December 2012

gaz Ma our le T cyc tor Mo

DECEMBER

2012 Volume 18 No. 12

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Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

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W H A T ’ S MON THLY COLUMN S

I N S I D E FEAT URES

FREE WHEELIN’.................................................................................4

BACKROADS HOLIDAY GIFT SUGGESTIONS.........................20

WHATCHATHINKIN’..........................................................................5

CHATTERBOX DRIVE-IN BIKE NIGHT .......................................30

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE .................................................6

KILLINGTON CLASSIC...................................................................32

ON THE MARK ..................................................................................7

COOPERSTOWN BREWERY TRAIL............................................42

THROTTLE BLIPS ..............................................................................8

M OTORCYCL E REVIEWS

BACKLASH .........................................................................................9

DUCATI PANIGALE S .....................................................................28

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE........................................................11

HONDA UNVEILS NEW 2013 MOTORCYCLES.......................46

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD....................................................12

HOLIDAY GIF T IDEAS

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA...............................................................13

SAVAGE CINEMA DVD COLLECTION........................................27

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN.........................................14

DUAL POWER EYEWEAR.............................................................38

BIG CITY GETAWAY........................................................................15

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

WE’RE OUTTA HERE......................................................................17 Looking for the perfect holiday gift? How about a subscription to Backroads - the present that keeps on giving all year long. $40/year • www.Backroadsusa.com/subscriptions.html

INDUSTRY INFOBITES ..................................................................34 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ..............................................36

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil ~ Publishers Contributors: Jeff Bahr, Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Jefffrey Kurtzman, Tony Lisanti, Shahram Shiva, Dr. Seymour O’Life

BACKROADS • POB 317, Branchville NJ 07826 Phone 973.948.4176 • Fax 973.948.0823 • email editor@backroadsusa.com • web www.backroadsusa.com Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2012. 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.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 4

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJEN

The AnTicAde As I write this we are about to head out to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for our 14th Fall Fiesta Rally.

After all this time we still get emails and phone calls asking us what exactly goes on at these things. Is there a charge? Are there group rides set up? What about dinners? What if it rains? The list of queries gets long and interesting.

I remember a few years back we tried to combine one of our Backroads Rallies with another event held in the Catskills. Although the gentlemen putting it on knew what they wanted to do and had years of experience handling the massive rides held each year at Americade, the whole event did not work out for us as well as we had hoped.

Large and ultra-organized rides have never been our forte.

We have found that smaller, more like-minded groups, operate far more efficiently and safely than 30 or 40 strangers asked to ride parade-style along uncharted and unknown roadways.

If incredibly well organized runs like Americade can put this off, well that is peachy. We’d rather ride with 6 than 30 any day.

Us, we are more like the Anticade, than Americade.

Our rallies have always been about getting friends together in different and unique locations around the northeast and suggesting some routes and destinations and then simply hanging back and seeing what happens.

It is almost always good and we are always happy to hear the different places folks found, the roads, museums and restaurants.

Backroads tries to encourage riders to get out and explore the regions we live and ride in. Sure, we have tons of interesting destinations in our various columns each month. From the perennial reader favorite the Great All American Diner Run to my own beloved Mysterious America – each issue has

great ride suggestions and we hope you take us up on some of them.

But, what we really like is when we hear that you have been off exploring the backroads on your own and have found something we should know about.

No reason to keep a wonderful eatery, twisty road or vista to yourself. Help us spread the word. Trust us, it is all good.

But, still we get the questions. What will we do? What will it cost? What are the rides like? How fast do the rides go?

So this is what you get when you come to one of our rallies.

The cheapest admission price we can give you – free.

Wait, no, we sometimes hand out swag-which is also free to you, but cost us plenty. It is our pleasure.

We know you will be introduced to some of the nicest riders you would want to meet. Dozens of long-term friendships have sprung up from our rallies and more and more happen at each and every event.

You might even find the occasional two-wheel celebrity or politician at your table.

You will have some seriously great fun on the best roads in the region, and hundreds of miles and smiles along the way.

We take great pride in our routes, and even when we make a mistake they still rock!

We are asked all the time how we choose the venues.

Well, we look for moderately sized hotels, as we don’t want to overwhelm or overcrowd ourselves, in or nearby a decent town is a always nice, and a few good restaurants, either on premise or close by, and one or two good bars help out as well. A pool and hot tub are always a bonus too. We also make sure the hotel is rider friendly. No use spending our rally dollars on a place or town that will treat us like second-class citizens.

We have feelings, you know!

Our destinations over the last 15 years have been far and wide. Here are just a few – The Finger Lakes in New York, Natural Bridge in Virginia, at the foot of the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, PA’s Grand Canyon in Wellsboro, Deals Gap in North Carolina, the Adirondacks, the Berkshires of New England and a few multi-state rallies that have really packed on the miles and smiles between hotels and destinations.

(Continued on Page 16)

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W H ATC H AT H I N K I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL WhAT A long, sTrAnge Trip iT’s been

Page 5 week exploring a good part of this beautiful and lush land with our friends the Singers along for the ride. Again, as with Colombia, the people and roads traveled were extraordinary and I can’t recommend a trip to this part of the world highly enough.

The next few weeks were a whirlwind, coming back to our Summer Squeeze, hosted by our good friends at the Gray Ghost in Vermont followed directly by the Killington Rally, now run by Christian Dutcher and the folks from Americade and then on to our own Fall Fiesta Rally in Lancaster, PA. The Arts Hotel was a great venue and, like our earlier rally in Luray, the group attending made it a success.

Sliding into the last quarter of 2012 we were again sidetracked with issues that would keep us off the bikes for a short while, followed all too memorably

by Superstorm Sandy and her devastating destruction to so much of Backroads’ family, readers and friends alike. As I write this, there are still so many without power and some who have lost all. There are no words to convey the sadness felt after viewing the images of southern New Jersey, so much of eastern New York and the other areas in the direct line of this bitch that took out so much. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, with hopes to see you on the road very soon.

Reflecting on this year’s events, I look forward to crumbling the December 2012 calendar page and opening a brand new year. I wish all a safe and healthy transition, with new adventures and happy times ahead.

And, if the Mayans are right, it’s been grand knowing you all – see you on the other side.

Here I sit, with the last page of the calendar waiting to be torn off, contemplating if the Mayans will actually be right, but planning many trips for 2013 just in case they’re not. Sure I’ll stock up on December 20 for a great end-of-theworld party, and most likely awake on the 22nd with a large hangover and a mess to clean up.

Looking back on 2012 from a personal, not motorcycle, standpoint, it certainly seems as if they are on the right track. With a great launch off the starting line, the year began with a wonderful excursion to a place I’d never been – Colombia, South America. With the help of Mike from Motolombia, a small group of us had a terrific jaunt through some interesting ‘roads’, enjoying the people and vistas we encountered.

As my grandfather said after crashing his electric cart on Palisades Avenue in Cliffside Park, ‘I took off okay, but the landing wasn’t so good.’ Yes, Brian and I might have left whole, but we returned with some additional plaster and a few months of recouping in sight.

Enjoying one of the mildest winters we’ve seen in, like, forever, I snuck out every once in a while to satisfy my riding needs. Having a clear driveway for a whole winter was just too much temptation not to.

I have a feeling that on my departure, Brian would head to the garage and look longingly at his bikes, assuring them that, in no time at all, he would be back on the road and so would they.

Sure enough, as time heals all wounds, we were off and riding with the coming of Spring and our Spring Break in Luray, VA. I think the Weather Gods felt sorry for Brian’s forced DL and gave us some of the best weather we’ve had on any of our rallies. The Mimslyn Inn was a cordial host, but that’s not what makes the gathering successful. It’s the group of wonderful people who join us on our sojourns and the friendships that are forged. Thank you all for that.

We had planned on skipping Americade this year to explore some regions of our beautiful country as yet unexplored, at least by us. As we always have a Plan B up our sleeves, and decided to err on the side of caution, we switched to that and made our way up to Lake George to join the celebration of Americade’s 30th Anniversary. A good time was had by all and, after week’s end, Brian and I continued our travels to visit the Northern Kingdom of Vermont.

Apparently the Weather Gods had some sort of conversation with the Bike Gods and there was a trade transacted, as Brian’s just-under warranty R1200GS pulled up lame not too far outside of Essex Junction, Vermont. With a phone call, Lester of Frank’s BMW whisked it away in the dead of night to be dealt with by the light of next day. It’s amazing what changes can occur in just 24 hours. Making a long story short, we pulled out of Frank’s with a new addition to the Backroads’ family, a spanking new R1200GS Rallye Edition, resplendent with bright red frame. Lemonade out of lemons, I say.

To give Captain America a good break-in, off we headed to the BMW MOA in Sedalia, Missouri. It was a really great trip, with Cap meeting up with the Man of Steel. The temperatures on that trip felt as if we were MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE CENTER traveling around the sun to turn back time, but it marched forward to its own drum. We survived the 2901 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA 19440 scorching, but rode through so many parts of our coun215-712-7433 try that did not do as well. www.BMWMotorcycles.com The end of summer brought a much-anticipated ride through the Emerald Isle, set up by the Paul and the folks at Celtic Rider. We spent a wonderful, if wet,

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Page 6

P O S TC A R D S FROM THE HEDGE BILL HEALD Through The (AdjusTAble) looking glAss Once again, the past has decided to creep up on the future and create a perfect storm (a term we’re all tired of I’ll wager) of old and new technology that changes the way we look at the world around us in the present. In this case, I’m alluding to the past as in last month’s column, for this is again a piece focused at visual things and a further extension of same. Actually, there’s an even older column that deals with the subject matter I question (December of 2007, in fact), where I wrote the following: “Which brings me to the latest of my absolutely brilliant plans that, as usual, no OEMS will likely adopt. The new flat-panel technologies that are finding their way pretty much everywhere have great appeal in that they are actually quite light, self-contained and comparatively simple. They are also solid state, can handle vibration and are easily weatherproofed. Given this, I propose that we get some choice when it comes to our instrument pods.”

There was also a reference in that column to our German Shepherd being a puppy, and danged if now he isn’t a massive, 5-year-old hellbeast. Actually, he still acts like a puppy with amazing frequency and rarely does anything hellbeasty. But anyway, cut to the present day and my recent stint in a mas-

sive automobile, a creature called a Cadillac XTS. This machine has a dashboard that has Cadillac’s CUE (Customizable User Interface) that uses touchscreen technology and (unique to the XTS) a flat-screen reconfigurable instrument cluster. This lets the driver select from four “themes” so you can get as much or as little visual instrumentation as you want as to what the car is doing. While I’m still really fond of conventional analog instruments, the small piece of glass that can do so many things made me think of how well it might work in a motorcycle application.

To be sure, there are a number of moto-manufacturers that have been experimenting with changeable instrument configurations and things are getting more interesting (and futuristic) with each passing model year. Some of these have been done quite intelligently too, in my view. But the question I have is, how far will the designers go when it comes to the blank canvas a flat screen can provide? Given the technology, there’s no real limitation to what could be put on your instrument cluster but will those building these things get carried away, and forget the riding environment a motorcycle deals with?

Perhaps we’re getting to the point where a better question is how much information (other than what’s happening in front of us) is right for us as riders.

Ponder this for a second: with the incredible popularity of GPS navigation in our lives, touring motorcyclists are gaining a valuable new tool that is a double-edged sword. Just at a time when we have to pay more attention than ever to the antics of distracted drivers, there’s additional hardware vying for our attention on the bike as well. There distractions are not just visual, either, as modern Bluetooth interfaces allow for a variety of audio options in addition to turn-by-turn directions from that wonderful GPS. Are these devices taking some of your focus off of your riding? Are you sure?

Any instrument cluster, whether it is customizable or not, needs to be easily viewed when you need it so the actual amount of time you have to glance at it is kept to a minimum. My experience with the Cadillac instruments really drove home the fact that we are getting to the point where we’ll be able to fine-tune our visual inputs in just about any conveyance, as this technology is growing in sophistication at the same time it becomes more affordable. Just like learning the proper braking technique with ABS brakes, we also have to take all these new technological miracles with a grain of salt and be really careful about how we deploy them in our personal spheres. In my case, I could see myself coming full circle by taking a programmable instrument cluster on a shiny new motorcycle and initially turning on everything the display could offer, and then over time shutting down more and more until we’re left with just a speedometer and tach, which is how most of us saw the world when we started riding anyway.

This type of minimalism has happened with me and GPS. Don’t get me wrong; I find this amazing mapping wizardry incredibly useful but when I’m on a bike I also find myself getting too distracted by it. So these days I don’t use it unless it is really the best option, as opposed to making incredibly simple maps and putting them on a sleeve like the road warriors of old. For some reason the process of just drawing a simple little map helps plant the directions in my head, so I have a better sense of where I’m going without having to consult anything.

But that’s me. The take-home lesson is as these new miracles of electronic assistance appear, use what works best for your personal attention span and no more. While the new onset of information available to us is fantastic, we must guard against overly immersing ourselves in too much goodness (visual or otherwise).

I don’t have to tell you how the spread of cell phones into cars has made our riding environment more hazardous, and the last thing we need to do is compound the problem by overloading our senses, too. This goes for whether you’re rolling in a Cadillac or on a Cub, and everything in-between.

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 7

found checkpoints had no deterrent effect on drunk driving.

