4161 • 201-797-4206

Barnsider Restaurant at the

What’s Happenin’ 17 • Morton’s BMW Spring Open House/Flea Market. Demo rides - including S100RR. Door prizes, great deals, food, music, vendors and more. Bring your unwanted parts and accy’s and set up in parking lot. Poker Run to benefit Habitat for Humanity. 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy, Frediericksburg, VA • 540-891-9844 • www.mortonsbmw.com 17 • Bergen County BMW Motorcycles Open House. Live music, Free food and MORE! Free Stunt Show with Chris ‘Teach’ McNeil • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201843-6930 • www.bergenbmwmotorcycles.com 17 • Renegade Classics Middletown Open House. 10am-5pm. Free BBQ, raffle, vendors, prizes, Roll the Dice Savings • 22 Cty. Rte. 78, Middletown, NY • 845-956-2200 • www.renegadeclassicsmiddletown.com 17-18 • Rollin’ Fast Cycles Victory Fuel It Demo Tour with Victory Demo Truck. Food, music and prizes • 104 Main St, Lebanon, NJ • 908-236-9000 • www.rollinfast.com 18 • Westchester Beemers MC 2nd Annual Multiple Sclerosis RIDE 2010 to benefit National Multiple Sclerosis Society Southern NY Chapter. Start: Rye Playland, Exit 19 off I-95, Rye, NY. Sign in: 7:30-9am; Ride departs: 9:30am; Returns 12:30-1pm. Advance registration $25 rider/$10 pass; Day of event: $35 rider. Light breakfast at start. Lunch and entertainment at endsite. For more info: www.westchesterbeemers.org or 914582-8673 / 914-328-7909 21 • Odyssey Productions 9th Annual Spring Breakout. Ice Time Arena, Newburgh, NY. Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet. People’s Choice Custom and Antique Bike Show, Vendors, Music and More • www.odypro.com • 607-863-4295 24 • Bob’s BMW Spring Kickoff/Open House. 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 800269-2627 • www.bobsbmw.com 24 • OCC Spring Opener Bike Show & Charity Poker Run • 14 Crossroads Court, Newburgh, NY • www.orangecountychoppers.com• 845-522-5222 24 • Long Branch Harley-Davidson Open House. 9am-4pm. Music by Timepiece, demo rides, pinstriping by K&M Signs, FREE Lunch and great deals in the merchandise tent • 671 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ • 732-229-8518 • www.hdlongbranch.com 24 • Baer Harley-Davidson Open House. Food and entertainment all day. Victory Demo Rides • 330 Grandview Ave/Rte. 6, Honesdale, PA • 570-253-2000 • baer-inc.com 24-25 • Motorcycle Mania Show to benefit Fallen Heroes Fund. Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY. 10am-6pm. $10/pp • www.motorcyclmaniashow.com 25 • VFW Post 2064 3rd Annual Poker Run to benefit veteran’s causes. Sign in: 209 Main St, Maybrook, NY. 9-11am. $20/pp. 100 mile run in Hudson Valley region of NYS. Commemorative pin, food, drink, music, cash prizes • 845-427-5881

Get out of the City and head to the Country.

Country Rode Motowerks.

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Upcoming Events Cozy Bar Comfortable Tables Great Burgers Hearty Steak Chicken & Shrimp

OPEN 11AM • TUES-SUN

SUGAR LOAF Village of Craftsmen

1372 Kings Hwy, Sugar Loaf, NY

(845) 469-9810

www.barnsider.net

March 27 @ 1pm Jim Ford returns to discuss the Zen of motorcycling or the ability to develop a smooth riding style.

April 10 @ 1pm Werner Bausenhart Presents "Around the World on a Motorcycle with Werner."

Put this on your calendar as Werner is always entertaining.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 45

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 25 • OCC & Street Life Auto Club Spring Bling Car Show • 14 Crossroads Court, Newburgh, NY • www.orangecountychoppers.com• 845-522-5222 28 • Bergen County H-D women’s Garage Party. 6-8pm. Learn, share, meet new riding partners and enjoy all there is Harley-Davidson • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com 28 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256 30-May 2 • MotoGiro East . Headquarters: Jiminy Peak, Mass. Tour through Massachusetts and New York State. For more info contact: Geoff Boughton • 860-6515088 • bultacoracer@yahoo.com • www.motogiro-usa.com

