March 2010

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Riding for a Wing and a Prayer Andalucia with the Manfred Events Past and Future

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F E AT U R E S

FREE WHEELIN’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WHATCHATHINKIN’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ANDALUCIA SPAIN WITH THE MANFRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 TOURING THE CHARLEVOIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 FALL MOTOGIRO USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

MOTOMARATHON HITS NEW ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

ON THE MARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

RIDING FOR A WING AND A PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

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

2010 CYCLE WORLD INT’L MOTORCYCLE SHOW - NYC . . . . . . . . 52

INDUSTRY INFOBITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 BIG CITY GETAWAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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ONE CRAZY RIDE - VIDEO REVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 GARMIN ZUMO 665 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

BUMP ON THE ROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

XTREME BATTERY TESTER AND CHARGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

2X2 CYCLE RACK SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

HELMET HOOKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil ~ Publishers

Contributors: Ken Aiken, Jeff Bahr, Dr. Christopher Bump, Mark Byers, John Carney, Victor Cruz, Bill Heald, Robert LaFord, Burt Richmond, Tim Wineland, Dr. Seymour O’Life Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

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

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

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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can go one of two ways. A serious and interesting discussion of some of the aspects of riding that could be more problematic for women than men; with great give and take and with men happily invited and encouraged to particBrian Rathjen ipate. Or, basically a whine-time fest about how the manufacturers, motorcycling in general and men don’t seem to care about inseam size, bike REAL WOMEN RIDERS weight or the horrors of the dreaded helmet head.

I’m an Air Force officer just like you What bothers me about the latter is that many times these sorts of things are, Colonel. And just because my are created, encouraged and (Oh, I love this word) empowered by other reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside females; some who have vested economic reason to see these things happen. doesn’t mean I can’t handle whatever you can handle.

One 4-Day Women’s Biker Empowerment Experience Workshop, in - Sam Carter - Stargate -SG-1 ‘Children of the Gods’ California (where else) offered a Motorcycle Safety Course and promised that the attendees would have experiences to help them get in touch with Over the last decade or so there has been an explosive growth of women their femininity in a way they have not experienced before. riders in the United States. This is truly something that has added to the flaThe information also mentioned self-care and nurturing and how the vor and excitement for the sport and a trend that I personally have done my ladies attending could get past their fears and empower their strength. best to encourage. The more riders the better - no matter the gender, race, Oh, I almost forgot - skin care on the road too. religion or orientation.

This was like a mass run to the ladies room. Who is in charge of this?

It would be hard for us here at Backroads to ignore the entrance of so Doctor Phil? It seemed a little too New Age when many new female riders, especially since the magaost real female riders it should have been Real Age! zine is owned by a gal.

By the way - the cost for this event - a clean Over the years, Shira has been approached by varsimply want to ride. $1,500. Yes. Empower your feminine spirit while ious producers of television shows who wanted to do They are not thinking deflating your checking account. a feature on women and riding. Almost without fail that they are women The AMA recently had a Women’s Rally and, the invitation has been retracted after they found that from what I heard, it went well. But are huge riders simply riders.

Shira was not going to fit what they perceive as “Women’s Events” like this really needed or just a today’s Woman Rider. good excuse for a bunch of like minded gals to go riding and have a party?

She doesn’t ride a cruiser. She actually wears real riding gear. But, more There are a number of Women’s Track Days held all around the nation. importantly, she doesn’t have a story of how tough it is to be a woman rider Some women claim a “gal’s only” school keeps the male testosterone out of in a male dominated sport. She is sure and confident in herself, as are most the group dynamic, but as Shira has said, “There are males all over the road of the women she rides with. Like Sam Carter, she can handle whatever the so we ladies better get used to it.” boys can.

In my experience I always find I ride better after running with superior A good deal of the women riders I know feel, act and are the same way. riders - male or female; that’s why I try to ride with my friends Helene and You gals know who you are!

Laura as much as I can. These women, and their friends, are awfully talentStill even after all these years there is a part of the motorcycling world ed and I never feel like I am riding with women when with them, just friends that insists on treating women riders as these delicate flowers that must be that are a lot prettier than me. catered to as a large groups.

(Continued on Page 9) I have sat in on many Women’s Group Discussions and I have found they

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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W H ATC H AT H I N K I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL

RYDER ON THE RUG

We recently were visited by an old, and new, friend. For those who have kept track of my motorcycle comings and goings, Amanda bought my yellow Ducati Monster a few years back. It’s been sidelined for a while as she has other more pressing duties with her son Ryder.

Just turning 15 months, he’s in that exploratory stage, not quite walking but getting around pretty well by scooting across the floor.

So, they popped over one afternoon to catch up. We really don’t have a very ‘baby-friendly’ home, with many a knicknack and a treacherous metal spiral staircase. We do our best to cordon off any hazards and warn the cats when minipeople are around.

Amanda and Ryder became comfortable on our Moroccan ‘tapas de amore’, a fluffy white four by six carpet that sits in front of the fireplace.

Ryder was perfectly content hugging and crawling over Mom. As the afternoon passed, he became comfortable with his surroundings and ventured off the rug, only to scoot right back to the safety of the Mommy. Right before they left, I was able to take his tiny hands and walk him several steps before he looked longingly at Amanda, his eyes pleading to be taken back to salvation.

Parallel to motorcycling? Being given an opportunity to travel to unfamiliar lands and explore roads never ridden and hesitating due to fear of the unknown. Many riders have a ‘safety circle’, rides that they are comfortable with and continue to do over and over because they are familiar. Or, and this applied to my riding until recently, going someplace that may entail some offroad adventures and being less than enthusiastic at the venture. Whatever the situation, it all has to do with your ‘safe zone’.

When I first started riding, I was almost fearless. I knew how to ride and I was willing to go pretty much anywhere, as long as I could ride my bike. Sure, I was on a smaller mount, but I truly think that it was a similar relationship to little kids and thinking that nothing can hurt them, until they learn differently. Taking off on a Vermont ride, we took in the Appalachian Gap, Brian on his 600 Ninja and me on my Honda CM400.

I remember coming off the Gap and commenting to Brian that I thought something was dragging on my bike. He looked and said comically, ‘that would be your footpeg.’

Heading out to parts unknown can certainly be intimidating, especially if it’s on foreign soil. When you’re on your own personal mount, it’s like having a security blanket; no matter where you go, you can usually rely on it. Leaving from your own backyard, even if it’s to travel across the country or around the globe, can be much less fearsome. What I’ve always found useful in these situations is taking my own tankbag, packed with my usual riding accoutrement. Things are where they normally would be, and at least there is one constant.

During this year’s New York Motorcycle Show at the Javits Center, I had the pleasure of meeting the women from Heels on Wheels TV, an online video magazine - www.heelsonwheelstv.com. Monica, who has her license but no ride yet, was on the search. I introduced her to the BMW F650GS and G650, explaining that I had ridden the G650GS, in its old and new form, whenever I was traveling without my own ride. She liked the feel of the G650, and I explained that it certainly was an excellent ‘first ride’ but the F650 would carry her further in her riding career due to its versatility. She asked what I meant and I explained that the higher horsepower might take her to places the G650 might not. She smiled and said that she’d cross that bridge when it came. I hope that the bridge comes along sooner rather than later, as any off-road experience makes for an all-round better rider in the long run. Whatever you choose, Monica, enjoy and we’ll see you on the road.

For those whose ‘safe zone’ has become stagnant, why not plan something this season to push the envelope just a bit. Whether it’s just heading to a state never visited, trying a bike that you always wanted to but were intimidated by, or taking a riding class either a track day or off-road course - give it a whirl.

You may find that the boundaries of the comfy white rug are ever-expanding.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE CUSTOM COMBUSTION: THE FINAL CHAPTER BILL HEALD

In our last thrilling installment, I undertook the daunting (and very enjoyable) task of mulling over the recent evolution of the motorcycle engine through the perspective of my own personal experience. I decided to do this after my first encounter with an all-electric motorcycle, and how I feel this new form of propulsion will eventually become a regular part of our diverse two-wheeled family but the gas engine is still a gem that shall endure for quite some time. Here is the (no doubt equally thrilling) conclusion of this essay.

Since I started riding in the early eighties, it’s been fascinating to watch manufacturers take the timeproven design of pistons, spark plugs and a crankshaft and do all kind of wicked-cool things with it.

Last month we left off in 1984, when I purchased my very first V-Four engine from a company named Honda and a love affair began. The motorcycle in question was a brand-new “leftover” 1983 V-45 Magna, which was of course Honda’s first mass-produced V-Four engine (along with the V-45 Interceptor which was a bit different). Oh wait: I’ve forgotten the V-45 Sabre, which also came to these shores around this time. These were three very different motorcycles that used this new, liquid-cooled 90-degree mill with dual overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder. The Interceptor was the sport bike, the Magna the cruiser and the Sabre was sort of a futuristic, sport-touring standard.

These first V-Fours were groundbreaking at the time, and armed with all the latest tech. They had 360-degree crankshafts, meaning the two banks of cylinders rise and fall in pairs and deliver a flat, droning exhaust note.

Interestingly, Honda later started using a 180-degree crankshaft in some of these engines and it really changed the feel and personality of the breed, harkening back to something I said in last month’s column: “the whole character, mood and heart of a motorcycle can be very different even when using

the same basic engine design.”

The fact that I own both a 1983 748cc 90-degree V-Four with a 360degree crank AND a 1991 748cc 90-degree V-Four with a 180-degree crank leaves me in a position to observe what different personalities these two engines truly have. The ‘83 is a super-smooth droner, while the ‘91 is more raucous and has a bit more vibes (although it is still commendably free of buzziness). The ‘91 is much newer and therefore Honda imbued it with all kinds of trick goodness (like gear-driven cams), but the fundamentals are still there. You have to really appreciate the versatility and engineering creativity at play here, for the engines fit the individual bikes to a T as the Magna is more laid back while the VFR is far sportier. If you really want to look at my big-picture love of engineering versatility in the V-Four world, the V-Fours in the Yamaha Royal Stars were morphed from the mill that was originally developed for the 80’s Venture tour bike, but they altered it so the V-Four felt far more like a V-Twin than the engine it was derived from. Wild stuff.

After using the same basic engine architecture in all the street applications of the V-Fours for nearly 30 years, Honda has broken tradition with the all-new 1200cc VFR motor. It’s a really fascinating expression of high-tech engineering, and Big Red really surprised this long-time V-Four lover by starting with a clean sheet of paper (or blank computer screen) and using all the knowledge they’ve accrued both on the street and in racing to build an extraordinary new engine. Instead of 90 degrees the cylinders are splayed at 76 degrees, and the clever design of the crankshaft makes the rear cylinder bank narrower than the front so it’s easy for the rider to straddle the bike (and helps weight the front wheel for optimal handling). I could go on for pages about all the things they’ve done to the engine room of their new flagship sport tourer, but suffice it to say they’ve taken this internal combustion icon to a whole new level of performance and personality.

So, as I said last month, the electric motor will power a lot of awesome new motorcycles down the road, but it’s going to be tough to ever even approach the amazing character, versatility and outright brilliance of the modern motorcycle fuel-burning engine. Fortunately, this old friend will be with us for quite a while, and I intend to enjoy it as much as possible.

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MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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ON THE MARK MARK BYERS

SWAPPIN’

Sunday found me awake at an hour normally reserved for a quick trip to the bathroom and the resumption of slumber. I was up so I could meet a couple of the Usual Suspects for a ride; unfortunately, the ride was four-up in a van, but there was method to our madness. Not only was the weather inhospitable for motorcycling, but we needed lots of cargo space. Our destination was the York fairgrounds and our intent was to fill the void in the back of our vintage four-wheeled machine with vintage two-wheeled ones. We were going to attend one of those time-honored, American experiences called a motorcycle swap meet.

If you’ve never been to one, you are truly bereft of a great experience.

Where else can you go and, searching for a particular individual, describe him as “The bearded, gray-haired old guy in the denim jacket and camouflage cap” only to realize you haven’t narrowed the field one iota? Where can you see a guy pay a small fee to drag out the same cardboard box full of rusted, bent, mismatched motorcycle parts year after year? Where can the fine art of haggling be practiced? Only at a swap meet, my friend, and that is where, for a paltry six bucks, we went.

The faces were as varied as the T-shirts, and those numbered in the hundreds. Numerous colors of faded cotton strained to contain vintage midsections while their chests proclaimed the wearer’s marque of choice: Penton, Ossa, Butaco, Montesa, and Hodaka to name but a few. Other garments advertised favorite bike shops or long-past events. One of my favorite fashion accessories was a hand-lettered sign firmly pinned to the back of a jacket to advertise a bike for sale. I even saw a dog worn around a lady’s neck.

Speaking of the ladies, they tend to come in a couple categories: the

enthusiastic and the long-suffering. I watched one guy extolling the mechanical virtues of a scruffy Rokon Ranger to a female companion who was wearing an “I’d rather be getting an appendectomy” expression. I saw a young man literally dragging his girlfriend toward the rear of the hall, only to see them again a short time later as she reciprocated...straight toward the exit. One of the enthusiastic participants was a lady vendor with a penchant for Penton parts and another one pushing Triumph wares.

Where you find Triumphs, you find electrical products from Mr. Lucas, the “Prince of Darkness,” and true to form, there was a bin of those along with cloth wiring harnesses and points/condenser ignitions. One vendor offered Amal carbs and another had a whole display of nothing but reflectors. If you wanted your parts as an entire, restored bike, it could be had for a price, including a couple mint Bonnevilles. One guy’s sign proclaimed “Make me an offer, I came here to sell, not to SHOW” and another advertised a motor as being “restored by Chicago Jerry.”

As usual, a lot of the action was taking place in the parking lot, where folks who didn’t want to pay the fee to exhibit inside hung signs on bikes in the back of pickups. The rain was cold, but the deals were hot and many a bike left in a different truck than whence it came. My buddy Motorcycle Marty flipped a bike so fast that he never even touched it and within minutes of arrival, Dangerous Dan had a smart-looking red Beta secured in the back of our van. I was restrained, passing on a nice, rideable Yamaha TY250 and a spendy new Skorpa (but I was sorely tempted). My big purchase was an owner’s manual to go with my ‘74 Honda TL125.

(Continued on Next Page)

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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BACKLASH Young Friends

To Whom It May Concern, While on a family trip to Radio City I was reading my copy of Backroads (which I can only afford to snatch at the local bike shop when I’m in the area but I’m saving for a subscription soon I promise!) I was very intently reading about your trip to the Alps when I folded back one of the pages and my 2 1/2 year old nephew, Christian, saw a picture of Santa. I, as a dutiful aunt should, handed over the magazine and he was hooked. I didn’t get it back for the rest of the train ride as he ohhed and ahhhed over not just THAT Santa but the various other Santas throughout the pages. So I wanted to share with you a pictures of, perhaps, one of your youngest fans.

Sincerely, Vanessa Kingsbury ON THE MARK At a swap meet, the panoply of vintage bikes and vintage people combine to make one of motorcycling’s most entertaining spectacles. What may seem like just another pile of rusty junk might contain a pearl of a part for which you’ve been looking and for five bucks, you might be a happy man.

On the other hand, the stubborn old codger with the dented exhaust system may insist on an unreasonable value for it, firmly believing that if he lives past the half-life of rust, some desperate sod will give him his price. In either case, it’s a great place to practice the lost art of the haggle and get a great deal on something truly valuable, like a set of usable side covers and a tank for a TL125...

LETTERS

TO THE

EDITOR

Old Friends

Dear Brian & Shira, Helmets off to the amazing job you guys have done with your web-based version of Backroads. For years, as I’ve read different publications I’ve had to jot down the web address of advertiser’s web sites I’ve wanted to visit.

Having the ability to be instantly routed to your advertisers’ web site by simply clicking on their ad has enabled me to check out many more advertisers than I would have in the past. Keep up the good work!

Looking forward to the 2010 season of Backroads rallies.

Regards, Brad from Philly

New Friends

Dear Brian, It was a pleasure chatting with you during the first few weeks before the holidays, and I’d like to thank you for alerting the masses to my blog (especially Catherine Bennett). Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the three sample copies of your publication. I will officially subscribe as a reader as soon as I post this note.

Your publication has a very effective editorial mix of regular columns, (Continued from Page 4)

“So get to your misogynistic point Brian, you pig,” I hear some of you say. Loudly.

Okay. I think too many women make too big a deal of the women versus men thing and especially the “Women’s Only” events.

Most real female riders simply want to ride. They are not thinking that they are women riders - simply riders.

The more any one group yells about being accepted and then separates themselves like some of these “Women Only” events have - well, it just hurts any progress that has already been made.

FREE WHEELIN’

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features, personal perspective from qualified riders and industry reviews. I notice that your unique publication format enables you to get a lot of editorial in between the advertising. Quite frankly, I favor motorcycle magazines that have a stronger focus on practical riding as opposed to the glamor of the track.

In the Whatchathinkin column, written by Shira Kamil (page 4, November 2009 issue), she states, “What I’ve noticed over my motorcyclemagazine reading career is that there’s a lot of crap out there.” That’s putting it mildly. Flat ride reports, commercial messages thinly disguised as product reviews, or riding tips that are older than my Aunt Ivy’s quimm abound. I am amazed how the editorial content of one magazine can easily be mistaken for the message of another.

This is a sin of wasted opportunity and subscriber dollars in an economy that is threatening every form of discretionary spending.... And nothing is more discretionary than motorcycles and riding-related expenditures. This means that riders and readers are likely to separate the wheat from the chafe when it comes to their motorcycle reading material, trimming between $35 and $75 per year, in subscriptions representing familiar story lines.

Fondest regards, Jack Riepe

Going Postal

Backroads, I wanted to let you know I will not be renewing my subscription to Backroads. As much as I enjoy reading it every month, I can no longer justify the subscription rate which is so much higher than other periodicals I receive. Sad, but true, I have to start economizing somewhere. I will just have to content myself with the online material available.