A by-product of checkpoints is the citation of drivers/riders for offenses beyond the scope of the checkpoint. My local paper has printed statistics MARK BYERS from sobriety checkpoints and the vast majority of the citations have been for things other than drunk driving: expired tags or licenses, defective equipliberTy ment, and other minor administrative offenses that have little effect on drunk In last month’s issue of “Backroads,” I read a “Thoughts From the Road” driving prevention. In one case, the article noted that 700 drivers had been piece titled “They Are NOT Out to Get You.” I believe the author’s assertion “contacted” during the checkpoint, but only 3 citations were issued and only that Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), in general, are not “out to get” the one was for DUI. In my view, the headline should have read “699 people general public is true. Some time ago, I devoted a column to the subject, needlessly detained.” Considering that there were upwards of 20 deputies called “Mr. LEO.” Mr. Halvorsen’s article, however, does contain assertions involved in the operation, the cost-effectiveness compared to a saturation paabout checkpoints that are incorrect and trol doesn’t appear to be compelling. am sure the author would be quick to point out that the represent what I consider serious threats Unfortunately, the precedent set by the Rehnquist-led Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that sobriety checkto our liberties under the 4th Amendment, Supreme Court’s opinion has been used points were legal; however, even Justice Rehnquist connot only as motorcyclists, but as citizens. to justify checkpoints of all types, includceded that they do infringe on a constitutional right and In particular, the author cites seatbelt ing those for motorcycles. The prevailthat they must be “properly conducted” under strict guidelines. checkpoints and sobriety checkpoints as ing attitude among the safetycrats justification for motorcycle-only checkpoints. Naming seat-belt checkpoints appears to be that if we will simply swallow this dose of constitutional castor as an example, the author says “…there was no uproar about treading upon oil, that somehow, we’ll all be the better for it; however, the ends clearly do constitutional rights by stopping cars without probable cause.” Actually, not justify the means as Rehnquist hoped. Far from being silent, there has there was, and is, serious opposition (I’ll stop short of the hyperbolic term been dissent from “activists” and multiple states have acted to protect their “uproar”) to seatbelt checkpoints among citizens, civil libertarians, and the citizens where the Federal Government has not. The “uproar” from motorlegal community. Even state legislatures have weighed in: one source notes cyclists is justifiable and natural: legislators should respond accordingly to that 17 states have laws either prohibiting or seriously limiting the ability of the vox populi.

LEOs to stop motorists solely for the purpose of seat belt violations, including use of checkpoints.

The biggest fallacious assertion by the author in support of motorcycle-only checkpoints is that “When sobriety checkpoints were instituted, the civil rights activist’s [sic] voices were silent.” That’s clearly not true, as a case (Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz – 1990) went all the way to the Supreme Court for adjudication after a Michigan appellate court found sobriety checkpoints violate the 4th Amendment. I am sure the author would be quick to point out that the Rehnquistled Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that sobriety checkpoints were legal; however, even Justice Rehnquist conceded that they do infringe on a constitutional right and that they must be “properly conducted” under strict guidelines.

Rehnquist believed that the interest of the state in reducing drunk driving mishaps outweighed the “minor infringement” on constitutional rights. In short, the ends justified the means; however, not everyone shared that view. In his dissenting opinion, Justice Brennan concluded “That stopping every car might make it easier to prevent drunken driving...is an insufficient justification for abandoning the requirement of individualized suspicion.” Dissenting Justice Stevens also countered that “the findings of the trial court, based on an extensive record and affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals, indicate that the net effect of sobriety checkpoints on traffic safety is infinitesimal and possibly negative.”

That is far from “silence” on the issue and ironically, Michigan, the source of the original Supreme Court case, then found sobriety checkpoints to be illegal under its STATE constitution and became one of the 10 states that currently outlaw checkpoints. Two other states, Alaska and Montana, do not use sobriety checkpoints even though their state constitutionality isn’t determined. One might ask “Why?” if sobriety checkpoints (and other types of mass stoppages for seat belts, et al) are effective. The answer is that they aren’t effective enough to warrant the intrusion, as Justice Stevens asserted. In one study, the FBI compared saturation patrols vs. checkpoints in Ohio, Missouri, and Tennessee. The study showed that, “Overall, measured in arrests per hour, a dedicated saturation patrol is the most effective method of apprehending offenders.” A study of Maryland’s “Checkpoint Strikeforce” program

ON THE MARK

I

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 8

THROT TLE BLIPS JEFF BAHR

souvenirs Recently I took stock of my old riding gear. On top of my workbench rests my ratty old pair of Lockhart Sharkskin gloves looking much the worse for wear. I remember when some know-it-all tester panned the ‘skins’ saying that in a sliding crash the metal palm rivets would heat up like the sun and burn clear through a rider’s hands. Not even close. When I kissed the pavement, the burns only reached the epidermis.

Hanging in my cellar closet is my ancient blue and black Hein Gericke Cadet jacket. This was one of the first textile jackets on the market. Sure, it’s actually made of nylon - a less than macho material closely associated with pantyhose - but I’m in touch with my feminine side so it works for me. The ol’ Cadet smells pretty funky after a quarter-century in the basement (stinks to high heavens really), but when I’m out on the open road who will notice?

Besides, a little funk never hurt anyone - James Brown’s family notwithstanding. Note to self: You are an ambassador of motorcycling. Whenever you don the Cadet make sure to eat at open-air restaurants only.

Ventilation is key!

Then there’s my scuffed-up Shoei RF108V helmet in menacing black. Nice bucket in its day. When I was done with it I gave it to my girlfriend. I remember the comical “bonk, bonk” sounds that came while riding two-up whenever her helmet bumped into mine. I really miss those noises. Sure wish I could say the same for her.

I still have the air box assembly for my 1985 Suzuki GS550E. I traded it for a freer-breathing K&N system. I also have its stock exhaust which I ditched in favor of a racy Yoshimura four-into-one pipe. I probably gained one-tenth of a horsepower during that switchover, but it made my pocketrocket sound like a Mattel toy. V-RROOM! You know, there’s something about the drab, gray finish of the stock pipes that scream mediocre to me.

Nevertheless they make me smile. As for the air box, I reckon I could use it

to store nuts and bolts, or maybe as a porta-potty during Iron Butt rallies.

As if.

If shoes could talk, my red, white and black Fox racing boots would have quite a tale to tell. I wore these goofy looking things when I piloted my firebreathing Honda Nighthawk 450 (a genuine superbike as you’ll soon see) in the 1980s. I learned of the Hawk’s deceptive power when it spit me off during a first-gear wheelie. Lesson learned? Even the little ones can bite when ridden by a fool.

And then there’s my vintage pair of oversized Manx winter boots. These honking things are warmer than the Sahara but look uncannily like Herman Munster’s boots – or corrective footwear. Once, while wearing them in a shopping mall a little girl gawked at my feet. “Don’t stare at that poor man,” the girl’s mom chided in a hushed tone. “He has to wear those shoes!”

There’s a hook on my garage wall where a silver and blue Marushin fullface helmet used to hang. I loved that stylish lid and its cool vents. It was stolen in 1985 while I was out shopping for skivvies. I had fastened the helmet’s D-rings to the bike’s helmet lock but the thief simply cut the strap and made off with it. Since then I haven’t hung another helmet from that wall hook. It remains as a silent reminder to never again trust the precarious helmet-strap/helmet-lock combo - or new underwear.

I guess I should put most if not all of these things out with the trash but something in me isn’t quite ready to let go of them just yet. Each and every item triggers a feeling inside. Some items recall the good motorcycle moments, others the bad, but collectively they represent my riding life in a raw, uncorrupted way.

When I first got into motorcycling it was these very standout moments that I hoped to experience. Now that I have three decades of riding under my belt, they mean more to me than ever. So I’ll keep these riding souvenirs until next year. Maybe then it will be time to move on. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Still shopping for the perfect holiday gift? You’ve come to the right place. These pages are chock-full of the best in motorcycle gear and accoutrement, plus some other pretty neat stuff. Have a wonderful holiday season and we’ll see you on the road.

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 9

BACKLASH

Letters to the Editor

Hi Folks!

I’d never heard of your magazine before, but a friend at work just brought over the October issue and there on page 34 is a photo of my dog, Barley, and me sharing an ice cream at the BMW MOA Rally in Sedalia MO! Barley has over 24,000 sidecar miles under his collar now, but I have very few images of the two of us together. Is there any chance of getting a digital file of that image?

Will pass along a belly rub to Barley. Of my four golden retrievers only two will ride with me. Barley is my adventure dog. He’s been to Cape Breton, Northern Ontario, circumnavigated the Great Lakes, and the Ozarks. Next year we’ll visit Glacier and Yellowstone out west. Rusty is a relative newcomer to the sidecar scene, and is still in the short jaunt around the village phase.

Regards, Pete and Barley Shira, Four days after you left Lancaster two of my buds and I rode to York Springs to see the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. When I saw the library I thought of you,

among the motorcycles on the roads of North America these days) and/or dressed in a manner that does not appear to be a joke to me, I don’t initiate the wave. I will return one from anyone who waves at me, though of course a great many cruiser riders, especially the helmetless ones, upon seeing me approaching them on a sport touring bike and wearing full gear, will not deem me worthy of their acknowledgement. And I agree with them. The fact that we both happen to be operating machines known as motorcycles — albeit ones that are dramatically different in a great many ways — no longer amounts to a broad enough ground of kinship for ether of us to feel we have much in common at all, and certainly not enough to warrant a gesture that would imply we are brothers or even “friends.”

I suppose this all sounds petty and maybe even mean spirited, but I think it’s just realistic. From the brief conversations I’ve occasionally had with and overheard among representatives of the beanie-wearing jeans-and-sleeveless-T-

and how you would enjoy this. There are many old pictures of Chris [Economaki]. www.emmr.org Ride Safe, Gar Hey Brian, When I was a lad, my father disclosed we were descendants from two little-known, indigenous tribes - the Crayola & the Fugawi. I have managed to locate my Crayola roots in Easton, PA. But I’ve never found the answer to this question, “Where the Fugawi?”

Glenn Martin Hi Brian! Hi Shira!

Just got the November 2012 issue and wanted to thank you for the great positioning of our Free Catalog ad on page 41. It jumped right off the page at me, as I was casually thumbing through the issue (only solid color ad on the page, so it really stood out). Hope it does for others as well, as the holidays are coming and we are of course a great source for gifts to give and get!

Judy - Whitehorse Press Hi, Shira.

I wanted to congratulate you on the brave (or just brazen?) position you guys take on the ATGATT issue in general and the very specific opinions you expressed about it and a related matter in your October editorial. I admire your choice to risk alienating what is an increasingly dominant portion of the motorcycling public.

And I’m in total agreement.

I too have begun to cut back on the amount of waves I exchange with oncoming riders, and for many of the same reasons you expressed. In fact, unless the other rider is on a bike that I can relate to (a non-cruiser, a category which is becoming an ever smaller minority

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Page 10 shirt delegation, I’ve had to regretfully conclude that I have less in common with their values and ideologies than I do with a much greater proportion of the car-driving public.

My “discrimination” in this regard is not quite based on the explanation you refer to in your editorial. You imply that you believe these guys and gals dress in regular street clothes because they don’t know any better, don’t realize what could happen to their skin and bones in the event of an accident (and therefore you don’t want them to be distracted by having to remove one hand from the handlebars in order to return your wave). Maybe there’s some of that ignorance involved, but I suspect you know as well as I do what the most basic reason for their dress code is: their idea of what looks cool, what costume will help them fit the image of “the biker dude” or the “biker chick,” what uniform will best aid them in looking like a rebel among their fellow rebels.

And, I’m sorry, but I’m having a lot of trouble mustering any respect for that mentality. Why would I want to exchange a false wave of pretend friendship with folks I can’t respect?

Many such riders claim they dress for comfort; on a hot day they need lots of bare skin and lightweight clothing to aid ventilation, to stay cool in the real sense of the word. Of course they refuse to accept the fact that bare skin that is not allowed to build up any perspiration but that is baked under the direct sun is going to be a lot hotter than skin that is covered but ventilated by the breeze on a moving motorcycle.

As I said, I’m happy to return a wave from these characters, but I just feel that the differences between us are so great that it seems at best artificial and at worst a little lame or even delusional to pretend we are all members of some tightlyknit brotherhood of the road, some community of like-minded souls. Just being on a motorized twowheeled vehicle is no longer enough of a commonality for me.

Flame suit on.

Dave David, Brilliantly stated! New Flame Suit with embroidered Backroads logo on its way!

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 11

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

Critters Backroads has one of the largest distributions of any regional in the United States and that would include both cities and more rural regions.

We like to think where we call home is about as rural as it gets. Backing up to the Walpack Valley, Stokes State Forest and High Point we have our share of critters.

Just the other day Shira almost ran over a small cougar dashing across the roads down from the office, and I don’t mean Eva Longoria. Recently we have been visited a number of times… always on Monday Garbage Day, by a large black bear.

When I say large I mean 500 pounds +!

It’s like his Timex goes off and reminds him to get to Backroads for the weekly buffet.

Toss into the menagerie the coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, all the various snakes and turtles, opossum, skunk, fox and the ever present deer and you can see that we have a lot of critters to deal with just an hour or two ride from Manhattan.

On the big end of things there can be no question that deer pose the greatest physical threat to riders, but the real monster has the genus name “Apodemus.”

Apodemus…… APODEMUS….. APODEMUS!!!!!

I run in horror.

Apodemus, the tiny Field Mouse.

Why does this little beasty bother me so? Well, let me tell ya.

A few months ago I had done a service on my Kawasaki KLR 650. I had asked the local shop to handle the plugs, valves and carb, which they handled in a most excellent way. I told them I would replace the air filter myself, as I was wanting to replace the stock foam unit with a more efficient after market unit and I love handling the light stuff when it comes to maintenance.

Of course, I completely forgot to ever do this.

A few months later while riding the KLR I found it running rather poorly, surging and lacking in power at certain RPMs. I was simply going to bring it back to the shop to see what they thought but then it hit me, at 3am, which is usually when such things do - mice!

At sun up later that morning I had the right panel off and went to open the air box to see if anything had gotten into the air filter.

Air filter? What air filter? These pesky rodents had torn up the entire stock unit and made a condo of the remains. There was little left but scrapes of foam and a plastic frame.

Freakin’ mice.

I spent some time cleaning out the debris and making sure it hadn’t gone any further and then an equal amount of time ordering up a K & N replacement unit for the bike.

A few days later the new air filter arrived and with a little oil preparation and a slight modification for a better fit the new aftermarket filter was wing-nutted into place, covers attached, side covers and brackets reinstalled and we were good to go, with the bike running even better than before.

I would say lesson learned, but what lesson would that be?

A few years back, after being on the road for a month, we went to start Shira’s R1150R and it refused to fire up. Knocking around the machine I shot a flashlight beam up into the air intakes only to see a few acorns; a good hard wrap from the back of a screwdriver and about 20 little nuts came rolling out onto the floor of the garage.

I was pretty sure these were not put in there from the folks at BMW. Well, fairly sure.

Freakin’ mice! Like Mr. Jinks use to say, “I hate those meeces to pieces!”

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 12

TH OUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

Jeffrey Kurtzman

SMALL STEPS

thing else going for her. She is what you would call an early adopter. Without fanfare she walked first, talked first and she took the first shot at the toilet.

