July 2015

JULY

2015

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure Volume 21 No 7

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’ ...........................................6 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE.......................8 ON THE MARK ....................................................9

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Mark Byers, Pamela Collins, Michael D. Green, Bill Heald,George Tranos, Dr. Seymour O’Life

BACKLASH ........................................................10 INDUSTRY INFOBITES .....................................12 BIG CITY GETAWAY .........................................14

30

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 317 Branchville NJ 07826

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ..............16

38

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA..................................18 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ........................................21

phone

973.948.4176

fax

973.948.0823

SHIRA’S ICE CREAM RUN ...............................24

email

editor@backroadsusa.com

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE ............................47

online

www.backroadsusa.com

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD ........................49

Advertising

973-948-4176

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ...................50

BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2015. 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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FE AT U RE S 17TH BACKROADS SPRING BREAK...............30 GREAT RIVER SERIES......................................38 WORLD TRIALS IN RHODE ISLAND ...............44

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Page 4

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJeN

TwenTy When I was young I was led to believe that you got yourself a job and you put in your 20 years, some 7,305 days. You then retired and maybe got a gold watch if your bosses liked you well enough.

We started this ride that long ago.

Our first issue came rolling out in July of 1995 – first appearing at the sign in table at that month’s Ramapo 500. Sixteen pages of black and white, newsprinty goodness – it already had some of the things that would become staples of this publication. This Free Wheelin’ column, the first Great All American Diner Run and what would become Big City Getaway.

It quickly filled in the gaps that other local two-wheeled publications seem to be missing. For sure we all have these bikes, but what now? Where to go? What to do?

Well, every month that is what Backroads was for.

Now here we are twenty years down the line and Backroads has found itself in a comfortable niche – both here in these pages and on-line and, begrudgingly, in the various social media that I never would have believed two decades back. We still have a growing readership and both Shira and I have long gotten comfortable with who we are and what we do.

We like this magazine and we hope you do to. It has always been like a child of ours, once a baby; and now almost reaching drinking age.

Two decades is a long time. 175,320 hours long. We have loved almost every minute of it.

Has the industry changed over the last few decades? You betcha. The tumble in 2008 created a long and steep hill that many in the industry did not have the horsepower to summit and those that did do not look at things the same way anymore.

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The ease of on-line shopping has made life tough on local shops and there was a time when these same shops would be the gathering place for riders who now click on a website and then go update their Facebook status.

Is there really a new national Honda ad that has a couple sitting on the machine taking a selfie? I guess so.

This is the motorcycle world 20 years after 1995.

Some things have change, while the important stuff, at least to us, will always stay the same. So that brings us to the issue you are reading today.

Twenty years of Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure.

We’d like to say that Backroads is the end result of a lot of hard work on Shira and my part, but while tenacity is part of this formula, there are so many more people that have helped make this last two decades worth it in so many ways.

First off we’ll start with Bill Heald who has been with Backroads for almost all of this long run riding and writing about motorcycles from A to Z, and Mark Byers who quickly built a following with his wit and steady take on all things motorcycles. Even though he is no longer with us, Jeff Bahr was a true friend and an inexhaustible source of odd facts and knowledge.

Doctor Seymour O’Life has marveled us with the mysterious from the beginning and continues to do so whenever and wherever he is needed.

Over the years we have had a number of regional writers/riders return to these pages such as Mike Stackhouse, Dan Bisbee, Tony Lisanti, Ralph Angelo, Victor Cruz and others, all of whom added a flavor to this publication that you would not find in national riding magazines.

But, most importantly, it is readers like you who really have made Backroads the success it is.

It is you guys, gals and fellow riders that have made Backroads as successful as it has been and allowed us to grow the way we have over the last twenty years.

Thank you for the support and we look forward to the next twenty years.

Page 6

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL Full Speed AheAd What were you doing when you were 20? Some of us were just finishing our higher education, some planning for the next stage of our learning, some going into the work force, if we hadn’t already been in it for a while. Perhaps some time with Uncle Sam, or sow20 years ago… ing our wild oats before settling down. I was doing my best to further my artistic talents while attending Cooper Union School of Art, trying not to get too distracted by the happening of NYC. At this point in my life, motorcycles were not even a glimmer in my thoughts.

So to think that for the past 20 See how we’ve grown. years my main focus would be riding and writing about motorcycles is pretty incredible. I’m sure that those early computer graphic courses I took at UC Irvine played some roll in paving my path to the ‘graphics department’ of Backroads. As I’ve mentioned several times in these pages, the first couple of issues of Backroads were lovingly created at the offices of National Speed Sport News in Ridgewood, NJ, thanks to the kindness of the Economakis letting us use their brand-new Apple computers after hours. When they switched over from Linux to Mac they sent me to school to learn how to use them – again a big thank you for that. They figured the more time on them, the better I’d be at my job, and it certainly paid off.

I recall sitting with my grandfather, Marks Kamil, while he told Brian and me about a dream he had; as he told it, it was something to do with motorcycles, Brian’s photography and those new-fangled computers, and he knew,

from that dream, that Brian and I would be okay, we’d find our path and he and Grandma wouldn’t have to worry about us. Thank you again, Grandpa, for your confidence and support. I think of those words often and hope that you are smiling down on what we’ve done.

When we moved our production site away from the Speed Sport office to our first location in Englewood, NJ, we wondered just how long this gig would last. Our own new Apple computers were on their way, as was the first snowstorm of the season, and we watched each delivery truck that passed to see if it was ours. Finally set up, we met my folks for lunch one day and my father, always one to get directly to the point, asked if we were going to be okay with this new venture. Brian and I looked at each other and nodded. Yes, I think we’re going to be okay. Thank you, Dad, for watching out for us in those early years.

For those of you who have been with us from the beginning, you’ve seen a metamorphosis from black and white newsprint to a mixture of glossy and matte to full-color glossy. But that is really the only thing that changed over the years. We started out with the idea to bring riders in our region interesting places to go, exciting travel ideas and off-the-beaten track experiences. So many people buy motorcycles and never use them to their full potential.

We wanted to help you expand your horizons and explore places outside your own neighborhoods.

In doing that, we have had the incredible opportunities of traveling across this beautiful country and around the world, meeting some truly wonderful people in the motorcycle industry, who have gone from acquaintances to good friends, and developing an amazing readership and advertising family.

For the past 17 years we have brought folks on our annual rallies, going from the first Fiesta in 1998 with about a dozen people to this past Spring Break in the Adirondacks with almost 100. Thank you all for trusting us not to ruin your vacations (although many times in those 17 years we’ve had (Continued on Page 10)

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HeALD First I must acknowledge the Glorious 20 Year Anniversary of this publication. It is a story of great people doing great things, taking a big chance and creating something very special. I have been along for a good chunk of the ride, and it has been one of the better things that has happened to me in the last two decades. Much has occurred that could have derailed things and yet here we are, and the light is burning brighter than ever. I’d tell you the tale of when Brian and I first met, but I think I’ll save that for the 30th Anniversary. Onward!

A Column ComeS home It was supposed to be an ordinary stroll to the mailbox, a not altogether unpleasant chore especially on an early summer’s day in fine weather.

But soft! Was that the sounds of sirens I heard before setting out from the domicile? Or did I just imagine it?

What a dramatic scene I found when I reached the mailbox! I regarded our rural two-lane highway that is actually a back road depending on your point of view, as it winds through the forest and the speed limit is 35 MPH. To the north there was a line of cars (including a school bus, a fire engine and a fire fescue truck) pulled off on the shoulder on the southbound side of the road. A state trooper in his Crown Vic pulled up right next to my mailbox as I took the mail out of its hardened shelter. To the south, a whopping 20 yards or so from where I was standing, our town ambulance was parked in the road on the southbound side.

On the northbound side, right where the ambulance has stopped, a motorcycle was on its side in the road. A few feet away, the paramedics where adminis-

tering to a lone victim who was lying in the road and clearly seriously injured.

This was right across from my next-door neighbor’s driveway, where a VW Jetta was parked just off the road. This was surrounded by a small herd of college students that rent the house the driveway services, and as time went

by I got to piece together the scene and the local Fire Marshall then told me the details as they knew them. The guy on the bike (a beat-up early 80’s Kawasaki LTD-remember those?) was proceeding north when the southbound car apparently turned left into the driveway next door to me, and the bike impacted the car at what I would say (judging from the length of the skid mark from the old, wretched rear tire) was a pretty good clip.

At this point things got very busy. I heard over one of the fire fighter’s radios that a LifeStar Air Ambulance was on the way. As it turns out, my neighbor across the street decided to plow under the remains of his Christmas tree farm about six months prior and the field was a perfect landing spot for the helicopter. The pilot did a masterful job of setting down about 80 yards from my mailbox, and the air paramedics came out, went over the wall with the gurney and rolled up to the stabilized patient. In an amazingly short period of time, the injured motorcyclist (compound broken right femur) was whisked off to the hospital. I then moved in and helped the half-dozen state troopers with the bike, took off the seat and found the guy’s registration and insurance for them and noted how this LTD seemed surprisingly undamaged considering the pounding it gave the Jetta when it slammed into it. I also was fascinated that the rider had his helmet bungeed to the bike, and he was very fortunate that he suffered no head injuries in the crash (although it no doubt helped protect the side of the seat).

The rider was conscious, and apparently said he waited for the Jetta to turn left into the driveway but thought he was going to wait for him to pass, but the car moved at the last second. The driver of the Jetta told the troopers he never saw the bike. One of the officers had the presence of mind to check to see if the headlight still worked on the Kawasaki, and it did. So what happened?

Was this just another left-turning auto nailing a motorcycle?

It looks like there was no question that this was a tale of two bad operators.

(Continued on Page 10)

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Page 9

ON THE MARK MARK BYeRS

“Vox Clamantis in Deserto” is Latin for “A voice crying out in the wilderness” and that’s what I’d be without Backroads. Thanks to this amazing publication and her equally amazing editors/publishers, I’ve been given a rare opportunity to have my voice heard. There are many talented writers out there who lack a venue for their work and I’m very grateful to have been a part of Backroads for just under half of her 20 years. It’s been more than a venue for words, however, it’s been a road for life: in addition to Brian and Shira, Betsy and I have met a fantastic panoply of fun-loving people and shared many, many happy times, both on and off the bike. Backroads is more than just an enthusiast’s magazine: it’s a family. I hope we’ll be reading, writing, and riding together for many years to come. Happy 20th Anniversary Backroads, and congratulations to Brian and Shira for making this occupassion a reality!

The word meChAniC

brevity: this is life in 750 words. To keep on track, I use a technique from Stephen King: I start long and cut. It’s amazing how few words you need to get the point across; anyone who has ever seen the abridged and unabridged versions of “The Stand” will know. I like to self-edit my word count for two reasons: one, I save my dear publishers the effort, and two, I retain control over the content.

Content is really important and a bad editor can make you look a fool. I remember sending a bike review that had been published in Backroads to a metropolitan club’s newsletter editor to use. By the time he got done believing what Microsoft Word and the seat of his pants told him to do, it was a butchered mess that I didn’t see until the newsletter came out. I’ve never offered them anything else. Not that I’m perfect, but spell check isn’t context check and “marque” is a brand, while “marquee” is something on a theater. I trust my editor/publishers at Backroads implicitly and I always try to give them (and you) the best product I can.

I wrote this column because sometimes people at rallies ask me about the writing process and from where my ideas come. I can’t explain a lot of it, but I hope this offers a peek into the last nine years and over 100 columns I’ve done for Backroads. I’m proud to have a part in this great magazine and that I’ve never recycled a column yet. I hope you continue to enjoy them as much as I enjoy producing them.

Ride safely, because you’re a story.

I don’t know from where these words come. Some arrive easily, by virtue of an event from a ride. Others come in more introspective moments. Sometimes the idea rattled around inside my helmet for a while. Usually, my muse knocks on my mind door late at night, as she and I are denizens of your sleepy hours.

IS COMING TO I’ve often thought of her as a vampire. Sometimes columns write themselves: the stream of consciousness burbles and the first draft is the only one. Other times, columns sputter, start, and stall like an old bike with a dirty carb and I have to put them away and come back days, weeks, or months later. Some get scrapped, but those are few.

Of late I struggle, not because I have trouble putting words on screen, but because I wonder whether the theme is too similar to one I’ve done before or whether the subject will resonate with you. I’m not always a good judge: at a rally, a subscriber came up and complimented me on a piece I personally thought was “workmanlike.” You never know when a column will strike a chord; consequently, you never know when a piece will strike a sour note. Fortunately, either those Exclusive Tour Location for the have been few or my publishers insulate me well.

ENTIRE NY/CT area including NYC Somehow, I developed the ability to put words together in a way that people find pleasing. As a kid, I was a voracious reader, but not a regular writer - writing wasn’t something about which I dreamed. I don’t keep Schedule appointment a journal. Somewhere in the nature/nurture process, I on our website just “got it.” I credit two of my high school English teachers for cultivating my ability. I think that’s the first time I realized writing comes easier to me than to others. I write at work, but it’s mostly technical. I relish times when I get to write an award nomination, because then I get to tell a story – a happy one – that can have a positive effect on someone.

I think my best stuff comes from the heart, but regrettably, a few have been memorials. It’s easy to understand why some writers turn to drink, because my muse seems to knock most frequently when I’m blue. I am certain of one thing: the best columns and articles include people. I have a saying that goes, “Everyone’s a story.” If you engage in listening with someone and establish some trust, pieces of wonderment appear. Think ALL DUCATI MODELS INCLUDING SCRAMBLER, MULTISTRADA + PANIGALE about the people you meet on a Backroads rally and the Free shuttle service available to and from Ossining Station (Hudson line) diverse and amazing professions and life experiences represented. They are way more varied and interesting than their motorcycles, but it’s difficult at times to strike 179 North Highland Ave, Ossining, NY a balance between being intrusive and telling a story.

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Page 10

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

BACKLASH

Letters to the Editor

Twenty Years Dear Children, Both of you have accomplished so much in your lives. From a small newsletter to the Backroads magazine of today.

As the years past it has gotten bigger and better and the scope has expanded with incredible travel stories, products, ideas on where to stay and where to eat.

You have also been able to travel and see a lot of the world, and then had the opportunity to write about it. How great is that.

I couldn’t have wished for a better life for you both.

