W H A T ’ S
I N S I D E
MO NT HLY C O L U M NS
Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................4 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ...........................................5 ON THE MARK ....................................................7
Publishers
Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil
Contributors
Mark Byers, Dr. Seymour O’Life
BACKLASH..........................................................8 INDUSTRY INFOBITES.......................................9 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ..............12 BIG CITY GETAWAY .........................................14 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ........................................16
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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2020. 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 2020 • BACKROADS
FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RAThJEN
The Cards dealT At our local Bike Night at Jumboland in northwestern New Jersey, we rode up to be greeted by a friend of ours who came over as we landed, slightly limping, and learned that he had run into a severe gravity storm just a few weeks earlier. It was a single-vehicle incident and happened at a point in a longish day’s ride when he was fairly close to home and riding on a very familiar roadway. He went to cut around a ‘center of the road’ speed bump only to run into an almost invisible drift of gravel. He remembered seeing the gravel then being on the ground, his Harley skidding in the other direction. It was a violent crash and ribs were broken and ego just slightly dented.
Unlike many riders, my friend tried to be brutally honest on how this accident occurred and he has run it through his mind over and over. It’s possible, he has decided, that he saw the gravel, went on survival-mode and snapped the throttle closed and squeezed the front brake – recipe for disaster but hard, even for a seasoned rider, not to do. From hearing him talk it out a bit I think he might have been a bit tired. While discussing this with a few riders hanging around, kickin’ tires, we all decided that sometimes it’s as if accidents like this might come down to simply how the cards got dealt that day to any given rider. As if the dealer named ‘Fate’ has handed you the cards for the day and that is that. That could be true still, I have another thought on how we can ‘fix the deck’ – but let me show you another incident. Yes, show you – not tell you. This one, thankfully, ended well and the rider, my friend Rich, not only had two cameras going, but was ‘mensch’ enough to post it; in the hopes that other riders will not make the same error. Remember – we learn from errors – but pay for our mistakes! You can see this video here – and it is obvious Rich had a slight bad call in judgment. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChxulU28NRc&feature=youtu.be Kobayashi Maru The Kobayashi Maru is, was, will be (?) a Starfleet training exercise to test the character of Starfleet Academy cadets in a nowin scenario. Sometimes it might seem like horrible cards of destiny have been dealt to us and the situation that comes upon us in a millisecond is a no-win scenario. I recently penned a letter to Reg and Gigi Pridmore, who run CLASS Motorcycle School that we faithfully attend each year. Hey Reg & Gigi, It was so great to see and hang and learn with you all once again. I really have to say, over the years, all these CLASSes have improved our riding immeasurably. And, although some try to skip out on the braking exercises to get on the lunch line quicker – I enjoy them and this skill can and will save your asses. That being said… two days later, riding up through Virginia we had the ‘classic left’ hung in front of us at a Y intersection. This F-150 did not give any intention, or wheel shift - he did not even let off the gas… just suddenly vectored left as I entered the three-way intersection. I did not get wide-eyed, as there was no time to go “oh shit”, and the deep part of the brain reacted in a millisecond. After the last few days of training, and mid-day braking exercises on my end, there was no panic, no lockup or ABS. Just smooth and VERY quick deceleration. The GS did not even bobble, nor did I spill my pint of beer. (Sir Reg metaphor) The truck bore left and I leaned left and eased off the brakes and we both continued on our own merry and clueless ways destined never to have a police report written about us. Shira, on the other hand, had all sorts of colorful metaphors to say about the pick-up driver. BR So, it seems to me that Fate tried to slip cards to me from the bottom of the deck; but practice and mentally working through these scenarios, again and again, payed off. This time, at least. We were handed a Kobayashi Maru and like that one guy - we fixed the deck to our advantage. We didn’t cheat – we improvised and had a safer outcome. We get cards dealt to us all the time. It is how you work those cards that will determine if you win or lose and ever play again. ,
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
WHATCHATHINKIN’ ShIRA KAMIL
TaKe iT To The Top Well we know where we’re going But we don’t know where we’ve been Taking that ride to nowhere We’ll take that ride ~ Road to Nowhere – Talking heads I have had a webpage saved on my computer for, well, it seems like forever. Geotab put together a ranking of America’s highest roads in every state by analyzing the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Elevation Dataset. Along with the roadways they have chosen, in their opinion, the top ten most breathtaking views from said highest roadways. Coincidentally, right after I revisited this email, another came in from Harley-Davidson touting the top ten mountain passes in the world. I was pleased to see that Brian and I had ridden half of these. So, without further ado, I will bring you a few of this country’s high points (you can check out the rest of the list here (www.geotab.com/americas-highest-roads/) as well as the listing of the mountain passes, with my experience of each ridden (or pillion, as it were). I think that plotting a ride to each of these points in the U.S. would be a most excellent road trip, whether one long trip or, as Brian and I are trying to do with major league baseball stadiums, a cumulative adventure. Drum roll, please… Topping the list at 14,132 feet is Colorado’s Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which is also in the top ten most scenic views. The highest paved road in North America, and one of the highest in the world, stretches 28 miles from Idaho Springs
Page 5 Visitor Center to the summit of Mount Evans and is a dizzying 6,590 vertical feet. At the end of the road, there is a viewing platform constructed from the remains of a restaurant/gift shop that burned down in 1979. As with most passes at these altitudes, it is typically closed between September and May. Had I been more on the ball, we could have bagged this list-topper on our trip cross-country this past June. (Yes, Clem, I know…) Missing the top by just 351 feet, at 13,781 feet, is Mauna Kea Access Road in Hawaii. This dormant volcano, with the 6th highest road in the world, was constructed in 1964 to provide access to several astronomical observatories and is one of the only places in the world where you can drive from sea level to 14,000 in about 2 hours (unless you are on a BMW press intro, in which case you might make it in an hour and a half or less). When we were there, we were warned of the ‘invisible cows’. Well, how in hell are you supposed to know if a) they are there and/or b) if you’ve hit one? This refers to the often-foggy roadway with no street lamps and free-range black cows. You get the picture. Dropping down 1,824 feet and travelling far to the east, you’ll find Forest Trail 124 to Cerro Vista in New Mexico as your third stop on the ‘Let’s Get High’ list. As the name implies, this trail is far from paved. As a matter of fact, on the USDA Forest Service website, it is listed as 8.0 miles long and for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. If we ever do a Backroads’ rally out west, you can bet you’d find it on one of my routes. As the next few listed are all forest trails, let’s skip to the next one on the
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top ten scenic list. You’ll find this in Wyoming (and Montana) and I’ll bet that many of you have already seen its beauty. Clocking in at 10,953 is the Beartooth Highway. The highway opened in 1936 and runs from Red Lodge, Montana to the north-east border of Yellowstone National Park. Many people might think that Alaska’s Atigun Pass is high on this list (sorry/not sorry for the pun) but it comes in at a paltry 4,757 feet. However, it’s still found on the top ten most scenic, as Brian can attest. He and buddy Mike spent a good time tooling around on a couple of KLRs (almost running them dry within sight of the pipeline – how ironic) on their way to Prudhoe Bay. As a matter of fact, West Virginia’s Forest Road 104 to the peak of Spruce Knob comes in almost 100 feet taller, at 4,850. For those joining us on our Spring Break 2021 Rally, we’ll have a route heading up to that summit. Where do you think the lowest high point might reside? I honestly thought it was Louisiana but at 495 feet, Firetower Road is al-
DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS most 150 feet higher than that of County Road 285, Walton County, Florida. That makes New Jersey’s High Point Monument Road seem like a giant at 1,761 feet. Be sure to visit the website for the full count, it’s well worth it. As for the world tour, here’s where we’ve been… Romania’s Transfagarasan Highway. After seeing Top Gear’s episode on this snaky piece of asphalt, we headed out with Adriatic MotoTours to tackle the beast. Unfortunately, I was tackled before we got there and didn’t get a chance to ride it myself. I can tell you that being on the back of the motorcycle had a very high grin factor. Ruta 40, Argentina and Chile. This roadway runs for more than 3,000 miles along the eastern flank of the Andes, from sea level in southern Patagonia to the Bolivia border in the north. While we did not hit the highest point - 16,000 feet above sea level at Abra del Acay - the portion that we did ride (2-up on a BMW GS) was pretty hairy. It is NOT paved but is made up of very large rocks, with a decided hump in the middle, and the winds are a constant 40 miles an hour with gusts of much more. Good times, folks, good times… Angeles Crest Highway, California. A must for motorcyclists and a favorite for those who live anywhere near it. It is 66 miles of climbs, twists, switchbacks and drops – the full Alpine experience. We just recently did this wonderful ride on our way to Wrightwood in June and I praise the Honda NC750X for its nimble flickability. Conor Pass, Ireland. Yes, it rains in Ireland – A LOT! When we were heading out to do this ride, it was not and we got to see the beauty of the magical land. But then the weather came in and we continued on, only to find ourselves riding, almost by braille, and Brian smashing through what might have been a meteor hole. Going to the Sun Road, Montana. Like Beartooth Pass, this piece of tarmac is on many a motorcyclist’s bucket list. Pictures don’t do it justice – so just go see it for yourself. Paso de Stelvio, Italy. I am stating for the record – I hate this road. Yes, I know, those are very strong words. I have ridden it a couple of times, both ways, and going from north to south is one of my most loathed experiences. That said, you should definitely ride it if you can. It is beautiful, technical and breathtaking, just not my cup of tea, or espresso, as the case may be. Get out your maps and altimeter and start plotting your ‘Let’s Get High’ ride. It’s all uphill from here, especially if you live in Florida. ,
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
ON THE MARK MARK ByERS
The end: a new beginning “This is the end, beau-ti-ful friend. This is the end, my only friend, the end. Of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that stands, the end. No safety or surprise, the end. I’ll never look into your eyes…again. Can you picture what will be, so limitless and free, desperately in need…of some stranger’s ~ The End - The Doors hand…in a desperate land.” She beckoned. Sitting alone beneath the awning of the shop, in an area usually reserved for those previously caressed by others, was a beautiful white motorcycle with blue and red accents. The “HP” on her loins was an indicator of the musculature within - no expense had been spared in her making. The previous pilot’s care was evident, with tastefully-added jewelry. She was just over a year old. As we walked into the shop, I told my friend that I couldn’t wait to hear her story: what would move someone to abandon such a viscerally-beautiful, muscular piece of two-wheeled sculpture? The divorce was painful, I learned. A man of an age removed from my own by little more than a decade brought her in for service…and just walked away. There was no consignment or trade for another beauty, just an outright sale just hours before I saw her outside. He didn’t just walk away from the motorcycle - he walked away from the life, the sport, the occupassion…from motorcycling.
he’s comfortable enough for a trip, albeit a solo one, and the mountains of my native West Virginia beckon.
