May 2011

ine gaz Ma o ur le T cyc tor Mo

MAY

2011 Volume 17 No. 5

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Ride into Summer on the 2011 Honda CBR250R

Taking the Backroads to Indy MotoGP The Ups and Downs of the Bay of Fundy Take a Ride to the Catskill Mountains Highland PLUS…All our great monthly columns, features and information

W H A T ’ S MON T HLY COLUM N S

I N S I D E FEAT URES

FREE WHEELIN’.................................................................................4 WHATCHATHINKIN’..........................................................................6 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE .................................................8 ON THE MARK ..................................................................................9 INSIDE THE HELMET.....................................................................10 BACKLASH........................................................................................11 INDUSTRY INFOBITES...................................................................13 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA...............................................................15 BIG CITY GETAWAY........................................................................17

TAKING THE BACKROADS TO INDY .........................................26 TRAMONTIN HARLEY-DAVIDSON CHILI COOKOFF..............31 THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE BAY OF FUNDY .................39 CATSKILL MOUNTAINS HIGHLAND HIGH ..............................43 THE GEESE FLY NORTH/MOTO GUZZI RALLY.......................47 LOST IN THE FLOOD .....................................................................66 BACKROADS SPRING BREAK UPDATE ....................................71

M OTORCYCL E REVIEWS 2011 HONDA CBR250R ................................................................24 2011 DUCATI DIAVEL.....................................................................32 2011 YAMAHA STAR STRYKER ..................................................52

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN.........................................19 WE’RE OUTTA HERE......................................................................21 MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE...................................................56 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .......................................................64 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ..............................................65

PRODUCT REVIEW S ARAI VECTOR-2 HELMET.............................................................35 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS................................................................62 MACHINEARTMOTO......................................................................69 ALPINESTARS TECH ROAD GORE-TEX GLOVES ...................70

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil ~ Publishers Contributors: Ken Aiken, Neale Bayly, Bruce Brown, Mark Byers, Kenneth W. Dahse, Bill Heald, Jeffrey Kurtzman, Lance Oliver, Dr. Seymour O’Life

BACKROADS • POB 317, Branchville NJ 07826 Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure 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. 2011. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 3

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 4

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJEN

Riding ScentS We have all experienced the extraordinary aromas that prevail in our day-to-day riding.

I got to thinking about this while using the ‘Necessity Room’ at the Forklift Café. Places like this usually have a clean, yet antiseptic tang to the air, but this day the room smelt very much like a new car.

Who does not love that new car scent? Where can I get a can of this?

But, it did remind me of the plethora of smells, both good and bad, that we run into every time we head down the driveway.

How about the road, right after a cooling summer rain on a hot day? You know that one - that wonderful taste of heat and wet rising from beneath your bike.

On the other hand Spring seems to bring out tons of skunks, who have no idea that the big thing coming at them is going to flatten them with dire and smelly results.

As riders we take this one on the chin. We sometimes know it’s there before we even see it.

Then there is other road kill - deer, raccoons, gophers and, not to forget, the farms in the Spring that are ever so aromatic.

Living up here in the farmlands of northwestern New Jersey I deal with this on a constant basis. Depending on what is being spread it can run from slightly pungent to burningly astringent.

Back on the weather front we can smell rain in the air. Sometimes that is

a good thing, most times it is just a warning that the ride might get wet and a tad slippery before long.

Then there’s that wonderful aroma that you might find while passing a good restaurant. I have been told I can smell bacon from 20 miles away.

And, there are few things finer than the great tastes that you’ll find floating around a decent barbeque smoker on a clear and sunny day.

The aromas of the different types of wood used by a good barbeque joint can be like a Siren’s call to any group of hungry riders passing by.

Ride to eat – eat to ride, right?

I have ridden along some great vineyards in my day.

Napa and Sonoma valleys out west, Long Island’s North Fork and the great Finger Lakes region all come to mind.

If you get there right around harvest time it is surely the best, but I recently passed a vineyard on a bright late winter day and still got that sweet scent of grapes, even though there were none of the vine. I’d take it.

Motorcycle shops have a scent all there own. You could blindfold any of us and drop us in a shop and we’d know where we were. There has always been something comforting and happy with a good shop – the rubber, the oil and the flavor to the air. It’s all part of the two-wheel deal.

Some scents are particular to one region or area.

Case in point… We were riding down Louisiana way a few years back and rode to a small place called Avery Island. Some of you might know where I am going with this, but for those of you who do not this tiny island is the home of the world-famous Tabasco Sauce. Avery Island lies about 140 miles west of New Orleans. Surrounded by swamps, marshes and alligators, Avery Island is a mysteriously beautiful place where the pepper fields grow, the factory hums, and the McIlhennys and their employees continue to live and work much as they have for generations.

As you cross over the bridge to Avery Island your snout gets bombarded by this all too familiar taste of the pepper sauce.

(Continued on Page 12)

Home of Triumph of Rockland

invites you to join us for not ONE but TWO great events: Triumph National Open House

Fri, May 6 & Sat, May 7 Our Spring Open House

Saturday, May 7 Refreshments • Specials • Fun

Friday, May 20 & Saturday, May 21 - Locomotion Powersports hosts the Triumph Demo Truck Come in and test ride your next motorcycle. See website for full details.

Home of Triumph of Rockland

138 Orange Ave (Rt. 202), Suffern, NY 10901 • 845.357.1190

• www.locomotionpowersports.com

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 6

passed by your own wheel.’ Apparently, the wheel actually was sheared off at the spokes. Let’s see, sweaty guys running back and forth with a ball or high-speed antics on two-wheels – you decide.

SHIRA KAMIL This year, like so many in the past, March came roaring in like a freakin’ freight train, bringing massive rain and more snow, flooding and destruction MaRch MadneSS all along the East coast. But there were a few bright spots, some Spring-like warmth and sunny days that allowed me to venture out on my almost brandAs I sit in front of the monitor penning (is that the correct phrase when new BMW. A lunch ride here, a couple of overnights there and the Winter using a word processing program? Probably not.) this month’s May article, Madness that had crept into my brain took a couple of steps back into it’s I find it difficult to think warm thoughts. There are dungeon. Going out to the barn to ready the steeds still remnants of snow – more like petulant little iceis therapy in itself. Just the act of going through the Hey, that looks alot like my rear tire… gnomes – cluttering my vision and when I press my tankbag, restocking the faceshield cleaner and orlittle weather widget button I see temps in the twenganizing the Gerbing gear makes me feel like I’m ties, with a promised high of 41. To all you global getting into the thick of the busy schedule to come. warming advocates, I say BRING IT ON ALREADY! Looking at the forecast for the last week of March I want to turn the heat off, close the fireplace flue for it seems like it may just go out like a timid field the season and not have to check the battery tender on mouse, but come April 1, that could well be a fool’s the bikes due to lack of use on my part. thought.

Many of my family members have a very different No matter what happens with the closing days of view of March as they are avid followers of the MadMarch, or even the first week of April, the icy grip ness it brings. Starting in the beginning of the month, of Winter can’t last too long. As it’s want to do, the they have their brackets drawn and ready to be filled days will get warmer as they get longer, the croout. The rivalries are fierce, the wagering is frantic cuses and tulips will poke their green heads through the cold, hard dirt, just and the games are, I guess, exciting. Somehow, I evaded the urge to follow in time for the deer to come along and bite their little heads off, and even my the rompings of a college I’ve never attended, visited or know anything fair-weather magnolia tree will reluctantly bloom in all it’s glory, even though about. Instead, my attention is turned to the start of race season – with AMA it’s been snowed on many times since said blooms appeared.

Pro Racing, FIM Superbike and MotoGP kicking off some tremendous comBackroads Spring Break is only six weeks away. For me, that is truly the petitions. start of my season. Getting together with so many riding friends and readers Those who are like-minded know the craziness that was the race at Daywho have been absent for the past few months brings me great joy. Nice long tona. The AMA has posted a report on the actions, delays and rulings on this days in the saddle topped off by the camaraderie we enjoy at ride’s end stoke bizarre start to racing season which can be found on their website: the fire that will carry me through the next three seasons. The wood pile of www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=41808. Additionally, after planned trips, one by one, will be burned through, each one creating new watching the first round of the Superbike race at Donington, I was equally memories to be etched into my brain to be pulled out those dreary days return. perplexed at seeing the rear tire disengage from Maxime Berger’s Supersonic That wicked Madness will be discarded, like the cold embers of the empty Ducati. As one person posted on the YouTube site, ‘It’s never good to be fireplace, with its flue long closed.

W H ATC H AT H I N K I N ’

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson® Helps you Celebrate Spring with our May events…

Spring Open House

*

May 3rd to May 7th

Take 20% Off …

Enthusiast Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Show Mom you care this Mother’s Day

P/N 97453-11vw

May 21 and 22

Be ready for 2 Days of Music, Food & Fun. Don’t Miss our Big Tent Event.

Open from 9am to 4pm

Misty Ridge 12 in 1 Reversible Jacket P/N 97455-11vw

Blooming Sun Leather Jacket P/N 97057-11vw

Plus Take

20% Off Select In-Stock

7 Eye Sunglasses

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson 4 Sullivan Street, Wurtsboro, NY • 845-888-2426

*Applies to in-stock items only. While supplies last.

Cannot be combined with any other offers.

®

• www.otooleshd.com

HOURS: Tues-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 8am-3:30pm Sun 9am-3pm • Closed Mon.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 8

P O S TC A R D S FROM THE HEDGE BILL HEALD

a Sedate, Yet encouRaging, Bike Week It’s amazing how clever you can be when you need to justify leaving an unusual wearisome winter for a place with some serious sunshine, especially if that place (for a short period in spring, anyway) is basically taken over by motorcycles. In my case, I’m able to cite the need to ride as many all-new motorcycles in the shortest interval of time possible as the reason why I must flee the cold, dreariness and the inevitable springtime flooded basement to fly down to Daytona Beach and endure the 70-degree temperatures. Great excuse, eh? It works because there’s actually an element of truth in it. Oh, and to further close the deal their was my amazingly contagious enthusiasm about our new Shop-Vac, which helped convince the spouse that I wouldn’t be really needed when the flooding came as she had such a miraculous device at her disposal.

So before you can say Scott Russell I found myself riding down International Speedway Boulevard surrounded by many happy bikers (included one woman on a Triumph that I swear was Lara Croft), and trying to gauge how things were in the world of motorcycles. Bike Week is not necessarily a bellwether for the industry as a whole, or a measure of the popularity of motorcycles at the start of a particular riding season. That said, I’ve always liked roaming around and chatting with various OEM folks to get a sense of how things are looking for the near future. It’s also a great time to sample some of the latest hardware, and see how confident the companies are feeling by whether they release bold new stuff even while the economy is still not as chipper as we would all like.

This year was a bit calmer than most, meaning in my unscientific examination there were fewer folks in Daytona Beach than in years past but still a fair number. And the ones that were there seemed very enthusiastic, and were

clearly enjoying both their rides and getting some seat time on the new stuff.

Demo rides were doing quite well, and there seemed to be brisk trade under pretty much everybody’s tent. While just tootling around (especially in the vicinity of Daytona International Speedway, where the majority of the demo rides and vendors were situated), I did notice some rides that pretty much were rare birds a few years ago but are gaining in popularity. For example, I think the first time I ever saw a Boss Hoss (those massive creatures with V8 engines grafted onto a motorcycle frame, and sporting a single-speed transmission and a rear tire from a ’72 Corvette) was many years ago and it was a true oddity. This year I saw several, plus all the demo Hoss bikes circulating around the area and it turns out they have become fairly common, which is a riding phenomenon I never really expected would catch on. Not that I hate these motorcycle versions of Monster Trucks, but I just never thought people would buy them. Shows you what I know about the market, I guess.

Another former rare sighting is the Can-Am Spyder, which has only been around since late 2007 and is catching on very quickly. I’ve seen a few on the road in these parts, not to mention several cruising around Daytona as well as a well-run demo operation. This three-wheeled conveyance is strikingly styled and offers a lot of all-weather touring potential, but as for me I have a problem with anything that has a handlebar and doesn’t counter-steer and therefore lean into turns. If you ever see me on one of these things (or an ATV, for that matter), I suggest you get behind something solid right away. These vehicles are not unsafe, but I am when I’m on one. I think it may be a virus of some kind.

Fortunately for me, though, there were lots of handlebars to be found during Bike Week and a great number of them did indeed countersteer. Personal highlights: the new Diavel from Ducati is the sort of thing Q would have built for James Bond, and is incredibly entertaining. Honda’s new CBR250RR may be the greatest entry-level bike ever, and Harley-Davidson, though I do not possess the gene that makes me covet these V-Twins, continues to impress me with every new machine they launch. Despite the uncertain economic situation, in my view the manufacturers sure don’t seem to (Continued on Page 12) Go See the Pros that Know How to Ride!

2011 CBR250R Great Entry-Level Bike at an Equally Great Price

Coming Soon Now Taking Deposits

The all-new 2011 CBR250R brings a fresh take on the fun side of motorcycling, one that especially suits riders entering the sport. Thanks to its extremely efficient 249cc liquidcooled single cylinder engine—an all-new design featuring a sophisticated four-valve DOHC cylinder head, engine counterbalancer, and fuel injection—this dependable and lightweight machine delivers nimble handling, a broad spread of easily accessible power and low operating costs all in one. Whether the day calls for a commute to work, quick trips around town or all-day explorations in the countryside, the CBR250R is a great way to get acquainted with the many faces of motorcycling, all at an affordable price.

Go See the Pros that Know How to Ride!

210 Route 10 West • East Hanover, NJ

www.HanoverPowersport.com • 973-428-1735 210 Route 10 West • East Hanover, NJ www.HanoverPowersport.com • 973-428-1735 honda.com ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND NEVER USE THE STREET AS A RACETRACK. OBEY THE LAW AND READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 9

ON THE MARK MARK BYERS

MaRch MudneSS March is an odd month: it comes in like one mammal and goes out like another. In the Mid-Atlantic, March produces every kind of precipitation, but it really likes rain. When mixed liberally with sand and clay soil, rain makes a delightful compound we fondly know as mud. It’s not just any mud: it’s a yellow-brown goo that sticks like industrial epoxy or lets you sink until only your saddle is above the mire. A few places, we have a black, loamy quagmire that looks like an oil slick and stinks like sewage, especially when you end up on your back in it.

When I got a used DRZ-400 last year, my mechanic buddies said, “Mark, this bike has never been offroad.” You can always tell, because lurking somewhere in a little crevasse behind a skid plate or around a cooling fin will be a stubborn little wad of mud that even the most obsessive owner missed. Unless you completely disassemble the machine and use a multitude of Qtips and toothpicks for cleaning, mud will find a way to stay.

So pristine was my machine that it was clear the previous owner didn’t venture off the pavement; consequently, this Spring I decided to christen the big DRZ in a way only I can.

When Dangerous Dan called Friday night, I knew there was only one reason: Saturday was going to be the first big group dirt ride of the year. Frankly, I was still a little afraid of the DRZ, but I’d lowered the seat and I figured it was about time to man up, gear up, and put my money and my mouth where the mud was. Saturday morning found me trussed up in kneepads, elbow pads, torso armor, offroad boots, helmet, gloves, and goggles and ready to take on the trails. Even though it was warm, I knew the goo awaited me at every stream crossing and low point. I wasn’t going to go quietly if I went down (and I was going down).

I have a standard break-in procedure I use with every new dirt bike or dual

sport. During the first offroad ride, I ceremoniously throw myself under it multiple times, usually in the nearest big mudhole, as a sacrifice to the gods of goo and by way of protecting my peers from similar fates. It’s like bashing a bottle of champagne over the prow of a ship, only harder to clean. True to form, I had to pick the DRZ off various body parts (mostly without help) several times throughout the day. I can attest to the 400cc motor’s torque, because on one occasion the entire bike just stood upright in the bog, having been effectively buried by my ham-fisted attempts to power out of the hole.

By the end of the day, there was no question that the DRZ had been ridden off road. Hell, by the end of the first mile there was no question. The big Dunlop knobbies deposited mud on every square inch of the bike (as did the tires of my companions).

The bulge in the headpipe was no longer visible under the baked-on coating of brick it acquired.

The new seat was effectively marked with yellow swipe stripes where my flying body passed across it on the way to the ground. Fortunately, I made it back to the rendezvous and the only damage was one rear turn signal tied to the bike with an old garbage bag. The one redeeming feature of mud is that it’s soft.

On the way home, I was the talk of the town.

Children pointed and adults stared with openmouthed astonishment at what appeared to be the Creature from the Black and Yellow Lagoon astride something that vaguely resembled a motorcycle.

By the time I arrived home, the mud was a mixture of congealed glue and baked brick. It took two hours with a hose, bucket, and brushes to restore the DRZ to a semblance of its former self, but I can guarantee that no mechanic will ever suspect that it hasn’t been offroad: there are too many nooks and crannies from which I refuse to try to coax the mud.

Come to think of it, I’m the same way: you’ll never get the mud completely out of me. I’ll always turn at the sound of a big thumper or ring-ding of a two-stroke. I’ll always watch reruns of “On Any Sunday” and worship Steve McQueen. I’ve got mud in my crevasses. I’ve got mud in my soul.

WFO

inc.

Motorsports

**WE NOW BUY AND SELL USED MOTORCYCLES** Quality Late Model Motorcycles - All Manufacturers

Luggage • Jackets • Pants • Boots • Rain Gear Tools • Exhausts • Tires • Sprockets • Chains • Brakes Bar Risers • Lines • Ramps • Lifts • OEM Parts

SPORT • CRUISER • TOURING

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

Visit us at www.sussexmotorsportsnj.com

973-875-3640 •

Open Tuesday thru Saturday

SPEED LIMIT

WFO

* Large Selection of Helmets * Track and Race Bike Set-Up * Track Day Information

wfomotorsports.net

* Suspension Work

973-579-5103

* Tires - Mounted and Balanced

* Great Service and Reasonable Prices

188 Halsey Rd (Rte. 626), Newton, NJ 07860 • fax 973-579-1806

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 10

INSID E THE HELMET tiMe A few years after that great gas crisis when we waited on line with our odd or even numbered plates to get fuel, my dad pulled up to the house in a new white Camaro. Forget that it had hubcaps, a castrated six cylinder and plaid cloth seats that looked more at home in Grandma’s Dodge Dart then inside one of America’s iconic muscle cars; it was a Camaro and it was cool enough for dad and certainly for us kids.

This was also about the time that we went from a nation of deciphering the hands on a clock to a new generation that had time told for them by an LCD readout. In addition to the cassette player in the dash, the Camaro sported one of those new digital timepieces. My dad, who was probably about 40 then, was apparently comfortable living in a world where it was always 12 o’clock. The mesmerizing strobe effect at night from that ever flashing readout didn’t seem to bother him either. So, one of my brothers or I would periodically have to reset his car clock – we being technologically savvy from playing Pong, that little handheld football game with its tiny lines representing players and setting our own Armitron digital watches. My father apparently decided to keep going straight when he reached the learning curve. This was further evidenced by the myriad of VCRs, microwaves and vehicles whose clocks would forever display midnight or high noon depending on your perspective.

Last year I bought and installed a digital thermostat in his home. I think he accidentally set it at 90 and left it there - which is great if you are in Anchorage and not living near Miami.

Trying to keep up with today’s electronics seems a bit more daunting then in years past although I am now looking at that gear from the eyes and rapidly hardening brain of a 40 something instead of a 14 something. Still, I never thought a bike would present any major challenges – unless one had the guts to delve into the inner workings of electronic fuel injection, antilock brakes

Jeffrey Kurtzman and all the other niceties we now enjoy. My ‘67 R50 feels like it would run on cooking oil in a pinch and its technology, impressive at the time, can even be understood by someone who was still in diapers when the bike was born in a Munich factory.

With the recent acquisition of a Ducati Multistrada I have entered a whole other arena of electronic wizardry. Electronic adjustable suspension? Never mind I adjusted the suspension on my last bike about once in a decade. Far be it from me to fight progress. I’ll take it. No. I need it.

It’s not that I don’t understand the concept of scrolling through menus and accepting a selection; it’s that I am not used to finding such buttons for that use on a motorcycle. So, I am constantly pressing the wrong one leaving me feeling like I am pounding on the gates of a city where an amazing level of digital information is available – if only I can find the key. Someone just described this to me as muscle retraining. Apparently, I need to get my muscles and my central computer used to the correct motions in order to reach for the right lever or push the right button. I learned long ago that frustration, while fun (as it produces a whole new selection of curse word combinations) leaves me nowhere. Hundreds of miles later that “aha” moment will come during a ride when you finally understand why this switch is here instead of there (like on your old bike) or why that gauge readout can only be accessed while reciting the first lines from the classic ‘Moby Dick.’ Call me Ishmael because I should also point out that on this Italian masterpiece one holds down the starter button while the bike is running in order to turn on the heated grips. A simple switch with the little squiggly lines sufficed on my last mount but such is progress. If you didn’t read the manual you might have cold paws for a few years before you stumbled across that gem.