Congratulations on 20 years, and here’s to 20 years more.

Love, Betty “Mom” McAuley (Cont’d from Page 6) whATChAThinkin’ some very soggy outings). During these 17 years, Brian and I have made lasting friendships, as have many of those who attended. We’ve been told that so many of you look forward to these meetings, as it’s usually the only time you see these good, but sometimes distant, friends.

Our first issue of Backroads was distributed at the 1995 Ramapo 500. It was a mere 16 pages, and we wondered how we were even going to fill that.

Hi Guys I have to tell you I have a real hard time chucking your magazines when I’ve read them. They seem to accumulate on the kitchen table, the loo and a chair where stuff lands when I’ve been dragging it around the country with me. Over time Eddie has got to know a fellow in PA that loves your magazine and thinks you folks are just the nun’s knickers. Last weekend we started digging and I found over a year’s worth to give to the guy. He does have a bike, I don’t know what it is but I do know he has baby #4 on the way.

I’m thinking the first 3 are all under or nearly 5. I just wanted to let you know that I passed the “Jersey Rag” as we fondly refer to it, on to a good loving home.

As ever, Sindee Lou Brian’s first Free Wheelin’ was about how more women were riding their own bikes, our first Great All American Diner Run was the Chatterbox Café in Narrowsburg, NY (a place that has gone through many names), we introduced you to the hottest chicken wings on the planet in Inlet, NY, told you of our first experience with CLASS and Reg Pridmore (one of those folks who went from teacher to dear friend) and dedicated to Marks Kamil.

With our 20th issue, I’d like to thank everyone who has followed us on this wonderful journey. We will do our best to continue bringing you interesting destinations, amazing travel stories and all the other ingredients to make your motorcycle riding and adventures the best they can be.

To Brian, my partner in life and business: I couldn’t have asked for a better person with which to share my learning and love of travel. Together we have experienced the highs and lows, and I look forward to at least another 20 years of the same (well, more highs than lows would be nice).

Thanks for reading – we’ll see you on the road.

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poSTCArdS From The hedge (Cont’d from Page 8) The primary agent at fault was obviously the Jetta, because as we know you don’t have the right of way when turning left in this situation. But the guy on the Kawasaki became another accident statistic because he failed to read my column a month or two ago. Do you remember said column? Neither do I, but I think it had something to do with leaving yourself an out at all times, and this is especially true when a car in front of you is about to turn. He could have slowed down enough to stop in time had he noticed the car was slowing to turn (turn signal? no idea if the Jetta’s was on) or steered around it using part of the other lane. This was a totally avoidable accident on both sides, and as it turns out both individuals did everything possible to make it happen. I have zero confidence in either operator’s competence in controlling their motorized charges, as the kid in the Jetta either wasn’t paying attention or was momentarily brain dead (the sight lines were completely unobstructed, by the way) and the victim on the Kawasaki just locked up the rear brake and slid right into the car, and the fact that his helmet was attached to his bike instead of where it should have been speaks volumes. I assume the rider will recover although his leg will probably be less than perfect, but here’s another odd thing: despite traffic being stopped on the road for over an hour and a LifeStar helicopter called in for evacuation, there was nothing in the press about this accident that I could find (at least within 48 hours of the incident). But then, they don’t call this part of Connecticut the Quiet Corner for nothing.

Quiet? I just wanted to get the mail, and I was suddenly beset with troopers and helicopters. Crazy times.

Ride safe, everybody.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015 Howdy, Just got done reading Seymour’s column this month and as I looked at the bow bridge and his mentioning of this being only 1 of the 3 remaining was wondering if this is one of the other two? I was out riding with a friend in central Mass. when we came across this bridge. He’d been there before but for me it was the first time so I have no idea where it is other then somewhere in central Mass. in the woods. The support structure is very similar especially the support X bracing on the columns. But the deck is supported from the bottom bow instead of in the middle like the one in the article.

Later - Norm Hello Brian, I really enjoyed watching your Rome to Sicily motorcycle tour video. My wife Carol and I are going on the same trip October 10th to the 20th this year.

I wanted to ask about how many hours a day are you actually ridiing? We did their (Edelweiss Bike Travel) Tuscany trip in 2008 and the riding time was reasonable. Many thanks for your feedback.

John & Carol Harper Temecula, California Carol & John, You can find the February 2014 online with our Edelweiss Rome to Sicily review. There was always plenty of time to stop and smell the roses, so the days were as long as you wanted to make them. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as we did.

Spring Break 2015 Hi Guys, Another great trip via the winding roads to hook up with the extended family. It’s always so good to explore those areas with good riding buddies and

Page 11 catch up on each others’ lives. The weather is of no matter and often just adds to the adventure. I come home looking forward to the next time around.

Thanks so much for putting these things together.

John Petrocelli Hi Brian and Shira, I can’t express how fun this weekend was and meeting you and the rest of the group. So happy I decided to join everyone!

Just wanted to share those two places that my boyfriend and I, and many other motorcyclists meet on Sundays: Orlando’s diner in the morning, then Van Sant Airfield during the day.

Happy riding, and see you soon!

Lisa Veliath Hi Brian & Shira, After recently picking up your June issue from Montgomeryville Cycle Center, I want to thank you for a good amount of coverage of our area north of Philadelphia in Bucks County, particularly the Norton Rally in Washington’s Crossing, Pa. I would also like to suggest on one of your next rides to this area you visit Van Sant Historic Airport, one of the few remaining grass field uncontrolled small airports in the country. You might even want to book a glider ride or Stearman ride in advance of your visit. For many of our local riders, Van Sant is a frequent destination on Sunday after a breakfast ride to a local diner or firehouse buffet breakfast.

There are often 10 to 40 or more bikes & riders visiting and hanging out during late morning & early afternoon. For those who go w/o breakfast or want lunch there is a food concession. The airport is county owned & is managed

by Bar & Dannie Eisenhauer, two of the nicest folks you would ever want to meet. Their website is www.vansantairport.com Dave Trabert

Page 12

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

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Throughout 2015, Indian Motorcycle will unveil a series of custom Indian Scouts designed and crafted by some of America’s leading custom bike builders — each designed to celebrate an important Indian Scout milestone or achievement since its debut in 1920.

Kicking-off the series is the ‘Custom Military Scout’, a tribute to the company’s nearly 100-year history of supporting the U.S. Military and to celebrate Indian Motorcycle’s relationship with USO (United Services Organization).

The Custom Military Scout was designed and built by world-renowned custom builder Klock Werks Kustom Cycles of Mitchell, South Dakota.

There’s an accompanying video to the ‘Custom Military Scout’ narrated

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By Southwest Interactive Award.

It is also a favorite of Doctor Seymour O’Life!

EIGHT-DAY, 2,000-MILE RIDING ADVENTURE THERAPY FOR WOUNDED U.S. MILITARY VETERANS BRP joined forces for a second year with the Road Warrior Foundation by providing 2015 Can-Am Spyder RT vehicles to eight wounded U.S. Military veterans participating in the Foundation’s annual ride. The ride lasted eight days and covered 2,000 miles beginning in Sherbrooke, Québec, on June 5, and concluded in Key West, Florida, on June 12.

In 2014, BRP, through its Can-Am Spyder brand, teamed up with the Road Warrior Foundation to help raise funds to provide adventure therapy for wounded, ill and injured U.S. Military veterans. To date, BRP has helped raise more than

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 13

$100,000, which has gone directly toward getting military veterans out on the open road to experience the thrill of riding.

The ride traveled down the East Coast, stopping at some of the most scenic and iconic destinations along the Eastern Seaboard.

“The Can-Am Spyder is getting more and more people out on the open road, and that aligns perfectly with the Road Warrior Foundation mission,” said Francois Tremblay, director, Global Marketing, Can-Am Spyder. “I’m hoping that the Spyder communities will rally and join the group to demonstrate their support to military veterans.”

MOTORCYCLE AS ART - ANOTHER VERSION “Beauty of the Beast: Motorcycles - Art, Form, Function, Freedom”, a new exhibit at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum exploring the motorcycle from an artistic, historic, mechanical and cultural perspective, opened to the public on May 8th. The year-long exhibit will examine the life history of the motorcycle, from the pioneering 1800’s era - when an engine was simply bolted to a bicycle – through the present day technological and artistic triumphs achieved by manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the United States, leading to a shift in cultural perceptions, and a world-wide fan base of enthusiasts.

The exhibit will feature some of the rarest, most technically innovative, historically significant, and beautiful motorcycles of all time, brought together within the context of the history of the automobile, examining technological and style parallels and the evolution of the motorcycle from an inexpensive alternative to the motorcar to a distinct entity and potent social and cultural symbol. Abounding with visually compelling examples of the impact of the motorcycle on popular culture, the exhibit will recall for the visitor such classics as “Easy Rider”, “The Wild One”, “The World’s Fastest Indian”, and other iconic cinematic portrayals of the motorcycle as the ultimate expression of freedom.

Iconic brands such as BMW, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Honda and Indian will be among the featured marques. The competitive speed arena will be well represented at “Beauty of the Beast” with the 1970 Harley Davidson Sportster Powered Streamliner from the Bonneville Motorcycle family, and both the Pro Mod Suzuki TL 1000 and Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycles used by NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Sam Herwitz, a Newton, MA resident and drag racing legend, all part of the racing and competitive riding section of the exhibit.

“I’m more than excited to race this prototype at the Isle of Man,” said professional rider William Dunlop. “Electric powertrains have many advantages, and the Isle of Man is one of the greatest tests in motorcycle racing.”

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The prototype electric race bikes will be piloted by William Dunlop of the legendary Dunlop dynasty and

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Victory Racing will compete in the Isle of Man TT electric class, marking the first time that Victory Motorcycles has entered a professional motorcycle-racing event in Europe and raced an electric motorcycle.

Parker, the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, is providing the race-proven, high performance GVM PMAC motors for both machines.

“The entire Victory team is excited to make history with this effort,” said Rod Krois, Victory General Manager. “We know that William Dunlop’s experience and the continued Victory Motorcycles development of this electric race bike through work with Parker will propel us into a strong future with electric motorcycles.”

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

Hanover Powersports Presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

371 KANAWHA SALINES DRIVE, MALDEN, WV 25306 304-925-7918 • www.jqdsalt.com words: Brian Rathjen • images: Lauren Stonestreet www.elleeffect.com This story started a long time ago.

A very long time ago, when giant super continents filled the young Earth and huge shallow oceans stretched across the globe. Where part of North America is now found, the Iapetus Ocean could be the only thing seen here on Google Earth.

Okay, maybe not. But if you do a little more research than we get paid to, you will find a fascinating story, for salt has made the world go round.

At one time Roman soldiers were paid in salt (their salary) and sometimes you must prove you are “worth your salt” or maybe you are “the salt of the Earth.”

Heck, things might have been very different for Mr. Buffett (Jimmy, not Warren) if he didn’t lose that shaker of salt.

Yep, salty phrases abound, but for this article in our Big City Getaway we will sling shot a few billion years forward of the Iapetus Ocean to the early 1800s and the backroads of West Virginia.

1817 to be specific, when the Dickinson family first began to drill along the Kanawha River for brine using hollowed-out tree trunk for piping. By the 1850s, there were hundreds of wells along the river producing more than three million bushels of salt per year, making Kanawha Valley the largest salt producing region of the United States. Gleaned from the earth by an underground brine aquifer, the salt is then processed naturally using the power of the sun and gentle mountain breezes. This salt is free of contaminants and heavy metals that may be found in other regions.

It is pure, crisp and delicious.

The local folks all knew how good their salt was, but what would the rest of the world think?

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So in 1851 it was off to London, England for the World’s Fair, a much bigger deal then than it is now.

You must remember that this was just decades after our second war with Great Britain and the officials and judges might have looked at this newcomer from the forests and mountains of the new United States of America to have little chance against the world’s very best salt.

To the amazement of the Europeans and the rest of the world “The Great Kanawha Salt” was awarded “The Best Salt in The World.”

The Dickinson family was ecstatic, but not surprised, for they knew what they had brought to England.

The great Kanawha salt boom did not last long as this region became the focus of action during the Civil War when Union troops came to the region to destroy the valley’s salt production. The Union also moved troops deep into Louisiana to take the newly discovered salt mines on Avery Island (of Tabasco Sauce fame) before a two-day bloody confrontation in Saltville, Virginia.

The south’s, and the region’s, salt production was crushed.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Times do change, and today this area is one of the finest to ride in the entire nation and the family continues to hand-harvests small batch finishing salt made from this trapped ancient sea deep in the Appalachia.

Sister and brother Nancy and Lewis are 7th generation salt-makers who have revived their operation on the same land their ancestors made salt for 150 years.

Here in West Virginia is a mineral rich, pristine source that gives the salt a clean yet complex flavor and a coarse texture and distinct heightened minerality that enhances the flavor of any food to which you may add salt.

As those who have been here at Backroads Central know we enjoy our food and when we first heard of J. Q. Dickinson and their salt we ordered

Page 15 some to see what all the talk was about.

They had a small 1 oz jar with a cherry wood container.

It is phenomenal. So we think that a visit to J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works is in order and perhaps that will be doable on our Fall Fiesta Rally in Elkins, West Virginia in September.

For those of you who will be down there we hope you join us and those of you who are just looking for a neat destination in a lovely part of the mountains of West Virginia can give them a call to arrange a visit. They have open tours the first Saturday of the month May to October and the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month April to October.

They would love to have you – you can bet your salt on it.

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

Rollin’ Fast Cycle Sports Presents

G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN pASSporT CAFé - greenwood lAke AirporT 126 AIRPORT ROAD, WEST MILFORD, NJ 07480 973-728-7721 • WWW.GREENWOODLAKEAIRPORT.COM This month’s stop on the Great All American Diner Run steps back to look at two things we really enjoy – great aviation history and superior eats.

Up in the hills of northwest New Jersey, right down the road from the old abandoned Jungle Habitat, you will find the Greenwood Lake Airport and the Passport Diner.

For sure many airports have diners and cafés on or near their property, but Greenwood Lake’s airport is the only one we now that has a Lockheed Constellation parked against the restaurant.

If you look up in the sky, at just about any time, you will probably see a commercial aircraft flying high above. Commercial air travel has changed mankind and, in many ways, we can thank this plane for that.