S
He was apparently cowed by some experiences and in doubt of his own skills, so he left his love behind, never to look into her eyes again, as Morrison would say, abandoning their elaborate plans. No safety or surprise. Excited as I was for the opportunity, at first I didn’t dwell upon what must have been his dilemma, but I was aware of it. Later, I thought about the mortality and infirmities that led him to make such a monumental decision. As I close on sixty, I wonder when the aches of old injuries and the occasional stiffness in my hands might result in the need for me to assess my own mortality and abilities. I dread a day when my cognitive functions or vision or other infirmities of age might drive me, or worse yet, someone else, to make the decision that my riding days are over. Our world is not getting safer for motorcyclists, with texting drivers, the advent of driverless cars (which we nearly have even when they are occupied), and the massive congestion of our roads. I sit here and write and wonder about that man and I want to comfort him - to reassure him if I can that his love has found faithful and tender hands. A stranger’s hand in a desperate land.
Page 7 I could not help but to take advantage of the presence of such a beautiful motorcycle with so little experience and such wonderful adornments, so that afternoon I pledged myself to her without even so much as an introductory ride. I’d ridden her cousins before and I knew what to expect, so there was no need - besides, she needed service for an easily-treated malady. The right words were said to remarry her to me and the right dowry changed hands, although in this case it was the husband supplying it. We had a spirited wedding dance on an all-too-familiar route from the shop to my home, and she danced brilliantly. I can’t wait to dance with her in a more fitting ballroom and hopefully the Pridmores will avail us of that opportunity next year at VIR. It’s clear from even the manual that she was built for the track. If not, other arrangements will be made - elaborate plans as the song says. She’s accommodating enough to be a good commuting partner, although first gear would be sufficient for the entirety of my commute. She’s comfortable enough for a trip, albeit a solo one, and the mountains of my native West Virginia beckon. It breaks my heart to think of how a man must feel to walk away from the life like that and my thoughts are with him. Perhaps when this winter of our discontent is over, he’ll reconsider and find a smaller partner more suited to his situation and mindset. No matter what, I will think of him at every dance with that beautiful partner and thank him for the opportunity with which he presented me. Don’t worry: she’s found a stranger’s hand and your end is her new beginning. It is not the end, my beautiful friend. ,
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BACKLASH “Don’t Let the Fear of What Could happen, Make Nothing Happen.” Brian and Shira, your cross-country journey during the coronavirus pandemic personifies your statement. Indeed, your journey reinforces the very essence of BACKROADS … Freedom of the Open Road … no matter what. However, for many of us such an undertaking during these extraordinary times seems surreal … particularly in the face of Shira’s personal lose. However, knowing the both of you from years of reading BACKROADS an undertaking such as this does make sense. The part of your story that I have great difficulty with is your clear distain for those of us wearing masks and social distancing to mitigate the spread of the virus and save lives. You go on and make it perfectly clear, Brian, that any government and municipality requiring wearing masks and social distancing is taking away your right to freedom of choice. Well “By Cracky” BACKROADS … your freedom of choice not to wear a mask and social distance could very well take away my freedom to live! These simple tools are proven to slow and reverse the spread of the disease. They are our best defense until, and for some time after, a proven vaccine becomes widely used by the public. A government asking or mandating using these tools is showing proper governance. We may be entering a “Dark Winter”, Shira and Brian. We are seeing an upturn in infections and deaths. Please rethink your position about wearing a mask and social distancing so that next spring, Lord willing, we may take to the open road together, healthy and in harmony once more. bruce Kagan … reader/ rider l.i. new york Bruce, Thank you for your thoughts and your point is taken. We have always shown respect when it comes to others and how they wish to deal with this. We wear masks when we have to or feel it is called for. We always have. I am not sure where you saw disdain in saying we choose to be cautious and vigilant – but not petrified of it. Okay, we did pick fun at Aspen a bit. Still, there are those who are simply waiting for the worst. We simply choose not to. Be well and safe. BR
DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Letters to the Editor Hey there, 77 years old, bored and wanting me and my RT1200 on the road, why should you be worth 40.00, can I try for a week or so? I am leary of getting something that falls short; example, MGTD club in NE USA (34/year and a DUD) Thanks a lot for your input...I have read your mag over the years and have always like it. Martin Martin, Believe me, we don’t want to charge that much but between printing and postage that’s what we’ve got. We do offer the print publication for free from local dealerships and other motorcycle-related businesses as well as the online version, which is posted pretty soon after the paid subscribers receive theirs. You can find that here: https://issuu.com/backroadsmagazine. There’s at least 10 years of issues online. We are a monthly publication, so ‘trying for a week’ isn’t an option. We are happy to send an issue for your perusal, just send along your mailing address and we’ll pop one in the mail. Hope that helps. Brian, I believe Rider is putting out both paper and digital, at different prices, and is working on a brain-chip device that will send you the latest issue, which will appear right in front of your eyeballs. Clem salvadori How right you are Clement; and how truly happy we were to see the return of our second favorite motorcycle touring magazine! Subscribe to Rider at ridermagazine.com. Hello Brian, We drove the Route you suggested, and it was as you described, some of the most isolated roads and place, it felt like we were transported to some other mystical place. Buttermilk Falls, awesome!! Thanks, pankaj das
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
IN DU STRY INFOBITES LET’S GET THIS SHOW BACK ON THE ROAD Organizers of Americade are already planning an Americade 2021, and are optimistic that the 38th annual motorcycle rally will be held in the Lake George area on June 7-12, 2021. “Interest in Americade 2021 is very high because so many 2020 events were canceled, and we are expecting a huge Americade 2021,” said Christian Dutcher, Americade’s director. “Naturally, COVID-19 may have a say in this, and if we need to push Americade later, then we would postpone until later in the year.”
2020’s postponement from June to July, though ultimately canceled, compelled organizers to carefully consider all safety measures put in place by state and federal health agencies while still offering attendees a true Americade experience. Those precautions are still at the forefront of planning for 2021. “We created a touch-less Americade 2020, which would have made the event a model for how to run a large event during COVID-19,” said Dutcher. “We plan on doing the same in 2021 if needed. It’s simply a safer way to run an event.” For nearly four decades, Americade has offered not only the best guided and unguided rides in the Northeast, but also the most factory demos of any
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News from the Inside motorcycle event in the U.S. as well as AMERICADE EXPO with the largest concentration of motorcycle vendors in a single location at one time. Lake George area businesses have supported Americade week and consider it to be the kickoff to their summer season. Keep track of the details and news on Americade Motorcycle Rally on their website www.americade.com or www.facebook.com/americade/
CELEBRATING OUR YOUNG NEW RIDERS Gabriel DaSilva was named the 2020 Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award winner, one of four riders to receive AMA awards at the 2020 AMA Road Race Grand Championship on Oct. 25 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. DaSilva, 16, from Vero Beach, Fla., competed in AMA 600 Superbike Expert and AMA 600 Superstock Expert, winning those classes on a Yamaha YZF-R6 by a combined margin of 13.02 seconds. He also finished second on the same motorcycle in AMA 1000 Superbike Expert. This is the third AMA Road Racing Grand National Championship victory that DaSilva has earned at the 2.38-mile, 17-turn Alabama circuit. He won the AMA 600 Superstock Expert title in 2019. “I was pretty surprised to win it,” DaSilva said of the Horizon Award. “I met Nicky—also, his parents—at a couple of MotoGP events.” DaSilva especially admires one of Hayden’s former teammates, two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner. Continue on Next Page
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS Continued from Page 9
“I really liked the way he rode and how fast he was,” he said. DaSilva hopes to continue his racing career in the MotoAmerica Series in 2021. The Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award is presented to the rider showing the most promise for success in the professional ranks. For more information about AMA road racing, visit americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/road-racing.
HEADING TO THE RACES Tickets for the 51st DAYTONA Supercross, featuring one of the longest and most grueling courses on the circuit, designed by five-time DAYTONA Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael, are available now. The event that features high-flying excitement and side-byside intensity is set for Saturday, March 6, 2021, a part of the 80th annual Bike Week At DAYTONA, March 5-14. Daytona International Speedway has made a limited number of “Early Access Pre-Sale” DAYTONA Supercross tickets available for the iconic race that includes General Admission, Reserved Seating as well as The Roost, which provides incredible course-side bleacher seating. The event is held in the tri-oval of the World Center of Racing. Tickets start as low as $45 while
kids 6 to 12 are just $15, and those 5 and under are FREE in General Admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Featuring marquee names prepared to bang bars at the gate drop, the DAYTONA Supercross is an electric event, featuring a unique layout and three types of dirt, including the signature beach sand section that tests the skill and physical endurance of every rider. From the world-class pyrotechnics and dazzling lights show of rider introductions to the post-race champion celebration, it’s an atmosphere like nowhere else. In addition to DAYTONA Supercross opportunities, tickets are also available for the Speedway’s January and February motorsports events, that include multi-day tickets for the 59th Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the season-opening event (Jan. 30-31) to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as well as the 63rd DAYTONA 500 (Feb. 14) and all events part of DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth. Fans can stay up to speed on the latest news by using #DAYTONASX and #BikeWeek and can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES RECALL A small number of 2021 model year Zero S, SR, DS, DSR, FX, and FSX models may be affected. These motorcycles contain a DC-DC converter that may have an insufficient power output margin.
