October 2010

2010 Vol. 16 No. 10

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OCTOBER

AUTUMN RIDING IT’S A-MAZING HUNTER LOOP NORTHWARD HO! LONG ISLAND DUC

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M O N T H LY C O L U M N S

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F E AT U R E S

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

LONG ISLAND DUC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 IT’S A-MAZING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

WHATCHATHINKIN’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

HUNTER LOOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

A DIFFERENT KIND OF RIDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 THE STORY OF RESTORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

ON THE MARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 BACKLASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 BIG CITY GETAWAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

NORTHWARD HO! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 JUMPING TO CONTUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS DUCATI 848EVO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

WE’RE OUTTA HERE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

PRODUCT REVIEWS/SPOTLIGHTS

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

BEST BACK - BACK SUPPORTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

INDUSTRY INFOBITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

HELD STEVE II GLOVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

ROC STOMPA FOOTPEGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 GIVI SILVER SOFT LUGGAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil ~ Publishers Contributors Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Dennis Lid, Frank L. Palmeri, Tim Wineland, Dr. Seymour O’Life Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

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

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

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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FREE WHEELIN’ Brian Rathjen

PERCEPTIONS II

Last month I touched a bit on how, sometimes, the folks we ride and associate with determine how we ride and what we wear. This carries over to styles of riding and what riders even ride.

BMW riders, along with many other sport-touring bikes, tend to wear strong cordura suits - Aerostich, Olympia and the like.

Many sport bike riders emulate the racers and full or two-piece leather suits are the norm - many of these riders are track veterans themselves, whether it be real racing or simple track days.

Some of these riders, many of whom are younger in years, have been brainwashed by certain television shows that say stunting is not only acceptable, it is expected and downright necessary.

Before I get to my point let me say I have nothing against a good wheelie or stoppie - when done at the appropriate place and time. Lots of talent needed to do this. But, the appropriate place and time is key.

I do have a major problem (this would be my point) when this is done at a local bike night, crowded public roadway or the George Washington Bridge for that matter!

Combine this with riders who treat public roads like their private track and the perceptions the general public have of all of us is as a serious threat. Most of these folks vote and some have real power that can quickly be used against us - all of us.

The truth is the general public doesn’t know or care of the differences in riders, machines, styles and behavior. A motorcycle is the same to them no matter where it was built or who happens to be riding it.

The couple on the dresser Harley are going to be blamed for what the half dozen kids on sport bikes did through town that morning. And, the guy on the silent Gold Wing is going to take it on the chin for the rumba of ultra-loud Harleys that came though just a few minutes before.

As with many things - it is all perception.

Many times these little tirades of mine fall back to the old wear better gear, or at least some gear, when you ride.

Occasionally I spot some things that really grab my attention - like the cruiser rider from last month who went out of his way to put on sunscreen to protect his skin while riding through the Mojave desert.

This month I have an example that rides in a completely different direction.

We were recently passed by a young man who seemed to take his protective gear very seriously; top of the line full-face helmet, leather gloves plus the addition of serious back and shoulder body-armor protection.

This would all be good if he might have had some real pants and a jacket on. He looked more ready for a Jimmy Buffett concert than the road.

I am sure the road was more than ready for him.

It’s one of those things that make you go ... “Huh?” Personally, for myself I like real gear.

I remember riding to the local Chatterbox Bike Night a few years back, during the hotter months, and getting off the bike with jacket, pants and boots on and hearing some guy, wearing black jeans, black tee, black vest (go figure?) saying loud enough for me to hear it that, “Look at this guy, is he dressed for the winter? Ha ha!”

Well he got a big chuckle from that and so did his friends.

Not one to let the chance to comment on a moronic statement like that pass by I turned and simply told him, “Not the winter my friend - I’m dressed for the fall.”

I think one guy at the table go it. Perceptions at work.

For the record the riding suit I had on was extremely well vented and I would bet I was far more comfortable riding that night than Mr. Winter ever was.

Through the years I have seen many riders join Backroads for our various rides and rallies only to see them slowly evolve and have their perceptions change on what and what not to wear while riding.

Riders who first showed up with half-helmets and vests now sport real jackets and modular helmets.

Have they been totally converted? Nope.

But they have seen first hand how real gear can allow survival if the bad happens and they have made changes and compromises to what they wear and how they ride. They look at riding in a more serious light and they have let their perceptions change and grow; and that’s good thing.

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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

NOT AGAIN!

A couple of years ago, while traveling in South America, my backpack was pilfered and I was stranded in Santiago, Chile with no ID or money. The sickening feeling lasted for quite some time, even after the documents were replaced and I was safe at home. The credit card bills showing charges that I had not incurred were a constant reminder of my guard being let down.

From that moment on, I was ever vigilant with my belongings, whether on the bike or strolling through town. Closing the barn door after the horse leaves certainly doesn’t bring it back, but it will prevent the other horses from taking a hike.

LEFT SIDE More recently, we arrived home from running a few errands to find our home broken into. We had just been gone a couple of hours, but that was enough for the mutts to come in the bedroom window and pull our home apart. It was one of those hot, sunny summer days and we had left the windows open. Having been complacent allowed the bad guys entry and, while the authorities did catch them, we’ll never see the memorabilia and heirlooms again.

When told of this event, most friends and family reacted with the same statement, ‘You must feel so violated’. Truth be told, the incident in Chile was much more violating as stuff was taken off my person.

Our home invasion, after the initial shock anyway, was more akin to being terribly, terribly put upon.

During this same time, something else was taken from me. I’m sure those of you who have been reading this mag for a while remember last year when Brian’s R1150GS took a fatal turn due to his failed cam chain tensioner ricochetting inside the motor. Well, this year at our Summer Soiree in North Carolina, my R1150R developed the same illness. While spending one of

the most offensive of days riding through Clingman’s Dome and the Great Smoky National Forest (due to the incredible overpopulation of peeping tourists and ridiculously high temperatures), my bike began making this very loud knocking sound. I assumed it was due to the heat and traffic, as the bike kept stalling during the crawl we were forced into. Once back at Fontana Village, I immediately sought the help of the one person there who would undoubtedly diagnose my ill ride. Armen Amirian to the rescue.

Armen has been a master mechanic for many steeds going on, I’m guessing, 30 years and has been imparting his wisdom at Queens College and other fine establishments for well over a dozen years. Aside from this, he’s a helluva guy and a long-time friend.

One listen and he had us pulling the left side of the motor open to find the cam chain to be incredibly loose. This little piggy would not make the ride home. Thankfully, our friend Nuri had brought her G650GS down in a van, which would be a perfect way for me to get home. Rides were swapped and fingers were crossed, in hopes that once at Backroads Central this was fixable.