I’ve remained mostly silent on the subject of my twin girls riding with me.

All this while Tessa carefully watched and waited. The elder stoically tried, Admittedly, just after they were born I considered a double-wide sidecar but failed and dusted herself off to try again while the younger preferred to bide I quickly let that dream pass. Last year I bought them a kid-sized helmet beher time until she was sure she could do it right. We thank her for that in fore I realized that they still also had kid-length legs that had yet to grow terms of the toilet learning curve but the need for perfection and still wanting long enough to reach the foot pegs of a motorcycle. to be first is tough on Tessa. Still, Tess is fearless when it comes to jumping So, I haven’t pushed. Some of the motorcyclists I know who procreated off things and going fast. That secretly had me preparing to have her riding allowed their riding to fade away entirely- replacing motorcycles with boats behind me long before Mia stopped thinking about the dangers of two or some other go fast toys. Sure, for the past 8 years my bikes have served wheeled travel. more as museum pieces than road companions but it hasn’t stopped me from I asked the firstborn why she suddenly wanted to ride. She damn near logging some miles and seeing some wonderful broke my heart when she told me that now she can places. Each of those miles becomes more signifthought my Italian mistress would be be with me on early Sunday mornings when I icant as I know my time out there is bounded by the jealous and perhaps a bit snooty to sometimes steal a few hours on the bike to head to lure of home and what those two little girls provide my kid as it is usually just she and I on parts unknown. I can’t think of a better reason for that I never did end up finding out there on the road. the road, but it was not the case. She her to ride.

Then, today, Mia, the first born, casually menembraced my new passenger and I prayed that I would remember to shift ever so tioned that she wanted to go for a ride. The request floated us along without complaint. smoothly and brake with the same ease. I know came out of nowhere on a late afternoon when the that a first ride can quickly free fall from a fond humidity made the air feel like a wool blanket but the sky was only dotted memory to a last ride if the conditions aren’t right for the passenger. Where with some wispy clouds as the evening approached. I had her don the new to head? To the haven where young men and women have gone around here helmet, put on some jeans and boots and I planted her on the back of the since before I was born. Many of us exceeded the speed limit there for the bike. Still, her feet did not squarely hit the pegs. Then, a miracle of engifirst time and many also garnered their first ticket from the State Police who neering took place. All those gizmos the Italians heaped on this bike finally patrol the area with some degree of understanding. We rode off to the beach did what I needed them to do. I switched from touring mode to urban mode and the scenic roads that can help me forget for a few minutes the dense popand from a rider with luggage to a solo rider on the little LCD screen. Lo ulation all around me. and behold, with some whirring of gears the bike settled down on the susAnd it was perfect. Not too warm as the scarlet sun began to dip where pension another inch. Little feet landed on the pegs and we were off. the water meets the horizon. There were just enough clouds decorating the I should mention that to the outsider, Mia (or Baby A as the doctors called big star to leave us both breathless looking at the pallet of colors we pointed her until she sucked in her first breath of air) is shy when compared to Tessa, to together. I felt her press into my back but that was all I could feel. No (Baby B) who will push to the front of the line to get on a roller coaster while fear from Mia. A gentle grip from her arms wrapped around my shoulders her older sister sits there and watches. While she might have been labeled (Continued on Page 16) “A” she isn’t what you would call an A type personality. But, Mia has some-

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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s M YSTE RIOUS AME RICA The losT sTATe of jefferson For many, we have been used to 50 United States making up our nation. Sure Puerto Rico has been bandied about, but they really don’t want in.

But most Americans do not know of another state that could have been, if not for history in the making stepping in.

For years the folks up in northern California and southern Oregon felt slighted and ignored by their respective state leaderships.

The abundant supply of minerals and timber in this region was largely inaccessible due to the lack of sufficient roads and bridges into the rugged mountain border country. The local pioneering people grew weary of unfulfilled promises from Salem and Sacramento to help fund sufficient highway projects in the region while building campgrounds in the cities where there were more votes.

Representatives from the mountain border counties involved met in Yreka, CA on November 17, 1941 to form an alliance to obtain federal aid for the construction and repair of bridges and roads. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $100 to research the possibility of seceding from the state of California and joining the other counties to form a new, at that time, 49th state. The Yreka Chamber of Commerce was very instrumental in persuading the Board.

The local newspaper ran a contest to name the new state and the winning entry was Jefferson. The winner of the contest pocketed $2 for his efforts.

Yreka was designated the temporary state capital where the ‘State of Jefferson Citizen’s Committee’ was formed.

They proceeded to stop traffic on Highway 99 outside of town and handed their ‘Proclamation of Independence’ out to travelers.

‘Step up and meet Jefferson, the 49th state of the Union,’ this pamphlet announced. The proponents of this US state-to-be, made up of California’s

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northern parts and southern bits of Oregon, seem to have been firm believers in the strategy of the fait accompli, for their handbill states, ‘If you preserve the map above, you may be acquiring an historic piece of Americana to pass on to your descendents. It’s one of the first ever drawn of the new, 49th “State of Jefferson” which 45,000 secessionists of Oregon and California hope to carve out of their states.’

But the fates would have a different outcome for Jefferson, the secession never consummated. Unbeknownst to the Jeffersonists, the tide of history would soon turn against them. Very soon: note the date – Dec. 6, 1941. One day later, a Japanese sneak attack would destroy the American Pacific Fleet.

This meant, among a great many other things, no more time for frivolous secessionism.

These days you will still find State of Jefferson signs all around the region and while we were visiting we had a chance to ask a number of locals if they felt they were Californians of Jeffersonists.

The overwhelming consensus was that many would prefer not being part of California and living in Jefferson would be just fine with them, in California. In Oregon it seemed the opposite and they were fine with the way things were. We think that has to do with the current way things are being handled in both states. Not many happy Californians out there we guess.

Still, one wonders how things would have turned out if the Japanese had not decided to attack that morning and if parts of California and Oregon had gone forward with their new state.

It’s all just part of Mysterious America!

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Page 14

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson Presents

G REAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN

tasty places to take your bike

eArTh dog cAfé 398 s. WAshingTon sTreeT, berkeley springs, Wv 25411 (304) 258-0500 When we are traversing the backroads of this nation we run into more than just a few really unique places and restaurants.

When heading to our Backroads Spring Break we wheeled through Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. It was right about time for lunch and a rest stop was in order too. A few years back Shira and I had found a great barbeque place heading out of town called the Earth Dog Café and we hoped it was still there. Lucky for our group they were and we pulled into the funky eatery for a superb lunch.

The first time I spotted Earth Dog I assumed it was a vegan-style place, but the two big smokers outside quickly erased that silly notion.

The owners Susie and Paul Allen have created quite the following in the region and the Earth Dog Café is a second home to many of its customers.

Inside the café you could have told me I was in northern California, not northern West Virginia, as it has that slightly funky/hip/cool feel to the place and the food follows along that path.

One of the things we like about Earth Dog is that they do almost everything themselves from scratch, except their breads – which are still delicious.

An order of their homemade potato chips will sure to please you and you can have them spiced with BBQ, salt & vinegar, crab, jalapeno or, my favorite, Old Bay. Plain old naked chips fit the bill too.

We are big fans of the nacho and Earth Dog’s version wows us every time as they serve up a mound of homemade tortilla chips smothered in cheddar cheese, black olives, banana peppers and their own Earth Dog chili, salsa and sour cream.

While there the last time Shira had the tender beef brisket sandwich and our buddy Jeff had the pulled pork sandwich – both got big thumbs up in between mouthfuls.

Spying the colorful chalk board full of the day’s specials I went for the Yuengling beer battered fish with two sides – from which there were plenty to choose.

All their BBQ is smoked in-house by their chefs and the ribs, chicken, beef brisket and pork all have a scrumptious smoky hickory flavor to them.

Like many places the Earth Dog Café offers a number of combinations so those looking for the BBQ fix can have all they want.

They also serve up a Turf & Surf that comes with a bistro steak and shrimp on skewers. Although I did not partake I have it on good word that the grilled pork chops are to die for as well.

Burgers rule here at the Earth Dog and they are reputed to have the “Best Burger” for miles around and if you are a hot dog aficionado they have three dogs to choose from, one being the Jersey dog with Swiss cheese and the Mountaineer Dog which adds on bacon, ham, cheddar, chili and onions all piled on a large hot puppy.

If wings are what you desire then belly on up to the counter and try their homemade offering with your choice of BBQ, jalapeno, Old Bay, crab, hot, sweet, mild, teriyaki, plain or half & half (whatever that is).

If you are looking to stay over in Berkeley Springs you will find a few neat places – the Bathkeepers Cottage (304-258-1088) is extraordinary and the Country Inn (thecountryinnatberkeleysprings.com) is right down the road as well.

I bring that up as the Earth Dog rocks most nights with live music, a full bar and the same superb home created menu.

Berkeley Springs is an excellent place to stay for a few days as it is the perfect place to base camp while exploring the extraordinary roads of West Virginia and Virginia right to the east.

The entire area has so much to offer and it is why we have ridden there again and again and why the Earth Dog Café is yet another stop on the Great All American Diner Run.

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 15

BIG CIT Y G ETAWAY

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

The Avenue of The flAgs hermiTAge, pennsylvAniA WWW.AvenueofflAgs.com Located in scenic Hermitage, Pennsylvania, American flags, for as far as the eye can see, greet visitors as they enter the Hillcrest Memorial Park. Originally flown for the American hostages that were held in Iran between 1979 and 1981, the 444 flags remain today a symbol of American hope and pride.

The story of this largest known display of flags in the world begins on November 4, 1979, when Iranian militant students took control of the American embassy and held 53 American citizens captive.

While families of the hostages will always carry the memory of the Iranian hostage crisis close to their hearts, many Americans became more and more detached as each day of captivity passed. All too soon Americans watched news updates on the crisis with the feeling of indifference as they lost track of the duration of captivity.

But Tom Flynn, owner of Hillcrest Memorial Park, was convinced that this period in American history was too important to forget and determined to

find a way to help Hermitage and the nation remember.

With the help of unemployed steel workers in the Valley and flags donated by the families of veterans buried at Hillcrest, Flynn decided to erect an American flag for each day the hostages had been held. On day 100, the first 100 flags were flown. In a special ceremony that evening, Mr. and Mrs. Matrinko of Oliphant, Pennsylvania raised the 100th flag and lit a flame of freedom for their son, Michael, who was still being held a captive. The flame would burn until Michael was able to come home and extinguish it. Flynn further committed to add a flag to the memorial for each day the hostages were held. Little did he know that this commitment would mean 344 additional flags.

Special ceremonies at Hillcrest were held on day 200, 300, 365, and 400, as time in captivity began to be marked by the number of flags flying on the Avenue. Included in these special tributes was a 52-hour prayer vigil, one hour for each of the remaining hostages still being held.

When eight American servicemen lost their lives during an ill-fated rescue

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Page 16 attempt in Iran, the citizens of Scranton joined forces to dedicate a permanent monument in memory of these brave men and placed it in the Avenue of Flags.

The hostages were released on January 20, 1981. Michael Matrinko, along with five other returning hostages, lit the eternal flame which today still burns in front of the monument dedicated to the 1980 rescue attempt. The flame was taken from the Flame of Freedom, lit by the Matrinkos on the 100th day of captivity.

Over 1,000 flags were used to keep the flags flying during the original 444 days, as the flags needed to be replaced three to four time a year. All but 100 of these original flags were donated by supporters from all around the world. Most of them had once draped the casket of an American veteran. The flags represented periods in history from the Spanish-American War through the Vietnam conflict. One Canadian flag also flies on the Avenue in recognition of the Canadian embassy’s help in saving six hostages from captivity and eventually returning them to

freedom.

Donations of flags or money for the purchase of flags are still received. However, today most of the flags are purchased new by Hillcrest at an annual investment of over $12,000. The flags fly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but are lowered to half-mast for such solemn occasions as the Challenger space shuttle explosion.

On days when the sound of these 444 symbols of American pride can be heard flapping in the wind from a distance, visitors are filled with a sense of pride and remembrance of a time when America was held hostage, and many have been seen to leave the park with tears filling their eyes.

The Avenue of Flags is one of the few remaining displays in the country which marks a time believed to be the beginning of a rebirth of American patriotism. The park is visited by people from all over the world and is open yearround for the public to enjoy. If you find yourself in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania heading into Ohio, the Hillcrest Memorial Park is worth the detour. Riding your motorcycle down this road is a moving experience and truly something any American will cherish.

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and the occasional thumbs up in my line of vision were all that let me know she was back there.

I thought my Italian mistress would be jealous and perhaps a bit snooty to my kid as it is usually just she and I on the road, but it was not the case. She embraced my new passenger and floated us along without complaint.

We eased our way back home in twilight as the sun disappeared to go and start someone else’s day. In typical laid back fashion when I asked her how she liked the ride the child only said it was “good”.

Over the winter I’ll collect some youngster sized riding gear with the full knowledge that today may have been our first and last ride for years. Tomorrow she might decide motorcycles aren’t for her and she wants to play the harp…. or maybe the banjo. Kids will be kids. While I was contemplating this, she stopped by my room and said the words every riding dad longs to hear, “I saw a kid’s sized green motorcycle for sale around the corner. I bet I could learn to ride that”. I’m sure she will- all the while falling down and getting back up without saying a word; just the way she learned to walk.

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free Wheelin’ (Continued from Page 4) What if it rains? Yeah – how do I put this politely.

Suck it up. A little rain won’t melt you and if we run into something really bad we’ll make do. That is why we try to keep towns close by.

As you can see the formula is easy - great riding, superior locations, decent accommodations, good food, fun times and, of course, our readers.

If you have been on any of our rallies we hope to see you in May in Cooperstown. If you have never been to a Backroads Rally consider this your personal invitation.

As the Allman Brothers sang… “The road goes on forever.”

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 17

Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

WE’RE OUT TA HERE ohekA cAsTle A PAlAce for the common PeoPle

“I want to live like common people, I want to do whatever common people do, I want to sleep with common people, I want to sleep with common people, like you.”

– performed by William Shatner - Written by Pulp The other morning I was perusing the web and came across the Top Ten Castles/Hotels in the world.

It was a great coincidence that the first castle that came up was Long Island’s own Oheka. It was a coincidence since we had just returned from overnighting at this magnificent bastion on Long Island’s North Shore.