According to Zero: If a DC-DC converter does not have enough power output margin to support all power demands, it may temporarily shut off when its power capacity is exceeded, with no warning to the rider. Should this occur during an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) activated event, the ABS and all vehicle lights would temporarily stop functioning, which could increase the risk of a crash. In total, only 64 motorcycles built between August 19, and October 5, 2020, have this potential defect. ,
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
PRODUCT REVIEW / HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
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IXS TOUR GLOVE DOUBLE-ST +1.0
Always looking for that extra pair of gloves? Vented for dry and sunny days, lined for cold and wet? Swiss motorcycle gear maker IXS may save you some time with their Tour Glove Double-ST+ 1.0. Constructed with a combination goatskin leather and textile, these gloves offer a double chamber to keep you covered. ‘Grip’, marked on the palm-side with a gold ‘sun’, offers no palm lining, which allows for air flow, and the goatskin palm with double layer of Amara and padding makes them sure-handed and very tactile. ‘Wet Protection’, marked with a blue ‘rain cloud,’ is fully lined with a solto-TEX PLUS membrane with Tri-fleece, keeping you warm and dry. These markings make for a quick switch into the right glove for your riding pleasure. Other quality features of these gloves include soft knuckle TPR (thermoplastic rubber) protectors, double padding on the ball of the hands, a rubber helmet visor wiper on the left index finger, touchscreen-capable material on both index fingers and multiple Velcro wrist straps for fit adjustment. Available in any color as long as it’s black and sizes from XS-3XL, the Tour Glove Double-ST+ 1.0 retail for $179.00. Right out of the box, these gloves were supple and fit quite well. Having hands on the smaller size, the XS were just a bit long in the fingers but nothing that would interfere with operating the motorcycle. As a matter of fact, the ‘Grip’ side had a tighter fit than the ‘Wet’ side, which I found more functional. The gauntlet is a good length and fit
over the sleeves of my jacket to seal out any wind flow. There is a touch of retro reflective striping on the index finger and cuff to make them just a tad more visible. While I did use them in the colder temperatures and found them VERY comfortable and warm, I have not used them in the wet so cannot comment on their water resistance, but I have all confidence that they will serve as advertised. IXS Tour Glove Double-ST+ 1.0 gloves’ simple, straightforward design is functional and could be ‘that’ glove you’ve been looking for instead of digging around for a second pair of gloves in your bags when the weather changes. Find them at your local dealer or visit ixs.com ~ Shira Kamil
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN KiTCheneTTe ChiCKen shaCK 1219 ny 213, high falls, ny 845-687-7464 • kitchenetterestaurant.com
Route 739 • Dingmans Ferry, PA • 570.828.1920
OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE
WE ARE
BACK!
It was a beautiful day in October and you have to take them when they come. Looking for a new place to end up for a nice lunch with our friend Helene, she suggested the Kitchenette Chicken Shack in High Falls, NY. A time was set and we were on our way. Brian put together a 90-mile ride, which, quite frankly, could have been one of the best 90 miles I’ve ridden in a very long time. While we covered areas very familiar to us, we were on roads that were not and they were superb. Enhancing the pleasure of the ride was the colors of the season and the warmth of the day, as the sun rose and did what it was supposed to do. As we neared the end or our ride and our destination, the obvious was stated; ‘Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.’ High Falls has been a motorcyclist’s meeting point for years, with The Egg’s Nest being a gathering spot for beginnings or endings of many a ride. Directly across the road, in a rustic building that has housed a number of eateries in the past, you will find the Kitchenette. The first Kitchenette, lovingly owned by Lisa Hall and Ann Nickinson, was opened some 20 years ago in New York City as an 11-seat luncheonette serving comfort food. Over the years expansion occurred to the Upper West Side and Tribeca and, most recently, to the small hamlet of High Falls. Upon arrival, you will find what looks like an old farmhouse, with a homey porch and wooden signs. During our visit tables were set up in their parking lot, as was the sign of the times, but there is indoor dining on ‘50s-style enamel-topped tables where you can take in the eclectic décor which gives the Kitchenette its charm. The bar takes up the center of the room, with the adjoining room hosting their delectable home-baked goodies. The aroma wafting beckons one to save room for dessert, or at least
tasty places to take your bike
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
some room in the saddlebags to savor their treats at home. As of right now, they are open Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 8pm, with breakfast available until 4pm every day. Their fare is American Comfort with a decidedly Southern bent. Breakfast will get you a biscuit sandwich with fried chicken, American cheese and pecan habanero jam, scrambled egg bowls with choices of spinach, cheeses, caramelized onions, sugar-cured bacon, chicken sausage or avocado, egg dishes such as Herb and Goat Cheese or Bacon, Avocado + Swiss Omelettes (all with homemade buttermilk biscuit), pancakes or waffles from the griddle, both sweet and savory, and don’t forget their delicious baked goods.
Page 13 For us it was lunchtime and the choices were amazing. As the second part of their names suggests, chicken is the guiding light on this menu. Their signature dish is their buttermilk fried chicken and you can get that in a Shack Box of 3 pieces, 2 sides and grilled cornbread, which is exactly what Brian did. I opted for their famous chicken noodle soup, which was outstanding, along with a winter salad (spinach, roasted sweet potatoes, cranberries, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds) with fried chicken (didn’t want to get too healthy here) and Helene was sensible with a fried chicken BLT with avocado and ranch dressing. Other options include a number of BBQ plates including ribs, pulled pork and fried chicken, sandwiches, burgers and many tasty sides to go along with all of these. You can wash all this down with a variety of beverages including hot apple cider, some great coffee and espresso drinks, and remember to save room for dessert. Along with their baked goods, you can get a scoop of Jane’s ice cream in a variety of flavor or perhaps a milk shake. Ice cream in any form is a great way to end a meal. Here is Brian’s winner of a route starting from Jumboland on Route 206 in Branchville, NJ. Parts of this ride may be a little congested as it goes through the Shawangunks and past the Mohonk House but it is well worth. Enjoy! , www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/zegomd
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Frontline Eurosports Presents
BIG CITY GETAWAY doylesTown, pa - The hearT of buCKs CounTy What does concrete, modern art, anthropology, castles, the tribes of the South Pacific, and vampires all have in common? We know, right? Yup, not much than we can think of either. Unless, of course, you find yourself riding to Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Bucks County is one of the most inviting parts of the Keystone State (err, Commonwealth) and just a few miles west of the scenic Delaware River, and not far from where General Washington made his famous crossing, you will find the county seat – Doylestown.
For years this town was simply known as ‘William Doyle’s Tavern’, a watering hole strategically built at the main crossroads to the river, Philadelphia and Easton. In 1745, Tavern begat hamlet which begat town, which begat moving the county’s seat from Newtown to the now commonly know Doylestown. The telegraph came into town along with a branch of the North Pennsylvania Railroad. Unlike the towns down the cliffs and near the river, Doylestown did not have sufficient water-power for heavy industry, but other things developed including a “Lawyer’s Row” and some wonderful buildings and architecture - some wildly different as we’ll see. Historian/archaeologist Henry Mercer (1856-1930) was a man of vision and a strong believer in concrete. So strong were his beliefs on this material that he set about creating buildings solely with poured concrete. We’d like to talk about two specific ones today: Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle.
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind Not far from the museum and the famed Moravian Tile Works you will find Mercer’s home - Fonthill. Mercer built Fonthill Castle as his home and as a showplace for his collection of tiles and prints and it took four years to pour all the concrete. The castle serves as an early example of reinforced concrete and features fortyfour rooms, over two hundred windows, and eighteen fireplaces. Fonthill Castle’s interior features Mercer’s renowned, handcrafted ceramic tiles designed at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement. Tours are given and both buildings will give you a new outlook on good ‘ol cement.
By 1897 handmade objects were being discarded in favor of new machinemade goods. Mercer recognized the need to collect and preserve the outmoded material of daily life in America before it was swept away by the Industrial Revolution. Mercer gathered almost 30,000 items ranging from hand tools to horse-drawn vehicles and assembled this encyclopedic collection in a system of his own devising. To enhance the collection’s educational value, and to share it with the public, Mercer decided to design and build a museum to display the artifacts - The Mercer Museum. In 1916, he erected a 6-story concrete castle. The towering central atrium of the Museum was used to hang the largest objects such as a whaleboat, stagecoach, and Conestoga wagon. On each level surrounding the court, smaller exhibits were installed in a warren of alcoves, niches, and rooms according to Mercer’s classifications — healing arts, tinsmithing, dairying, lighting, and so on. The end result of the building is a unique interior that is both logical and provocative. It requires the visitor to view objects in a new way. Henry Mercer donated the building and his collection to the Bucks County Historical Society. This place is WILD and we dare you to ride away unimpressed. Today you can stroll around the museum and take in
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the many oddities and objects from the past. But, one stood out to us – The Vampire Killing Kits. Complete with a pistol with silver bullets, ivory cross, wooden stake, garlic, holy water, and Professor Bloomberg’s new serum – whatever that really is – we all should carry one of these on the bikes – ‘cause you just never know. Directly across from the Mercer Museum you will find another Doylestown jewel – the Michener Art Museum, dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Delaware Valley region. When we stopped by their feature exhibit was called Rising Tides – Contemporary Art and the Ecology of Water.