Not as complex, the Ducati rear hard luggage case is a good example of (Continued on Page 12)

1269 DOLSONTOWN RD • MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM

MAY 7 • 9am ~ 4pm • Raffles • Refreshments In-Stock Sale and Merchandise

on Apparel

** Enter to Win a 2011 Ninja 250R **

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 11

BACKLASH

Letters to the Editor

In Memory of Swiss Air 111

The Dealers Should Support Us

Dear Backroads, Just a quick note to say “thank-you” for including mention and a photo of the Swiss Air 111 Monument in Peggy’s Cove, NS. On the other side of the Bay, in Bayswater, another larger monument and park exists with names of all the lost passengers and crew. The crash (which actually took place midway between Bayswater, NS and Peggy’s Cove, NS) claimed the lives of 229 people, some of whom were Americans. My wife’s cousins, Eudy and Marty Ball of Florida, were among those tragically killed. Over the years I have been in touch with residents who gave of their time and homes to support retrieval operations. More than one million items, including airplane parts, were spread over the debris field in the Bay. It was good to see that three American motorcyclists cared enough to stop and pay respects to the passedon of the Swiss Air 111 tragedy. Stay well. Ride EZ. Sheldon Braffman Reisterstown, MD

Backroads, A while back I read a piece in Backroads and the subject was along the lines of ‘Support your local dealer.’ I put some thought into that and firmly believe that we as riders should do just that. So I tried to do just that. I have two Suzuki dealers in my area. One of the dealers is in Huntington, which is 35 miles from where I reside, and the other is in Riverhead, which is 28 miles in the other direction. What they tell you is that they can order it for you. I know that, but I can order it for me & not have to drive 30 miles back their to pick it up.

My VStrom is getting a little long in the tooth at 50K & through the last few months I have needed mirrors, brake pads, chain, sprockets and a bar end for the handlebar. I needed these items at all different times. Not one item was in stock at either of the dealers. I was not looking for any oddball items just common items that I would think should be on the shelves at a dealership’s parts supply. Hey, you can only buy so much plexus & chain lube. Believe me I understand we have to support the dealers for them to exist. Just food for thought.

Bill Kane

Don’t Hold Back Now… Well Brian, Once again you are preaching to the choir. And once again you are falling into the same trap of equating cruisers with posers. You know me, you know I ride a Harley Night Train and a Harley Road King. You have seen New Roc HOG on the Vermont trip and you will see us again in Canandaigua in the spring. You might not know that most of us do 10,000 miles a year and some of us do closer to 20,000 miles. I guess what I am trying to say is, ‘Don’t put us in a box with the wannabees.’ I have no use for the ‘biker’s lifestyle’ crap that is glorified by your competitors and the other forms of media. I don’t like the street stunt crowd either. We have a hard enough time being taken seriously by politicians and mainstream society in general. Don’t shut us out because we choose to ride cruisers. I’ve been down the sport bike and dual sport route and may try them again in the future, but for now, the cruiser style fits this “old man” just fine.

With warm regards (as always).

Byrd

(Continued on next page)

As you are speaking of the New York Motorcycle Show please note that we are certainly not talking about all the cruiser folk that really ride, but specifically some of the vendors near us and the ‘riders?’ hanging with them. To some people it is not about riding at all – just the party that goes with the idea that they are ‘bikers.’But, with these people it has to be said and if I don’t then I am not being honest with our readers on how I feel. I think most people got it.

Hi Guys, It’s great to see Jeff Kurtzman’s ‘Inside the Helmet’ back in the magazine. He’s always enjoyable to read and it looks like he bought an Italian girlfriend. I hope to see him back in the saddle as well.

Mike Wernick Rising Wolf Garage

Backroads May Cause Allergies Shira and Brian, While I enjoy reading Backroads every month, I have discovered that I am allergic to the ink used in your publication. I can no longer read it without getting a sinus headache. Thank you for a great publication! I will miss it.

Patty

Long Island YAMAHA 67 North Broadway • Route 107 • Hicksville, NY

www.LIYamaha.com • 516-935-6969 Full Line of Yamaha Motorcycles on our floor Come in today and take yours home.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 12

Brian and Shira, Sign me up for another year of your awesome, introspective magazine, loaded with great regional riding info! Fun seeing you at the NYC Bike Show. I hope you’ll get the chance to try Alps-like County Route 13 southwest of Albany, NY. Be sure to spread the word to other riders as well. Thanks again for the Backroads lapel pin you gave me at the Fall Fiesta. I will proudly add it to my huge collection. Perhaps I’ll see you two on the road at some events in 2011.

Chris Lawrence

It is nearly impossible to carry everything for every machine. Sprockets, chains and such might seem like a no brainer, but Suzuki has dozens of different model and a dealer can’t carry it all.

Basic things like filters, plugs and such are readily available I am sure – but some things it is better to call, order and go pick them up when they come it. Find us an internet website that will help with a problem late on a Saturday!

inSide the helMet

(Continued from Page 10)

the need for muscle retraining. I understand the way it opens and closes as I owned one made by the same aftermarket manufacturer only a few years Got something ago – but it had a slightly different mechanism. In the last week I have conto say? We’d sistently reached for the wrong part of the latching system while trying to close the bag. I even struggled and started to force it before taking it off the love to hear it. bike and studying it more carefully. After using the bag a few more times I am now trained and I hit the spot on the release without fumbling about like Letters may be a junior highschooler encountering his first bra catch.

The use of the keyless ignition is taking a little longer to assimilate into edited, never my grey matter. After 25 years of inserting a key into a bike, turning it on censored, to fit. and pressing a button to achieve ignition this idea of just having a ‘key’ in the area of the motorcycle (or a car for that matter) is taking me some time to accept. The multi step process on the Ducati (that is not why it is called a Multistrada by the way) is no more complex than the starting procedure on any other bike - but it’s a different few steps than what I am used to performing. In a few weeks I’ll be sitting on a standard ignition bike wondering why it won’t start with the key still in my pocket.

Each day my new friend and I are getting more comfortable with one another and I’m absorbing the techSALES • SERVICE nology like I knew I would. Taken as a learning experience with some modicum of patience it is truly STRAPS • D RING exciting to see where we have come and where we are TIE DOWNS going. However, I just noticed yesterday that despite bright sunshine, according to my bike’s digital clock TRUCK CAPS the We are now a it is 2:39 a.m. in whatever alternate universe I’m riding ACCESSORIES in. And I seem to be powerless to change that for now.

Mail: BACKROADS PO Box 317 Branchville NJ 07826

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

YORK 23 TRAILERS TRUCK ACCESSORIES & CAPS 3-Rail Bike Trailers Toy Hauler Trailers with or without Living Quarters Full Service and Parts Facility

Cap Dealer

Large Selection of Open and Enclosed Trailers

SOFT TOUCH WHEEL CHOCKS TRAILER HITCHES

973-492-0110 WWW.YORKTRAILER.COM

1212 Route 23 North • Butler, NJ 07405

FINANCE YOUR BIKE, NOT YOUR LEATHERS.

RIDE INTO SPRING! MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING FOR

THE BIKE COMMUNITY

LEATHER JACKETS from $99 LEATHER VESTS from $69 CHAPS from $99 • BIKER TEES 3/$25 RIDING BOOTS from $99 DOT HELMETS from $49 ZIP OFF SADDLEBAGS from $119

WWW.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

FRee Wheelin’

(Continued from Page 4)

There is no mistaking where you are. It is unique on the planet.

Another one of my favorite aromas are those final wisps of the day. Two hot motorcycles slowly cooling off in the barn. The combination of my small shop, the aroma of a day on the road rising from our machines always makes me smile. Add to that a cold beer or hearty glass of cabernet and the nose is one happy appendage indeed.

Surely riding is not just a feast for the eyes, but for the nose as well. When you pay attention it only adds to the journey, especially when you use good riding scents.

PoStcaRdS FRoM the hedge (Continued from Page 8) be cutting corners when it comes to building really hot new hardware. To say this added a spring to my step, much like the Florida sunshine after the long, frigid winter, would be an understatement. Oh, and before I forget: Ducati has finally won the Daytona 200. Granted, it took them two engines and one of the strangest, longest delays in the race’s history (and a shortened final lap count) to do it, but Jason DiSalvo took his 848EVO to the top of the podium on what actually turned out to be a very exciting race. In the end, like my jaunt down South for Bike Week, it was All Good.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 13

IND USTRY INFOBITES

News from the Inside

Speer Yamaha would like to wish their friend Ed Brodo the speediest of recoveries and best wishes for the miles ahead!

BIG APPLE MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL’ MSF BASIC RIDERCOURSE FOR WOMEN ONLY Calling all women who are looking for a unique motorcycle training experience. Learn to ride and get your license surrounded by other like-minded women on June 3-5 at the Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. Dowling College is a private university on the south shore of Long Island opposite Fire Island.

“This course is a great way to learn to ride and enjoy the camaraderie of other women,” said big Apple Motorcycle School owner and founder Diane Ortiz. The course, which begins on Friday with classroom instruction at 5pm and finished on Sunday at 4pm, will have a catered lunch both Saturday and Sunday, t-shirts, goody bags and other special items. Women RiderCoaches will run the course. A portion of each registration for this class will be donated to the Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation.

If you’d like to join the ranks of the other women riders you know, go to their website, www.bigapplemotorcycleschool.com, for registration, fee and other information or call 516-639-9977

HONDA AFFECTED BY EARTHQUAKE, DONATES $3 MILLION TO RELIEF EFFORT Japan’s major earthquake has affected Honda’s motorcycle production and killed at least one employee at the Tochigi research and development facility. Honda is donating 300 million yen (US$3.7 million) towards relief and recovery efforts, and providing 1,000 gaspowered generators and 5,000 canisters of gas to fellow countrymen affected by the disaster.

In addition Honda is closing several plants to comply with the Japanese government’s request for electricity conservation efforts and rolling blackouts.

From March 15 through 20, Honda suspended all production activities at its plants listed above as well as at Kumamoto Factory (Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto). This plant produces the Super Cub, CBR600RR, VFR1200F and DN-01, From March 14 through 20, Honda suspended regular operations at all Honda facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious, and focus on the recovery of each operation. Honda associates will not come to work during this time.

LONG-DISTANCE MOTORCYCLISTS GET SET FOR NEW ENGLAND MOTOMARATHON, JUNE 9-12 The Motomarathon Association kicks off its 2011 motorcycle endurance riding season with the second annual New England Motomarathon, June 9-12.

Routes are kept secret until the night before each day’s ride, and participants must complete a sequence of selfrecorded check-points using digital cameras over the four days, averaging approximately 400 miles per day.

Day One routes will be handed out to participants at Kawasaki/KTM/Aprilia dealer Motofit, located at 10 Mill Plain Road in Danbury, at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8th and again at 8:00 a.m. the morning of Thursday, June 9th.

Riders will record the designated check-points on the way to Shelburne, NH, spending three nights and two days riding, checking in and out from the headquarters hotel, the Birch Bend Motolodge (www.birchbend.com), which caters to motorcyclists. Riders will return to Danbury on June 12th for the Awards Dinner at Motofit.

The ride, designed by Routemaster Daniel Monteiro and sponsored by Motofit, Revolution Insurance and Butler Motorcycle Maps, will include check-points near two of the nation’s biggest motorcycle rallies: Americade in Lake George, NY, and Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire.

“The Motomarathon format, now in its third season, has struck a nerve with today’s long-distance riders,” said Revolution Insurance Chairman Cliff La Motta. “This four-day endurance tour takes on the best back roads in the region, including the New Hampshire Notches. Revolution Insurance, Motofit and Butler Motorcycle Maps are proud to promote this highest form of motorcycle sport-touring.” For more information, please visit www.motomarathon.com, or contact John Metzger, 303-641-1062, john@metzger.com.

TRIUMPH AND EDELWEISS INTRODUCE ADVENTURE TOUR PROGRAM FOR 2011 Triumph Motorcycles is introducing a worldwide adventure tour program in 2011, utilizing its critically acclaimed new Tiger 800XC. A range of five adventure tours, ranging from 11 to 16 days, are being offered from June 2011 and will be run in cooperation with Edelweiss Bike Travel. Triumph has plans to extend the program with an even wider range of itineraries available from 2012.

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

NUMBERS DON’T LIE!

Our techs have over 100

years of experience combined.

Don’t trust your machine to any “Fresh-Out-Of-MMI” crew.

Take your motorcycle to a shop that has the knowledge and experience you deserve.

228 E. Backwell Street • Dover, NJ • www.4BLC.com

• 973-989-4252

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 14 Three of the tours will start with a look around Triumph’s state-of-the-art factory in Hinckley, in the British Midlands, before taking riders to the iconic Isle of Man, the beautiful Scottish Highlands or on a European tour to Austria for the annual party that is Triumph’s Tridays Festival. Adventurers looking for a Sahara experience can take on the north African Triumph Adventure Tour, while an Asian trip around stunning Thailand is scheduled to take place in December.

With the exception of June’s Tridays tour, which is conducted using the participant’s own motorcycle, Triumph Adventure Tours include use of the Tiger 800XC for the duration of the event. All tours are lead by Edelweiss’ extremely knowledgeable and experienced tour guides and include all accommodation and a fully equipped support van.

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES KICKS OFF FOR 2011 The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce a new title sponsor for the country’s premier riding series for fans of big-bore adventure-touring motorcycles with the 2011 launch of the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Riding Series. Geared toward riders of all brands of adventure-touring motorcycles, the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Riding Series includes more than 20 rides in some of the most scenic riding areas in the country. The series’ “High Adventure, No Hassles” approach includes plenty of riding on asphalt, gravel and two-track routes mapped by local experts, the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts and a full weekend of activities, including camping and bonfires. The partnership between the AMA and Yamaha coincides with the manufacturer’s exciting entry into the bigbore adventure touring market with the impressive Super Ténéré, the 1,199cc, rally-inspired motorcycle designed to cover long miles over varied terrain in comfort and style. In fact, thanks to Yamaha, one lucky participant in the 2011 AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Series will win a brand new 2012 Super Ténéré. “Adventure-touring continues to grow in terms of popularity, and we’re really excited that Yamaha has chosen to partner with the country’s premier adventure-touring series to show off the company’s new Super Ténéré motorcycle, and demonstrate support for the segment and its enthusiastic riders,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Thanks to Yamaha’s efforts, riders in the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Rid-

ing Series will see a real step up in the caliber of our events, which are already on the top tier of adventure-touring rides.” Yamaha officials noted that the partnership with the AMA is a perfect fit for their company. “The AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Ride Series will expose the Super Ténéré to serious adventure-touring riders around the country,” said David Docktor, Yamaha’s motorcycle marketing manager. “We plan to have a Super Ténéré on each ride, so participants can see first-hand how capable and fun to ride this new machine really is.” Yamaha’s support of the series will include the Super Ténéré grand prize giveaway bike, prizes from the Yamaha Genuine Accessories and Apparel lines and promotion of the series through local dealers. Finally, Yamaha will also be offering special promotions specifically to owners of its all new Super Ténéré. For full series info, please visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/Dirt/EventsAndSeries/NationalAdventureRide.aspx.

NJ’S GOVERNOR CHRISTIE ALLOWS SUNDAY MOTORCYCLE SALES New Jersey motorcycle dealers are rejoicing that they can now sell bikes on Sundays. Gov. Chris Christie signed a law allowing the Sunday motorcycle sales on March 3.

The owner of one southern New Jersey dealership said she wrote letters to lawmakers for six years asking for the blue law that had prevented the sales to be overturned. Barb Borowiec of Barb’s Harley-Davidson in Haddon Township says it makes sense to sell bikes on the seventh day. After all, she told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill, liquor, cigarettes, casino gambling and strip clubs are available that day. She used to lose customers to dealers in Delaware who couldn’t wait a day to ride their bikes.

The law doesn’t apply in Bergen County, where Sunday sales of most items are barred.

BACKROADS gladly accepts press releases.

Please forward text and images via email to editor@backroadsusa.com

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

FW SPEER YAMAHA 7 Main Avenue • Passaic, NJ

For the discriminating rider.

973-778-6256 • www.speeryamaha.com

Vito’s Full Moon Cruise • May 18 @ 7pm This is a Pro Yamaha Consumer Event

The Tri-State Area’s Oldest Yamaha Dealer

Circle Cycle.

Gold Certified

CIRCLE

570 Broad Avenue Ridgefield NJ

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

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 15

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTE RIOUS AME RICA FRench aziluM PariS along thE SuSquEhanna rivEr? As you ride along The Grand Army of Republic Highway, or US 6 as it is more commonly referred to, you will certainly find plenty to see, but one view is simply too grand to miss. Just east of Towanda is the Marie Antoinette Lookout. Actually in Wyalusing, just past the Rte. 409 junction, you’ll need to keep a sharp eye out for the entrance along the eastbound lane, but it is certainly worth searching for. There is also a restaurant, which was once the Marie Antoinette Inn and now called Pat’s Pub, but it did not seem open when we visited there. Well worth a return visit when it is.

High along the cliffs the large and ornate, parking lot overlooks the Susquehanna River and a broad plain across it with a commanding view.

Here was once the French village of Azilum and with it an interesting story of loyalty, escape and hope.

It was during the French Revolution, in

1793, that several French loyalists fled France and the French island of Santo Domingo, now known as Haiti, to escape certain death for their loyalty to King Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie Antoinette.

Arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they met three prominent Philadelphians, Robert Morris, John Nicholson, and Stephen Girard, who agreed to finance their stay in Pennsylvania. Stephen Girard purchased 1,600 acres in Northeastern Pennsylvania and gave it to the refugees.

The French traveled up the Susquehanna River in Durham boats and dugout canoes. When they arrived at their destination, they found the area pristine. It was perfect and they believed they had found their new home and named it Azilum.

The small settlement grew rapidly and within one year of settling, the French had built thirty log homes, several small shops, a schoolhouse, a chapel, and a theater. La Grande Maison was the largest of the buildings in Azilum at some 80 by 60 feet. It had many small windows and eight fireplaces. It is said that the French loyalists built La Grande Maison in hopes that Marie Antoinette would escape from prison in France, flee to Pennsylvania with her two children, and find refuge in Asylum. It never happened; for as we all know, the Queen of France was executed for treason and lost her life beneath the blade of a guillotine.

Revolution is rarely pleasant and the French can be, well, so French.

After the Queen’s death, the settlers remained in Azilum using the Queen’s

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 16 home to entertain French nobles such as the Foreign Minister, Tallyrand, and the future French king, Louis Phillipe.

When the Reign of Terror ended in France, some of the French returned to their home country, while others decided to travel south to Savannah, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana, where they joined other French people displaced from Nova Scotia by the British years before. These folks became known as the Cajun.

These days the only evidence of a settlement is the foundation of one of the buildings. However, in 1836, John LaPorte, the son of one of the original French settlers, built the LaPorte House on the grounds. Today visitors can tour the LaPorte House and see hand-hewn timbers, French wall decorations, hand-blown glass windows, and a gazebo and herb garden. You can also walk Azilum’s nature trail along the Susquehanna River.

You have to wonder how history would have changed if the Queen had safely escaped France to settle in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania?

But, that would be another story in this Mysterious America.

Rip & Ride® • FRENCH AZILUM 469 QUEEN’S WAY, TOWANDA, PA • 570-265-3376

WWW.FRENCHAzILUM.COM

ADMISSION IS $5 PER ADULT. CAMPING IS AVAILABLE AT $5/PP/PER NIGHT NOTE: ROADWORK IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL THRU JUNE 2011.

PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR DETOUR.

START: PORT JERVIS, NEW YORK RTE. 97 NORTH RIGHT AT CR 31 TO GLEN SPEY RIGHT AT CR 41 LEFT AT CR 32 TO ELDRED STRAIGHT AT CR 33 TO HUNT’S CORNER RIGHT AT RTE. 97 BEAR LEFT AT CR 52 TO NARROWSBURG, OVER BRIDGE TO PA IMMEDIATE RIGHT AFTER BRIDGE RIVER ROAD CR 1017 TO MILANVILLE RIGHT AT CR 1004 LEFT AT RTE. 371 LEFT AT RTE. 374 RIGHT AT RTE. 106 (PAST I-81) TO KINGSLEY STRAIGHT OVER RTE. 11 LEFT AT CR 2024 W TO DIMOCK STRAIGHT AT CR 3023 LEFT AT RTE. 706 W TO WYALUSING RIGHT AT US 6 WEST OVERLOOK JUST PAST RTE. 409 ON RIGHT HEAD WEST TO WYSOX AND FOLLOW SIGNS TO FRENCH AZILUM

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

The Big Bike Ride with the Little Bike Price Beat the Gas Prices with a Hyosung Cruise in Style on the 2010 ST7 Starting at $

7,299*

ES R ALL BIK O F ID A HP 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

2010 Hyosung GV250 Fuel Injection for 2010 • Low seat height Wider pegs • Light enough for all riders Safety course registration $200 Discount 2 year warranty • Turnpike-capable

BEGS TO BE RIDDEN 650cc V-Twin • Riders average 50 mpg • 2 year warranty parts + labor • Financing available

WE BEAT ANY INTERNET DEAL

Tues: 9-6 • Wed: 9-5 • Thurs: 10-8 • Fri: 10-5 • Sat: 9-2

Closed: Sunday and Monday

www.MadMotorcycle.com

3,899*

2010 Hyosung GT 650

Professionally Trained Mechanics • Gold Wing Experts

Located 1/4 mile north of 206/94 intersection and 1 mile north of Newton

$

Base model starting at $5,099*

Starting at

$

6,199*

DREAMS CAN BE AFFORDABLE! Now is the time to Buy! Stop in and see all the models available or check us out on the web! MSF & Military Discounts! * Tax, title, shipping, dealer prep & license additional.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

BIG CIT Y G ETAWAY the SaRatoga BattleField rtE. 32 or rtE. 4, South of Saratoga, nY If ever one nation has made such an impact on the world in the last couple hundred years or so it is our own, the United States of America.