Back in 1943 the Lockheed Company had grand ambitions.

They wanted to build the company’s first large transport, one that would carry more people farther and faster than ever before, and economically

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enough to broaden the acceptance of flying as an alternative to train, ship and automobile.

They did just that and in the years to come, the plane would be named the Constellation L-1049 — Connie for short — and be flown by airlines around the world, as well as the U.S. military over the ensuing three decades.

The Connie had new features previously unseen on passenger planes. The Constellation would offer the first hydraulically boosted power controls, aviation’s equivalent of power steering. It would be faster than most World War

II fighters at 350 mph. And, using award-winning technology pioneered by Lockheed a few years earlier, it would feature a pressurized cabin for 44 passengers that allowed the plane to fly faster and above 90 percent of weather disturbances, what Constellation regulars called ‘smooth sailing’.

We fly across oceans and continents because of the Constellation.

Which brings us back to the hills of northwest New Jersey.

Just 850 of these airplanes were built in the 15 years from 1943 to 1958 and few can be found today.

This particular aircraft had its inaugural flight on July 9, 1946 from New York to Paris and made its way around various air companies and the world

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 17 over the following decades before it made its final flight in 1977 to land one last time at the Greenwood Lake Airport.

Today the Connie is used as a pilot’s lounge and museum and can be found just steps from our diner run (remember this was about food?).

We had been here a number of years back, but hearing new accolades on their breakfast we thought a return visit was in order.

Walking into the Café you will find it a bit on the odd side and not what you might expect at a busy local airfield.

More like your Grandmother’s home than restaurant, the place is decorated with comfy sofas, doily and glass covered tables, wall shelves full of aeronautical bric-a-brak and teapots.

The two dining rooms can get a bit on the crowded side, especially on a busy Sunday morning, but in warmer weather they have outdoor seating as well.

Better to watch the planes and helicopters coming and going from the outside.

We rode up on a Sunday morning, right around cusp time for breakfast or lunch, feeling comfortable with either choice.

Looking at the lunch menu we found a number of items - and they all looked good.

The Passport offers six different burgers with a few jumping out from those selections, especially the Passport Mixed grill that consists of a burger topped with honey ham and melted cheddar cheese.

Sticking between the bread they also offered a big selection of sandwiches with turkey, chicken, clubs and grilled cheese all up for grabs.

On a less carbohydratey note the Passport has a selection of wraps with the Anthenian – grilled chicken, roasted peppers, feta cheese, cucumber, tomato and tzatziki sauce grabbing our attention along with their turkey with cranberry & mango chutney.

All these were available with sides of fries, onion rings, red skin potato salad, slaw or a house salad.

The Specialties Menu has a number of fried dishes including fish, shrimp and fried chicken.

As lovers of the ‘fried chicken’ we see a quick return trip is now in order.

Yes, our rabbit friends, they have salads – seven to be exact and we’ll say it - they all looked superb.

In fact nothing came out of the kitchen that we didn’t at look enviously.

Being it was the weekend we stuck with breakfast.

They had a decent looking buffet, but we ordered off the menu ‘cause we love you guys and somebody has to do it.

We first lusted after the array of pancakes – crumpled Oreo pancakes – yes, there is such a thing and it is decadently good as well as the Passport’s splendid French toast made with eggs and vanilla butter.

The smoked Norwegian salmon served on a bagel with cream cheese and onion sounded very Sunday morning to us, but we eventually ordered up a couple of omelets.

Asparagus, bacon and feta for one - and blue cheese, bacon and apple for the other.

Both were great…no, we mean GREAT! Like Tony the Tiger great!

These were the biggest, fluffiest omelets that have ever been made in Great All American Diner Run history.

When put in front of us we were humbled and almost turned and ran for our cardiologist.

Ginormous, I tell ya!

And incredibly tasty – especially the sharpness of the blue cheese with the comfyness of the bacon and snap of apple.

Holy cow was this a good combination!

And, even better, they were so big that half of them got packed up and devoured the next day.

We were expecting an okay diner, at a regular local airport, in a decent part of New Jersey. But, what we got was a truly superb breakfast, with a slightly quirky (in a loving grandmother’s way) ambiance, at a busy field with a serious piece of aircraft history parked alongside and open for us to explore.

The Passport Café at Greenwood Lake Airport is a great destination in so many ways and a wonderful stop on the Great All American Diner Run! We’ll go back to our old stomping grounds with this ride, since this is our 20th anniversary, and begin it at the State Line Lookout off the Palisades Parkway just north of the George Washington Bridge.

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Page 18

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MY STERIO U S A MER IC A pole FArm oF CheSTer, new JerSey They are just about everywhere.

They are in front of your house and your grandmother’s. You will find them in front of your local dealership and your church. They follow us along each and every ride we take and are literally around each turn.

Seymour, what the heck are you babbling about?

Well, I am talking about poles; telephone and utility poles to be specific.

By doing some quick addition on my fingers I think there is something like approximately 135 million chemically treated wood utility poles in the USA. That is a lot of wood.

These days the poles usually do double duty carrying both telephone and internet lines as well as power. And, they have been around since the mid1880’s, originally used to carry telegraph wires.

The truth is the first poles almost didn’t happen as Samuel Morse wanted to bury his first telegraph lines between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, but kept running up against faults. Rather than keep digging up the lines to find

the problem it was easier to keep them suspended in the air where workers could easily see any issue.

With the rise of electricity usage across the country, utility poles were outfitted with insulators and primarily used to carry power lines.

Phone lines and the internet soon followed.

The power poles in your neighborhood range in height from 30’ to 60’ tall.

Big ones that you may see along major roads and highways measure from 60’ to more than 120’ in height.

Some of the poles that you pass when riding along the backroads can be 40 to 50 years old.

They can last for a long time and there is a reason for this. Science.

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Most poles are milled from Southern yellow pine trees although Jack pine, cedar and Pacific silver fur is often used as well.

Simply cutting a tree down, milling it and sticking in the ground won’t do as they will need protection against rot, fungi, and the #1 enemy of the utility pole – the woodpecker.

Traditionally, the preservative used was creosote, but due to environmental concerns, alternatives such as pentachlorophenol, naphthenate and borates are being used more and more. There is actually an association, the American Wood Protection Association that keeps tabs on all things pole preserving.

Still, I once had a child ask me where all these poles come from. In typical fashion I did what any adult would do. I fabricated.

You see back 70 years ago there was a great call for fresh utility poles in the ever growing suburbs of New Jersey.

Coincidentally this is where AT&T had a bit of land where they started growing telephone poles. Once the poles had reached the needed height, the elves at AT&T would cut them down and replant another crop.

I took this child to see the very farm I was talking about. He didn’t believe me before or after. What’s with college kids these days?

BACKROADS • JULY 2015 Okay, the real truth is that back in the day, AT&T needed to test different tree species and chemical treatments to see which wood, chemicals and combinations worked best against the elements and local pests and disease.

Outside of the town of Chester, New Jersey – located in the northwestern part of the state, they created a “Pole Farm.”

Each pole, cut small height-wise for observation, was tagged and recorded, and simply watched for years while rain, snow, heat, cold, and creatures (big and small) did their very best to destroy them.

They also did double-duty as a place for technicians to learn to climb utility poles safely.

The farm became part of Bell Labs and Telcordia; and it was here that a number of communication breakthroughs were created including the first Light Wave Communication System - data to light to data; like the Enterprise’s transporter beam - but not quite yet! It is interesting that this jump in technology would happen where telephone poles still sprout from the ground.

Page 19 And, that is where we’ll head to this month - what is still called the Chester Telephone Pole Farm.

Located at the Highlands Ridge Park on County Road 510 (North Road), just outside the town you will still find hundreds of telephone poles “growing” from the ground.

And, don’t worry that I’ll force you to trespass (again) as the park is here for the discovering and you are encourage to walk amongst the mighty poles which are quite interesting as there are many species of trees and different treatments to be found as well.

There is no visitor’s center or information to be found in and around the Pole Farm so read this article twice to become an expert like me.

After your visit we’ll add another treat as just back in Chester you will find Taylor’s Ice Cream and I was told by Shira (more like ordered) that you really need to drop by there for the real deal.

From a small piece of Mysterious America O’Life out!

MYS TE RI OU S A MER I CA EX TRA • CIRCLE MUSEUM • Highway 22, Austerlitz, NY • 518-392-7156 Just north of Highway 71 in Columbia county, New York you will pass by one of those roadside oddities that makes your helmet snap around and cause you to say, “Hmmm, what was that?”

If you have the time and the savvy you will be making a quick u-turn like we did and will ride up to the Circle Museum.

Truth is – we had a heads up - as the proximity alert on Shira’s Zumo GPS had pinged on this find about a mile before we zipped past it.

Yep, it is another sculpture garden, but this one is just a bit different.

Here you will find dozens of metal sculptures by artist BIjan Mahmoodi.

Parking the bikes by the metal sign announcing what you have discovered and where you are you will find a small donation box.

I think $5 dollars was asked – which we gladly dropped into the collection.

Mahmoodi grew up in Iran and left in 1978, right before the Islamic revolution, moving to Great Britain. He then immigrated to the United States where he became a citizen in 2001. The artist learned metalwork by restoring old cars and working in a Brighton shipyard in England.

Today his studio is surrounded by some incredible creations. Inside you

Page 20 will find he is just as talented with brush and canvas.

Why is it called the Circle Museum? Bijan explains.... “Because our planet is based on the circle - the sun, the planets, the moon and life itself is cyclical.

The circle is what inspires me.”

His art reflects his fascination with hard-to-find Industrial Era fabricated metals and bronze casting.

Inside the artist’s studio is a collection of Bijan’s oil paintings that explore the circle motif you see in most of his sculptures.

We spent about a half hour walking around the small grounds. The art work - almost all created from reused items, recycle parts and okay – junk - has given new life to old odd and unusual items.

Although some seem to be exactly what they seem, other pieces invoke a bit of wonder. Some struck us more than others, but they were all excellent.

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS I spotted a pathway that lead up the hill and brought us to even more sculptures almost hiding in the back.

I headed in one direction and Shira the other. About ten minutes later we met up, with her wanting to show me some pieces she found and I wanting to show her one or two on the far side.

We like the angular pieces and the tube-like sculptures and then there were some I gave names to like Happy Man part stone, part metal and reaching to the sky in joy, and KimK, the chain mail-tube gal, all bent over with her big round butt in the air. I also liked the rusty vulture that stood guard over by the entrance to the Circle Museum – almost spooky looking.

After we were done exploring we were both glad that we spotted the Circle Museum and made the effort to head back rather than just riding onward.

There is a lesson here for all – when you think you should stop – then stop!

When riding in New York’s Columbia county head up along Route 22 and keep an eye peeled for the Circle Museum; it makes for a great story long after your journey.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 21

Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

WE’RE OUTTA HER E

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

Frog hollow FArm 401 FROGTOWN ROAD, KINTNERSVILLE, PA 18930 610-847-FROG (3764) • WWW.FROGHOLLOWFARMBNB.COM When some of us think Bucks County and towns like New Hope and the like, we think crowds, noise and hubbub in what could otherwise be the perfect setting.

Well, we know a place, although not too far from the bustle and din of New Hope and the river, that might as well be a world away.

Peaceful, comfortable and very, very friendly – the Frog Hollow Farm is one of those hidden getaways that you will find when you ride the real backroads of Bucks County.

We have always been appreciative of people and couples that run the various bed & breakfasts and smaller inns at which we have stayed over the years. Unlike larger places, at a B & B they are opening their homes to guests and strangers.

It takes a happy person and easy mind-set to do this.

Shira would be excellent at it. Brian, not so much.

Patti and Mitch Adler seem to have fit this mold quite nicely.

They bought Frog Hollow Farm back at the turn of the century (it’s been long enough, we can say that now, right?) – a large one-room stone farmhouse along with the smokehouse and a bank barn – all from the 1780s.

After the purchase the Adlers spent years in renovation — exposing and repainting 200-year-old stonewalls, adding private bathrooms to adjoining bedrooms and modernizing while keeping a centuries old look and feel.

Each room was created around the original architecture and offers a comfortable night’s stay.

The farm’s 5-acres have a meadow, garden and orchard

as well as large pond with a centered spraying fountain that Mitch really dives into to keep perfect. There is even a small porta-bote (yes, it folds up) that you can paddle around if you like.

Strolling around the grounds the crowded flurry that can be Bucks County on a nice day easily slips away and you will find remnants of the past as you explore the grounds.

The old stone wall of some long ago building now serve as part of the garden and an old style cast iron pump still brings water up from an old artesian well. We hope you like animals, as the Frog Hollow is a haven for a number of them. A couple of sheep and a goat (aptly named Billy) will keep a watchful eye on you as you enjoy the day. There are a couple of cats roaming the

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

property and the real master of the domain is Gracie, the Adler’s wire-haired Jack Russell terrier.

The farm now offers three guest rooms – Petie’s, the Porch and the Cathedral Room all with a warm, comfortable charm.

We stayed in the Cathedral with its high ceiling and steam powered shower – a perfect was to unwind after a long day in the saddle.

The downstairs has a common sitting room and porch and patio, depending on where you wish to sit and the time of the day.

Don’t be surprised if Gracie comes to visit while you are enjoying a glass of wine or cup of coffee on the porch.

The Adlers will happily point you in the direction of the many restaurants found in and around the area for dinner. We chose the Ferndale Inn, just a mile or so away. It was an excellent choice and ended our day on a nice note.

Another added bonus you can find at the farm is their antique cars. They offer a package where they will drive you to and from a local restaurant in one of their classic cars and even have an ice cream ride to OwowCow Creamery – one of Shira’s toprated ice cream parlors of all time.

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The bed was uber-comfortable and got our four-helmet rating.

And, as dawn rose, so did we – grabbing a cup of hot joe and walking around the property with Nikon in hand during that magic light hour that greets and ends so many days.

The breakfast part of this B & B was light and delicious. Fresh fruit, and yogurt smoothie was followed up by Mitch’s great French toast and sausage - one of the

other guests preferred home-done oatmeal which she said was fantabulous.

That is another thing that we have always found at B & Bs compared to the American motel factories.

At a place like the Frog Hollow Farm you will actually meet and speak with your fellow guests. Share stories and experiences from the road. It is just an added bonus when you stay in someone’s home.