MAY 2010 2 • Cross Island MC Long Island Timed or Tour Run. Sign in: Formula One Motorsports, 4030 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY. Timed Run - Sign in: 9am; Key: 10am with 30 mph timed run; Tour: 10am with route sheet of 100 miles of LI’s best roads. . $10/bike. • www.crossislandmc.com 2 • Branchville Motors Spring Open House. 10am-2pm • 71 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield, CT • 203-544-7900 • www.branchville.com 5 • Bergen County H-D/BMW HumpDay MusicFest. 6-9pm • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com 7-9 • 3rd Annual Buzzard Bottom Campout. High Country Motorcycle Camp, Ferguson, NC. Located 20 miles east of the Blue Ridge Pkwy at MM 276 • www.highcountrymotorcyclecamp.com 7 • International Female Ride Day. Join Bergen County H-D for a FREE women-only ride, live music and BBQ. Sign in: 9am; Ride: 10am-1pm • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • www.bergenharleydavidson.com • 201-843-6930 8 • Bergen Sport Cycle Customer Appreciation Poker Run.10am-4pm. $15/rider; $5/pass. Ride 1-4pm. Prizes, refreshments and giveaways. Raffle for 2006 CRF100F to benefit Oasisnj.org • 30 US Hwy 46 East, Lodi, NJ • www.bergensportcycle.com • 973-478-7711 8 • Rockaway/Florham Park Rotary Clubs Charity Poker Run/Pig Roast. Sign in Swim & Sport Club, 272 Emmans Rd, Flanders, NJ. 10am-Noon. $25/pp. Self-guided road run • www.FlorhamParkRotary.com • 973-627-9337

Rider Education Of New Jersey

8-9 • Zack’s V-Twin Spring Open House. Victory Demo Truck, live music by Mad Dog, Hawg Wild BBQ • 799 Violet Ave/Rte. 9G, Hyde Park, NY • 845-229-1177 11-12 • Locomotion Powersports hosts Victory Demo Truck • 138 Orange Ave/Rte.

Inc.

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What’s Happenin’ 202, Suffern, NY • 845-357-1190 • www.locomotionpowersports.com 13-15 • Mid-Atlantic Retread Rally. Bird-In-Hand Family Inn, Rt. 340, Bird-In-Hand, PA. Rally includes breakfast both days, Friday BBQ, Sat. Banquet, entertainment, free ice cream, rally pin, miniature golf tournament, guided and self-guided tours, charity poker run, 50/50 • www.midatlanticretreads.com 15 • Whitehorse Gear 5th Annual Spring Open House. 10am-3pm. Center Conway, NH. Brownse their many shelves for great buys. Rain or shine (but it never rains over Whitehorse!) • www.whitehorsegear.com/open-house • 603-356-6556 15 • SBWA 8th Annual Poker Ride for the River to benefit the South Branch Watershed Assoc. Prizes for top hands, refreshments for all. Families and all bikes welcome. Sign in/Endsite: 9-11am Spruce Run Rec. Area, 68 Van Syckels Rd, Clinton, NJ. Picnic/Pig Roast, music by John Austin Band, bike show. Pre-Reg: $25 incl. t-shirt; Day of event: $25, shirts extra; Picnic only: $10 • www.sbwa.org • 908-782-0422 15 • Liberty H-D Hot Rods & Harleys, downtown Rahway, NJ. Noon-6pm. Bubba Blackwell Stunt Spectacular, Bike Show 5 Live Bands, Food and Beer Garden • www.libertyharleycom 16 • Freedom Run to Ground Zero. $30/rider; $15/pass. incl. GWB toll, event pin and meal ticket. Reg. 9-10:30am Justice center parking lot, 10 Main St, Hackensack, NJ. Ride leaves 11am SHARP. Benefits 200 Club of Bergen County. Day begins with brief ceremony at start point, police escorted run covers Northern NJ and ends at Liberty State Park for food and festival. Multiple food vendors (bring money), music, games, vendors and more. www.bergenharleydavidson.com • 201-843-6930 16 • Ramapo Rumble for Education to benefit Ramapo College Scholarhip Endowment.

Sign in: Ramapo College of NJ, 505 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ. 8:30-10am. $25/rider; $15/pass. Scenic ride on the backroads of NJ. 19 • Bergen County H-D women’s Garage Party. 6-8pm. Learn, share, meet new riding partners and enjoy all there is Harley-Davidson • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com 20-23 • COG Northeast ‘Spring Fling’ Rally. Somerset, PA. Sport-touring at its finest. For more information visit www.cog-online.org or contact Jaso at 814-535-8669 22 • O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson Open House • 4 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY • 845-8882426 • www.otooleshd.com 22 • 3rd Annual Hope for Huntingtons Motorcycle Run to benefit NJ Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Sign in: Kosco HD, 1149 Rte. 23 South, Kinnelon, NJ. 9-11am. Pre-reg: $15/rider; $10/pass. Day of Event: $20/rider. • www.koscohd.com • 973-838-8800

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 46

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 22 • Cliff’s Cycle Revolution Open House. 10am-3pm. Fun, Food, Specials, Prizes, Vendors, Bike Show • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com • 203-740-1279 • 485 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT. 22 • OCC Summer Kick Off Bike Show & Charity Ride • 14 Crossroads Court, Newburgh, NY • www.orangecountychoppers.com• 845-522-5222 22 • Bob’s BMW Vintage and Classic Day. 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 800-2692627 • www.bobsbmw.com 23 • 9th Annual British & European Classic Motorcycle Day. 10am-6pm • $10. Butler’s Orchard, Germantown, MD. Concours, swap meet, door prizes, tech talks, trials demo • www.classicmotorcycleday.org • www.ramapomc.org 23 • Heels on Wheels TV and Streetlight Mission benefit run of Women Riding for Women. Sign in: Watchung Reservation, NJ. 9:30-11am. $20/rider; $10/pass. Police escorted run to StreetLight Mission, Elizabeth, NJ for BBQ and live music • www.heelsonwheelstv.com 26 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256