Now we have stayed at a number of castles and fortresses over the years, mostly in Europe where big old houses like these have been taken over by the state in countries like Spain, Portugal and France.

There are not so many to be found in the United States.

You wouldn’t normally see a castle here with “We’re Outta Here”, but with a palace as nice, and affordable if you are smart about it, as Oheka we thought it would fit in nicely for those special occasions - birthdays, anniversary or Thursdays.

Let us tell you a little bit of the history of Long Island’s castle called Oheka.

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a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads Almost a century ago, financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn built Oheka Castle in the middle of a 443- acre plot on the highest point on Long Island in Cold Spring Harbor, for an estimated cost of $11 million dollars ($110 million dollars in today’s currency). At the time of its construction, the French-style chateau was, and still is today, the second-largest private residence ever built in America. During the Gilded Age of the 1920’s, Kahn used the 109,000 square foot, 127-room estate as a summer home where he hosted lavish parties and regularly entertained royalty, heads of state, and Hollywood stars. Kahn also was a great benefactor for the arts, holding one of the greatest private art collections in the world.

Page 18 The story has it that Otto Kahn lived for a time in Morristown, New Jersey, but he and his family were shunned by the “Old Money” folks for being a self-made millionaire and the fact that he and his family were German Jews.

Being one of the wealthiest men in the country he went and built Oheka, even including a huge gold course and then not allowing any “Old Money WASPs” to play. Personally I thought that this was a bad move on Kahn’s part as I never could grasp prejudice and I would have allowed WASPs on the course; but never allow them to play through.

The name “OHEKA” is an acronym for Otto Hermann Kahn. After Otto Kahn died in 1934, the estate changed hands several times, serving as a retreat for New York sanitation workers, and a government training school for Merchant Marine radio operators. In 1948, the Eastern Military Academy bought OHEKA, bulldozed the gardens, subdivided the rooms and painted over the walls.

After the school went bankrupt 30 years later, OHEKA stood abandoned, except by vandals who set more than 100 fires in 5 years.

In 1936 Otto’s image was used for somebody we are all familiar with; the inspiration for the character “Mr. Monopoly.”

In 1984, developer Gary Melius purchased OHEKA and the remaining 23 acres, which surrounded the estate and began the painstaking challenge of restoring the Castle to its original grandeur.

These days you will find Oheka on television episodes of Royal Pains and the classic film Citizen Kane and many others.

It is America’s #1 wedding venue and it is the weddings

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS and events that keep the castle afloat in these hard times.

The castle has 32 rooms and suites as well as a public bar and restaurant.

With Shira’s birthday coming up we decided to take a ride east to the Long Island town of Huntington and Oheka.

Riding through the gates, off Jericho Turnpike, and onto the original property that has been subdivided for very nice new home construction you do get the true feel for what Long Island looked like a century ago, before Robert Moses and the LIE ruined it forever.

The long graveled drive is flanked by high trees and, riding through the arch to the main lot, you can be overwhelmed by how magnificent Oheka really is.

The gardens created by the Olmstead Brothers are as gorgeous as they have ever been and the attention to detail and the passion that Gary Melius has poured into the castle is evident.

And, he is not nearly done as a modern spa and expanded restaurant is in the works.

Our room was spacious and very rich in feel and wandering about the castle was a pleasure by itself. Another guest commented to us how wonderful it was that you could actually sit down in rooms like the large library and enjoy Oheka, rather than be held off by ropes and Lucite barriers you find in so many historic places in these United States.

Parked and unpacked we made our way around the grounds and then to the castle’s bar for a cocktail before adjourning to the dining

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 room for an absolutely phenomenal meal with a wine list that was both well done and very fairly priced - always a plus for us.

Afterward we retired to the library for nightcaps with some of the other guests.

It was all very proper and posh don’t you know?

Morning found us strolling the grounds, having a light breakfast and then taking the official tour of the castle and the very rooms that we enjoyed the previous night.

Oheka Castle is a jewel of American history and is a superb place to ride to and visit, whether it’s for lunch, dinner, a tour or an overnight combination of them all.

Prices on their website are almost scary, but Shira was able to arrange,

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START: BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE IN NY EAST ACROSS BRIDGE AND HUDSON RIVER RIGHT AT RTE. 6 BEAR LEFT AT BEAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARKWAY LEFT AT US 6 RIGHT AT RTE. 118 (TOMAHAWK ST.) LEFT AT RTE. 35 LEFT AT RTE. 102 MAIN ST. RIGHT AT RTE. 102 BRANCHVILLE ROAD RIGHT AT RTE. 7 SOUTH

Page 19 with the help of a Groupon (www.groupon.com), a reasonable weekday rate of $150 for a room, two complimentary drinks and a tour the following day.

We were happy to take advantage of the deal, especially for her birthday this year.

Oheka is a great place to get a glimpse of a rich and opulent past and you can still feel part of that past at phenomenal castles on Long island’s North Shore. As we hate the idea of riding in and or around Manhattan let Backroads take you on a slightly longer route and a little ocean voyage to get to Oheka, shall we?

LEFT AT SCHOOL ST. RIGHT AT RTE. 57 (GEORGETOWN RD.) LEFT AT RTE. 136 (EASTON RD) RIGHT AT RTE. 58 (BLACK ROCK) LEFT AT US 1 RIGHT AT JAMES STREET TO LONG ISLAND SOUND FOLLOW SIGNS TO FERRY TO LONG ISLAND RIGHT AT RTE. 25A LEFT AT RTE. 110 NEW YORK AVE. RIGHT AT HIGH ST. BEAR LEFT AT RTE. 92 (OAKWOOD RD.) RIGHT AT RTE. 25 (JERICHO TURNPIKE) RIGHT AT WEST GATE DRIVE TO OHEKA CASTLE

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

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S

o we’ve made it through another year and the big man in the red riding suit is jonesing for some cookies and milk, while the rest of us rush around like mishugina looking for just the right present for Susie or Bobbie or whoever is on your list. Well, take a seat, pop on those reading glasses and peruse these pages for just that great ideas for the motorcyclists in your life.

STEVE CLASSIC GLOVE BY HELD

The Steve glove has been, and remains, one of Held’s most popular glove styles for over a decade.

The latest version named the Steve Classic is actually a remake of the original Steve glove that everyone loved the best. Held uses the same patterns and cutting dies from 12 years ago. The main difference is the color of the kangaroo leather palm that is now dyed a gray color. The old 80’s style metal rivets on the palm have been replaced with a new material called Superfabric. Special Suprotect shock absorbing foam padding protects the back of the hand, tops of fingers and thumb.

A rubber visor wiper is built in the left index finger for quick clearing of mist from your helmet visor. The Steve Classic glove is made in Germany/Hungary. Get a pair of the Steve Classic gloves for you or as a holiday gift, retail price of $169.99, and enjoy the fit, feel, comfort and protection that has made Held famous. • www.heldusa.com • 1-888-435-3872

ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE CALENDAR 2013 Looking for a cool new calendar for 2013? So were we…

The new-for-2013 Adventure Motorcycle Calendar published by Octane Press takes readers on a 12-month journey around the globe. The calendar features an exciting new adventure destination each month, ranging from Siberia’s leg\ndary and incredibly remote BAM Road

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 21

to the world’s loneliest tree in the middle of the Australian Outback. Each month features a gorgeous image, and the camera provides a web link to a page with information about how you can ride to the spot in the photograph. The calendar includes a shot of the Husaberg Adventure Team’s recordsetting climb to more than 20,000 feet on top of Ojos de Salado in Chile. The calendar also takes you to the Atacama Desert for a peak at the Dakar Rally and into the Cascade Range during the dead of winter.

Much of the photography was shot by author and moto-journalist Lee Klancher (Adventurous Motorcyclist’s Guide to Alaska, Motorcycle Dream Garages). Other notable contributors include Karel Kramer, Walter Colebatch and Yakman (of ADVrider fame). The images play big and beautiful on an oversized 16.6 x10.8-inch sheet of high-quality 128gsm paper. The 12 months of adventurous inspiration is $15.99 and available at octanepress.com.

ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GLOWRIDER JACKET This Holiday, give the gift of safety! With the daylight hours getting shorter, it’s easy to get caught riding in the dark. The GlowRider Jacket from Adaptiv Technologies features Electro-Luminescent (EL) light strips to significantly increase your nighttime visibility. Powered by a rechargeable battery pack, the EL strips will stay illuminated for over 10 hours on a full charge.

The rain-resistant jacket also features CE armors, high density back protector, quilted full-sleeve zip-out liner, air vents, heavy duty 600D outer shell, reflective strips, quality workmanship, and is available in black and hi-viz green. The GlowRider retails for $299 and can be found at www.adaptivtechnologies.com

METRO’S BLASTER SIDEKICK A “MAGIC BULLET” IN THE WAR ON RUST AND CORROSION Rust never sleeps, and one of the best ways to protect an expensive bike against its insidious effects is with Metro’s Blaster SideKick motorcycle dryer.

The SideKick is designed for riders who want a high-quality, American-made, compact dryer with enough punch to get the job done quickly and efficiently, on the road or at home. It features a powerful 1.3 HP motor that puts out 18,000 ft./min. of warm, filtered air to safely blast moisture out of every nook and cranny— leaves water with no place to hide! And, since nothing comes in contact with any part of the bike like a chamois or towel, it produces a gleaming finish without leaving damaging microscratches.

Log onto www.motorcycledryer.com or call 1-800-822-1602 for more information.

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 22

SIDI TOUR RAIN BOOTS If you’re a motorcycle rider who wants to keep your feet dry in wet conditions, but cool and comfortable in hot conditions, Sidi Tour Rain Boots are one of your best options.

The padded shin plate and Velcro straps wrap and close the boot around your calf with ease and comfort. This plate adds protection and some peace of mind in case of a spill. A waterproof panel on the inside of the zip provides extra protection against water behind the zip and Velcro fastening.

There is internal ankle, toe, and heel protection and the back has stitched-in circles that create a reflective surface for the lights of traffic behind you. The top grain leather construction, removable arch support, and rigid composite inner-sole make for a very impressive features set for these boots. They are lined with a water-resistant material as well as Trockenfuss, a German name meaning ‘dry feet’. Trockenfuss, which is a high-quality lining material guaranteeing top comfort conditions due to its antibacterial and hydrophilous (fast removal of skin’s perspiration) characteristics.

It’s a lining with high absorption of the sweat and it dries very quickly.

The Sidi Tour Rain boots are designed for someone that rides loads of miles. You can put them on first thing in the morning and stay in them all day. One reason for this is that they have incredibly light soles — so light that you can hardly feel them, in fact. They feel broken in from the start. [editor’s note: after a brief ride with the comparable woman’s version, the Livia (sizes 36-43), I (Shira) can attest to the above statements regarding comfort and fit. Look for a more in-depth review after a few more miles] Sidi Tour Rain boots come in black, European sizes 38 to 48 (US size 5.5 to 13.5) and retail for $225. • www.sidisport.com

LARGE MOTOFIZZ CAMPING SEAT BAG If you have a lot to take on the road there is only one Seat Bag to look at….

Everything you’ll want to carry (clothing, tent, food and camping gear), fits neatly within this detailed and cavernous seat bag. Outside there’s a variety of strap systems designed to secure foam sleeping pads and the like. Across the top, D rings laced with mini-bungees are arranged to hold sweaters, road guides, and things you want to keep within immediate reach. Each end opens for direct loading and inside access. For extra capacity, both ends also expand with gusseted zippers. There’s a removable zippered belt pack attached to one end, and an insulated water bottle holster right where you can reach it. There’s retro-reflective areas, a versatile, secure and fast strap-on mounting system, and useful compression straps so your stuff won’t get bounced around. Not waterproof, but an included raincover stores inside a dedicated compartment. All of this technology is beautifully sewn with top quality coated nylon fabrics, webbing and other materials. (By a clever optical illusion, this bag won’t look big when mounted on your bike.) The Camping Seat Bag is the world’s most advanced motorcycle pack. It’s an armed F-16 in a field of Cessnas. Large is black/grey, 14” Top to Bottom × 14” Front to Back x 21” Side to Side/28” expanded. This is an Aerostich exclusive for $197.

Mr. Happy Seal of Approval Log onto www.aerostich.com to order yours or to get their superb catalog.

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 23

ESKA WOMEN’S BUTTERFLY MOTORCYCLE GLOVES ESKA Women’s Butterfly Motorcycle Gloves, made in Austria, are not a small version of their men’s gloves; but gloves designed specifically for the shape of a woman’s hand. These gloves are made for riders, and are not only pretty gloves but offers the same level of protection and performance as the men’s gloves.

Yes, finally, a high-performance, fully armored glove made for women. The top of the glove is made of mesh and leather. The palm is made of Amara for better grip even in wet conditions and reinforced with leather. The knuckles and the fingers are protected by individual carbon fiber pads and the thumb is surrounded by an extension panel which make the gloves very pliable. Two opposing Velcro straps tighten the wrist and cuff to insure fit, and reduce wind resistance, and outside seams remove any pressure points on the hands.

On the road the gloves performed as advertised although we never, thankfully, had to test them sliding down the pavement. Just from the fit, finish and quality we can tell these ESKA Women’s Butterfly Motorcycle Gloves are the real deal.

These gloves are available in women’s sizes XS thru L and sell for $114.95.

You can find them at www.real-rider.com. It’s a holiday gift that protects all year round.

OLYMPIA’S NOVA 2 HI-VIZ SAFETY VEST We have said it many times… you need to be seen!

And, even if you are very comfortable with your black “invisibility cloak “ jacket you still can be seen by slipping on a Military-Grade Hi-Viz Safety Vest like Olympia’s Nova 2.

The Nova 2 takes the classification of hi-viz safety vest to a whole new level by combining enhanced visibility with rider specific function and fit. Cut in authentic Cordura® fabric with ballistic airflow mesh panels, Nova offers maximum cooling with major abrasion resistance. Engineered to be worn over any motorcycle jacket, a custom fit can be achieved by utilizing adjuster straps located at the side body and waist panels. Safely stowing extra gear is no problem as Nova offers two oversized zippered chest pockets, snap side entry pockets, a see through ID chest pocket and a zippered waterproof back pocket. Seven oversized 3M Scotchlite™ panels qualify this vest for use by US military personnel.