Thanks for the wonderful years of great motorcycle stories and information.

Tim Davies Seneca Falls, New York

Tim, We’re very sorry to hear that but, we have to say, we agree with you.

Unfortunately, that’s what the post office forces us to charge as we cannot ship at a ‘media’ rate. The ‘unenveloped’ third class mailings were getting mangled at too high a rate to continue, and we felt for the extra $5/year, it might be worth going all first class.

We do have the complete issue on our website - although it is the previous month - in flip page technology. All the great reading matter without the nasty printing smell. We hope you continue to follow us online and, perhaps, join us on one of our rides.

Russia and The Balkans

The first Hurrah (January 2010 issue) was Tom Deming’s write up about the gift of Tears from the Russian People that has definitely been over looked by the media. It was such an important gesture that in my opinion carries the same sentiment at the Statue of Liberty! While the 9/11 committee are still dicking around trying to find a acceptable solution for ground Zero, Putin and his citizen commissioned a wonderfully fitting tribute to those who were lost in the 9/11 attacks.

I just finished reading your very lengthy story about your adventures along the Adriatic through the states of the former Yugoslavia. We have done many similar trips, including 2006 and 2007, with the island hopping.

What could be better than carving magnificent serpentine turns along the actual Dalmatian Coast on warm sunny days? Hours of perfect pavement with minimal traffic makes for thrilling memories.

I enjoyed your writing. It is easy to tell that the two of you had a great time as the story bristles with your genuine enthusiasm. Also did three trips through Slovenia recently and that is also full of great surprises and rewards.

Last one was a car event that I attended in 2008.

All the best.

Burt Richmond

Greetings from not so warm Florida: Just read your account of your trip through the Balkans. Brought back many good memories of our trips there; starting in 1984.

Our first trip was with a ski group in 1973 where the Yugoslav government sort of awarded us the distinction of being the first tourist group to ski in their country.

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Our first motorcycle group was only to Slovenia in 1978 and that started a yearly trip. There was a time when the official Yugoslav Tourist office in New York prevailed on me to give them information about driving in their country since most Yugoslavs never traveled more than 25 miles from their home.

Anyhow, it was a great article and awfully glad to hear someone besides myself extolling the great riding. I met your tour leader a few years back and have corresponded upon occasion.

Keep up the great work. By the way, you might add in some of your European articles that your readers can ship their bikes through our services which we are still going full speed ahead.

Sincerely, Warren Goodman Warren, We hope all our readers know that you can ship your own bike to Europe with Warren Motorcycle Transport. Simply log onto www.worldmotorcycletours.com for more information.

Argument for the AMA

Brian, I just read your Free Wheelin’ column in the February 2010 Backroads, entitled “The Argument for the AMA.” Thank you so much for your support of the AMA and for your kind words. Your support is both gratifying and greatly appreciated. We cannot hope to fend off the numerous attacks on motorcycling without the unified support of all in the motorcycling community. Thank you for helping to spread the word!

All the best, Rob Dingman American Motorcyclist Association

Hello Brian, Thank you for the excellent column plugging the AMA! That kind of third-party endorsement means a great deal to the AMA, of course, but more importantly the non-members out there who need to step up and help pay to save the future of riding.

Thanks again Brian.

Pete terHorst

Whatever we can do to help the AMA we will.

Are you a member? No? Well sign onto their website at www.amacycle.org to find out how!

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 11

INDUSTRY INFOBITES

NEWS

MIKE TRAYNOR, CO-FOUNDER OF THE PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, IS MEMORIALIZED BY AMERICAN HONDA The American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has paid tribute to Mike Traynor, the co-founder of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) and Ride For Kids, who passed away September 12, 2009. As a token of respect, a tree has been planted as a living memorial on the American Honda campus in Torrance, California, along with a plaque commemorating his decades of work on behalf of many children afflicted with brain tumors.

“For more than 25 years, American Honda has enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with the PBTF and its Ride For Kids fundraising events.

Beyond our relationship with the Foundation, we also enjoyed a close personal relationship with Mike. One big reason Mike and Honda were such a good fit is because we shared so much in common. Mike loved facing tough challenges head on,” said Raymond Blank, Senior Vice President of the American Honda Motorcycle Division.

“He knew research and technology were often the keys to winning. And he worked tirelessly-for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, but also as an ambassador for the sport of motorcycling.

“It seems very fitting that today’s memorial to Mike is a living memorial, a new beginning of life that will continue to grow strong for years to come.

But as a greater sign of respect, Honda also intends to keep supporting the Ride For Kids-that’s really the proper tribute to Mike,” said Blank.

CARLISLE BIKE FEST JULY 23-25, 2010

The Carlisle Bike Fest is the MidAtlantic’s premier motorcycle event tens of thousands of bikes and two-wheel fanatics will converge on the 102-acre Carlisle PA Fairgrounds for non-stop entertainment, an unbeatable motorcycle shopping experience, breathtaking and historic local rides, giveaways all week-

FROM THE INSIDE

end long and the chance to ride the latest models from manufacturers. The ride to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, located less than 200 miles from five metropolitan areas throughout the East Coast is almost as much fun as the event itself. No matter which direction you come from, there is a tour ride that will be loaded with plenty to see in the way of scenic mountains, farms, orchards and battlefields. When you arrive in Carlisle, that’s when the real excitement hits you: the number and variety of bikes (V-twins, choppers, sport and metric bikes), the hundreds of vendors, a manufacturers midway filled with top names in new parts and accessory dealers, bands on stage all weekend, stunt shows and every component a major motorcycle event could possibly offer, all in one place. For full details please visit them online at www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/bikefest

CPSC NEWS - MORE

SAME

The CPSC issued its report to Congress on Friday, January 15, and unfortunately did not change its position on the exemption of youth off-road motorcycles and ATVs from the ban of sale in the USA. The stay of enforcement on the issue has just over a year remaining. This will continue to heat up as the industry continues to put pressure on Congress to address this issue.

OF THE

HARLEY-DAVIDSON DONATES MOTORCYCLES

HAITI RELIEF

Harley-Davidson announced it will donate 28 new Buell and HarleyDavidson motorcycles to assist with earthquake disaster relief and stabilization efforts in Haiti. The motorcycles are being shipped from Motor Company facilities to the Dominican Republic, where Harley-Davidson dealership organization MagnaMotors will facilitate direct delivery to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

“Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this devastating disaster in Haiti,” said Rod Copes, Sr. Vice President of International Sales, Marketing and Business Development for Harley-Davidson. “As the relief and stabilization efforts continue, motorcycles can often offer a higher degree of maneuverability and access than other types of vehicles.”

FOR

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 12

THE 11TH ANNUAL RIDING INTO HISTORY

Riding Into History, one of America’s premier motorcycle events, will return to the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Famed author and motorcycle traveler Clement Salvadori will be the Grand Marshal.

The event will feature Charity Rides, a Concours d’Elegance, the Biker’s Ball and the Historic Ride. Proceeds from Riding Into History will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Between 300 and 400 antique, vintage and classic motorcycles from all over the country are expected to enter the Concours, which will feature the Great Bikes of Great Britain. Thousands of spectators are once again expected to enjoy the event which also includes, exhibitors, entertainment, clubs and a variety of food. Admission is still only $10 at the gate for the Concours. Various ticket packages are available for the Biker’s Ball and the Charity Rides.

For additional information go to RidingIntoHistory.org, or email info@RidingIntoHistory.org

A DIFFERENT KIND

BMW RALLY

The Curve Cowboy Reunion began with a few BMW enthusiasts who met at Broken Bow, Oklahoma, over three days in September, 2000. They created the opportunity for owners and riders to get together, ‘in real life’, outside of the internet. The camaraderie and joy of the ride at that beginning leads us still. The CCR event promotes three fundamental goals: to present a positive view of motorcycling; to promote rider education and safety; and to make a positive impact by contributing to a worthy local group serving children to help them achieve its charitable purpose in the host community.

At the end of this summer, ride to beautiful Killington Vermont and spend August 31 through September 3, 2010 at the premier, hotel based Motorcycle Touring event of the year.

OF

Vermont is the Green Mountain State, and we’ll be right there in the middle of it. Killington Resort will welcome the Curve Cowboys for our 11th Reunion as the trees begin to put on their fall colors. We’ll wind up Highway 4, to the Killington Road and up Killington Mountain to enjoy cool mornings, pleasant afternoons, and a few hundred of our closest friends.

CCR is open to anyone, regardless of their preferred brand or model of motorcycle, but the event grew out of the BMW Luxury Touring Community at www.bmwlt.com (formerly the K1200LT Group at YahooGroups) and continues to be dominated by BMW touring and dual sport motorcycles.

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, take a virtual tour of CCR and visit the our website at www.curvecowboyreunion.com. BUT, you should know this event is put on entirely by volunteers and the format and venue always force us to limit attendance. Most years they have sold out the available space well in advance of the event, so we urge you to reserve your spot as soon as you can! Don’t miss out on CCR this year!

During the winter we spend a lot of time searching out interesting motorcycle-related shows, films and events on the web. We recently watched the first few episodes of Heels onWheels.

Developed by husband and wife team Chuck and Sandra Pirao, the show features Sandra and her two friends Monica Lavoura and Rute Cavadinha as three admittedly novice riders - Monica has yet to get a motorcycle, but this is part of the show’s formula.

Unlike some other “women’s themed” shows this one is very basic and it makes for interesting watching with a cup of coffee on a snowy morning.

Let’s call it ‘The View’ for new female riders. That seems to fit. It will be interesting to see where the show develops, especially as the riding season comes along and these ladies can actually get some saddle-time on their bikes.

Log onto heelsonwheelstv.com to see how these new riders get experience on the road.

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES GAINS MARKET SHARE

FW SPEER YAMAHA 7 Main Avenue • Passaic, NJ • www.speeryamaha.com • 973-778-6256

No Dealership in the Metro Area has achieved our level of technical expertise and customer satisfaction. We are NOT a Boutique. Go for the Gold.

Gold Certified Professional rider depicted on a closed course. ATVs with engine sizes of 90cc or greater are recommended for use only by riders ages 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. ©2009 Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. Cypress, CA 90630.

2009

Triumph Motorcycles has declared the company’s continued gains in market share and year-end increase in sales were a successful conclusion to a very challenging 2009, which also marked the 15th anniversary that Triumph returned to North America.

Triumph has consistently gained market share in the United States every year for the past five years according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

The sustained growth makes Triumph one of the fastest growing motorcycle manufacturers in the country and one of only two marques that never lost market share in that time period.

Sales of Triumph motorcycles in the United States increased 5.49 percent in December 2009 over the same period the prior year, which is significant as most manufacturers reported double digit decreases.

IN

OKAY ALL YOU INTERNET GEEKS GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND BECOME A FAN UP-TO-THE-MINUTE NEWS • IMPROMPTU RIDES www.facebook.com/pages Backroads-Motorcycle-Touring-Magazine

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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

Page 13

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

You got that?

Excellent, but how would you going about doing this right?

What if you would love to shoot something very cool, but have not a clue how to do it. Probably your best bet would be Sunset Hill, just over the Pennsylvania border in Henryville.

We have known about Sunset Hill for years but these days, especially with the political climate being what it is in the United States, we felt it was time to shoot something big - very big.

Thus a ride to Henryville was in order.

For as long as anyone can remember there has been a shooting range here

We started with the M16, civilian brother the AR-15. With neither Shira nor I having the benefit of any military service this was a real treat. With the scope I was five for five.

Vinnie Morris had nothing on me. (First person to get the ‘Morris’ comment gets a free year subscription.)

Down range they have set up a number of hanging targets, some of wood and others stuffed animals. Sponge Bob was toast.

After the AR-15 we walked down the range. Here at Sunset Hill Shooting Range you can choose whatever weapon they have and fire away. You basically pay for a number of rounds and your rounds fired are kept in order by your own personal instructor.

Some of the guns were very exotic looking and others looked classic and a bit older. Next visit I think I will try a number of the older weapons.

We stopped at the AR-30 Snipers Rifle. Balanced on its own tripod this looked like a serious rifle. One shot, bolt action with an excellent scope, this rifle is accurate and deadly at over a mile. One serious weapon indeed.

Shira excelled with this one and she will win most arguments these days.

I did well, but not as well as she.

in Henryville, but this isn’t the place you want to come to shoot your own weapon, although you can. Nope - Sunset Hill has a bit of the exotic for you gun fanciers - beginners or experts.

Beginner? That’s right, even if you have never fired a rifle or hand gun in your life, Dan and Yvonne Booth, the folks that manage Sunset Hill and motorcyclists themselves, urge you to drop by and take a shot at it.

Yes, that was a pun.

In addition to some regular weapons that you might have seen around, when we visited Dan took time out of his day to show us around the range.

First and foremost is safety. Dan couldn’t be more serious about this and each time we approached the range Dan was there to make sure we knew exactly what we were doing and what to expect - especially with some of the more exotic weaponry we would get to shoot.

With a Springfield XD 9 she was 7 for seven with five of them grouped at the heart. At that point I spotted the 5.56 Thompson Contender. This pistol has a fourteen-inch barrel and shoots a rifle round. One shot. Very powerful. At least I hit my target.

I spotted one rifle that really grabbed my attention, the FN2000. Futuristic beyond anything I have ever seen in person, this was a rifle that Dan said they call the StarGate rifle.

Indeed. This I had to shoot! I held my own with this rifle, no Goa’uld survived.

You could spend all day here, but remember you are paying by the rounds and that can go from 10 rounds with a .22 for $10, 8 rounds with the M-1 Garand for $12, etc. It adds up quickly so best to set yourself a limit and stick to it.

RTE. 314, HENRYVILLE, PA 8332 570-629-3981 • WWW.SUNSETRANGE.COM

SUNSET HILL SHOOTING RANGE

Amendment 2 - Right to bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791 A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Northeast Region Ride Events April 18 May 2 May 16 June 6

July 18 July 24 Aug. 1 Aug. 8 Aug. 15 Aug. 29 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 17 Nov. 7

Northeast Florida Triangle Area, NC Middle Tennessee Atlanta, GA Cleveland OH Richmond, VA Utica, NY Marysville, OH Hudson Valley, NY Pittsburgh, PA New England Asheville, NC Philadelphia, PA Baltimore/Wash., DC

Knoxville, TN Tampa Bay Area, FL

How to Raise funds Don’t be shy about collecting funds for the PBTF. Ask your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to pitch in!

See if your HR dept. has a matching gift program.Set up a personal fundraising page online and let everyone know!

For help with these suggestions, please visit rideforkids.org for more details.

For more information on any of the rides, visit rideforkids.org Thanks for helping!

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 14

They have many rifles and hand guns for you to sample - Galil, AK-47, Rugers... you’ll not be disappointed here.

One other great thing about this place is where it is located and how we can get you there.

This part of Pennsylvania is littered with tiny forest roads and we worked out a route that is there to please you. There is even a bit of gravel, on the GPS, for you KLR/GS riders, but it is manageable by any good street machine.

We really had a blast (sorry) at the Sunset Hill Shooting range and Dan and Yvonne would love to have you, or your group, ride over and check the place out. They are very motorcycle-friendly.

These days we’re trying to give you not just the “classic” Rip & Ride, but also a GPS download for you Garminphiles out there. This route starts at the Dingmans Ferry Bridge and you can be creative yourself on how you get there, as this part of northwest New Jersey has miles of great roads.

Rip & Ride® •

SUNSET HILL SHOOTING RANGE

RTE. 314, HENRYVILLE, PA 8332 • 570-629-3981 • WWW.SUNSETRANGE.COM DOWNLOAD GPS HERE: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/FILE/V2AV1M CROSS DINGMANS FERRY BRIDGE LEFT

AT

RIGHT LEFT

PA

RTE. 209

AT

AT

IN

TO

AVOID GRAVEL STAY ON

CROSS

WILSON HILL ROAD

BEAR

LEFT

AT

AT

HENRYS CROSSING ROAD

LEFT AT

RTE. 402

AT

AT

RTE. 191

BUSHKILL FALLS ROAD

Line ‘em up!

RIGHT

CLARKS ROAD

MILFORD ROAD LEFT

RIGHT

TO

SNOW HILL

SNOW HILL ROAD

HIAWATHA LANE - “GRAVEL”

Barnsider Restaurant at the

ON

GPS

RIGHT

AT

RTE. 715

RIGHT

AT

314

SUNSET HILL

ON LEFT

ATTENTION ALL RIDERS

A DAY TRIPPER’S DREAM Member

Cozy Bar Comfortable Tables Great Burgers Hearty Steak Chicken & Shrimp

OPEN 11AM • TUES-SUN

SUGAR LOAF Village of Craftsmen

1372 Kings Hwy, Sugar Loaf, NY

(845) 469-9810

www.barnsider.net

Looking for a great rider-friendly place to lay your head after a perfect day’s ride? Perhaps an eatery that truly appreciates your two-wheeled business?

Have we got some suggestions for you.

Go directly to www.backroadsusa.com and check out the new Moto-Inn Program. Listed by state, all the members actively seek motorcyclists as customers and warmly welcome you. Remember to look for the Moto-Inn logo at these fine establishments and tell them you saw them in BACKROADS.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

P RODUCT R EVIEW

Page 15

THE HORNET - ELECTRONIC DEER AVOIDANCE SYSTEM

In this month’s “Jungle” we talked about deer and the dangers that come from when motorcycles and deers mix it up.

A few years ago we did a review on a product called The Hornet, an electronic deer avoidance system. Back then we were very impressed with how deer reacted when our test bike approached them and it seemed clear that something was causing them to act in an unnatural way - running away from us rather than towards us.

These days XP3, the manufacturer of The Hornet, has introduced its new V-Series. Utilizing what they call Wave Variance Tuning it gets the deer’s attention where they usually determine a threat, their hearing.