And, in modern times we cannot fathom a world without our great nation. But, this Republic did not come about easily and there was a time when it seemed we would stay under British rule forever.

Then came a decisive battle. The first real victory for the fledgling nation and a battle some historians regard as one of the pivotal battles of world history – the Battle of Saratoga.

History will show there were two actual battles fought, more or less on the same ground 18 days apart.

The first on September 19 and then the final and victorious one for the Continental Army on October 7, 1777.

This second battle solidly decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne’s army in the American Revolutionary War, (known outside the US as the American War of Independence) and is generally regarded as a turning point in the war.

General John Burgoyne commanded the main thrust through the Lake Champlain valley. Although the invasion had some initial success with the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the realities of untamed terrain soon slowed the British triumphant advance into an agonizing crawl. Worse for the British, a major column en route to seek supplies in Vermont was overrun at the Battle of Bennigton, costing Burgoyne an irreplaceable

Page 17

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind 1000 men. Hard on the heels of this disaster, Burgoyne’s contingent of Native Americans decided to leave, word came from the west that the second British column was stalled by the American controlled Fort Stanwix and that the main British army would not be operating near the city of New York. Although his plans were unraveling, Burgoyne refused to change his plans and collected enough supplies a dash to Albany.

For the Americans, the British delays and defeats had bought them enough time to re-organize and reinforce their army. Under a new commander, General Horatio Gates, the American army established itself at a defensive position along the Hudson River called Bemis Heights. With fortifications on the flood plain and cannons on the heights, the position dominated all movement through the river valley. Burgoyne’s army was entirely dependent upon the river to haul their supplies, and the American defenses were an unavoidable and dangerous obstacle.

Learning of the Rebels’ position,

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 18

Burgoyne attempted to move part of his army inland to avoid the danger posed by the American fortifications.

On September 19th, 1777, his columns collided with part of General Gates’ army near the abandoned farm of Loyalist John Freeman. During the long afternoon, the British were unable to maintain any initiative or momentum. Pinned in place, they suffered galling American gunfire as they strove to hold their lines. Late in the day, reinforcements of German auxiliary troops turned the tide for Burgoyne’s beleaguered forces. Although driven from the battlefield, the British had suffered heavy casualties and Gates’ army still blocked his move south to Albany.

General Burgoyne elected to hold what ground he had and fortify his encampment, hoping for assistance from the City of New York. On October 7th, with supplies running dangerously low and options running out, Burgoyne attempted another flanking move. The expedition was noticed by the Rebels who fell upon Burgoyne’s column. Through the fierce fighting the British and their allies were routed and driven back to their fortifications. At dusk, one position held by German troops was overwhelmed by attacking Americans. Burgoyne had to withdraw to his inner works near the river and the following day tried to withdraw northward toward safety. Hampered by bad roads made worse by frigid downpours, the British retreat made only eight miles in two days to a small hamlet called Saratoga; Gates’ army followed and surrounded Burgoyne and his army. With no other option Burgoyne capitulated on October 17, 1777.

The rest is history.

For years we have been riding to and from Americade and we think it is now time for us to visit this incredibly important place in American history.

There is a short film at the Visitors Center and the displays and exhibit are well done indeed.

The view from the cannon placements will bring you back to a more serious time on this land and there is a drive that you can ride your motorcycle around and view history up close.

It is also worth visiting the monument in the town itself. This 155-foot obelisk commemorates the American victory in the Battles of Saratoga. It is open for visitation Wednesdays through Sundays during the summer season.

We’ll run this trip from Americade because if things didn’t work out the way they did it just might be called Britishcade!

Rip & Ride® THE SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD RTE. 32 OR RTE. 4, SOUTH OF SARATOGA, NY

FROM LAKE GEORGE SOUTH ON RTE. 9 RIGHT ON GURNEY LANE LEFT ON RTE. 58 WEST MOUNTAIN RD. BEAR RIGHT AT RTE. 28 CORINTH RD. STRAIGHT AT RTE. 32 CALL ST. LEFT AT RTE. 16 LEFT AT RTE. 9N STRAIGHT AT MAN ST. RIGHT AT RTE. 24 / 101

Take a ride on one of the prettiest roads in the Northeast - Route 97 and dine with your fellow riders on the Delaware River

LEFT AT RTE. 32 SOUTH THRU SARATOGA TO BATTLEFIELD

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

G REAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN cha cha hut BBQ 103 Main Street, andes, nY 845-676-6222 • www.chachahut.com In the western part of the Catskills, right above the Pepacton Reservoir, you will find the tiny burg of Andes, New York.

With the famed Route 28, a road that rides through both the Catskills and Adirondack Mountains, running down the middle, this little town is in the center of riding heaven.

But, as good as the riding gets in this part of the Empire State, you still gotta eat!

That being the case we thought this month in the Great All American Diner Run we would share with you one of the ‘soon to be’ worst kept secrets in this region - The Cha Cha Hut BBQ. Some towns do not easily give up their secrets, but our discovery of the Cha Cha was initiated by our good friends Sindee and Ed Nevin.

Sindee and Ed live not too far away from Andes and sometime during last winter we got a menu in the mail from the Nevins. Interesting.

Not long after another riding buddy, Les Guile, called to tell us of this great BBQ he had found in Andes - The Cha Cha once again.

You know, when so many folks start talking up a place, in the middle of winter no less, you best be listening!

With the snow coming down and riding a few months off, the tantalizing bill of fare stayed in the

Page 19

tasty places to take your bike “to do” pile until the first few warm days of Spring, and then we were heading north- pronto!

As we said Andes is located in primo riding country, but you have to look for the Cha Cha when you enter the town.

See Hogan’s General Store? The Cha Cha Hut BBQ is in the back – as their motto goes, ‘Smell the Pig’.

Now the Cha Cha Hut has a bit of history.

You see Cherie and Frank Davis, the very friendly owners, originally started their BBQ business in the town of Roxbury, but shortly after opening a fire swept the building they were in (most likely set by local cows and pigs in a preemptive strike) and forced the two to open up road-side on weekends for the first year.

Now relocated behind Hogan’s, it seems they have found a home.

Pulling up the first thing that hits you is the delicious smoky goodness that is floating around Frank’s separate “Smoker Hut.” Each day the two big smokers are turning ordinary meats into something beyond brilliant.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 20 The babbling stream behind, along with the quaint Americana charm of the town of Andes, adds to the real BBQ flavor of the place. You could be in the deep south from the looks of the place.

Inside the small, but comfortable, restaurant you’ll find Frank or Cherie behind the counter ready to serve you up what we think is the best BBQ in the Catskills.

Now some folks say that you needn’t have to slather on sauces to enjoy a good BBQ, but we think a good sauce, added correctly, just adds to the food enjoyment.

Here at the Cha Cha you have a wide choice of sauces, all dreamed up and created by Frank and Cherie. Thundernagi, named after their two cats, is the Cha Cha standard, but while there we made sure to sample each one of them. The South Carolina Mustard certainly was tangy, but I preferred the Sweet Lightning – the most interesting flavor-wise BBQ sauce I have had in a long time. In fact a bottle of this and some of their rubs have made their way to Backroads Central for further investigation.

At the Cha Cha Hut you’ll find all sorts of things to fill your belly, some you would expect and some that are unique to Cha

Cha. The half rack of ribs I ordered were big, meaty and delicious. Shira tried the beef brisket sandwich that was superb, and way too much for her to finish – thankfully I was there to take up the cause.

Frank was nice enough to let us sample some of his Pig Wings, which are bite-sized pieces of porky goodness made up of rib tips. Yummy!

Shira will rarely pass up on certain items off any menu and as soon as I saw the Smoked Mac & Cheese I knew she was there. This day I sided with some of Frank’s excellent TrashCan Chili – reading off the menu I saw that this chili is a carnivore’s feast. It was, and that works for me every time.

Things are very fluid at the Cha Cha and Frank and Cherie are always experimenting and trying new ideas and flavors. Frank feels that great BBQ is an ongoing process and must always be evolving.

Take his BBQ Beans. Here he has combined three separate beans with his own Thundernagai sauce to make a side dish that you will remember.

And, if you and a few friends feel up to a challenge, then there is always the Full Monty. Created on Italian loaf from Foti Bakery in Oneonta, it is Smoked Turkey, Smoked Mac & Cheese, Beef Brisket, Trashcan Chili, BBQ Beans, Pulled Pork & Mustard Slaw. It is about 4.5 inches tall & weighs in at 4.5 pounds and will cost you $25. If you choose to go solo on the Full Monty it might be worth your while as the Cha Cha is planning on making this a challenge sandwich - a la Man vs. Food - with the general plan being to eat it in under 25 minutes and get a t-shirt and your name on the “Wall of Infamy.” Set a new time record and you eat for free. Good luck on this. Really.

So here you have another fantastic stop on the ride we call the Great All American Diner Run – but to make this even better we’ll give you a great jaunt from the Sussex county region of New Jersey and toss in a Mysterious America as well. Enjoy the ride, but more importantly, enjoy the Cha Cha BBQ Hut!

Rip & Ride® • CHA CHA HUT BBQ 103 MAIN STREET, ANDES, NY • 845-676-6222 • WWW.CHACHAHUT.COM • 115 MILE O/W GPS ROUTE HERE: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/FILE/7GJFN2

ROUTE 206 NORTH – JUMBOLAND MAKES A GOOD START RIGHT BEFORE BRIDGE TO CR 521 CROSS IN TO NEW YORK AT PORT JERVIS LEFT AT US 6 OVER SMALL STEEL BRIDGE IMMEDIATE LEFT INTO CEMETERY MYSTERIOUS AMERICA STOP RIDE SLOWLY TO END AND FIND THE TRI-STATE MARKER NEAR THE POINT UNDER I-84 BACK TO US 6 - TAKING IN THE FANTASTIC MARKERS PICK-UP ROUTE 97 – HAWKS NEST RIGHT AT CR 31 RIGHT AT CR 42 BEAR RIGHT AT CR 43 LEFT AT NORTH RD. LEFT AT CR 44 / 45 LEFT AT ROUTE 42

LEFT AT T TO BROADWAY BEAR LEFT AT ROUTE 17B RIGHT AT ROUTE 52 BEAR LEFT AT CR 128 CROSS CR 122 TO DYKER RD. SLOW FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARY RIGHT AT BAYER RD. LEFT AT CR 122 / 123 BECOMES CR 124 CROSS UNDER ROUTE 17 TO ROSCOE LEFT AT ROUTE 206 RIGHT AT ROUTE 30 - PEPACTON RESERVOIR CROSS CAUSEWAY MAKE IMMEDIATE LEFT TO CR1 BEAR RIGHT TO ANDES THE CHA CHA BBQ HUT IS ON THE LEFT BEHIND HOGAN’S

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 21

Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

WE’RE OUTTA HERE

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

kitzhoF inn 332 Route 100, WeSt doveR, veRMont 05356 (802) 464-8310 • WWW.kitzhoF.coM Anyone who has been reading Backroads for any length of time knows that we frequently ride around the great state of Vermont and the Mount Snow region in particular.

The Mount Snow valley is quickly becoming one of the region’s most motorcycle-friendly destinations. Located just a few hours drive from almost anywhere in the Northeast, the Mount Snow valley, with its breathtaking mountain vistas, rocky streams, covered bridges and charming New England villages, is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or week long motorcycle vacation.

While the four-season resort area is a prime destination area in its own right, its central location also serves as an excellent base for day trips through the Berkshires, Adirondacks, and into the Champlain Valley.

Motorcyclists will find a warm welcome from innkeepers and restaurateurs in the Mount Snow area, and many innkeepers, like Simon and Alison Ferris, owners of the Kitzhof Inn in West Dover, VT, are themselves keen motorcycle enthusiasts. In addition, they are members of the Backroads Moto-Inn Program of Rider-Friendly places to stay. Always a good thing!

The Kitzhof is located on Vermont’s Route 100, nationally acclaimed as one of the country’s most scenic drives, and just north of the Gray Ghost Inn, where we’ve held a number of our rallies. In fact, Simon and Allison have handled the overflow from their neighbors for years now and only the greatest things have been said about the Kitzhof.

From the warm and cozy atmosphere, phenomenal indoor hot tub and neat game room to the very comfortable rooms, the place is truly excellent.

For those of you new to riding this region, Route 100 is a fantastic twolane highway that bisects Vermont, running along the spine of the Green Mountains, from the Massachusetts border to Canada.

Page 22

Along the way you will find many hotels, bed & breakfasts and inns, but few as friendly and enjoyable as the Kitzhof.

The Kitzhof Inn boasts warm European-style hospitality. On arrival at the pet-friendly inn, guests are greeted by Simon and Allison, and their dogs Millie and Amber. Simon and Allison offer a complete vacation package for motorcyclists, including a hearty Vermont country breakfast, a delicious evening meal, and even a friendly chat about the day’s destination, chosen from the Kitzhof book of researched rides.

Many car groups and motorcycle clubs have been guests of Simon and Allison over the years. HOG Chapters from Coopersburg, PA, Brooklyn, NY as well as the Citi Beemers and Gold Wingers from up north in Canada have enjoyed their stay.

As far as the local roads go they are many, plentiful and contain miles of fun.

You have a magical combination here - great hosts, a stunning inn, superior roads and superb location. All these combine to make the Kitzhof Inn a winner in our book.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Triumph National Open House • May 7 Refreshments • In-Store and Financing Specials You Buy the Bike, We Buy the Accessories.

Now through May 31, we’re including Genuine Triumph accessories when you purchase select new 2010 models. See website for details.

Dyno Shootout Bring your bike for a Free Dyno Reading Noon - 3pm

875 Middlesex Ave. (Rt. 27) Metuchen, NJ 08840

www.TriumphMetuchen.com

(732) 462-4881

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 24

FIRST RIDE

FIRST RIDE • 2011 HONDA CBR250R

Big things. Small Packages. Surprise!

Many years ago, I seem to recall a certain motorcycle manufacturer (I believe it was Suzuki) really pulled a fast one on the motorcycle media by unveiling a bike that, for the most part, was kept secret until the day it was launched. There were a few rumors, but really not as many as you usually

got when an all-new model was coming down the pike. Overall, it was a surprise to pretty much everybody and I was especially delighted by this unexpected motorcycle (come to think of it, I believe it was the Suzuki TL1000S).

This year, Honda surprised a lot of us (or maybe I missed any advance intelligence that was out there) with an all-new bike that, upon looking over the specs and the pictures, looked like it just might alter our concept of what an entry level bike can be. Now that I’ve had a chance to thrash the Honda

CBR250R a bit, I have to say it actually exceeded my expectations. The reason this is such an impressive new bike is because it truly is a machine that a novice could get comfortable on quickly (and learn with), yet it shouldn’t be the kind of motorcycle said individual would outgrow quickly. In fact, this smallest CBR has club racer written all over it, and could easily find a spot in the stable of experienced riders who desire a light, great-handling sport bike that uses ridiculously little fuel.

We start with a stunning thumper of an engine; a very compact 249.4cc liquid-cooled Single with a 4-valve head and a gear-driven counterbalancer to help subdue vibration. This is matched with a 6-speed transmission that has well-spaced ratios to use what power is there to the fullest, and while this is certainly no 600 the fuel injection delivers crisp, predictable throttle response and acceleration is perfectly acceptable especially considering we’re talking about a single piston doing the work all by itself. The counterbalancer does a great job of keeping the vibes reasonable, and 65 MPH translates to

BIKE NIGHTS!

WEDNESDAYS For exact dates please visit www.TramontinHD.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 25

about 7,000 RPM (redline arrives at 10,500 RPM). This means highway travel is doable, and yes you could certainly throw some bags on this thing and tour on it. With a 3.4-gallon fuel capacity and mileage probably in the 60-70 MPG range you should be able to cover some serious miles before draining the tank, too.

With a 357-lb. wet weight (366 with the optional ABS) the 250R is a very flickable bike, and can generate crazy-good cornering speeds to the point where you can brake later and later into the turn (and often you don’t need to touch the brakes at all). When you do finally need the binders, our non-ABS version had fine strength and control and the optional Combined ABS is unusual in an entry-level bike and should seriously be considered. I’ve been told by Honda that this ABS system is not on the level of the CBR600RR’s amazing technology, but it’s still sophisticated and a very valuable safety feature for riders regardless of their experience level.

in Pure Victory accessories savings on new purchase of any Victory.

VICTORY DEMO DAYS MAY 10 & 11th

The hits keep coming with the ergonomics, which strike a real nice balance between an upright, standard kind of posture and a more sporting bend that is great for aggressive riding. I found it pretty much optimal for my 5’ 8” frame, and with a very narrow profile and a manageable 30.5” seat height even beginners of modest stature should have little difficulty balancing the bike at stops (which can be a big deal when learning to ride, as you may or may not remember). And finally, the CBR250R has a very cool, comprehensive instrument cluster that you can toggle to show fuel remaining, and one of the most striking things about this bike in addition to its very cool, contemporary styling is its impressive fit and finish. This ultimately brings us to what makes this such an interesting ride: it really is an unusually good bargain. For a starting price of $3999, you have a motorcycle that has the small displacement and user-friendly curb weight of a beginner bike with enough performance, polish and build quality to keep veteran riders entertained as well. This bike was a real eye-opener, and definitely the kind of surprise you can really appreciate.

To find out more on the Honda CBR250R or locate a dealer near you, visit www.powersports.honda.com. ~ Bill heald

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

WE’RE LOCATED IN SCENIC SUSSEx COUNTY A POPULAR NEIgHBORHOOD PUB

FRIENDLY SERvICE • ICE COLD BEER AND ALWAYS SOmETHINg TO DO…

ENJOY THE RIDE

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

FREE BBQ on Sundays

weather permitting

‘ You Cook ‘Em…’

Stop by for some great tire-kickin’ and hangin’

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

TWO POOL TABLES • JUkE BOx • DARTS OUTDOOR SEATINg FACINg THE AIRPORT “WATCH THE SkY DIvERS”

PLUS … WE SERvE a SImPLE PUb mENU

The Spring Is Here!

It’s Always Bike Night at

AIRPORT PUB!

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 26

Taking the Backroadsto Indy

Words and images: Lance Oliver

I

t’s not yet 8 a.m., but the late-summer sun already strikes my back with a presence I can feel as I pull out of the campground and aim west, glad I’m not battling against that pale but strong blast of light while it’s still low on the Kentucky horizon. Just a few miles down the road, I spot a rusty old street sign, looking odd and out of place here on a country highway. But it’s the name on the sign that makes me pull a quick U-turn to get a photo: HWY TO HEAVEN, it reads.

Well, that settles it. I must be on the right track.

You’ve heard that old philosophical thumb-sucker of a debating point: Which matters more, the journey or the destination? Well, I’m of the belief that destinations do matter. They provide structure and meaning. But in the end, life is really just the sum of the journeys we take to get to our various destinations, so the journey matters most. Because we ride on two wheels, you and I know this, both rationally and intuitively. Choosing the right route makes the difference between a journey to remember and a forgotten act of personal transportation.

Which is how I ended up in Kentucky. Near the Highway to Heaven.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 27

All along its length, the Ohio River is the real business route, as barges carry tons of coal to keep power plants humming.

One of the items yet to be crossed off my “must-do” motorcycling list was attending the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the famed and massive Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indy round is the eastern entry in the United States’ two MotoGP races. Somehow, even though I love MotoGP, and even though in my younger years and in happier times for Indycar racing I was a huge fan of the sweeping history and pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Indy 500, I’d never been to the Speedway. Time to cure that oversight and cross one more item off my list.

But how to get there? The simplest way, the shortestline-between-two-points approach, would involve Interstate 70 between the center of Ohio and the center of Indiana, 175 miles of the most mind-numbingly straight and featureless road to be found anywhere within a day’s ride of my house. On the other hand, I could strap the camping gear on the trusty Versys, aim south from my home in eastern Ohio, approach Indianapolis via a southern flanking maneuver, and suffer flat and boring roads only for the final few miles of my trip. Sold!

This tactic allows me to ride some of my favorite roads close to home, such as Ohio Routes 555, 93, and 775 as I work my way south. Wriggling through the Appalachian foothills, these are roads for making memories, not time. Despite the lack of traffic, it’s mid-day when I finally reach the Ohio-West Virginia border just north of the city of Huntington, where one of the several new and attractive suspension bridges across the Ohio River gleams white in the sun. I’m no closer to Indianapolis than I was when I started out early this morning. Probably should head west, right? Naaah.

One of my personal policies is never to miss a chance, even a brief one, to ride in West Virginia, because the roads nearly always make the effort worthwhile. So I cross the river and continue south. Eventually, W.Va. Route 37 leads me to eastern edge of Kentucky, where I cross the Big Sandy River into the town of Louisa and finally begin to make some westward progress.