While we all hope for happy endings, this was not one of them. Upon further review, not only was the tensioner shoe broken, the spring, which was to be replaced, was nowhere to be found. Steve, formerly of Touch of Class Motorcycles, had made the trip to, presumptuously, give my bike a tuneup. He RIGHT SIDE gave me the bad news that the cases would have to be split and, while it certainly could be done, it would be a good ‘winter project’ and cost quite a bit.

With almost 70,000 miles on the clock (what I felt was middleaged, but what do I know), I decided to call it. I had already been thinking about a replacement, but was hoping to get another couple of years from my most excellent 1150R. The good do die young.

Now you might ask, ‘If Brian’s bike had this problem and your bike has the same motor, why didn’t you seek a fix before this happened?’ That’s a (Continued on Page 10)

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HEALD

A ROUGH EXIT TO THE SUMMER

As a vast, diverse, truly indefinable family, we have had a lot to deal with of late. The “we” I refer to is, of course, the rag-tag gang of humans that comprise that cult known as riders; that robust mob who chooses to hit the road on two wheels whether for basic transportation, adventure, weekend leisure, touring with the best conveyance possible, or to compete at the highest level of motorsports. We are a true family in that I adore a lot of you, and don’t adore a substantial number as well for you at times display questionable judgment (as determined by the few brain cells and extensive life experience the Great Spirit has allocated to me). But you are still my family, and I will do my best to love the whole flock even though you make it difficult sometimes.

The economic poop storm has been hard on the motorcycle industry as it has been on most every type of commerce, but the last few days of August along with the first days of September were especially bad not just in the business of motorcycling, but in terms of what really matters in life. In fact, one thing tragedies can do is make the other struggles we have faced pale in comparison.

We start with 13-year-old racer Peter Lenz, who died from injuries sustained when a 12-year-old racer crashed into him during the MD250H race on August 29th, during the Indy GP weekend.

In a statement released to the media, Peter’s parents said, “Peter Lenz passed away this morning from injuries

sustained from a racing accident. On behalf of the Lenz family, we would like to thank Peter’s friends and supporters for all their help throughout the years. We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, but know that Peter is racing even faster in the sky. Our thoughts and prayers are now with the other racer and his family, who were also involved in this tragedy.”

This terrible incident released a firestorm of commentaries and comments, and one witnessed the very ugly confrontation where parents attack other parents who allow their child to participate in a potentially hazardous activity. Many question the logic of such young guns racing at this point in life, with bikes that are pretty potent. Others see no point in denying a youngster the most fulfilling life possible. All sides have valid points, but none of these points will bring this kid back. Very sad.

The carnage continued. A few days later, we had the sadness of September 5th. Moto2 racer Shoya Tomizawa died from injuries sustained during a crash in the first Moto2 race at the World Superbike event in Misano, Italy. Like Lenz, this was a really well-liked guy who had a bright future ahead of him, and it understandably shook up everybody in the World Superbike community.

Strange thing: it was on a previous September 5th, 1993 at the same Misano circuit where World 500cc Grand Prix Champion Wayne Rainey crashed and suffered spinal injuries that have left him partially paralyzed and wheelchair bound ever since. It was also on September 5th of 1995 that the motorcycle community lost John Britten, the inventor of the incredible Britten race bike that was a brilliant as it was unconventional, and completely built in his New Zealand shop. In this case it was cancer that took him from us, and we are not likely to see anybody with his level of amazing creative abilities and engineering prowess anytime soon.

What the heck is it about September 5th, anyway? Weird. Also during this general period of time this year Cycle News ceased publication after 40 (Continued on Page 10)

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

ON THE MARK MARK BYERS

DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR

Did you ever think about what it takes to be an ambassador? A person always in the public eye, under scrutiny of the host country and your own, and who could be responsible for an international incident that reflects badly on his entire country?

That’s a weighty responsibility. Think about it in terms of what it means to be a motorcyclist: every time we’re out there, what we say and what we do has the potential to affect the way the public feels about “our country” of motorcycling. Our actions and words have the ability to influence, for good or evil, the attitudes of both drivers and other riders.

The other riders may be among the most critical: on the way home from work the other day, a guy on a motorcycle tailgated me, only to zoom around and then do it to a guy in another lane, and so on. As a rider, I know the danger into which he was needlessly placing himself and I was angered by his actions (I was disappointed in his attire, but that’s another story). The sad part is that many drivers are beginning to consider reckless riding de rigueur from motorcyclists and it’s only other riders who get truly incensed.

Whether it angers them at the time, however, that kind of behavior leaves a lasting impression on the soccer dads and minivan moms when it comes time to vote.

The idea that every time I ride, I’m an ambassador for motorcycling came to me, like a lot of them do, during my morning commute. I have the good fortune to be able to take a longer, backroad alternative to the bigger highways for most of the trip and I frequently am on it when kids and their parents are waiting for the school bus. I know the road well and I was no stranger to hotfooting it a little until one day as I passed a kid and his mom waiting by the road and realized: to that mom, I’m probably not some Average Joe commuting to work by bike - I’m “one of those crazy motorcyclists.”

Now, I take a little more time on the route and I’ll even throw in a wave to mom and the kid (what kid doesn’t think motorcycles are cool?). I hope

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that in some small way, now I’m closer to being thought of as “that friendly guy on the blue bike who waves at me and my kid” than a crazed hooligan who “oughtta be outlawed.” Slowing down and trying to set a good example also has the benefit of being safer, both for me and for the world at large. Thinking of myself as an ambassador has made me conscious of all the ways in which my riding might be perceived, from inside or outside the motorcycling world.

I’m no saint, nor do I expect everyone to be. In younger days, I’ve come home from rides feeling both enthralled from a fair amount of hooliganism and also like I needed to take a shower to wash away the guilt. I’ve given my share of single-digit waves to people who cut me off and done my share of stupid things in answer to bad four-wheeled behavior. I’ve done some pretty silly things in general during my motorcycling career and have been fortunate enough not to have any of them hurt me in a substantial way...except perhaps in the minds of the motoring public. Maybe someone can learn from my mistakes.

I still appreciate a great wheelie...when ridden the length of our dirt track behind the bus garage. I cringe when I see a big one hoisted on the DC Beltway with a large number of commuting witnesses in cars - witnesses with cell phones, votes, and Congressmen. Hell, some of them ARE con(Continued on Page 10)

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WHATCHATHINKIN’

(Continued from Page 6)

mighty good question. At the time, we didn’t know that it was a common occurrence in 1100 and 1150 boxer engines. There had been numerous online discussions, apparently, and a lengthy article in Motorcycle Consumer News by Moshe Levy on a fix for this situation. I guess I’d missed all of those. Truth be told, if this was an inherent problem with pre2005 Oilhead motors, you’d think that BMW themselves would, maybe, have a recall, as the fix is relatively inexpensive and easy to perform. I know at least half a dozen Oilhead owners who would have benefitted from this.