According to XP3 and The Hornet creator Otto Jackson, “Most animals (mammals), including people, hear within the same basic frequency range, although there is a vast range of how various animals will react to The Hornet. The reason The Hornet works so well on deer is they have acute hearing and are very skittish animals with a strong sense of survival. When you are approaching deer with your vehicle, they will react to The Hornet by lifting their head to determine if they are being threatened. As your vehicle is moving towards the deer, they will normally run for safety.”

To get a better idea of how The Hornet works log onto www.xp3hornet.com and read through their site and watch the videos.

But, here in the pages of Backroads let me tell you just one of our personal experiences with this product.

First off The Hornet does make noise and in some situations like a parking lot or in a busy town you might want to turn it off, but on the open road, especially here in the forests of northwestern New Jersey I leave it on.

We were traveling down County Road 519, late one afternoon. I had a good view of the road ahead of me and I could see two motorcycles approaching from the opposite direction. Out of nowhere, to my right bounding down a steep embankment, came three deer that immediately ran out in front of the oncoming machines. These were Harleys and they were fairly loud bikes and as Shira and I approached the deer from the rear my BMW and her Honda were almost silent.

The guys on the other machines were completely surprised by the trio of deer that literally dropped into their path and they were all over the brakes trying to scrub off as much speed as they could. At that point I came into direct line with the deer and they did a complete turn around, ears perked up, and then dashed to the far side of the road avoiding the bikes altogether.

We all stopped and commented on what had just happened and how quickly it all went down.

It was then one guy asked why my GS was making that sound and I remembered The Hornet and explained what it was and how it did its job that afternoon.

We all agreed The Hornet seemed to have saved the day for these two riders and it wasn’t even on their bikes. I think they have them now. This is an absolutely true story and considering how many deer hit 67 North motorcycles, the cost of just $79 is well worth the money spent.

The Hornet draws a minimal amount of power and the new version has a separate motorcycle harness and is already fused. I run mine through an additional fuse

block for a double bit of flame protection - Fred Rau take note!

Installation was a breeze as I simply mounted it to an existing HID light bracket; but do take care to get the angle of The Hornet precisely where XP3 wants it - a 45 degree angle to the road surface and with no obstructions like a fender or fairing for best results. Their motorcycle harness had a lot to be desired as it was more for a Vespa than a BMW R1200GS and a little bit of splicing was called for, but no biggy and easy to do. Otto... more wire.

You can find The Hornet at various dealerships and shops or by logging onto www.xp3hornet.com.

If you ride any place where there might be deer - like anywhere in the United Sates, then consider The Hornet.

Long Island KAWASAKI Broadway • Route 107 • Hicksville, NY

www.LIKawasaki.com • 516-935-6969

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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G R E AT A L L A M E R I C A N D I N E R R U N 77522 OVERSEAS HWY (MILE-MARKER 77.5) ISLAMORADA, FL 33070 305-664-0535 • WWW.HUNGRYTARPON.COM

THE HUNGRY TARPON RESTAURANT

Part of being in the Great All American Diner Run is location, location, location. One of our favorite rides is down along Route 1 in the Florida Keys, especially when we know Key West is just a few hours down the road.

But as enjoyable as the ride is, we all have to eat, so a great breakfast is much needed as we head south.

Right about Mile Marker 77.5, on the Gulf side of the highway in Islamorada you’ll find the Hungry Tarpon. Nestle right on a cove this tiny fish shack has plenty to offer the famished rider.

Originally this old Conch House was built for the Metacumbe Fish Company, back in the 1940s. The Keys were part of the frontier back then, but the Hungry tarpon has done an excellent job of keeping that old-style flavor to the place. Right next door is Robbie’s Marina where you can hand feed wild tarpon.

We stopped in for breakfast on our last jaunt down and were not disappointed. We hear their lunch is equally as exciting, consisting of the freshest fish, shrimp, and other seafood available. The Hungry Tarpon serves up certified Angus beef, fresh chicken, homemade soups & salads, whole fried yellowtail or hog fish, and so much more.

Breakfast or lunch, they have you covered.

tasty places to take your bike

We took a table, right on the dock, carefully being watched by a couple of pelicans that were hoping for a free meal from the snow birds trying to head south for warmth.

The Hungry Tarpon had a seriously good breakfast menu and choosing was not so simple. SOS, the classic creamed chipped beef, is always good after a hard night or you could get what they call the Flats, which is SOS with 2 eggs, hash browns and tomatoes.

Other specials include such combinations as the Tarpon’s Purple Isle, for $11.95, which is stacked crepes stuffed with fried eggs & lobster, topped w/Hollandaise sauce & tomatoes on side. With the Long Key Benedict you’ll find toasted muffins, sugar-cured ham, soft fried eggs, all topped with a Hollandaise sauce.

MOTORCYCLEMADNESS 8 State Hwy 94 • Lafayette, NJ • 973-579-6088 • 877-252-9828

New Jersey’s Largest Pre-Owned Bike Seller Over 100 Clean Street, Dirt and ATVs In Stock AT ALL TIMES

BIKES FOR ALL ID A P H TOP CAS HUGE selection of Parts and Accessories for cruisers and sportbikes 600 Helmets In Stock: Icon, Shoei, Suomy, HJC, Scorpion and more HUGE selection of apparel: Mens and Womens - Street and Dirt First Gear, Rocket, RIver Road, Fox, Thor, Alpinestar and much more Professionally Trained Mechanics • Gold Wing Experts

WE BEAT ANY INTERNET DEAL Located 1/4 mile north of 206/94 intersection and 1 mile north of Newton Tues/Wed: 9-6 • Thurs: 10-8 • Fri: 10-6 • Sat: 9-4

Closed: Sunday and Monday

www.MadMotorcycle.com

Town & Country Cycle Center 115 Route 23N • Hamburg NJ 973-875-2111 • www.townandcountrycyclecenter.com

Serving the motorcycling community for 25 years

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

If hash is a favorite then try the Hungry Permit; Hash browns topped w/American cheese, fresh tomato, bacon, 2 eggs, & sausage gravy.

Since you are on the Gulf of Mexico fish could be in order, as it was for Shira that day when she had to order Grits & Grunts. What the heck is Grits & Grunts, you ask? Try 2 huge eggs, fresh fried fish & grits. She was in seafood lover’s breakfast heaven, I tell ya! I, on the other hand went for Burrito Fra Diablo, a 12” tortilla stuffed with eggs, chorizo, scallions, red bell pepper, jalapeños, & jack cheese. Hot! Hot! Hot! The menu at the Hungry Tarpon goes on, but you can check it out on their website before you head down.

The Keys are a good day’s ride from Daytona, and staying over is a must, but once you get onto the Overseas Highway make it a point to do breakfast at the Hungry Tarpon, you will not be disappointed.

Page 17

Rip & Ride® THE HUNGRY TARPON RESTAURANT 77522 OVERSEAS HWY (MILE-MARKER 77.5) ISLAMORADA, FL 305-664-0535 • WWW.HUNGRYTARPON.COM

C’MON THIS IS EASY GET YOURSELF TO MIAMI P/U US 1 AND HEAD SOUTH IN ISLAMORADA LOOK FOR MM 78 PREPARE TO BEAR RIGHT TO THE HUNGRY TARPON ENJOY AND SAY HELLO TO THE PELICANS

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 18

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents

Dr. Seymour O’Life’s

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

THE KINGSLAND EXPLOSION GIVING NEW MEANING TO THAT ALWAYS FUN TERM, “NEW JERSEY BLOWS!” Jeff Bahr THE BIG BANG Can the pursuit of tragedy sites be considered constructive? I only wish I could answer this question. On its face it would seem that well-adjusted humans (a fraternity I don’t presume to be a part of) would want nothing to do with the systematic search for scenes of pain, death, and destruction. Of course reality suggests that this isn’t the case. Books, websites (check out findadeath.com - it’s an absolute killer!) documentaries and first-person accounts of tragedies rake in big bucks in America. Can we all agree that a human desire to get close to tragedy exists? Splendid! Now that we’ve gotten this far allow me to escort you to a particularly fragrant part of New Jersey. They all pretty much stink, you say? Come, come now. That’s no way to talk about our beloved Garden State. Besides, I’m directing you to a place that once played host to the Kingsland explosion - a detonation that triggered bombs even bigger than Harley’s boat-tail. You simply MUST see it.

THE SETTING New Jersey’s Meadowlands are famous for a number of things, the most obvious of which is Giant Stadium. Looming high over the billowing saw grass, the hulking arena does New Jersey proud even if its namesake football team steadfastly refuses to include New Jersey in their title. Then

there’s the Izod Center, formerly the Continental Airlines Arena. If you’re an old cuss like Seymour (sorry mystery man) you may remember it as the Brendan Byrne Arena. Who is he? Does it really matter? At any rate, the joint plays host to huge entertainment/sports events at equally colossal rates.

But what these Meadowlands are really known for are corpses. Like a vast repository of fleshy parts, the marsh gives up putrid vessels of mortality with alarming regularity. If you’re bent on knowing precisely why this occurs, rent a Sopranos DVD and keep your mouth shut! And while we’re talking dirt naps, let me apologize in advance for getting your hopes up. Not one single soul perished during the Kingsland Explosion. But they easily could have, so read on!

TEUTONIC TERRORISTS When the big bang occurred back in 1917, the Meadowlands were known as Kingsland. Mixed in with the area’s intricate web of creeks and estuaries were a smattering of factories; expected offspring given Kingsland’s proximity to railroads. One of these concerns, the Canadian Car and Foundry

Company, produced munitions for the First World War. To say that this plant was a powder keg begging for a match is a gross understatement. Workers used super-flammable gasoline, of all ridiculous things, to clean out spent shells.

This meant that at any given moment dozens of work benches were littered with spirit-dampened rags. It doesn’t take a DuPont chemist (or a boat-tail designer) to see that this could prove catastrophic, particularly if someone wanted to see the joint go up in flames. Evidence suggests that worker Theodore Wozniak was precisely that fellow. A former soldier in the Austrian army, it is believed that Wozniak started the blaze that led to the great explosion while working as an undercover agent for German forces.

BURNING CONTROVERSY On a frightfully cold January 11, flames were first spotted near Wozniak’s work area, prompting foreman Morris Chester Musson to later say: “I noticed that this man Wozniak had quite a large collection of rags and that the blaze started in these rags. I also noticed the he had spilled his pan of alcohol all over the table, just preceding that time. I also noticed that someone threw a pail of liquid on the rags or the table almost immediately in the confusion. I am not able to state whether this was water or one of the pails of refuse alcohol under the tables. My recollection, however, is that there were no pails of water in the building, the fire buckets being filled with sand. Whatever the liquid was, it caused the fire to spread very rapidly and the flames dropped down on the floor and in a few minutes, the entire place was in a blaze.”

TAKE COVER! When the plant blew it didn’t go off in one concentrated bang. Like a perpetual motion machine each explosion triggered another in hellish succession. Horrified witnesses later said that the deadly barrage mimicked the Fourth of July, driving them to seek refuge lest they be strafed by shrapnel or blown to smithereens. Snake Hill, a prominent rise in the otherwise lowlaying swampland, was chosen as a safe haven from the onslaught. At the time of the explosion a number of institutions were located up on the hill.

These included a penitentiary, tuberculosis sanitarium, even an insane asylum. As the fusillade continued, patients at the asylum believed that the world was coming to an end. Staff members tamped down a possible riot by handing out confections and telling the confused parties that the war in Europe had just ended, and that they were in fact witnessing a boisterous celebration. The ploy worked. The agitated patients bought the story and the tense situation was defused.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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A HEROINE EMERGES After the fire had begun company switchboard operator Therese “Tessie” McNamara put her life in jeopardy by staying at her post to warn employees. Shouting “go out or go up!” McNamara alerted the complex’s many buildings to the dangers at hand; a tip-off that afforded some 1,400 workers a few crucial moments to react and escape. Due to McNamara’s selfless and brave efforts, not one person died during the incident. Miracle scarcely describes the fortuitous outcome of that day. Four full hours after the explosions had begun, they mercifully subsided. In their wake lay deep, moonlike craters, the result of the detonation of some 275,000 loaded shells and other explosive missiles. The plant suffered $17 million in damages, but this figure only accounted for a portion of the total destruction. Not factored in were hundreds of surrounding homes that had been leveled or badly damaged by the explosive storm. The National Special Aid Society presented McNamara with a check and thanked her for her uncommon valor. If ever someone deserved a cash award, Tessie McNamara was that person.

LAYING BLAME From the beginning Theodore Wozniak was suspected of starting the blaze. Numerous eyewitnesses recalled seeing the fire start at his work station, and Wozniak’s nervous behavior and repeated contradictions did little to convince anyone of his innocence. When a company officer notified the worker that he’d be needed in New York to answer questions concerning the fire, Wozniak slipped through a surveillance net set up by detectives and disappeared. The case would drag on into the 1950’s when Germany, in lieu of admitting guilt, paid reparations to the United States. The payment only confirmed what many had believed all along. The Kingsland explosion was no accident.

rather fitting that an observation deck stands just beyond the heroine’s plaque. From the top, one can see the last remaining vestige of the Canadian Car and Foundry Company. Thanks largely to McNamara it’s not the only thing that escaped annihilation on that fateful day in 1917.

MORE TO SEE If examining a blast remnant sounds thin in the singular, you may wish to consider some quirky side trips. New Jersey isn’t known as the “garbage state” for nothing. The Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst tells the Garden State’s filthy tale with its Trash Museum. No, I’m NOT joking.

The offbeat facility examines the origins of New Jersey’s trash (insert wiseass crack here) and traces its convoluted journey from birth to refuse pile. Riveting stuff. Then there’s Lyndhurst’s Little Red Schoolhouse. The 1893 building suggests that the region once produced something other than PCP’s and elevated cancer rates. Who knew?

If these fail to get you going, you may wish to park your bike and rent a canoe. Just pick any stream and get on with the Lewis and Clark bit. You probably won’t paddle far before encountering a true Meadowlands souvenir. To what am I referring? Mind your own business, Capeche?

Tessie McNamara Memorial (smokestack viewing site) Clay Ave. (bet. Valley Brook Ave. and Wall Street West) Lyndhurst, N.J. Meadowlands Environment Center (Trash Museum) Two DeKorte Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ Little Red Schoolhouse Corner of Fern and Riverside Avenues, Lyndhurst, N.J. Cycle Motion is your provider of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, snowmobiles, and utility vehicles by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, and Yamaha. With a large parts department, qualified service technicians and a full shop full of parts and accessories, we're here to meet all your power sport needs.

1269 DOLSONTOWN RD • MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM For every rider - on or off road, whether they like doing it in the dirt, carving the twisties, or cruising the backroads, we have their weapon of choice.

570-992-7500 A SERENE PATCH A visit to the site does little to recall the horrors of that day. The area currently plays host to scores of office parks and warehouses, and as a result is bustling with upbeat activity. But then there’s the remnant itself. There’s something utterly bizarre about a smokestack rearing up from a swamp for no apparent reason. The land long ago reclaimed the tragedy site, so the lone stack now finds itself completely engulfed by saw grass and water. This, after all, is something that swamplands are known to do. Good views of the stack can be obtained from a number of vantage points, but the best place to begin a reconnaissance is at Clay Avenue, between Valley Brook Avenue and Wall Street West. There, riders will find a small slotpark marked by a white flagpole. It commemorates the inimitable “Tessie” McNamara, the gallant woman who risked her own life so that others might live. It’s

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Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

W E ’ R E O U T TA H E R E SIMPLY ECCENTRIC • PAINT BANK, VIRGINIA I’m sitting on my quiet cruiser in the middle of the road in the middle of a weekday morning in the middle of nowhere. No cars, no people, no sound except for the gentle gurgling of a small stream to my left, and the occasional snort from a dump-truck sized buffalo to my right.

Gazing down the broom-stick straight road back toward town, I’m wondering how this peaceful, sheltered valley within an evening owl’s hoot from the West Virginia border can survive, let alone harbor such unique and successful attractions as an historic train depot turned B&B, a restaurant boasting an indoor swinging bridge, and... buffalo?

Mulling over my past twenty-four hours, it occurs to me that the secret to Paint Bank’s success is simple: eccentricity. Or, more precisely: simple eccentricity. A simple small town with a surprise center - like an Allegheny Mountain “Blow-pop”.

The Depot Lodge, for example. Built in the coal mining boom of the early 1900s, the Paint Bank depot was the end of the line for a spur of the Norfolk & Western railroad. When the mines played out, the depot was closed, and the rails removed to become a rare sight in mountain country: a long, straight road. Rather than letting it go the way of the Dodo, however, imaginative entrepreneurs have revamped the structure into a very classy and country-style bed and breakfast. And then there’s the caboose.

Tim Wineland

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

Swinging Bridge Restaurant - an eclectic mix of good food, good humor, and good times evidenced by the eccentric hanging rope bridge overlooking the dining area below. The bridge spans the second floor and connects two halves of what can only be described as Santa’s “other” attic. It is chock full of the most odd and audacious items imaginable, as well as more practical needs such as hunting and fishing supplies, Christmas tree ornaments, and a prized two-headed “Buffa-Moo” - a life sized half buffalo, half cow sculpture.

And that was it: a bed and breakfast, and a store and restaurant. Simple, yet each with a twist of the eccentric. It wasn’t until I spied the parking area and huge swath of green lawn behind the store that I realized there was still something I wasn’t seeing - namely, just how robust this sleepy hamlet becomes on summer weekends, and during hunting and fishing season.

The graveled parking lot was an acre at least, the lawn double that, and according to the girl behind the counter, that wasn’t nearly big enough. It seems Paint Bank has become a popular weekend rendezvous for hikers, bikers, birders, picnickers, car clubs, ‘cycle clubs, family reunions, and even weddings.