For just $99 this is the best investment you can make in your own personal conspicuity.

Check the Olympia website for a dealer near you: www.olympiamotosports.com

THEN CAME BRONSON DVD FROM WHITEHORSE GEAR I cannot know in your life when you knew, beyond any doubt, that you would be riding a motorcycle forever.

But I can tell you, for me at least, I am pretty sure it was September 17, 1969.

That was the night NBC aired the first episode of “Then Came Bronson.”

When he pulled up to the car at the light and the sad looking driver in the beat up station wagon, probably heading to his boring home, wife and kids looks enviously at Bronson and asks him if he was going on a trip and where. Bronson looks over and smiles slightly before answering, “I don’t know. Wherever I end up I guess.” The driver wishes he was Bronson and Bronson tells him to “hang in there” before the light changes and he sped off, down the PC1, dragging me along for a ride that would last the rest of my life.

It was not too long after that my grandmother knitted me a black woolen cap and I took off on my beat up Stingray, riding around the neighborhood and sometimes much further (much to my mother’s chagrin). As you might have gathered I have not grown up much, just older – not up.

Now Whitehorse Gear is selling the original pilot for Then Came Bronson, actually the European version, where it was released as a feature film and I am hoping Santa sticks one in my stocking this Christmas….hint, hint , hint!

Then Came Bronson DVD is available from Whitehorse Gear for $26.95 • wwwwhitehorsegear.com

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Vehicles shown with optional accessories. Avoid operating Polaris RANGERs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets. Drivers of RANGER vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Warning: ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Avoid operating Polaris ATVs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing and seat belts. Polaris adult ATV models are for riders aged 16 and older. Be sure to take a safety training course. For safety training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887, see your dealer, or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. In Canada, see your local dealer. ©2011 Polaris Industries Inc.

Polaris Metuchen

MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, BE RESPONSIBLE. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, AND KEEP THE SIDE NETS AND DOORS CLOSED. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS, AND BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL MUV DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH THE SAFETY VIDEO “MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES: A GUIDE TO SAFE OPERATION” AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NEVER DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, ON PUBLIC ROADS OR WITH MORE THAN ONE PASSENGER. BIG RED IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER MUST BE TALL ENOUGH FOR SEAT BELT TO FIT PROPERLY AND TO BRACE THEMSELVES WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE FLOOR. PASSENGER MUST BE ABLE TO GRASP THE HAND HOLD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN DRIVING. UTILITY ATVs and TRX250X ARE RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR RIDERS 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AND CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL. BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND PLEASE RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. OBEY THE LAW AND READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. ALL ATV RIDERS SHOULD TAKE A TRAINING COURSE (FREE FOR NEW BUYERS. ASK YOUR DEALER OR CALL ASI AT 800887-2887). NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, ON PAVED SURFACES, ON PUBLIC ROADS, WITH PASSENGERS, OR AT EXCESSIVE SPEEDS. NO STUNT RIDING. Big Red®, FourTrax®, Rancher®, TRX® and Foreman® are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2012 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (07/12) 12-1101

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2012 MULE™ 600 KAWASAKI CARES: Always wear protective gear appropriate for the use of this vehicle. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Kawasaki MULE™ side x side vehicle is an off-highway vehicle only, and is not designed, equipped, or manufactured for use on public streets; roads or highways. Specifications subject to change without notice. Availability may be limited. Warning: The Teryx side x side vehicle can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never ride on public roads or pavement. Avoid high speed turns or abrupt manuevers. Be extra careful on difficult terrain. Protect the environment and obey all laws and regulations that control the use of these vehicles. ©2012 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

Kawasaki Metuchen 911 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ (732) 491-2900 Find Us on Facebook • KawasakiMetuchen.com

©2012 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. All adult model Can Am ATVs are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. For side-by-side vehicles (SxS): Read the BRP side-by-side Operator’s Guide and watch the Safety DVD before driving. For your safety: wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective gear. Fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Operator must be at least 16 years old. Passenger must be at least 12 years old and able to hold handgrips and plant feet while seated against the backrest. ATVs and SxS are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Ride responsibly.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 26

RKA HYDRO-ELECTRIC SONOMA SERIES TANKBAG You are looking at the most functional, innovative tankbag made; the “RKA Hydro-Electric Sonoma Series” tankbag. There are 9 different configurations and sizes, one of which will fit your motorcycle. RKA luggage comes standard in black with silver piping but you can choose any colors, like this premium color bag for RKA’s very own, red, white & blue BMW F800R. It’s “Buildable”.

It’s so innovative that most features are hidden. What are they and where are they? There are hidden portals to allow power and hard wiring to be easily incorporated into the bag. Inside the bag there is a “Control Box” to hold communication and accessories.

All luggage is finished and lined in main compartments and major areas, 3/8 inch foam combined onto a 200 denier coated nylon for the inside lining, Can you say PLUSH? The bag’s map holder is a thick 20th Lexan material and is removable. And, the Organizer, map, pen, tire gage and key chain holder in the lid comes in very handy.

All RKA Bags have PVC coated polyester Slip-Not bottoms and backs. Slip-Not is an anti-abrasion grip fabric, motorcycle friendly, waterproof, strong and washable.

A tankbag of your choice, like the RKA 19.5 liter tankbag pictured, can be built with all or some of the following optional features using the iPhone 4s as the control center for navigation, music, weather & phone of your choice. Log onto www.rka-luggage.com to see all their fine luggage, options and prices.

SENA TECHNOLOGIES SM10 The SM10 was released by Sena Technologies in July 2012 and is the first of its kind on the aftermarket. The device, a dual stream Bluetooth stereo transmitter, allows motorcycle riders to connect audio devices such as mobile phones or MP3 players so that both the rider and passenger may listen to the same audio through their Bluetooth headsets. It also supports onboard audio systems of specific brands by using optional audio cables. The SM10 has an aux audio input that enables the rider to connect additional nonBluetooth audio devices such as a radar/laser detector or a GPS navigator. The SM10 comes with a holder so the unit can be attached to handlebars, or can be placed in a rider’s pocket.

While the SM10 pairs best with Sena’s SMH10 Bluetooth headset/intercom, the SM10 may actually be paired with nearly any Bluetooth headset available. Sena’s SMH10 headset/intercom allows up to four riders or passenger to communicate on the road via intercom at the same time, and connects to one’s mobile phone, GPS, mp3 player all wirelessly. The SMH5 allows two riders or one rider and one passenger to communicate via intercom and does everything the SMH10 does, though provides a slightly shorter battery charge and talk time and has a shorter intercom talk distance. As technology updates for the SM10 become available, users may download and install these firmware upgrades at no cost by using manager software based on Windows or Mac platforms.

The SM10 supports a two-year warranty for peace of mind for all customers. The SM10 retails for $149 and may be found now at www.SenaBluetooth.com or through any of Sena’s retailers. For more information on the SM10, log onto www.senabluetooth.com

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012

Page 27

FOR THE WEIRD UNCLE ERNIE OR FANS OF MST3K ON YOUR HOLIDAY LIST SAVAGE CINEMA -12 MOVIE COLLECTION Savage Cinema is a 12-movie (3 DVD) box set brought together by Mill Creek Entertainment (most originally Crown International Films) and available from Whitehorsegear.com.

Back in the day ‘Exploitation Films’ seemed to be everywhere. There were Blaxploitation, Sexploitation, Shocksploitation, Splatter films, Slasher films and, of course, a slew of Biker films along with countless others, including one I never heard of - Canuxploitation flicks which were Canadian-made exploitation films poking fun at Canadian life and culture.

Mind you these were Canadian-made as American film makers didn’t feel the need to point out the obvious.

Just kidding; love our neighbors to the north.

Now comes along Savage Cinema where you get a full dozen of these… err, films in one box, including three movies (The Side Hackers, Wild Rebels and Hell Cats) that ended up being satirized by Joel, Mike and the Bots in the classic Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Over a few weeks we filled some evenings watching, or sometimes just sampling, these… umm, classics.

What, I sound insensitive? Stop, we’re talking Savage Cinema here, kids!

That evening all were lovers of a good “bad” movie; and The Pink Angels was just that - a very good “bad” movie. If a movie about a bunch of the toughest bikers in the whole world, “heading down the coast,” to a crossdresser’s ball doesn’t get your attention you might want to switch to Preacher TV. Throw in a maniacal military general and a gang of straight bikers seeking revenge and Pink Angels gets very interesting.

Watching this one movie for what it was…. it was… just too funny for words!

It even had a young and tough-looking Dan “Grizzly Adams” Haggerty in this UCLA film student attempt at filmmaking. We wondered if anyone knew what Fred Rau was really doing in 1971?

The ending to Pink Angels was truly bizarre and was a “what the f#*k” just happened?” moment.

It’s going to be a long winter so check out Savage Cinema. It’s well worth the $24.95 from www.whitehorsegear.com.

Brian Rathjen

FREE Photos with Santa on a HARLEY!

If you love this genre’ then Savage Cinema is for you.

Many are your typical wild bikers, kung-fu kickin’, crazed women, over-done chase scenes, murderous criminals and – we think - the most interesting of this lot – the movie The Pink Angels - Gaysploitation for sure – but in the funniest way; and surely the oddest of the group.

When we watched Pink Angels we had an eclectic group along for the ride; some fellow motorcycle riders with some non-riding gay friends. It is always good to hedge your bet and watch this film with gay friends, eliminating any shady comments on your character. I would never dream of watching a Blaxploitation film without some brothers being present, nor would I review a Canuxploitation flick without my Canadian amigos Bruce or Marc watching it with me.

See how I craftily added Mexico to our little North American troika?

Saturdays in December • Noon-2pm

12/8 • 12/15 • 12/22 • Pets Welcome

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 28

First Ride: Ducati 1199 Panigale S

THE DEMON FROM BORGO PANIGALE

Shahram Shiva Ducati is changing the rules. The old cliché about Ducati offering too cramped a riding position for anyone taller than 5’ 8” is gone. Considering their varied and dynamic new line up of bikes which includes a super cruiser called the Diavel, 150hp Multistrada in the enduro category, a Hypermotard, a Streetfighter, the ever popular Monster, in addition to their legendary sport bikes; they have very successfully morphed to a full-scale marque. And they have done it their way with original concepts and execution.

Ducati superbikes, such as the latest 1199 Panigale S, are some of the most lusted after machines in the world. Ever since the legendary designer Massimo Tamburini penned the iconic Ducati 916 back in 1994, the sport bike enthusiasts all over the world eagerly await the next incarnation of the ulti-

mate Ducati. It doesn’t matter what they may have in the garage, whether it’s from the Japan-4 or Ducati’s Euro counterparts, the arrival of the newest Ducati superbike is a highly anticipated event for the sport bike fans.

I picked up the very sexy and drop dead gorgeous 1199 Panigale S on a cold Saturday morning in October, with the temperature hovering in the mid 40s. I initially thought I might just ride it for a little while and take it out the next day for a “real” ride, since it was going to be in the 60s. 6 hours, 140 miles, 66 images, 3 personalized riding modes and a fuel up later, I parked it next to my BMW K1300S in the garage, eagerly waiting to get back on it the next day.

The ergos on the Panigale S, such as the reach to the grips, the pegs position, the seat distance from the bars are quite comfortable for a superbike. Also the seat offers generous amount of maneuverability, which is essential for longer rides. Overall I had a great deal of fun riding the Panigale S for hours, several days in a row, in varied and diverse conditions such as twisty backroads, sweeping country roads, scenic state parks, highways, and tough New York urban streets.

Ducati 1199 Panigale S is the most technologically advanced motorcycle on the planet. It not only offers a complete set of electronic ride controls, but also allows the rider to totally adjust and recalibrate each setting and then save it for use on the fly.

For example, the Panigale S has 3 riding modes (Race, Sport and Wet), but each mode can be fully customized. Meaning if you want to, you can make the Wet to be Race and the Sport to be Wet and or any way you desire. Or do as I did, and configure 3 separate

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 fully personalized riding modes based on your environment and needs and save them for use on the fly.

In addition to the above, you can set your color digital dash to show Track or Road info. On Track, it shows the track lap time as the prominent feature, with speed secondary. On Road your speed gets the top billing. The RPM is a bar graph in either setting.

Here’s an impressive feature. On the 1199 Panigale S the Ohlins suspension can be adjusted via a switch on the left grip in 32 clicks for each front and rear, compression and rebound. The ratings are from 0 to 31, with 31 being the softest. That’s an amazing 128 clicks electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, which can be set differently for each riding mode for a total of 384 combinations.

It’s great that Ducati is embracing ABS, plus all the other electronic goodies, such as the Quick Shifter (DQS), Electronic Suspension Adjustment (DES), Traction Control (DTC), engine mapping and Engine Brake Control (EBC). Although the 1199 Panigale S is highly advanced, it’s also the most primal and emotionally charged.

Of course all this cutting edge personalized technology is here for one reason, for you to have a blast. I love the sound of this 195hp, 90 deg L-twin engine it’s intoxicating. I rode the Panigale without earplugs just so I can hear it roar, burp, growl, spit and breathe.

Page 29 In my test I hit a certain highly twisty area on an ascending and descending road and varying degrees of incline maybe 30 times. I kept looping the course over two days just to experience what Panigale can do in the really tight stuff with power unrestricted to the full 195hp and the suspension set for the track and also to hear it scream in high RPMs in the 3rd gear.

This L-twin’s sound is so much more primal and almost carnal than the Inline-4, that it’s really addictive. The Ducati’s L-twin engine in high RPMs

and 1199’s incredible cornering prowess create motorcycling magic in such conditions.

My one-line review would be: “In its elements this bike is intoxicating.” If that’s how you ride, you’ll love the Panigale.

If this new Ducati superbike was made to be an old school race bike with no electronic suspension and in fact no other electronic settings at all, sold to the mere mortals to enjoy day by day, it would be impossible to exploit

Visit us for the full line of Kawasaki models, parts and accessories.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 30

CHATTERBOX DRIVE-IN BIKE NIGHT WITH BACKROADS MAGAZINE This past summer Backroads joined along with the Chatterbox Drive-In in Augusta, NJ to help judge their ever-growing and always popular Bike Night. On any Thursday, starting with Memorial Day, you’ll find a varied group of riders congregating to kick some tires, enjoy an evening with fellow two- and three-wheelers and have a delicious bite to eat.