Having a dead soldier in the garage, I made the call to Beemer Boneyard to haul away the carcass. They were more than fair with their compensation, and those sheckles will be put towards the replacement - an F650GS (which will immediately be altered so the sticker says 800). I can now go confidently on all those ‘detours’ we encounter in our flawless routings involving gravel, dirt, ruts and such.

I will certainly miss my sturdy mount as it carried me through many an adventure. But I’ll look forward to breaking in my new ride, accessorizing and farkelizing it, and bringing it on newer and greater adventures.

For those with Oilhead R850, R1100 and R1150 engines from 1993 to 2004 that haven’t been upgraded, you can get the full fix from Moshe Levy’s article here: www.mklsportster.com/Articles/mcncct.pdf. You can order said replacement from Tom Cutter’s Rubber Chicken Racing Garage for $80 plus tax/shipping here: www.rubberchickenracinggarage.com/chain.html.

Good luck, stay vigilant, and ride with the wind.

HELMET-HOLDER.COM Treat Your Helmet Like a Work of Art

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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years, which was an unexpected blow to just about everybody. It may rise from the ashes at some point, but as of this writing I’ve seen no new owners appear. This publication was a major staple of just about every amateur and professional racer out there, no matter what type of track and motorcycle involved, as well as a great source of information on all things motorcycle. They had a staff of fine writers, photographers and editors; folks I have admired for years. This was yet another rotten thing on top of other rotten things that happened as we said adios to summer.

So, are you depressed yet? This too, shall pass. I didn’t write this to bring you down, only to let you reflect on some of these things. Such a run of ill wind can give you perspective, and help focus on why you’ve always got to appreciate what you have while you have it. And we have a lot, too, especially since the best time of year for riding in New England is upon us. Allnew motorcycles are starting to trickle out from the manufacturers, including more touring and Adventure Sports models than ever before. All that hideous humidity is gone, and we can now happily wear our heavier leathers and even close a vent or two. Massive insects will no longer hurl themselves at our visors, goggles and windshields, for they have all headed south where they belong. I’d go on about this good stuff, but you know what? I need salsa, as we’ve run out. I’m outta here, amigos. Kato! Warm up the Street Triple R!

ON THE MARK

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gressmen. It might represent a significant amount of motorcycling skill to ride standing one-footed on the seat through heavy traffic, but it represents an even greater amount of public-relations stupidity. There’s a time and a place for everything and, like ambassadors, our actions (and our attire) are always under scrutiny.

Motorcyclists are some of the nicest and most generous people in the world: think of all the brain tumor rides, toy runs, poker runs, Patriot Guard rides, etc. and the positive public relations impact they have on the public.

Unfortunately, a great deal of it is undone by reckless behavior or bad images projected by just a few. Or, as we say at work, it takes quite a few “attaboys” to make up for one “dumbshit.” So, what do you say: are you in, Mr. Ambassador?

at Country Rode Motowerks

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His tales are fun, surprising and entertaining while serving to remind us to take a chance and pursue our dreams.

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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BACKLASH New Readers

LETTERS

Hey Backroads, I found your magazine in the waiting area of Apollo Tire in Denville, NJ. As soon as I read one I went home and ordered a subscription.

I’ve lived in northern NJ (Parsippany) since I was a kid and have been riding since I was 19 (I’m 41 now). My favorite local destination is the Delaware, especially Hawk’s Nest and north of that on Rt. 97.

Just missed your article on Nova Scotia, which I’d have loved to see since I’m planning to go there next year, and enjoyed the current article on the Madeleine Islands. I just returned from a ride around the Gaspe peninsula and last year rode with a buddy up the other side of the St. Lawrence, as far as Godbout. I’m looking for the right bike (GS? Multistrada? Stelvio?) to go north to the Trans-Labrador highway in the next year or two.

I don’t know if you accept outside article submissions, or if any of those areas appeal to you, but if you do I’d love to send you an account of any of those travels.

If not, I will continue to enjoy your magazine. Writing about the places and roads to visit on the bike is even more exciting than reading the usual mags about the bikes!

Thanks again. You can consider me a lifetime subscriber.

Kevin Kretz

Kevin, Thanks for the support. We do indeed take submissions and you can find our guidelines here; www.backroadsusa.com/writersguideline.html Good quality high res photography is a must.

Mail:

BACKROADS PO Box 317 Branchville NJ 07826

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

TO THE

EDITOR

Got something to say? We’d love to hear it.

Letters may be edited, never censored, to fit.

booths of the same company in Tour Expo. I sent an email to them asking how they can have two Gerbings dealers and Gerbings itself in Tour Expo.

I received no response.

Now I do not know Bill Dutcher from a whole in the ground, and have no problem with the few million dollars profit that he makes from Americade, good for him. But I do have a problem with any organization or publication that tries to prevent any other organization from making a profit; even if they’re riding the coat tails of another. It’s done all through this great country of ours in every type of business.

(Continued on next page)

Shira, For some time now, I have been enjoying free issues acquired at Country Rode Motorwerks. To ensure that I don’t miss an issue, I decided to subscribe should I not be able to make it to CRM before they are gone.

Thank you for the different perspectives of motorcycling as they are refreshing compared to today’s politically correct commercialist drival. Keep up the good journalism and ride safe.

Regards Scott

Klingons?

Editor, “Klingon’s selling biker crap” I didn’t realize that along with myself, California Sidecar, Wing Bling, The Leather Works, and others that we were selling biker crap.

If you don’t want to publicize Warrensburg that’s fine with me since the Dutcher organization spends bucks with your magazine, but to go out of the way to trash people who are trying legally to make some money is pretty sad. I expect better than that from you guys.

Oh and by the way, this vendor had his fourth best show (and that’s of any show) of this 5 year business selling “biker crap” at Warrensburg.

In the fall of 2004 I contacted the Americade organizes and asked if I can could be a vendor, they said to call back in February which I did. At that time they put me on a waiting list, I received no response after that.

So in the fall of 2005 I contacted them again and was told to call back in February, which I did. Again I received no response. So that March I was approached by a person who rents the lot next to the post office in Warrensburg. He asked if I would like to be a vendor at that location and I agreed.

This spring Mansoor (RoadGear) asked me if I wanted to be at the beach since they were going to be at the forum. The Dutcher team would not allow two

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

According to Mansoor and Paul Brooks (British Motorcycle Gear) the forum was a joke this year, many jewelers, people selling off brand gear, and even others selling ladders. Talk about crap...........did you mention any of this in your article?

I can only hope that I can survive these economic times that we’re in at the moment and if I do I’ll continue to do whatever I can possibly do to make Warrensburg Bike Week everything it can be.

Nick Plenzick

Nick, Sorry to lump you into my “Klingon” comment. It was undeserved as some of the folks, including your fine products, were wronged by that wording. I was specifically talking about the Daytonafacation of Warrensburg during Americade Week. Truth is without Americade there would be no Warrensburg Biker Week to speak of. Again my apologies if you thought we were aiming at you.