Actually, this was all part of my plan. Kentucky Route 32 has a fine reputation among motorcyclists and I’ve come this way specifically to check it out. Fortunately, it lives up to billing. From Louisa to Morehead, it offers 60 miles of rural curves. I quickly fall into that old familiar and favored rhythm of Appalachian hill riding. The road meanders along the bottomland of a small valley, a “holler” in local parlance, where the second or third cutting of hay lies drying in the sun, filling the air with a dusty odor that brings back memories of hard and sweaty work in my youth. These interludes are good for catching my breath, because soon the road vaults up the side of a ridge, usually disappearing into shady woods as the terrain grows steeper. The engineers have used every means at their disposal to get the road over this natural obstacle, so sweepers, switchbacks and long series of S-turns come in fast succession. Occasionally,

I’ll get a nice long run along the top of a ridge, opening up long views, but usually the sight distance is short, so a rider who wants to keep enjoying this kind of fun in his old age will temper enthusiasm with discretion. And in about the time it has taken me to describe that, the road has whisked me through another holler, past a precariously leaning old barn with its Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco message long faded nearly to nothing, and is about to

Kentucky Route 32 in the eastern part of the state offers a curve sampler.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 28 charge up another steep hillside. My kind of riding.

The contrast is severe between eastern Kentucky’s farms, with their small plots of corn and weed-studded cattle pastures, and the Lexington area’s wealthy horse farms, where thoroughbreds graze on immaculate pastures by day and retire for the evening to soaring barns topped with copper cupolas that flash reflections of the setting sun.

Continuing west, I realize I’m not far from the Maker’s Mark distillery, which offers one of the finest tours of a Kentucky bourbon distillery. The liquor gained its fame in the early 1800s when whiskey from Bourbon

A bucolic view of the Kentucky farmland.

County, Kentucky, was shipped south to New Orleans on flatboats with Bourbon stamped on the side of the huge barrels, to indicate its origin. Today, a raft of laws regulates the making of bourbon, to ensure standards. A tour of the process is worth your time, if you’re passing through and have ever been curious. Since I’ve visited Maker’s Mark before, and since the sun is gaining on me in our westward movement, I decide to keep riding and I barely get to Taylorsville Lake State Park in time to pitch my tent in fading daylight instead of darkness.

In the morning, I’m on the road early and that’s when I spot the Highway to Heaven sign, not far from one of the few tobacco fields I’ve seen on this trip. Along with bourbon and racehorses, tobacco has been a traditional part of the Kentucky economy, and I spot a few farms with the broad leaves turning yellow in the late summer sun, and open barns with leaves hanging to dry inside.

Fewer than I expect, however. If tobacco farming is on the decline, you can’t blame the folks of Kentucky.

They lead the nation in smoking, a statistic backed up by my observations. It seems nearly every car I pass on the road has a hand dangling a cigarette out the window.

Are you ready to ride? Get your bike to Eckenhoff NOW for Spring Service.

The farther west I go, the more the roads flatten out, but once I make my way past Fort Knox, I jump back onto the three-digit Kentucky backroads, as soon as possible. There’s hardly anyone stirring out here and the day heats up as I pass larger farms, with cornfields spreading across the rich soil of the Ohio River Valley.

Towns are few, but I stop at a waterfront park in tiny

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 29 Cloversport for a rehydration break in the shade and watch barges laboring upstream, laden with thousands of tons of coal destined for riverfront power plants.

Near Owensboro, hometown of the Hayden brothers, I decide it’s time to head north toward Indianapolis at about the time that Nicky Hayden is nailing down a front-row start in qualifying for tomorrow’s race and Roger Hayden is making adjustments to his bike for his Moto2 wildcard ride. Southern Indiana has the only hills that the state can lay claim to, but they’re not quite up to the eastern Kentucky standards that spoiled me earlier in the trip. Still, the ride’s pleasant enough as I make my way north, and I’m rewarded with one more fine motorcycle road when I get to the town of Salem and

rolling hills. Instead, the road follows the natural contours of the land, past streams, through ravines, and splitting several small towns, such as the tiny and quaint crossroads called Story and the bigger town of Nashville, which calls itself the “Pioneer Art City” and offers a variety of options if it’s time for lunch or you want to stretch your legs and do some window shopping.

Not surprisingly, given these charms and its proximity to Indianapolis, Route 135 is a popular day trip for riders living in and around the state’s largest city. I pass dozens of motorcycles cruising Route 135 as I ride north. We’re all taking advantage of a warm and sunny weekend afternoon, knowing that the end of summer is all too near.

join Indiana Route 135.

Actually, Route 135 is a direct shot to my evening’s destination, because it becomes Meridian Street when it finally enters the city of Indianapolis.

But “direct” does not mean “straight,” fortunately. Unlike many newer roads in southern Indiana, Route 135 remains its old self. It hasn’t been “improved,” which means the Department of Transportation hasn’t tamed its curves and meandering course by blasting a wide path through these low and

Route 135’s curves and hills flatten out somewhere around the little town of Bean Blossom – I’m not making up the name – and before too long, rural gives way to suburban, as I start entering the outer sprawl of Indianapolis.

Time to shift from journey mode to destination mode. And for this evening, my destination is Meridian Street, in the heart of the city, where Indy welcomes visitors on MotoGP weekend with the biggest motorcycle-only party of the year.

Indiana Rte. 135 is a favorite for weekend rides and day trips out of Indianapolis.

s Join u Spring Open House r Saturday, May 7 for ou 138 Orange Ave (Rt. 202), Suffern, NY 10901

845.357.1190 • www.locomotionpowersports.com

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 30

The event is called Motorcycles on Meridian and along with the dirt-track races at the Indy Mile, it is part of the city’s efforts to fill the MotoGP weekend with fun activities. The city shuts down five blocks of Meridian Street south of Monument Circle in the heart of downtown. Three stages offer entertainment, but the best show in town is walking up and down the street, which is closed to everything except motorcycles and pedestrians, and ogling all the bikes. Even before the sun has fully set, the streets are packed with people and machines. Expect to see everything: a carefully restored Kawasaki 750cc two-stroke, a stretched and lowered ZX-14 painted in Grand Prix livery, a fleet of Honda sportbikes flying Repsol colors. But it’s not all sporting iron. There are plenty of cruisers, imported and domestic, and touring rigs carrying license plates from New Jersey to North Carolina and elsewhere.

Above this show are newly posted street signs carrying the names and numbers of MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi and others, and a monstrous portrait of Nicky Hayden fills the side of one building. As the last sunlight fades and the city lights come up, riders and non-riders alike wander the corridors of motorcycles as music bounces off the walls of the urban canyons of downtown. It’s a fine way to end my ride.

Of course the real end of my backroads ride to Indy will come the following morning, when I bypass a line of cars waiting for parking and roll through the Speedway’s Gate 10 tunnel to take advantage of the free motorcycle parking on the back straight of the massive oval. But for now, the bikes, the people, the music and the downtown-party vibe are enough to make me think the road sign was right, and I really did find a highway leading to a little slice of motorcycle heaven. the 2011 MotogP in indianapolis will be held aug. 26-28. For more information including tickets please visit www.motogp.com.

Lance Oliver is the author of The Ride So Far: Tales from a Motorcycling Life. Learn more about the book at www.theridesofar.com.

Recapture a simpler time and discover what’s fundamentally cool about riding motorcycles.

Join us for our…

1957

Vintage Motorcycle Day & Swap Meet May 21st • 9am ~ 4pm 1965

Vintage Bike Show Registration: 11a-Noon Bike Show: Noon-3p • Swap Meet: 9a-3p Pin Striping by K&M Signs: 9a-4p End-of-Season Sidewalk Sale: 9a-4p

Free ‘Dirty Water Dogs’ 1978

Please call for Bike Show/Vendor Info

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/BUELL

LONG BRANCH

671 broadway, long branch, nj 07740

732.229.8518 • hdlongbranch.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

EVENT RECAP

Page 31

TRAMONTIN HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S CHILI COOKOFF Mid-March might have been fickle with the weather and certainly the last weekend of the month ended with a chilly taste in the air, unless you were lucky enough to be in Hope, New Jersey at Tramontin’s annual Chili Cookoff.

That afternoon the atmosphere belated the cold western Jersey climate with the warm and tasty aromas of jalapeños, habeñeros and chipotle peppers and flavorful chili created with all sorts of meats – turkey, beef, pork and buffalo. We loved the culinary creativity that was brought to this event.

Twelve contestants came to the dealership that day vying for the recognition of being Tramontin’s Chili Champion of 2011.

We tasted all twelve renditions of the great American classic and although we differed on our favorites, in the end, Wayne Schwetje came away as the winner with Bud VanAllen and Brother Joe’s Texas Hill Country Chili taking second and third trophies.

We ran into this event unexpected while out for a breakfast run but rode away with bellies full, and more food the last thing on our minds.

Tramontin holds this event each March and it is always a great time, but many dealerships hold chili cookoffs throughout the year and for a good and spicy time, events like this can’t be beat.

Look for one at your local dealer or in Backroads’ Upcoming Events pages.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 32

First Ride - 2011 Ducati Diavel

THE DIAVEL’S IN THE DETAILS It’s a wonderful thing whenever you get to throw a leg over a brand new machine and rumble off into the sunshine. It’s an even more exciting experience when the motorcycle in question is something you’ve been intrigued by ever since you saw the first released photos of it several months earlier. I mentioned the Ducati Diavel in my column back when the bike was announced, and I delighted in the fact that during these uncertain times the company really launched a wild motorcycle; sort of Ducati’s take on a cruiser and an absolute brute to behold. Down in Daytona I got to sample a Diavel Carbon, which is the standard devil bike with the addition of some carbon fiber body panels, front suspension treatments and other cosmetic and functional tweaks to make the big bike lighter and even more potent and visually striking.

The Diavel is one of these bikes that is such a big deal, both figuratively and literally, that I sit here and wonder, “Where the heck do I begin?” I guess I should start with some specifications. The BeelzeBike rides on a long, 62.6inch wheelbase with Ducati’s signature trellis frame, and manages a lowish 30.3-inch seat height despite excellent cornering clearance and a fairly upright riding position. One of the first signs the Italian engineers decided to pull out on the stops on this beast is the Musclebike/Cruiser/Custom styling, right? Sure. But to me, an even bigger indicator of a full-on, damn-the-torpedoes approach is the technology and sheer audacity of the hard parts. They decided to use the most potent engine in the stable, the 1198cc Testastretta 11° V-Twin (11° refers to valve overlap timing), which is directly derived from a Ducati Corse race engine. Yikes.

Of course, this incredible mill is de-tuned so it ‘only’ puts out 162 horsepower (again, Yikes), and ultimately channels said power to a 240-series rear

tire. There are more electronics than an Apple Store on this motorcycle, and one of the most interesting systems integrates three different Riding Modes with Ducati Traction Control, and everything is tied into the Ride By Wire electronic throttle control system. You select these modes via a switch by the left grip (and you navigate a menu on the full-color Thin Film Transistor screen on the lower of two instrument tiers), and they include Sport, Touring and Urban settings. Sport and Touring give you full power, but Sport has more abrupt power delivery and a lower level of Traction Control intervention. Urban knocks power output to 100 horsepower and Traction control intercedes sooner, making it ideal for congested conditions or riding in the rain.

If you want to dig into the menus further, you can customize the Traction Control within modes as well. You can adjust these modes on the fly, and it’s really quite easy to navigate through the menus.

In practice, all this amounts to a drivetrain that is nothing short of glorious.

I left the bike in Touring mode because it seemed ideal; it was wonderfully tractable and smooth at low RPMs but screamed with a deep bravado that tightened my grip on the bars when I released the hounds. The sound, feel and response of this engine are so soulful and exhilarating that days later I still have a clear memory of it, and that says a lot. This good, clean fun could be a handful if the rest of the Diavel wasn’t well integrated with all this glorious output, and fortunately the sporty yet ‘custom’ riding position (with a nice knee tuck but fairly wide, upright bars) works well both in terms of allaround comfort and tossing the 456-lb. (dry) Carbon model into turns. That huge rear tire might be a concern for hard-core sporties, but I found the Diavel to be predictable and confidence-inspiring in the comparatively sane riding world I inhabit, and cornering clearance was never an issue (with me,

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 33

O M T R O E R D CYCL N U H T E

E R U L Saturday, May 7 U ~~~~Police Escorted~~~~

N

B

anyway). Great ABS Monobloc Brembos are standard kit, and the stout 50mm upside down Marzocchi forks along with the solo Sachs rear shock are fully adjustable. To think that you have at your beck and call the kind of performance you get with Ducati’s best sportbikes (yet in a really ergonomically comfortable ride) is quite a selling point. The only foible I found here was a sidestand that liked to mess with my left foot as it’s awfully close to the peg when retracted.

I’ve already mentioned the electronics in the form of the rider-alterable engine management and the cool color display, but the Diavel also comes standard with a Smart Key which will requires a bit of getting used to. The e-fob stays on your person, and whenever you’re within 6 feet the bike knows you’re there and you just flip up a switch, hit the starter button and head off. If you ride off and leave the