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Doylestown was also home to Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist. Most of her studies were of the peoples of Oceana and later in her life she became known for her talks and activism on society, woman’s rights, and nuclear proliferation. One of our favorite quotes from here is “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” Indeed. Another famed woman lived here as well, the author Pearl S. Buck, whose house promotes her legacy as author and humanitarian. As you walk through her pre-1825 Pennsylvania stone farmhouse, you will learn her life history, which began in childhood as a daughter of missionary parents in China and ended as a Pulitzer and Nobel-prize winning author. One of just a few national historic landmarks that uphold a woman’s legacy, the intact collection includes the typewriter she used to write The Good Earth. Serene paths lead to her gravesite. The exhibit gallery displays her numerous awards including the Nobel prize. As you can see a ride to Doylestown, Pennsylvania can fill up a good long day – maybe best to make it an overnight as we have the most excellent ‘We’re Outta Here’ to match up with your exploration of Doylestown. The Joseph Ambler Inn is just a 10-minute ride on Route 202 and it will leave you as impressed as did all of Henry Mercer’s creations. ,
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WE’RE OUTTA HER E
a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads
The TailwaTer lodge 52 pulasKi sT, alTMar, ny 13302 • 315-298-3434 Regardless of our big-time 25th anniversary plans being scrambled this last year we still seemed to be able to stitch some great rides together and as I wound up the hill above the tiny hamlet – just east of Mexico Bay - I wondered where all the people were? Surely this was not a ghost town. Not only was it kinda quiet, but there seemed to be an inordinate amount of Fly Fishing stores to be found. We came for the riding – but might have stayed for the fish. Shira and I had arrived just after a small gaggle of other riders on our Summer Squeeze Rally and we parked our machines along the long parking lot to the side of the old brick building – once a public school, now a boutique hotel called the Tailwater. Behind the hotel ran the Salmon River. Rivers get names for a reason – and there is a reason that this month’s We’re Outta Here might appeal to fly fisherman and motorcycle riders with equal zeal. This quaint town is usually bustling, but 2020 slowed it all down a bit and the ‘real season’ would not start for a few weeks. Why so much about fishing here in western New York? Because the river that runs through Altmar is amazing – and New York state takes advantage of what Mother Nature has brought here. The Salmon River stretches 17 miles from the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir in Altmar, to where it empties into Lake Ontario at Port Ontario. There are 12 miles of Public Fishing Rights along the river. The Salmon River offers some of the finest sportfishing in the country. Two major fish records have been set in the Salmon River: the Great Lakes record Chinook salmon (47
lbs. 13 oz.) and the world record Coho salmon (33 lbs. 4 oz.). Each year, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery, the largest in the state, releases over one million pounds of fish into more than 1,200 public streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds across the state. These fish are stocked for two main purposes: to restore native species to waters they formerly occupied and to enhance recreational fishing. Built in 1980, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery specializes in raising chinook salmon, Coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. The Hatchery was constructed to revive and enhance the Great Lakes fishery and now provides most of the fish for the multi-million-dollar Lake Ontario salmonid fishery. Each year this hatchery stocks over 1.4 million Chinook salmon fingerlings (young fish 3-5 inches long), 155,000 Coho fall fingerlings (3-5 inches), 90,000 Coho salmon yearlings (a fish between one and two years old), and 750,000 steelhead yearlings. The hatchery stocks approximately 3.5 million trout and salmon and helps with local warm-water fish stockings. Most fish are stocked directly into the designated water from the truck. Occasionally boats or aircraft are used to
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stock fish at a specific offshore location. Aircraft? We were there for the motorcycle riding and The Tailwater - named for the dam that is part of this fishy system - worked perfectly for our group. This hotel is part of the Tapestry by Hilton chain and the rooms were large, impeccably clean and had seriously strong showers and comfortable beds. Extra pillows a plus in our book. The pool and outdoor area with gas fire pits worked to everyone’s pleasure. The hotel also had a fairly well-stocked store for the ‘outdoors crowd’ and
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I had to be shut down from my never-ending ‘best socks in the world’ tour. Another great thing about this hotel was, even though there are several dining choices in the region, the Tailwater’s restaurant was very good. They offered a wide array of foods from both farm and stream and the desserts were awesome as well. The staff was friendly and fun and they served us one of the best meals on our Summer Squeeze Rally. To top off a great meal, the Tailwater hands out a S’Mores kit upon check-in and most of us headed outside, before the drizzle, to see how perfectly golden we could get our marshmallows. Soon after that, we discovered the game room and saw a serious competition of giant Jenga between two of the women. Normally, breakfast can be had before packing up and heading out to our next stop on this multi-day tour. The Tailwater is excellent in every way – a little more boutique than we are used to, but we were all okay with that – it is well worth looking into when traveling this part of the Empire State.,
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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTERI OU S AMERIC A devil’s den where The speCTers of The Civil war sTill MarCh… Few believers in the supernatural would not concur that battlefields have more than their share of things that go bump in the night. The sudden loss of life, it is believed, can trap some young soldier’s essence, their life-force, and keep it there for years, sometimes centuries before they finally make peace with their fate and move on. No battlefield in the United States is more well known, nor was as deadly, as Gettysburg. Nearly 50,000 men on both sides perished during the two-day conflict and one of the deadliest battles was at the aptly named Devil’s Den. One can only imagine the impact that these deaths had on this area. It was the largest loss of life over any two days in the American Civil War.
The town of Gettysburg itself is known for its share of ghosts, but many locals and paranormal investigators, as well as I, agree that Gettysburg Battlefield is home to more supernatural occurrences than almost anywhere else in the city. The Devil’s Den looks unlike anyplace else in the region and its very topography made it a key battle point. Geology was important in the outcome of the battle of Gettysburg in many ways. Union troops positioned themselves along the park’s ridges and hills, which provided excellent vantage points. In turn, Confederate troops moved
across the cleared valleys and lowlands in an effort to drive the Union troops off Cemetery Ridge, Culp’s Hill, Little Round Top, and Big Round Top. The boulders scattered across the landscape and also the rocks of Devil’s Den, provided cover and strategic defensive positions for the soldiers. The thin soil on many of the sides and tops of hills also made it almost impossible
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for Union soldiers to entrench themselves. The resistant bedrock was so close to the surface on these hills that the troops were unable to “dig in.” They had to rely on existing stonewalls, scattered boulders, and outcrops of rock for protection. Because of the Union army’s inability to entrench its position, it suffered heavy losses of 23,000 men. During the second day of fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the worst in the Civil War, Colonel Robert E. Lee had decided to go against the advice of his second-in-command, James Longstreet, and launched an attack on the Union. His stubbornness resulted in a staggering 35,000 deaths over the next two days, reaching a crescendo at Devil’s Den. Leading up to this bloodbath, Lee was grieving the loss of his most-trusted general, Stonewall Jackson. It may very well be this loss that caused Lee to act rather erratically going forward. Wanting to bring swift justice for Stonewall’s death, the Colonel devised a new plan of attack that would focus on Cemetery Hill.
Page 19 But after giving direct orders for his newly-appointed general to attack Cemetery Hill, Lee again found himself faced with internal opposition. His general outright refused to lead the onslaught, citing that Union forces were too powerful. It’s interesting to think what the outcome of the war might have been had Lee taken a different approach and heeded the advice of his fellow officers. While the Confederates were initially successful in gaining control of Devil’s Den and the surrounding land, Union forces eventually overcame Confederate efforts, putting a stop to any further advancements. Still the snipers entrenched at Devil’s Den caused major damage to the Union troops. One such instance saw the deaths of Union General Stephen H. Weed and Lieutenant Charles E. Hazlett when a Confederate sniper shot them from afar. Longstreet continued to protest Lee’s plans of attack, but it was no use. The Colonel was stubborn to a fault and his actions ultimately cost him the war. Launching a bombardment of over 150 Confederate guns, the Union again outflanked them. Using stone walls as cover, the Union opened fire on the rebels. Soon, regiments from Ohio, New York, and Vermont joined the Union in their attack. Lee’s troops found themselves boxed in from every angle, resulting in the annihilation of more than half of the Confederate army. With all this carnage, it is not surprising in the least that there is an incredible feeling of dread and that so many have claimed to have seen so much that cannot be explained. These occurrences are not rare either. Continued on Next Page
Page 20 Devil’s Den is a major attraction for both tourists and ghost-hunters alike; many of whom often bring cameras and recording devices in an attempt to capture some of its ghostly charm. However, such equipment is reported to malfunction or completely shut down.
Visitors will often experience their cameras or cell phones glitching out when trying to take a picture. The same is said for paranormal investigators when attempting to conduct research; their equipment will simply cease to function. Interestingly, when they move away from Devil’s Den and the Gettysburg Battlefield, their devices will miraculously begin working again. It is very odd, or just another episode of Supernatural.
DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS There are several reports of ghostly apparitions appearing right in front of tourists, hauntings at Devil’s Den, but as soon as they try to snag a photo, their devices will flicker and die. Well-preserved throughout the years, Devil’s Den remains a top tourist attraction. Its stunning rock formations have long been a point of interest, garnering attention from people of all walks of life. Geologists come to appreciate the natural structures just as ghost-hunters come for its paranormal qualities. While it was referred to as Devil’s Den long before the American Civil War and Battle of Gettysburg, the death that occurred there has only served to cement its name as an area not to be taken lightly. Here in this Mysterious America the Devil’s Den is truly a highlight. , ~ O’Life Out!
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goose bros. hoMeMade iCe CreaM 81 walnuT boTToM rd, shippensburg, pa 17257 717-477-0010 • goosebros.com • hours: 4-9pM M-f/2-9pM sa+su What would a Backroads gathering be without an ice cream stop? When our quirky weekend away to Gettysburg was snafued and moved to Shippensburg, I was more than happy, as there was an ice cream shop right in town. We have used Shippensburg many times before as a stopping point out or back for our rallies, but for whatever reason, I have never made it to Goose Bros. shop. This would change today. Started back in 2008, the brothers Ulmers – Andy and Matt – took over the keys from Tom Dick (sorry, no Harry in this tale) after Tom decided that, while he had success with his ice cream venture, it just wasn’t for him. Although the shop got a new name – from Tommy’s to Goose Bros. – many things stayed as is, such as the popular Grapenut, Tom’s pet flavor. Andy and Matt make all the ice cream on premise using milk from local landmark Eder’s Dairy in Montoursville, where the Ulmers worked as high school students and honed their skills, as well as locally grown fruits and ingredients. Both are graduates of Shippensburg University,so are well tied to the area. Why Goose Bros., you ask? Andy, the elder brother, says the moniker is linked to the nickname ‘Goose’ he got on soccer fields as a high school student. Matt, the 8-year younger Ulmer, eventually came to be known as ‘Baby Goose’, thus the shop’s name. We had finished a superb day’s ride, complete with requisite distances of unpaved surfaces, and I was very much looking forward to my reward of ice cream. So, when the group entered Shippensburg proper and started making their way towards the hotel, I signaled to Brian that I was heading for ice cream. Once they all heard this, they were all in. There is plenty of parking, as Goose Bros. is next to a municipal building. During our visit, Chambersburg Esport was raffling off Black Betty, which, as they say, ‘is the most fantabulous retro gaming cocktail arcade cabinet’ so, of course, we had to buy a Golden Ticket. Andy and Matt are always helping out the community, hosting events and giving back.