Dear Shira and Brian, First, let me apologize for being so late with this letter of appreciation. It has been more than a few weeks since we shared dinner and those seventeen liters of wine at your August “Fontana-rama” gathering here in the beautiful and (previously) pristine North Carolina mountains. My only excuse, according to my attorney at least, is that while incarcerated in the local “Hillbilly Hilton”, pointed utensils such as pens are not allowed; and “laptop” has a whole other meaning here as well. This is not a problem really, as I have only recently regained the feeling in my extremities and am able to take solid food, at least in the form of “grits”, which as you now know, is more akin to larvae.

Second, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your visit to my little corner of the world; home of the infamous Tail of the Dragon, the mist-enshrouded Smoky Mountains, the mist-enshrouded Bush Beans museum, the not-to-be-missed Alpine Helen (the town, as well as the other one), and that banjo picking melon-head from “Deliverance”. The details on the police reports were somewhat sketchy, so I’m not sure which you enjoyed more, but perhaps I’d rather not know.

The conversations with you and my new friends from “Jersey” were stimulating and at times coherent, given that audacious northern accent and proper enunciation, two peculiarities of communication not often heard here in Dixie. Here in the South, the speech is usually a bit more relaxed and slurred; much like it was later on that evening, somewhere between the “finger puppet” competition and that unfortunate llama incident. I regret not leaving a bigger tip.

Regardless of the pending charges, it was indeed a pleasure to finally meet you both, and I hope to see you again real soon; perhaps in three to five years, give or take for good behavior. I hope you had fun riding the Appalachian back roads in spite of the sometimes uncooperative weather and overly cooperative witnesses, and that you can get that tattoo removed without too much discomfort. Y’all come back now, hear?

Your friend, Tim Wineland NC Penal Inmate #1856

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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

RAYMONDSKILL ROAD OFF RTE. 209 NORTH OF DINGMANS FERRY BRIDGE

Over the many years we have been publishing Backroads we have brought you to a number of the great waterfalls that you can find along the Delaware River between Milford and Stroudsburg. Here the high cliffs on the Pennsylvania side of the river create some of the most dramatic waterfalls to be found in the east.

Most riders have been to Dingmans Falls and the slightly over-rated Bushkill Falls (The Niagara of PA!) Others are familiar with New Jersey’s high falls and not far from the river, in Walpack Valley, you will find the dramatic and very high Buttermilk Falls, if you are not afraid to get a bit dusty.

This time around we’d like to tell you of the highest, and we think the most spectacular, of Pennsylvania’s waterfalls - the Raymondskill Falls.

Raymondskill Falls are the highest in the area and fall in three beautiful sections, giving visitors more of an opportunity to explore the falls.

We took a ride on a wonderfully warm Sunday, right after the heavy rains of the previous week, and found the Raymondskill to be flowing with serious power.

There are two parking lots, but because it isn’t as popular as the other falls, you might

find yourselves at the falls all alone.

The falls themselves are easily reached and there is a system of trails, which were comfortably walked, even with riding gear on, and reaching the bottom and looking upward at the mighty cascade I simply said, “Wow!” Seconds later Shira came around the trail and once again...”Wow!”

Wow can be overrated and overused these days but not in this case. If the Raymondskill Falls are running strong you all will say, “Wow!” The trail is then followed back towards the top, where you can get a great look at all three sections of these magnificent falls.

Atop the falls is the first section, which cascadingly spills a short five or so feet into a deep dark pool that makes its way to the dramatic 70 foot drop that seems to bounce

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 14

off the rocks. Along the way smaller falls join in from the side and the entire place looks almost primeval and ancient - which it is with the wonderful hemlocks dominating the forest.

Once again a dark pool widens across the forest floor and the spray from the plunging waters create a series of little rainbows when the afternoon sun strikes it just right.

The third fall is just as impressive, in another way as it spins around 180-degrees and runs down a stair-like tumble eventually emptying into the river hundreds of feet below.

The trail system here is decent, if a bit slippery if it’s been raining.

Watch your step and take appropriate caution while hiking.

The trail itself is a wonder as you’ll find great old trees and small cavey grottos along its paths.

By the way, the log fences at the lookout points are there for a reason. A slip here and a recovery, not a rescue, will be in order.

There is a bathroom at the small park, which is always a good thing.

As is our way we will give you a great ride to get to the falls, and do a quick run past Jersey’s Buttermilk Falls as well - yes, it’s a dirt road, but a civilized one.

Enjoy the ride and enjoy the falls - you will say “Wow” for sure!

Rip & Ride® • RAYMONDSKILL FALLS FROM NYC • 125

MILE

O/W • GPS DOWNLOAD HERE: www.sendspace.com/file/o0kj6i

GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE TO RTE. 4 RTE. 208 NORTH INTO I-287S HEAD OVER SKYLINE DRIVE MAKE A RIGHT AT CR 511 AND RIDE AROUND RESERVOIR BEAR RIGHT ONTO EAST SHORE DRIVE BEAR LEFT ONTO RTE. 17A AT T, RTE. 94 MAKE A LEFT RIGHT AT CR. 1A INTO CR. 1 AT T RTE. 284 MAKE LEFT IN UNIONVILLE, MAKE RIGHT BEAR LEFT AT CR. 36 INTO CR. 651 GO SLOW AT 15 MPH SIGNS RIGHT AT GORGE ROAD RIGHT AT RTE. 23 NORTH LEFT ONTO CR. 519 RIGHT AT CR. 636 LEFT AT RTE. 206

WEST

RIGHT

AT

CR. 521

SOUTH

RIGHT AT MILLBROOK RD - JUST BEFORE STILLWATER LEFT AT BIRCH RIDGE RD RIGHT AT MILLBROOK RD RIGHT AT NPS 615 - WALPACK RD BEAR RIGHT TO GRAVEL ROAD- HANEY’S MILL RIGHT AT MOUNTAIN ROAD - ALSO GRAVEL BUTTERMILK FALLS ON RIGHT CONTINUE STRAIGHT LEFT AT TILLMAN RD/ MAIN ST CROSS IRON BRIDGE RIGHT AT NPS 615 BEAR LEFT TO OLD MINE RD. HARD LEFT TO DINGMANS BRIDGE - $1.00 RIGHT AT RTE. 209 NORTH LEFT AT RAYMONDSKILL FALLS RD FALLS UP TWISTY ROAD ON LEFT YOU WILL FIND I-84 IF CONTINUE ON THIS ROAD

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s M Y S T E R I O U S A CALL TO (AN) ARM

By Mark Byers (under special assignment from Dr. Seymour O’Life) In the gathering darkness of 2 May 1863, two volleys of gunfire rang out from the 18th North Carolina infantry manning Confederate lines near Chancellorsville, Virginia. The result was a self-inflicted wound that many believe felled the Confederacy. Other men were killed outright, but the most grievous blow dealt the South that night came from two balls that shattered the left arm of Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

Jackson was taken to a field hospital at Wilderness Tavern, where a doctor reluctantly amputated his arm. Robert E. Lee sent Jackson a message, saying “You have lost your left arm and I have lost my right.” Stonewall was carried 26 miles to a railhead called “Guinea Station,” but could not be sent to Richmond because the track was cut. Confined to a building on Fairfield plantation, Jackson died there eight days later, not from his wounds, but from pneumonia.