An original, no frills work horse of the railroad has been reborn as a one bedroom “cabin”; modernized and spiffed up to serve the simple and eccentric traveler. Fitting that description myself, I eagerly selected this as my nightly abode. The kid in me was all a-titter with anticipation at the idea of sleeping in an authentic, bright red, cupola-ed caboose and yelling “All aboard!” from its black iron steps. Although the “latrine” portion of the accommodations are by necessity pretty snug, the living-slash-bedroom portion was more than adequate for one or two people. Sheltered behind the caboose and alongside a bubbling creek, the stone patio with table and chairs was perfect for that late evening relaxer. Once in bed, I cranked open the windows and let the sound from the rippling waters of the Potts Creek Branch lull me to la-la-land.

A stroll across the street brings you to the General Store, which is pretty much just that: a little country store providing a little bit of anything and everything to the local residents. But adjoining this simple structure is the

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FROM

TO EXIT

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ROUTE 419 NORTH,

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ONTO

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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and eggs, I made my way down the ex-rail road toward Hollow Hill Farm and a foraging herd of bison. Suddenly, before I could fire up my digital camera they seemed to sense something distasteful and trampled away.

Maybe it was something I ate.

THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE PERFECT

RESTING

EXPLORING

IS A

SPOT WHILE

PAINT BANK. TAKE

A

SWING ON THE BRIDGE AFTER FILLING YOUR BELLY.

In addition, the nearby Potts Creek Outfitters use the Depot as base camp while practically guaranteeing sportsmen from across the country that they won’t have to lie about the size of their trout or turkey. And just down the road, Hollow Hill Farm brings in its share of gawkers by raising over four hundred head of American bison and Highlander beef cattle for a burgeoning market of exotic meat.

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Andalucía Spain with the Manfred

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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Where to start the story when you’ve felt like you’ve been to motorcycle nirvana? Okay, so they say New Zealand is the ultimate moto destination but after you’ve lost two days and $2,000 just to get there, alternatives must be chosen. Spain has everything a motorcyclist can imagine wanting and then some. For starters, there are no bad roads anywhere, even at the higher elevations. You have glamour and ancient history, Roman ruins, castles, and jamon Iberico, the Spanish free-range ham of monounsaturated fat, the good kind of fat, like olive oil, and just as healthy. (We ate it three times a day and I noticed my hair stopped falling out.) You have the influence of the Moors, a tribe from northern Africa that settled here for 700 years before the Christian monarchs destroyed their mosques and killed anyone who didn’t eat pork.

We were a group of 15 on tour with MF-Tours GmbH, a new operator run by solo entrepreneur Manfred Frühbeis, who’s been guiding riders through Europe for 18 years. It was our third jaunt using Words and images: Victor Cruz

his services. Based in Munich, the multi-lingual Manfred knows Spanish roads like a local, never once relying on GPS. He held the conga line steady, never once losing a soul. It was an itinerary that began with few miles under the tires, allowing us to adjust to the time change, and it involved seeing more tourist attractions than is usual for these types of tours: major points of interest that you’d be ashamed to miss.

Day One: From Boston we flew into Madrid via Air France, the least expensive airline with probably the best food (unlimited wine and spirits) thanks to it being subsidized by its government. You arrive early afternoon after six hours and so it’s best to nap to help get on Euro time. Even next day you are still zonked; not wise to jump on two wheels. We got acquainted with Madrid in short order simply by walking and taking the Metro, a clean, efficient system easy to navigate. Some of the artwork displayed cartoon drawings depicting a jovial Bacchus scene,

TOP: BULL RING AT SEVILLE ABOVE: AUTHOR HAVING TOO MUCH FUN RIGHT: CIRCUIT JEREZ MOTOGP TRACK NEXT PAGE: MONKEY AT GIBRALTAR INSIDE BULL RING AT RONDA TYPICAL SPANISH ARCHITECTURE

complete with undressed maidens. The navel of Madrid is Plaza Mayor, a large enclosed square once used for public executions and early-day bullfighting, when only royalty could take a stab. Mercado San Miguel and Musee de Jamon (Museum of Ham) are the places to eat among locals, and offer great value. Wine is cheap and a sandwich (bocadillo) costs about $5. It was early October and every day the weather was sunny, dry and 75.

Day Two: We took the high-speed AVE train to Seville, a quiet two and a half hour ride through nice countryside.

Manfred met us at the station. We piled into taxis and went to Todo Moto, a BMW dealer where our bikes awaited.

Several of the rentals, mostly R1200 GS and RTs, were courtesy of Iberian MotoTours. It was about 2:00pm when we left. A short riding day, we arrived at an isolated, family-owned working ranch with horses and bulls. El Esparragal had courtyards with fountains, all honeymoon quality. Our dining room had an open wood-burning grill where homemade sausages, meat and pork sizzled. Along with the beautiful surroundings we were treated to a history of the place while we enjoyed the cervesa and vino tinto of the region. There was so much to occupy your senses that the thought of riding was far from anyone’s mind.

Day Three: We started the day by looping back to Seville to visit Plaza España, the Olympic park, and the city center, but we were thwarted by some marathon in progress. So we stopped at the town’s bullfighting ring, took pictures and left. The southern region of Spain is known as Andalucía. Too hot to hump bikes in summer, in October the region is well suited for riding. The land is in post harvest, mostly brown and wheat colored with short growing scrub and few, if any, tall trees. Some of the guys got very excited to be pulling into the famed Moto GP track, Circuit Jerez. A track day was in progress and we watched the amateurs run the course, most of whom trailered in their souped-up bikes. From there we rode a short distance to Jerez de la Frontera, the wine region where Sherry (Fino) comes from, first cultivated by the Phoenicians. We did a tour of the Tio

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Pepe winery, a business founded in 1835. The tour ended in a room of casks hand-signed by famous people such as Orson Wells, Winston Churchill and some guy named Picasso. From there it was a short ride through a wind farm over low-scale mountains. The visual experience of riding while passing beneath the shadow of spinning blades from these wind turbines was strangely mesmerizing. Lots of fun, but the best riding was in reserve for the following days. We took a break at hotel Dos Mares (Two Oceans) where from its beach you could see Africa and the top of some mountain that looked like it was floating on a blanket of clouds. By day’s end, we still hadn’t emptied our tanks of gas, yet this did not upset the hardcore among us, as the seaside Atlantic hotel we stayed at in Chiclana, the Hotel Iberostar Royal Andalus, was ridiculously glam.

A hot day, some of us took an ocean dive. I suppose that being an experienced tour-master Manfred knew not to push too many miles so early in the week. Jet lag can be serious, and the excitement of being in a new world tends to make people want to eat and drink with some abandonment. Better to ease into the motorcycling with some restraint.

Day Four: We must have ridden around 15 rotaries. Every small or large town relies on them; it also makes it easier for large trucks to change direction.

But we found them wicked slippery. The thick asphalt, free of holes, cracks and tar snakes, eventually wears down to a polished patina surface unkind to wheels.

Many of us had front and rear tire slide outs but no falls. The only spill in the week came when we descended a steep road on a hairpin. A flock of sheep were sunning on both sides. I did something I probably should not have done: I beeped

Page 23

my horn, thinking that would scatter them away. The rider behind me did the same, but the result was that the sheep dashed into the road, causing a rider to hit her brakes and drop bike, yet causing little damage and no harm.

She asked what she could’ve done differently to avoid the mishap. One guy said, “Well your legs could be longer.” Today we visited Gibraltar, a tiny spur of British-owned land that juts out like an appendix. We had to flash our passports to get through and the traffic line was long and slow. After the border crossing you literally cross an airport runway. Gibraltar is dense with apartment buildings, car dealerships and traffic. We took a cable car up to the famed Rock, a place famous for its monkeys that are so used to the tourist mobs that they practically vogue for the cameras. One of them jumped on a tour bus. The monkey coped a free ride for about 50 yards before the driver opened his window and used a cane to unhook the creature from his side mirror.

The view from on top was impressive but I could do without the company of monkeys.

That night we stayed at Hotel H10, in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, aka, the Mediterranean. If you like to collect sea glass this is the place for you. That night Manfred took us on a two-mile walk to a marina for dinner at an Italian place that had us practically dying from gluttonous pleasure.

Day Five: Today marked the most technical riding of the trip to date as we left Estepona to cross the Sierra Palmitera on A397. The kind of road you know must be packed with sport bikes every weekend. By far the best riding day, the group snaked through the twisty mountain-sided road with

Page 24

distracting views, letting us out into the city of Ronda, famous for its New Bridge, which is very old and arched over a chasm. Like many towns in Spain, Ronda sits up high overlooking vast farmlands. You can imagine invading armies and town’s folk taking up positions. The only position we took up was at the cappuccino bar. Ronda is also home to Spain’s most historic Plaza de Toros (bullfighting ring), and Manfred served as guide and like a

picador himself, jabbed us with historical facts and the evolved tradition of the fiesta brava. Evidently the bull is not completely wasted but served up in steaks at a local restaurant that must be booked years in advance.

We put it on our bucket list to someday return during the March-October fighting season.

The names of the towns we passed through in succession all conjure up plates of deliciously unrecognizable treats: Becerro - Ardales Guadalhorce - Antequera - Colmenar - Vinuela Ventas de Zafaraya... Exotic as these places may sound, the food is provincial, not at all fancy or preTHIS PAGE: ALHAMBRA PALACE HOTEL IN GRANADA OVERLOOKING PUEBLOS BLANCOS LUNCH OF TROUT AND HAM IN TREVELEZ SOLDIERS QUARTERS AT ALHAMBRA PALACE NEXT PAGE: YANKEE BEEMERS INVADE SPAIN INNER COURTYARD ALHAMBRA PALACE

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

pared by gourmets. There’s pork, chicken, shrimp, calamari, French fries, olives. A rice seafood dish seasoned with saffron is paella; and there’s the tapas, small servings of chorizo or mussels, sardines, anchovies: just about anything, served at bars on small plates in late afternoon, well before dinner, which usually isn’t until 10:00pm. By far the most prized food here is Pata Negra, fermented ham sliced thin and sacrificed from freerange black pigs fed on a diet of acorns. The flavor is nutty and buttery, not at all salty, and you can grow very old and healthy eating the stuff.

Days 6-7: We spent the next two nights in the gilded Hotel Alhambra Palace in Granada, just steps away from Spain’s most popular attraction. The Palace was the last Moorish stronghold to fall under the Christian monarchs during the re-conquest of 1492. La Alhambra means “Red Castle” in Arabic, so-called for the torches used by laborers as they crafted intricate mosaics for centuries during the cool of countless nights. Next day’s plan called for a short ride up to a ski resort in the typically snow covered Sierra Nevada, but the group was wiped out from an overabundance of late-night wine drinking, over-satiation and hilarity. Nobody seemed to mind the rest day. The second night Manfred took us to Sacromonte, a community once occupied by cave-dwelling gypsies and where we watched flamenco dancers while sipping sangria. Life can be so tough.

Day 8: Today was Thursday and this too proved to be an exceptional riding day that began with a twisty summit road to a ski resort, and back down. We stopped at Puerto del Suspiro del Moro (sighs of the moor), an overlook that affords a last glimpse of Granada and where legend had it the last caliph, ousted from his beloved Alhambra, was said to look back in tears.

We then hit miles of mountain roads

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

for its 68 interior arches, and for the ten that were removed to make room for an imposing cathedral, thanks to King Ferdinand III who in 1236 decided to build it as a snub to the Moors, dead center in this mosque, but also to reclaim San Vicente basilica, which occupied the same ground in 785, the year construction of the Mezquita began. The whole enterprise provides an arresting visual contrast, symbolic of the extremes in religious practices between Islam and Catholicism.

The next morning marked time to return the bikes back to the Moto Todo dealer in Seville, leaving us plenty of room in the schedule to hop the train back to Madrid, and fly home next morning.

The thing about using a solo operator like Manfred is the attention to detail and care, the high-touch factor in services that you don’t get with larger operators.

Make the Manfred your man abroad.

FOR INFORMATION ON MANFRED FRÜHBEIS CUSTOM TOURS: MF-TOURS GMBH ARNDTSTR. 5, 85356 FREISING, GERMANY WWW.MF-TOURS.DE • INFO@MF-TOURS.DE TEL: 011 49-8161-146 303

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through the Alpujarras range, passing a series of pueblos blancos (white towns), where every building clustered together was painted a blinding white. We stopped to visit a ham curing business in Trevelez, and where we ate fresh trout wrapped in ham, to no one’s surprise. Manfred gave us a heads-up that we’d be riding pass a hippie town and sure enough, minutes after his announcement we saw some dread-lock kids sitting roadside smoking away. But mostly as you rode through the old white hamlets you’d see a woman sweeping her front stoop, just a step away from the curb, or an old man with cap and cane taking a walk. The first thing you saw upon entering these white towns was the kids’ playground, newly painted red and yellow contraptions. Everything looked so well thoughtout, from the way they designed their sidewalks, to the inviting atmosphere in local bars; superior in many ways to our own culture’s priorities.

We rode pass Puerto de la Ragua and settled in Guadix for the night, staying at Tio Tobas, a hotel made up of two-floor suites built into the side of a hill, very cave-like. The area is known for some 3,000 people that live in caves. These cave dwellings are bought and sold like houses. Romantic as it may sound, that one night stay in a cave hotel was plenty.

Days 9-11: Spain is known for its government-run network of Paradors. These are five-star quality places with 3-star room rates and usually converted from monasteries or castles, and located in scenic towns.

We visited a few and the one in Jaen, the Castillo Santa Catalina, perched high up to better defend itself, was spectacular and worth a visit. The day ended in Cordoba, another historical city and site of the Mezquita, the third largest mosque in the world. The Mezquita is impressive

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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V IDEO R EVIEW

ONE CRAZY RIDE

A few years back we had the pleasure of being part of a panel group discussing a film created by Gaurav Jani called Riding Solo to the Top of the World.

We found the film both fascinating from a rider’s point of view but also that Jani filmed it all himself. Setting up his camera and then making his way back to his bike to ride by and get the shot, only to have to dismount and go back and get the camera.

It was hard work for the young filmmaker, but well worth it for his audience. Now Gaurav Jani is back with One Crazy Ride. We at Backroads could not be more pleased!

This time Jani is joined by his friends and fellow riders, Nicolitta Pereira, Vinod Panicker, Sanjeev Sharma, Gursaurabh Singh Toor as they attempt to ride through the Arunachal Pradesh part of Indian, near the border of Nepal and China.

Once again shot without a back-up vehicle or film crew, One Crazy Ride is just that as the friends do their best to make their way where most believed there was not even a road. Sometimes there was not, yet they pressed on with a fair share of humor and incredibly positive attitudes.

Eventually time and work constraints force his friends back but, again riding solo, Jani forged ahead, dropping back into his trademark style of filming.

This is a part of India rarely seen, the raw beauty often offset by the rigorous riding. One bridge crossing really stood out to us.

We made use of the English subtitles, making it easier to follow. Although Jani and friends speak English in the film, many of the tribal people did not.

Once again Gaurav Jani has shown why he is on top of the game and we look forward for more from this brilliant young filmmaker.

We really enjoyed this film and it is well worth the watching on some cold night when all you can think of is taking your own Crazy Ride. Get it for just $22 at www.dirttrackproductions.com.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

R OAD T RIP

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makes perfect sense. Lunch has been arranged at MicroBrasserie Charlevoix and how can we resist the brew master when he invites us to the inner sanctum and taps his newest concoction?

Unlike most towns, this one doesn’t commemorate war heroes or industrialists: public statues and bronze plaques pay homage to artists. There are more galleries and artists per capita in Baie-St.-Paul than any other town or city in North America. François seems to know everyone and we spend a delightful couple of hours exploring behind the scenes while working off lunch.

The Charlevoix is one of only a few populated impact craters on the planet and is designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Region. Baie-St-Paul rests at the bottom of the outer circumference of the crater, while the town of La Malbaie lies on the opposite side, 54-kilometers (33.5 miles) away. Route 138 is the main highway through the region, but there are two other roads-the Mountain Route and the River Road-and despite all my prior research I had been unable to get definitive information about the condition of either.

The River Road (Route 362) doesn’t actually follow the banks of the St. Lawrence, but usually runs hundreds of feet above it. Stunning views make this one of the top ten scenic roads in Canada, and since it runs across mountain ridges, the ups and downs make the ride more fun than a roller coaster.

Our first stop is in Les Émboulement at an operating 19th gristmill that still grinds flour used by a local baker. Colorful signs advertise the ateliers of local artists and we stop at one of these so François can introduce me to noted painter and avid motorcyclist Humberto Pinochet. François leads me on a brief detour through the famous musicians’ retreat of Le Domaine Forget, then down the mountain and past the beach of Saint-Irénée. The road twists through the village of Pointe-au-Pic and into La Malbaie.

In the early 20th century this town was the summer retreat for the elite of North American society and many fine “cottages” of this era still over look

Touring the Charlevoix

There are special places on this earth, and perched on the rim of a 300million-year-old meteorite crater I knew that I had found one of them. I came here on a whim, enticed by rumor and tantalized by the lack of information. Below me lay the village of Baie-St.-Paul, made famous by the “Group of Seven” and the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil. I was about to enter the Charlevoix.

I meet my local guide and fellow rider, François Gariépy, at the information center on Route 138 and together we ride down the rim of this ancient crater into Baie-St-Paul. Motorcycles seem to be parked everywhere, but it’s lunchtime and this is a gastronomical center of international acclaim so it words and images: Ken Aiken

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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LEFT: 1825 WATER-POWERED GRISTMILL WHEEL ON L’ISLE-AUX-COURDES • CENTER: MINIATURE CHAPEL ST-ISADORE • RIGHT: François sampling at MICROBRASSERIE CHARLEVOIX BELOW LEFT: DEVIL’S GATE, RETURNING FROM THE MALBAIE GORGE ON THE ROUTE DES HAUTE-GORGE • RIGHT: AUTHOR RELAXING ALONG THE MOUNTAIN ROUTE

the bay. One of these was the home of U.S. President Taft, who would describe La Malbaie as being “as intoxicating as champagne, but without the headache of the morning after.” American visitors are now inexplicable rare, replaced by Germans, Italians, Spanish, and, of course, the Brits, making this a vibrant international community in the heart of French Canada.