JUNE 2010 7 • Cliff’s Cycle Revolution hosts track day at Loudon, NH. For more details contact www.cliffscyclerevolution.com • 203-740-1279 • 485 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT. 11-13 • Rhinebeck Grand National Super Meet. Antique motorcycles, parts and collectibles. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY. Antique MC Auction June 12 • 845-242-4690 • www.rhinebecknationalmeet.com 7-12 • Americade www.tourexpo.com

world’s

largest

touring

rally,

Lake

George,

NY

•

12-20 • 87th Annual Laconia Bike Week, Loudon, NH • www.laconiamcweek.com 12 • Gibby’s Run to benefit the David Gibson Memorial Scholarship fund. Scenic Poker Run thru Northern NJ with BBQ and rugby match to follow. $20/rider. Sign in: 10am, Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe, 559 East Main St, Denville, NJ. Endsite: Veteran’s Memorial Field, Denville, NJ. BBQ, 2 bands, rugby match, prizes and adult beverages • 973-2294134 • www.everythinggibby.com 13 • March of Dimes Bikers for Babies. Sign in: 45 Rt. 46 East, Pine Brook, NJ. 9-11am. $20/rider pre-reg; $25/day of event. Ride to: NJ State Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ for food, entertainment and vendors • Carol Roberts • 973-882-0700 ext. 717 17 • Bob’s BMW Track Day at Summit Point. Reserve Early! 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 800-269-2627 • www.bobsbmw.com 19 • OCC Summer Showdown Bike Show & Charity Poker Run • 14 Crossroads Court, Newburgh, NY • www.orangecountychoppers.com• 845-522-5222 24-27 • Thunder in the Valley, Johnstown, PA • www.johnstownthunder.com

What’s Happenin’

JULY 2010 9-11 • AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio. • www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com 31 • Bergen Sport Cycle Bikini Bike Wash and raffle. Noon to 4pm. FREE - donations welcome • 30 US Hwy 46 East, Lodi, NJ • www.bergensportcycle.com • 973-478-7711 15-18 • BMW MOA International Rally, Deschutes Fair & Expo Center, Redmond, OR • www.bmwmoa.org/rally10 18 • 6th Annual Liberty Towers Benefit Run/Steak Bust. Sign in: 9-11am. VFW Post 5360, Mill St, Newton, NJ. AMA Sanctioned. $10/rider; $10/pass. Event pin, BBQ, raffle, prizes, vendors til 3pm • 973-383-5191 ext. 23 22-25 • MountainFest Motorcycle Rally, Morgantown, WV. 4-day pass includes access to all bands, attractions and entertainment. For details: www.wvmountainfest.com 23-25 • Carlisle Bike Fest is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier motorcycle event! Thousands of two-wheel fanatics will converge on the 102-acre Carlisle PA Fairgrounds for non-stop entertainment, an unbeatable motorcycle shopping experience, breathtaking and historic local rides, giveaways all weekend long and the chance to ride the latest models from manufacturers. The ride to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, located less than 200 miles from five metropolitan areas throughout the East Coast, is almost as much fun as the event itself. For more details: www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/bikefest 28 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256

AUGUST 2010 22 • 38th Foggy Mountain Reliability Run. Timed Road Run. Call or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256 28 • 2nd Annual Schenectady Thunder ARTBIKE Festival. State St, downtown Schenectady, NY. 11am-6pm. 3 live bands, photo exhibit, food, vendors, more • 518464-8933 31-Sept. 3 • Curve Cowboy Reunion, Killington, VT. Gathering of K12LT, but open to all brands and models of motorcycle • www.curvecowboyreunion.com

SEPTEMBER 2010 9-12 • Killington Classic Motorcycle Rally. Town of Killington. Vermont’s Premier Motorcycle Rally. For more info: www.killingtonclassic.com 12 • Lost Wheels MC 35th Annual Poker Run. Sign in: Dutchess Stadium, Rt. 9D, Fishkill, NY. 9-11:30am. AMA: $23; non-AMA: $25; Under 15: $10. Endsite: Canopus Lake Beach Area, Fahnestock St. Park, Carmel, NY. Live entertainment by Guys Night Out, vendors, food, 50/50, door prizes, trophies, games, ride-in bike show. Awards for Best Rep Club, games, bike show and poker hands • www.lostwheels.com

26 • Bergen Sport Cycle Motorcycle Show. All years, makes and models welcome stock, custom, radical, whatever. Prizes awarded, refreshments and giveaways. Set up: 10-11:30am • Show: Noon-4pm. Pre-reg: $10; Day of show: $15 • 30 US Hwy 46 East, Lodi, NJ • www.bergensportcycle.com • 973-478-7711