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We sauntered over to the Flavor Board to take a peak at their 24 offerings this day. Of course, Grapenut as were the norms of Vanilla, Strawberry and Light or Dark Chocolate. From there things got interesting with Teaberry (a Pennsylvania thing), Vanetzel (vanilla with caramel and pretzels), Cinnamon Crunch and Ship Ahoy, a tribute to their alma mater, which is chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips. Not on the menu were Corn Muffin - butter pecan ice cream with pieces of corn muffin - produced in honor of Shippensburg’s annual Corn Fest in August, or Hog Wild, coffee ice cream with bacon. The brothers’ description of their ice cream philosophy is ‘Sometimes simple is just better. While many companies today focus on how much “stuff” they add to their ice cream, Goose Bros. takes pride in bringing you fresh, natural flavors that speak for themselves; however, many of the featured fla-
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vors just might have a little something special to please everyone.’ I can tell you that the flavors we all chose on this day were exceptional; clean, fresh and spot on. While Teaberry is certainly not for everyone, everyone wanted to try it. I got a double scoop of Teaberry and Cinnamon Crunch, which was so much more ice cream than I could possibly eat, but Scott and Andrea went full bore with a large, which was enough to feed all of us. Others sampled the Maple Walnut and the Vanetzel. Sadly, no one got the Grapenut, so a return trip is in order. And, we are happy to say, that come this May, we will be able to do just that during our Spring Break. You can find our full plans for the 2021 Spring Break in this issue on page 36. We certainly hope that you’ll join us for all or some, and I can promise you at least one ice cream stop along the way. Remember, ice cream season is ALL THE TIME. Enjoy! ,
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Backroads Holiday List
A
s the Holidays roll towards us we think we all wish for the same old same old Christmas. But, we do think it might be a bit different this year. While hope, love, and good cheer seem to spring eternal with we riders, we wish you all the happiest, safest and healthiest of Holidays. With that in mind, we asked some familiar names from Backroads just what they wanted to find under the tree come Christmas… Little Anthony Lisanti from the backwoods of New Jersey writes: Dear Santa, 2020 blew, so you betta come through Big Man! This is what I would like to find under my tree. The tequila and cookies will be on the table – like always. ~ Tony
ARIA XD4 DUAL SPORT HELMET The XD4 is a very versatile adventure helmet. you can wear it in regular dual-sport mode with shield or you can pull off the shield and re-fit the roost guard/peak and you’ve now got a full-on motocross helmet that will even fit goggles inside that nice wide shield opening. Best of all it’s an Arai, so I know if I need it – it’ll do the job.
MAXXIS M6001 INTERMEDIATE OFF-ROAD TIRES I gotta have serious tires to adventure ride with my new helmet so a set of these M6001s would be perfect. These tires are Maxxis’ original intermediate terrain tire. They feature durable knobs and a grooved design that maximizes traction and ensures stability in loose soil. In addition, a reinforced bead reduces the risk of tire/rim separation. They are super bad and just what my ADV machine needs.
KLIM BADLANDS AERO PRO SHORT GLOVES While we are at it Santa, a new pair of gloves would be sweet too. The Klim Badlands Gloves would do just fine. Super comfortable and great for just about every type of riding; it would be good to find them wrapped up in my stocking.
YAMAHA YDX MORO PRO MOUNTAIN BIKE Oh, to have a yamaha bicycle to go with my yamaha motorcycle! These new yDX Pro Mountain Bikes are the bomb. With a suspension that is optimized to evenly spread grip between the front and rear of the bike for greater traction on the trail and buttery smooth feel when riding over anything that trails can throw at you, all-mountain has become every-mountain. Blue would be perfect. Thanks for everything Nick… Markey Byers from Maryland writes: Dear Mr. Claus, Suspending belief that your stated aircraft defies any known law of physics, and would be heartily protested, and rightly so, by PETA and considering that you could somehow actually surmount my ample home security and then not be taken out by Mrs. Byers, I would like the following. By the way, Santa (if that is really your name) did you get the little sneakers from children kicking you in the butt when you illegal B & E’d their homes? Just wondering. ~ Love Markey
SHOEMAZING SNEAKER KICKSTAND PAD Who doesn’t need this, right? A silly, but fun way to keep your machine from sinking into the parking lot.
ALPINESTAR SMX-1 R VENTED BOOTS On a larger shoe size, a new pair of Alpine Star SMX-1 Vented Boots would be neat too. Durable, lightweight, and incorporating extensive perforation of the low-cut road riding boot, the SMX-1 R Vented Boot is constructed from a highly abrasion-resistant microfiber upper and is reinforced with strategically positioned TPU protectors. Alpinestars’ exclusive rubber compound sole offers comfort and excellent grip, both on and off the bike, while the accordion flex zones give support and control regardless of your riding position, or just seated in my comfy chair with the wife on Christmas Eve watching the fireplace – cleaning our handguns.
CANYON DANCER BAR HARNESS II Lastly, the FINAL thing on everyone’s wish list should be a Canyon Dancer Bar harness II. It’s perfect for those times when you need to get a bike to service or the track and can’t ride there, but must truck or trailer. The Bar harness gives you a place to attach tie downs to a motorcycle or scooter that is high and wide for good support and the harness keeps your tie downs away from expensive paint and plastic bodywork. Danny Bisbee from Vermont wrote to Santa and asked… Dear Santa, Have you tried the Keto diet – I ‘heard’ it does wonders. I have been a really good boy…not buying it, eh? So, it’s cold up here in Vermont so maybe I can ask you for some seriously great stuff to keep me warm, okay.
AEROSTICH WARM BIB I like this better than a vest for three reasons: 1) It packs smaller • 2) I can put it on or take it off without taking off my jacket • 3) It always fits (unlike my last electric vest which apparently shrank over the winter. (you know what that’s like)
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BEADRIDER Does your butt hurt after an all-nighter in the sled? I bet it does. have you ever tried the BeadRider? I know Rathjen swears by them and he has a huge butt. I have had them on every bike I have owned.
HELMET SUNBLOCKER It seems like a silly thing until I bought a new helmet without it. Amazingly, the old one came off my old visor with no problems, but I still want another one. Inexpensive, functional, and super to have along on those winter days when the sun lies low.
MAXIT DESIGNS HEAD GATOR This just another way to keep warm on the cheap. The Maxit Designs head Gators are a stretchy wind-resistant head gator that makes cold weather riding much more comfortable. Easy to carry for when you need it – every motorcyclist should have one.
SWISS VICTORINOX SWISSTOOL I have about a half dozen multitools and this one is my favorite. It has all the functionality of your toolbox packed into a light and pocket-friendly form. The SwissTool is your one-step solution to effortlessly tackle any task, fast. It integrates no less than 26 functions, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. Pamela from Pennsylvania writes to Santa Hey Nick…Pamela here. You remember me, right? I have always been a very good girl and, other than fixing the world, there are a few things I would like to ask for…’cause I have been a very good girl. Just ask Tim.
DAYTONA LADY PILOT GTX New boots. After 14 years in my beloved BMW boots, I wore a hole in the sole. Needing something that is waterproof I found a pair that fits the bill, the Daytona Lady Pilot GTX. It protects in all kinds of weather, looks good, has safety features, and lifts its wearer by about 2 inches, something this 5’2” rider sometimes sorely needs!
FIRSTGEAR 12V HEATED WOMAN’S JACKET I recently installed heated grips on my Triumph, but that doesn’t help my torso when the temps trend downward. My heated gear is very, very old, so I’d like to update to a new Firstgear 12V heated Woman’s Jacket to comfortably extend my Pennsylvania riding season; maybe even visit you and Mrs. Claus up north one day. FirstGear uses thermal and lightweight materials to fit under the jacket or used by itself. The heated Jacket Liner is wired directly to my bike’s battery allowing for near-endless warmth; if your bike can run, you can stay warm. The Jacket Liner comes with the necessary wire harness for wiring to your bike’s battery. When more than just core warmth is needed, connectors at the end of each arm allow for easy connection to FirstGear’s heated Glove Liners. Connect to your vehicle’s 12V battery system and draw just 75 watts.
KLIM ALTITUDE RIDING PANTS FOR WOMEN I have their old version and they’re great except for one big nitpick...they don’t have pockets. Klim listened to its complaints, and the new version now has two thigh pockets and one interior pocket. Shira and Brian from Backroads Central in the Forest of the Iroquois, New Jersey Chime In… Dear St. Nick, We hope all is well and wondered if the pandemic affected the elves – we heard they are immune. Things are good on our end and thank you for picking up the check this past July at El Siboney. You didn’t have to do that, but they do make the best Paella. We really don’t wish for much, but we do gotta fill the rest of this Holiday Gift guide (not that we would mind some of these), so here are our thoughts for Christmas morning under our Hanukah tree.
BODZ… THE WORLD’S BEST BASE LAYERS It’s cold here Santa… help us out with some serious undergear. For us, we have found nothing is as comfortable and easy to use on longer road trips than Bodz from realrider.com. They are available in a few different varieties, but during the colder weather, we love the thicker Silver-filament Bodz. They have minimum seams, so no pressure points, and are easy to wash and always dry overnight. In the warmth Bodz have great wicking properties and are very stretchy as well which is great packing-wise. The material on the heavier Bodz is made from the heaviest weight of Skinlife, it is their warmest undergarment; and the Skinlife maintains the body at a constant temperature. Its Silver filament is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, keeps the skin healthier, and can be worn for multiple days if needed and your riding gear will “float” around your Bodz!
ALUMINUM GAS PUMP NOZZLE KEY FROM AEROSTICH here in New Jersey we still pump our own gas into motorcycles. It can be a pain and if you’ve ever encountered the charmingly termed “evaporative recovery nozzles” at gas stations, you know what a semi-spastic wrestling match with one of these flammable-spewing hose appendages can be like. All you’re trying to do is refuel your motorcycle, right? however, for those of us so afflicted, this nozzle key artfully retracts the corrugated... forepart of said alloy proboscis and allows you to gas your bike with a minimum of fuss and splatter.
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DENALI D4 2.0 LED LIGHTS The Denali D4 2.0 LED Lights kit with DataDim technology & amber lenses combines one of the most powerful auxiliary lights on the market with some serious color to improve conspicuity and foul-weather performance. These beams will light up potentials as far as 800 feet down the road with more than enough light to illuminate the road shoulders and beyond. Four 10-watt CREE XPL hI LEDs produce a piercing beam of light yet combine to use just 6.6 amps for both lamps. Installation is straight forwards so even Bumble the Abominable Snowman can install them. If you can stop by Twisted Throttle Factory store in Exeter, Rhode Island on the way to Jersey that would be swell.
PEARLY POSSUM SOCKS Talking socks, again? yes, indeedy! Pearly Socks are pretty amazing and we were turned onto them by fellow reader / rider helene who gushed about them. They are 45% fine merino wool and 40% possum fur. Possum! Go figure. This combination makes them incredibly soft and warm like nothing you have ever worn before. Santa…. We need more Pearly Possum Socks!