It seems that the Frog Hollow Farm has so much to offer the rider heading to the Buck’s County region and they do so at reasonable rates and with a sincere smile on their faces. Our weekday rate was around $115 – with the delicious breakfast (they prefer cash or check).

Try finding that along the shores of New Hope or Frenchtown.

If you find yourself in the crowds of the riverside towns along the Delaware river and need a place to overnight that offers a bit of history, old-style charm and comfortability - then book a night or two at Frog Hollow Farm – it will be your new Bucks County escape.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

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STATE LINE LOOKOUT, ALPINE, NJ NORTH ON PALISADE INTERSTATE PARKWAY EXIT 12 ROUTE 45 RIGHT AT MOUNTAIN ROAD LEFT AT CENTRAL ROAD RIGHT AT US 202 LEFT AT BRIDGE STREET RIGHT AT RAILROAD INTO BEACH LEFT AT GRASSY POINT RIGHT AT BEACH ROAD LEFT AT US 202 STRAIGHT AT MOTT FARM ROAD RIGHT AT CEDAR FLATS ROAD

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RTE. 206 SOUTH RIGHT AT CR 626 - HALSEY ROAD STRAIGHT OVER DOUBLE BRIDGES BEAR LEFT AT PARSONS RD. RIGHT AT JUNCTION RD. RIGHT AT CR 622 LEFT AT CR 521 SOUTH TO HOPE STRAIGHT AT CR 519 CROSS US 46 CROSS RTE. 22 (ON CR 519) BEAR RIGHT AT CR 627 RIEGELSVILLE WARREN GLEN RD. RIGHT AT BRIDGE ST. IN MILFORD NJ TO PA RIGHT AT RIVER ROAD LEFT AT BRIDGETON RD. RIGHT AT LAKE WARREN RD. CROSS RTE. 611 TO CHURCH HILL RD LEFT AT FROGS HILL RD. TO FARM ON LEFT

Page 23

RIGHT TO LAKE WELSH PARKWAY BEAR RIGHT AT CEDAR POND ROAD STRAIGHT TO TIORATI BROOK ROAD 2ND EXIT TO ARDEN VALLEY ROAD LEFT AT RTE. 17 RIGHT AT OLD MILL ROAD RIGHT AT ORANGE TURNPIKE LEFT AT BRAMERTOWN ROAD LEFT AT BENJAMIN MEADOW ROAD LEFT AT RTE. 17A RIGHT AT LONG MEADOW ROAD RIGHT AT SLOATSBURG ROAD RIGHT AT MARGARET KING ROAD RIGHT AT GREENWOOD LAKE ROAD BEAR LEFT AT MARSHALL HILL ROAD LEFT AT AIRPORT ROAD TO PASSPORT CAFE

Page 24

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

July iS nATionAl iCe CreAm monTh In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation’s population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

The International Ice Cream Association (IICA) encourages retailers and consumers to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month. In 2015, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 19.

Sales of ice cream and frozen desserts rose 2.1 percent to $5.4 billion in the 52 weeks ended August 10, 2014, according to data from IRI, Chicago. Ice cream production reached 894 million gallons in 2012 and 897 million gallons in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Source: Dairy Foods magazine, November 6, 2014) About 9 percent of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, contributing significantly to the economic well-being of the nation’s dairy industry.

So with all these facts and figures to corroborate the importance of ice cream in our daily lives, I would be remiss to overlook this important month, again, this year. To celebrate this delightful dairy delicacy, here are four sinfully delicious stops on Shira’s Ice Cream Run. Enjoy each one and don’t forget to have an extra scoop of ice cream on July 19. I know I will.

pip’S iCe CreAm 250 WOODCLEFT AVE #1, FREEPORT, NY 11520 Lazy Days, Beautiful Nights, Beachy Hair, Water Fights, Cool Guys, Tanned Skin, Schools Out, Summer’s In! The sign hanging on the wall at Pip’s Ice Cream, on the Nautical Mile in Freeport, New York, just about sums up the feel of the summer ice cream season. The Nautical Mile is a very happening place with its off combination of restaurants, tiki bars, workboats, pleasure craft and fish markets. It took a shellacking during the hurricanes but has sprung back nicely.

On our last trip to Long Island (Mets games don’t count as they are really in Queens) we were brought to a neat ice cream parlor called Pip’s. The big pink and aqua sign on the corner easily brings your eyes to the yellow, white and blue framed house.

Pip’s has a homey charm all to itself even before you walk in the door.

Entering the small shop we were greeted by the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Yum, I thought this story was about ice cream? Along with us that day was ice cream aficionados Mia and Tessa. These gals know their ice cream and were happy to taste test a number of the delicious and happy flavors available at Pip’s.

Although they do not make their own ice cream here on the Nautical Mile, they do bring in Hershey’s Ice Cream and it is hard to go wrong with that. We especially liked the butter pecan, the cookies and cream and the chocolate mouse tracks. How about peanut butter, cookie dough and caramel? Yummy? Yes, we thought so too.

What were really special were their homemade cones. Those factory-extruded blah, blah cones have never done it for us and homemade always seems better. Pip’s had a few and a good cone base can always make or break the experience.

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Page 25 Of course they offer shakes, sundaes, soft serve, sherberts, ice pops, and all your classic toppings, which makes this place appealing for everyone and their specific sweet tooth.

Pip’s can get busy on a fine afternoon, but the line moved quickly and they have a good number of tables outside so you can enjoy your ice cream and watch the world roll by on the Nautical Mile.

JeFFerSon dAiry 741 NJ 15 SOUTH, LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ • 973-663-1750 • WWW.JEFFERSONDAIRY.COM We’ve all done this, I’m sure. You pass the same place day after day, year after year, so close to your home that you think, ‘Sure, I’ll get there one of these days.’ It’s not until you’re reminded of it, read about it, or someone says, ‘Hey, have you ever been to…’ that you actually make the effort to go.

This happened recently while I was researching ice cream destinations. I happened upon a listing from PBS on the best ice cream shops as nominated by their fans.

The listing is done by state, so not to be completely overwhelming and being able to pinpoint those closer to home. A familiar name popped up – the Jefferson Dairy in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Located right on NJ 15 south, I always thought it to be one of the Dairy Queen shops, with its red roof, white walls and typical Dairy Queen shape. Turns out it has been family owned and run since 1969. The folks here make their own fine ice cream, using 16% ultra premium cream and products – milk sourced from a local dairy in Pennsylvania, the freshest seasonal fruits, Gertrude Hawks mix-in candies and lots of love, I’m sure. In addition, they have fun doing what they do, which shows in their creative and super-tasty flavors.

Not waiting for a pass by on the way to somewhere else, I made my way directly to the Jefferson Dairy.

Being the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week, I had the place more or less to myself and was able to quiz the folks on their flavors. For instance, what would you think made up Elephants Never Forget? It’s peanut butter ice cream with embedded brownie pieces.

Java Rocket Chip – tremendous coffee ice cream with chocolate chips, of course. How about Salty Captain Jack or Dirty Diaper? Well, you’ll just have to make your way there personally and find out. They are constantly changing their flavors, with seasonal additions such as Maple Bacon and Fresh Jersey Corn. Don’t fret, you can always find the basic Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry as well as some tasty soft serves like Cookie Dough and Creamsicle.

If you’re a fan of milk shakes and malts, this is the place for you. Starting with either their rich and creamy soft serve or one of their unique hard ice creams, they’ll whip up one frothy dairy delight. Feeling more like a

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

sundae? Well, choose wisely Grasshopper, as their sundaes are three scoops of ice cream, three toppings (walnuts, hot fudge, butterscotch, blueberries, etc.), sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry. You can take your selection to one of the many Adirondack chairs on the side of the building or take a seat at a picnic table out back.

From their wonderful confectionary concoctions to their whimsical décor, you’ll find the Jefferson Dairy to be a great stop on Shira’s Ice Cream Run. You can visit them seven days a week starting at 11am March thru December.

ninA’S wAFFleS & SweeTS 31 W MECHANIC ST, NEW HOPE PA 118938 • 215-862-1660 • WWW.NINASWAFFLES.COM New Hope Pennsylvania – a quaint town with cutesy shops and a plethora of restaurants. Weekends will brings throngs of visitors, crowds of motorcycles and makes parking on Main Street almost a nightmare. So why would I point you in this direction? Because you’ll find Nina’s Waffles & Sweets here, and this alone will make you so glad you came to New Hope PA. Located just a bit off the beaten path of River Road, you’ll find Nina’s about 100 steps up the hill of Mechanic Street. The light and airy corner shop welcomes you in with the incredibly delicious aroma of fresh-baked waffles. Once inside, you’ll be hard-pressed to make any speedy decisions on how to sate your sweet tooth, as Nina’s has over 120 flavors (only about 10 to 20 are offered at a time) from which to choose. Every one of them is hand-crafted in small batches with local and fresh ingredients. Greek-born founder Louis Zanias had a dream to bring the Belgium waffles he grew up with to the public, and 35 years later you can enjoy his fruits of labor at the shops named for his youngest daughter, Nina.

About these waffles: they are not waffle cones, although you can get them here. These are a proprietary Belgium Liege waffle recipe, originated back in the 18th century, made with imported Belgian beet sugar that caramelizes nicely in the waffle iron. You can have these either sweet or savory, with such toppings as nutella, peanut butter, chocolate ganache, appletatin or speculoos (cookie butter). Not a bad plate on which to serve some very creamy and delicious ice cream.

And now about the ice cream: It’s described as a creamy Philadelphia style, made sans eggs. Zanias studied ice cream making at Penn State (the ultimate ice cream learnstitute) and is certified by the university.

As mentioned before, they have developed somewhere around 120 flavors but whittle it down to a manageable decision size each day. Some of their favorites are sea salt caramel and honey orange blossom but you’ll always find suppa peanut, cookies and cream, Mexican vanilla, rum raisin and strawberry. Their newest creation is Luscious Lucy, which is coffee ice cream enhanced with white chocolate and candied lime zest. If you’re having trouble deciding, they are more than happy to give you sample tasted before plunging in for the full scoop. I can say that you won’t be disappointed with any choice.

Nina’s original shop is in New Hope, where you can get your sweet fix Monday thru Thursday 1pm to 10pm, Friday ‘til 11pm, Saturday noon to 11pm and Sunday noon to 10pm. Should you find yourself in the Doylestown area, stop by their shop at 30 East State St • 267-454-7294. Their newest shop is located in Sergeantsville, NJ at 567 Rosemont Ringoes Rd • 609397-8787 • and serves up breakfast, lunch or dinner food (but who said you can’t have ice cream and waffles for any of those meals), with indoor and front-porch seating. Please check with each shop for their hours.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

mAple ShAde CuSTArd STAnd 350 W MAIN ST, MAPLE SHADE NJ • 856-663-1351 • OPEN ALL YEAR What to do when you’re killing time in an area not conducive to strolling the town? Have some ice cream. That’s what we did while waiting to check in to our chain motel in Cherry Hill before the New Sweden 450. Many times, when I find myself in a congested area, I’ll ask for some help in finding the best choice in frozen treats from the world wide internet web. I did that this day and came up with Maple Shade Custard Stand, a staple in this burg for many a year. While I’m more a fan of hard, exotically flavored ice creams, I’m not against a good soft serve in a cone. What I got was well beyond my wildest expectations.

Maple Shade Custard Stand has been serving up frozen custard for generations.

Doing a little research, I discovered that this red and white corner stand has had families stopping for to get their frozen custard, sundaes, cones and gelatti long before Rita’s started popping up. Me, being from the northern climes of New Jersey, had never heard of gelatti (much to the amazement of our Philly friends). For those of you also living in a cave, it’s a layered mixture of frozen custard and water ice. My involvement with water ice goes back to the overly sweet slushies I used to slurp down at record pace, only to get the worst brain freeze on the planet. Here you’ll find a myriad of flavors to mix with your vanilla, chocolate or twist frozen custard.

OMG!!! I will never forsake my hard ice cream, but I’m certainly not turning my back when offered a gelatti.

Brian’s choice was black cherry with a twist; think Dr. Pepper in a satin smoking jacket – so smooth. My choice was chocolate layered with watermelon – a summertime cooler if there ever was one. The sizes and prices are ridiculously large and reasonably fair. I can only imagine what their sundaes would be served in – Noah’s ark comes to mind.

If you find yourself lost in the mire that is Cherry Hill, make your way to Maple Shade to chill out with any one of their fine creations. You won’t be disappointed.

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE NEW SHOES…

BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX SPORT TOURING TIRES

This girl just loves new shoes. It doesn’t matter whether stilettos or boots, Jimmy Choos, Nike or even Bridgestone…

That’s right— Bridgestone. New kicks on your feet put a spring in your step and add swagger to your style, and the same holds true for new motorcycle shoes. That sticky new tread, the shiny black rubber, that surefooted grip—they create the motorcycling equivalent of a “take on the world” attitude. Except with the new Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T30 Series radial tires, you’re ready to take on the road.

Bridgestone describes this latest offering as “a versatile and premium tire” designed to operate well in a variety of temperatures and weather conditions, with improved handling and better dry grip compared to its previous BT-023 series tires.

My Yamaha FZ6R wore the even earlier BT-021 series. Great performers, but the miles took their toll and eventually called for some new rubber. The new Battlax Sport Touring T30’s not only restored the ride quality to the original performance I’d come to appreciate and enjoy, but pushed it past all expectations.

Bridgestone says its updated Battlax recipe contains several new, key ingredients. First, the tread pattern changed, so now the T30’s require a lighter touch to turn because they respond more quickly. The advanced tread pattern grips better in wet weather. It also optimizes stiffness and contact patch features which inspire greater cornering confidence because handling and grip are improved.

Secondly, assisting the revised tread design upfront is a new rubber compound developed using Moto GP analysis, with the space-age sounding name of RC Polymer/NanoProTech technology. This compound maximizes the tires stiffness and grip.

Overall, Bridgestone says this updated carcass construction inspires confidence in cornering because it gives the tires a bigger footprint on the road

along with good line-holding and light, predictable handling.

While the “gee-whiz” techno specs sound awfully impressive, they’re just words until the rubber meets the pavement, literally. And there I can say that whatever Bridgestone cooked up in their new Battlax recipe works really well.