After stashing my gear we ride off to the House of the Bootlegger.

A former grand hunting lodge and “speak easy” during Prohibition, the log structure is filled with winding staircases, secret doors, and hidden rooms.

It was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite places and it’s now one of mine. There’s only one sitting for supper because after the food is cleared away the band plugs in and the place rocks until whatever hour the proprietress sees fit.

The next morning we take the High Gorge Route to the very rim of the ancient crater and pass through the park gates into the Malbaie River Gorge (Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-RivièreMalbaie). The sheer rock walls that tower above us are the highest cliffs east of the Rocky Mountains and the road is fantastic, but pavement ends at the base lodge. Most of the gorge is accessible only be

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foot, bicycle, or kayak, so we turn around and head back to Notre-Damedes-Monts, then west along the Mountain Route.

Imagine throwing a rock into deep, wet mud. A crater with an outside rim is made, the mud immediately rebounds in the center and concentric rings form. This is what happened here, except in rock. Three hundred and forty million years of erosion has softened the edges, but the pattern is still visible. The Mountain Route (Route des Montagnes) is a series of local roads that follow the ridgeline of an inner ring, while the jagged profile of the bil-

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

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THE SAGUENAY RIVER BAIE-ST-PAUL

IS THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE

CHARLEVOIX

HONORS FAMOUS ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE ‘GROUP OF

SEVEN’.

The Charlevoix Region is located 1 1/2 hours northeast of Quebec City on Route 138. The last bridge to cross the St. Lawrence is at Quebec City, and the next crossing is the traversier (ferry) at SaintSiméon/ Rivière-du-Loup • (418) 862-5094 www.travrdlstsim.com There is an excellent tourist information center on Route 138 at the top of the hill just west of Baie-St-Paul. Lodging ranges from abundant campgrounds to five-star accommodations. lion-year-old Laurentian Mountains clearly marks the crater’s outer wall.

Mount Éboulement is the resulting rebound from the meteorite impact.

The Mountain Route continues to Saint-Urbain-du-Charlevoix, but we head south on Chemin Cartier, crossing Route 138 and over the “central uplift” on the west side of Mount Éboulement. Rang Ste.-Catherine leads to the River Road and then we drop to the St. Lawrence River at Saint-Josephde-la-Rive on a grade that reaches18% .

Joining a group of sixteen motorcycles we board the ferry to L’Isle-auxCoudres to ride the circumference of this bucolic island. One of its attractions is a pair of early 19th century gristmills, one powered by water and the other by wind. However, incredible views are the real allure this island offers for riders.

Specialty foods and culinary excellence are hallmarks of the Charlevoix Region. I’m a dedicated “foodie” with a critical palate, yet become so overwhelmed by one exquisite meal after another that I blow-off a freebie at a four-star restaurant that is reputed to have the best wine cellar in eastern Canada.

I can recommend several restaurants, but I can’t tell you which is best: when food becomes an art form, comparisons become meaningless.

The number of motorcycles on the road is impressive, although mine is the only one spotted with U.S. plates. Some will make the crossing at Saint-Siméon to Route 132 at Rivière-du-Loup where they will continue to Gaspe, the Atlantic Provinces or return to Quebec City. Others will take Route 170 or 172 up the Saguenay River to Chicoutmi and loop back to Quebec City or Trois-Rivières. A rare few will follow Route 138 to the very end at Natsshquam and catch the ferry to Newfoundland. The Charlevoix is motorcycletouring heaven, but for the serious Quebec touring rider this is just one stop along the way.

A short list of recommendations for meals: MicroBrasserie Charlevoix in Baie-St-Paul for lunch. (418) 240-2332 www.microbrasserie.com Au 51 in Baie-St-Paul for lunch or supper or takeout. (418) 435-6469 www.leculinarium.com 3 Canards in La Malbaie www.auberge3canards.com

for

supper.

The House of the Bootlegger for an experience. www.maisondubootlegger.com

(418)

665-3761

(418) 439-3711

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 30

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

And, they are everywhere. The state with the most deer hits is Pennsylvania, What is the #1 thing that we at a state that is heavily wooded, but I Backroads fear while traveling by motorrecently saw a deer on the side of the cycle, especially when riding at dawn, road on the entrance to the George dusk and night?

Washington Bridge.

That’s easy - Deer.

There are a number of common sense The National Highway Traffic Safety things we can do as riders to limit our Administration estimates there are approxvulnerability to deer strikes. First off imately 1.5 million auto-deer collisions per let’s get semantics out of the way. Most year, resulting in damage losses of around times it is the deer that hits the motor$1.5 billion USD, which works out to an cycle, not the other way around. I don’t average cost of $1,000 per accident. State know many riders that go out of their Farm Insurance Agency also supports these way to target Bambi. In most cases the statistics, and goes on to report that, in the year 2004, there were 150 human deer comes from the side of the road, without any real warning and boom it deaths in the United States that were directly linked to car-deer accidents. is over just like that.

The bear is often considered to be one of the most dangerous animals in At this point the strike can go in many ways. From a glancing blow with North America. As a combined group, polar bears, black bears, and grizzly the deer bouncing off and continuing on its merry way or to the more seribears are responsible for 5 to 10 human fatalities per year in North America. ous where the bike and rider take a tumble.

Comparing this statistic with the 150 human deaths caused annually by All too often this will be fatal to the rider. The hell with the deer. auto-deer collisions, one might come to the conclusion that the most danLimiting your riding to the daytime and avoiding dawn, dusk and night gerous animal in North America is, in fact, the White Tail Deer. are always good ideas, but on some days it seems that is the best time to ride. Late fall and early spring deer are more on the move and in hunting and rutting season they are out of control.

Since deer are designed by nature not to be seen you have to be even more diligent. Keep your eyes moving, Sussex NJ County Rd 639 • Next to the Airport looking for movement from the roadside, especially in Open 7 Days • 973-702-1215 woodsy areas and high crops - and remember that We have New Jersey Lottery & Scratch Offs these critters usually run in packs; so if there is one We accept cash, credit cards & ATM on premise there are probably more right behind it.

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TWO POOL TABLES • JUKE BOX • DARTS If the worst happens and a collision appears immiOUTDOOR SEATING FACING THE AIRPORT nent, do not swerve. Braking hard right up to the point “WATCH THE SKY DIVERS” Stop by and We’re Sure to Become One of Your Favorite Stops of impact is good, but you want to be stabilized if you PLUS … WE SERVE A SIMPLE PUB MENU do collide, which will give you the greatest chance of FREE BBQ on Sundays SUPPORT OUR TROOPS weather remaining upright. As crazy as it sounds I have had ‘ You Cook ‘Em…’ permitting We’re Here — conversations with riders that have had ‘Close It’s Always Bike Night Encounters of the Antlered Kind’ say that they stayed Two Wheels or Four at AIRPORT PUB upright and stable because they were on the gas during Stop by and Join the Fun! the entire incident or at the last possible second. Better to be the bat than the ball. Better the bike gets damage than you.

So-called deer whistles do nothing to deter deer and some studies have shown that they might even attract them. I don’t know about that, but we pretty much think they are useless.

We have had experience with a product in the past called The Hornet, which is a passive Deer Avoidance All-New Victory System that uses Sonic Waves to frighten the deer into Cross Country™ running away from the approaching vehicle.

We found the first Hornet seemed to work remarkably well and deer did turn and run from the bike and not towards, but barring an interview with these deer I can’t be sure it was the Hornet. Still, if you are to rely on a rabbit’s foot for survival best to use one that seems to be the real deal. The Hornet seems the best bet on the market today.

We have a complete review on the new version of the V-Series Hornet on page 15 So while riding out and about as the sun is heading down use your head, keep your eyes open and slow 104 Main Street 908.236.9000 down. We want you riding the next day.

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Page 31

T HE B IRD R ETURNS

2010 Triumph Thunderbird Isn’t it great when something from the past decides to return, and it brings back all kinds of great memories with it? Yeah, as you have no doubt figured out, I’m talking about a motorcycle from the past that is finding a new home in the 21st Century. This one has special significance for me because the first time I ever saw the original version of this bike it was in one of my favorite films, The Wild One, starring some obscure dude named Marlon Brando.

Perhaps you have heard of him? Yes? That’s right; he did become quite large later in life.

But back when Marlon was svelte, he played a cat named Johnny who lead the Black Rebels Motorcycle words: Bill Heald

Club in a bit of mild carnage in a sleepy California town. He rode a very sweet 1950 Triumph Thunderbird 6T, that (the story goes) was his own personal bike. The inclusion of this motorcycle in this movie did great things for Triumph sales, although there were some in the dealer network who were a bit uncomfortable with their products being associated with “outlaw” biker “outfits.

Cut to today, and danged if Triumph hasn’t decided to grace us with the 2010 Thunderbird. Unlike the recent revisions of this bike that had Inline Triples, this new ‘Bird has the same engine architecture as the original: a Vertical (or Parallel) Twin. But unlike the comparatively wimpy Twin that propelled Johnny around that sleepy California Triumph decided to release the Big Jugs.

(Continued next page)

Page 32

Before anybody thinks Triumph has opened a landmark UltraHooter’s cafe that will also sell motorcycles, I speak of the company’s decision to take the original trademark Triumph Vertical Twin to a whole new level in terms of piston size. Whereas the original had a (now paltry) displacement of 650cc, the new Thunderbird has a whopping great volume of 1597cc and a brace of counterbalancers to keep the motions of these big cans in check.

For those of you with experience with Vertical Twins, Triumph has done an impressive job in conquering the challenge of giving this machine a true big-displacement cruiser feel. When you consider that this type of mill has usually been in bikes of a more highrevving/sporting nature in contrast to the slower, lazier cadence found in the heavyweight boulevard browser sect, this is quite an accomplishment. There are two counterbalancers present to keep the nasty type of vibes away, and the resulting feel of this engine is not really V-Twinish but unique and very fitting for this type of machine. There’s gobs of torque available down low (with a peak of 107 lb-ft at 2750 RPM) and fine grunt all the way (almost) to the 6,500 RPM redline.

The transmission is a 6-Speed with fairly close ratios and good solid engagement, and the final drive is a kevlar-reinforced belt that is a first use

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

of this type of system for Triumph in many, many decades.

Brakes are stout as befitting a 750-lb. motorcycle, including dual 310mm discs up front and a single 310mm unit out back. ABS is available, which is comparatively rare in the world of big cruisers.

Throw a leg over the Thunderbird and you’ll find a riding position that is certainly more cruiser and less “standard” compared to the Brando bike, with your legs fairly far forward and a good stretch for those of lesser inseams. There are big wide bars, big levers, all the big-boy cruiser stuff we’re used to seeing. Interesting other bits: there’s a whole lot of metal used in places where you normally see plastic these days, like the turn signals and side covers. Heavy metal rules, man.

It’s important when we point out this stuff that Triumph wasn’t really trying to just copy the Big Twin life, but rather roll into cruiser town and offer something different yet comfortable for the riders who live there.

What I find really interesting about the new Thunderbird is the fact that the Hinckley folks already have an impressively unique cruiser in the Rocket III, a bike I have a fair amount of experience with. Given this presence in the lineup, is the Thunderbird really, dare I say it, unique enough?

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I think the revitalized T-Bird with it’s huge, unique, and satisfying engine delivers a very different riding experience than the Rocket III gives you.

Handling is lighter compared with the Rocket, and I’m told the bike’s final launch was delayed as Triumph worked really hard to give their new cruiser the kind of feedback they like to have associated with their name. Turn-in is quick, and while you can drag your heels on those front-mounted pegs without too much work the bike is very predictable and solid, with good suspension rates and a stout, secure feeling when leaned over and encountering bumps. The saddle is fairly comfortable and the huge, flangeless 5.8-gallon tank gives you plenty of range should you decide to hit the open road with your riding partner. Also conducive to touring is a veritable phone book (remember those?) of excellent accessories, including soft saddlebags, detachable windscreen, and assorted long-haul accouterments.

The all-new 2010 Thunderbird is a very different animal than the original that Johnny launched a bit of minor mayhem on back in the 50s, but it does pay homage to the 6T by featuring that great, classic Vertical Twin only pumped up substantially for the age of iPhones, waterproof leather and ABS. It’s a big, grand cruiser that is beautifully built, meticulously machined and often finds itself being described in print through the use of awesome alliteration. The bike has expanded much like Brando did, and I think will be a big hit with the laidback crowd. The 2010 Triumph Thunderbird starts out at $12,499 in solid colors, $12,799 for Two-Tone, and ABS will add an additional $800. www.triumphmotorcycles.com/usa

Page 33

ENGINE and TRANSMISSION Type: liquid-cooled, Dohc, parallel-twin, 270º firing interval Capacity:1597cc Bore/stroke:103.8 x 94.3mm Fuel system: multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection, progressive linkage on throttle Exhaust: chromed twin-skin stainless steel 2 into 1 into 2, tandem large volume catalysts in centralised catbox, chrome-plated silencers Final drive: toothed belt Clutch: wet, multi-plate Gearbox: 6-speed constant mesh, helical type 2nd - 6th Oil Capacity: 4.2 liters (1.1 us gals) CHASSIS, RUNNING GEAR AND DISPLAYS Frame: tubular steel, twin spine swingarm twin-sided, steel Wheels: Front: cast Aluminum alloy 5-spoke 19 x 3.5in Rear: cast Aluminum alloy 5-spoke 17 x 6in Tires • Front: 120/70 r19 • Rear: 200/50 r17 Suspension: Front: showa 47mm forks. 120mm travel Rear: showa chromed spring twin shocks with 5 position adjustable preload. 95mm rear wheel travel Brakes: Front: twin 310mm floating discs. nissin 4-piston fixed calipers Rear: single 310mm fixed disc. brembo 2-piston floating caliper Instrument display/Functions: Analog speedometer featuring integrated rev counter, scroll button on handlebars, lcD trip computer, fuel gauge and clock DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Length: 2340mm (92.1in) Width: (handlebars) 880mm (34.6in) Height without mirrors: 1120mm (44.1in) Seat height: 700mm (27.5in) Wheelbase: 1615mm (63.5in) Rake/trail: 32º/151mm Fuel tank Capacity: 22 liters (5.8 us gals) Wet Weight (ready to ride): 339kg (746lbs) PERFORMANCE (measured at crankshaft to 95/1/ec) Maximum power: 86ps / 85bhp / 63kw @ 4850rpm Maximum torque: 146nm / 108ft.lbs @ 2750rpm

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 34

E VENT R ECAP

FALL MOTOGIRO USA - MT. SNOW, VERMONT

What could be more perfect than riding a small displacement vintage motorcycle on a crisp, but bright and sunny weekend in the mountains of southwestern Vermont as the leaves are changing to a full autumn palette of red, orange and yellow? Produced by Bob Coy of the USCRA (United States Classic Racing Association), the field of 83 pre-1968 motorcycle, sidecar and scooter riders spent one of the most perfect fall words and images: Burt Richmond

weekends following scenic Vermont and Massachusetts back roads. The Mt. Snow Lodge was our host base camp and headquarters for the 3-day New England edition of the Motogiro USA. The Motogiro concept began in Italy in the 1950s as a way for manufacturers to race on Sunday to highlight their products, and then sell them on Monday. A few years ago, the Motogiro concept was imported into the US. Motogiro US produces a spring giro and another in the fall, both of which

are in the New England area. Giro d’California also operates two annual giros in the San Francisco Bay Area. These Motogiros [giro in Italian means circuit or route] are great ways for the vintage motorcycle collector community to have a chance to really ride their pride and joy with other like minded riders. The term giro can be for a bicycle, motorcycle or automobile race, held on public roads.

Obviously the rules were written by someone who knows how important the ‘big’ Hondas were back in the day. Or it may just be a coincidence that the maximum allowed displacement is 305 cc.

There was also a woman rider on a 65cc Dutch scooter who may not have won, but she certainly had a big smile on her face at the end of the day.

The Motogiro is called a race, but in truth it is a slow rally that combines motorcycle endurance and reliability with very slow sections called agility tests. This is where riding skill and balance come into play, as it is all about

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

PREVIOUS

PAGE:

Page 35

BOB COY AND HIS TIME CHECK CREW • BIKES GATHER AT THE MT. SNOW LODGE • NOT FAR FROM HORSE-POWERED THROUGH THE ABOVE: HONDAS RULE • AUTHOR’S HONDA CL125A; PRETTY AS A PICTURE • RICK AND CATHY RANDALL ON THEIR BMW RIG

how slowly one can ride through a series of pylons at a given slow speed of anywhere from 6 to 22 seconds. That is very slow to maneuver without falling over, stalling or putting a foot down for stability. The average speed for a typical motogiro is 30 mph.

Bob Coy and his Timing & Scoring team do a marvelous job of keeping the process moving along and keeping track of each participant’s time checks and the scoring for the agility tests. They research the routes and have found absolutely charming back roads and local sites of interest like the overview at the top of Mt. Greylock and several covered bridges. Based on the fact that only 32% of Vermont roads are paved, one quickly realizes that the 68% remaining roads are dirt, gravel or possibly even mud. Armed with this knowledge (from past experiences) the author chose to use his wife’s pristine Honda CL125A, which is the scrambler style bike with high exhaust pipes and off road tires.