THE XP3 HORNET Sorry to say Santa – we do not think that your reindeer are going to be as big of fans about the XP3 hornet as we are. For years they have given us an electronic edge on the unpredictable and wayward moves of deer. Remember we don’t hit deer – deer hit us and the hornet Deer Avoidance Device is a precision tuned sonic generator which produces a high pitched, directional sonic wave. When this wave is reflected from the road surface of a moving vehicle, a virtual sonic echo effect is produced. This sonic wave has proven its ability to alert deer and most other animals to approaching vehicles with sufficient warning to avoid costly accidents. We have them on every motorcycle, but I would like one for the car.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT… A bright and safe future for all our friends, family, and readers. As we all know – 2020 – not so great. So, if you really can supply a holiday Miracle give us a 2021 with kindness, happiness, healthiness, and miles of smiles that would be, as our friend Ed always says, Fantastic! We all think that is what we truly want. happy holidays!
Sources in order: Tony Lisanti www.araiamericas.com/node/224 www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-428-113-intermediate www.klim.com/Badlands-Aero-Pro-Short-Glove-3924-000 www.yamahabicycles.com/bikes/ydx-moro-pro Mark Byers www.alpinestars.com www.canyondancer.com Dan Bisbee www.aerostich.com/aerostich-electric-warmbib.html www.helmetheadcycle.com beadrider.com www.maxit-inc.com/hg-GATOR.htm www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissTools/SwissTool/p/3.0323.L Pam Collins www.daytona.de/en/index.php?section=mediadir&cmd=detail&lid=5&eid=19 www.firstgear-usa.com/product/177/heated-jacket-liner-75w-vehicle-powered-womens www.klim.com/Altitude-Pant-5094-001 Shira and Brian www.real-rider.com/bodz www.aerostich.com/e-z-fill-nozzle-key.html twistedthrottle.com/shop/lighting/auxiliary-lights/driving-lights/denali-d4-2-0-led-light-pod-with-datadim-technology-2
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS Although many would think blue skies and sunshine make for a perfect riding day, this day saw a light overcast and a thin veil of clouds that kept the August sun’s heat at bay and made for a perfect 72 degrees and shadow-less riding day.
ODD VERMONT FACTOID: VERMONT IS AN ENGLISH FORM OF THE NAME THAT FRENCH EXPLORER SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN GAVE TO VERMONT’S GREEN MOUNTAINS ON HIS 1647 MAP. HE CALLED THEM “VERD MONT”.
To West Dover, Vermont Just three weeks after a fun and successful rally at The Graduate in State College, Pennsylvania, Backroads and our ever-growing extended family of riders and friends were back on the road. This time we’d be heading north into Vermont and then west into the Empire State’s massive Adirondack Park before looping south down into the southern Catskills. For us, the ride started with the arrival of columnist Mark Byers. The wordsmith and wife Betsy had ridden up from Maryland, making the overnight at Backroads Central, and joining us and ‘Ride Like a Pro’ coach Rick Mickles for a long and leisurely ride into Vermont.
Like the State College events earlier, we had a decent turn-out with riders looking to get out and forget the happenings and issues of 2020. Our groups had split between two of the great inns in the West Dover region - The Gray Ghost and The Kitzhof Inn – just a short walk apart. Add into the mix was the ChromeHeads BMW club and West Dover almost looked like a normal summer day with small battalions of machines filling both parking lots. New friends were made and old friends were hugged - or not, depending on your level of covid tension – and dinners found and plans made for the ride the next day to Tupper Lake, New York. This time around our friend Paul Donoghue built the routes. Paul, who does an excellent Garmin seminar, was well versed in the region’s tinier backroads and we appreciated him putting in the time and effort to make multiple choices for riders over the next few days. Both Kitzhof and the Ghost are used to big crowds and are excellent bases for both motorcycle and car clubs – you might want to take note. With breakfast being served early at both inns, bikes were soon packed and machines began rolling north along Vermont’s famed Route 100.
To Tupper Lake, New York Paul had three routes offered to riders, all with a great mix of paved, peaks, passes and a decent amount of gravel tossed into this Green Mountain State mix. The southern route cut into New York and then up along Lake George before heading west to Tupper Lake; the northern would cross over the islands
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in Lake Champlain and involve a short ferry ride, before heading south near the Canadian border to the heart of the park and the middle one would cross over Route 17, known as the Appalachian Gap. The App Gap has been long known as a serious rider’s road – and like Goldilocks this seemed just right. Our small roost of riders cut north following Paul’s purple line that brought us along a number of tiny Route 100 off shoots. We made a detour as a consensus voted me off the island Yes, we were at many different lodgings, with some in towns a bit away, when I wanted to follow but the idea was to get riders out to simply be riders and we think we sucthe grader up the hill, now ceeded with that. settled with deeper clay Dinners were found around town and more than one motel parking lot berecently dumped as the locame a happy little Margarettaville for a few hours that evening. cals attempted to civilize the road a bit more. Our stop at the Rochester Café for maple ice cream milk shakes was mandatory and allowed the sugar to 1269 DOLSONTOWN RD kick in just as we made the left turn to head up the Gap. MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 The romp over the App Gap was superb with my making just one small error in one tight bend. But, as we 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM know, we learn from our errors but we pay for our mistakes. I will be more precise and smoother next time. Cycle Motion is your provider of motorcycles, ATVs, We crossed into New York at Crown Point and had a scooters, and utility vehicles by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, splendid lunch at Foote’s Port Henry Diner – a true yamaha and Can-Am. With a large parts department, qualified American classic. After satisfying our bellies we went service technicians and a full shop of parts and accessories, off to explore the heart of the Adirondacks at a bawdy, we're here to meet all your power sport needs. and quite fun, pace. For every rider - on or off road, whether they like doing it in the dirt, carving the twisties, or cruising the backroads, we have their weapon of choice.
We got into Tupper Lake by late afternoon. Unfortunately, with this Squeeze, we had to make do with the Pandemic Culture that had swept the nation and, after being shut out of Stowe, we were happy to take just about every room in Tupper Lake.
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
R O C K in the ADK! With nods to Mr. Mellencamp, the roads in and around the Adirondacks can be like watching a baseball game on a hot day; It can be a long stretch of straight followed by many miles of wonderful twists and turns. There are a lot of these and they need to be searched out.
ODD ADIRONDACK FACTOID: THE ADK PARK IS REALLY BIG. ACCORDING TO THE NYS DOT THERE ARE 10,555 MILES OF PAVED LANE ROADS HERE AND IT WOULD TAKE THESE FIVE NATIONAL PARKS ADDED TOGETHER TO EQUAL THE SIZE OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK: YELLOWSTONE, GRAND CANYON, YOSEMITE, EVERGLADES, AND GREAT SMOKY NATIONAL PARKS. For sure the long stretches here in the northern realm of New York can be stellar, beautiful and wild – and these roads quickly eat up miles and regions, but sprinkled around these sometimes tedious tire flattening roads are the real wild-side of these mountains. It really depends on your route and, sometimes, your luck. For us we flipped the provided route and threw in some little byways that grabbed our attention. We rode along the beginnings of the old North River, now called the Hudson, and then along Lake Champlain before spinning west on great pieces of winding pavement like Tracey Road and Ensign Pond.
We ran up Route 73; in my opinion, twenty seven and a half of the most beautiful miles in the entire park, with its great vertical cliffs, high peaks and chasms and waterfalls. Picking up Route 86 we followed Shira through the town of Saranac and to Donnelly’s Soft Ice Cream. I have learned to trust her when it comes to ice cream and Donnelly’s certainly has a following… as the line was as long as some parts of Route 30 earlier this day. But even though they offered just one flavor this day – coconut almond with a twist of chocolate – it was worth the wait. Creamy, smooth and flavorful.
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Sugared up some went with Shira back to Tupper Lake and some of us followed O’Life to a little bit of Mysterious America right in Saranac. In these covid times it is interesting to note how this tiny burg in the New York mountains played such a major role in another disease that plagued the nations – tuberculosis. But that is a tale for O’Life to tell. Once again dinners were found around the town and we grabbed sunset along the park.
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West to Altmar, New York Mr. Blue Skies was with us again as we headed west. Sir Paul of Donoghue’s scenic route ran north then west towards Lake Erie – some 180 miles of beautiful New York scenic byways, around Fort Drum clipping Watertown and ending up at The Tailwater Resort, outside the sportfishing town of Altmar. This region is an angler’s Mecca. Here the Salmon River, from late summer though most of the fall, offers anglers a chance to try their hand at some of the largest freshwater game fish in the world. Our King Salmon range up to 30 pounds, with many fish pushing past 20 pounds. As the Kings and Cohos begin to spawn, dime-bright steelhead begin to enter the river. These acrobatic fish bring anglers from all over the world trying to land one of these trophies. If you fish, as well as a ride – this region and The Tailwater cannot be beaten. See page 16 for a full write up. Shira and I visited some friends along the way, but caught up with all at the resort as the sun began to drop late that afternoon. But not before running
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into a dozen or so Model Ts romping around the mountains. Ahh, they actually made us feel young. Once at the resort the pool and hot tub were a must and the Tailwater’s restaurant did a stellar job with some diverse and delicious offerings. This place is superb for riding groups bent on exploring the mountains during the day and pampering themselves in the evenings. The hotel provided ‘Smores’ boxes so there was a sugar rush to be had before nighty-night. But before snuggling with Morpheus there was the firstever Jenga Tower of Death tournament. Sandy, you were excellent ‘til the Gravity Storm came through. Shira wins! (How’d that happen?)
DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
To Hancock, New York Paul had one more route up his vented rider gear’s sleeve and it would wind south and around Oneida Lake. This lake is the largest entirely within New York state, with a surface area of nearly 80 square miles. Sylvan Beach looked to be a happening town and The Pancake House the happening place for breakfast, complete with Utica Greens – an Italian American dish made with hot peppers, sautéed greens, broth, escarole, cheese, pecorino, bread crumbs and some whatever Italian meat you wish to toss in that day. Scrumptious. Continuing on I spotted an historical marker mounted on a granite stone. Got milk? You betcha. It was here, at this very farm, Gerrit Smith Miller, a pioneering breeder, established the famous Kriemhild Herd, the first registered Holstein-Friesian herd in America, with cows imported from The Netherlands -forever changing the milk industry in the United States. And here we were…. without a Chips Ahoy to our name.