Registration Start Site: Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh 15 Oak St, Old Bridge, NY • Intersection of Rte. 18 South/Oak St.

~~~ 9am to 11am • Kickstands up @ 11:15am ~~~ Free Coffee and Donuts End Site: Bar Anticipation, Lake Como, NJ Cost: $20/Rider • $15/Passenger 50/50 ❁ Music ❁ Free BBQ ❁ Soft Drinks ❁ Cash Bar

Register @ Start Site or online @ BlueKnights15.com Public Welcome for End Party Only • $15 ~ door opens 12:30 COME RAIN OR SHINE, WE’LL BE THERE

Open to the General Public Come by Bike, Car or Bus ~ BUT

COME!

Hotline Number: 732-485-1929

Hosted by the

Blue Knights NJXV

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 34

fob in somebody else’s pocket the bike won’t quit on you while in motion, but once you stop and turn off the engine it won’t let you restart it again until Mr. fob is back within distance (I tested this, unintentionally). The fork lock also works electronically and is a breeze to use. It may sound like a bit of flash over functionality, but if your key is buried beneath layers of rain gear it really is nice to not have to hunt for it and instead just get on and go.

Attention to detail and slick engineering is found everywhere you look, especially on the Carbon model. Side-mounted radiators, a wild license plate bracket, a retractable passenger grab rail and a huge, unique all-seeing headlight establish that the visual (and functional) feast has many courses. It’s an absolute stonker to ride (notice I didn’t say monster, or streetfighter, as those Ducatis are actually very different animals which is amazing when you think about it). Ducati has really taken a huge chance with this bike, and I know a lot of loyalists will scoff at its cruiseresque aspect. Can you throw some baggage on this thing and head for the opposite coast? Absolutely. Just be advised you’ll tend to arrive at your daily destination a tad early. Pricing for the 2011 Diavel starts at $16,995, $19,995 for the Diavel Carbon and $20,395 for the Carbon “Red” version. www.ducatiusa.com ~ Bill heald

BERGEN SPORT CYCLES Ride More, Stress Less

30 US H’Way 46 East • Lodi, NJ 07644

973-478-7711 • bergensportcycle.com Bergen Sport Cycles is giving away a

2011 Ninja 250R See sales associate for details

Chassis Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame Wheelbase: 1590mm (62.6in) • Rake: 28° Front suspension: Marzocchi DLC coated 50mm fully adjustable usd forks Front wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in) Front wheel: Marchesini forged and machined 9-spoke 3.50 x 17 Front Tire: 120/70 ZR 17 • Rear tire: 240/45 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II Rear suspension: Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock.

Aluminium single-sided swingarm Rear wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in) Rear wheel: Marchesini forged and machined 9-spoke 8.00 x 17 Front brake: 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Monobloc Brembo callipers, 4-piston with ABS Rear brake: 265mm disc, 2-piston floating calliper with ABS Fuel tank capacity: 17l - (4.4US gal) • Dry weight: 207kg (456lb) Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage Body Colour (frame/wheel): Red and Matt Carbon (red / black) Glossy and Matt Carbon (racing black / black) Seat height: 770mm (30.3in) Standard equipment Engine Type: Testastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled Displacement: 1198.4cc Bore x Stroke: 106 x 67.9mm Compression ratio: 11.5:1 Power: 162hp (119kW) @ 9500rpm Torque: 94lb-ft (127.5Nm) @ 8000rpm Fuel injection: Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies with RbW Exhaust: Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and two lambda probes. Twin aluminium mufflers Transmission Gearbox: 6 speed Ratio: 1=37/15 2=30/17 3=27/20 4=24/22 5=23/24 6=22/25 Primary drive: Straight cut gears, ratio 1.84:1 Final drive: Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 43 Clutch: Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control.

Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 35

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ARAI VECTOR-2 LESS-IS-MORE

VECTOR MODEL

How do you add more features to a helmet model famous for its less-is-more appeal, and still be faithful to the original’s concept? That’s the question Arai answers with its brand new Vector-2 for 2011.

Like the original Vector model introduced four years ago, Arai’s new Vector2 is created for the rider who doesn’t want or need a lot of bells and whistles, but who still wants the quality, fit and performance that have been a hallmark of the Arai brand for over 60 years.

Arai says it concentrated on the key areas of ventilation, interior fit, field of view, and shell features to create significant improvements in the Vector-2 with only a modest price increase. These allow the Vector-2 to remain true to the original Vector’s mission of Complex Simplicity, combining the complexity of Arai’s construction (that emphasizes protection and performance “in the real world of unpredictable streets rather than just in the controlled world of testing labs”) with Arai’s build-philosophy that emphasize a helmet’s function instead of flash and fashion.

New ventilation features include the ACF-2 front intake vent with a more complete closure mechanism, and the ACR-2 rear exhaust vent/wing combination.

The combination of the three front air inlets on the leading edge of the rear vent are tuned in Arai’s wind tunnel to accelerate air movement over the shell’s exhaust holes to “markedly improve ventilation performance and efficiency in interior-heat removal.” The Vector-2 also has the fullyremovable interior liner of Arai’s more expensive models, versus the fixed liner of its predecessor.

A new comfort and fit feature that could mean a lot to the Vector-2’s popularity are its unique peel-away cheek and temple pads. Now, rather than having to buy optional pads of varying thicknesses to custom-tailor the Arai fit and comfort even more precisely, the Vector-2’s cheek and temple pads have 5mm peel-away layers that allow the rider to do it individually if needed.

The new wider eyeport, borrowed from Arai’s latest Corsair-V and RX-Q models, gives 5mm more peripheral vision per side for a wider view and awareness of the world around the rider. This shield’s mechanism also improves the shield system’s functionality.

Shell improvements on the Vector-2 include larger side exhaust ports that increase airflow while keeping noise levels to a minimum. A new chinvent design and placement within the chin bar gives the Vector-2 its own distinctive look. The newly-designed Hyper-Ridge encircles the shell bottom to enhance strength while providing a larger bottom opening to make it easier to take the helmet on and off—all without increasing shell size or weight.

The end result of these Vector-2 features is a new model that Arai says offers the unequaled benefits of its three-generation-long obsession with rider protection, comfort and performance, while still remaining at the lower end of its price range.

The new Arai Vector-2 is available in many solid colors and graphics, in sizes XXS through XXXL. Prices range from $479.95 for basic solid colors, to $609.95 for graphics.

Complete information, images of all the Vector-2 colors and graphics, and the location of your nearest Arai retailer can be found at www.AraiAmericas.com.

BMW GEAR. WITHOUT IT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE NAKED.

BMW Riders Gear is available at these BMW Motorcycle dealers in our area Connecticut

New Jersey

Gengras BMW Motorcycles 221 Governor St, East Hartford, CT 866-318-8862 • gengrasbmw.com

Bergen County BMW Motorcycles 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ 201-843-6930 bergenbmwmotorcycles.com

Max BMW Motorcycles 465 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT 203-740-1270 maxbmwmotorcycles.com

Maryland Battley Cycles 7830 Airpark Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 301-948-4581 • battley.com Bob’s BMW 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD 301-497-8949 • bobsbmw.com

Massachusetts BMW of Cambridge 1098 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 781-648-1300 bmwofcambridge.com Wagner BMW Motorcycles of Worcester 700 Plantation St, Worcester, MA 508-854-1377 • wagnermotorsport.com

New Hampshire

Cross Country BMW 875 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ 732-635-0094 • ccbmw.com

New York BMW of Manhattan 555 W 57th St, New York, NY 212-373-7863 • bmwcyclesnyc.com Country Rode Motowerks 286 Macedon Center Rd, Fairport, NY 585-421-0480 • countryrode.com Gold Coast Motorsports 2070 Jericho Tpke, New Hyde Park, NY 516-352-7474 goldcoast-motorsports.com Max BMW Motorcycles 845 Hoosick Rd, Brunswick, NY 518-279-3040 maxbmwmotorcycles.com

Kissell MotorSports, Inc. 101 Hawbaker Ind. Dr, State College, PA 814-861-7890 kissellmotorsports.com Montgomeryville Cycle Center 2901 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA 215-712-7433 montgomeryvillecc.com Two Jacks Cycle & Powersports 1019 N Washington St, Wilkes Barre, PA 570-824-2453 • twojacks.com Velocity Cycles 6653 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA 717-766-2523 • velocitycycle.net

Vermont Frank’s Motorcycle Sales & Service 120 Center Rd/Route 15, Essex, VT 802-878-3930 franksmotorcyclesales.com

Virginia Morton’s BMW Motorcycles 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy Fredericksburg, VA 540-891-9844 • mortonsbmw.com

Pennsylvania

Max BMW Motorcycles 209 Lafayette Rd, North Hampton, NH 603-964-2877 maxbmwmotorcycles.com

European Motorcycles of Pittsburgh 10269 Perry Hwy, Wexford, PA 724-934-4269 • bmwpgh.com

Second Wind BMW 25 Craftsman Ln, Merrimack, NH 603-598-2697 • secondwindbmw.com

Hermy’s BMW Route 61, Port Clinton, PA 610-562-7303 • hermys.com

Go to www.bmwmotorcycles.com for more on BMW Riders Gear and our dealer network

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

L

The Ups and

Page 39

Downs

of the Bay of Fundy

Ken Aiken

ike something out of a Stephen King novel, the fog – a cold, bone-chilling density – rides the tidal bore as it rushes across the vast plain of red mud. Advancing faster than a person can run is a volume of seawater equaling that of all fresh water rivers in the world. In six hours this land will be forty feet beneath the sea. It’s the flood epic as described by the ancient Sumerians and retold in the Bible, and it happens every 12 hours and twenty-six minutes.

Draw a straight line between Eastport, Maine and Brier Island, Nova Scotia on a map: everything northeast of that line is the Bay of Fundy. This is the most extreme tidal environment on the planet, a bay that fills with 100-billion tons (approximately 23,965,680,000,000 gallons) of water twice a day and where tides have reached 53.6 feet in height. Nova Scotia actually flexes under the sheer weight of the inrushing water.

The sea defines the land and since there’s no other place that experiences such tidal extremes as the Fundy coast it offers a unique touring experience. From St. John, New Brunswick, the Princess of Acadia makes the three-hour crossing of the Bay of Fundy to Digby, Nova Scotia.

Room Enough for Groups or Rallies

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 40 The biggest (and best) motorcycle rally in Atlantic Canada, the Wharf Rat Rally, takes place in Digby every Labor Day weekend, but it’s also the best place to stop, sit down, and enjoy the world’s best-tasting scallops. There’s an abundance of accommodations and this is a bikerfriendly town.

North Mountain is a ridge of tough basalt rock that defines the southern shore of the Bay of Fundy. To the northeast it shelters the fertile Annapolis Valley; to the southwest it becomes a long, narrow peninsula called Digby Neck. Route 217 runs down “The Neck” to the village of Westport on Brier Island and although it’s only 61 kilometers (38 miles), the round-trip, which includes four ferry crossings, consumes at least three hours.

Brier Island marks the beginning of the south shore of the Bay of Fundy and at low tide piers and fishing sheds seem impossibly distant from the sea. The ferry landings are designed as huge ramps to compensate for the extreme tides.

Bear River, touted as “The Switzerland of Nova Scotia,” is a little community tinted with a hippie counter-culture feeling that holds a special charm.

Situated in a deep valley on a tidal estuary many buildings in the center of

It looks normal at high tide, but six hours later will show these buildings to be on 30-foot high pilings - Bear River, NS.

the village rest on tall pilings that are exposed during low tide. The road that runs through this funky little village makes the detour from Route 101 well worth the effort.

Established in 1605, Port Royal is the second-oldest permanent European settlement in North America. Annapolis Royal is known as the “Cradle of Acadie” from its earliest origins as the first Acadian settlement and as the first British capital (1710 – 1749). Fort Anne is Canada’s oldest national historic site and St. George Street is one of the oldest streets in North America with five buildings dating to the early 1700’s.

The end of North Mountain, the Look Off is 1,950 feet above the flats and offers a panoramic view of the Minas Basin and Grand Pre.

Ride Ireland!

Ancient culture, mysterious and enchanting landscapes, roads created by a motorcycling god, stunning rugged coastline and renowned Irish hospitality.

Check out our website:

www.celticrider.ie

The only tidal generating station in North America– and one of only three in the world–is located at the edge of town on Route 1. Beneath a small building that doubles as the tourist information center, a giant turbine makes use of the ebb and flow of Fundy tides to generate 20-million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

The road along the top of North Mountain from Parkers Cove to Mount Hanley offers spectacular views of the Bay of Fundy and distant New Brunswick, but is in such poor condition that it’s impossible to ride safely while admiring the view. This time I stay behind the mountain, traveling on Route 1 to Middleton and then onto one of my favorite roads, Route 221.

Repeated visits have taught me where to stay and where to eat. In the Wolfville area the conveniently located Old Orchard Inn has, to my mind, no competition.

I’ve also learned to top up my gas tank in Wolfville

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 41

since gas stations are not as prevalent in this province as in the U.S. Route 358 takes me over the bridge in Port Williams. It’s an observation point for viewing the tidal bore on the Black River, but I’m too early and all that’s visible is an orange trench with a bit of water cutting through the grasslands. I continue through the intriguing village of Canning and wind up the mountain to pull into the parking area across from the campground. Six hundred meters (1,960 feet) above the 18th-century Acadian dikes of Starrs Point, the Kings County Look Off marks the abrupt end of North Mountain. The vast red mud flats of Minas Basin are exposed at low tide and the grasslands of Grand Pre stretch to the south in a panorama that painters dream about.

When the inrush of cold Atlantic water encounters the cliffs on the Fundy shore the fog can becomes quite dense, as if the sun-drenched rocks were giving off steam when the water touches them. The incoming tide also creates atmospheric temperature differences that can be quite surprising. Rounding a corner on North Mountain I plunge through a wall of cold air. There’s no transition, just an abrupt drop of 15 degrees as if I’d entered a walk-in freezer. Even though it’s July, I stop to put on my electric jacket liner.

The red sandstone cliffs of the Minas Basin are a notable feature of the Bay of Fundy - Route 2, Five Islands, NS

Halls Harbour at low tide.

Turning around I take a shortcut along the ridge and then down the west side of North Mountain to Halls Harbour. The steep descent provides a stunning view across the Bay of Fundy to Cape d’Or before leading into the blind hairpin that wraps around the general store and into the lobster pound. Tides run 36-38 feet so although everything looks perfectly normal at high tide, but six hours later the ocean water has receded leaving fishing boats high, dry, and below road level. This is probably the second most photographed site in mainland Nova Scotia (the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is first).

The scenic road around the Minas Basin is named for Glooscap, the personification of the Great Spirit by the Mi’kmaq people. It begins about a mile south of Windsor as Route 14 and continues as Route 215 in Brooklyn.

My first stop is just off Route 14 at the “Bridge to Mantua” on the Herbert River. When the incoming tide rushes up estuaries it collides with the opposing flow of river water and forms a wave that churns its way upstream.

The size of the tidal bore wave depends upon variable factors such as the height of the tide and amount of water flowing downstream, but in some places and at certain times the wave can crest at three meters (10 feet).

The Walton Light provides an opportunity to climb the decommissioned lighthouse to view the lamp and obtain a spectacular view. The highest tide

Take it in a whole new direction.

The Restyled 2011 G650GS. Now available in limited quantites.

Get yours before they ride off, wherever.

2011 G650GS • $7,900*

*Base MSRP for the G 650 GS is just $7,900 with standard ABS and heated grips. Low 29.5” seat/suspension option is $250 extra. Price is subject to change. MSRP excludes $495 freight. Actual price is determined by dealer. ©2010 BMW Motorrad USA, a division of BMW of North America LLC. The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 42 ever recorded on the planet—53.6 feet—took place at Burncoat Head in October 1869. At Burncoat Park visitors can walk down stairs to the exposed ocean floor during low tide. Six hours later this land will be forty-five feet beneath the sea!

From Turo to Parrsboro the Not so impressive here, Glooscap Trail (Route 2) is one of but the tidal bore can the most popular motorcycle-tourget waves 10-feet high. ing highways south of Cape Breton Island. Small villages like Bass River, Upper and Lower Economy, and Five Islands can be ridden through in a blink of the eye on a lazy summer afternoon. Since I’m taking Route 209 around Cape d’Or and up Chignecto Bay, Parrsboro offers my last chance to obtain fuel for many miles.

inspired Charles Darwin.

The cliffs at Joggins are now designated a UNESCO world heritage site and the Joggins Fossil Centre attracts visitors from around the world.

I’ve followed Nova Scotia’s Fundy Shore to the end, but most endings are also beginnings.

There’s yet another shore where the world’s highest tides hold sway: New Brunswick.

Low tide leaves fishng shanties and piers high and dry - Westport, Brier Island, NS

Walton Light - Route 215, Walton, NS

A lobster boat waits for high tide in Sandy Cove on Digby Neck.

The road from Port Greville to Cape d’Or is packed with nice curves and elevation changes and it’s easy to forget that the numbers on the yellow diamond-shaped highway signs are in kilometers. It begins to get rather interesting when a corner marked for 35 km turns out to be a hairpin at the bottom of a deep and steep U-shaped dip that’s coupled with a narrow bridge. More S-shaped corners on grades, the second radius tighter than the first, and the road becomes made for a Ducati. Literally cut into the cliff face, the corners become radical and there’s loose gravel everywhere. Each and every corner is taken with total concentration and at less than the posted speed limit.

Loose gravel makes the road leading down to the Cape d’Or lighthouse less than desirable, but the panoramic view from the parking area is spectacular. Heading north from Advocate Harbour, Route 209 becomes a little traveled ribbon of asphalt through the forest.

At the end of the Bay of Fundy the great tides have opened the vault of time. This is where Charles Lyell gave birth to the concept of evolution and

Fundy Travel Information Tide Schedule: (877) 775-0790 Distances and speeds posted in kilometers. (kilometers x 6 ÷ 10 = miles) Language: English (official), French, and Acadian.

Passport: required for entry/return to the United States.

Canadian Insurance Card: Free from your insurance agent (recommended just in case).

Westport, Brier Island. Two ferry crossings: no charge going to Brier Island; $5.00 each for return to Digby Neck.

Regular gas at R. E. Robicheau General Store & Gas Bar. Annapolis Royal. Numerous exquisite B&B inns.

Visitor Information Center: 238 Main Street, Yarmouth. Located opposite the Rodd Colony Harbour Inn; outside the ferry terminal.

Old Orchard Inn & Spa, Exit 11 of Route 101, Wolfville 800-5618090 www.oldorchardinn.com Comfortable, biker-friendly, great food, convenient location.

Privateers Sou’West Harley-Davidson, Exit 33 of Route 103, Tusket (near Yarmouth) (902) 648-3111 www.privateerssw.com Paul D’Entremont Marine Ltd, 2616, Route 3, Pubnico (Yamaha dealership) Digby. Abundant lodging and numerous restaurants. Digby scallops found on most menus. Several gas stations and Canadian Tire (basic motorcycle parts), local riders gather at Tim Hortons.

Halls Harbour Lobster Pound & Restaurant, Halls Harbour. Funky and world-famous.

Truro. Abundant lodging.

Fundy Power Sports, 20 Lower Truro Rd., Truro. (Kawasaki) (902) 895-8209 www.fundypowersports.ca Joggins Fossil Centre, 100 Main St., Joggins. World-famous fossil collection housed above the fossil cliffs. (888) 932-9766 www.jogginsfossilcliffs.net Wharf Rat Rally: www.wharfratrally.com • Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 2011

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 43

Catskill Mountains

d n a H l h ig h g i H

As we rode along on Warwick Turnpike heading towards Orange County’s expansive black dirt farming region, the sky caressed us with misty kisses. But soon the sun smiled on us, and we enjoyed riding the ravenous Route 1 as it snaked its way out of the flatlands of the black dirt farming region into the green hills leading into Port Jervis.

From Port Jervis we rolled up Route 97 into the famous Hawks Nest area, where the serpentine 97 crawls along hundreds of feet above the Delaware River like a mountaineer scaling the Tetons. At the bottom of the Hawks Nest and at the Mongaup Rapids location, we turned onto Rte. 31 to 32 to Eldred, taking Route 55 to Bethel. Yes, that Bethel, site of the infamous 1969 Woodstock Festival where 400,000 young people celebrated three days of peace and music while enduring torrential downpours and fields of mud.

Now called Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, there’s a monument to the event and a museum celebrating the festival and other important events of the ‘60s and ‘70s. It’s well

Kenneth W. Dahse Motorcyclists who like cruising on lazy back roads and twisties while viewing mountain vistas, scenic rivers, farmland, forests, and historic country bridges will enjoy exploring the hinterlands of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The Catskill Highlands offer riders the perfect multi-day excursion of fantastic roads, interesting sights, and a diversity of activities to experience.

It was with these images dancing in our heads that my intrepid little band of riders set out from Ringwood, NJ under overcast and weeping skies. After a bad weather call the previous year, I had promised my friends that this trip would be a go regardless of the weather forecast.

1300 Clements Bridge Rd Deptford NJ 08096

856-848-8500 Pay Less, Expect More

Shop www.dhy.com 24/7

April 23 • Join Our

Easter Egg Extravaganza

We’re Giving Away a

2011 Ninja 250R See sales associate for details

179 North Highland Ave/Rte 9 Ossining, NY 10562

914-762-2722 www.hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com

Page 44

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

worth a visit, but we bypassed it because most of our group had been there before; and Mr. Happy, who still harbors animosity towards Jane Fonda for her anti-Vietnam war activities, said, “I don’t want to waste my time at no stinkin’ hippie museum that pays homage to Hanoi Jane lovers.”

Traveling through Bethel, we cruised by Lake Superior State Park, which offers swimming, boating, picnicking, and onto Route 52 which meanders

through the hilly farmland of Sullivan County to Kenoza Lake and Stone Arch Bridge Historical Park. This three-arched stone bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic places and was built around 1880. A murder was committed on the bridge in 1882.

I did my best to convince the group to hold hands and jump off the bridge for a truly dynamic Backroads action shot, but I couldn’t. So, after enjoying the park and some friendly banter, we continued our odyssey through the highlands to Jeffersonville and then onto the fly fishing capital of the Catskills: Roscoe and the self-proclaimed “Famous Roscoe Diner” for lunch.

After a delicious lunch, we cruised out of Roscoe heading west on Route 206 and turned right onto Beaverkill Road (Route 151). This bumpy back country road roams romantically alongside the famous Beaverkill River, which is noted for its superior trout fishing opportunities. We stopped at Beaverkill State Park at the picnic and swimming area and the one lane 128-foot long covered bridge that spans the river. Built in 1865, the bridge is an impressive sight and fun to ride across.