I found the ride quality greatly improved on the FZ6R…even better than when the bike was new. Road aberrations smoothed and annoying little bumps disappeared. While I appreciated the renewed comfort, the biggest change came in the bike’s handling. My FZ6R morphed into a supersport monster overnight. Turn-in now requires hardly any effort and the bike seems more willing…as well as more capable…of flying through the turns. It welcomes some hard charging into the corners and doesn’t give any sign of slippage. Bridgestone claims the new tread design upfront actually improves grip by reducing tread stiffness, so the tire will hug and conform to the road more effectively.

The rear tire uses a dual-compound, softer on the sides for better grip but harder through the centerline for longer life. I can’t yet attest to how long that life will be, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

The Battlax Sport Touring T30 series also offers a “GT” spec front tire, said to provide good handling and stability for larger, heavier touring motorcycles. The GT uses cross-belt construction to aid stability up front and features a modified tread pattern.

Bridgestone has revamped its Battlax lineup of motorcycle tires, and the T30’s are the first with the “T” designation, which stands for touring. Other tire variations will use “S” for sport and “R” for racing. The T30 comes in 6 sizes for the front, ranging in price from $170 to $185, and 8 sizes for the rear, ranging from $212 to $258. ~ Pamela Collins

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

17th Annual

Backroads Spring Break Riding the Berkgreendacks

T

he planning of this year’s Spring Break Rally, a Backroads event seeing its 17th year, began to formulate last year with a quick ride to meet friends up in the Berkshires’ town of Lenox and another jaunt to the Adirondacks and Lake Placid with Edelweiss. Who doesn’t like to ride here?

We really enjoyed the town, as it offered a number of inns and restaurants and had a charm to it that was very Tanglewood.

The old mountains to the north and west offered an allure and flavor all their own.

That being said we knew that none of the smaller inns in Lenox could handle the size of our crowd; so we instead booked the Yankees Inn, a larger, almost chain-like lodging, just a mile or two north of town.

Even if we were not in Lenox itself we would have a great ride up and, after folks got settled they could choose where to go and what to do for dinner.

words: Brian Rathjen • images: Brian Rathjen and others

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

To the Berkshires…

We had a smaller riding group meet up in Branchville, our fair city (burg, town, whatever), and then we had a spirited ride across to the Hudson River at Bear Mountain where a dozen others had met for the trek north to the Berkshires.

Crossing over the Bear Mountain Bridge is always a visual treat and almost immediately groups began to form and re-routing began with mostly everybody heading in the more or less general, sorta, same direction.

Page 31 It was all good, and Shira even brought her group to one of her ice cream stops along the way.

Who would think?

Our route, which seemed to morph into a slightly different ride with each GPS upload, still offered some of the finest roads through the Hudson Valley, into Connecticut and then along the Berkshires with farms, valleys and occasional u-turn involved in the journey.

By late afternoon the Yankee Inn was filing with machines and riders continued to flow in over the next few hours.

Even though it was still just late May the weather and air felt warm and moist and more than one group got dumped on as ‘pop-up’ squalls plagued those making there way to Lenox, making it an official Backroads Rally. Truth is we buried that curse long ago, but still like to talk smack about it.

Maybe too much smack as we would later realize.

Most folks found a comfy chair along the lawned drive and the pool did a brisk business as well.

By evening the local restaurants began filling with our group and the smallish bar in the inn was happy we were in town.

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

Berkshires to Adirondacks via the Green Mountains Any heat and humidity that had built up over the last few days blew itself out with the storm front and that night the temperatures dropped a tad making for a good night’s sleep.

Most riders were up early, with small groups heading out on the road soon after the light breakfast the Yankee Inn offered.

We had put together two different routes – one through New York and the other via the Green Mountains of Vermont; neither of which had to be followed.

The plan, as always, was to have a great day on the road and to finish up at the Golden Arrow in Lake Placid that evening.

We chose the route north through Vermont and got out and on the road on the good side of 8 a.m.

First heading west into New York for a bit we crossed the Taconic range on Route 2, always a crowd pleaser and a most excellent way to start the day.

We meandered north and back east towards the border with Vermont.

In the town of Wells we stopped for coffee and one donut (yes, one for our suddenly health-conscious group) at the Wells Country Store.

Right about then other groups began to catch up, and that cat and mouse game would happen numerous times during the full day’s ride – the route being a full 250 backroad miles.

The previous day I was asked nicely that I refrain from putting some folks of non-paved gravel roads. I smiled and lied through my teeth that all would be good. I am well aware that there are thousands of miles of roads in the state of Vermont and about 60% are paved. The rest are not. Chances are we’d all get a little gravel in our travel while taking the backroads.

I try to avoid this, I really do, but we were soon on a few miles of really nice hard pack. Smooth third gear, 60 mph sorta stuff. If you looked there

were ways around it, but why would you want to do that as you get to see a piece of Green Mountains that you never would from Route 100 alone!

A few weeks earlier we had marveled at the strong lilac smell that we found down south and then at home along the back woods of New Jersey.

Now here, north in the mountains, we once again ran into the

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blue, purple and white flowery bushes with the heady scent that hit us hard as we quickly rode past. Via radio Shira and I were commenting on how ‘perfect’ a day it was and if we could bottle it and sell it as a perfume it would smell much like this – maybe with a touch of vanilla.

Maybe we could sell it as air fresheners for the office.

We had a mass take over of the famed Rochester Café for lunch with many maple milk shakes being created and quaffed.

By early afternoon we had crossed over the Appalachian Mountains for a third time and then crossed over Lake Champlain into New York and the Adirondacks at Crown Point.

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Page 33

soon after, we were heading towards Lake Placid, vectoring north a bit to come in on Route 86, another fantastic road that everyone should ride at least once, but more often is preferable..

Crossing over the Ausable River we stopped to see The Flume and the kids cliff diving into the chilly waters (brrr), one of the many scenic stops you can make while riding around this part of New York State.

The Golden Arrow was more than perfect for our weekend. Lying right on Mirror Lake and looking like it was lifted from the Bavarian forest and the Alps it was about as picture postcard perfect as you will find. Throw in a grand swimming pool, health club, a labyrinth to get anywhere and balconied rooms overlooking the lake and many would be happy staying put for a couple of days.

Page 34

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS Yes, I said Mirror Lake, not Placid. Lake Placid is really to the north, below Whiteface. Saranac is on Lake Flower, not Saranac.

Why, we know not – but that is how it is.

Lake Placid has a good number of restaurants and folks had their choice this night. Well fed and well ridden ours was a happy group.

Free Day in the Adirondacks The next morning our weather check promised sporadic rough stuff come later in the afternoon and, with the forewarning, smallish groups took off for various points and any of the good number of rides we provided along with other routes created by long time Backroader and Adirondack aficionado Paul Donoghue.

Others stayed fairly local, enjoying the lake and the boat cruise around it.

At breakfast Pete and Barley joined us. Barley is a happy Golden Retriever who rides pillion, alongside Peter, on a BMW GS with a sidecar.

We met them both at a rally years back and Shira and Pete have stayed in touch over the years. Our rally being within easy striking distance from home for Peter and Barley they took the ride over to meet us for breakfast and to say hi. Barley has been feeling a bit low these days and, like humans, a good ride can do him wonders. Besides, it was great just to see the looks on kids’ faces, big and small, when they saw the Golden in a yellow sidecar.

Glad you two could make it – you certainly brightened our morning.

Shira took a small cadre, which quickly gained membership, on her lunch/ice cream Adirondack journey - I later heard that the run along the “Roads of Moriah” was one worthy of the books.

Yes, she’s smooth.

Many others took up Paul’s offer of the Wild Center and Adirondack Museum – both stops worthy of a few hours each. A good number took a ride over to the Olympic bobsled track and took the run down the track on a real bobsled. Can you say fast AND exciting?

We heard that one or two groups rode my route up north to the Canadian border and back around through the Lake Champlain isles of North Hero and then back through David Allen New York State.

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BACKROADS • JULY 2015

I had some two-wheel housekeeping to tend to and had decided to explore some roads mentioned to me the previous night that I had not yet ridden, running west off of Whiteface Mountain, home of the highest auto road in the Empire State.

With maintenance done and solo this day I headed north.

Whiteface was socked in with clouds when I arrived and I was told, in no uncertain terms, that riding up would be futile.

Okay, I kept going on my little 150 mile loop along some of the smaller roads in the ‘Dacks that I had never touched before.

Along the way I came across some great scenery, old turnpikes and waterfalls, especially the wide torrent spilling over the dam at Union Falls Lake. There was a power company road here that offered a little bit of dirty fun this morning as well; the daily dose of gravel in my travel.

My route brought me back to Whiteface a few hours later and, under blue sky and black flies, I rode to the top of the 4,867-foot high peak.

On top there was an elevator that could bring you to the summit, where you can, if you like, hike back down along the boulders.

From the bottom the climb up did not seem so problematic and I began my accent up Whiteface’s trail.

Please make note that you are encouraged to do this from top to bottom, walking the long tunnel through the mountain and taking the lift to the top. Not the other way. Trust me on this. You don’t want to do this – especially with full riding gear on. I felt like an excited salmon that would finish his arduous journey and then simply die - without the spawning, just the end.

My summit complete I took the required Nikon imagery and the elevator back down, wading through the waves of black flies looking to dine on my sweaty body.

I made my short route home longer, searching out a few superb roads that I had ridden by for years; making

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS Daveerfer

We had a little get together that evening, above the bar, with a good amount of swag giveaway and the new 20th Anniversary Hedz for each rider that came to the Spring Break.

That afternoon saw sporadic storms roll into the mountains, with hard rain followed by brilliant sunshine and, for a few minutes, a magnificent rainbow. We will take that as a good omen for things to come.

Adirondacks to Catskills

a mental note of where they were for future adventures.

By later that day riders began to drift back in from their individual rides with smiles all around. I think we had a winner here.

Some strolled over to quietly tell me that Shira had led a charge of destrier that would have encourage ‘Imperial Entanglements’ if they had come across a cruiser hiding off the road.

This was done in a covert “Ewww, what Shira did!” sorta way. Like I didn’t know this would happen?

(To my defense: I did not ride any differently than I would normally have ridden. If those riding behind me felt I was ‘overly enthusiastic’ it was because I was enjoying myself immensely. Tattle-tales…Shira) As far as we know, during the entire rally, nobody received additional paperwork from any of the state governments through which we had ridden.

No incidents, or even a tip over. How refreshing.

Daveerfer

We had two more days of this Spring Break Rally, but we would lose some of our crowd this morning as many were heading to Americade and others heading back home. Still we’d have a good number following us south through the old peaks of the Adirondacks to the older peaks of the Catskills and the fabulous Bavarian Manor Inn in Purling, New York.

Somewhere in the predawn hours a massive cold front roared through the northeast dropping the morning temperatures about 30 degrees in as many minutes. The morning light saw a steady drizzle and low 40s – the perfect combination for a spirited ride through the mountains.

Shira, our perpetual Wing Man extraordinaire for this ride, Graham Sampson, and I took off on a route that would bring us east out of the peaks and then south through the little towns that many know from our Amer-

icade issues.

We stopped in Hadley at the General Store, where the coffee is always hot and the folks running the place always friendly. When in that town search this place out. There is a reason all the locals are here.

Later on we took lunch at a very odd diner in Scotia that was more Las Vegas and Elvis than Leatherstocking and James Fenimore Cooper.

I’d tell you more but as you know, what goes on in Vegas.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

The rains continued to plague us off and on that day but we all pulled into the Bavarian Manor in time for adult beverages on the wide wrap around porch.

We had featured this old place a few months back and it was superb to get a good number of our friends and fellow riders there for the evening.

We had told those coming to this inn that they would get the best meal of the trip and we were not wrong on that as the Bavarian Manor offers great rooms, superb location and beyond incredible German fare.

My pork knuckle was so big I could have named it.

People got fed and tables got loud (in that good way) and those that made it here agreed that it was the perfect way to wind down our 17th Spring Break.

Although the heavy rain left, the cold mist did not as we wound our way back down the Catskills and into New Jersey that next day for lunch at the Chatterbox with our Philly contingent.

Not much later our bikes were back in the barn, dripping wet, dirty and with another 1,000 miles on then – exactly – and we were back already putting this 20th anniversary issue together. Never any rest for the weary.

If you came to the Spring Break as a veteran or for the first time – we hope you had a good time; and, if you did, spread the word - we’d love to see more of you come join us this September.

BACKROADS 17TH ANNUAL FALL FIESTA • SEPTEMBER 17-21 WINCHESTER, VA • ELKINS, WV • SHIPPENSBURG, PA

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Resources: Yankee Inn 461 Pittsfield Rd, Lenox, MA 01240 413-499-3700 • www.YankeeInn.com Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort 2559 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946 844-898-0924 • www.Golden-Arrow.com Rochester Cafe 55 N Main St/Rte. 100, Rochester, VT 05767 802-767-4302 • www.RochesterCafe.com Wind Chill Factory 79 NY 9N, Ticonderoga, NY 12883 518-585-3044 • www.WindChillFactory.com Indian Lake Restaurant 2 W Main St, Indian Lake, NY 12842 518-648-5115 • www.Indian-Lake.com Bavarian Manor Inn 866 Mountain Ave, Purling, NY 12470 518-622-3261 • www.BavarianManor.com

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BACKROADS’ GREAT RIVER SERIES

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

Susquehanna River Romp

Susquehanna River is one of the oldest existing rivers in the world, older than the mountain ridges through which it runs. Half of Pennsylvania’s watershed empties in the Susquehanna, with half of the Chesapeake’s fresh water coming from this river.

For this tour we will reverse the previous two directions and this time head from the bay to the headwaters, from south to north.

Starting at the Concord Point Lighthouse at Havre de Grace we’ll cross over the beginnings of

We saved the largest and the furthest west of this Great River Series for last. At 444 miles long, the Susquehanna River is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean.

When I was young and rode my bicycle around Queens I would have a set neighborhood that I would pass through and know I was more or less home or at least close to it. We feel that way about the Susquehanna.

When we are heading home from touring and traveling around the United States and I cross the Susquehanna River, I get the feeling that we are almost home.

The river also has, for me at least, the bonus of starting and ending in two of my favorite places.

The Beginning: The Susquehanna River has very humble beginnings at the bottom of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York and then flows 464 miles to the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Maryland.