Stonewall’s chaplain, Reverend B. Tucker Lacy, was never far from his side. After the amputation, Lacy saw the general’s arm in a pile of severed limbs, so he removed it and wrapped it in a blanket. Lacy took Jackson’s

Page 15

AMERICA arm less than a mile to “Ellwood,” his brother’s plantation, and buried it in the family cemetery. Stonewall’s body was eventually buried in Lexington, Virginia, but the torso and arm were never reunited.

If the story ended there, it would be more odd than mysterious, but the prospect of a famous general’s severed appendage lying in an unmarked grave really brings out the stupidity in people, so they toyed with it. In May 1864, Ellwood fell into the hands of the Union and became the headquarters for Warren’s 5th Corps during the bloody Battle of Wilderness.

Because of rumors Jackson’s entire body was buried there, Union soldiers exhumed the arm. Disappointed at finding just an arm, they reburied it, but not necessarily in the same hole.

Jackson’s former Staff Officer, James Power Smith, who married the daughter of Ellwood’s owner, erected the present stone marker in 1903. The only problem was that, after forty years, he couldn’t be certain of exactly WHERE the arm was buried. His task was complicated by the fact that entire bodies had been buried at Ellwood and then moved to Fredericksburg, so the ground had been disturbed many times. Smith may have set the stone where he thought it looked about right or deliberately set the stone nearby, but in such a way as to make it hard to dig up the arm again.

An unconfirmed story says that in the 1920’s, a Marine named General Smedley Butler, on maneuvers in the area, had the arm dug up and reinterred in a metal box. Forensic archaeology by the National Park Service (NPS) in 1998 did not reveal the presence of any significant metal objects in the vicinity of the marker. In fact, the NPS could not find any conclusive evidence of WHERE the arm

Page 16

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

might be in relation to the stone. The only things historians at the NPS can say for certain are that: the arm was buried by Reverend Lacy, it was dug up and reinterred by Union soldiers a year later, and that the marker placed by Smith is in the general vicinity of the family cemetery in which the arm was buried.

If you visit the site, a small sign to the right of the house directs you to the cemetery. Down a gravel path between privet hedges, on a hillock beneath some trees, you’ll find Smith’s stone. There’s a bench overlooking the marker and the surrounding valley where you can ponder: will we ever know whether Smith was deliberately vague or if his memory was faulty?

Did a misguided Marine really find the arm? Or, are we merely worshipping the memory of Stonewall Jackson?

Ellwood is open weekends and holidays through the end of October from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. At all other times, visitors must sign in and receive a pass at the Chancellorsville Visitor Center. If you have questions, call (540) 786-2880. The address is: 36380 Constitution Highway (Route 20), Locust Grove, VA 22508.

I recommend you visit during normal hours: it’s said that at night, right around the time the 18th North Carolina would have fired, a sharp-nosed man on horseback with a full beard and an empty sleeve shows up with a ghostly gray brigade of men who appear to be looking for something. If you see them, you might want to leave: they’re not real fond of Yankees (or North Carolinians).

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 17

Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

W E ’ R E O U T TA H E R E

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

THE WICKER GUESTHOUSE

913 DUVAL STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 800-880-4275 • WWW.WICKERGUESTHOUSE.COM

So you have finally decided it is time to see what all the hoopla is.

Time to ride down to the southernmost point in the United States - Key West. Perhaps you’re heading down for Biketoberfest and have some extra time to spare.

Well, good for you. Truthfully I have not all that much use for the Sunshine state, but the Keys make up for the others things the state is not.

If you have to ride on a more or less straight road you might as well have the blue Atlantic on one side and the clear Gulf of Mexico on the other.

Key West has more hotels, inns and places to stay than you can imagine, but the Wicker Guesthouse stands out as one the best we have found.

Located right on Duval you are literally just steps away from the action, but with it superbly laid out landscape you can simply sit by the warm pool and enjoy the day with a good book. Always a favorite of ours.

The Wicker Guesthouse has 22 rooms sprinkled about six meticulously restored old Key West buildings, all beautifully appointed and parking for the bikes is fairly secluded and we have never had any problems when down there.

Personally, for the most part we park the bikes and walk around the old town, as there is so much to see and do.

Still, when you are done carousing around the old town you’ll find the Wicker House the perfect place to come back to each evening.

The pool, the courtyards and one of the largest tropical gardens in all of Key West, their landscaping was phenomenal.

Each morning the Wicker House serves great continental breakfast by the pool, and we couldn’t think of a better way to start the day, unless you make your way over the Blue Heaven, just blocks away for the best full breakfast in the Keys.

The rooms were all laid out well, some larger than others - but all comfortable and with private bath, cable, air conditioning, Bahama ceiling fans and refrigerators. Like we said, the rooms do come in all sizes and shaped from two bedroom suites with king sized beds to standards with a queen.

Wifi was fine right out by the pool, so each morning I would catch up with the world and work with a cup o’Joe and a poolside view.

If we ever needed something, the staff was more than helpful and very accommodating.

All in all we really like the Wicker House and you’ll find it right as you make a right on Duval from Route 1, just before Olivia Street on the right.

Room rates, in peak, run from $165 to $489 per night depending on room.

Rip & Ride • THE WICKER GUESTHOUSE ®

913 DUVAL STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 • 800-880-4275 •

ROUTE 1 SOUTH FROM HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA BEAR LEFT AT SOUND CARD ROAD CHECK OUT ALABAMA JACKS LUNCH AND LOOK FOR THE MANATEES

CROSS BRIDGE RIGHT AT T

PAY TOLL

$1

WWW.WICKERGUESTHOUSE.COM

LEFT AT ROUTE 1 SOUTH GO STRAIGHT AND ENJOY

ONE

OF THE MOST PLEASANT ROADS IN THE

IN KEY WEST STAY ON ROUTE 1 RIGHT AT DUVAL STREET WICKER GUESTHOUSE ON RIGHT

USA

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 18

G R E AT A L L A M E R I C A N D I N E R R U N THE BOATHOUSE

46 WESTERLY ROAD, OSSINING, NY 10562 • 914-923-6466 One of the best places to eat on a bright summer’s days is The Boathouse, located on Swartswood Lake, in Sussex county New Jersey. It’s close to Backroads Central and has become a long time favorite of our.