Although mid-June, the water temperature was bone numbing. Nevertheless, Woodstock Mark, Cool Breeze Jose, and yours truly took a dip. Woodstock Mark said, “Nothing like ice water to eliminate feelings of road fatigue.” And he was right. My entire body tingled with jumping nerve endings screaming, “We’re alive, we’re alive!”

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 45 with reasonably priced and tasty meals, and free breakfast. After dinner, we enjoyed a few libations at the pub and then hit the hay for some heavenly rest.

Sunday was overcast with threatening skies; nevertheless, we set off for another day of exploration. Riding out of Hancock, we took scenic Route 268 to the Cannonsville Reservoir connecting with Route 10 and made our way to Walton. These roads slice their way along the western edges of the Catskill Mountains offering impressive views of farmland, valleys, and mountains.

In Walton, we headed for Cody-Shane Acres Buffalo Ranch on 90 Crystal Creek Road (607-865-4913). That morning, I had spoken to the owners Don and Lynn Tweedie, who were most gracious and offered to give our little group a tour. The bison herd was still grazing in their mountain pasture and couldn’t be seen from the road.

When we arrived at their beautiful hillside log home, Don loaded us in his huge 4x4 truck and drove up a muddy path to the mountain pasture for an up

Once dry and dressed, we mounted our steeds and rolled across the Beaverkill Bridge and took Berry Brook Road to Route 30. For eight miles this rough and tumble road led us through the real backwoods Catskills. Sections of road were unpaved and one of the homesteads looked like it was out of the film Deliverance. I kept our group moving along; after all, I didn’t want any of us to have to “squeal like a pig.”

At Route 30, we sailed alongside the expansive pristine shimmering water of the Pepacton Reservoir heading to the Downsville covered bridge. But with the sky growing ever more ominous, we decided to skip the bridge, continuing on the snaking Route 30 as it slid its way around mountains and alongside East Branch of the Delaware River. At Route 17, we superslabbed it to the Hancock House Hotel (607-637-7100), our lodging for the night, and arrived just before the angry heavens opened and sent forth a dastardly and devious deluge.

As the rains continued, we enjoyed a tasty meal at the hotel’s Honest Eddie’s Tap Room. The hotel is only a few years old and was built as a replica of the original Hancock House Hotel. It’s clean and nicely maintained

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 46 close and personal look at their bison herd. These majestic and hardy animals once numbered 30 million strong in what is now the western states but were slaughtered almost to extinction as part of government policy during the conquest of the west and the annihilation of the Indian nations whose existence and culture depended on them.

Ironically, we now realized that bison are far more suited for the extreme weather of the west than cows, are cheaper and easier to raise, and that their meat is tasty and healthy with less cholesterol than fish, chicken, and turkey. Don told us he had raised cows but could barely make a living off them; bison are simply more profitable to raise. He also told us you could tell the gender of the bison from just looking at their horns. Female horns curve inward; males go straight up. Other ranchers and farmers nationwide have discovered the financial advantage to raising bison. Media mogul and billionaire Ted Turner has the largest bison ranch in the country in Montana and a string of restaurants specializing in bison dishes. It looks like the American Indians knew better all along.

We thanked Don for the tour and mounted up. We had planned on more exploration and lunch in Phoenicia, but heavy storms were heading our way so we took the fastest route home. Nonetheless, we still battled rain for many miles.

A few weeks later I returned to the Catskill region for another trip with my good friend Seldom Seen Shane. On our second day we set out in the cool morning to finish the original planned route from Walton taking Route 10 to Delhi and then 28 to Andes, two quaint Catskill towns. At Route 30, we headed north to Grand Gorge to Route 23 and Prattsville. All four roads are a rider’s nirvana weaving through country villages and scenic countryside.

On this trip rain wasn’t a problem but the extreme heat was. We stopped briefly at the unofficial Prattsville swimming hole for a refreshing dip and then continued on 23A to 42 to 28 east and rolled into Phoenicia totally baked

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

The Gray Ghost Inn

290 Route 100 • West Dover, VT 800-745-3615 • www.grayghostinn.com

Motorcyclist-Friendly Destination Lodging Located on Scenic Route 100 in Southern Vermont Your Home Away from Home Full breakfast cooked to order. BYOB bar, hot tub, outdoor firepit, pool and game room. Free Maps and Suggested Rides. Group Special Packages.

5 restaurants/bars within walking distance.

and drained from the shining searing sun. After a cool air-conditioned lunch, we were refreshed enough to continue our journey.

At Big Indian, we headed into the hinterlands on Route 47, which was considerably cooler in temperature than 28. This back country road crawls it way through the heart of the Catskills alongside the West Branch Neversink River to other back country roads that led us out of the Catskill highlands to Route 52 and the ride home. As Seldom Seen Shane and I rumbled along, I thought about how great it had been exploring the Catskill Region Highlands with its small towns, farms, rivers, and mountains, but most importantly: its great motorcycling roads. And, I realized it wouldn’t be long before I returned to ride its back roads and, once again, experience a Catskill Mountains Highland High.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

EVENT RECAP

ONTARIO MOTO GUZZI RALLY • LAVIGNE, ONTARIO

Page 47

The Geese Fly North

Bruce Brown At the end of August 2010, an unusual phenomenon occurred as summer drew to a close. A flock of Geese headed north to a gathering in a small town at the northern end of Lake Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. These birds were not the variety that you might recognize defiling pristine golf courses and parkland. This species is Italian, not Canadian. The gathering of the Geese in northern Ontario was the annual meeting of the Ontario Guzzi Riders, a small but fervent group of Moto Guzzi loyalists. When I told one of my riding buddies, a V-Max pilot, about our plans for the weekend, he asked with a smirk if “both” Ontario Moto Guzzi owners would be attending. Funny guy.

What many folks do not realize is that Moto Guzzis have been in continuous production nearly as long as Harley-Davidsons. The company was founded in 1921, and in spite of some economic ups and downs, has soldiered on consistently since that time.

Indeed, for many years, Moto Guzzi has been a bit of an “oddball brand” in North America, little known to the motorcycling community, save and except for a core group of loyal aficionados, the “Guzzista.” In November 2009, I joined this select group of enthusiasts by purchasing my Moto Guzzi Stelvio, the company’s most recent entry in the growing “adventure touring” segment of the market. Fully kitted out with hard side cases, a top box, tank

Page 48

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS bag and sundry other accessories, my Stelvio looks like it is ready to conquer the world, although my riding ambitions remain considerably more modest.

The day prior to our departure, I made a special trip to pick up a couple of supplies essential to any successful motorcycle trip - chocolate and single-malt Scotch. Now we were ready! My wife Gail and I would be doing this trip twoup, and it would be an interesting test in several respects. First, this would be the premier tour of any distance for the two of us together on the Stelvio, and second, it would give us the chance to test our new Bluetooth communication system, a Cardo Scala Rider Q2. This is not the latest and greatest device, as the G4 version is more powerful, but the Q2 seemed to have more than enough functionality for our needs.

Friday morning dawned bright and clear and we were off at the civilized hour of 8:30 AM. The ride to Lavigne would be primarily on secondary roads, and I expected the 547 kilometer (340 mile) journey from our home in London, Ontario, would take roughly six and a half hours, so we would arrive mid-afternoon. The Stelvio was in fine fettle and the miles flew by. The communication system worked well, although for some reason, I could hear Gail much better

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 49 I am not opposed to camping. In fact, I enjoy it, but Gail is committed to the concept of sleeping in a proper bed, with a nearby bathroom that does not require a walk outside with a flashlight in the middle of the night. So the Deluxe Camp it was. I thought it was a little pricey for what we got ($120.00 Canadian per night, plus taxes) but it was as clean as a whistle and quite comfortable.

Friday night was an informal social gathering, where we became acquainted with the riders who had arrived during the day from various parts of Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio. Staying at the Deluxe Camp allowed us to imbibe some frosty adult beverages without fear, as we were within easy walking distance of the Tavern. Our Rally host, Guy Fortier, who is also the owner, chief cook and bottle washer, prepared some tasty barbequed burgers and sausages, so dinner was taken care of. You might notice Guy’s last name is French. In this area of Ontario, the French language is every bit as prevalent as English. Although everyone speaks flawless English here, they have retained their French-Canadian culture as well as the language. Gail is francophone, but not having spoken much French for many years, says that she has lost a lot of it, which is a shame.

than she could me. In fact, I had no problem at any time or any speed hearing her clearly. I believe it has something to do with speaker placement, as my Nolan Trilogy has cut-outs which accommodate the Cardo speakers perfectly, while the speaker ports on Gail’s HJC Sy-Max are much larger, and I believe the issue is that the speakers are placed too far from her ears. Or then again, maybe it’s just a case of Gail’s selective hearing. In any event, we are continuing to work on this little glitch.

For those not familiar with this area, look at a map of the Great Lakes.

Lake Huron has a large bay on its eastern side (Georgian Bay) and if you scan just a little to the right of that, you will find Lake Nipissing. It is a large, shallow lake, with abundant fish and other wildlife. This is the “Near North,” and the rocks of the Canadian Shield reveal themselves everywhere.

We arrived at Lavigne pretty well according to my estimate, checked in at Rally Headquarters (the Lavigne Tavern) and motored down the road to our pre-booked lodgings, “The Deluxe Camp.” The choices in this area are basically limited to a small cabin at one of the many fishing camps, or camping.

Page 50 This was my second Moto Guzzi rally, the first one being the Western New York rally in Westfield, NY. I have to say I am impressed with both the level of technical knowledge and commitment to the marque exhibited by Moto Guzzi owners.

Many of these folks own more than one Guzzi, and more than a few of the 28 or so in attendance were on older models, each one lovingly maintained and apparently indestructible. There is a certain “cool” factor with Guzzis. They are absolutely brimming with character and charisma.

Is there a dark side? Indeed there is, and a fair amount of the conversation during the Rally centered on the issue of distributorship and the dealer network, which was decimated in Canada a few months ago when Piaggio North America in New York City took over from the former Canadian distributor. Most Canadian dealers lost their Moto Guzzi franchise in the spring and early summer. Piaggio NA claims that they are committed to rebuilding the Canadian market, but in Ontario, we have seen very little hard evidence to date to substantiate this claim.

Therefore, the prevailing mantra amongst the loyalists is that it has never been easy being a Moto Guzzi owner, and things really haven’t changed much on that front since the Seventies.

On Saturday morning, an organized ride set out from the Lavigne Tavern to the nearby town of Monetville, where we enjoyed a leisurely – and very tasty -breakfast at the Monetville Tavern. After that, a number of us set out to explore the regional roads. Gail and I hooked up with Dave “Hoovy” Hoover, a Norge owner we met at the rally who happens to reside in our hometown of London. He had lived in northern Ontario a number of years ago, so he knew some interesting area roads. Two other riders accompanied us, both named Randy. Gail and I differentiated them as “Short Randy” and “Tall Randy.” Tall Randy was riding a Norge and Short Randy, a California. Tall Randy is actually Randy Peterson, a 71-year-old from Traverse City, Michigan. Randy has the

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS good fortune to possess the spirit and body of a guy half his age! His wife is a rider as well, but couldn’t make it to the rally as she was experiencing electrical problems with her Honda Rebel 450.

Our route took us north from Monetville on Highway 64 to Regional Road 575, eventually re-joining 64 up to Marten River. We stopped at a scenic picnic area to take a few photos and it was there that Tall Randy told us about the repair he had done a short while ago to his Norge’s brand-new rear tire. He was very pleased that the plug was holding and that he probably wouldn’t have to replace the hoop. Ruh Roh. A rider should never tempt fate and the road gods. After we turned from 64 onto Highway 11 and started heading south to North Bay, we noticed neither Randy was behind us. Hoovy pulled over and we did a U-turn to find out what had happened to our compatriots.

We soon located the Randys at a country store/gas station a few miles back. Tall Randy’s rear tire had gone flat on him again and he had limped into the parking lot where fortuitously, an air pump was available for his use. His old repair was indeed still holding, but the ominous hissing sound from the tire was clear evidence he had run over something else in a different location. His tire repair kit wasn’t working properly. The gun-like plug insertion device was not pushing the plugs through, so I pulled

RIDE LIKE A PRO NJ Jerry ‘Motorman’ Palladino’s Training Classes Being Held in New Jersey ‘NEVER FEAR making a U-turn or dropping your 800lb. motorcycle again’ • Male-Female-Big-Small: It doesn’t matter • You can learn the 3 simple techniques that motor cops have been using for many years • Our instructors - all active or retired motor officers - will show you how to use the motor cop riding techniques to better control and handle your motorcycle

Check our website for available dates

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

Gift certificates available • Course Fee is $150.00

Join Backroads at VIR on July 7 for a Day at CLASS. Spend the day with friends while improving your skills.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 51

out my own kit, which uses a simple manual tool to push the plugs in. I provided a plug, but unfortunately the kit had been in my saddlebag so long, the glue that came with it had hardened. Once again, the brotherhood of the open road prevailed, as a gent who lived in the area noticed Randy’s plight and offered to provide his own tire repair glue. Seems he used to own a Gold Wing, and although he no longer had the bike, he retained some of its accessories, including a tire kit. With the collective efforts of everyone pitching in, we soon had Tall Randy back in the saddle of his Norge and on his way.

After the rally, he posted a note on one of the Guzzi forums that he had made it safely back to Michigan, but would be biting the bullet and purchasing a new tire.

Saturday night, food was again provided at the Lavigne Tavern, although Gail and I missed it as we had gone to Mass in Sturgeon Falls and stayed for dinner at a restaurant there. Later in the evening, the Tavern really began to rock, as Tommy Fyfe and the Whiskey River Rockin’ Blues Band raised the roof. This group was very talented. They did one of the best covers of Jimi Hendrix’ “Hey Joe” that I have ever heard. One of the rally attendees, known to us only as “Harmonica Bob” pulled a blues harp out of his pocket and jammed with the band for the better part of one set. He was excellent, and sounded like he had been playing with these guys for ages!

Sunday morning the riders began to disperse, some with a very long day ahead. Terry and Maggie Whitaker were bound for Dayton, Ohio, pretty close to 700 miles away. We will be back next year – same location, same weekend in August. And by the way, all brands are more than welcome; so don’t be shy if you aren’t lucky enough to be riding one of Mandello del Lario’s finest!

A cup of coffee at the Tavern, some quick goodbyes to Guy’s wife Judy and the remaining rallygoers, and we were off. Jerry Reed once sang “Eastbound and Down,” but we were Southbound and Down and headed home.

Finally the Geese were turned around and flying in the right direction! Ciao!

The 2011 Ontario Guzzi Riders Rally will be held the weekend of Aug. 26-29. For more information visit www.ontarioguzziriders.com.

800.388.8310 • www.kitzhofinn.com The Kitzhof Inn is your All-Season Vermont Home Away from Home Motorcycle-Friendly Inn on Scenic Route 100 in Vermont

Group Packages include accommodation full cooked breakfasts and evening meals.

Fire Pit • Bar/Restaurant in walking distance 332 Rte. 100 West Dover, VT C Y C L E

P R O D U C T S,

N. A .

2010 Inn of D #1 in NY b istinction y NYSH &TA

No Competition.

Precise. Lightweight. Comfortable. Essential.

The perfect home base when riding the Catskills

Seats available for late model Ducati motorcycles.

Enjoy the day’s ride and return to the comforts of the Fairlawn Inn Hot Tub • Walk to Restaurants • Delicious Homemade Breakfast P E R F O R M A N C E

S E A T S

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

7872 Main St. / Rte. 23A, Hunter, NY

• 518-263-5025 • www.fairlawninn.com

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 52

First ride • 2011 Yamaha star strYker

S

words: Neale Bayly • images: Riles and Nelson

itting in the press meeting at the historic Driskol Hotel in Austin, Texas, preceding the first ride of the new Stryker 1300, there are familiar faces wearing Star shirts. Long-term employees and lifelong motorcyclists, I’m among designers, product planners, accessory specialists, road testers, media staff and more. A closely-knit team of highly qualified and dedicated people, all directly responsible for the way the new Stryker’s styling, character and how you can customize it to your own personal preference.

This is a machine built for the American riding public, designed, refined and styled after much time and effort spent interviewing current riders, cruiser and non-cruiser. Then long periods of time riding and evaluating and improving, until the motorcycle you see here is ready for sale. And just in case you think Yamaha slipped a bottle of Scotch in a goody bag before the introduction, take a quick look at Star’s sales figures. As the motorcycle company that sits second in number of units sold, and the company that is nipping away at Harley’s heels, it’s clearly this cohesive mix of home-based knowledge and talent, blended with Yamaha’s pursuit of excellence that is making the Star brand excel.

Just looking at the Stryker outside the Driskol on the morning of our ride confirmed all these feel good thoughts from the previous evening’s launch. The bike sits low, with a lean, muscular stance and has plenty of chrome and deep luster custom-look paintwork. It has the chopper style with the wide bars, raked out front end and big rear tire, but swinging it up off the side stand, it thankfully doesn’t have the chopper feel. Bikes with extended front ends have the heaviest and least precise steering of any motorcycle produced, but not so the Stryker. The somewhat lazy rake and trail of 34 degrees and 109mm extend the wheelbase more than two inches longer than the V Star 1300 at 68.9 inches. Like its bigger brother, the Star Raider, it deals with it extremely well. Sure it’s not quite as sharp at speed on very twisty roads, but for the majority of riding situations it’s barely noticeable. The 21-inch front wheel allows the front end to become skittish on very rough pavement, and the somewhat basic suspension will send big bumps directly through to your vertebrae, but when ridden on smoother roads and at sensible speeds, the Stryker performs just fine.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 53 Built on the V Star 1300 platform, a bike that’s been with us since it replaced the venerable V Star 1100 in 2007, there are a few changes to the over square 1304cc, 60 degree, V-twin engine for 2011.

The Stryker engine gets a slightly higher lift camshaft and roller rocker arms for a little more power, and the ignition and fuel injection have been changed to work with a larger three-liter air box to complement these changes. The 100mm pistons use a conservative 9.5:1 compression ratio and run in 83mm ceramic composite cylinder sleeves.

The engineers have worked hard to give the engine character, but not at the expense of unnecessary vibration. A bike we think of as mid size, the Stryker has plenty of power from idle up to the 6600 rpm red line. It’s not going to rip your arms out of your sockets when you crank the throttle and put the 40mm Mikuni throttle bodies to work, but it certainly has some good, healthy grunt. I liked not having to down shift to overtake on the highway, and the bike’s ability to rumble along at low rpm and accelerate without any fuss if needed, can be credited to the excellent fuel injection.

With a weight wet of 646 pounds, the Stryker is no lightweight on paper, but it’s cleverly disguised the by the low 26.4 inch seat height and wide bars. Yamaha fully expects a third of it’s Stryker sales to come from female riders, so this is a good thing, as it will certainly be a confidence booster. The ability to put your feet flat on the floor, not needing to wrestle the bars to turn the wheel like a conventional chopper, will make life a lot more pleasant not only for the ladies, but for newer riders stepping up to their first full sized bike.

The chopper theme is certainly evident with the wide 210/40R 18-inch rear tire and 120/70 21-inch front, but the Yamaha team has done their homework with their tire choice. Where conventional choppers use a very skinny front tire, the wider one used on the Stryker calms

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 54

things down and makes the bike steer a lot better while improving stability. While this set up is not my cup of tea, overall the combination does a much better job in all areas of road holding than I would have thought initially reading the press literature.

The Stryker comes with regular forward positioned foot pegs. The six-speed gearbox makes light work of shifting gears, and power is taken to the back wheel by a clean, quiet maintenance free belt drive system. A single disc brake is used up front, and this is a generic looking twopiston caliper lightly massaging a 320mm single disc.

There is a one-piston caliper in the rear with a 310mm disc, and to stop in a hurry, you will need both of them in tandem, as they are somewhat modest in their performance.

With a bike of this nature though, I would hope you wouldn’t be doing too much sport riding as the Stryker is about good looks, great feel and the

"Camels have two hoofed toes on each foot, under which a leathery pad links the two toes. When camels walk, they spread their toes as wide apart as possible to prevent their feet from sinking into the sand".

CamelTOE Side Stand Base enlarger PATENT PENDING!!!

CamelTOE’s are currently available for: BMW: F650GS/F800GS TWIN R1150GS/R1200GS/ GS ADV (all years) KTM: 950/990 ADV, SE, SM

British design for display purposes only

FEATURES: ALL STAINLESS STEEL Sandwich construction with SUPERIOR DESIGN and BUILD QUALITY. 2x3mm Stainless Steel Plates (armor plate calibre), Stainless steelbolts M6 x4 (button-head allen-key), Stainless steel nylocknuts M6x4, Stainless steel washers M6x24, Rubber compression washers 12.5mmx4. This product IS "UNBEATABLE" and naturally comes with a lifetime guarantee* - subject to correct usage.

Available exclusively in the America’s through

Adventurers Workshop, Inc. www.advworkshop.com 973-258-0034 • ride@advworkshop.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 55

custom cruiser lifestyle. The paint quality on the four-gallon gas tank is first class and is carried over on the fenders and side panels. Fenders are deliberately made of steel so they can easily be modified or repainted to your own choice once you start accessorizing. The stock pipes have a very custom look as delivered and certainly compliment the bike’s looks. Star is always quick on the draw with their tag line, “We build it, you make it your own,” but this really is the perfect way to describe the accessory options available for the Stryker. Chatting with the man in charge of these accessories, Dave Pooler, I learned there are a plethora of items already available, sixty to be precise.