The river gets its name from the Lenape who called it Sisa’we’hak’hanna, which means “Oyster River.”

With its zig-zag course, the river runs through a number of water gaps from New York, across the rural heartland of southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Maryland in the lateral, near-parallel, array of mountain ridges. The

“The Bay” on US 40 and then head north on Route 222 to US 1 which will bring us past the Conowingo Dam, the first of some 24 dams (old and new) along this river.

It is one of the few

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 39

non-federally run dams in the nation and part of the area’s hydro-electric grid.

Here, just ten miles form the mouth of the Chesapeake, is a birder’s paradise with at least 170 species of birds observed and recorded at the dam. Large groups of Blue Heron and Bald Eagle have been seen here; sometimes well over 100 of each species. Damn, that’s a lot of eagles!

We’ll keep going on Route 222 and then into Pennsylvania at the Mason-Dixon line and from there we’ll have to follow a good number of smaller roads to stay close and along the river.

Finding our way to Route 441, the road scenically follows the water north through the towns of Columbia and Bainbridge, riding past the many little islands that make the Susquehanna River so pleasant to traverse.

One that was not so pleasant to remember was Three Mile Island. It was here that America’s worst accident at a civilian nuclear power plant occurred on March 28, 1979. More than half the fuel melted in one of two nuclear reactors on Three Mile Island, and large quantities of radioactivity leaked from the reactor, but most of it was contained. In all probability, no one received a harmful amount of radiation. The enormous damage to the reactor was revealed only years later when TV cameras and a specially developed ultrasonic, sonar-like imaging system looked inside the reactor vessel.

We’d love to get a closer look at the place - a bit of Mysterious America on the otherwise pristine river. But, that might not be a great idea even today, although there is a visitor’s center in the town of Middletown.

Bearing left onto Route 230 north the road stays fairly close to the river and this eventually runs into the state capital of Harrisburg.

Let’s cross the river here again, and take a break in Lemoyne at Dukes Bar & Grill, which you will find at 313 South Front Street.

Pull up a seat on the large deck overlooking the river and the state capital and enjoy the view.

Further north on Route 11 we will again vector to the other side of the river, this time by ferry.

The Millersburg Ferry, the Roaring Bull V, is a red paddle wheeler that was built in 1998 and is the last of its type in the nation. We have crossed the Susquehanna River on this boat many, many times and it is always a bit of a thrill to ride down the bank and then onto the flat bottom boat itself.

While BMW has spent 90 years producing some of the best motorcycles in the world, Cross Country has spent 15 years providing you with the latest and best in BMW products. like the all-new S 1000 XR, R 1200 R and R 1200 RS.

©2015 BMW Motorrad USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks.

CROSS COUNTRY BMW 911 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen, NJ Serving Central and North NJ, Staten Island, NY and Philadelphia, PA

732-635-0094 • www.CCBMW.com

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Page 40 From the town of Millersburg continue north on Route 147. This is one of the most pleasant rides, as the road rises and falls whimsically with the contours of the hills and valleys that flank the river.

Along the way you’ll pass through Sunbury, opposite the town of Shamokin Dam. The dam was built in the 19th century to facilitate ferries crossing the river, but it has long since disappeared – lost to an ice storm in March of 1904. The town kept the name and a bridge now stands in its place.

Staying on the eastern shore we’ll continue on our northerly trek along smaller county roads that keep a tighter line along the river.

It would be hard to ride through this region and not stop in at Bill’s Bike Barn so we’ll cross over the river at Bloomsburg and head north on Route 11 to Bill’s.

The place is full of motorcycles and Americana and, according to their website, “Bill’s Old Bike Barn is an experience for everyone both young and old with an overwhelming display of the most pristine collections of motorcycles and memorabilia. Any true motorcycle enthusiast is sure to be speechless as they gaze upon all there is to see. Each time you visit you’re sure to find another item you missed on your previous visits, whether it be the Zundapps or Toppers or how about the 1956 German NSU. Then there’s the military display complete with foxhole, a ‘45 NOS Military Bike a 30 caliber machine gun, palm trees finished off with Spanish moss, no detail was left out, right down to the 1940 Military parachute that covers the display!”

We have been on the road for a good while now, and are really only about halfway along this last ride on the Great River Series – so, let’s get going.

Route 11 will carry us all the way to the town of Pittston, where we will pick up County Road 92 to stay close to the river.

This ends at The Grand Old Army of the Republic Highway – US 6 and you can follow this along for a bit, or get tricky and take some of the tiny

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS local roads to hug the Susquehanna a bit better.

Just west of Towanda cross over the river on SR 1041 and then make a left onto SR 1043. This tiny road will take us north for miles until we cross from the Keystone to the Empire state.

Now called NY 501, follow along to Nichols where we’ll jump the river again on Route 282 and then bear right onto Route 17C. I pretty much know things will get confusing riding through Johnson City but look for Route 7 and follow along. It will send you in the way we need to go. Enjoy the road till Route 28 north, ride past Good Year Lake in Colliersville, NY, and then cruise on into Cooperstown, New York. Home to Baseball’s Hall of Fame, an amnesiac Spring Break and the headwaters of the Susquehanna River.

When Route 28 makes a left in town, you will make a right onto Main Street and ride to the small bridge.

Here there is a marker telling you this is where the Susquehanna River begins and where it ends some 444 miles away.

But, you already know this – you just came from there.

There are a myriad of lodging options in Cooperstown, so pick one out, park the bike and enjoy the town.

DUKE’S BAR & GRILL • 313 S. FRONT ST, LEMOYNE, PA 717-737-1313 • WWW.DUKESBARANDGRILLE.COM MILLERSBURG FERRY • MOTORCYCLE + RIDER: $7; $3 PASSENGER OPEN WHITE DOOR TO CALL FERRY BILL’S OLD BIKE BARN • 7145 COLUMBIA BLVD, BLOOMSBURG, PA 570-759-7030 • THUR-FRI 10AM-6PM; SAT 9:30-3; SUN 1-5 • $5/PP

July 2015 Pages_2011 Page Layout-New 6/8/15 2:07 PM Page 41

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

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2016 MOTORCYCLES ARE ARRIVING 2016 KAWASAKI Z800 ABS Kawasaki introduces a new mid-level streetfighter with aggressive styling, smooth acceleration and sporty, stable handling for back-road fun The aggressive styling and powerful punch of the Kawasaki Z1000 has won it many fans, and now it gets a sibling in the form of the new-to-North America 2016 Kawasaki Z800 ABS. This mid-level streetfighter brings the same attitude as its bigger brother, with similarly aggressive styling, and a 806cc four-cylinder engine. Whether it’s being used on backroads for a Sunday fun run or city streets, the stripped down style and sporty handling should deliver grin-inducing performance. The 2016 Kawasaki Z800 ABS is a 49-state model, which will not be available in California but can be purchased in every other state.

Look for them this September at your friendly local Kawasaki dealer and read more about it at www.kawasaki.com

YAMAHA INTRODUCES 2016 FZ-07 AND FZ-09 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., introduced the 2016 FZ-07 and FZ-09, which are the company’s first two models in its 2016 line-up of sportbikes.

The FZ-07 features a 689cc, crossplane-concept, liquidcooled, inline, twin-cylinder, DOHC, 8-valve engine with fuel injection, which provides outstanding low- to mid-range torque with very linear throttle response. The motorcycle’s wheelbase, seat height, fuel tank width, rake, and other dimensions all work with the qualities of the compact twin-cylinder engine to achieve a sporty, light, and neutral handling character.

The FZ-09’s 847cc, crossplane-concept, liquid-cooled, inline, three-cylinder, fuel-injected engine combines advanced, high-tech components, including YCC-T® and Yamaha D-Mode, to deliver an exciting quick-revving engine character. The motorcycle’s wheelbase, seat height, fuel tank width, rake, and other dimensions provide an upright riding position and a narrow-feeling chassis at the seat/tank junction.

Yamaha offers a complete range of add-ons and accessories for the FZ-07 and FZ-09, including grips, saddlebags and mounts, cowlings, comfort seats, engine guards, seat cowls, and much more.

The 2016 FZ-07 will be available at dealerships beginning in August in two color options—Raven and Matte Silver—and will retail for $6,990 and will be in the shops later this year.

THE AFRICA TWIN IS BACK! Honda has announced the return of the Africa Twin for model year 2016.

Having clearly shown the direction of its development and intent with the reveal of the True Adventure prototype at EICMA in November 2014, Amer-

ican Honda can now confirm that the all-new CRF1000L Africa Twin will be in U.S. dealers early next year.

Some motorcycles encapsulate perfectly what an adventure motorcycle is all about. The original XRV650 Africa Twin—which debuted in 1989 after Honda’s four successive wins in the Dakar Rally—was one such machine.

Its go-anywhere ability, rugged durability, agile handling and all-day comfort made it the perfect partner with which to explore. And it helped to define a motorcycling segment that has now grown into one of the most popular worldwide. The new Africa Twin remains true to all the attributes and abilities of the XRV650 and its successor, the XRV750, while adding the benefits of everything Honda has learned on and off-road over the last decade, including Team HRC’s return to the Dakar in 2013.

Furthermore, in a first for the category, the Africa Twin will feature the option of a new evolution of Honda’s Automatic Dual Clutch Trans mission (DCT) technology, which remains unique to Honda in motorcycling. This latest evolution of DCT has been specifically developed and programmed to provide the off-road ability with which the Africa Twin is synonymous.

The all-new CRF1000L Africa Twin is set to redefine expectations of just what a large-capacity adventure motorcycle can and should be capable of, both on and off-road, and it opens an entirely new chapter in Honda’s illustrious history of dual-purpose motorcycles made for true adventure.

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS NANO PROTECH BETTER PROTECTION THROUGH SCIENCE Always looking for something new, fresh and innovative (at least to us) we spotted a booth at this past New York Motorcycle Show that carried Nano Protech.

Nano Protech is a moisture displacement spray that comes in two distinct formulas. Electric and Anticor.

Motorcycle Electric is specially formulated for motorcycle, ATV and snowmobile applications. Used wherever electrical connections are made, it helps to rehab damaged connections, displaces moisture while removing oxides. It leaves an invisible ‘nanocoating’ that penetrates into hard-to-reach spots. It also claims to help insulate and protect wiring connections and electrical components for a full year. It bills itself as a liquid insulation.

Their videos show them putting a running electrical drill and a light into a clear container of water with no mayhem following. We weren’t going there, but we could see how, even if this product protects half as well as it claims, that it would be a good things to use on your machine.

We applied it to battery connections and various reachable electrical connections around our machines. Think of this stuff as WD-40 on steroids.

The second formula was Anticor. Obviously an anti-corrosive - it sprays nanoparticles that penetrate along the applied surface, displacing any moisture and building a protective coating. It works most excellently on anything that deals with friction such as hinges, pivoting points and bare metals protecting things such as well and cast aluminum parts from winter salt and abuse.

Unlike the electrical application we had no qualms in testing the anticorrosive claims of this product with an easy test. Nothing rusts as fast as a used Brillo pad. We soaked the suds off of one such pad and coated half with Nanoprotech Antiocor and left the other side untreated.

The protected side is… well, protected.

After a good wash it could not hurt to give your motorcycle a good application of these products. In fact the more we watched of Nanotech’s video the more applications we could see for their products – from outdoor electrical connections to firearms – the uses seem endless.

The bottom line is that we use chemicals all the time on and around our motorcycles nanotech offers to more serious cans that need to be on your shelves.

For more information check their site at www.nanoprotech.org.

PASSENGER COMFORT FOR THE BMW R1200GS FROM PIRATE’S LAIR Pirates Lair, makers of sport-touring motorcycle backrests for over 15 years, has yet another “Stealth” backrest on the market. The latest is for the 2014+ liquid-cooled BMW R1200GSW. The lightweight CNC’d aluminum stealth bracket bolts directly to the rear factory rack via 4 furnished bolts and spacers and blends perfectly with the lines of the bike. Production brackets are covered with a rich, textured powder coating in both black or silver finish. The backrest’s polished stainless steel slide bar slides on and off the bike in under 10 seconds and without tools. The cover material matches the black R1200GSW OEM seat perfectly making the package look 100% factory. Install is

BACKROADS • JULY 2015 chimp-easy, taking all of 5 minutes. Sweet! Soft T-Bag luggage is also available for this and all the other Stealth backrests.

As per Pirates’ Lair owner and product designer, Jerry Finley, “My goal when designing any backrest is holistic. If I can’t design the backrest to be beautiful when installed I won’t do it. It’s more than just mechanics. It took me over a year to get this project done, but it turned out to be a thing of beauty, simplicity, and of course...comfort.”

You can find Pirates Lair at www.pirateslair.net • 828-628-7093.

PRODUCT REVIEW SENA 20S MOTORCYCLE BLUETOOTH COMMUNICATION SYSTEM It just seems to get better.

Over the past few years we have had the opportunity to test various Bluetooth communication systems out there and - where they once were hit or miss as far as clarity, dependability and ease of use these days they are all pretty good and just seem to be getting easier and easier to operate.

At the cutting edge of this communications race is Sena and their newest offering, the 20S. We have been using a pair of these on various machines and in various terrains and are more than just impressed. We were blown away by the quality this system brings to the table.

Our kit came with two 20S’ at a list price of $545.95 (single units sell for $299) – this might seem pricey but talk does not come cheap.

Instructions ask that you register each unit and then check for any firmware upgrades. Ours jumped up one generation and the entire process took just ten minutes and that with me at the keyboard.

Installation could go one of two way - the easy way or the not so easy way.

We split it down the middle.

The Sena 20S come with a clamp mount that slides into place between the helmet shell and the liner on most helmets. We chose two modular helmets to play with - a Nolan N104 and Schuberth C3.

Yes, we know both helmets have their own proprietary Bluetooth systems, but don’t quibble with me on this.

We asked for volunteers and all the other helmets took a step back.

The ‘easy way’ is the quick adhesive mount to the side of the helmet, attached in the cradle with two supplied and very tiny allen screws and slide on the 20S unit to complete the installation.

The ‘not so easy way’ was to trim off a bit of the plastic lip that finishes off the helmet and liner on the bottom of one of the helmets, enough to allow the bracket to fit flush and clamp tightly. You then attach the unit as we did the first.