Not wanting to be like all the other Bike Nights, we at Backroads decided to make a special, one-of-a-kind award that folks could proudly display in their travels. No bulky trophy or cash prize here, we went all out and designed this nifty t-shirt. On Thursdays when we’re around (we do have fill-in judges when we happen to be out of town) we’ll peruse the parking lot and, unbiased with no bent toward marque, style or age, we’ll select our favorite motorcycle of the night.

We started a bit late this past summer, but here are the winners from the several weeks that we attended. So get that classic bike ready for a ride, pull out the new, shiny scoot you are so proud of and head to the confluence of Routes 15 and 206 in Augusta, New Jersey and the Chatterbox Drive-In. Perhaps you, too, will be the lucky owners of this highly collectible t-shirt to flaunt in front of your riding buddies. See you in the summer; bribes are accepted…

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 its virtues outside of the track. Imagine just setting your suspension in one way, no matter where you are.

You would try to find a compromise for a setting that would work for your entire ride destination. You’d probably just set it sort of in the middle and assume this must be good enough, as you wobble through the tight corners in New England’s backroads or Southern California’s canyons.

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SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS powersports.honda.com CRF/R MODELS ARE DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CLOSED-COURSE USE. BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND PLEASE RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. OBEY THE LAW AND READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. EXPERIENCED RIDER SHOWN. *2.99% Fixed APR financing available for customers who qualify for super preferred credit tier for up to 36 months through Honda Financial ServicesSM. Payment example: 36 monthly payments of $29.08 for each $1,000 financed. Offer good on all new and unregistered CRF150R/RB models. Not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Financing ends 1/2/13. **$500 Bonus Bucks valid on 2012 and prior CRF150R/RB models. Bonus Bucks redeemable only for purchases at dealer on purchase date. No cash value. Nontransferable. Redemption value is not to exceed $500. Offer ends 12/31/12. Check with participating Honda Dealers for complete details. CRF® is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2012 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (11/12) 12-1113

Granted since the electronic suspension has only been around a few years, most ride with compromised suspension settings. But now thanks to such technology I can set a personalized track grade suspension, race spec mapping, ABS, Traction and Engine Braking right where I need it, with an on-the-fly push of a button.

Or consider the polar opposite, as I ride through a major metro area, where my track settings mentioned above are unneeded and are a hindrance to a fun ride in the city, again with a push of a button, I can turn this race-ready superbike into a totally acceptable boulevard cruiser.

With incredible amount of customizations available to the rider, this new Italian Stallion, the latest superbike from Ducati, the 1199 Panigale S can do it all.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

A little rally grows up Many years ago a couple of show producers came up with the idea of a rally in Vermont, right near the very end of summer.

One last riding event before the cold weather came rolling in and the bikes went rolling into their garages for a winter’s nap.

We had attended one or two and they were decent and the folks fine, but after a few years the promoters got “luke warm” on the event and then let the host town of Killington take over.

Well, as good as an attempt that the town did, it helps to have motorcycle people run motorcycle events.

Few do this as well as the people who run the Americade Rally.

When they announced the Dutchers would now be running the end of summer show in Vermont we were more than intrigued.

All the ingredients were there. Like a mystery basket on “Chopped” some were a bit more interesting than others and we hoped the Iron Chefs from Lake George would mix up something fantastic!

We crossed into Vermont and headed up Route 100 and in no time were rolling into Killington, and the home of the Killington Classic.

We checked in at the comfortable and close by Snowed Inn and then rode up to registration for our wristbands and updated schedule of events.

That night they held a “Mixer” to welcome riders and to let newcomers know what to expect out of the next few days of the Classic complete with band, bar and dinner for those pre-registered, as well as live music and prizes.

Shira happened to be the lucky winner of a super Bell helmet, but was convinced to part with it when a helmet collector made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Too bad, she looked bad-ass in it.

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 The Killington Rally had set up a few things this day and along with some demo rides at Outdoors In Motion, a local dealership, on Ducatis and Victorys, there were a lot of riders out doing the Classic’s Vermont Valley Run Scavenger Hunt. With this you had to get to a number of locations and get your ticket stamped. We had been to a few of these before and we had a few new places we wanted to take in along with chasing down a number of hay-bale creatures created for Killington’s Annual Hay Festival.

On Friday the Killington Classic held a parade run from the mountain to the nearby city of Rutland where the town would be holding a block party for the event.

It sounded like a plan and it was as the parade ran without a hitch and there were plenty of restaurants and interesting shops in downtown Rutland to explore, as well as a beer tent for those inclined and a live band.

We stuck around for a few songs and then rode back to Killington.

The next morning as Classic’s tours were heading out we went to the vendor area to see what was being offered. Not wanting the vendors to be too large of an area the folks at the Killington Classic offered a number of tables and tents hawking and selling products ranging from local dealers with machines on hand to suspension set-ups, local touring and with just a few selling, what I call, “biker crap.”

Saturday saw more folks rolling in, hitting the vendor area and heading out for point all over.

While the predominant flavor of choice was the cruiser, there was still a very good mix all marques and styles, as was witnessed in the parking area. With a choice of guided tours – Ride the Green Serpent High Gaps or Covered Bridges – the Classic had riders exploring many parts of Vermont. If you’d rather stick close to the mountain, there was the gondola rides and the People’s Choice Bike Show. After a full day of activities and riding, most folks headed to the Snowshed Lodge and the Full Throttle Dinner and party, complete with a Southwestern flair and live music, not to mention some pretty cool prizes. Ending the night with a bang were fabulous fireworks.

Sunday saw more great weather and a repeat of Saturday’s events, with people coming and going, all enjoying themselves. Come Monday, folks started rolling home but there was still one last ride – the Irene Valley Ride to celebrate the official ‘kicking of the butt’ of Hurricane Irene one year previous. Vermont was tremendously hit, cancelling the 2011 Killington Classic, but the folks in the area have done an amazing job of rebuilding and recovering. The 2-hour loop ride took riders through some of the hardest hit areas, but you’d never know it from the newly paved roadways.

We think the Killington Classic has taken steps forward, even if some feel they were just baby steps. But, as the next few years might prove, this is a great rally, in a wonderful area, run by professionals. All the ingredients are there and we see the Killington Classic becoming the premier Autumn event in the northeast.

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IND USTRY INFOBITES CLANCY CENTENARY RIDE OFF AND RUNNING Adventurous motorcycle globetrotters began the Clancy Centenary Ride October 23, 2012 from Dublin, Ireland. The global circumnavigation is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first around the world motorcycle ride by Carl Stearns Clancy.

After reading the book MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER, which recounts the true story of the first global motorcycle ride, two Irish motorcyclists, Feargal O’Neill and his colleague Joe Walsh, came up with the idea of a 100 year celebration to promote their fellow Irish motorcyclist’s incredible accomplishment. Clancy’s ride was described in 1912 as “the longest, most difficult and most perilous motorcycle journey ever attempted.”

Clancy rode a 1912 Henderson motorcycle.

The European leg departed from Dublin, Ireland October 23, 1912.

His one gear, four cylinder motorcycle tagged Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, arriving back in New York City August 27, 1913. He said of the Henderson at the completion of his global ride, “The most remarkable feature of the whole trip is the surprising endurance of my machine, which now seems to be running as well as ever, in spite of the 18,000 miles it has in its bones.”

Two avid motorcyclists plan to follow the entire Clancy route. They hope to connect with American riders being organized for a departure from San Francisco on June 2, 2013.

Any motorcyclist can join the Clancy Centenary Ride. There is no entry fee and any make or model of motorcycle, old or new, is welcome. They can ride for a mile or 1,000’s of miles.

O’Neill has designed a pennant similar to that used by Clancy which will

News from the Inside be passed along the route. The original pair of boots worn by Clancy has surfaced in Australia and plans to carry them with riders on the Centenary Ride are being made and hopefully they will return to their starting point in New York City and eventually end up in a museum display.

The Clancy info page is: http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com/clancy The Clancy updates page (HUBB thread) is: http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com/clancyride

EUROPEAN BIKERS PROTEST VEHICLE-INSPECTION PLAN Thousands of motorcyclists rolled into Belgium to protest an EU proposal for regular mandatory bike inspections. The law would be “expensive and useless,” said representatives from the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Association (FEMA) who met with European Union officials EU headquarters in Brussels as more than 4,500 motorcycles roared through the city’s streets, protesting the proposed law that would introduce mandatory EU-wide road-worthiness tests for motorcycles.

The new EU-wide regulations would supersede national safety inspection rules for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles, and FEMA said the law would offer “no benefits expected in terms of safety, as proven by several independent studies.” Members of Belgium’s Federation of Angry Bikers (FBMC) turned out in large numbers for the protest. “Only 0.3 percent of motorcycle accidents in Belgium and 0.6 percent in Europe are due to technical problems,” FBMC head Joe Verrecke told the Belgian news agency Belga..

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Download the podcast for free via iTunes or www.streetSkills.net

DISALVO CONQUERS THE SALT FLATS Jason DiSalvo and his Rocket III set new world record at Bonneville.

Latus Motors Racing rider Jason DiSalvo set new AMA and FIM landspeed racing records at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats with a Rocket III Roadster, fielded by the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team.

He ran in the Modified (normally) Aspirated Fuel (MAF) class for motorcycles up to 3,000cc’s. DiSalvo’s initial run was 175.998mph, and his return run was 172.587mph for an average, world-record-setting speed of 174.276mph (280.470kph) for the flying mile and 174.880mph (281.443kph) for the flying kilometer. What’s amazing is this Rocket is fully streetable, using one of Bob Carpenter’s 240hp over-the-counter performance kits. The records are subject to FIM Ratification and anticipated to be reviewed during their November meeting in Valencia, Spain

SUZUKI REFOCUSING THE COMPANY American Suzuki Motor Corp. announced that the company is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy in a realignment that will focus its future efforts on its motorcycle/ATV and marine divisions, while the company exits the automotive market.

“If you’re a Suzuki powersports dealer and you’re doing the things you’re supposed to be doing, then you have no concern at all with this news,” Larry Vandiver, American Suzuki Motor Corp. sales and marketing senior director, told Powersports Business. “Actually, it’s a really good move for our com-

pany in powersports. I’ll probably get blamed for it all because when I started with the company, this is what we really were — we were a motorcycle, ATV and marine company. What will happen over the course of business is all the focus, all the emphasis, from our factory to [Brea, Calif.], will be all about motorcycle, ATV and marine, and how to improve that business, come up with innovative new products and how to take that business forward.”

The immediate future calls for many of the 930 Suzuki motorcycle and ATV dealers in the U.S. to converge on Las Vegas for the company’s Sunday, Nov. 11-Tuesday, Nov. 13 dealer meeting. Suzuki will introduce five new motorcycle models at the meeting. Vandiver said plans call for four models to be introduced in calendar 2013 and four more in 2014.

“Looking at all of those things, we saw nothing but a good bright future, but we needed more dedication with the walls of this facility towards those goals,” he said. “We’re increasing our business, our revenues are good, we’re eking out a profit and we’re happy to say our marine business even through all of the economic downturn continued to be a profit center for us. Now we’re turned the corner in motorcycle and ATV, and every month is improving.

FRIENDS IN PRINT A shoutout goes to our fellow riding friends the Chai Riders. They were featured in the Fall 2012 issue of L’Chaim (to life in Bergen County) in an article titled ‘Jewish Bikers Hit the Road, Chai Riders: Not exactly the Wild Bunch’ by Sandy and Bob Nesoff.

With nearly a third of its membership living in Bergen County, it was a nice nod from a non-enthusiast magazine. Mazel Tov. If you’d like to find out more about the Chai Riders please point your web browser to www.ChaiRiders.org and click on the ‘Welcome’.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 1

UPCOM IN G EVENTS CAL ENDAR E V E RY M O N T H - W E AT H E R P E R M I T T I N G Every Sunday • Eastern Suffolk ABATE Breakfast Run. Crossroads Diner - Calverton NY. 10:30am. Eat and Ride After • 631-369-2221 Every Sunday • Biker Breakfast at Tramontin Harley-Davidson, Exit 12 I-80, Hope, NJ (GPS: 485 Hope-Blairstown Rd, Rte. 521) 9-11am • www.tramontinhd.com First Sunday of the month • Layton Meet at the Layton Deli, corner of Dingmans/Bevans Rd, CR 560, Layton, NJ. Meet around 8am – breakfast available. Join others for a ride or head out on your own Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do some benchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish Every Wednesday • Chelseas Restaurant/Pub, 1051 Rte. 22 East, Lebanon, NJ 6-9pm, weather permitting all summer • www.chelseasrestaurantpub.com

DECEMBER 15 • Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Customer Appreciation and Holiday Party. Join in for cake, cider, other holiday treats and a few surprises as Morton’s welcomes the holiday period. FREE! More info at 540-891-9844 or www.motonsbmw.com • 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 15 • Holiday Cheer at Bob's BMW. A day reserved to thank all of Bob's devoted customers. Stop by for fresh pastries and coffee in the morning our infamous soup, snacks, beverages, one-day only specials and more.

15 • Rolling Thunder Cycles Holiday Party. 220 Front St, Hempstead NY • 516-4890770 • www.RollingThunderCycles.com

What’s Happening 18-20 • Advanstar’s International Motorcycle Show at the Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Show features include the MotoGP Experience, American Motor Drome’s Wall of Death, J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show, Progressive Open Road Experience, Pit Stop Challenge presented by GEICO AMA Pro Racing, Suzuki Sweepstakes, Ducati Fashion Show, Strider Adventure Zone, great seminars all day, every day and, of course, the great marketplace and vendors for your motorcycle shopping pleasure. BACKROADS will be there again to greet you with the new issue and the BEST candy at the Javits. Don’t miss us - we’ll try to post our booth number as soon as we know it.

19 • Bob's Annual Bus Trip to the International Motorcycle Show. Tickets will include round trip transportation to NYC, entry to the IMS and a snack for the ride home. Space is limited and we sell out every year. Details to come. www.bobsbmw.com

FEBRUARY 2013 23 • Ramapo Motorcycle Club Crotona Midnight Run. Saturday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 24.