So, when we heard of another waterside restaurant with the same name we were interested.

We wondered why all these places called The Boathouse are always along some pretty bit of water? But, that is left to far more intricate minds, we simply wanted a great ride and some delicious food and being that this Boathouse was located at the beginning of the famed Hudson River Valley, we knew it would just be a matter of time before we would be moseying along the Hudson River in the general direction of the town of Ossining, New York.

The Boathouse on the waterfront in Ossining is not as easy to find as you would think. Sure, there is the river and the yacht marina right next door, but to get down to the river you’ll have to ride a serpentine’s path towards the shore and eventually you spot The Boathouse.

But, trust us - this place is worth it.

We got there on a Sunday morning about 15 minutes before they were to open so we simply spent some time on the pier watching the various boaters enjoying the superb weekend day.

The Boathouse, as you might think, has a very nautical theme and in addition to the tables inside on a fine day make sure to grab a table al fresco and enjoy the view of the Hudson and the many boats right next door.

The menu is fairly diverse and you can grab anything from an easy appetizer or salad to some great lunch items and full entrees.

Some of the items on the menu really caught our eye and while we were there we tried The Boathouse’s Spedini, which is mozzarella layered with bread and deep fried and topped with a light brown anchovy sauce. It was very different and very good!

I had heard about their Stuffed Boathouse Burger, a good-sized burger stuffed with bacon, tomato and Monterey jack cheese. This is served on a hollowed out and toasted ciabatta bread and served with fries and frizzled onions. It looked fantastic! But, be forewarned on this beast as it can bite you back.

Going for the Guy Fieri-style hunch, I stuffed the Boathouse Burger into my mouth

tasty places to take your bike

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 19

We did lunch this day, but The Boathouse deserves a later in the day return trip as the pastas and entrees looked heavenly too. Lacquered French Cut Chicken Breast with a balsamic glaze topped with a three olive sauce and crispy onions, a larger portion of their Shrimp Luciano and what really caught our eye, the Seafood Pot Pie, a wonderful combination of shrimp, scallops and langostinos with a fluffy and flaky crust.

With so much going for it The Boathouse is a real winner. The great combination of river view, boats and marina, superb food and easy ambiance, along with the great roads makes this another worthy stop on the Great All American Diner Run! Download GPS Here: www.sendspace.com/file/ltxp3y

where it erupted from its side, shooting molten Monterey jack cheese over my forearms, causing just a bit of distress. Okay, I got burned.

So, if you order this, use a knife and cut it in half first.

Still even after the attack the burger was awesome and I took particular joy in eating it all.

The Boathouse has a number of salads and we particularly like their Caesar; which was created to perfection.

Not too over dressed and with the perfect combinations of flavors and cheese. The New England Clam Chowder was also looking good, especially if you like bacon as well.

They serve a Shrimp Luciano, with the tasty crustaceans done up in a reverse batter sauté, with lemon, parsley and garlic butter.

Rip & Ride • THE BOATHOUSE • 46 W ®

START: KOSCO HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1149 RTE. 23 S, KINNELON, NJ RIGHT OUT OF LOT AND THEN A U-TURN NORTH ON RTE. 23 RIGHT ONTO CLINTON ROAD RIGHT ONTO WARWICK TURNPIKE STRAIGHT AT CR511 LEFT AT EAST SHORE ROAD CROSS BRIDGE AT LEFT MAKE RIGHT AT LIGHT RTE. 210 RIGHT AT RTE.17 A LEFT ONTO RTE. 17 NORTH

ESTERLY

ROAD, OSSINING, NY 10562 • 914-923-6466

RIGHT AT ARDEN VALLEY ROAD 3/4 WAY AROUND TRAFFIC CIRCLE SEVEN LAKES DRIVE TO END FOLLOW SIGNS FOR BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE (TOLL) BEAR RIGHT ONTO RTE. 6 & 202 BEAR RIGHT AT RTE. 9 SOUTH RIGHT AT MAIN STREET IN OSSINING FOLLOW DOWN TOWARDS RIVER CROSS OVER METRO NORTH TRACKS SECOR RD. HARD LEFT AT WESTERLY ROAD THE BOATHOUSE IS DOWN ROAD ON LEFT

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 20

INDUSTRY INFOBITES YAMAHA FOR

NEWS

SUPER TENERE U.S. MARKET IN 2011

ANNOUNCES

Where the pavement ends the adventure begins for the all new 2012 Super Ténéré. With its heritage going back to the famous Paris to Dakar rally, the Super Ténéré is the perfect machine to experience all facets motorcycling has to offer. Equally adept at handling the open road, tight and twisty canyon roads or the unpaved back roads, there truly isn’t a place in the world where the Super Ténéré doesn’t feel right at home.

FROM THE INSIDE

May of 2011. The Super Tenere has a starting MSRP of $13,900 and will be available in Blue as well as Raven.

Full information on all Yamaha models can be found at www.yamahamotor.com.

FIND THAT ROAD

ON

YOUR PHONE

Looking for new places to go on your bike? Or are you on a trip and want to find great motorcycling roads near to you? Look no further.

The BestBikingRoads.com app is the latest extension of the web’s largest motorcycle touring resource. Benefit from the experience of over 11,000 motorcyclists from all over the world who have added their favourite roads and reviewed those of others.

Add your favourite roads and contribute to the community, search for a road, look up roads and routes in new areas for trip planning or weekend rides.

Main Features: Show for motorcycle routes near to your current location.

Show routes by country, region or text search. Add great new roads easily as you discover them, re-review existing routes and add your own comments.

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CYCLE WORLD OUT - PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE IN - AS TITLE SPONSOR OF INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOWS

The 2012 Super Ténéré will be available through a Priority Delivery Program at Yamaha dealerships nationwide beginning in September with customers placing advance deposits of $500.00 and deliveries beginning in

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Advanstar Communications announced Progressive Insurance as the new title sponsor for the International Motorcycle Shows(r), the world’s largest powersports tour. This partnership will help Advanstar Communications reinvent the 30 year old event series from the ground up, offering a completely new visual design and show environment, more entertainment and learning opportunities, gifts and prizes custom-built for each unique lifestyle enthusiast, and more ways to interact with and buy product - including the

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BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

all new Progressive Lounge — than ever before. From New York to California, hardcore enthusiasts, recreational riders, and aspirational powersports fans from all lifestyles and riding abilities will be engaged in a brand new way on the show floor and spend more time connecting with exhibitors and the community, leaving the show with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and tangible value from their experience.

According to a major consumer research study conducted this year by R.L. Polk and Co., International Motorcycle Show attendees are nine times more likely to buy a motorcycle and related aftermarket parts, products, insurance, and accessories than those who don’t attend the shows, making IMS the most powerful powersports shopping event in the world. Danny Phillips, Executive Vice President of Advanstar Communications said “with Progressive’s support, our already-successful buying and selling experience will now welcome and engage cruiser, touring, street, off-road, racing, and vintage enthusiasts, women riders, and new riders - and all interests and subsets in between - to deliver an entertainment experience and value that they can’t get anywhere else.”