12 • 2nd Annual Poker Lime Run to benefit Multiple Sclerosis. Sign in: Baer Sport Center, 330 Grandview Ave, Honesdale, PA or Masonic Harmony Lodge #8, 519 Rte. 206, Andover Twnshp, NJ. 9am-Noon. $20/pp. Scenic ride through the Delaware Valley/Kittatiny Range to Walpack Inn for a fantastic meal. Live music and prizes for top hands and best times • 570-253-2000 • 973-948-3890

26 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256

12 • Larz Anderson Classic European Motorcycle Day, Brookline, MA

26 • Cliff’s Cycle Revolution hosts BMW Demo Truck. Demo rides and more. Check website for updates • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com • 203-740-1279 • 485 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT.

17-19 • 3rd Annual Boxer Shorts at Snow Farm Rally. Limited to 40 private double rooms, this spouse-friendly artist retreat center near the Berkshires at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA. Great roads and legalized off-roading in nearby October Mtn. State Forest. $140/pp includes full breakfast Sat/Sun and fancy dinner Sat. Pre-reg deadline Aug. 15. For more info and mailing address email vcruz@mediapr.net

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

P RODUCT S POTLIGHT

Page 47

ARAI’S NEW RX-Q HELMET

Arai has introduced what it claims is not just a whole new helmet, but a whole new class of helmet. A helmet purpose-built to be “the ultimate street helmet ... to set a new benchmark in street comfort, quiet, ventilation and stability, optimized for the conditions, speeds and environment of the real world. A helmet for other top-of-the-line models to envy.”

It’s called the RX-Q. To anyone familiar with Arai model lineage, the RX prefix is well-known. It began with the original X-7 back in 1979, evolving a few years later into the iconic RX-7 model series that effectively changed the face, literally and figuratively, of helmet design from that point on. Given the new model’s up-side mission, the RX prefix was a natural.

The key features of the new RX-Q include a new level of stability, quiet, and comfort in a road helmet, extremely wide peripheral view for better visibility and awareness of the world around you. The RX-Q uses the same new wider-eyeport SAI faceshield as the top-of-the-line Corsair-V, 5 mm wider on each side.

Even more comfort. The RX-Q’s truly-unique, newlysculpted cheekpad shape cradles the head from underneath for a level of comfort Arai says needs to be felt to be believed.. The design was influenced by Arai’s F-1 for the touring and sport-touring rider drivers, the most demanding of all for fit. www.FredRauMotorcycling.com Very, very quiet. Again, a result of the new cheekpad Eclectic Writers • Editorials design. The sculpted flange under the jaw also blocks more noise entering the helmet from underneath-the major Touring Stories and How-Tos source of helmet noise-by creating a better noise seal. This, combined with new sound-deadening foam in the ear pad, is Product Reviews • Rider Education designed to provide an extremely quiet helmet. The RX-Q’s advanced ventilation at road speeds, not race speeds, combines more efficiency with even less interior noise.

A uniquely-designed lower Hyper Ridge circles the shell bottom to improve strength and aerodynamics. It’s also designed to lower the center-of-gravity for an exceptionally light feeling on the rider’s head. And a larger bottom opening makes for easier on-off without enlarging the helmet. with Dave Edwards New more aerodynamic upper and side exhaust vent cowling, sculpted to enhance stability while increas(former Cycle World editor) ing exhaust efficiency. The side vent cowls are tailored to the needs and speeds of the street. Compared to the Prices from $6,000 • www.fredrau.com C-V, the RX-Q’s cowlings are larger and more aggressively styled, as lower street speeds require more surface area and a more refined shaping in order to deliver the increased stability. High speed performance is also excellent.

The new Arai RX-Q is available in a variety of graphics and colors, in sizes XS ~ XXL. Suggested list prices begin at $539.95. For complete details, log on to www.AraiAmericas.com.

NEW ONLINE MAGAZINE!

Fred Rau Motorcycling

NEW TOUR!

January 10-23, 2011

New Zealand

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Get BACKROADS delivered to your home EVERY MONTH! Just fill out the simple form and mail it along with payment (gotta pay the Postman) to:

Backroads, PO Box 317, Branchville, NJ 07826 First Class Postage $40/12 issues • Comes in a protective envelope We accept checks, VISA, MasterCard or Discover. Please indicate which card is used.

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HOT TOURS

Page 48

HANOI

TO

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

VIENTIANE: MOTOQUEST’S INDOCHINA ADVENTURE

MotoQuest has been a leader in motoadventuring for the past 12 years in Alaska as Alaska Rider Tours.

Recently, Alaska Rider Tours has changed its name to MotoQuest to reflect its global tour itinerary. They offer exceptional motorcycle adventures in 12 countries. MotoQuest is 2

COUNTRIES,

THE BEST WURST

2

CULTURES,

2

MOTORCYCLES AND

2

WEEKS IN

www.SchneidersRestaurant.info

AT THE

JERSEY SHORE

Casual Dining Lunch and Dinner Tues-Sat from 11am Year Round Two-wheels or Four,

Your table is ready at the Jersey Shore!