You can choose from billet covers, performance air filter kits, custom seats and back rests. There are mounts for saddlebags and a choice of windshields for traveling, so whatever your taste, Yamaha dealers have you covered.

Riding the stock bike, there’s no windshield, so the view over the chrome handlebars is very clean. There is however a small, centrally mounted console with a conventional analogue speedometer that sits in the center of the bars.

All the usual warning lights, neutral light, trip counter fuel gage etc are lo-

cated in the panel, and all work as intended. Switchgear is plain and functional, and a pair of conventional chrome mirrors let you get a fairly good view of what’s behind. The relationship of the bars to the seat and the foot pegs make the riding position relaxed, and during our day in the Texas hill country it was certainly very comfortable.

At the time of purchase, you can choose from a chrome trim or a more mean looking blacked out package, and the base price of the new Stryker is $10,990 for the Raven and $11,240 for the Impact Blue or Reddish Copper version. It comes with Yamaha’s normal one-year factory warranty. Parking back at the Driskol at the end of the day, I had a chance to spend some time with the Yamaha guys and see their passion and enthusiasm for the tight, competent, and fun middleweight custom Star Stryker. They have done it again.

Need ideas for places to go and things to do?

Check out our Upcoming Events calendar on page 65.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 56

BRANCHVILLE As Seen In Backroads June 2010 GAADR

63 Ethan Allen Hwy • Ridgefied, CT

203.544.7900 www.Branchville.com

MOTORS

Southern Style BBQ Dine in or Take out Plenty of Room for the Whole Gang

Ask about our

Open Every Day BUT Mondays at 11AM 110 RTE. 17 • SLOATSBURG, NY Phone: 845-753-5555 • www.hogheavenbbqny.com

Discount for any Active US Military or Honorably Discharged in the past with a DD214

TREBOURMOTORCYCLES • Serving motorcycle enthusiasts and representing our brands with pride for over 12 years • Recognized for service excellence including Suzuki’s highest honor The Cutting Edge Award - Servicing all makes and models • We offer Pick up and Delivery service for the entire New York Metro area • Conveniently located just off I-80 at Exit 28 1445 ROUTE 46 LEDGEWOOD NJ 07852 • 973-584-0810 • TREBOURMOTORCYCLES.COM

Bearskin Neck Motor Lodge

If you don’t mind the haunting cry of the gulls or the sound of the waves, look no further.

Open May thru October Convenient to all of Rockport Walk to Bearskin Neck’s quaint shops and restaurants 8 rooms directly on the ocean Plenty of parking 64 Bearskin Neck, Rockport, MA • 877-507-6272 • www.bearskinneckmotorlodge.com

Oz’s Homestay

The Alternative FLY-IN B&B

Oz’s Offers: Queen Memory Foam Mattresses Private Bathrooms Wireless Internet Outstanding Meals Tandem Skydives and Lessons Great Roads/Trails for Riding WARM HOSPITALITY

Let us be your home away from home

Oz’s Homestay 296 Faulkner Rd, Shinglehouse, PA 16748 ozhomestay-huntinglodge.com • 814-697-7218

Who says you can’t take it with you?!

Bicycle/Golf Clubs to Motorcycle Carrier Systems This unique and adaptable system is the most versatile motorcycle accessory on the market today. Handmade in the USA, it enables motorcycle riders to rack their bicycles securely and travel.

Non-brand specific • 1% of sales donated to environmental causes • 1% all sales to JDRF

919-537-9492 • info@2x2cycles.com

www.2x2cycles.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 57

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

www.stopngo.com The Best Tire Repair.

Know Before You Go! 800-747-0238

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

MOTORCYCLE TRAILERS DAYTONA, BIKETOBERFEST, STURGIS AND BEYOND

BARN TRAILERS

SALES 718-426-7039 • www.barntruckrental.com RENTALS 57-05 BROADWAY • WOODSIDE NY 11377 (OFF THE BQE & LIE)

GenMar HANDLEBAR RISERS

KAWASAKI • HONDA • YAMAHA • SUZUKI • TRIUMPH • MOTO GUZZI • ETC Raise your handlebars for a more comfortable ride and still retain stock look.

From $59.95 to $139.95 Order Toll Free (877) 471-1515 Info and Fax (505) 743-2243 • www.zianet.com/GenMar

Gen Mar Mfg. Inc. • 110 1st Street • HC1 Box 35 • Arrey, NM 87930

AMERICANA SOFT SEATS Custom Gel Pad Installation On Any Motorcycle Seat

Harley Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha Lowest Prices Anywhere WE GUARANTEE IT!!!!

732-406-9508 • www.amsss.com • www.americanasoftseats.com

Brands you Know and Trust From Long Island’s Premiere Motorcycle Outfitters…

15 East Deer Park Rd, Dix Hills, NY

631-262-0600 • www.ReadyRiders.com

If you didn’t like cool stuff, you wouldn’t be reading this magazine.

Here’s something you’re going to love.

WASHINGTON CYCLE WORKS We cater to road racers and support all Track Day organizations Check us for Suspension Setups • One-piece Road Race suits in stock

TORQ-IT Screwdriver/Speed Wrench/ Palm Ratchet All In One Tool Variable Speeds Over 600RPM Low Profile, with an “Ergo” Grip and a Non-Slip Design Accepts All 3/8” and 1/4” Sockets and Extensions

BASIC SET: $19.95 • DELUXE SET: $29.95 • ACCESORY SET: $9.95

TORQ-IT PRODUCTS, INC. 1701 Manor Road • Havertown PA 19083 Tel: 1.888.876.9555 • Visit Our New Website: WWW.TORQ-IT.COM

WCW

www.washingtoncycleworks.com

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

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 58

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

Enjoy quaint Victorian Belvidere and scenic Warren County

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

The Boat House Restaurant FEEL THE WARMTH The Only Outdoor Lakeside Dining on Swartswood Lake

Member

Excellent Ride Destination

Sharing your passion for good food since 1983

Serving Lunch, Dinner and Sunday Brunch

Breakfast • Lunch • Espresso Cafe Ice Cream and Dessert • Catering Off-Premise Worth the ride from anywhere!

Tuesday ~ Sunday 11am-9pm Brunch 10am-2pm • Closed Mondays

Open Daily 7am to 4pm • Sunday 7am to 1pm Try our Full Throttle Breakfast Special every Saturday + Sunday

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

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

www.theboathouserestaurantonline.com

SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH TUESDAY-SUNDAY 7AM~3PM Daily specialty items including burgers, homemade soup & pastries Route 739 ~ just south of Milford Rd ~ Dingmans Ferry, PA

570.828.1920 • www.forkliftcafe.com

Slow-smoked chicken, Dry Rub Spareribs, Pulled Pork or Beef Brisket and four of our sides.*

Ask about our Diners Club.

Gift Cards available.

37.50

$

‘50s-Style Drive-In Restaurant Full and Varied Menu Room for the Whole Gang ~~ BIKE NIGHT IS BACK EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT at ~~

THE CHATTERBOX DRIVE-IN

(Feed 4 and two trips to the fridge after midnight) “There’s not a bird back in town that approaches Big W’s Slow Chicken” –New York Times March ‘07

“Best pork ribs within 90 miles of NYC” –New York Times Aug. ‘03

“Finger Lickin’ Good” ✯✯✯✯

Best of 2008

–Poughkeepsie Journal July ‘08

–Hudson Valley Magazine

GREAT FOOD • GOOD TIMES • EXCELLENT RIDING

* This month, say “T-Bone said you’d hook me up” and get one free additional side

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

(that’s Six Minutes North Of Pawling And One Minute South Of The Spooky Old Psychiatric Hospital)

www.chatterboxdrivein.com

(845) 832-6200 • Open noon til 8pm, closed Mondays & Tuesdays

1475 Rt. 22 in downtown Wingdale

lley’s Hudson Va ne Riding Number O estaurant R e u q e b r Ba W North 1076 Route 9 mery, NY Fort Montgo

oute 9W icturesque R Located on P D Perkins rive minutes from State Park and Harriman Point historic West just south of

As seen in November 2010 Great All American Diner Run

845-446-0912 rmerbbq.com www.barnsto

Featured in July 2009 Great All American Diner Run

If you go home hungry it’s your own fault

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 59

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

The Narrowsburg Inn & Grille

Located in the beautiful hamlet of Narrowsburg, NY just off scenic Route 97, 1/4 mile from the Delaware

The Narrowsburg Inn & Grille, since 1840, is a warm welcome spot for riders, as a lunch stop or overnight. With an assortment of menus to please the taste and modernized historical rooms to stay in, along with great enterainment, you'll have an enjoyable time at the Inn!

182 Bridge St • Narrowsburg NY • 845-252-3998 • www.narrowsburginn.com Open 7 Days a Week (Check for hours) • Rooms start at just $95

In the heart of the Berkshires, in Western Massachusetts, surrounded by some of the best riding in New England.

Maplewood Lodging B&B

• Secure Motorcycle Parking • Comfortable Rooms

Best bar menu, lunch or dinner.

Fresh poppers, perogies, calamari, clams and crispy wings with 8 different sauces.

Tues. thru Sat. 11am-10pm Sunday: Breakfast 9am-Noon Lunch and Dinner served until 9pm

John, Christina, chef George and Eoanna welcome you and your friends.

The Riverton Hotel and Restaurant

• Reasonable Rates

610-498-4241 • www.rivertonhotel.com

• Stay two nights and the third night is on us 266 North Main St, Otis, MA

413-269-7351

…your personal heaven on earth!

Located in Arden, only 15 minutes from Philippi, on the beautiful Tygart River in West Virginia, our bed & breakfast is the perfect place to call home while exploring the Mountain state.

Rates from $70 - $90 per night

866.909.4262

www.AngelBandFarm.com Box 696 • North River Road • Philippi, WV 26416

The Charlesworth Hotel is New Jersey’s REAL backroads’ hideaway D antic Rom

Travel along the scenic backroads of the Delaware river.

Meet the Markopoulos family and taste chef George’s Greek American cooking.

• Full Country Breakfast at your time schedule • Owned by Riders

www.maplewoodlodging.com

The Riverton

THE Place to go when you REALLY want to Disappear

ining

Comfortable Rooms

Home of the BEST sunset on the Jersey Shore

New Jersey Avenue • Fortescue, NJ • 856-447-4928

At Belvidere-Riverton Free Bridge, Riverton, PA

Member of

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 60

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

Come Ride the Dragon Deals Gap Store • Motel Bar and Grill

Deals Gap 318 Curves in 11 Miles

www.dealsgap.com 800.889.5550 17548 Tapoco Road • Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771

Think your ad would look good here?

So do we. Give us a call and let’s make it happen. 973-948-4176

Sussex Hills Ltd. For All Your Harley-Davidson Needs Specializing in Motorcycle Repair, Parts & Supplies Cycle Tires Mounted & Balanced • Batteries & Hard Parts Dynojet 250 Dyno available for testing

Proprietor Norman Gross • Since 1976

Whippany, NJ • 973-781-9090

Our Reputation Speaks for Itself 973-875-2048

569 Route 10 East • (1-1/4 miles east of I-287) M/F: 8-7 • Sat: 9-5 • Sun: 12-4

946 Rte. 23 South, Sussex NJ 07461 3 miles north of Sussex Borough

Succasunna, NJ • 973-589-7000 276 Route 10 West • (1-3/4 miles south of I-80) M/F: 8-7 • Sat: 9-5 • Sun: 10-4

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 61

A ‘Fitting’ Place for Women

Play it safe on the outside Keep it sexy on the inside…

17 NORTH BROADWAY • NYACK, NEW YORK 10960 845-358-4400 Can’t make it in? Visit us online @ www.GenaLisa.com

www.beemerboneyard.com USED OILHEAD & K-BIKE PARTS Hundreds of used parts at 50% off new cost or less Order online 24/7 ~ M/C, Visa, Discover or PayPal 100% money-back guarantee ~ parts ship in 24 hours

RiSiNg WOLF gARAgE NYC EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE PARKING FACILITY We p r o v i d e a f r i e n d l y, c l e a n a n d s e c u r e environment for the motorcycle enthusiast

N EW MAINTENANCE PART ~ BELOW RETAIL

Service Area

No Backorders ~ We Stock What We Sell

Personal Storage

We now carry German Liqui-Moly Engine & Gear Oil for BMWs

Air Compressor

973-775-3495 • M-F 12pm~5pm • inquires@beemerboneyard.com

Battery Charging

Monthly Parking Long & Short Term 24 Hour Access Video Surveillance

By Appointment Only East Village NYC Ph: 212 475 5858 • Fx: 212 505 5205

risingwolfgarage@aol.com

www.risingwolfgarage.com

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 62

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS PARKING LOT PALS We have always encouraged riders to practice as much as possible. Setting up a practice course in a big parking lot is an easy way to work on your skills.

The instructors at Ride Like A Pro use these neat little cones called Parking Lot Pals. These stackable cones are 8” wide and 2” high and come in a multi-colored pack of 40. They are lightweight and easily transportable on your motorcycle to your practice area. Since they are virtually flat, they pose minimal risk to the rider and motorcycle should they be run over during practice. You can get them from their website at www.ridelikeapronj and they cost only $30 plus shipping. A great investment if you are serious about working on your riding skills.

STREETSKILLS

MOTORCYCLE TRAINING CARDS

StreetSkills Cards has introduced an exciting new training product for motorcyclists. streetSkills Motorcycle Training Cards are 22 laminated and spiral-bound flashcards that offer instruction on 17 motorcycle-related skills. The innovative card style design offers a more personalized, convenient and ongoing training opportunity for riders.

These cards can provide a gateway into professional training, as well as remedial instruction. The cards are useful to riders of any skill level, from beginners to seasoned veterans. New riders can benefit from the skill development aspects and experienced riders can further their talents and fix any bad habits formed over the years.

Riders use the concise information on the card just prior to riding or at stops along the way. This provides them with a skill or habit to master in a small chunk. Overtime, riders should build good riding habits and skills. They also work well as a refresher after long stretches off the motorcycle.

The actual cards are sturdy, water resistant and easy to use. They are small enough to fit in a tank bag or pocket, but easy to read. The information is presented in a simple format. The content is based on years of research, training and experience by certified motorcycle trainers. Purchase and additional information on the cards, which retail for $15.00, is available on the web at streetSkills.net.

TAPP LITE USB POWER PORT Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days? Right, nobody. Heck, my nieces have them and they are in first grade.

I know when we go on tour I always have a bag of chargers with me, though I have narrowed that down lately. I don’t need to charge my iPhone overnight these day, as it charges while I am riding during the day plugged into the TAPP Lite USB Power Port.

It was just a matter of time before somebody, in this case 3BR Powersports out of Saratoga, California, came up with this idea and it couldn’t be easier.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 63

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS The TAPP Lite USB Power Port is a breeze to install. Simply locate a convenient place on your motorcycle, like your handlebar, and use the included rubber universal bracket to secure the TAPP Lite, route the fused power line to the battery and you are good to go. The TAPP Lite circuitry coverts your machines 12 volts to a useable USB output voltage of 5V ±.25V. Anything that you have that is USB powered can now be powered on your bike including the Apple iPhone, LG EnV, Blackberry, & Motorola Razr (requires charging cable). Also, Garmin GPS, Apple iPod, and any other device that charges using 1A or less of USB power.

For our use we eventually moved the TAPP Lite into our powered RKA tank bag, simply trimming the power line to fit and I now charge my phone, safe and dry, inside my tank bag during my ride.

The TAPP Lite USB Power Port has a weatherproof cap to keep the elements at bay when not in use and the $32.95 is money well spent these days.

They also have a panel-mounted version for those who might want to put this on the dash or fairing.

The TAPP Lite USB Power Port can be found at www.3brpowersports.com.

New Pilot Road 3 Sport Touring Tire from Michelin Michelin enters into 2011 with the introduction of the Pilot® Road 3 tire, ideal for motorcycles as varied as the Honda VFR800, BMW R 1200 RT and Suzuki Bandit 1250S. Enhancing the company’s Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial tire lineup, the Pilot Road 3 tire features the latest-generation 2CT dual-compound technology, with a soft rubber compound on the tread shoulders and a wear-resistant compound down the middle, and all-new “XST” X-Sipe technology.

“As the Sport Touring Motorcycle tire market grows, Michelin responds with the new Pilot Road 3 tire,” said Gary Midkiff, vice president of Michelin North America’s two wheel division. “Tires in this segment have to be adaptable to many different types of motorcycles, as well as a variety of weather and riding conditions. With its XST X-Sipes, the Pilot Road 3 tire will be the benchmark of the Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial class.”

The most distinctive feature of the Michelin Pilot Road 3 tire is its revolutionary new X-Sipe Technology (XST), which adds a unique look to the distinctive tread pattern pioneered on the Michelin Pilot Road 2 tire. The fulldepth sipes help evacuate any water underneath the tire by allowing additional draining capacity of the tread as well as generate pressures at the edge of the sipe blade to break up water film. Besides offering superior wet traction, the XST sipes have the added benefit of promoting long tread life and even wear characteristics.

For more information about the MICHELIN® Pilot® Road 3 tire or the entire Michelin motorcycle tire lineup please visit www.michelinmotorcycle.com.

THE S-CARGO STRAP When you’re ready to load bikes on your truck or trailer are your tie-downs in a snarled pile, making it a pain to grab just two? Every motorcycle rider, racer or restorer knows the problem of reaching for a strap in a tangled mess of tie-downs and the wasted time and frustration in untangling straps for use.

The Revolutionary S-Cargo Strap eliminates that problem forever.

The S-Cargo Strap not only saves time and frustration, it also protects your bikes from damage from the hard metal hooks, buckle and loose, flapping straps.

No More Tangled Mess - The S-Cargo Strap system uses a unique neoprene pouch that makes it different from anything else. The lower hook and all the webbing fit inside when not in use.

Protects Your Bike From Damage – The neoprene pouch protects your bike, or other precious cargo from buckle damage when loading or hauling.

No More Loose Straps – After securing your cargo, there are always a few extra feet of webbing left over. Using the S-Cargo Strap, you can just roll up the loose strap and zip it into the pouch. It is easy, fast and you don’t have a strap flapping in the wind or flailing away to chip or scratch your paint.

Already have a bunch of straps? S-Cargo has that covered too. You can buy “empty” pouches and install them on your own straps in about 15 seconds. Untangle your existing straps one last time and convert them to the S-Cargo system!

The S-Cargo straps and pouches are available through distributors and dealers as well as for individual purchase, starting at just $12.95, on the S-Cargo Strap website s-cargostrap.com/ or contact the company by phone at 831-336-3621 or by email at info@s-cargostrap.com.

CRUZTOOLS COMBO WRENCH HANDLES AXLES AND PLUG SOCKETS TWO VERSIONS, EACH WITH THREE SIZES Axle nuts for dirt bikes can be as large as 32mm, typically with different front and rear sizes. Trailside flat repair and chain tension adjustment are common needs, so offroad riders are faced with carrying two large and heavy wrenches. Another potential problem is a fouled spark plug. While manufacturers may provide a special spark plug socket with the bike, they don’t include the wrench required for use. As a result, a third size becomes necessary.

In an effort to merge these requirements into a single compact tool, CruzTOOLS developed two new Combo Axle Wrenches. Both contain a 14mm box wrench for OEM spark plug sockets and 22mm box wrench for front axle nuts. To handle rear axles, one version contains a 27mm wrench while the other provides 32mm. Between these two variations, most Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki models are addressed, plus many Kawasakis.

Measuring about eight inches (205mm) long and weighing just over five ounces (145 grams), the Combo Wrenches will easily fit into a fanny pack, backpack, or fender bag.

Suggested retail is $14.95 for either version; part numbers are AW142227 (14mm x 22mm x 27mm) and AW142232 (14mm x 22mm x 32mm).

For more information, please contact at their web site at www.cruztools.com.

BACKROADS gladly accepts press releases. Please forward text and images to editor@backroadsusa.com

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 64

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

Perishable Skills • Use it or lose it!

The other evening we were sitting on the deck that runs along the second floor of Backroads Central. It was late in the afternoon and we had spent most of the day enjoying a wonderfully warm mid-March day riding down from an overnight in Andes, New York.

Now the place we call home sits along one of the more popular motorcycling roads in New Jersey and it is not uncommon to find Shira and I up in some comfortable chairs as the sun is dropping down; just watching the bikes coming and going along this twisty and hilly road.

This is where our lesson for this month comes into play.

This was the first really warm day of the year. It was a Friday and many riders played hooky this day to get out and enjoy this early gift from Mother Nature.

You would think that for maybe some of these riders it was their first ride of the year.

Some interesting things happened all at once this day. A few motorcycles came down our hill, at a rather quick pace, and at the same time a yearling black bear appeared on our lawn.

Not seeing a bear since the bear slaughter last Fall, we were excited that something big, black and furry survived the hunt. Right about this time I though I heard something way down the road, but really couldn’t be sure.

A few minutes later I got a call from my neighbor, Michael, a local lawman. There had been a crash down the hill on the second sweeper to the left.

According to him a couple had run off the road and flipped the bike. They were shaken but more or less okay.

By this time first responders had rushed to the scene and we felt it better to stay out of their way and stay put at the office. Nothing we could do now except get in the way. Later on Shira had an errand to run and she passed by the scene where the bike – what looked like a Vision – was still there.

Later over pizza we talked about how these things happen every now and

Rider Education Of New Jersey Inc.

Basic Course • $250.00 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.

again, but more so in the very beginning of the riding season.

That horrible season called Winter eats away at our perishable riding skills and that sharpened expertise you might have acquired throughout last season has to be dulled somewhat from not getting out and riding on a regular basis.

Is this what happened this day? I cannot say for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it had.

We know of a few people who ride only occasionally – motorcycling is not as important to some as for others. When you have that ‘occasional’ rider there are almost always issues to be dealt with.

On the other hand a rider who actively works on his or her riding skills on a regular basis is going to be far more confident and skillfull than the rider who got out just a handful of times last season and rarely, if ever, actually practices or even thinks of their riding skills and how they can improve them.

For these infrequent riders each ride can be like starting over from scratch, not to mention that added stress and anxiety that is piled onto their friends and fellow riders when they are spending a bit too much concern on these occasional riders.

Things happen to motorcyclists all the time, but they seem to happen to less skilled and tentative riders more often than not.

Muscle memory and repeatable tasks such as braking, accelerating, turning and so on always need to be practiced for it to really work.

Like a musician who needs to play every day to keep sharp, so must we ride on a regular basis to remain the best motorcyclists we can be.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 65

UPCOM IN G EVENTS CAL EN DAR

What’s Happening

E V E RY M O N T H - W E AT H E R P E R M I T T I N G

JUNE 2011

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

3-5 • 4th Annual Bennington Triumph Bash, Bennington, VT. Grassroots, independent rally for Triumph motorcycle owners by Triumph motorcycle owners. Camping available at the Greenwood Lodge and campsites or indoor lodging at the Paradise Inn. For itinerary and other info go to: www.armchaircommando.org/bennington/BenningtonTriumphBash/Home.html