The motorcycle extravaganza kicks off on November 12-14 in Dallas, Texas at the Dallas Convention Center and rides to a city near you through March 2011. For a complete listing of tour dates and cities, visit motorcycleshows.com.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2010 MDA CONTRIBUTIONS REACH $3.3 MILLION

The Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers, employees and suppliers presented a contribution of $3.3 million to the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. The 2010 contribution marks the 30th year Harley-Davidson has supported MDA, and brings its cumulative fundraising to more than $76 million.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s Vice President, Channel Strategy and North American Sales, Jeff Merten, presented the check to the MDA on behalf of those who raised funds throughout this past year. “Today, what began as a charitable idea has become a much more personal journey,” said Merten during the telethon broadcast. “This year, thousands upon thousands of members of the Harley-Davidson family gave their time, their love and

Page 21

their dollars to help fulfill the dreams of a brighter future for kids with muscular dystrophy.”

Harley-Davidson has been a national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1980. This longstanding partnership started with the simple notion of “Bikers Ride for MD” and has resulted in millions of dollars being raised to help MDA and the children and adults it supports. For more information on the Harley-Davidson and MDA relationship visit www.mdarides.org

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPLITS

WITH

LONGTIME LEAD AD AGENCY

Harley-Davidson and its longtime lead ad agency, Carmichael Lynch, have parted ways after 31 years.

Advertising Age says it was the Minneapolis-based ad agency that walked away.

The agency, part of the Interpublic Group of Cos., climbed aboard Harley in 1979, just as the company was struggling to restore its reputation because of quality issues in that era’s machines. It notified H-D that it would start the 90-day termination period ending in late November.

A blogger at the Tribble Ad Agency says “An official at Harley-Davidson was rumored to have stated that Carmichael Lynch lacks the digital, social and search capabilities that are needed for a modern advertising campaign” that would be critical to reaching the younger demographic that HarleyDavidson covets.

Each company released its own announcement.

The Motor Co. has no plans to seek a replacement agency, but will continue to work with the other agencies with which it already has relationships.

Carmichael Lynch president Doug Spong told the magazine H-D’s declining sales were one factor in the split.

“It didn’t come down to any one thing, but if you look at the challenge right now of growing Harley’s sales — they’ve weathered a tough few years in terms of the recession,” he said. “We’ve supported them through good times and bad.”

The agency was responsible for the “Screw it, Let’s Ride” campaign, (Continued on page 24)

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 22

P RODUCT S POTLIGHT

DUCATI 848EVO

Ducati has announced the addition of what they say is the most powerful middleweight sport bike on the market; the 2011 Ducati 848EVO Superbike.

The new Ducati 848EVO is the pinnacle of sport bike engineering, designed to be the leader in the middleweight class. Weighing only 369 pounds and propelled by 140 horsepower and 72 lb/ft of torque, it is the most powerful motorcycle in its category.

The 848EVO is based upon Ducati’s best ever selling middleweight Superbike- the 848. Along with the “EVO” designation comes a significant amount of upgrades based on AMA Pro Racing feedback and consumer demand.

At the heart of the 848EVO is the Testastretta Evoluzione engine, significantly redesigned for a higher power output. All new cylinder heads, pistons, throttle bodies and camshafts combine for a forceful output of 140hp @ 10,500rpm and 72.3 lb/ft of torque @9,750rpm. All of this significant engine performance is wrapped in new black cylinder cases.

In addition to the more powerful engine, the 848EVO’s chassis and braking systems have been upgraded. A cross-mounted steering damper has been added for greater control of the steering system, and the welcome addition of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires will ensure maximum grip while delivering every last horsepower to the asphalt.

The 848EVO receives a massive upgrade to the braking system in the form of Brembo Monobloc calipers. These single-piece calipers are machined from solid alloy and achieve a higher rigidity and resistance to distortion during extreme braking. The resulting increase in hydraulic efficiency not only delivers incredible braking power, but also provides an enhanced and precise ‘feel’ at the brake lever.

All this combines to form one of the most potent, powerful and lightweight middle class sport bike available; both for the road or race track usage. For 2011, a special “Dark” version will be available; which unlike “Dark” editions of Ducati’s past will be a truly black bike from front to rear, giving the motorcycle an aggressive look and attitude.

The Ducati 848EVO Superbike will be available in North American Ducati Dealerships thus Fall. The MSRP will remain unchanged from the 2010 848 it replaces: $12,995 for the “Dark” edition, and $13,995 for Ducati Red.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 24

which aimed to tap into the Motor Co’s rebel appeal in the face of the economic downturn.

Harley-Davidson spent $11 million in measured media in 2009, and less than $5 million for the first six months of this year, according to Kantar Media.

LONGTIME INDUSTRY MAG CYCLE NEWS CEASES PUBLICATION A former Cycle News employee has confirmed that the longtime industry weekly publication closed its doors.

The news first trickled out via the social networking site Facebook after several staffers posted that they had lost their jobs and that the publication had ceased operations. By the next morning, the news had obviously spread to the various Internet motorcycling sites who were all reporting on the closure of the nearly 50-year-old magazine.

The news of Cycle News closing comes the same year that saw the closure of industry trade magazine Motorcycle Industry magazine and news that 2Wheel Tuner had ceased operations. In August Hachette Filipacchi Media announced that longtime head of Cycle World’s business side, Larry Little, was being laid off due to a management reorganization, a change that also affected VP and brand publisher Paul Labella and others. In October 2009, Cycle World’s then editor-in-chief David Edwards left the company in another reorganization.

Backroads is still here.

MOTORCYCLIST

FATALITIES DROP

16

PERCENT IN

2009

In what can only be considered good news for motorcyclists, federal officials have reported that motorcycling deaths on the nation’s roads dropped by 16 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year, according to the AMA. “The death of any motorcyclist is one too many, so this news that fatali-

ties are down is encouraging,” said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations. “While we are pleased that the number of motorcycling fatalities dropped dramatically in 2009, a one-year drop isn’t a trend. We need to determine why, and ensure that the decline continues.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported on Sept. 9 that motorcycling fatalities in 2009 decreased for the first time in more than a decade — dropping to 4,462 in 2009 from 5,312 in 2008.

According to NHTSA figures, motorcycling fatalities have decreased in the past — from 1980 to 1997 — but then fatalities increased steadily for 11 years. 2,294 motorcyclists were killed in 1998, and the number of fatalities rose each subsequent year, reaching 5,312 in 2008.

Moreland cautioned that there will be speculation about why motorcycling fatalities are down so significantly in 2009, and noted that there aren’t any solid answers.