Member

801 MAIN STREET (ROUTE 71) AVON-BY-THE-SEA (MONMOUTH COUNTY), NJ

732-775-1265

NOVEMBER

still based in Anchorage, Alaska, and provides motorcycle tours, self-guided tours and motorcycle rentals for independent travelers during the short Alaskan summer. Their shop in Anchorage provides free camping, hot showers and use of tools for any wayward moto-traveler. They even sell tires and dispose of motorcycle oil!

Born and raised in Alaska, owner and founder Phil Freeman welcomes anyone to stop by the MotoQuest HQ while in the Last Frontier. He is excited to ride and talk riding, and can in four languages (English, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese) If you want to know local road conditions in Alaska, he and his staff know the latest.

Recently, MotoQuest launched their new website (www.motoquesttours.com) which offers riders the ability to post blogs, book online and watch movies from their tours. With tons of new maps and photos, this site is sure to be a good resource for riders headed in any direction.

This year, MotoQuest is offering a very special motorcycle adventure from Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos in November. MotoQuest’s Indochina Adventure encompasses two motorcycles (Ural 650 Single-Cylindar and Honda Baja XR 250), two countries, two cultures, and two city tours (Hanoi and Vientiane). The package also includes experienced native English speaking guides, support truck with a mechanic, an all-day boat ride through the Ou River Gorge, Laos and two nights stay at the World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Laos. This tour takes you from high mountain passes to timeless hill tribes on two kinds of motorcycles. For details go to www.motoquesttours.com or call 1-800756-1990. MotoQuest is even throwing in a side-car city tour of Hanoi....how fun is that?

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

A SSAULT

WITH

Page 49

B ATTERY

IT’S CALLED

A

ZERO

AND IT’S AN

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE. WONDER

When I was a kid, batteries where always a big part of my life. From all manner of toys to flashlights and radios, it seems I always needed the little lead dudes and they were constantly pooping out on me, and rechargeable batteries were the worst. I needed more power, man! More endurance! If the battery wasn’t putting out enough juice, what was the point?

Well, I don’t have to tell you that things have changed, big time.

Battery technology is not only powering much more powerful devices for much longer periods of time these days, it’s actually changing things on a pretty large scale. And when it comes to rolling things, the success and reliability of hybrid automobiles has shown that batteries can be used to augment, and ultimately power, the familiar transports we use in our everyday lives. But no matter how much these new machines have demonstrated that electric cars are possible, I’ve been skeptical that a battery-powered electric motorcycle could make it to the market and actually work. The reasons are primarily the same as what always makes certain technologies difficult to adapt to two-wheelers: weight, complexity, the need for very subtle drivetrain response, etc.

But thanks to the new Zero S electric motorcycle, I am skeptical no more. This is a true all-electric street bike (there’s also Dual Sport and Dirt versions as well) that is really fun and interesting to ride, and in an urban situation makes sense right out of the box. Where you are used to finding a gasoline internal combustion engine there is a big, rectangular battery box that houses a lithium-ion battery array with a 4-kilowatt capacity.

This provides the juice for a fairly compact Brushed Permanent Magnet Electric motor, which puts out roughly 31 horsepower and 62.3 ft/lbs of torque (which is available with the first touch of the throttle). The S has a 60-mile range on a single charge under most riding conditions, and the bike can be recharged in under 4 hours using either 110 or 220 voltage. Next to the analog speedometer (there’s a digital one as well) there’s what looks like a gas gauge that instead tells you how much charge your battery has left. It’s

OF

WONDERS,

IT

WORKS

Bill Heald

one of the things that are so familiar on what is after all a very different kind of motorcycle.

So, we have this electric street machine in front of us, and the first thing you notice when you mount up is the chassis definitely has motocross roots because the seat height is waaaay high, and the cushion itself is nearly trials-bike firm. You kick up the kickstand, turn the key and. . . silence. Eerie silence, actually, especially if you expect the raucous, dramatic intro that internal combustion always greets you with to be mandatory with all motorcycles. Instead, you see the instrument panel activate and not much at all in the sound department, and believe it or not you’re ready to go. There’s no clutch lever because there’s no clutch. In fact, there’s no transmission, either, because the way the gearing works with an electric motor you don’t

Page 50

need one. Neat, huh? The deeper you probe into the technology, the simpler it is. I like that.

It’s really hard to put into words what it’s like to just twist the throttle and motor away; much like the way it happens with a scooter except there’s zero noise, zero vibration and zero emissions. I would say “hence the name,” but it’s way too easy to state this obvious tie-in. The Zero S is a very light motorcycle, and you notice its wispy 225 lb. featheriness right away because you can easily whip the sucker through congested urban traffic with ease.

Acceleration is good, not contemporary sport bike quick but acceptably crisp, and the weirdest thing about the lack of engine noise is that it lets you hear every squeak and rattle from the chassis and suspension. Said suspension is adjustable, and did a very good job of taming some of Brooklyn’s rougher segments for ‘twas where I was riding, don’t cha know.