First Sunday of the month • Layton Meet at the Layton Deli, corner of Dingmans/Bevans Rd, CR 560, Layton, NJ. Meet around 8am – breakfast available. Join others for a ride or head out on your own Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do some benchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish Third Tuesday • 7:30pm ABATE of the Garden State, North Jersey chapter. Black River Barn, 1178 Rt. 10 West, Randolph, NJ. 7:30pm. New members and all mc brands welcome. Help fight for rights as a motorcyclist in NJ! Alex Martinez 973-390-1918

MAY 2011 1 • Chai Riders MC First Ride of the Season. Sign in: Temple Beth Shalom of Fair Lawn,40-25 Fairl Lawn Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ • 8:30am-4pm. $20/rider; $10/pass. Scenic ride at your own pace, breakfast nosh along the way, BBQ lunch at end site and sooo much more. AMA sanctioned • www.ChaiRiders.org • 201-797-4206 1 • Cross Island MC Long Island Timed or Tour Run. Sign in: Formula One Motorsports, 4030 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY • Timed Run 9am/Key Time. 30mph timed run. If you ever wanted to try a timed run (like the Crotona Midnight Run) here is your chance to do it in the daylight. 10am/LI Tour 10am. Route sheet provided with 90-miles of Long Island’s best roads. $10/bike • www.CrossIslandMC.com 6-8 • 4th Annual Buzzard Bottom Campout. High Country Motorcycle Camp in Ferguson, NC. Located 20 miles east of the Blue Ridge Pkwy at milepost 276. MC-only campground.

For more info www.highcountrymotorcyclecamp.com 7 • Sport Honda Dyno Shootout and Triumph Metuchen Open House. Free Dyno readings from 12pm - 3pm. 911 Middlesex Ave/Rt. 27, Metuchen, NJ • 732-906-9292 7 • The day after Int’l Female Ride Day is Women’s Day at Bob’s BMW. Coffee talk seminars with women riders of note plus join Bob on an afternoon women’s ride. 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com 13-15 • Join Morton’s BMW for their first-ever Spring Fling Rally held at the historic Natural Bridge hotel in the scenic Shenandoah Valley in VA. featuring self-guided rides, both on and off-road, through the gorgeous countryside, a catered barbecue (or vegetarian) dinner Saturday night, door prizes and more. Vendors welcome. $45/pp registration. For more info, visit www.mortonsbmw.com/springfling_2011.html or call 540-891-9844.

4 • Carly’s Kids Day Ride. Sign in/endsite: OCC, 14 Crossroads Ct, Newburgh, NY. 9am; leaves 10am. $20/rider;$30/rider+pass;Day of event add $5 to each. Motorcycle ride thru Hudson Valley led by Paul Sr. to benefit the Carly Fund • www.orangecountychoppers.com 5 • 10th Annual Poker Run/Pig Roast to benefit POW MIA and Veterans sponsored by Rolling Thunder Chp. 3 NJ. Sign in: Tramontin HD, Rt. 80/Exit 12, Hope NJ 9-11am. Endsite: Glen Gardner VFW with live music by Psych, vendors, prizes food. $20/rider; $20/pass. For more info: 516-659-2510 • www.rollingthunder-nj3.org 10 • 11th Annual Informal Gathering of Sidecars at Americade. Headquarters: Adirondack Camping Village. Info: Bruce 610-866-1611 • stephens.bruce.d@gmail.com 7-11 • Americade - the world’s largest motorcycle touring rally. Get the complete lowdown on their new, revamped webpage: www.americade.com 3-12 • Warrensburg Bike Rally. Main Street, Warrensburg, NY. Vendors, food, free public8events. 518-791-8727 • www.warrensburgbikerally.com 9-12 • 2nd Annual New England MotoMarathon. Start: Motofit Motorsports, Danbury, CT. Two-day, three-night riding with headquarter hotel in Shelburne, NH being the Birch Bend Motolodge. For complete details visit www.motomarathon.com or contact John Metzger at 303-641-1062 • john@metzger.com 12 • Nassau County FireRiders XMas in June to benefit the children of St. Christophers.

Sign in: 9am-Noon with breakfast Applebee’s, 938 S. B’way/Rt. 107, Hicksville, NY. $10 an unwrapped toy (no stuffed animals) • www.fireridersmc.com 15 • Blue Knights IX NJ Garlic Run. For details visit their website: www.bknjix.org 11-19 • 88th Annual Laconia Bike Week. Find out about all the goings-on right here www.LaconiaMCWeek.com 17-18 • Triumph Metuchen Demo Truck Event. 875 Middlesex Ave/Rt. 27, Metuchen, NJ • 732-462-4881 • www.triumphmetuchen.com 18 • Art of the Bike presents the 2nd annual Classic Bikes and Blues featuring music, vintage bikes, food and more. 10am-5pm. Tinicum park, Erwinna, PA. For more details visit: www.artofthebike.com

13-15 • Mothers for Daughters Motorcyclists for Breast Cancer & Ovarian Cancer Research. Join hundreds of motorcyclists for a weekend of riding and fun in beautiful scenic Vermont and help raise money for breast and ovarian cancer research. For complete details of the weekend event and room rates, please call 781-861-0005 or visit www.mothersfordaughters.com

25 • Edison First Aid Squad #2 auto/motorcycle show with craft fair to benefit the 75th anniversary of the Edison First Aid Squad. Doors open 10am with trophies, prizes, food and fun for the whole family. 848 New Dover Rd, Edision, NJ. For more details visit www.edisonfas2.org or call 732-549-3883

14 • 9th Annual South Branch Watershed Assoc. Ride for the River Poker Run. Sign in: 9-11am Spruce Run Rec. Area, 68 Van Syckel Rd, Clinton, NJ. $25/bike. For more info visit: www.sbwa.org • 908-782-0422

26 • 3rd Annual Poker Run to benefit Multiple Sclerosis. Two sign in locations: Baers Sports Center, 330 Grandview Ave, Honesdale, PA • Harmony Lodge #8, 519 Rte. 206, Andover Twnshp, NJ • 9am-Noon. $20/pp incl. t-shirt, food at endsite (Walpack Inn), prizes, live music, 50-50 and more • Baer 570-253-2000 • 570-686-2917

14 • 6th Annual Ride to Fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Start/end: Na'brasa Brazilian Steakhouse, Rte. 611 + Jefferson Ave, Horsham, PA.Signin: 9:30am; Ride leaves 10:40. $20/pp incl. run patch, SMA pin and food • www.mjmcalvaryriders.com 15 • Rockaway Township PAL Charity Run for the Kids. Sign in Peterson Field, Rockaway Twp, NJ 9-10am; Ride starts 10:15am Sharp. $25/rider; $10/passenger. 50+ mile police-escorted run includes coffee and donuts at sign-in and BBQ lunch, soft drinks, live music by Brothers Wisdom and many terrific raffle prizes. For more info contact RT PAL at 973-625-4000 ext. 1008 or www.rtpal.org

JULY 2011 9 • Customer Appreciation Day at Sport Honda. Bike wash, in-store specials and more.

Check website for details: www.sporthonda.net • 911 Middlesex Ave/Rt. 27, Metuchen, NJ • 732-906-9292 12-17 • Suzuki Owners Club of North America RallyFest 2011. Goshen, NY. Rally location: Comfort Inn and Suites, Hatfield Lane, Goshen, NY • Host Dealer: Jim Moroney’s Cycles, 833 Union Ave, New Windsor, NY. For more info: suzukiownersclub.org

20-21 • 12th Annual Riding Into History to benefit Project Wounded Warrior. Concours d'Elegance will feature 300-400 antique, vintage, race and cutom bikes fro all over the US. Grand Marshall Kevin Schwantz will attend charity rides and luncheons. For full listing visit: www.ridingintohistory.org

16-17 • 35th Annual Running of the Ramapo 500 sponsored by the Ramapo Motorcycle Club. 500-mile, two-day scenic ride. $33 Pre-reg/$45/day of event includes camping, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, entertainment, awards, prizes, starters pin and finishers patch. Limited to 400 entrants. For complete info: www.ramapomc.org

21 • 4th Annual Hope for Huntington’s Motorcycle/Poker Run to benefit Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Sign in: Kosco HD, 1149 Rte. 23 South, Kinnelon, NJ. Endsite: Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Rd, Ringoes, NJ. Reg. 9-11am • $15/rider; $10/pass.

Ride finishes 2-3pm.

24 • Second Generation MC 8th Annual Dice Run to benefit United Hospice of Rockland.

Sign in: Haverstraw Motorsports, Rte. 9W, Haverstraw, NY. 9:30-11am. $20/rider;$10 pass;$20/walkins. Enjoy 100 mile scenic ride through beautiful back roads. AMA sanctioned. BBQ and Live Music at American Legion, Station Rd, Pomona, NY • www.secondgenerationma.org

21 • Bob’s BMW Vintage and Classic Day. Bob’s special machines and show yours off and impress the judges. 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com 22 • Freedom Run for Wounded Warrior Project sponsored by Bergen County HD/BMW. Start: Bergen Courthouse, Hackensack, NJ 9-10:30am. Run: 11am Sharp. $25/rider; $15/pass. Endsite: Liberty State Park with live music, entertainment and more. For more info visit www.bergenharleydavidson.com 19-22 • Concours Owners Group Spring Fling Northeast Area Rally. Penn Wells Lodge, Wellsboro, PA. Nearby camping also available. Saturday buffet dinner included in rally fee. Detauks abd fee information online www.cog-online.org • 978-394-2591 19-21 • Mid-Atlantic Retread Rally. Headquarters: Bird-In-Hand Family Inn/Restaurant, Rte. 340, Bird in Hand, PA. For more info call: 856-241-8979 22 • Ramapo MC 2nd Annual Scrabble Run. Sign in: Orange Top Diner, Rte. 17 North, Tuxedo, NY. 9am-10:30am. $10/bike. For more details visit www.ramapomc.org or call Dick Roberts @ 201-767-3594 29 • Dawn Patrol MC Memoiral Day Classic. Signin: Bradley Garden Firehouse, 24 Old York Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 9am-Noon. $15/pp covers 60-mile run, food and beverage.

28-31 • United Sidecar Assoc. 33rd National Rally ‘Buckeye Rally’ in Dayton, OH. Headquarters: Dayton Tall Timbers Resort KOA. Info: www.sidecar.com 28-31 • MountainFest, Morgantown, WV • www.mountainfest.com 31 • District II of NJ Corn Boil/Rally. Sigin: 9-11am Williams HD, 1100 US 22, LEbanaon, NJ. Endsite: Bridgewater Eagles, 350 Woodside Ln, Bridgewater, NJ. $15/pp.

AUGUST 2011 8-12 • Concours Owners Group National Rally. Green Mountains at Mount Snow, VT. Rally fee includes buffet dinner. Discount for COG members. For more information please visit www.cog-online.org • 978-394-2591

SEPTEMBER 2011 2-5 • Vermont Rolling Rally. For details visit www.rollingthruamerica.com 4 • Dawn Patrol MC Labor Day Run. Signin: 9-Noon Bradley Gardens Firehouse, 24 Old York Rd, Bridgewater, NJ. $15/pp.

11 • Larz Anderson Museum European MC Day, Brookline, MA • www.larzanderson.org 26-Oct. 2 • Backroads Fall Fiesta Rally. Join us for our week-long rally through MA, NH, VT and NY. See the ad on page 71 or on our website for full details.

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 66

Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure messed up.

I wonder what they were gettin’ into, or were they just lost in the flood?

- Bruce Springsteen

LOST IN THE FLOOD For those of you with a short memory let’s recap this past winter. Better yet, let’s sum it up in two words… It sucked!

By the time March Madness rolled around, not the B-Ball tourney, but the insanity that sets in to we riders by the time the Lion pads in, we were so ready to go – anywhere!

Florida was a part of the grand plan that never happened as a series of storms raced through the east coast and effectively kept us local when we should have been at Mets Spring Training Camp in Port St. Lucie.

Ahh, mice and men.

With a Friday in mid-March that looked, well almost decent, we packed up the bikes and decided to mosey around and see where we’d end up. The first overnight of the year, we hoped.

We had a sort of plan, but after the previous week’s disappointments, we would play it by ear, but had overnight gear in the case we got lucky.

County Road 519 runs south from the New York border and ends down along the Delaware at Stockton, New Jersey. We have always found 519 to be as nearly perfect a riding road as you could find.

WE CAN HELP

DIrt Come meet the all-new staff…

strEEt …some of the best in the business

WAtEr 10 Mill Plain Rd Danbury, CT 06811 203.792.3900 www.motofit.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 67 Where the Lehigh River runs into the larger Delaware, there is normally a nice waterfall. This day it was not there as the rivers simply met with violent results.

The water had risen so high that the back side of Route 611 was submerged and Shira had to do a neat job of piloting us around the rest of Easton and I78 before we once again regained 611 south.

These road closures began to happen with more and more frequency and taking a clue from the Book of Smarter Choices, we rode up the steep cliffs to higher ground.

By this time it was fairly late in the day, and with daylight savings time still some days away we rolled into the artsy hamlet of Newtown, Pennsylvania, just west of Washington’s Crossing and grabbed a room for the night.

Evenings in Newtown have always been fun and such was the case this night as well.

But, maybe not this day. Our first clue was the knocked down ‘Road Closed’ sign.

With it being on the floor we thought that perhaps the road had flooded the day before, but was now open.

Nope, big time flooded – a lake where once motorcycling nirvana lay.

With a big DPW truck that had followed us down keeping watch lest we try a major water crossing, we u-turned and went to Plan B. By the time this trip would be completed we might need the entire alphabet.

We ended up crossing in Pennsylvania at the Free Bridge in Belvidere, getting an overhead view of the normally peaceful Delaware that, this day, was a raging beast. Our route passed the Riverton Restaurant, long time supporters of this magazine and a fine place to eat.

Continuing on we headed south, but in Easton we got another close up look at what the mid-March floods had done to the region.

Wheel Sport Center Inc.

Town and Country CYCLE CENTER

115 Route 23N • Hamburg NJ • 973-875-2111 www.townandcountrycyclecenter.com Serving the motorcycling community for over 25 years

* COME VISIT OUR NEW, BIGGER, BETTER LOCATION! *

399 HUGUENOT ST • NEW ROCHELLE, NY 914.636.7235 • fax 914-636-6184

www.newrocyamaha.com Franchised Yamaha Dealer for over 50 Years

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 68

The next morning we began to retrace our steps back. We figured we knew where all the ‘Road Closures’ were.

Right.

In typical ‘I can do better’ style, we veered off the route and went looking for that short cut, scenic road, beautiful byway that I was sure was there.

We did find the Brig O’doon Coffee House – part java haven, part New Age sanctuary, part health food store. It was perfect for us to rethink our ride.

Not letting a good thing go bad fast enough I, once again, dragged us down some forgotten road heading to what I thought would be the river.

Here we found the roads washed away again and our searching to cross the river back to New Jersey began to take on epic proportions. Plans Q, R

and S were quickly gobbled up, and by this time we were truly lost in the flood.

But, on the fun side, we were forced down a number of roads we were not aware of. Red Cliff Road was especially fun as was Upper Tinicum Church Road.

Eventually we found enough of the River Road to get us to the bridge into Frenchtown, which had its banks full of gawkers that had come down to see what was happening in the Delaware.

Our trek back up was fairly uneventful, basically ‘cause we knew where not to go on the backside of this trip. But, still we did get a good look at what Mother Nature can do when aroused and still got out for that first overnight of the year.

Thank the Gods of Weather.

2011 Fall Fiesta Mon., Sept. 26 thru Sun., Oct. 2 A Full Week of Riding Fun Join us for all or part, but do join us.

It’s shaping up to be one of our best Rallies yet.

Monday, Sept. 26

Tues-Wed, Sept. 27-28

The Publick House

Ocean Point Inn

Thurs, Sept. 29

Fri-Sun, Sept. 30-Oct. 2

The Gray Ghost Inn Colors in the Catskills

Sturbridge, MA

East Boothbay, ME

West Dover, VT

The Hunter Inn

508-347-3313 • Rooms: 89/night

Rooms: starting at $89/night 800-552-5554

Single $59 • Double $98/night 800-745-3615

Rooms: starting at $110/night

$

Ask for Backroads when booking

Mention Backroads for a 10% discount

We’ll spend our first night at the Publick House’s Country Motor Lodge nestled in an apple orchard near the main inn. Enjoy a great ride into New England on the way to our more northern stop…

Perched at the tip of a scenic, rockbound peninsula in East Boothbay, we’ll spend two days exploring It’s back to our old friends the ‘Fingers’ of Carina and Magnus and their Maine’s coast never-ending hospitality. It may with its historic only be one evening, but we’ll enjoy lighthouses, quaint villages and a great meal, roasting marshmallows around the campfire and tall tales all the lobsta rolls you can eat. on the front porch.

What would a Backroads’ Rally We could end it here, but we’ll head be without a stop at… south to Hunter Mountain and…

800-270-3992 Mention Backroads for discount

This will be the 4th year that Colors in the Catskills will be held at Hunter Mountain, in conjunction with Octoberfest. Hunter Inn is within walking distance, so we’ll enjoy a great day’s ride then park the bikes and join the festivities.

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Page 69

Two from Machineart Moto for your German Ride Avant Front Fender Extender After doing a bunch of late winter miles on Shira’s F650GS we found that the front fender did simply an adequate job at best at keeping dirt, mud, salt and grime off the radiator, exhaust and frame components.

Once again we turned to Andrew Serbinski and Machineart Moto. We had installed his Mud Sling on our R1200Gs last year and it worked superbly, so when we heard of the Avant Front Fender Extender, we ordered one up for the F650GS. Installation of the Avant could not be easier, as there is no drilling required as the Avant uses special locking brackets and T25 Torx Screws to attached the Extender to the stock fender.

This also allows for easier and complete removal if you care to in the future; but why would you?

It took about 5 minutes to put on and added a full 5.75 inches more protection, plenty adequate to protect the engine, pipes and radiator from mud, dirt and debris. The Avant is molded in resilient polypropylene and it exactly matches the texture of the stock fender. It also flairs out at the bottom for even more protection. The Avant Front Fender Extender sells for $69.00.

MudSling for the BMW R1200R MachineartMoto, designers of specialized products for BMW motorcycles, introduces the MudSling 12-R designed to fit the BMW R1200R. The MudSling, originally developed for the BMW R1200GS and F800/650GS, extends the successful rear fender formula to the R model providing mud, water, tar, and rock splash protection for the suspension, battery area, and back of the engine. It reduces clean-up maintenance and protects surrounding cast and painted parts from pitting.

“Customers have been asking for a rear fender solution for their R1200R’s that is more affordable and sturdier than a hugger formerly available only from Europe”, says Andrew Serbinski, President of Machineart. “A hugger must be cantilevered over the tire since the only place to mount it is to the single-sided paralever arm and is thus subject to bending and vibration.” The MudSling mounts directly and firmly to the underside of the frame with two screws and with zip ties to the side frame tubes. It installs easily in 5 minutes and, with its signature MachineartMoto visual flair, looks beautifully integrated with the R1200R. The price of the MudSling 12R is $139 and it is in stock for immediate delivery.

MachineartMoto designs and manufactures products sold by MachineartMoto. Products are sold through the MachineartMoto web site, (www.machineartmoto.com) BMW and independent dealers, and distributors outside of the USA.

Stumpy’s YAMAHA Your Toy Store at the Shore

YAMA-HOTLINE • 732-776-5514 1207 Route 35 South • Neptune, NJ • www.stumpys.com

Specializing in Ducati, BMW, MV Agusta, Triumph and Aprilia Service • Repairs • Suspension upgrades and engine performance Give us a call or stop on by 41 Ballard Rd • Middletown, NY www.europeancycleservices.com 845-725-7707

MAY 2011 • BACKROADS

Page 70

PRODUCT REVIEW

ALPINESTARS TECH ROAD GORE-TEX GLOVES

A lot of you out there have heated grips on your rides, and I’m jealous as I have yet to make the leap into this particular technology that does such great things for your digits in chilly weather. So those like me have to rely on unusually good gloves if we want to arrive at our destinations with warm, still-functioning hands, and this creates a real challenge for apparel makers. It wouldn’t be that difficult if all these gloves had to do was keep your hands warm and bulk was not a concern, but gloves fit for touring also have to protect these same hands in the event of a get-off, ward off precipitation and provide a high degree of dexterity so you can safely and comfortably operate the controls.

In order to fulfill these requirements, you need gloves that are seriously loaded with advanced materials and assembled with great care. The Alpinestars Tech Road Gore-Rex gloves are an excellent choice, for these highly complex gloves have a veritable catalogue of high-tech materials all assembled in a shell designed to make them an ideal touring companion, especially in cooler weather. While these are not full-on winter gloves I regularly wore them in high 30s/low 40s weather on an unfaired bike with excellent results.

The shell is composed of full-grain leather with some fabric inserts in nonimpact areas, along with some accordion pleats for freedom of movement.

There is a velour insulated top inner lining for comfort as well as a Gore-Tex insert for weather resistance. Micro fleece is used instead of velour in the inner palm to balance comfort with dexterity, and the exterior leather palm has stone polyurethane (PU) reinforcement. There are rigid PU knuckle protectors and 4mm EVA foam padding on top of the fingers and thumb. A patented high finger bridge helps “prevent finger separation, and leather twisting around the fingers, in the event of an accident.” The engineering in these gloves is evident everywhere, as you can see. Retention is via a Micro Velcro wrist closure strap and a zippered cuff closure. The gauntlet is flat and designed to fit under the sleeve of your jacket, and I didn’t realize this until I struggled like an idiot to squeeze the sleeve into the gauntlet. Works much better the other way.

These gloves fit snugly (in fact I recommend sizing a size larger than usual) but are as warm, dry and comfortable as you would expect given the meticulous design and exemplary workmanship. They cost a lot but then you can certainly see where the money goes, and considering how critical it is to protect your hands from impact, abrasion and the elements I’d say they’re an excellent investment. The Alpinestars Tech Road Gore-Tex gloves are available in sizes S-3XL and retail for $189.95. www.alpinestars.com. ~ Bill Heald

Autocom We’re Back - Actually, we never left…

The Best Motorcycle Communication System on the Market

NEW IMPORTER, NEW PRODUCTS, NEW DEALERS Enjoy crystal clear audio from ALL of your favorite devices. Integration for music, GPS, radar detector, phone, bike-to-bike including CB and more.

ANY BIKE To experience why Autocom is the clear choice for communications see one of our dealers or call

ANY SPEED

GUARANTEED

Max BMW Motorcycles

Mortons BMW Motorcycles

North Hampton, NH • 603-964-2877

Fredericksburg, VA • 540-891-9844

Country Rode Motowerks

Adventure BMW

Blue Moon Cycle

Fairport, NY • 585-421-0480

Chesapeake, VA • 757-523-7055

Norcross, GA • 770-477-6945

Rocket Moto

Blue Ridge Powersports

Hollis, NH • 877-533-4245

Harrisonburg, VA • 540-434-7345

866-951-5550

www.autocomdirect.com

BACKROADS • MAY 2011

Backroads Spring Break Update

Page 71

For those of you who are coming to our annual Spring Break Rally in Canandaigua, NY there will be a group meeting at the Port Jervis Diner in Port Jervis, NY, located at the confluence of Rte. 6 and 209.

Folks will be gathering at 8am for breakfast, leaving to follow our route to the Inn on the Lake around 8:30.

We think you’ll like the route we set-up and we know you are going to love the rally!

You can download all the GPS routes for the Spring Break from our website: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html. Here’s the printed route for the ride from Port Jervis to Canandaugia. Have a great ride up and we’ll see you there.

FROM THE PORT JERVIS DINER TO THE INN ON THE LAKE, CANANDUAIGUA, NY • 263 MILES ROUTE 97 NORTH LEFT - CROSS BRIDGE AT BARRYVILLE CR 434/55 RIGHT AT LACKAWAXEN RD

RIGHT AT ROUTE 92 NORTH CROSS INTO NYS – BECOMES ROUTE 79 STAY ON ROUTE 79 TO WATKINS GLEN BEAR RIGHT AT ROUTE 409

RIGHT AT CR 590 CROSS LACKAWAXEN RIVER RIGHT AT MASTHOPE PLANK RD RIGHT AT WELCOME LAKE RD

BEAR RIGHT AT CR 28 BEAR LEFT AT MUD LAKE RD RIGHT ONTO ROUTE 226 IMMEDIATE LEFT AT CR 23

RIGHT AT PEGGY’S RUNWAY LEFT AT CR 652 RIGHT AT PLANK RD FIRST LEFT – STAY ON PLANK RD

STRAIGHT ONTO BIRD’S EYE-WANETA RD LEFT AT CR 87 LEFT AT CR 54 RIGHT AT CR 54A INTO HAMMONDSPORT

RIGHT AT MILANVILLE RD LEFT AT HIGH BRIDGE RD BEAR LEFT AT STONE ARCH RD STRAIGHT AT BROOK RD

STAY ON CR 54A ALONG KEUKA LAKE LEFT AT ITALY HILL RD LEFT AT CR 32 RIGHT AT ITALY TURNPIKE

STRAIGHT AT GRIFFITH RD LEFT AT FALLSDALE RD BEAR RIGHT AT VALLEY RIDGE RD BEAR RIGHT AT DILLMUTH RD

STRAIGHT AT ITALY VALLEY RD BECOMES CR 21 RIGHT AT CR 53 STRAIGHT AT CR 21

RIGHT AT OREGON TURNPIKE LEFT AT ROUTE 371 WEST RIGHT AT ROUTE 171 NORTH CROSS SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

RIGHT AT CR 16 RIGHT AT PARRISH ST RIGHT AT CR 21/332 TO HOTEL UNPACK, RELAX AND WE’LL SEE YOU FOR DRINKS