Although Sena prefers using the clamp we never had any issues with the adhesive bracket, even in adverse and quick conditions.

You will also need to fit the supplied headsets into your helmet.

Once again we chose two routes, with one helmet using the supplied and very clear speaker system - installed in the Schuberth - and the Nolan helmet forgoing the headsets and sticking with custom-made earplugs that plugged into a convenient female outlet built into the Sena 20S. The headsets are very thin and installed easily as most helmets these days have a little round notch for them already waiting.

Also, each unit has a choice of microphones, depending on the style helmet it will call home - modular, full face or open-face models.

It is a little known fact that when anyone passes the 50-year benchmark the little ‘Techno Fairy’ people flitter into your bedroom late at night and remove your ability to read and understand the easiest of directions.

That being our case it took us a while to get used to the push this button, hold this other one, watch for this light to flash red and then blue.

Yea, whatever. Just work.

Page 43 Ha – it did.

The bottom line is the Sena’s got friendly with all our modern day motorcycle necessities and played nicely for every ride we took them on.

We made sure both 20S’ were paired and playing with each other and then also paired our individual iPhones and Garmin GPS units.

The Sena comes with boodles of features including what they call Audio Multitasking. This allows you to have a conversation and a phone call while listening to music. The 20S reduces audio volume when you are chatting with other riders, stopping that annoying music cut-off.

You can pair up to eight of these units so your group can have deep discussions of riding technique and current events and talk smack about each others riding skills and prowess while you are actually riding.

A good way to eliminate that lengthy holiday gift list.

But, how do the 20s’ really work?

Extremely well. Although the custom earplugs had far greater gain, the standard Sena headset speakers worked crisp and loud as well.

The rotary ‘Jog Dial’ is a breeze to use, even with gloves on, and we liked that you can charge the Sena units off of any current USB charge – iPhone, camera charger, etc.

There is also an audio-in jack if you have an iPod or Sony Walkman. Yeah, Walkman… what’s your problem? You should see my Memorex cassette collection.

On the road it sounded as if my riding companion was sitting across a desk from me and not a ½ mile down the road. The tap to talk, tap to not, the built in FM radio and the ability to connect with GPS and phone really made this a clear winner.

Really, very impressive.

To sum it up Sena has raised the bar with the 20S. They are well designed, stylish, easy to use and work extremely well in all conditions (hot, cold, wet and stupid) and for a good bit of distance as well. The sound clarity is superb and the added options make them the leader in Bluetooth communication at the present time.

For more info log-on to their website www.sena.com or visit your local dealer. ~ Brian Rathjen

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS Upcoming Events

WORLD TRIALS STARS COME TO STEPPING STONE RANCH, RI JULY 25 AND 26 words: Michael D. Green Remember 1975? Mitchell, Haldermann, and Erichmann were sentenced in the Watergate trial, Saigon fell to North Vietnam, Muhamed Ali beat Joe Frasier in the Thriller in Manilla, Bill Gates started a company called Microsoft, and the Red Sox won the World Series. In a quiet corner of Rhode Island a different form of history was in the making: for the first time, a round of the Trial World Championship was being held in the US. Before 1975, the ‘world championship’ took place in Europe. In 1975 rounds were scheduled in Calgary, Canada and Rhode Island, and the series officially became the World Trials Championship. European stars, like Malcolm Rathmell, Martin Lampkin, Mick Andrews, and Vrio Vesterinen descended on North America and dazzled the crowds on their Spanish motorcycles— Bultacos, Montesas, and Ossas. Vesterinen won on a Bultaco in Calgary, and Rathmell won on a Montesa in Rhode Island.

MORE ROOMS ADDED TO OUR BLOCK

The Cycle News coverage of the Rhode Island event captured the spirit of the day: “Enthusiasts from everywhere showed up to get a close, first-hand look at the world’s best trials riders. What they saw made many a person come away from the event shaking their head and muttering ‘Damn, I just don’t believe what I saw those guys do!’”

The world stars returned to the Stepping Stone Ranch in West Greenwich, Rhode Island three more times.

Frenchman, Thierry Michaud won on an Italian Fantic in 1985; Spaniard, Jordi Tarres won on a Spanish GasGas in 1996; Englishman, Dougie Lampkin, Martin’s son, won on an Italian Beta in 1999.

Now, 40 years after their first appearance, the world trials stars are preparing to descend on Rhode Island once again. Much has changed in the 16 years since Lampkin won in 1999. For the last ten years, the sport has been dominated by Spanish riders. Adam Raga won the world championship in 2005 and 2006, but for the next eight years—2007 to 2014—one rider has held an iron grip on the title: Toni Bou.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015 Bou is the obvious favorite to win in Rhode Island. He rides a trick, fuel-injected, four-stroke Montesa that has been honed to perfection with technical assistance from Honda’s racing division—HRC. Bou’s competition comes from compatriots Adam Raga on the factory GasGas, Albert Cabestany on the factory Sherco, and Jeroni Fajardo on the factory Beta. Another challenger for Bou will be his Montesa/Honda teammate from Japan, Takahashi Fujinama; nicknamed ‘Fujigas’ because of his flamboyant riding style.

Nine countries around the globe are hosting rounds of the FIM Trial World Championship in 2015. The series kicked off in Japan in April, and the Rhode Island Trials Club is hosting the seventh of the nine rounds at Stepping Stone Ranch on the weekend of July 25 and 26.

Each day features a separate, scored event—one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Riders attempt 12 observed sections on each lap and ride three laps of the 3.5-mile course.

Four separate classes will compete during the weekend, with a varying degree of difficulty through the sections. The premier class is the World Pro Class, with Bou, Raga, Cabestany, Fujigas et al, attempting obstacles that will just leave you speechless. These are the world’s elite riders and only 10-15 riders can attempt the sections in a safe The one to beat - Toni Bou manner. The winner of this class in Photo: Repsol Honda Team Trial 2015 will be considered the FIM World Trials Champion. Watch for eight-time US National Champion Patrick Smage, who will competing in the World Pro Class in Rhode Island and hoping for a lift from the local fans.

FIM Trial Cup 125cc riders are restricted to bikes of up to 125cc. Don’t let that fool you. Trials is all about balance and finesse, not horsepower. Expect to see some of the younger European riders in this class, also some of the most flamboyant.

The International Class is not associated with a world championship and is open to any rider. Many of the top riders in the US and Canada will comAlbert Cabestany • Photo: Sherco pete in the International Class just to get a chance to ride alongside Toni Bou on the world stage.

Competition starts at 8:30 am each day and runs until about 4:30. A bus will transport you from the parking area right into the heart of the action. You can then follow the spectator-only trail through the woods that leads you to each of the sections. All of the sections are designed to be spectator friendly and provide a great view of the riders in action.

It promises to be weekend of family-friendly entertainment. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the 1975 World Round, a vintage trials event is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 4pm.

Once again the rocks and ledges of Rhode Island will echo to the sounds of Bultaco, Montesa, and Ossa trials bikes from the 70s Takahisa Fujinami was just 16-years old when he finished and 80s. You can also spend Friday in the practice area watching fourth in the 1996 world round in Rhode Island. “Fujigas” Bou and the rest of the best riders in the world defying gravity has been competing at the top level for 20 years and will return to the Stepping Stone Ranch in 2015 and testing the traction from the Rhode Island granite. Admission Photo: Repson Honda Team Trial is free on Friday.

Mike Steidly, the trials bicycle national champion, will thrill the crowd with his balancing skills at 5:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday evening. A concert on the Stepping Stone Ranch stage is scheduled for Saturday evening, and riders competing in a New England Moto-Giro event will be riding their vintage bikes through the ranch, also on Saturday evening.

Camping with showers and restrooms is available at the Stepping Stone Ranch campground.

Entry for Friday is free. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $25 for each day or $40 for both. Advance tickets are available at a discount from the event web site at www.wtc2015usa.com. The web site has more details, directions, and the latest news on the events planned for the weekend.

It’s gonna be a motorcycle extravaganza centered around the best motorcycle trials riders in the world. Just like the spectator interviewed by Cycle News in 1975, Adam Raga and his Gas-Gas are one of the few combinain Rhode Island you’ll come away saying “Damn, I just don’t believe what tions that can beat Toni Bou at the event Photo: Gas-Gas Motos I saw those guys do!”

log onto www.wtc2015usa.com for more information.

Stepping Stone ranch • 201 escoheag hill road, west greenwich, ri 02817

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RIDE LIKE A PRO NJ Jerry ‘Motorman’ Palladino’s Training Classes Being Held in New Jersey ‘NEVER FEAR making a U-turn or dropping your 800lb. motorcycle again’ • Male-Female-Big-Small: It doesn’t matter • You can learn the 3 simple techniques that motor cops have been using for years

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

THe

RETURN

OF THe ONE DAY

ROAD TOUR

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16th

• Our instructors - all active or retired motor officers - will show you how to use the motor cop riding techniques to better control and handle your motorcycle

Join us for a 200-mile tri-state self-guided romp through New Jersey, New York + Pennsylvania

Check our website for available dates

www.RideLikeAProNJ.com Pre-registration is recommended as classes fill quickly.

Gift certificates available • Course Fee is $175.00

START/END: Chatterbox

Drive-In • Rtes. 94/206, Augusta, NJ

SIGN-IN: 9 -10:30am Breakfast: Yetter’s Diner • North of Chatterbox • 89 US 206, Augusta, NJ Optional: $10/bike donation to Backroads’ Little Free Libraries

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

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

OLD DOGS & NeW TRickS We all know the old saying but when it comes to we humans, I don’t think this saying should or would apply.

As a motorcyclist I am occasionally amazed at how proficient some riders feel that they are, regardless of their amount of years riding or lack thereof. Some of these riders have never taken any professional training or ever sought to improve their skills, yet they continue to ride around, eventually adding to skewed insurance statistics. Many of these riders, who are aware of the different riding schools that are out and available, choose to ignore them.

For the most part the riding friends that I travel with all feel they can get better, in many different aspects of their individual riding. They spend time, money and effort in the never-ending quest to become that much better of a motorcyclist.

We have had the opportunity to travel with many others and tour groups around this planet and the #1 thing that they have all brought up, when asked what is the toughest part of bringing unknown riders along on a tour, is vetting them for riding skill.

The best comment was a recent one from one tour guide friend who told me of two riders that went to rent machines from him only to ask what the bright green N light meant.

Oh, boy. In this case N should mean N-ot going to rent to you.

On one tour we had three riders of varying mind and skill set. We have always found that participating in a tour will be hit or miss with the talents, temperament and politeness of your fellow riders.

It took about one full day before we knew where each rider was - as far as their riding skill and mindset.

Skill set, for all of us, can be improved on – but, mind set?

A different animal.

At one meal I casually asked if anyone had ever taken any sort of professional instruction. I got a blank stare.

Here we had a couple of old dogs (each rider was way past 60) that didn’t want to know of anything new. They were set in their ways.

One rider had all the latest gear and was a fairly solid rider. Living in the backwoods and miles from any real professional riding instruction this rider had a new helmet, new riding outfit and a new video camera which took up more of his attention than his actual riding, current conditions or his mirrors.

He had just recently taken up riding and started with a Honda Gold Wing.

Right, excellent choice?

When asked about basic rider courses he said “Oh yea, ehh – he didn’t know dick f#!k!” Okay….

He went on to say that he would have to travel to take any real class (so do we on occasion) and actively told everyone there that all you need is a Ride Like a Pro video and a parking lot – which is what he does.

We have done RLAP and found it to be really excellent in slow moving, u-turns and real-life parking lot riding.

At least he was doing something to improve his skill.

Page 48 Our second rider said he had motorcycles all his life, his current ride being a big cruiser. He admitted to being a sunny Sunday, putt around type of rider.

He came to this far-flung part of the world with little real riding gear - just bomber jacket, half helmet, old rain suit and jeans - which got shredded the first day out from a tip-over.

He knew how to ride, or at least operate a bike, but much like rider #1, he didn’t really pay attention to group riding dynamics. Absolutely no space cushioning or thought going into his machine’s placement on the road or how close he’d be following the lead bike’s taillight, especially in the twists and turns of the mountains.

We gave him twice the room we normally give any rider in a group

situation and would always be anticipating the worst.

I see little chance of him moving forward with his riding skill from any professional instruction.

Our last rider was calm and methodical about his riding. Slow and steady, like the tortoise, he and his passenger hung back all the time – but never had an issue nor crowded the others or caused any concern.

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS Our rock steady rider was an Iron Butt guy and felt that we stopped way too often and too long. He had started riding, just lately, in his mid-60 and now, in his 70s, had ridden in more places than most riders I know.

He was the only rider that actually asked about his riding along with the rest of the group. He was truly concerned about how his riding was affecting our ride.

Too close, too far, too slow?

Actually we found his steadiness to be refreshing and weren’t concerned with him at any time. Given the chance we think he would take any course he could, and we’d ride with him again in a second.

Not so much the other guys.

So what does all this pontification have to do with this monthly column?

Easy, ask yourself the question – what sort of Old Dog are you?

Are you still teachable? Can you learn new tricks? Are you willing to ask questions, look at your riding style and see when you are not doing things as well as you can or should?

Are you willing to put the time, effort and money into improving your riding skills?

We are and we hope you are too.

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 49

THOU GHT S FRO M THE ROAD

George Tranos

new moTorCyCle liCenSing opTion in new york STATe

you ride! Having taught numerous Basic RiderCourse2 classes, I can guarantee that you’ll have a good time, enhance your skills and if you pass the riding skills evaluation, come away with your motorcycle license.

Are you one of the thousands of motorcyclists who are riding without a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license? Untrained and unlicensed riders are statistically more likely to appear in motorcycle crashes. Many states are aware of the number of people perennially riding without a license.

Some, like New York, have periodically sent letters to owners of registered motorcycles who do not have their motorcycle license endorsement. This has served as a warning to these people that the state is serious about enforcing licensing regulations.

In the past, there were only two ways to obtain a motorcycle endorsement in New York. The first is the traditional method of taking a road test with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Most other states provide this option as well but some are getting out of the road test business. An applicant must have a NYS motorcycle learner’s permit to make a road test appointment.