Without the auditory presence of an internal combustion engine, you have to be careful in that the slightest twist of the throttle releases a lot of torque, which means that if you try to brake to a stop when you’re actually twisting the throttle slightly you won’t stop and bump the guy in the Malibu in front of you. Not that this happened to me, you understand. Oh no. Not me.

Like with any decent motorcycle (or scooter, for that matter), the more time in the seat the more comfortable you become, and danged if I didn’t become very fond and settled on the Zero S in short order. This bike has a certain custom, low- production- number

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

aura to it, from the beautiful, minimalist aluminum frame (that weighs a mere 29 lbs.) and elegant swingarm to the fact that you order one from the company and they ship it right to your door. They are more than happy to set up a test ride somewhere near you beforehand, of course.

Zero claims a top speed of 60 MPH, and I was able to goose the white wonder up to close to that when rocketing down a few streets. There is a whine you do hear from the motor at such speeds, but it’s quite subtle and compared to its gasengined counterparts practically silent.

For those who like the big picture, Zero claims you should get 5-6 years of life out of the battery pack with normal use at which time you can just swap it out for a new one. Maintenance (other than some chain lube and normal tire replacement) is pretty non-existent, as you would expect with no oil changes, tune-ups, filter changes, etc. Pretty

amazing, when you think about it.

Also amazing is what may be down the road for electric motorcycles. The Zero S is so light that just think what you could do if you wanted a bigger touring model, with a more substantial chassis, battery, motor, etc. (plus hard luggage) so you’d have much more range. For now, the Zero S is clearly not for everybody but it is an entertaining, ecologically friendly lowmaintenance ride that delivers a very unique motoring experience. The price is $9950 plus $500 shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S. www.zeromotorcycles.com, 888-RUN-ZERO.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS BIG SKINNY - A

WALLET YOU CAN RIDE WITH

Many of us have the same problem, over time our wallets end up getting fatter and fatter. A few credit cards here, a couple PBA cards there, throw in some cash, and in some cases a passport, and suddenly you have a gorilla in your riding jacket or pant pocket.

At this year’s New York Bike Show I got to talking with Kiril Alexandrov who, with his wife Catherine, have created Big Skinny Wallets. They are the result of almost two years of research and development (trying out dozens of designs and over 70 types of materials) for the perfectly balanced wallets featuring the right thinness, good looks, durability, and the ability to function as a full-time, full-service wallet.

I have never been really happy with my wallets and I have bought at least a dozen in as many years, and have taken to using my travel passport wallet for day-to-day use. Some think it rather large, but it fits in my zippered riding jacket pocket, where it is safe and sound, but it still has the problems I have found with other wallets. Not too waterproof and cards and coin tend to fall out if I open it upside down or backwards, not to mention, fully loaded, it gets rather portly.

Kiril had me walk over to his booth to see his wallets. I was very impressed.

Seeing a “normal” wallet empty and a Big Skinny loaded with cards and cash it was apparent that Big Skinny wallet was just what its name implies.

Big Skinny wallets are designed with one single purpose-to make wallet carrying more comfortable-by making your wallet thinner, smaller and lighter and that adds up to make life easier for us riders on the road.

Most Big Skinny wallets are created out of a nylon micro-fiber material, although a fine leather wallet was my choice. Inside, the wallet is lined with a thin rubber-like material that keeps things dry and in place.

After years of searching I think I just might have found the perfect riding wallet, you just might too when you log onto www.bigskinny.net.

They have dozens of styles, sizes and colors to choose from so take a look, beside who wants a huge gorilla in their pocket. ~ Brian Rathjen

The Weather is here and you should be too. Start filling in your calendar with all the great events and rallies that are taking place throughout the United State. Book that tour abroad you’ve always wanted to take. Make plans to take a riding course. Need some suggestions? See our Upcoming Events Calendar on pages 44-46 or check our website for the Backroads Rally dates. We also have a bunch of downloadable GPS routes. Use us, that’s what we’re here for.

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS TRAVEL

TO ALL

50

AND

MAKE

YOUR

MARK

Have you ridden all around this great nation? Been to Hawaii and to Maine. Ridden from Spokane to Key West? Well, perhaps you’d like to let others know where you have been. At www.fishstuff.com you’ll find these neat Mini State Stickers. Made from a high-quality 3M Controlac Vinyl, each state sticker measures just 1.5” X .75” and it’s perfect for motorcycle side and top cases. The stickers list for $24.95 for the entire nation on one sheet.

YET AGAIN

THE

RIGHT TOOL

FOR THE

RIGHT JOB

Park Tool TL-5 Steel Tire Levers are designed for use on tough tire and rim combinations. Built of forged steel, they are strong enough for shop use, yet being only eight inches long, compact enough to be carried along on a ride. Specially designed tip engages tire bead closely and smoothly to help prevent pinched tubes. Suggested Retail: $19.95. Available from your favorite dealer or see: www.parktool.com/motorcycle

FROM BIKE

TO

HIKE • THE VELOCITY SHOE

You hear the word hybrid a lot these days but now the moniker applies to riding footwear as well. I got on a quest to find a riding shoe that was road worthy, but offered enough comfort that I could ride to the gym in the morning and not have to drag a pair of boots and sneakers along for the ride.