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
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The Leatherstocking region of New York is always a pleasure to ride with its easy altitude changes, great vistas and happy roadways. The region’s moniker is a bit odd and the name comes from the unique leather leggings worn by frontiersmen and made famous by the work of author James Fenimore Cooper. Near the Delaware we crossed into Pennsylvania for a bit, tagging our sixth state of the Squeeze and by late afternoon we rolled into “The Gateway to the Upper Delaware River.” Yes, another superb fishing town but with a serious baseball connection. We have found the small hamlet of Hancock to be very rider-friendly, made better by the excellent Hancock Hotel - and it made for a terrific ‘last night’ on the road. Some folks had to return to their real lives, while others had nothing but time and still others were able to steal away just for a night. Although we seemed to have a bit of attrition each day, we still had a fun and happy group sitting outside Honest Eddie’s Tavern at the Hancock Hotel that evening. Russ and crew were super hosts and the folks in the bar were more than tolerant as our group of moto-heads gathered around the laptop to watch the Austrian MotoGP. Once the yelling started as the bikes started flying (literally) across the track, we were politely asked to take our party outside. Dinner was al fresco on a lovely evening while everyone caught up with each other after too long an absence.
ODD HANCOCK FACTOID: HANCOCK WAS ONCE HOME TO BECTON DICKENSON. MORE DISPOSABLE SURGICAL BLADES WERE PRODUCED IN HANCOCK THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. HANCOCK IS ALSO HOME TO MANY HARDWOOD MILLS. OAK, MAPLE, ASH, CHERRY, AND OTHER FINE HARDWOODS ARE SHIPPED ALL OVER THE WORLD TO BE FASHIONED INTO EVERYTHING FROM BOOKCASES AND CHAIRS TO BASEBALL BATS.
WORLD-
FAMOUS LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BASEBALL BATS WERE MADE FROM HANCOCK TIMBER FOR OVER 85 YEARS. THE WOOD THAT MADE BABE RUTH’S BAT WAS CARVED FROM A TREE THAT GREW IN
HANCOCK.
The mist enshrouded the Catskills the next morning so we lingered over our complimentary breakfast and coffee in the Maple Room before saying our goodbyes, with sights on getting together again in Maine in the not-toodistant future.
A few of the overnights on this Summer Squeeze were lifted from our 25th Anniversary Grand Tour that was Faucied in the late spring and, rather than cancel the world like everyone else seemed to have done, the covid Police simply forced us to make other plans. But, plan Bs quickly became C and Ds! We’re flexible. We do pilates! As this longish summer weekend progressed we stayed at classic Vermont Inns, the oh-so-American roadside motels, a refurbished elementary school turned resort and a boutique-style hotel in one of the Delaware River’s oldest historical towns. Like a great baseball game, we had all the bases covered. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, so did our pieced-together Summer Squeeze. During a time when one event after another, and the fun times and freedom of travel that we have come to trust and believe in, have been stripped from us, we pulled off two big road rallies in one month’s time. Most excellent and thank you to all who came and made them wonderful and especially memorable during these unusual times. We had hoped by the time this story hits paper things were better, but I do believe I have written that a few times already. So, just get out and ride! Like the sticker says – No Fear! Stay tuned, as we’ll keep putting our soirees together as long as you all keep joining us. ,
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
You have to think that BMW has its cards on the table. Big Bike. Big Market. Then COVID happens! The R 18 is everything they wanted with this machine. Monstrous engine. Classic chassis. Stunning looks. It had both Shira and I scratching our heads. What to do with this …monster? This is the first. There will be more. Scary, right? But maybe not. Everything has a beginning, and just starting the 1,802 cubic centimeters engine of the R 18 makes you take notice. When started there is a distinctive toss to the side, but it’s not just that. It is the beautiful black pinstriped white paint job. BMW has looked back 60 years to the R 5 and done so well. It
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simply states ‘First Edition’ and that leads you to believe there will be more to follow. Berlin Built is emblazoned throughout. So, here we have this big honkin’ bike in the barn. But is it sooo big? Really, yes and no. Seeing it in pictures and seeing it in person – two different animals. The R 18 is a fine-looking machine. Maybe not my slice of cake, but it is what it is. And, we see things coming down the road. BMW has rolled the dice in a questionable time. If you are looking to make a statement down Lou Reed’s Dirty Boulevard, then the R 18 is going to do just that. The graceful lines, the tucked-in cables, the clean German look. The stunning fishtail pipes and chrome cylinder head covers scream look at me. Still, parked next to Shira’s sporty Honda 919 or my GS, it almost looked tiny! But, that engine! Holy Moly! She’s got…great tracts of land.
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BUT, if you are looking for a backroads carver then take a look at ANY other BMW – not the R 18. Putting the R 18 through its paces to fire it up is almost a chore, but when it lights up you take notice as it comes across like a small seismic event. The engine is simply amazing, but even with all that grunt, you have to be able to keep it all in line. Our rides are not cruising. The magazine is called Backroads for a reason. It was frustrating to have Shira, on her decade’s old bike, leaving me in the dust as the R18’s tiny 3.5 rear suspension and just slightly longer 4.7 front end bit the dust several times down Iron Bridge Road. It had been a while since I was troubled with what a machine was doing beneath me. But this is the first R 18 – BMW always learns. They will get this right. On more friendly roads the big engine ate up the gap. The bike’s power-modes are called Rain, Roll & Rock. Okay, it must have been a COVID fever. But, yikes what a powerplant. Seriously. Still, some things have me greatly concerned. I have never said, “greatly concerned” ever in a review. The driveshaft is open and spinning. Hmmm? Somebody somewhere is going to have a bad day with this.
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS As far as monstrous eye-candy goes this bike had more people looking at it when coming to a stop than Gal Gadot showing up as Wonder Woman. We had a great lunch with friends at Gronsky’s in High Bridge, New Jersey, and everyone, even strangers, wanted to sit on the new Berlin-Built BMW R 18. A guy with a Porsche just stood and stared. I stated to him that I didn’t know Germany made sports cars. On the wide-open road, except for dragging bits here and there, the R 18 did a decent job on the country sweepers and certainly kicked ass on the straights. Turn the throttle and things get exciting. Still, it is a cruiser – one of the biggest on the planet and certainly the biggest Boxer BMW and Berlin have ever built. So, remember that.
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WHAT’S NEW FOR 2021 duCaTi sTreeTfighTer v4 s The Streetfighter is the result of the “Fight Formula”: the Panigale V4 stripped of the fairings, with a high and wide handlebar, 178 kg on the scale, powered by a 1100 cc Desmosedici Stradale delivering 208 hp kept in hand by biplane wings and a complete electronic package. The modern and technological Ducati naked bike has immediately enjoyed great success among motorcyclists all over the world, also confirmed by the positive feedback from the international media. Dark Stealth is a matte black color that represents the perfect chromatic choice to show the aggressive side of the ultra-naked Ducati. Moreover, all Streetfighter V4 models in the 2021 range are fitted with new front brake and clutch pumps, both self-bleeding and derived from those used for the first time on the Superleggera V4. The body of the new pumps has been designed with a configuration that allows a ‘natural’ bleeding, thus eliminating the need to intervene on the system in the event of air present in the circuit. The entire Streetfighter V4 range for 2021, including the Dark Stealth color scheme for the “S” version, can already be ordered in Ducati dealers and will be available starting from November 2020.
yaMaha inTroduCes The nexT-generaTion MT-07 Yamaha has introduced the 2021 MT-07 as the new model in the company’s Hyper Naked motorcycle segment. With features such as distinctive next-generation MT styling with a signature LED headlight, updated inverted LCD dash and larger diameter brake discs, the new MT-07 is the ultimate Hyper Naked middleweight. Yamaha’s focus is on the future, and by the end of the first decade of the 21st century the company’s product development teams were on a mission to create a new generation of future icons.
Inspired by Japanese Subculture and created by some of the most visionary designers in the business, the MT07 arrived shortly after the very first MT-09 was launched. The motorcycle world was changing, and Yamaha was leading the way with two of the most significant new models to be launched by the company in its long and illustrious history. With its unique package of price, performance and engine character, the MT line is proving to be one of the most successful product ranges ever produced by Yamaha. Featuring distinctive new bodywork that reflects its pure, next-generation MT DNA, the 2021 MT-07 represents the progressive evolution of one of the world’s favorite naked bikes. A range of upgraded features include an engaging and character-packed engine, more powerful front brakes, Michelin tires, new LED headlight with LED turn signals and position lights, and LCD instruments, as well as tapered handlebars. New colors and refined detailing reinforce the bike’s MT family DNA, and with an extremely competitive price point, the MT-07 is ready to maintain its leading position as the bike that works for everyone by offering the best balance of performance and value in its segment.
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PRODUCT REVIEW / HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
SIGNATURE CUSTOM DESIGN GRAPHICS
A new look for your Adventure motorcycle mAde eAsy Back in the day, when manufacturers sold a machine, it came with a paint scheme and color that you’d hope you could love and live with for years to come. Some OEMs still offer paint and livery such as this, but with some motorcycles, the graphics are simply well-applied vinyl. That works too – but with this you have options. I wanted something different so, when I purchased another machine for day-to-day Backroads exploration, I searched out a bike of the tabula rasa vein. Unlike my previous BMW, which came with a very obvious M-Style paint scheme and graphics, my new 1250 was specifically bought in what they call
Black Storm Metallic – a mix of both a matte and metallic black – which by itself looked great; especially with the gold-spoked rims. I bought this machine in particular as I had a plan. Many times, my ‘plans’ go sideways but this time around it involved a company I had dealt with before as we did a feature on the applique and graphics kit a year back – dressing up a plain white Shoei Neotec II helmet with a very neat ‘world map’ graphic set with pretty good results. This was the first time I had done a project like this and the thing with many vinyl stickers is: once committed, that is what you get. We found the Signature CD (Custom Designs) vinyl to be a bit more forgiving. Searching around their website - www.signaturecd.com – for any specific motorcycle is a breeze; as long as it is a BMW, Ducati, Honda, or KTM.