New York State’s road test includes doing circles and figure eights in a confined space (normally a parking lot but sometimes on the street depending on the road test site) and then an on-street riding component. The applicant must supply an inspected, registered and insured motorcycle, a vehicle (car or truck) for the inspector to ride in and a licensed motorcyclist to accompany the applicant. The DMV inspector does not ride on the motorcycle – they ride behind the bike as a passenger in the provided vehicle during the road test to ensure that the applicant can control the motorcycle in a limited space, is safe on the street, obeys the law and is not a danger to themselves or others. The motorcycle road test takes about ten minutes and is given in at least one location in each NYS county (outside of NY City).

Prior to this year, the only other way to obtain a motorcycle endorsement was to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse (BRC).

This was offered by private driving schools through the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program (NYSMSP). The BRC is a nationally recognized rider training program. This extensive course is held over a three-day period and includes 5-hours of classroom instruction and 10-hours of on-motorcycle training. It includes a written knowledge test and a riding skills examination. The school will supply a small training motorcycle and if needed, a helmet. Upon successful completion, the student receives a completion card that serves as their road test waiver. This allows them to go to DMV and amend their auto license without any further testing. They must obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit first if they did not have one for the BRC (a permit is no longer a prerequisite for the BRC in NYS).

For 2015 NYS DMV has approved another course that also provides the road test waiver. This new course is called the MSF Basic RiderCourse2 with License Waiver (BRC2-LW). This course is not intended for new riders! It is designed for individuals that have had some street riding experience and have held a valid Agents who ride and understand New York State Motorcycle Permit for at least 1 calendar year, and possess some street riding skills. The your motorcycle insurance needs memBer BRC2-LW is an 8-hour course that contains a unique memBer on-line classroom segment as a pre-requisite and also Ask about our Tour Cycle program – the ultimate in Coverage offers a variety of practice riding exercises designed to further develop riding skills on the student’s own motorcycle. The riding exercises conclude with a skills passenger Coverage • Accessories Coverage test. In order for a participant to earn their NYSMSP BRC2-LW License Waiver Completion Card they must medical payments Coverage successfully complete the eCourse (on-line) and the skills evaluation on the range. Many NYSMSP sites are 448 lincoln Ave • hawthorne nJ 07506 • 973-427-2246 offering this new option.

Every serious motorcyclist should possess a motorwww.CycleinsuranceAgency.com cycle endorsement! If you are one of those riding without one, what are you waiting for? You risk losing your Serving new Jersey, new york and pennsylvania • ATV • Jet Ski • Snowmobile license and confiscation of your motorcycle every time

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTING Every Monday • McCobb’s Bike Night, 2391 Hamburg Tpke, Wayne, NJ • 6-10pm Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do some benchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish Last Wednesday • Tramontin Over the Hump Bike Night. 6-8pm. Live music, great food, in-house specials. Exit 12 Rte. 80, Hope NJ • 908-459-4101 • TramontinHD.com Every Thursday • Bike Night at the Chatterbox Drive-In, Rtes. 15/206, Augusta, NJ. Tire kicking, good food and friends • www.chatterboxdrivein.com Every Saturday • 9am for coffee and bagels. KSU 10am. Return for FREE food and music. Proper attire MUST be worn! No shorts or sneakers. • Bergen Harley-Davidson, 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.BergenHarley.com Every Saturday • Tramontin Harley-Davidson Biker BBQ with FREE Hot Dogs while they last. 12-3pm weather permitting. Exit 12 Route 80 Hope, NJ • www.TramontinHD.com • 908-459-4101 Every Sunday • Tramontin Harley-Davidson Rise + Shine Breakfast 9-11am. Special offerings by Chefs Catering. Exit 12 Route 80 Hope, NJ • www.TramontinHD.com • 908-459-4101 Thru Oct. 11, 2015 • AACA Museum’s ‘Motorbikes for the Masses’. 161 Museum Dr, Hershey, PA (1 mile from HerseyPark just off Rte. 39 West) • 717-566-7100 • www.AACAMuseum.org

JUNE 26-27 • Motorcycle Mall Victory Demo Days. 655 Washington Ave, Belleville, NJ • 973-751-4545 • MotorcycleMall.com 26-28 • Hudson Valley Motorcycles Ducati Demo Experience Tour. Ducati Demo Truck with all the 2015 motorcycles for you to ride. LImited space available - visit website to make reservation. EXCLUSIVE NY/CT location, including NYC • 179 North Highland Ave, Ossining, NY • 914-762-2722 • www.HVMotorcycles.com 28 • 7th Annual Baer’s MS Poker Run to benefit Multiple Sclerosis. Sign up: 9amNoon Baer’s Sports Center, 330 Grandview Ave, Honesdale, PA or Harmony Lodge No. 8 F&AM, 519 Rte. 206, Andover, NJ.$20/pp incl. pins or patches, scenic ride, live music, food and prizes • www.WRVR.net • 570-253-2000

JULY 10-11 • Law Enforcement Skills Competition. 7/10: Practice and Eliminations 8am4pm @ Willowbrook Mall, Wayne, NJ • 7/11: Finals and awards 8am - 2pm. For full details visit www.sonj.org/special-olympics-events/law-enforcement/ for mail-in registration form or contact: Tommy Johnson, tjohn710@yahoo.com • 7/11: Motorcycle Run • Sign in: 8 - 9 am at Bergen County Harley-Davidson, 124 Essex Street, Rochelle Park • KSU: 9:15am. 50 mile escorted ride to Willowbrook Mall for lunch and t-shirt pick-up. Skills Competition will be in-progress. $25/Rider (must be 18 or over), $15/Passenger. Includes event shirt and lunch.

10 • Country Rode Motowerks hosts Simon and Lisa ‘The Search for Freedom’ presentation sharing their experiences, advice, lessons learned and secrets from their 12-years of global travel @ 6pm. 286 Macedon Ctr Rd, Fairport, NY • 585-421-0480 • www.countryrode.com

What’s Happening 11 • Morton’s BMW Motorcycles GS Day - dedicated to the BMW GS series, the original adventure touring motorcycle. Presentations, a ‘dirtiest GS’ contest, and much more. See www.MortonsBMW.com for full details • 540-891-9844 • 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 12 • Annual Woodstock Vintage Ride. Meet 11am Catskill Mountain Pizza, 51 Mill Hill Rd (RT 212/Main St), Woodstock, NY. FREE, all bikes welcome. Ride the Catskills, lunch en route. • 845-389-7333 or airmanbear@verizon.net 17-19 • Centinnary College’s WNTI presents WNTIStage. Music, food and craft vendors under the big tent and Lions Club Pavilion, 89 US 46, Columbia, NJ • www.WNTStage.org • 908-979-4355 17-19 • Cross Country Ducati hosts Ducati Experience Tour. Only chance in the TriState area to demo the 2015 models, including the Scrambler. 911 Middlesex, Metuchen, NJ • 732-635-0094 • crosscountrycycle.net 18 • Bob's BMW Motorcycles Healthy Riding Seminar: Discuss potential health related issues motorcyclists might encounter such as hypothermia and how to trat/prevent.10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com 18 • Inaugural Hometown Veteran Fundraiser MC Run to benefit a local veteran.

Sign in/endsite: American Legion Post 261, 840 S Washington Ave, Piscataway, NJ • 9-11am ~ KSU 11:30am • $20/rider-$10/passenger. Live music, food, 50/50, and door prizes from 1-5pm 18-19 • Ramapo MC 39th Annual running of the Ramapo 500™. Sign in/Endsite: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke (Rte. 17) Sloatsburg, NY • 7AM • $35 adv. reg/$50/day of event. 500+ miles of gorgeous scenery and backroads, free camping, pool, Saturday night dinner, awards and prizes, Sunday breakfast, starter pins and finishers patch. Garmin GPS upload for additional fee • ramapomc.org • RMC@ramapomc.org 19 • Blue Knights PA XXVI Fallen Officer Poker Run to benefit the families of Cpl. Bryon Dickson and Tpr. Alex Douglass. Sign up: Combined Energy Wvc, 1483 Rte. 739, Dingmans Ferry, PA. $20/pp incl. scenic ride, prizes, vendors, live music, food and more at Airport Park, 7th & Ave S, Matamoras, PA • 914-850-2986 21 • Liberty Harley-Davidson Blacktop Bike Night @ 6pm. Live music, vendors, food and beverages. 12 W. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ • 732-381-2400 • www.LibertyHarley.com 23-25 • 43rd BMW MOA International Rally, MetraPark, Billings, Montana • www.bmwmoa.org 24-25 • Motorcycle Mall hosts the Jason Britton and Eric Hoenshell Stunt Show.

Visit website for show times • www.MotorcycleMall.com • 655 Washington Ave, Belleville, NJ • 973-751-4545 31-Aug. 9 • Deerfield Valley VT Blueberry Festival • www.VermontBlueberry.com 31-Aug. 1 • Pompton Sport Center Suzuki Demo Days. Suzuki Demo Truck brings 2015 Suzukis for your riding pleasure. Jersey Johnny’s Grill Food Truck on site to fill yer belly, plus giveaways. 444 Rte. 23 South, Pompton Plains, NJ • 973-839-1117 • www.PomptonSportCenter.com

AUGUST 7-8 • 38th Annual Daniel Boone Rally sponsered by the Carolinas BMW Motorcycle Owners Assoc. Great Riding Roads, Hospitality and Comaraderie in cool North Carolina Mountain air. All riders and brands welcome - room for everyone at the KOA campgrounds in Boone, NC. $45 rally fee includes two-nights camping, pin to first 200 attendees, door prizes, Sat. evening BBQ, donuts & coffee sunday morning, 24 hour coffee, tea, hot chocolate, iced tea & lemonade. Also People's Choice Award,self-guided route sheets and GPS downloads (on and off-road), fee

The Sussex County Farmer’s Market

Come with empty saddlebags and bring home dinner 37 Plains Road at the Sussex County Fairgrounds • Augusta, NJ

Open June thru October • Saturdays 9am-2pm The most Rider-Friendly Farmer’s Market in the Region

Come and meet YOUR Farmers

BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 51

wi-fi and so much more. Full details www.carolinasbmwmoa.org or email rally@bmwmoa.org

19 • Bob's BMW Motorcycles Oktoberfest & Open House 9A-4P.10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com

9 • Second Generation MC Assn. 12th Annual AMA Dice Run to benefit United Hospice of Rockland. Sign in: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke, Sloatsburg, NY 9:30-11am - 100-mile country backroads ride with a few dice rolling stops. AMA sanctioned. Endsite: Haverstraw Elks Lodge. Huge BBQ on the Hudson River with live music and prizes. Walk ins welcome • www.secondgenerationma.org

24-27 • Rolling Thru America - Pennsylvania. Brought to you by the folks who produce Americade, an intimate tour through beautiful Pennsylvania. Visit www.RollingThruAmerica.com for full details and to register. Limited space.

14-15 • Motorcycle Mall Suzuki Demo Days. Suzuki Demo Truck brings 2015 Suzukis for your riding pleasure. Test one or more, find what you like and take it home. 655 Washington Ave, Belleville, NJ • 973-751-4545 • www.MotorcycleMall.com

11 • Ramapo Motorcycle Club Fall Foliage Tour. Sign in/Endsite: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke (Rte. 17) Sloatsburg, NY 9am-mid-afternoon. Benefits Valerie Fund for Childhood Cancer Research. A guided or self-guided tour featuring the best autumn pallet Mother Nature can provide along some of the Hudson Valley’s most interesting roads. For more info: ramapomc.org • RMC@ramapomc.org

16 • BACKROADS 200. NJ/NY/PA 200+ mile ride. Details page 46 16 • Brit Jam 2015 9am-4:30pm • Haddam Neck Fairgrounds, Rte. 151, East Hampton, CT. Entry: $10. British Iron Association of CT. Connecticut’s finest classic motorcycle show and swap meet • www.CTBritIron.org 16 • 2nd Annual UNICO charity MC Run to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Sign in: Peterson Field, Fleetwood Dr, Rockaway Twp, NJ @ 8:30 • KSU 10am • $25/rider~$15/passenger. 60 mile police-escorted run thru scenic Northwest NJ. Endsite: The Barn, Greenpond Rd, Rockaway, NJ with full BBQ lunch, live music and many raffle prizes • 973-975-5554 • www.rtunico.org 20-23 • America’s 9/11 Ride remembering the 14th Anniversary honoring the first responders. Police escorted ride from Shanksville, PA to the Pentagon to the World Trade Center. Pre-reg closed 8/10/15. More info: www.americas911ride.org 19-22 • Westchester Beemers NY Trio Tour 2015. Sport-touring ‘scavenger hunt’ event. 3 consecutive daily rides begin/end Lincoln, NH-based location. Daily rides average 8.5 hours and cover 350 miles. Five/Six checkpoints per day, plus daily wild card bonus opportunities. Rider packets include bonus locations sent electronically 7 days ahead of the Rider Briefing on Day One. LIMITED TO 33 RIDERS. $65/solo • $95/two-up. Details/registration: www.triotour.org • 914-328-7909 27-30 • Killington Classic, Killington, VT. Visit www.KillingtonClassic.com for complete details and to register.

SEPTEMBER 6 • Backroads ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ Ride. We’ll meet at 10am for a leisurely ride through the countryside to Skylands Stadium,Augusta, NJ for a friendly rivalry game between the Sussex County Miners vs. Rockland Boulders. Tickets $10pp from box office or call 973-940-0222 (mention Backroads). More to come.

17-21 • Backroads Fall Foliage 2015. 4-night road trip to Virginia/West Virginia. 1st night: George Washington Hotel, Winchester, VA • nights 2 + 3: Isaac Jackson Hotel, Elkins, WV • 4th night: Shippen Place Hotel, Shippensburg, PA. We’ll visit some old and new stops, and bring you on some great twisties. Full info: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html. As always, gathering is free, just pay your own way and have a great time. Questions? editor@backroadsusa.com • 973-948-4176

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 15-22 • Backroads tour with MotoCaribe. 8-day all-inclusive South West Domincan Republic. VERY LIMITED SPACE. For full details and to reserve your seat, visit their excellent website @ www.MotoCaribe.com

Page 52

JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

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JULY 2015 • BACKROADS

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BACKROADS • JULY 2015

Page 55

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Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corporation. U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaMotorsports.com

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Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-6pm • Thur: 9am-8pm • Sat: 9am-5pm • SUNDAY: CLOSED - GONE RIDING