Then I found the Velocity Riding Shoe from Joe Rocket.

This hybrid is built for protection and comfort - casual shoe walkability with race boot features; leather/ballistic nylon upper with injection molded reinforcements, road race inspired toe-slider (like I need that, but..), ankle protection cut, quick lock and adjustable (no laces - no snags) ankle strap, low profile design for better shifter control, and a sole sculpture developed specifically to slide not grab on foot pegs.

The Velocity Riding Shoes were very comfortable from the getgo, they work well on short trips on those sunny day rides when rain will not be an issue.

I would never take them as my only shoes or boots while touring, they can easily be a back shoe and they are really excellent when you need protection around town but do not desire a full on riding boot.

The Velocity Riding Shoe is available in Mens sizes 7 thru 13 in Black/Black & White/Black, lists for $119.99 and can be found at Joe Rocket dealers or at www.joerocket.com ~ Brian Rathjen

A Motorcycle Is The Ultimate Toy, Vermont Is The Perfect Playground® We put it together…

The Gray Ghost Inn

Motorcyclist-Friendly Destination Lodging Located on Scenic Route 100 in Southern Vermont 290 Route 100 • West Dover, VT 800-745-3615 • www.grayghostinn.com

Full breakfast cooked to order. BYOB bar, hot tub, outdoor firepit, pool and game room. Free Maps and Suggested Rides. Group Special Packages.

5 restaurants/bars within walking distance.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

Page 53

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS WORLD’S TOUGHEST FOOT PEG

If you have ever gone off-road, especially in the wet with a big dual-sport machine, you might have found the stock foot pegs do little to inspire confidence. We have the answer.

ROC Stompa foot pegs are chiseled from a solid block of aluminum. These are not cast in unknown regions of the world at overseas companies that have no quality control standards. You can be assured that the ROC Stompa foot pegs will hold up no matter where you go.

All Pro-Stomp Foot Pegs are available in black or clear anodized for the BMW pegs. For the KTM, the Pro-Stomp come in orange or black and the Long Stomp pegs are only available in the black as well. All Pro-Stomp foot pegs come complete with a set of bushings and retaining springs - ready for fitting.

Manufactured out of 7075 aerospace grade aluminum - twice as strong as the steel factory replacement pegs. Stainless steel tread and mounting bushes prevent bi-metallic corrosion and increase the overall strength and lifespan of the peg. Wide, ergonomically curved design, ensures a firm and secure footing.

Fully rebuild able. Why buy a new peg when you can get a stud, bush or pin replacement kit for a fraction of the price.

FEA tested! Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted to locate all the stress points and determine the strongest, most durable construction and shape. They sell for $179 and can be purchased for a wide variety of machines from www.adventurersworkshop.com.

BE

THE

ENVY

OF THE

KIDS

ON YOUR

BLOCK

WITH THIS

CAFE RACER

Triumph is introducing a special edition to its café racer-styled Thruxton, giving an even sportier look to the classic British design.

The 2010 Thruxton SE debuts a stunning powder-coated red frame and Crystal White bodywork with red stripe, color-matched fly screen and blacked out engine cases. The new Crystal White paint contains a high metallic content that results in a luxurious paint finish, and creates a striking contrast to the dramatic red frame. The Triumph Thruxton features state-of-the-art design and performance combined with a distinctively retro design. The fuel injected 865cc parallel twin is the most powerful of Triumph’s Modern Classics range, delivering 68bhp at 7,400rpm and peak torque of 51ft.lbs. at 5,800rpm.

The engine shares the same 360° firing interval as the Bonneville, but also features ‘hot’ camshaft profiles, a compression ratio of 9.2:1, and megaphone style pipes. Sporty, low rise bars, 18 inch spoke wheels, megaphone style pipes, and a race inspired stripe from tank to tail evoke memories of the Ace Café and racing in the streets. The Thruxton SE will be available at authorized Triumph dealers throughout North America in the spring of 2010. Prices are still to be confirmed but the SE model will come at a small premium over the standard Thruxton. To find a local authorized Triumph dealer, please visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 54

E VENT R ECAP

A DAY

AT THE

There is a little event that occurs once yearly in the town of Brookline, Massachusetts called the Larz Anderson Classic European Motorcycle Day. As the name implies it is a Euro-bike extravaganza, featuring motorcycles from the “continent” that were manufactured in the past 80+ years. Most of the featured marquees were from the ‘50s- ‘60s, with some stunning examples of restored motorcycles from those great two-wheeled eras on display across the great lawn of the Larz Anderson grounds.