Camaraderie runs high at these fun riding events as folks gather up at intersections to check their route sheets. Three heads are always better than one, so collective agreement comes into play. These old bikes can be a bit fragile and sometimes have a tendency to retire early (break-down). There

COVERED BRIDGE

I was enjoying a nice twisty dirt road in semi-wilderness when my Honda stopped running... just like that, no warning, just stalling to a stop. Did a bump in the road jar loose an electrical connection? Nope, spark plug still sparking. Fuel? Remove the gas cap - still a full tank. Clogged carb? I removed the float bowl screw which released some water and granules of black gunk, but lots of fuel flowing out. Several fellow Giro riders stopped to offer advice and assistance and more tools.

Reassembling everything, it started once more. The Honda ran fine for about 4 miles. Drat, same thing again. I repeated this 4 or 5 more times, each time gathering more riders with fresh diagnoses. Eventually, I was reminded of my old Triumph I had 25 years ago that kept stalling as I rode from Denver to Aspen. My tank bag kept the gas cap vent from allowing fuel to flow to the tank. Yes, that is exactly what my problem was. This pristine Honda had a shiny gas cap with an oxidized interior that effectively closed down the tiny air vent. David Flach loaned me his gas cap from his ‘out of commission’ Honda and I was back in business. I have since put several of my gas caps through an electrostatic bath (like a dental autoclave) which gets rid of all the oxidation, dried fuel, etc. They also work great on carbu-

Page 36

retor parts, bringing them back to like new appearance and function.

Clearly, I was out of the running, but I still continued on riding with other riders through the rolling countryside. These events are not about winning or losing, but about having an excuse to ride our old bikes. I cannot think of a better place to do it than when a local person has shared all their favorite back roads with their fellow riders. We even had a man from Texas arrive on a 350 Yamaha, who misunderstood the 305 size limit. He claimed he suffered from dyslexia and apparently interchanged the number in his head to 350. They let him participate and ultimately gave him an award for longest distance traveled.

Now that is the true spirit of not taking one’s self too seriously. It was a wonderfully planned and organized event worthy of the effort to attend.

The spring Motogiro USA will take place at Jiminy Peak on the NY/Mass border April 30-May 2nd. Over the weekend of September 17-19, the Motogiro USA will conduct their fall event in the Finger Lakes region of central New York. More details can be found at: www.motogiro-usa.com

WHAT

MOTORCYCLES ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

ABOVE: BMW TOM VOSS FAR RIGHT: AIRONE RIGHT: DUCATI TWO-STROKE BELOW: TEXAS 350 YAMAHA

PLATE

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

MOTOGIRO USA

EVENTS?

While 1968 is the age limit, for the motorcycles and scooters there is a provision that allows ‘like kind production’ for later unchanged models newer than 1968. Perhaps you have a Bultaco that was made in 1962, but continued unchanged through 1973. It would still qualify in the under 1968 regulation. Motogiro originally attracted very innovative Italian marques, but as the Motogiros have taken hold in the US, many of the riders have resurrected bikes of their youth that were from Sears (Gilera & Vespa) or Wards (Benelli & Puch). The next generation quickly followed with the arrival of Honda, Bridgestone, and Yamaha. It was surprising to see so many Japanese bikes at this giro, which represented almost half of the 83 total machines registered for the Motogiro US. There are several classes based on displacement with the maximum displacement of 305 cc, which sounds a lot like the old Honda 305 Scrambler of our youth. Those classes are as follows: Under 65cc 66cc - 125cc • 126cc - 200cc • 201cc - 250cc • 251cc - 305cc

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

U PCOMING E VENT

Page 37

MOTOMARATHON HITS NEW ENGLAND • MAY 13-16, 2010 THE ESSENCE OF MOTORCYCLE SPORT-TOURING...

The Motomarathon Association has organized a new criteria for long-dison May 16th, and the awards dinner, will be held at Cliff’s as well. tance, multi-day sport-touring. The four-day format is designed for highly For the nights of the 12th and the 16th, riders can make hotel reservations experienced riders who seek the world’s twistiest roads and greatest scenery at the Best Western Berkshire Inn in Bethel, CT. For the $79/night discountaboard today’s new breed of high-performance motorcycles. ed rate, please tell them you’re with the New England Motomarathon: Carefully planned routes are kept secret until the evening before each Best Western Berkshire Inn, 11 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, day’s ride. Riders have 24 hours to complete the route between stop/start Connecticut, 06801-1055 • Toll Free: 800-780-7234 points, using digital or cell phone cameras to photograph their assigned Day One’s route will end in Shelburne, NH. To avoid a “DNF,” riders badge numbers with designated landmarks — checkpoints — in the backmust arrive at the base camp hotel with valid checkpoint photos no later than ground. Motomarathon Association officials will verify and record completthe designated stop time of 8:00 p.m., May 13th, Thursday. Check-in, route ed checkpoints at the end of each day, and will maintain Event, Annual and distribution and riders’ meetings will take place at the Birch Bend Lifetime standings of total accumulated checkpoints on the MotoLodge, our base camp hotel. To make reservations for the nights of www.motomarathon.com Web site. Riders can earn credit for any and all May 13, 14 and 15, please contact: checkpoints they achieve within any and all days of any official event.

The Birch Bend MotoLodge, 10 Village Road Though the Motomarathon Association standings are based on number of Shelburne, NH 03581 • 603-466-5069 • www.birchbend.com accumulated checkpoints, routes are designed with the minimum amount of For the discounted rate of $64/night, please let them know you’re with the checkpoints possible. The sole objective of each check is to prove that each New England Motomarathon. rider completed the route, without taking any shortcuts. An overall champiParticipants must join the Motomarathon Association ($25 annual fee), onship will be awarded each year to individuals, and eventually to teams. sign and submit their waivers to the Association, and pay an additional event Prizes may be raffled and/or awarded to those who finish the most checkfee of $75 to ride the New England Motomarathon. points.

For full details, please visit www.motomarathon.com The Motomarathon Association’s annual series of organized rides provides the most challenging routes in the country, giving members the chance to share the camaraderie surrounding the best experience in motorcycle sport-touring. Though some Motomarathons can inc. be elaborate affairs with hotels, meals, support vehicles, mechanical assistance, celebrity bikers and umbrella girls included with additional fees, the basic Luggage • Jackets • Pants • Boots • Rain Gear • Tools • Exhausts • Tires philosophy is to make each event as automated and Sprockets • Chains • Bar Risers • Brakes • Lines • Ramps • Lifts • OEM Parts self-regulated as possible. The inaugural 2009 Sport ~ Touring ~ Cruiser “Colorado” and “Pikes Peak” Motomarathons, for example, required only that riders join the • Large Selection of Premium Helmets Motomarathon Association, pay an event fee of $75, • Tires - Mounted and Balanced have their own bike/gear/camera, make their own hotel arrangements, take care of their own meals, carry their • Track and Race Bike Set-Up own tools and luggage, and rely on themselves or the • Great Service and Reasonable Prices kindness of others if they get lost or run into mechanSuspensions by CTR Suspension Technology ical problems.

Motomarathons are endurance rides on public TRACK DAY HEADQUARTERS • NESBA Dealer roads. Barring mechanical, navigational or weather challenges, there is always enough time to complete 188 Halsey Road (Rte. 626) • Newton NJ 07860 • www.wforacing.net any Motomarathon within posted speed limits, and Ph: 973-579-5103 • Email: wfomotosports@hotmail.com • Fax: 973-579-1806 with plenty of time for sightseeing and leisurely lunches. Participants must ride safely, adhering to all traffic regulations, and wear helmets and protective clothing.

All participants must be members of the Motomarathon Association, and sign and submit a waiver acknowledging that the Motomarathon Association is not responsible for any damages, and as individuals are participating at their own risk. A $25 fee is currentSALES • SERVICE ly charged for annual membership.

3-Rail Bike Trailers These four days of riding, designed by MotoSTRAPS • D RING marathon Association member Daniel Monteiro, will Toy Hauler Trailers TIE DOWNS take you through all six states in New England, some of the oldest towns in the country, and the best twisties with or without TRUCK CAPS We are now a in the region including the New Hampshire notches.

Living Quarters ACCESSORIES Rumors abound that Aprilia stunt rider Vertical Joe and some other celebs may attend. Starting at 8:00 SOFT TOUCH p.m. the evening of Wednesday, May 12th, Day One Full Service and Parts Facility Cap Dealer WHEEL CHOCKS routes will be handed out at the official start point: Cliff’s Cycle Revolution, 465 Federal Road, TRAILER HITCHES Large Selection of Open and Enclosed Trailers Brookfield, CT 06804 • 203-740-1270 • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com 1212 Route 23 North • Butler, NJ 07405 Cliff’s will host an optional riders’ meeting and breakfast at his shop between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Day One, Thursday May 13th. The final check-in

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Page 38

B U M P O N T H E R O A D - Vita Medicalis

DR. CHRISTOPHER BUMP

HOW TO STIMULATE NEUROPEPTIDES TO ENHANCE BRAIN FUNCTION • THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF FARKLING

We don’t give enough attention to our mental health. With all the concerns about our physical ailments like heart disease, cholesterol, weight, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, Gerd, and a whole litany of other health conditions, it is no small wonder we don’t give our brain much attention. By the time we do, we’ve developed Alzheimer’s and by then it’s too late or it doesn’t matter. And I am not talking here about couch therapy trying to figure if your obsessive-compulsive disorder is because your mother dressed you in a pink tutu when you were two years old. No, I am talking about the chemical soup in our brain which makes our neurons dance and sing or sit and mope. And now is the perfect time of the year to consider our brain’s function ability because it’s dark when we wake up, dark when we get home, its 10 degrees outside, there is salt and gravel all over the roads and our motorcycles look like frozen ghosts, forlorn and abandoned, as if a figment from a past life.

The good news is we can alter our brain chemistry quickly and effiBRAIN CHEMICAL ACTION • WAYS TO STIMULATE ciently to change how we feel! Of course we do this all the time with sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances deliberately and someDOPAMINE • STIMULATES AWARENESS AND MOTIVATION times not. Drugs both prescribed and unprescribed also alter our brain - Purchasing Farkles chemistry. It is estimated that 10% of our population is on some kind of - Motorcycle riding mood or behavior modifying medication and that antidepressants are - L-theanine the most prescribed drug in America. But we also know that substances SEROTONIN • EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, SLEEP PATTERNS AS WELL AS not only alter how we feel, but behavior does also, like gambling, sex and excessive exercise. We’ve all heard about the “runner’s high”, ENERGY LEVELS, SEX DRIVE AND APPETITE which comes from an increased release of opioids in our brain, called - Eating sugar and carbs (not recommended) endorphins. These naturally secreted chemicals help block pain.

- Motorcycle riding Dopamine is another neuropeptide which in excess is directly related to - Thinking of warm weather addiction. Dopamine is the one that creates the sense of thrill when we 5-HTP and P-5-P know we are going to eat chocolate, or get high, or travel to AC or pur-

chase something new. And serotonin is the brain chemical directly related to mood, sleep and depression and is targeted with drugs like prozac.

So at this point you are wondering what does any of this have to do with motorcycling and I would respond by saying: FARKLES! Yes farkles, which is defined in Wikipedia as “Motorcycle accessories selected by a motorcycle owner to enhance safety, performance, or comfort, and may include anything from mobile electronics to sidecars and trailers.” Farkles could be a new tank bag, or GPS unit, a new exhaust system with a deep throaty note, perhaps a performance chip. You might consider adding chrome or carbon fiber parts or suspension system. I

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TRANQUILIZING

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EPINEPHRINE • EXCITATION,

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Wheel Sport Center Inc. 831 Main St • New Rochelle NY 10801 • Exit 15 Off Route 95 914.636.7235 • fax 914-636-6184 Visit us online at

www.newrocyamaha.com

Franchised Yamaha Dealer for over 50 Years

One-piece Road Race suits in stock Check us for Suspension Setups Gift Certificates Available

www.washingtoncycleworks.com

WCW Washington Cycle Works

Junction of Rtes. 57/31 • Washington, NJ 07882

908-835-0043

Closed Sun-Mon • Open: Tues-Thurs 9:30AM-7PM • Fri 9:30AM-6PM • Sat 9AM-3PM

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

consider extra riding gear to fall into the class of farkles only if it is in excess. So an extra jacket, boots, helmet or electric liners can fall under the farkle umbrella as well.

Purchasing farkles is good for you as it provides a very healthy alternative to self destructive behavior. And this is the perfect time of the year to do so for several reasons. First, in order to determine where to start when farklizing your bike you must spend time with it. It means bonding time, forget the cold, bundle up and go out to the garage and spend some time with your bike, as doing so will enhance your serotonin levels.

Second, you stimulate lots of serotonins and dopamine by spending hours shopping for your new accessories, and this can be done locally or via the internet. I personally do my research on the internet and then shop to support our local economy whenever possible. This really gets that dopamine pumping. Third, there is the actual act of purchase and receiving the new farkle, which is the pinnacle of dopamine release. Please be advised; although credit card purchases are acceptable, budgeting for farkles and paying cash has a much longer mental health benefit, and contributes to lasting and harmonious marital relations. Fourth, there is the joy of more bonding time as you assemble or install your new device. And finally, you can feel good in knowing you have contributed to the lives of thousands world wide by spreading your wealth and stimulating the economy in your own little farkle way.

So don’t let the Winter Blues get you down, ignite that dopamine with some farkle stimulation... it feels almost as good as riding, and let’s face it, sure beats watching the early weeks of American Idol.

Dr. Christopher Bump practices Functional Medicine in Vernon, N.J. He is passionate about riding motorcycles, and helping people discover good health...using only alternative therapies. Read more about him and his work at www.drbump.com • Office phone: 973-827-3500

ALL ROADS LEAD TO RENEGADE LARGEST SELECTION OF RIDING GEAR IN ORANGE COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING FOR THE

BIKER COMMUNITY

Jackets, Pants, Chaps, Boots, 3/4, Full Face and Novelty Helmets, Vests, Gloves, Leather Overpants, Travel Bags, Schampa Cold Weather Gear and Heated Gear

***HUGE SAVINGS*** WINTER BLOWOUT GOING ON NOW! GOTTA MAKE ROOM FOR NEW SPRING ARRIVALS RENEGADECLASSICSMIDDLETOWN.COM

22 COUNTY ROUTE 78 MIDDLETOWN, NY 10940 (IN THE PATTON’S AUTO BODY BLDG.)

845-956-2200

MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED • GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE CHECK WEBSITE FOR STORE HOURS

High Alpine Tour with Backroads and Edelweiss

July 17-24, 2011 • If Not Now - WHEN? Head off with Backroads’ publishers Brian & Shira for a tour of a lifetime as we join up with Edelweiss for their High Alpine Tour.

Ride the roads you have dreamed of in the past - Paso Del Stelvio, the Grossglockner, the famed Dolomites.

We’ll even have a day’s ride to Venice.

When: July 17 -24, 2011 Yes, 2011 – that gives you two years to get ready to come on Backroads most exciting event ever!

There’s only room for so many, so make your plans now! Prices start at just $3360/rider and $2920/passenger.

For more information email Doris: doris.waldegger@edelweissbike.com or call us at 973-948-4176

Ride the Alps, if not now, when?

Page 39

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 40

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS THE RIGHT TOOL

FOR THE

RIGHT JOB

CruzTOOLS has announced three new Socket Bit Sets for home, shop, and pit use. Motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles make widespread use of set and cap screws that require hex (“Allen”) or Torx wrenches. Sizes can range from 2.5mm to 3/8” for hex style, and T10 to T55 for Torx. Use of tools with loose tolerances or inferior materials can quickly result in damaged fasteners.

CruzTOOLS includes the most commonly needed hex and Torx wrenches in their tool kits, but home and shop tool boxes should contain comprehensive socket bit sets to handle all needs. As a result, the company has introduced three new sets for Powersport enthusiasts: a 10-piece Inch Hex Bit Set ($24.95), an 8-piece Metric Hex Bit Set ($22.95), and 10-Piece Torx Bit Set ($29.95). Quality is comparable to top professional tools, with polished chrome bodies and heat-treated chrome vanadium bits that exceed ANSI specifications. All sockets are 3/8” drive for compatibility with the most common ratchet and T-Driver sizes, and contain an easy-to-read reverse laser imprint of size for quick identification. For more information log onto www.cruztools.com.

HYDRAPAK -

MAKING HYDRATION EASY

Hydrapak Big Sur This complete redesign makes one of their most popular packs even better. The new Big Sur’s back panel features all new raised padding for improved ventilation and a new zippered reservoir compartment that makes access even easier. The front of the pack now sports two organized gear pouches along with a fleece lined pouch for delicate items like sunglasses or cell phones. The wider profile and new cargo strap design makes it even easier to stow a helmet on the back. 100oz. Reversible II w/Plug-N-Play 450cu. in. Gear Storage MSRP $74.99 Hydrapak Morro The Hydrapak Morro Pro-Series pack features the highest quality materials and construction coupled with a design philosophy that caters to the most discerning adventurers. While large enough to work as an all-day cycling pack at 800 cu. in., the lightweight rip-stop with new Pinnacle Ventilation System back panel technology makes this pack comfortable enough to be worn on every hike or ride. The Morro features the revolutionary 100oz Reversible II Reservoir with the new Surge Valve and Magnetic Quantum Clip.

MSRP $109.99 Hydrapak Laguna The Laguna redesign has further improved one of the best all-day riding packs. The 360 degree expansion zipper adjusts storage from 500 to 850 cubic inches. The suspension padded back design has also been refined as has the zippered reservoir compartment. New fabrics, new hypalon strap, new tool pouch, and new colors all add up to solid update to a proven best seller. MSRP $94.00. For information on all products visit www.hydrapak.com

Rider Education Of New Jersey Basic Course • $250.00

Inc.