More info at www.ramapomc.org

MAY 2013 16-19 • BACKROADS Spring Break 2013. We’ll be heading to Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Farmer’s Museum and some great riding. This rally will feature a complete issue of Backroads’ columns in one weekend - Great All-American Diner Run, Big City Getaway, and, of course, Mysterious America. Our home base will be the Lake Front Motel, sitting right on Lake Otsego and walking distance from downtown Cooperstown. All the information for booking can be found on page 48 and, as always, rooms are very limited, with a cutoff reservation date of JANUARY 15, 2013. So call NOW, get your room and we’ll see you in Cooperstown this Spring.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

POLAR BEAR GRAND TOUR 2012-13

Bergen County Harley-Davidson/BMW • Saturdays - December 15 + 22 • 11am-3pm • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com

It is not necessary to be a member of the Polar Bear Grand Tour to do these rides.

There is generally food at the destination and if you just want to go for a nice ride and join other folks feel free to attend. These are general directions. Please feel free to use a GPS or a map to find a better route. Sign-in is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm unless otherwise posted. Check the New Member page for general information about the Polar Bear Grand Tour. To check on Polar Bear cancellations & updates call A.M.A. Dis. #2 Ph. # 908-722-0128

Harley Davidson Long Branch • Saturday, December 8 • 671 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ • 732-229-8518 • www.HDLongBranch.com Liberty Harley Davidson • Saturdays - December 8 + 15 • Noon-4pm • 12 W Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ • 732-381-2400 • www.LibertyHarley.com Tramontin Harley Davidson • Saturdays - December 8, 15, 22 • Noon-2pm • Exit 12, Hope, NJ • 908-459-4101 • www.TramontinHD.com

JANUARY 2013 4-6 • Advanstar’s International Motorcycle Show, Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C

Dec. 2 • MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE, 2901 Bethlehem Pike Hatfield, PA 19440 Ph 215712-7433 • Take Rt #202 into PA. to Rt #309. Make right on Rt #309. Go approx. 5 miles and bear right at fork. www.montgomeryvillecc.com Dec. 9 • THE CABIN, 984 Route #33 Howell, NJ 07731 Ph.# 732 462-3090 • On Rt. 33 in Howell Twp. Approx. 5 miles west of Rt. #34 (east of Freehold, NJ). CHRISTMAS PARTY. BRING A TOY FOR THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. www.thecabinrestaurant.net

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 Dec. 16 • SCHOCH'S HARLEY DAVIDSON, Rte. 33 Snydersville, PA 18360 Ph# 570-992-7500 • Take Rt #22 through Easton to Rt #33 North to Snydersville exit; at stop turn left; go over Rt #33; Schoch's Harley is on the right. schochharleydavidson.com Dec. 23 • THE COOL CRICKET RESTAURANT and SPORTS BAR, 216 4th Street, Fieldsboro, NJ 08505 Ph# 609-291-9110 • Head south on I295 South. Take exit 57B-A to merge onto US-130 toward Burlington. Turn right at Dunns Mill Rd/Washington Street. Continue on Washington St. Turn left at 4th St/E Burlington St. The Cool Cricket will be on the left. thecoolcricket.com Dec. 30 • IRELAND'S 32 RESTAURANT & PUB, 32 Orange Ave., Suffern, NY 10901 PH# 845-368-3232 • Take 287 north to exit 57A. Make a right at the bottom of the ramp onto Route 59 E (Orange Ave.). Go approximately 1.2 miles and the restaurant is on the left. www.irelandsny.com Jan. 6 • De THOMASI's EAST 5 POINTS INN, 580 Tuckahoe Rd, Vineland, NJ 08360 Ph.# 856-691-6080 • Take Rt. 206 South to the end. Continue straight to Rt. 54 South to the end (12 miles); make left on Rt. 40. Go 0.1 mile. Make right on Rt. 557. Go 2.5 miles to DeThomasi's on right. www.fivepointsinn.com Jan. 13 • WEARHOUSE GRILL, 161 Rte. 181, Lake Hopatcong, NJ Ph #973-663-2222 • Route I-80 West from intersection of 287, to Route 15 North; go about 3 miles and watch carefully for sign for Route 181 North -- it comes up fast on the right; you will cross Rte 15; take first right; Wearhouse Grill is about 1.5 miles on the left, immediately after the big blue Yamaha sign. www.wearhousegrille.com Jan. 20 • SIR JOHN'S, 230 Washington Place, North Brunswick TWP, NJ. 08902 Ph # 732 297-3803 • From Rt 1, take Rte 130 South to the 82 mile-marker, get in left lane; make left at light at the Getty Station (Washington Place); go two blocks to Sir John's on right. Folks traveling Rte.130 North go past the 81 mile-marker; make a right at the traffic light at the Getty Station. sirjohnsinc.com Jan. 27 • THE EXCHANGE, 160 E. Main St., Rockaway, NJ 07866 Ph # 973-627-8488• In Denville on Rte. 46 West, go under Route 80; go 1/2 mile to light; go right on East Main St., Rockaway; go 1/2 mile; the Exchange is on the right. www.exchangefood.com Feb. 3 • THE FRANKLIN HOUSE TAVERN, 101 North Market Street, Schaefferstown, PA 17088 Ph. # 717 949-2122 • Take Rte. 897 (also Rte 419) to Schaefferstown. It will be on your right at 897 and Market Street. franklinhousetavern.com Feb. 10 • PIC-A-LILLI INN 866 Route 206 Shamong NJ Ph. # 609 268-2066 • From the north take Rte 206 South, pass Rte. 70 go 9 miles Pic-A-Lilli Inn on left. From the south @ Rte. 30 & 206 go north on Rte. 206 for 8.5 miles Pic-A-Lilli on right. picalilli.com Feb. 17 • HOOTERS, 25 Rte 23 South, Wayne, NJ 07470 Ph# 973-837-1876 • At intersection of Rte 46 & Rte 23 take Rte 23 South (approx. 0.2 mile) just past the mall; Hooters is on the right. www.hootersnj.com Feb. 24 • BAHRS LANDING, 2 Bay Ave., Highlands, NJ 07732 PH# 732-872-1245 • From East take Rte 36 West over Highland bridge; immediately over bridge make very sharp right turn down hill into parking lot. From West take Rte 36 East toward Highland bridge; Just before bridge, make right turn then a quick left turn down the hill to Bay Ave; make left turn under bridge into parking lot. www.bahrs.com March 3 • FIREHOUSE EATERY, 455 Saint Georges Ave. Rahway, NJ 07065 Ph# 732 382-9500 • Take G.S.P. to exit 131 (not 131A) to Rte 27; turn left on Rte 27 North; go 2.6 miles, take left onto Rte 35 (AKA St Georges Ave); go 0.3 mile; Firehouse Restaurant is on the right. www.firehouseeatery.com March 10 • LONG VALLEY PUB & BREWERY, 1 Fairmount Rd., Long Valley, NJ 07853 Ph #908-876-1122 • From Rte 206 in Chester, take Rte 24 West (Rte 513); go 4.5 miles to Long Valley; Make left at light at Rte 517; immediately on right, first parking lot is the Long Valley Pub. www.restaurantvillageatlongvalley.com March 17 • THE CHATTERBOX, #1 Rte 15 South, Augusta, NJ 07822 Ph#973-300-2300 • From South, take Rte 206 North to Rte 15, Ross Corner; The Chatter Box immediately on right at the intersection; enter from driveway about 300 feet before the intersection. From the North take Rte 565 to intersection with Rte 15, Ross Corner; go straight; driveway into the Chatterbox is on the left. www.chatterboxdrivein.com March 24 • BRIAN'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 600 S. Flowers Mill Rd., Langhorne PA Ph# 215 752-9400 • PA. Rte 95 South take exit 44 (stay left) left at light on Rte. 413 - 2nd light make left on S. Flowers Mill Rd. PA Route 95 North Exit 44 stay to left - left at 1st light on S. Flowers Mill Rd. www.brianshd.com April 7 • CHEEBURGER CHEEBURGER, 100 Reaville Ave. Flemington NJ 08822 Phone # 908-782-9000 • From the south take Rte 202 north. Make right at the last light before the circle. Cheeburger Cheeburger will be on your left. From the North take Rte 202 through Flemington. At the first light after Northlandz (Grate American Railway), take the jug handle across Rte 202 onto Case Blvd. Stay on Case Blvd. It becomes Reaville Ave. Cheeburger Cheeburger will be on your Right. Cheeburger Cheeburger April 14 • CAPE MAY V.F.W. post #386, N .J. 419 Congress St., Cape May, N .J. 08204 Ph# 609-884-7961. No Web site.

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

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DUAL POWER EYEWEAR • NOT YOUR GRANDPARENTS BIFOCALS Time to be a bit honest here, okay?

Did you have to reach for reading glasses or “cheaters” to see the words on this page clearly?

Are you one of millions of Baby Boomers and 40+ riders that woke up suddenly, last Wednesday, and found they had to hold their Backroads at arms length to actually read the magazine?

Ahh, shnookums, you are not alone.

As we all get a bit older our eyes tend to focus differently and the need for some close-up visual assistance might become clear (sorry).

This can be problematic when riding. You might be fine when heading down the road looking far ahead but once you stop to look at a map or even read a menu you have to trudge your way back to your bike or fumble through your jacket looking for your reading glasses.

Enter Dual Power Eyewear.

A few years back bicyclist and entrepreneur Louis Viggio realized the need to see, not only ahead, but close-up as well, especially when riding his bicycle.

Viggio set about to create eyewear that not only protected the eyes from the sun and glare but allowed for what he called an Optimized Magnification Zone and Dual Power Eyewear was born; combining bifocal eyewear with true UV-protection. Straight

ahead they work like any high-end sunglasses, look down and you have a pair of very sharp-looking reading glasses.

Most excellent!

These glasses have become extremely popular with the pedal-crowd, but the need for something that might be more appropriate to the motorcycle community was apparent as well and Viggio has created adaptable eyewear specifically for cruiser-style motorcycle riders. The M8, R4, and Q9 all transform from stylish casual eyewear to technical wear in seconds. Snap on the included windgasket and each becomes the ideal eyewear protection for demanding conditions, either created by your own power, or the power of nature.

For added security and fit, you can attach the included headband.

All the Dual Power Eyewear are available in +1.5, +2.0, or +2.5 spot diopters, so finding the one right for you is easy and all their glasses are made with shatterproof and scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses, a must have when riding motorcycles.

On the road these glasses are a snap to use and I followed their recommendation of using a slightly less powerful lens while on the road allowing for easier transition and focusing.

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 A slight tilt of the head and my maps and instruments were crystal clear.

Although styling-wise the M8, R4, and Q9, with the wind gasket and head strap, were created with stereotypical riders in mind, I much prefer the other styles, as the wrap around frames on the “cruiser-style” glasses cut into my peripheral vision and, for a rider opting for a modular full face helmet I have no use for additional wind protection or a strap.

Dual Power’s S and X models are much sportier, and like the Stihl glasses we reviewed a few months back, their lens wrap themselves around the eyes allowing for a wider field of visual acuity; the sport-touring and ADV riders will love these. The S2 also has accessory lenses available in clear and amber “driving lenses.”

The bottom line here is that you want to be able to see everything clearly all the time. Any of Dual Powers Power Eyewear will add to your riding day and make transitioning from distance to close-up easier on you and your eyes. Prices range from $50 to $70, depending on style. Log onto www.dualeyewear.com to “see” what is right for you.

Brian Rathjen

Page 39

DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

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RIDE RECAP

Cooperstown Brewery trail Tony Lisanti

You cannot be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline.

It helps if you have some kind of a football team or some nuclear weapons but at the very least you need a beer. ~ Frank Zappa Like many of us the ability to get out and go is sometimes hampered by Life.

The riding opportunities or long trips have been few and far between for me this season but there are some constants in life. The one for me is the annual pilgrimage to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross race at Unadilla. Located smack dab in the middle of New York State, this trip is doable in a day by taking the direct route, or one can make a decent two day ride out of it. I knew the final destination would be Cooperstown since it’s within a half hour ride to the track. I was fortunate enough to pre-plan and reserve a room at the Lake Front Hotel. I had stayed there in the past and knew the rooms are clean and it has a decent restaurant and bar next to the lake eliminating the need to ride anywhere once settled in for the evening. Certainly this is keeping with Backroads tradition.

I had a destination and lodging, now all I needed was a theme and a route.

Hmmm, what tradition do I like as much as riding and watching top level motocross racing at Unadilla? BEER! I remember from the TAP NY Craft Beer festival early in the spring that there were several breweries in and around the Otsego County area. Through the miracle that is the internet I was able to find the Cooperstown Beverage Trail (www.cooperstownbeveragetrail.com). This is about as good a theme for me as it gets, that is until someone concocts a Hooters trail.

The Cooperstown Beverage Trail features some terrific craft breweries, several with great eateries attached. Breweries such as Ommegang and Butternut come to mind. Of course I could not sample too much on the ride up but I can leave room for some samples to take back! Ok, destination- check, hotel - check, theme - check. The route would be easy since the Catskill Mountains are between here and there.

I would take the journey on a sunny Friday and meander my way west on some

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 familiar and some not so familiar roads. Leaving Rockland County I took the short blast up the Palisades to the Bear Mountain Bridge and connected to 9W North. I peeled off on Rte. 218 north just before Storm King Mountain and took the twisty route up past Cornwall. In Cornwall Quaker Road takes you over to Rte. 32 and continues north to New Windsor. There I took Rte. 300 up to Rte. 207, skirting around Stewart Airport. I meandered through the heart of upper Orange county into Ulster and the town of Gardiner. From there up and over the Shawangunk Mountains through Kerhonkson and into the Catskills around the Ashokan Reservoir.

Heading west on Rte 28 near Phoenicia I passed the Empire State Railway museum. This was a good place to stretch my legs. Although closed, I was able to walk around and take some photos of the quaint museum housed in the old Ulster & Delaware Phoenicia station. The structure has been standing since 1899 and was converted into a museum in 1960. Several rail cars are on display and there are trains that run on weekends and holidays. The museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the summer months.