The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is a beautiful piece of early twentieth century architecture, as Larz Anderson himself was a quite well to do man, having served as an ambassador to several nations throughout his career, including Japan, which he and his wife fell in love with. Anderson served under President Taft and was very good at his work.

But Anderson had a hobby. He loved anywords amd images: Ralph Angelo Jr.

MUSEUM

thing that moved, especially the automobile. Larz Anderson never parted with a car he owned, saving every one lovingly. To this day fourteen of the original 32 automobiles remain in the collection.

One Sunday per year those grounds on the Larz Anderson Park are filled with motorcycles, vintage as well as modern. In fact, the parade of motorcycles and their riders coming into the grounds for the event is every bit a part of the affair and the pageantry as are the motorcycles being judged.

The great lawn in Larz Anderson Park became a showcase for motorcycles, as brands long extinct showed their heads once more.

By far, the British motorcycle industry was represented by a larger example of classic motorcycles than any other nation.

The legendary Triumph brand was represented well by both modern and classic examples of two-wheeled beauty.

But Triumph was not alone. There were motorcycles by such brands as Norton, Matchless, BSA and AJS among others.

To me the most stunning motorcycle in the show was a Matchless model from 1965 that glistened like the sun! It was impeccably restored and I thought there was no way this bike was ridden anywhere, yet there it was with regular plates, as it was indeed a motorcycle that was in use, though I doubt very much it was a ‘daily rider’. It was a beautiful example of a classic motorcycle, and simply stole the show for me.

Of course Brit bikes were not the only machines in attendance as models from all over Italy showed that the British were not the only ones who could turn two wheels into an art form.

Ducati, Benelli, Moto Morini and MV Agusta were

BACKROADS • APRIL 2010

beautiful examples of Italian moto design. One of racer Larry Pegram’s Ducati’s was even on display in the foyer of the museum, There was even a Polish motorcycle called an SHL that I had never heard of before.

Of course the Bavarian Motor Works had many examples of their fine motorcycles on display from all eras, as BMW is always a rider’s favorite.

But BMW was not the only German marquee at the show as I found a lone Zundap on the grounds, looking magnificent.

In addition, Spain’s Bultaco off-road motorcycles were on display, rounding out the melange.

Page 55

burgers and soda nearby on a spectacular Sunday afternoon as smiling spectators walked the grounds of this fabulous and historic museum, enjoying the warmth of this late summer afternoon and the camaraderie of enthusiasts like themselves, all taking in an afternoon of classic motorcycles in a historic setting. As motorcyclists, who can ask for anything more?

This year’s European Motorcycle Day is Sept. 12 from 10 am to 4pm.

Motorcycle registration is $10, as is adult admission. For more information or to register for the exhibition visit their website at www.larzanderson.org.

Rollin’ Fast Cycle Sports

908.236.9000

104 Main Street • Lebanon • New Jersey

THE 2010 VICTORY FUEL IT DEMO TOUR

Classic motorcycles were not the only ones on display as several local dealerships showed up, and a Ducati dealer was actually offering test rides.

The new bike that caught my eye was a green Benelli TNT naked bike/street fighter. This thing was gorgeous! I had to walk away from it because temptation was rearing its ugly head. What a beautiful bike.

Also displaying their wares were local manufacturer Vanson who brought a display of their famous jackets.

Music played over the field from a PA. A caterer sold

9AM - 5PM

April 17 & 18*

FOOD, MUSIC & DOOR PRIZES

DEMO TRUCK PROMOTIONS ON ALL NEW VICTORY MOTORCYCLES Victory and Victory Motorcycles are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries, Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit.

Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

AIRPORT PUB & PACKAGE www.rollinfast.com

Sussex NJ County Rd 639 • Next to the Airport Open 7 Days • 973-702-1215 We have New Jersey Lottery & Scratch Offs We accept cash, credit cards & ATM on premise

WE’RE LOCATED IN SCENIC SUSSEX COUNTY A POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD PUB

ENJOY THE RIDE

Stop by and We’re Sure to Become One of Your Favorite Stops

FREE BBQ on Sundays

weather permitting

‘ You Cook ‘Em…’

It’s Always Bike Night at AIRPORT PUB

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

FRIENDLY SERVICE • ICE COLD BEER AND ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO… TWO POOL TABLES • JUKE BOX • DARTS OUTDOOR SEATING FACING THE AIRPORT “WATCH THE SKY DIVERS”

PLUS … WE SERVE A SIMPLE PUB MENU

We’re Here — Two Wheels or Four Stop by and Join the Fun!

APRIL 2010 • BACKROADS

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Best SA Roadtrip Ever • Ultimate African Tour • Victoria Falls Tour Visit our website for our full calendar of tours:

WWW.SAMATOURS.CO.ZA C Y C L E

If not today, WHEN? Visit South Africa in 2010!

P R O D U C T S,

N. A.

No Competition.

Precise. Lightweight. Comfortable. Essential.

Seats available for late model Ducati motorcycles.

P E R F O R M A N C E

S E A T S

www.SargentCycle.com Call 1-800-749-7328.