Experienced Course • $100.00

The Program with the Most Experience in Motorcycle Training in NJ

Call Today for Information and Schedule

1-800-8WE-RIDE Register Online at

www.renj.com MSF & NJ Approved DMV Road Test Waived* (Certain Restriction Apply)

*Rider Education of New Jersey, Inc. has been approved by the Motor Vehicle Commission to offer the New Jersey Motorcycle Safety Education Course.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 41

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS MUSTANG SUPER TOURING COMFORT

FOR

FL

Mustang’s new one-piece “Super” touring design provides the rider and passenger with the most comfortable seat possible on 2008-10 FL models. Not only does the driver sit in a deeply pocketed, 19” wide front bucket, but Mustang’s new Super Touring seat moves the driver 1.75” further back than the stock seat. The seat is also lower than stock so that the rider can plant his feet firmly on the ground.

Never forgetting the passenger, Mustang provides a full 14” wide seat which is fully supported by Mustang’s unique internal support wings that eliminate any sagging at the edges. More passenger comfort means fewer passenger complaints.

Available plain or with studs (either chrome or chrome with black pearl centers), the Super touring seat is available with or without a fully adjustable driver backrest that folds flat for ease of getting on the motorcycle and removes easily without tools.

Mustang’s One-Piece Super Touring seat with chrome studs and a Driver Backrest is $719. A matching Wrap-Around Passenger Backrest with thicker, extended arms for only $279 completes the custom looking passenger comfort. For more info, visit mustangseats.com or call 800-243-1392.

LAMINAR LIP - THE QUICKEST WAY

TO

MAKE

YOUR

RIDE MORE COMFORTABLE

For those of you who are looking for more protection and comfort out of your stock windscreen then we have a product for you.

The LIP is specifically designed to quiet wind buffeting and reduce wind pressure while raising the wind comfort envelope. The LIP, which is DOT approved, is made of an impact modified clear or smoked acrylic to make it more impact resistant as well as scratch resistant. The LIP is attached to the existing stock windscreen using tough and durable 3M Dual Lock - which is like velcro on steroids. Installation takes just minutes.

We added the LIP to a stock 2009 Kawasaki Concours-14 for the purposes of this review and couldn’t have been more pleased with the results.

Many C-14 riders felt that the original offering from Kawasaki, as awesome as it was, was lacking in real windscreen protection and wished for a bit more coverage from wind and the elements. Laminar, a long time leader in controlling airflow and coverage on major sport-touring machines, make this easy with the Laminar-LIP. Once the film was attached and given overnight to cure, we found the comfort window on the C-14 to be greatly improved. Where before we had to find a sweet spot with this bike, we now had some serious protection as well as far more comfort. The Laminar LIP also looks like a stock piece of equipment, which adds to its desirability.

The Laminar LIP for the Concours-14 listed for just $84, which was money well spent and on their website you will find a few different versions of the LIP as well as a listing of all the other machines that Laminar creates LIPs for. Log onto www.laminarlip.com to see these and their other great riding products.

For over 25 years Circle Cycle has helped riders get and stay on the road

ROUTE 100 WEST DOVER • VERMONT 800.388.8310

www.kitzhof.com

WE LOVE MOTORCYCLISTS

Our variety of powersports products is second to none. Whether you’re riding offroad, backroads, or on the track, we’re here to get you where you need to go.

In northern New Jersey there isn’t a friendlier or more knowledgeable staff than ours. We’re happy to help you find the parts you’ve been looking for.

Online Shopping Available Check our catalog pages - if you don’t see what you want, give us a call or stop in - we’re always ready to help!

Tour the beautiful Green Mountains with traffic free, windy roads and fantastic scenery. Then come back to relax around the fire pit.

We cater to all makes of motorcycles and all types of clubs.

We tailor your stay to suit you.

Itineraries include breakfast, planned rides and evening meals.

Check our special group packages on our website.

PERFECT! Come as a group or on your own.

Mid-week or weekend.

Circle Cycle.

For the discriminating rider.

CIRCLE

Experience the best hospitality and comfort at the Kitzhof Inn. Snow flying and bike parked?

Come enjoy Winter’s fun Ski • Board • Snowmobile

570 Broad Avenue Ridgefield NJ

CYCLE 201-945-2200 web: www.circlecycle.net

THE KITZHOF

IS YOUR ALL-SEASON

VERMONT

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 42

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR E V E R Y M O N T H - W E AT H E R P E R M I T T I N G Second Sunday • Philadelphia Breakfast Ride. Meet at Silk City Diner - 5th/Spring Garden, Philadelphia PA - 8am • 215-922-2214

What’s Happenin’ 27 • North Jersey Riders Comedy Night and Dinner. Sussex Firehouse, 25 Loomis Ave, Sussex, NJ. 6-11pm. $20/pp. Proceeds to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of NJ. Sumptuous Italian dinner with cash bar available. Entertainment by TV and stage comedian Doug Karpf. For tickets: Pete Tomory (973) 600-7460 • Nick Irons (973-222-7944

Every Sunday • Eastern Suffolk ABATE Breakfast Run. Crossroads Diner - Calverton NY. 10:30am. Eat and Ride After • 631-369-2221

APRIL 2010

Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do some benchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish

11 • Odyssey Production 9th Annual Spring Breakout. M/C Show and Swap Meet.

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

• www.odypro.com • 607-863-4295

Second Tuesday • ABATE of the Garden State, North Jersey chapter. Black River Barn, 1178 Rt. 10 West, Randolph, NJ. 7:30pm. New members and all mc brands welcome.

Help fight for rights as a motorcyclist in NJ! Alex Martinez (973) 390-1918 Every Wednesday • Country Bike Night at the Airport Pub sponsored by the American Legion Riders Post 132, Franklin, NJ • 6pm - ? • CR 639, Sussex, NJ - next to the airport • 973-702-1215 Every Wednesday • Quaker State & Lube, Commerce Blvd. off Rte. 6, Dickson City, PA • 570-489-5823 Every Thursday • Red Knights XX PA at the Dairy Queen, Route 209, Marshall’s Creek, PA, exit 309 off Route 80 • 6-9:30pm, weather permitting Every Thursday • Bike Night at The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant, Rte. 206, Downsville, NY • 607-363-7814

MARCH 2010 13-14 • Northeast Motorcycle Expo at Wilmington, MA. Shriner’s Auditorium • 978688-8888 • www.kevmarv.com 19 • Montgomeryville Cycle Center grand opening party for the metro Philadelphia’s newest BMW motorcycle dealer. Montgomeryville Cycle Center was started in 1974 an dhas been owned by Bob and Bonnie Jones since 1986. Bob has been associated with BMW since 1979. Please join them for their ribbon cutting and refreshments 6-9pm • 2901 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA • 800-899-7511 • www.montgomeryvillecc.com 20 • O’Tooles H-D Garage Party. No-pressure chance to learn, socialize and ask questions. 4-7pm. 4 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY • 845-888-2426 • www.otooleshd.com 20-21 • Northeast Motorcycle Expo at Philadelphia, PA. Greater Philadelphia Expo Center • 978-688-8888 • www.kevmarv.com 25 • H-D Long Branch Garage Party. Women-only Garage Party night of learning and Laughs. 7-9:30pm • 671 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ • www.hdlongbranch.com

11 • Chai Riders First Ride of the Season. Sign in: Temple Beth Sholom of Fair Lawn, 40-25 Fair Lawn Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ. 8:30-10am. $20/rider; $10/pass. Scenic ride at our own pace, breakfast nosh along the way, BBQ lunch at endsite and sooo much more. Self guided; AMA sanctioned • 201-791-4161 • 201-797-4206 17 • Morton’s BMW Spring Open House/Flea Market. Demo rides - including S100RR. Door prizes, great deals, food, music, vendors and more. Bring your unwanted parts and accy’s and set up in parking lot. Poker Run to benefit Habitat for Humanity. 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy, Frediericksburg, VA • 540-891-9844 • www.mortonsbmw.com 17 • Bergen County BMW Motorcycles Open House. Live music, Free food and MORE! Free Stunt Show with Chris ‘Teach’ McNeil • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201843-6930 • www.bergenbmwmotorcycles.com 18 • Westchester Beemers MC 2nd Annual Multiple Sclerosis RIDE 2010 to benefit National Multiple Sclerosis Society Southern NY Chapter. Start: Rye Playland, Exit 19 off I-95, Rye, NY. Sign in: 7:30-9am; Ride departs: 9:30am; Returns 12:30-1pm. Advance registration $25 rider/$10 pass; Day of event: $35 rider. Light breakfast at start. Lunch and entertainment at endsite. For more info: www.westchesterbeemers.org or 914582-8673 / 914-328-7909 21 • Odyssey Productions 9th Annual Spring Breakout. Ice Time Arena, Newburgh, NY. Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet. People’s Choice Custom and Antique Bike Show, Vendors, Music and More • www.odypro.com • 607-863-4295 24-25 • Motorcycle Mania Show to benefit Fallen Heroes Fund. Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY. 10am-6pm. $10/pp • www.motorcyclmaniashow.com 25 • VFW Post 2064 3rd Annual Poker Run to benefit veteran’s causes. Sign in: 209 Main St, Maybrook, NY. 9-11am. $20/pp. 100 mile run in Hudson Valley region of NYS. Commemorative pin, food, drink, music, cash prizes • 845-427-5881 28 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256 30-May 2 • MotoGiro East . Headquarters: Jiminy Peak, Mass. Tour through Massachusetts and New York State. For more info contact: Geoff Boughton • 860-6515088 • bultacoracer@yahoo.com • www.motogiro-usa.com

MAY 13-16

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

$109/night+tax - must ask for Backroads Spring Rally when booking

MAY 2010 7 • International Female Ride Day. It’s a day for women motorcyclists, worldwide, inviting women to join together on their motorcycles, not matter the type, size or style and --JUST RIDE! More info at www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113686186117 8 • Rockaway/Florham Park Rotary Clubs Charity Poker Run/Pig Roast. Sign in Swim & Sport Club, 272 Emmans Rd, Flanders, NJ. 10am-Noon. $25/pp. Self-guided road run • www.FlorhamParkRotary.com • 973-627-9337 13-15 • Mid-Atlantic Retread Rally. Bird-In-Hand Family Inn, Rt. 340, Bird-In-Hand, PA. Rally includes breakfast both days, Friday BBQ, Sat. Banquet, entertainment, free ice cream, rally pin, miniature golf tournament, guided and self-guided tours, charity poker run, 50/50 • www.midatlanticretreads.com May 13-16 • BACKROADS SPRING BREAK • Winchester, VA 16 • Ramapo Rumble for Education to benefit Ramapo College Scholarhip Endowment.

Sign in: Ramapo College of NJ, 505 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ. 8:30-10am. $25/rider; $15/pass. Scenic ride onthe backroads of NJ •

Spend a weekend in the quaint

20-23 • Concours Owners Group Northeast ‘Sprig Fling’ Rally. Somerset, PA. Sport-touring at its finest. For more information visit www.cog-online.org or contact Jaso at 814-535-8669

placement to explore West Virginia,

23 • 9th Annual British & European Classic Motorcycle Day. 10am-6pm • $10. Butler’s Orchard, Germantown, MD. Concours, swap meet, door prizes, tech talks, trials demo • www.classicmotorcycleday.org • www.ramapomc.org 23 • Heels on Wheels TV and Streetlight Mission benefit run of Women Riding for Women. Sign in: Watchung Reservation, NJ. 9:30-11am. $20/rider; $10/pass. Police escorted run to StreetLight Mission, Elizabeth, NJ for BBQ and live music • www.heelsonwheelstv.com

town of Winchester, VA. Perfect Virginia and the surrounding

historic battlegrounds. As always, we’ll have great ride suggestions

to fill your days and good company to entertain your evenings.

DON’T DELAY - RESERVE TODAY ONLY 10 ROOMS LEFT AS OF THIS PRINTING

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

JUNE 2010 11-13 • Rhinebeck Grand National Super Meet. Antique motorcycles, parts and collectibles. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY. Antique MC Auction June 12 • 845-242-4690 • www.rhinebecknationalmeet.com 7-12 • Americade www.tourexpo.com

world’s

largest

touring

rally,

Lake

George,

NY

•

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 43

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 12-20 • 87th Annual www.laconiamcweek.com

What’s Happenin’

•

Out, vendors, food, 50/50, door prizes, trophies, games, ride-in bike show. Awards for Best Rep Club, games, bike show and poker hands • www.lostwheels.com

13 • March of Dimes Bikers for Babies. Sign in: 45 Rt. 46 East, Pine Brook, NJ. 9-11am. $20/rider pre-reg; $25/day of event. Ride to: NJ State Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ for food, entertainment and vendors • Carol Roberts • 973-882-0700 ext. 717

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

Laconia

Motorcycle

Week,

Loudon,

NH

24-27 • Thunder in the Valley, Johnstown, PA • www.johnstownthunder.com 26 • Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256

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

JULY 2010

17-19 • MotoGiro USA. Finger Lakes Region, NY. Headquarters TBD. For more info: Karl Smolenski and Alia Howard • ksmolenski@yahoo.com • www.motogiro-usa.com

9-11 • AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio.

America's grandest celebration of motorcycling heritage • www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com

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

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

AUGUST 2010 August 2-6 • BACKROADS 15th Anniversary/Summer Soiree • Fontana Village, NC 22 • 38th Foggy Mountain Reliability Run. Timed Road Run. Call or send email address for notification • fwspeeryamaha@aol.com • 973-778-6256 28 • 2nd Annual Schenectady Thunder ARTBIKE Festival. State St, downtown Schenectady, NY. 11am-6pm. 3 live bands, photo exhibit, food, vendors, more • 518464-8933

September 26-29 • BACKROADS Fall Fiesta • Gray Ghost Inn, West Dover, VT

OCTOBER 2010 14-17 • Daytona Beach Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach, FL • www.biketoberfest.org Oct. 31 - Nov. 7 • High Seas Rally. Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas.

Vendors, Cash and Prize Giveaways, Entertainment, Great Shore Excursions and so much more. Leaving from Port Canaveral, FL, ports include Labadee, Hispaniola, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. Find out more at www.highseasrally.com

2010 POLAR BEAR SCHEDULE March 7 • LONG VALLEY PUB & BREWERY, 1 Fairmount Rd., Long Valley, NJ 07853 • 908-876-1132 • www.brewpubnj.com March 14 • THE CHATTERBOX, #1 Rte 15 South, Augusta, NJ 07822 • 973-3002300 • www.chatterboxdrivein.com March 21 • BRIAN’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 600 S. Flowers Mill Rd., Langhorne PA • 215 752-9400 • www.brianshd.com March 28 • FLYING CLOUD CAFE, 800 New Hampshire Ave. Atlantic City NJ 08401 • 609-345-8222 • www.acflyingcloud.com April 11 • CAPE MAY V.F.W. post #386, N .J. 419 Congress St., Cape May, N .J. 08204 • 609-884-7961

31-Sept. 3 • Curve Cowboy Reunion, Killington, VT. Gathering of K12LT, but open to all brands and models of motorcycle • www.curvecowboyreunion.com

SEPTEMBER 2010 9-12 • Killington Classic Motorcycle Rally. Town of Killington. Vermont’s Premier Motorcycle Rally. For more info: www.killingtonclassic.com 12 • Lost Wheels MC 35th Annual Poker Run. Sign in: Dutchess Stadium, Rt. 9D, Fishkill, NY. 9-11:30am. AMA: $23; non-AMA: $25; Under 15: $10. Endsite: Canopus Lake Beach Area, Fahnestock St. Park, Carmel, NY. Live entertainment by Guys Night

SUSSEXMOTORSPORTS 446 Route 23 • Sussex, NJ • Located across from the A&P Shopping Plaza

973-875-3640 •

Open Tuesday thru Saturday

Visit us at www.sussexmotorsportsnj.com

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 44

P RODUCT S POTLIGHT

GARMIN ZUMO 665 BRINGS SATELLITE INFO ALONG

Garmin International, has announced the Zumo 665 - a new fully touchscreen motorcycle navigator that includes an antenna for XM Satellite Radio, real-time XM NavWeather and real-time XM NavTraffic. To receive the XM Satellite information, an optional subscription is required.

The new Zumo 665 comes standard with the GXM 40 XM antenna - simply add an optional XM subscription and you can receive real-time XM Satellite Radio with 170 digital channels of commercial-free music, news, sports, talk and entertainment along with 20 dedicated channels of XM Instant Traffic and Weather when you travel in the United States. With the addition of XM NavWeather, you can access up-to-the-minute

FOR THE

RIDE

weather data and NEXRAD radar graphics from your map screen to stay ahead of the storm.

The Zumo 665 has a 4.3” touchscreen color display, putting all the information you need in an easy-to-read format as you travel down the road and features a glove-friendly intuitive interface that makes entering information as easy as shifting gears. This durable device comes preloaded with detailed, street-level maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico with over six million points of interest including gas stations, lodging, restaurants, attractions and more.

The Zumo 665 speaks street names and will deliver turn-byturn, voice prompted directions, such as “turn right on Main Street,” via the built-in speaker headphone jack or through a compatible Bluetooth helmet or headset.

While riding, it’s also easy to access trip information directly from the Zumo’s trip information page like speed, heading, altitude, and a customizable fuel gauge that can be modified to the motorcycle’s maximum fuel range. In addition, with the Zumo’s powerful trip planning tools, owners can create and custom routes via computer and then transfer the saved route directly to the Zumo before they begin their journey.

The Zumo 665 is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2010 for $999.99. For additional information, visit www.garmin.com.