Continuing west on Rte. 28 through Big Indian, Fleischman’s and Margaretville, the ride was pleasant, the sky clear and air not too hot. I was glad to see these towns thriving after the horrendous flooding that occurred from last year’s hurricane season. I connected with Rte. 30 south and continued around the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir. This is a nice fast twisty section of Rte. 30. In Downsville a quick refuel and look at the map & GPS I continued north on Rte. 206 to Rte. 8. From there it was about a 40 minute ride the Unadilla Valley Sports facility. The big white barn at the entrance is always a welcome sight. While checking in I was able to speak with Jill Robinson, the track owner’s daughter who, with her brother Greg, are in charge of all things motocross for this weekend. They are really nice people and put on a truly world class event here each year. A steady rain began to fall shortly before reaching the track and I knew that would make track conditions interesting for the race the next day.

With a steady drizzle falling from the sky I headed south on 8 for a short distance and turned west on County Rte. 25 which leads to some rolling county roads. At the turn off there is a dairy plant in South Edmeston I have passed too many times to count. In recent years I noticed a lot of construction activity and it seemed like the plant doubled in size each of the last three years. Turns out

Page 43

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Page 44

Rip & Ride® • COOPERSTOWN BREWERY TRAIL START: BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE: NORTH ON RTE. 9W RIGHT ONTO RTE. 218 (AT JUNCTION OF RTE. 218 & 293) RTE. 218 NORTH OVER STORM KING MTN CONTINUE THROUGH CORNWALL BEAR LEFT ONTO HUDSON ST HUDSON ST TURNS INTO MAIN ST AT TRAFFIC CIRCLE TAKE FIRST RIGHT ONTO QUAKER RD LEFT ONTO RTE. 32 NORTH AT FIVE CORNERS IN VAILS GATE - NORTH ON RTE. 300 CONTINUE ON RT 300 AND STRAIGHT TO RT 207 RIGHT ON RTE. 747 LEFT ONTO RTE. 17K WEST RIGHT ONTO COLDERHAM RD (COUNTY ROUTE 75) RIGHT ONTO RTE. 208 NORTH THROUGH WALDEN AT WALLKILL LEFT ONTO BRUYN TPKE (COUNTY ROUTE 18) RIGHT ONTO ALBANY POST RD (COUNTY ROUTE 9) AT GARDINER LEFT ONTO RTES. 44/55 RIGHT ONTO RTE. 209 LEFT ONTO QUEENS HWY RIGHT ONTO SAMSONVILLE-KERHONKSON RD (COUNTY RD 3) LEFT ONTO RTE 28A LEFT ONTO RTE 28 AT PHOENCIA EMPIRE STATE RAILWAY MUSEUM ON HIGH STREET CONTINUE WEST ON RTE 28 CONTINUE SOUTH ON RTES 28 & 30

LEFT ONTO RTE 30 SOUTH LEFT ONTO RTES 30 & 206 AT DOWNSVILLE CONTINUE ON RTE 206 NORTH AT MASONVILLE RIGHT ONTO RTE 8 NORTH CONTINUE THROUGH SOUTH EDMESTON TO UNADILLA HEAD BACK SOUTH ON 8 TO SOUTH EDMESTON MAKE LEFT ONTO COUNTY RTE 25 CONTINUE STRAIGHT ONTO COUNTY RD 20 CONTINUE STRAIGHT ONTO EAST STREET (ROUTE 80) RIGHT ONTO RTE 51 SOUTH CONTINUE THROUGH GARRATTSVILLE BUTTERNUTS BEER & ALE IS SOUTH OF GARRATTSVILLE FROM BUTTERNUTS BEER & ALE TO BREWERY OMMEGANG RIGHT OUT OF PARKING LOT RIGHT ONTO COUNTY RD 16 BEAR LEFT ONTO COUNTY RD 14 CONTINUE OF 14 TO HARTWICK RIGHT ONTO RTE 205 SOUTH LEFT ONTO COUNTY RD 45 RIGHT ONTO RTE 28 SOUTH LEFT ONTO RTE 166 LEFT ONTO COUNTY HWY 33 BREWERY OMMEGANG ON RIGHT HAND SIDE FROM OMMEGANG TO COOPERSTOWN: TAKE RIGHT OUT OF PARKING LOT CONTINUE NORTH ON COUNTY HWY 33 TO COOPERSTOWN LAKE FRONT HOTEL IS AT THE BOTTOM OF FAIR STREET

BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 this is the East Coast Chobani Greek Yogurt plant- a state of the art facility employing over 600 people. Nice to see some thriving businesses in this part of the State.

A short ride through the hilly countryside of Otsego County and I arrived at the Butternut Brewery in Garrattsville. The air turned cool with the steady drizzle but that did not seem to deter many travelers from stopping in as well. Butternuts Beer & Ale resides on a 120-acre farm in the picturesque Butternut Valley. The brewery opened in 2005 and is centered around a renovated dairy barn. They brew pale ale, weissebier, IPA and stout year-round. Some of the more notable brands are Pork Slap Pale Ale and Moo Thunder Stout. They craft brew in what they call American farmhouse style with German, Belgium and English influences. The ingredients are locally sourced and the water comes from their own spring. They also brew for other labels featured in New York City. The setting is casual and tastings and brewery tours are available. Butternuts Beer and Ale is located at 4021 State Highway 51.

From Butternuts I set off for another local brew house - the Brewery Ommegang located south of Cooperstown on County Rte. 33. The ride over was a nice mix of some paved county roads and a few patches of unpaved roads. The rolling hills and farms provided a really nice roller coaster ride through the region just south of Cooperstown.

Brewery Ommegang was built in 1997 on what was a 136-acre hops farm. At the time it was the first bonafide homestead brewery built in the United States in almost 100 years. Pulling up to the brewery you are greeted by the main brew house building which has a raised center section with a large welcoming arch through the center. Pulling through this arch into a compound you are offered ample parking next to the gift shop and cafe. Ommegang is a brewery experience on a another level. The grounds are well cared for and host many events during the year from bicycling to outdoor concerts.

Like many craft breweries, Ommegang pays very close attention to the ingredients, water quality and brew process. Their brews are crafted in a Belgium tradition and they take this a step further in the process, bottling aging and serving in different types of glasses used to enhance the aromas and taste. The brews include BPA Belgium style Pale Ale, Witte a Belgium wheat style, Abbey Ale, and several special edition brews that vary by season. All are remarkable. The atmosphere is that of a winery but because it’s a brewery there is a lack of “stuffiness”. If you are visiting Cooperstown and like beer, this has to be on your list of stops. Thankfully I arrived just prior to the store closing so I was able to pick up a growler of my favorite Witte to enjoy back at the hotel.

Back on the bike, the ride north on Rte. 33 led me into Cooperstown in a matter of minutes. My stay for the night was at the Lake Front Hotel, a mere two block walk from the entrance of the Baseball Hall of Fame and the center of town.

The Lake Front is situated on Otsego Lake and features a marina which has tours of the lake and the Lake Front restaurant.

Conveniently the restaurant had a band and serves many of the local craft beers from the Cooperstown Brewery Trail. There is outdoor seating and the setting is casual and very scenic. Perhaps a future Backroads Rally location? (ed. Thanks for the suggestion Tony - see you in May) The Cooperstown Beverage Trail also includes several wineries and cider mills.

The Bear Pond Winery located in Oneonta, Cooperstown Brewing Company in Cooperstown, the Fly Creek Cider Mill in Fly Creek, and the Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats. The “Trail” also features several eateries. Take a look online at www.cooperstownbeveragetrail.com or on the Uncork New York site at www.newyorkwines.org. Visiting the area is easy- the ride into the central Leatherstocking region is great fun and whether you’re a beer, wine, baseball or motocross connoisseur, you will find what your looking for.

Page 45

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DECEMBER 2012 • BACKROADS

Page 46

HONDA UNVEILS BRAND-NEW 2013 NEW MOTORCYCLES As Honda’s lineup of 2013 motorcycles grows, the excitement is building as well. This latest announcement features brand-new models as well as a large assortment of returning favorites that carry strong demand among riding enthusiasts.

CBR500R: Boldly Redefining Middleweight Sport Bikes With the introduction of the all-new CBR500R, Honda boldly redefines the middleweight class and infuses a whole new level of excitement for sport riders in search of superior value along with great fun. The CBR500R delivers plenty of performance to all sport riders, including riders moving up from the sporting, entry-level Honda CBR250R as well as more experienced riders who will appreciate the CBR500R’s light and nimble handling. Credit its thoroughly modern, torquey fuel-injected 500cc parallel-twin DOHC engine that’s wrapped in a greathandling chassis featuring a full fairing spawned from Honda’s much-acclaimed CBR600RR and CBR1000RR sportbikes. This aerodynamic bodywork also provides significant advantages in air management for added rider comfort, along with a low drag coefficient and effective engine cooling. A sophisticated chassis with Pro-Link® single-shock rear suspension, stout 41mm fork, sporting 17-inch wheels and a 320mm wavestyle front disc brake and 240mm rear disc help round out a package that looks as good as it rolls. Standard model available in Black, Pearl White/Blue/Red or Red. ABS model available in Red only. Price: $5,999; ABS $6,499. Availability: April 2013.

CB500F: Modern, Sporty And Naked There’s an aura of independence and nonconformity that riders gain when they sling a leg over a modern naked bike—and that’s especially true when that naked bike is the all-new Honda CB500F. This modern and sporty 500cc naked bike not only carries a full load of attitude and style, it also delivers a gratifying level of performance and versatility. Whether you’re riding on your daily commute, headed for a weekend backroad blast or just hanging out with your riding buddies, the CB500F serves as a great option for just about any kind of street ride. Its slim profile and comfortable, neutral riding position let riders feel right at home in the saddle, and a sophisticated Honda Pro-Link rear suspension and big 41mm fork add to the comfortable ride and agile handling. For a unique ride that’s stylish, fun and affordable, it’s tough to top the new CB500F. Standard model available in Black or Pearl White. ABS model available in Black only. Price: $5,499; ABS $5,999. Availability: April 2013.

For Riders In Search Of A Little More Adventure: CB500X If you could use a little more adventure in your life—and who couldn’t?—the CB500X can deliver on that idea at a surprisingly affordable price. That’s the beauty of owning an adventure-style bike like the CB500X; every time you look at this bike it just about begs you to take it out in search of new roads, undiscovered places, fun sights to see. And the CB500X is not just a great ride, it’s also equipped with a load of features that give it an extra dose of versatility. The compact windscreen can be adjusted to varying heights, the open riding accommodations are extra roomy and the larger-ca-

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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2012 pacity fuel tank has been carefully shaped to give the rider an unrestricted riding position. The long-stroke 41mm front fork yields a full 4.9 inches of travel and a wide handlebar allows for easy steering inputs. Also, a wide assortment of Honda Genuine Accessories lets riders personalize their bike with ease. But you don’t have to save up your CB500X for that once-in-awhile adventure tour; it also serves as a versatile ride to fulfill those everyday needs. Available in Matte Black Metallic on both standard and ABS models.

Price: TBD. Availability: July 2013.

Gold Wing F6B: Exceptional Performance, Extraordinary Style Whether you have an hour, a weekend or a week to leave it all behind, here’s a new bold and blacked-out-styled machine to satisfy that urge to get away from it all—the brand-new Gold Wing® F6B. This machine is loaded

with all the good looks and key features you want, and it’s all set for short hops or weekend trips. It starts with a powerful fuel-injected 1832cc six-cylinder engine that provides an unrivaled level of performance in the class.

Honda’s unique, horizontally opposed sixcylinder layout also contributes to an exceptionally low center of gravity. That design, along with a large and stout twin-spar aluminum frame plus a sophisticated suspension system, gives the

Page 47 Gold Wing F6B remarkable nimbleness and maneuverability for superior handling. The blacked-out styling treatment with long and low lines gives the Gold Wing F6B an aggressive look, while large-capacity saddlebags, a comfortable gunfighter-style seat, premium audio system and more means there’s no need to rough it on the road. Available in standard or deluxe trim and offering a wide assortment of Honda Genuine Accessories, the 2013 Gold Wing F6B leaves plenty of room to add your own personal touch. Available in Black or Red on both standard and deluxe models. Price: $19,999; Deluxe $20,999. Availability: February 2013.

CB1100: Timeless Look, Inspired Performance For many riders, a motorcycle with a timeless look retains its own special place in the sport—and that’s what the CB1100 is all about. Better yet, with this bike it’s not just about sleek lines and a purist approach: check out the powerful 1140cc aircooled DOHC engine that hearkens back to so many classic highperformance Hondas.

The twin-shock rear suspension and 18-inch wheels build on the classic bike theme while still delivering sporty performance, and the powerful, thoroughly modern triple-disc-brake setup offers the option of ABS. There’s also the dual-overhead cam layout and four valves per cylinder for superior engine breathing, Honda’s sophisticated Programmed Fuel Injection for the latest in accurate fuel metering and consistent power production, plus more contemporary touches. All these modern highlights complement the CB1100’s timeless style to create a fresh category of motorcycle that’s just right for the times. Available in Candy Red. Price: $9,999; ABS $10,999.

Availability: March 2013.

For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com

ALL ROADS LEAD TO…

COOPERSTOWN NEW YORK

LAKE FRONT HOTEL 10 Fair Street, Cooperstown, NY

607-547-9511 www.lakefrontmotelandrestaurant.com Rooms for 3 nights including tax: 1 Queen: $327.04 • 1 King: $341.60 2 Doubles: $384.16 • 2 Queens: $430.08 MUST ASK FOR BACKROADS GROUP FOR DISCOUNT RATE

SPRING BREAK 2013 • MAY 16-19 A very special rally indeed as the rides and routes will be the very best of Backroads itself. We’ll have a We’re Outta Here, Mysterious America, Big City Getaway and Great All-American Diner Run all in one rally. Our Host Hotel will be the Lake Front Hotel on Lake Otsego, walking distance from downtown Cooperstown. As we always say, rooms are limited, which they are, and the cutoff date for reservations is

JANUARY 15, 2013 2013, so make your reservations NOW and we’ll see you in May.

FEEL THE FREEDOM!

Ride New Zealand with brian and Shira

Backroads Magazine

February 2014

13 Nights • 2000 miles of Fantastic Riding Auckland to Christchurch (North & South Islands) Large selection of motorcycles to choose from Guided Tour with support van There’s Plenty of Time to get your ducks in a row and join us for a trip of a lifetime.

Choose from these bikes…

For more details and bookings please contact: Fred Rau • 951-672-0239 • Fred@FredRau.com Visit Te Waipounamu Website for information

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