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020 They also offer kits for several popular helmets as well as side cases and top cases from BMW, Givi, Touratech, and others. All of Signature CD’s products are made from premium cast vinyl materials from the highest quality suppliers in the market such as 3M, Avery, Oracal, Hexis. These days it seems you can order something from the next state and it seems to take weeks to arrive. Signature CD is based in Cyprus and yet, each time I have dealt with them, I have received exactly what I asked for within two weeks. Impressive. On their website, there were a range of “Signature” styles from which to choose, but I fell in lust with the “Safari” design, and then it was a toss-up between the yellow and the green. Yellow won – especially as the bike has the gold wheels. When the kit arrived, I was a bit intimidated by just how many stickers I would be dealing with. Signature CD has a great site with detailed instructions on how to install their livery and, with everything spread out on a work lift, I began to go about it following their steps in exact order. Using a light painters tape to hold the appliques in place I slowly began – using a small plastic squeegee and a heat gun (on low) to help push out any bubbles or imperfections. First one-half of the larger pieces of vinyl and then to the second half. The first one tentatively finished I stepped back to look. Nice! Being well aware of my patience or, for that matter, lack of patience I took two full days doing this. One or two stickers applied and then away from the GS to chase after other tasks needed to be tackled. Each application might be different – but I found taking my time on something I was hoping to live and ride with for another 100,000 miles would be worth it When it was all done there was just one or two more hard critics to get by and the wife had been keeping an artistic eye on my progress. Not that she isn’t aware of my incredible artistic… okay, I can’t draw a circle. It seems no one has any faith in me anymore. “Wow… awesome,” was her comment… “Really!” Another, very tough nut to crack was columnist Byers. He was as surprised as when he found out I built that big Estes rocket in the office. Seeing him grabbing some great digital images at daybreak outside Shippensburg a week or two later told me the machine looked pretty good. The only addition I needed to make was adding the Backroads logo that was easily handled by Mike at Mor-
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS ris Brothers Graphics – who have been doing a stellar job for us for a quarter of a century. They color-matched Signatures CD’s vinyl to a Backroads logo and …voila – my new GS was MY new GS! My point on this is that if I, who types like he has boxing gloves on, can do this – so can you. If you have a bike that Signature CD works with and want something new, different, and very unique – then take a look at their website. This particular kit set us back $250 after Euro-conversion and it was worth every penny and drop of sweat equity.
These graphic kits offer outstanding durability and performance. They are very tough, will not fade and, if wanted or needed, can be removed later on if desired. Although they offer to a niche market – an artistic type may find inspiration in what they see and what maybe could be for one moyotcycle, might work for something completely different as well. , Take a look at www.signaturecd.com.
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BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2020
20 20 - 20 2 1 N J P OLAR B E AR G RAN D T OUR The destinations listed below may have restrictions on social distancing and mask wearing. Abide by COVID 19 CDC and Site Rules before entering any establishment. Please check the POLAR BEAR website for updated information. 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. Polar Bear cancellations & updates will be posted on the website. Sign-in is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Check the New Member page for general information about the Polar Bear Grand Tour: polarbeargrandtour.com/newmem.htm
NOVEMBER 29 • MONTGOMERyVILLE CyCLE, 2901 Bethlehem Pike hatfield, PA 19440 • 215712-7433 • www.montgomeryvillecc.com
DECEMBER 6 • PJ WhELIhAN'S 799 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 • 610-272-8919 • pjspub.com/about.php?loc=Blue_Bell 13 • O'CONNOR'S AMERICAN BAR & GRILL 1383 Monmouth Rd Eastampton Twp. NJ 08060 • 609-261-1555 • www.oconnorsmtholly.com • ChRISTMAS PARTy. BRING A TOy FOR ThE ChILDREN'S hOSPITAL (do NOT wrap present) 20 • ThE hAMILTON TAP & GRILL, 557 US hIGhWAy 130, hamilton Township, NJ 08691 • 609 905-0925 • hamilton-tap-grill.business.site/ 27 • RhODES NORTh TAVERN, 40 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg, Ny 10974 • 845-7536438 • www.rhodesnorth.com
JANUARY 2021 3 • PIC-A-LILLI INN & Chilly Chili Run 866 Route 206 Shamong NJ 08088 • 609-2682066 • picalilli.com/albums 10 • VICTORy BREWING COMPANy, 420 Acorn Ln, Downingtown, PA 19335 • 610873-0881 • www.victorybeer.com 17 • WOODy'S ROADSIDE TAVERN, 105 Academy St, Farmingdale, NJ 07727 • 732938-6404 • woodysroadside.com 24 • ThE EXChANGE, 160 E. Main St., Rockaway, NJ 07866 • 973-627-8488 • www.exchangefood.com S31 • SWEETWATER MARINA & RIVERDECK, 2780 7th Ave, Sweetwater, NJ 08037 • 609-668-1545 • www.sweetwaterriverdeck.com/
FEBRUARY 2021 7 • ThE FRANKLIN hOUSE TAVERN, 101 North Market Street, Schaefferstown, PA 17088 • 717-949-2122. • franklinhousetavern.com 14 • LIGhThOUSE TAVERN, 397 Route 9 Waretown, NJ 08758 • 609-693-3150 • lighthousetavern.com 21 • PUB 199, 199 howard Blvd, Mount Arlington, NJ 07856 • 973-398-7454 • pub199nj.com 28 • LONG VALLEy PUB & BREWERy, 1 Fairmount Rd., Long Valley, NJ 07853 • 908876-1122 • restaurantvillageatlongvalley.com/long-valley-pub-and-brewery/
MARCH 2021 7 • BAhR'S LANDING, 2 Bay Ave., highlands, NJ 07732 • 732-872-1247 • www.bahrslandingnj.com 14 • BRIAN'S hARLEy-DAVIDSON, 600 S. Flowers Mill Rd., Langhorne PA 19047 • 215-752-9400. • www.brianshd.com 21 • ThE hICKORy BBQ SMOKEhOUSE, 743 Route 28, Kingston, Ny 12401 • 845338-2424 • www.hickoryrestaurant.com 28 • PLUMSTED GRILL, 457 Rte. 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 • 609-758-5552 • www.theplumstedgrill.com
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DECEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
The Law Office of Paul G. Gargiulo Presents
Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival
The Deep Brain Although it is human to let your mind drift from time to time, it is best to stay concentrated, or at least as focused as possible, while riding. Letting our minds wander and to begin to “frack with farkles” can end very badly as, no matter what you think, we can only really cogitate about one thing at a time – although we do, most times, have a powerful and instinctive back-up in reserve. Although many of us think of our nervous system as that see-thru body diagram from biology class, you must remember that all your senses are simply extensions of your nervous system. Your touch, smell, hearing, and sight are all feeding back impulses to your brain that are then deciphered and analyzed; and your brain, as great a piece of evolution as it is, can only take in so much and can sometimes miss things – important things. Some researchers state that the brain, making it simple, has two distinct bosses. The more methodical and systematic part that thinks things through, projects (usually wrongly) and believes it is in total charge of the whole operation called ‘Your Life.’ We’ll call this the Analytical. Then there is what I will call the “Deep Brain.” The Deep Brain hangs way back and takes care of the things we rarely think about. But, when stirred into action and response, the Deep Brain is Warp-Drive quick and makes you do things and react so fast that you then wonder what the hell just happened. For example… you are riding home thinking about this weekend’s MotoGP race when a ball rolls out from between two parked cars – a little kid right behind it. You are doing 40 and are already at the bumper of the rear car – yet you snap the bike to the left and avoid the ball and child. Deep Brain totally in charge… and then it settles down and the neurons of the Analytical Brain begin to chatter trying to figure it all out. This is almost always the case unless you are so engrossed with thinking and scrutinizing a task that even the ultra-fast Deep Brain cannot react in time. I recently talked with two riders, Sam and Dean who have spent much time on the road together over the decades, and last year they had toured north of the border enjoying a few weeks in British Columbia and Alberta and the stunning Canadian Rockies. On their way back to Estados Unidos this dynamic duo was riding on a long straight lightly-travelled road leading to the border. Dean was in the lead by a good margin as these two were practicing riding and social distancing before it was hip. Let’s say a little more than a ¼ mile apart rolling at 70 miles per hour. That is about four and a half football fields, which takes about 12 seconds to cover at that speed. As they had been on the road all day and the border crossing was coming up soon, Dean began to play with his GPS… bringing the image on the display out in hopes of seeing the border-line with Canada and the United States. Basically, he was having some fun on an empty road going straight.
Sure, he would pick his head up and scan that long, straight, and empty road, but he was really just going through the motions and his mind was just minimally working on keeping the bike going down the road in the correct lane. Dean’s main focus was on manipulating and evaluating the GPS display and seeking an imaginary line at the 49th parallel. Behind him, Sam saw the movements from the right, which was still a good distance away from the lead bike, maybe another eighth of a mile; four low-to-the-ground black silhouettes, shuffling down from the woods and across a short grassy area towards the roadway. Sam tried to Bluetooth a ‘heads up’ to Dean, but either it never went through or he didn’t catch that. Indeed Dean had, numerous times, picked up his head for that cursory glance ahead – each time life was peachy. But, while the deep part of his brain was happy and blissed to simply keep the bike upright and in that-a-waymode, the analytical part was still thinking GPS and the US border, tapping screen buttons, trying to have the map move out. He glanced back up the road – very quick – it was just like the previous glances – then back to the display. Dean’s eyes probably did register and send the impulses of the bears moving in directly to the main office, but the Analytical Brain did not register them at all. All looked good as his glance fell back down towards the GPS. Dean hit the bear at 70 miles per hour. According to Sam, the impact was horrific. Both rider and machine, ignoring gravity and physics, launched into the air – then began to tumble like empty paper cups caught in a wind storm. The bear, spun to the side and mortally wounded, was dead by the time the authorities arrived. The cubs, now motherless children, disappeared into the forest. Pain sucks. Pain lying on a road sucks more. Punctured lung, numerous broken ribs, and one shattered vertebrate. Ouch. Sam stuck with him for a good number of days at the hospital before Dean’s wife could get there and now, less than a year later, Dean is back riding again. I talked with Dean about this and he was quite honest when he said, “I was concentrating on my Garmin and, even when I looked up, I was looking for a clear road and that’s what I thought I saw. It was not till a milli-second before the hit did I think oh s…!” The danger was there but his brain could not process as it should have as its resources were gobbled up elsewhere. We can all get caught up on thoughts and inane tasks while riding – but we shouldn’t. Still, we will all do it again and again and again. How about we try to do it just a bit less? You In? I’m in! See you on the road?