Cycle Insurance Agency Inc. Recreational Vehicle Specialists Agents who ride and understand your Motorcycle Insurance Needs

MEMBER

MEMBER

Ask about our Tour Cycle Program – the Ultimate in Coverage

Passenger Coverage • Accessories Coverage Medical Payments Coverage 448 Lincoln Ave • Hawthorne NJ 07506 • 973-427-2246 www.CycleInsuranceAgency.com Serving New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania • ATV • Jet Ski • Snowmobile

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 45

B A C K R O A D S M O T O - I N N M E M B E R S • G R E AT P L A C E S

TO

E AT

AND

SLEEP

Member

320 Front Street Belvidere, NJ www.thisilldous.com • 908-475-2274 Member

Enjoy quaint Victorian Belvidere and scenic Warren County

‘50s-Style Drive-In Restaurant Full and Varied Menu Room for the Whole Gang

Sharing your passion for good food since 1983

Two Wheels or Four - It’s Always a Good Time at

Breakfast • Lunch • Espresso Cafe

THE CHATTERBOX DRIVE-IN

Ice Cream and Dessert • Catering Off-Premise

GREAT FOOD • GOOD TIMES • EXCELLENT RIDING Worth the ride from anywhere!

Open Daily 7am to 4pm • Sunday 7am to 1pm

Located at Ross’ Corners • 1 Route 15 • Augusta NJ • 973-300-2300

Try our Full Throttle Breakfast Special every Saturday + Sunday

www.chatterboxdrivein.com

Thisilldous is New Jersey’s best kept secret. Maybe the best luncheonette in the State • Star Ledger

Ask about our Diners Club. Gift Cards available.

The Runway Cafe at the Blairstown Airport

36 Lambert Road • Blairstown, NJ

GREAT

845-446-0912 rmerbbq.com www.barnsto

The Only Outdoor Lakeside Dining on Swartswood Lake

Closed Mondays

1040 Cty Rd 521 • Swartswood, NJ 973-300-0016

908.362.9170

oute 9W icturesque R Located on P rive D s Perkin minutes from k ar P State and Harriman oint P t es historic W just south of

Member

Serving Lunch and Dinner Tuesday thru Sunday 11am - 9pm

Food Roads Destination

lley’s Hudson Va ne Riding Number O t Restauran e u q e b r a B W North 1076 Route 9 mery, NY Fort Montgo

The Boat House Restaurant

www.theboathouserestaurantonline.com

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GET CHARGED - XTREMELY XTREME CHARGE QUICK BATTERY TEST

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If your machine has been sitting all winter long with nothing keeping your battery alive take heart, it might not be too late to keep it strong and healthy.

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It was good to see a bike that had been sitting dormant for months go from 50% to 100% in a matter of hours and then know we could leave it on Pulse indefinitely. The Xtreme Charge has been making the circuit through the barn each week since.

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Riding for a Wing and a Prayer BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 49

A visit to the Royal Canadian Air Force National Museum Robert Laford “High in the sunlit silence; Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air”. That poetic statement is an excerpt from the poem High Flight by WWI & WWII Canadian Pilot Gillespie Magee. The first time I read that poem I was instantly transported to my motorcycle. The feelings that the author put on paper from being a pilot were similar to those feelings that I have when I am in the saddle of my motorcycle.

The Royal Canadian Air Force National Museum of Canada at the Trenton Air Base in Ontario, Canada was the place I first read Mr. Magee’s words inscribed on the pilot’s memorial.

My “need to ride” dipstick was getting low and with a recently minted passport that was itching to be christened by a ride across the Canadian border, a revisit to the museum and the memorial was in order. Looking at the maps of the northeastern United States and our nearby neighbors in Canada, the decision was made to venture into Ontario.

The late summer days of September are a perfect

time to travel through New England, New York, and the eastern Canadian Provinces. The mornings are cool, but the days quickly warm with a welcoming sun. Summertime traffic of traveling vacationers have weaned as children have returned to school, offering the rider less congested roads and more space to be alone with your thoughts along your path. The rural views are relaxing and invigorating at the same time. Fields full of crops planted by the farmer are working towards the completion of their growing season. The roadside sights, sounds, and smells join the wind and weathers caress to peak all your senses. The wildflower fields, rows of corn, acres of planted sunflowers, as well as the horses, sheep, and cattle all enjoy their peaceful hillsides.

The route from New England to Ontario passes through New York’s Adirondacks. A haven for motorcycles, the Adirondacks offer miles of well maintained roads through pristine wilderness and many welcoming communities. Ranging from the St. Lawrence River and the Tug Hill Plateau in the

Page 50

west, to Lake Champlain and Lake George in the east, the region contains over six million acres and is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. Whether the rider is looking for solitude through winding mountain roads or combining the beautiful vistas with watching the two-legged life forms in towns like Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, or Tupper Lake the Adirondack Region can easily be a destination point for a riding vacation in itself.

The planned crossing point from New York into Canada was at Ogdensburg, NY. New York Route 37 leads to Route 812 and the border crossing - turning into Highway 16 in Johnstown, Ontario. The actual crossing is over the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, a suspension bridge, also known as the St. Lawrence Bridge, a few kilometers east of Prescott, Ontario in Canada.

Highway 401 is a major east-west highway, but as with any Interstate-type road it is high speed and high traffic. A few miles west from the border crossing, the opportunity arose to take the Thousand

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

Islands Parkway. The Parkway extends from near Brockville to Gananoque, Ontario. It is a two-lane road (posted at 80km/h) that follows the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. It is a very scenic ride along the shores of the river and offers a peaceful alternative to the nearby Highway 401. Evidence of the recreational aspects of the area abound.

The parkway is also home to an adjacent bicycle trail where bicyclists, picnickers, hikers, and others enjoy this stretch of scenery.

The parkway also interchanges with Highway 137, an extension of

US Interstate 81, which serves as the Ontario approach to the international Thousand Islands Bridge before ending in Gananoque with Highway 2.

Traveling further west along Highway 2 we pass through several towns and also the city of Kingston. Traveling through the more populated communities you frequently see references to “Loyalist” in names of businesses, roads, and organizations in the area. American Loyalists were people loyal to Britain who fled the Thirteen Colonies during and after the American Revolution. Approximately 40,000 people fled to Canada and formed the basis of the English-speaking society in Canada. They primarily settled in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. The area along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario offer the history buff a plethora of chances to learn about the Canadian viewpoint of the American Revolution and the development of the relationship between the two countries. It is easily surmised that similarities in our heritages between those of us in the ‘States’ and our Canadian cousins far outweigh our differences.

Once through the city of Kingston, Highway 2 brings us back to the rural character of the ride. Small villages, farms, and open land return to the view of the rider. The terrain of the area is relatively flat. The roads offer gentle curves and crests and dips opposed to the mountain roads of the earlier Adirondack Mountains.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Passing through Napanee, we approach the Bay of Quinte along the northern shore of Lake Ontario and through the Trent River Valley. Prince Edward County forms the area between the bay and the Great Lake, and the Quinte-West area rests to the north of the bay. In centuries past, the bay offered the traveling Native Americans and explorers a calmer waterway avenue from the St. Lawrence River towards the open waters of the lake.

One specific community within the Quinte’s area that is reminiscent of this historical significance of the area is Carrying Place. This locale was even thought to have a better future than Toronto when water transport was the principal means of travel. It is situated on the narrow neck of land separating the western end of the bay from Weller’s Bay on Lake Ontario. Both ends of the old portage route were well-developed to accommodate the needs of the travelers that were passing either by foot or by water. “Carrying Place” refers to the piece of land that divides the Bay and Lake Ontario.

Used for centuries by the natives and early settlers it was where travelers “carried” their canoes from the bay to the open waters of the Great Lake.

Our ride along Highway 2 turns south in Belleville to follow the road along the southern edge of the Bay of Quinte along County Route 3 and through Carrying Place up into Trenton along the western edge of the bay.

Trenton is the administrative and commercial center of the city of “Quinte West.” Quinte West is an amalgamation of the city of Trenton, the village of Frankford and the townships of Murray and Sidney that took place in the 1990s. Trenton is home to the Trenton Air Station and the RCAF National Air Force Museum, and the destination goal for this above-the-border ride.

The museum boasts the largest number of aircraft on static display and the most skilled team of restoration volunteers of any military museum in Canada with over twenty aircraft on display both inside the museum and on its 16-acre airpark adjacent to the museum building. The museum also tells the military aviation story via a wide variety of artifacts, displays, and photographs to compliment the aircraft that are on site.

One of the gems of the museum is the WWII Halifax Bomber. In April 1945, Halifax NA 337 left England to drop supplies to the Norwegian resistance. Returning after the successful sortie, it was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and ditched on Lake Mjosa in Norway. All but the tail gunner would succumb to hypothermia in the frigid waters. The Halifax lay under 750 feet of water until recovered in 1995 by the Halifax Aircraft Association. Over a 10-year period, the plane was fully restored by the “The Halifax Aircraft Restoration Team.” Of the 6,178 Halifax bombers built, only 3 exist today.

During the early steps of the restoration I had the opportunity to view the progress over several years during the middle years of the project. To see the completely restored craft is awe-inspiring of the dedication of the restoration volunteers and the countless airmen that flew this craft and its American counterpart. The team did an extraordinary job in restoring the aircraft to be technically correct as originally built. This exhibit tells the full story of this particular bomber, from its design stage to operational use during the

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HIGH FLIGHT Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee Killed 11 December 1941 • No 412 squadron, RCAF Second World War including a step by step view of the life of NA 337 2PX and the destiny of its aircrew.

Intertwined in the airpark with aircraft on display are a number of memorials to the different units, squadrons, or trade specialists that have served over the years. There are also over 9,000 individual memorial stones placed along the airpark’s walkway. These stones have been placed on behalf of Canadian airmen and airwomen who have served, or are serving, in one of Canada’s Air Forces. Bearing the words “Ad Astra” and adorned by an Air Force Roundel, the stone reflects the person’s name, their hometown, province and the years of birth and death. Each offers its visitor the opportunity to contemplate and honor the contributions made by those men and women who have served not only in the Canadian Military, but those individuals that all of us hold dear, no matter where they served.

It’s time to retrace our steps back towards home - to once again enjoy the countryside in solitude with our thoughts. And as we leave the museum to throw a leg over our ride, the words of Mr. Magee that are etched in the museum’s memorial echo in my head.

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MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

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E VENT R ECAP

THE 2010 NYC INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW

Each year the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show rolls its wheels into the Javits Center on the west side of Manhattan.

Over the last number of years the show, which used to get us totally pumped, began to lose its shine. It seemed the energy and fun had faded just a bit and, each year, we approached this show with less excitement than in year’s past.

Perhaps it was the lackluster economy and the fact that so many folks in the motorcycle industry were hurting or worse. Still we hoped for the best and, if nothing else, we would get to see old friends and make new ones during the weekend.

Welcome back my friends... to the show that never ends.

- Emerson, Lake and Palmer

What we didn’t expect was that the industry, local shops and vendors would rally their means and right behind them came thousands and thousands of riders so looking forward to the season and to riding.

The energy was apparent all weekend and it made for the best show in years. For us it started on Thursday with the building of the Backroads booth - an easy enough thing as we’re fairly basic and this year we had a primo location, along with our friends Mike and Nuri from Rising Wolf Garage. We were right up front and hard to miss.

Although the show officially starts at noon on Friday the New York media is treated to a walking media tour around the show to the different manufacturers, giving them a chance to showcase their upcoming new offerings.

BMW proudly showed off the new S1000RR, an awesome new sportbike produced specifically to recapture BMW’s racing heritage and to lure younger sportbike riders to the German fold.

Ducati had World Champion Nicky Hayden there to talk about the upcoming racing season and the new Ducati MultiStrada certainly caught our GS-riding publisher Rathen’s eye.

Yamaha and Star had some neat new machines, but as baseball fans we loved the Ken Griffey Jr. bike with the autographed baseballs in the tank!

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Victory offered up a limited-edition machine that was true beauty and Honda, now celebrating its 50th year in America, proudly showed off its new VFR1200, another machine we cannot wait to get our hands on.

Can-Am had all sorts of Spyders filling their huge display and the odd T-Rex made a showing too.

We love Triumphs, but for years the British company has not done these shows, much to many riders chagrine. This year a local dealer, Jack Trebour, took a huge bunch of Javits real estate and brought Triumph to the show. They then went and invited other Triumph dealers to bring their sales people down. If that does not show true altruism and the quality of people in this industry then nothing does.

Good for Steve Cooper! Triumph should take note. People love your bikes, come back to the New York Show.

By the time the doors were ready to open on Friday there were a thousand folks lined up and once open the people came pouring in for the entire day.

We heard there were about a hundred people at the Boat Show upstairs; hmm, too bad, maybe a sign of the times?

Walking around the IMS we were pleased to see so many vendors selling really interesting products, with just a minimal of crap to be seen; and not just motorcycle products per say, but things that could be of benefit for riders too.

Speaking of crap at this show only one of those annoying “Stunter Video Booths” remained; as we predicted Darwinism has taken out the rest of these imbeciles who do these things on public streets.

On the pro side of stunting - the Ducati Stunt Team were excellent and put on a great show and some of the local custom bikes were real eye candy as well, although we thought the Bat Bike was the best; we’d

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love to tool around Manhattan in the middle of the night with that one!

Friday’s crowd, as big as it was, was dwarfed by the hordes of people on Saturday. The warm, sunny day drew riders in by the thousands and bikes were lined up and down the surrounding streets. This was a long day for us, but it was made easy by so many friends and family stopping by to say hello and to see what was happening in the motorcycle world.

All through the weekend there were interesting and informative seminars

MARCH 2010 • BACKROADS

held with industry leaders telling attendees about different products, courses and great motorcycle knowledge in general. These alone were worth the price of admission and if we didn’t have to man the booth we know we would have sat in on many.

That evening when the show closed, with all of Manhattan beckoning, we joined the contingent from Philly who had traveled up for the show and had some of the most serious lobsters to be found in the Big Apple.

We thought Sunday would be a slower day with the Jets playing the Colts that afternoon (Oh well... we’re Mets fans and used to it), but we still had great crowds and as always we would like to thank all of you who stopped by to say hello during the entire weekend.

As we write this, the Monday after, it is nearly 60 degrees but raining hard. Still, even though we know we have another month, maybe two, of cold stuff to deal with, we think this year’s show was a superb start.

With all that has happened in the world and economy we think that motorcycles and riding are the greatest way to get away from some of the bad and ride into the good. Just riding is a good thing all by itself, but you know that already. There is a bright and warm light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Take heart, friends, here comes the season!

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2X2 CYCLE RACKS • TWO WHEELS CARRIES TWO WHEELS

Like many other motorcyclists I didn’t start on two wheels with a motor. As I grew older (not up) I still like to ride bicycles, be it a mountain or road bike. Mountain biking has let me do some pretty neat exploring where I couldn’t go before.

Motorcycling has also opened up another whole new fun world.

It seems like there is never enough time in a day to do all the things you want to do. It’s a beautiful day outside. A friend calls and asks to go riding, of the mountain bike variety. Cool, but it’s also a great day to ride my mechanical stallion. World is full of dilemmas. The problem lies in that I can’t do both at the same time...until now.

During the BMWMOA in TN I met a fellow cyclist that had the same problem, but he did something about it. Garrett Blake had a bicycle rack that attached to the rear seat area of a BMW GS. The planets are starting to line up. I have a GS. I have a bicycle.

We spoke for quite a while at the show. He also wanted to ride his GS to his favorite mountain biking trails.

He wanted to do this for a couple of reasons. He gets to ride his GS, save gas and lessens his carbon footprint.

Personally, I need to drive my huge truck, carrying my simple 20 odd pound bicycle and Stryofoam helmet, to my riding trails, and that just doesn’t seem right. Aside from burning all that gas, I’ve spent as much time driving to my riding trails as riding the trails.

Now not only do I get to ride to the trails, the longer twisty way, but I do it wasting less gas and helping save the environment. Doesn’t get much better than that!

More about this great addition to my BMW GS (racks are available for a number of different machines see their website). Simply take off the rear seat, unscrew the bolt that holds the luggage grid, lay the rack on the back, run two J-bolts through the existing holes, slip the rear of the rack under the luggage grid and tighten with OEM bolt. (I chose to leave the luggage grid off) Synch it down evenly. The rubber spacers under the seat do a great job of removing any vibrations from the rack. You’re not stuck with the rack when you don’t need it; this is an easy rack to take on and off.

Garrett provides two sets of holes to mount the skewer. Holes closer to the rider are for mountain bikes, the further set of holes are for road bikes.

You simply remove your front tire and attach the bike’s front forks to the skewer, just like other bike racks, and slip the pedal crank in the padded stirrup and apply cotter pin. Take your front wheel and mount it to the metal arm with the front tires skewer. Garrett provides a safety strap for the front tire, just in case you don’t tighten it down enough. Just as easy as any other car bicycle racks.

One of the questions I’m asked is if it effects the handling of the GS. I can’t even tell its there in the sweepers. A lot easier to handle then any passenger I’ve had. There’s plenty of room for the rider. The only thing that reminds you that you have a bicycle stuck to the rear of your motorcycle are all the looks you get.

First they have a quizzical look that turns into a grin. As for me I feel a little guilty. Obviously folks see that I’m on my way to do something fun, but I’m also already having fun. Garrett has a golf club bag holder that I can’t wait to try out, bet I get the same looks.

Following Garretts’s suggestion I’ve learned to get to the trail a few minutes earlier than usual. This is such an interesting product I end up talking to a lot of people at the trail head or parking lot. So, who gets the best of two worlds - I do now.

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BACKROADS • MARCH 2010

Page 56

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While many riders simply hang their helmet from the handlebars after parking their bikes, anyone unlucky enough to have one stolen has probably been carrying their new lid around ever since. We’ve seen “helmet locks” in the past, but they are generally expensive and must be permanently attached to the chrome, not to mention giving the rider another key to worry about. The HELMET HOOKER™ slips over the lip of the saddlebag in seconds, allowing the rider to stow it away or move it to another bike at a moment’s notice.

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WWW.SAMATOURS.CO.ZA If not today, WHEN? Visit South Africa in 2010!