“The motorcycling community looks forward to receiving some real answers about motorcycle crashes and what causes them from the new federal crash causation study that is under way at Oklahoma State University (OSU) through the Oklahoma Transportation Center in Stillwater,” Moreland said.

“Then we can put our heads together to find solutions, reduce crashes and save more lives.”

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is overseeing the just-begun, four-year, $3 million OSU study, which is the first major research on the subject in 30 years.

BACKROADS gladly accepts press releases.

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

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Page 25

ith the new Ducati Multistrada 1200S rolling into the barn at Backroads Central there was all sorts of quacking going on in the office. What to do? Where to go?

The touring version of this new cutting edge Ducati comes with luggage and the open road was a callin’. Looking at our recent travel directions, we knew which direction we needed to go so mid-week on a sunny July day we headed across New York City and onto Long Island at a quick pace. Long Island doesn’t have the greatest reputation for superb touring, but the truth is there’s plenty of fun out there to be ridden if you take the time to search it out.

We took the Northern State till just west of Port Jefferson and popped off onto some of the tiny roads that you’ll find in between the bigger routes that are over crowded and strip-malled to death. We stopped by the harbor in Port Jeff and took lunch on the dock before doing our best to stay off Route 25A. Near Shoreham we went in search of a little side trip for Mysterious America and located Nicola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe. It was here that Tesla tried to give free electricity to the world. In the race to create the first working radio - a feat that the

Long Island Duc

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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Supreme Court awarded to Tesla after his death - he also planned on using the ionosphere to supply unlimited power. When his backer, J.P. Morgan found he could not put a meter on this new source of energy he scrapped the project and eventually Tesla’s dream faded into history. But, this is a whole ‘nother story.

We headed towards the forks and then south toward the Hamptons. The Hamptons are well

known for the trendy spot that it is. Usually we tend to stay away from trendy places but Shira had found a neat inn called the Inn Spot on the Bay, right on Lighthouse Road with a superb view of the Shinnecock Bay. Still we did find that even on a week day in the Hamptons, it is full of the Three W’s - the wild, the wealthy and, of course, the workers.

There’s a big tourist economy out there in

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season and it is great to see places like the Inn Spot that offer class and comfort with a reasonable bite on your wallet.

Originally an old hunting retreat built in 1856 it now has 13 rooms and a phenomenal restaurant. Owned by two women, Pam Wolfert and Colette Connor; it was a perfect base of operations.

Pam owns and still rides an old ‘70s Honda CB 360 - how cool is that?

With our room all set we went off to explore the eastern part of the island called Long. Well, you can’t ride out to the former home of the famed Long Island Ducks with a Ducati and not stop to pay homage to the Big Duck or Big Duc in this case. The digital moment was almost mandatory.

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We had planned on riding to Montauk but Highway 27 was an absolute bear with stopped and frozen traffic so we opted for Plan B and headed off on the tiny roads that spider web the area.

And you know what we found? Seriously excellent pieces of asphalt. Who’d have thunk it?

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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The Inn’s rooms were comfortably small and Colette’s food was scrumptious, she’s an Iron Chef you know, and we will certainly return to this place again. Just eating on the wide veranda was a treat in itself.

We stopped in Sag Harbor for ice cream. It was here that the first United States Custom House and Port of entry was back in the late 1700s.

These days it is full of traffic control rent-a-cops which was just a bit too pretentious for us so we made a quick ice cream stop and then we rode on.

The Ducati, which is almost four machines in one, does decent gravel duty and in no time we found some gravel and water to play with around the inlets and trails. It certainly capped off a great day’s ride.

The next morning found the Multistrada and me on Dawn Patrol heading over the bridge to the Hampton’s famed Dune Road.

It had been many long years since I was last here and if I remember right we ended up camping with a pack of Z-1s and CB750s.

Bouncing through the different power-modes that the Multistrada offers we found that the Urban-mode had a great balance of power and delivery.

Touring and sport were exciting too, but I really do not need 150 horses in my hand most of the day.

By evening time we scooted back to the Inn Spot on the Bay and with the bikes parked and with some local wine, from Duck Walk Vineyards of course, we took a few Adirondack chairs on the lawn and waited for the sunset and the coming of night.

I said it was a long time ago!

The great houses are still great and the road still floods on a strong high tide. After a few digital moments I strolled the dunes and watched sea kayakers doing their thing. Now, that looks like a blast.

Heading back over the bridge I ran into Shira enjoying a morning constitutional and admiring the view from the summit of the large span.

With the sun well up we loaded up the machines and rode near town for a hearty breakfast at the Greenhouse General Store.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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From there we decided to start heading back home, but not the way we came.

No matter how we tried to justify it Nassau county and the Bronx just were not what we were looking for so we followed some backroads around to the northern side of the forks and then meandered back to Port Jefferson and caught the 11AM ferry to the Nutmeg state of Connecticut.

We had never taken this ferry so it was sort of new territory for us.

The ferry to Bridgeport was larger than I expected, but the hour and a half float across Long Island Sound was cooling and fun. It seemed the Sound this day was packed with jellyfish, thousands of them this day - really amazing!

Debarking off the big boat in Bridgeport we quickly made our way through the urban sprawl and picked up some twisty roads heading north away from the water.

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Fifteen years at anything is a good run and both Shira and I are looking forward to the next fifteen.

We found serious breakfast at Huckleberry’s BBQ in Greenwood Lake - their bacon and cheesy grits are simply wonderful; as is everything else they do.

It’s just a short jump from Orange county’s largest lake to Backroads Central and in no time we were rolling the big Ducati through the barn doors ending a

Our plan was routed into the Garmin so we were fairly confident we’d have both a successful and fun ride.

We’d get home eventually, but all on the tiniest roads we could find.

True to form the roads were phenomenal and I see a Backroads gathering of some kind employing parts of this day’s ride somewhere in the future.

Our destination that evening would be Tarrytown, New York; right on the Hudson.

We had tickets for a concert and didn’t see the need to go home and ride back, so after meandering around the lakes and forests of Connecticut and New York till late afternoon we quietly slid into a nice Hudson River hotel.

By this time the temperature that had been steadily rising all day was hovering near the century mark and an air-conditioned hotel room never felt so sweet.

Tarrytown is a neat little riverside community and that night they had their monthly Third Friday of the Month and the entire place was a festival. The show was superb and the Music Hall a wonderful venue to see it.

Expecting high temps and humidity the following day we got an early start and meandering north we crossed the river at the Bear Mountain Bridge and soon were scooting through Harriman State Park.

This day was rather special for us as it was exactly 15 years to this day that we dropped off the very first issue of Backroads at the Red Apple Rest for the beginning of the Ramapo 500.

We felt a quick stop at the Red Apple, now closed for years, was in order.

great few days scramble around eastern Long Island, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley.

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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F IRST R IDE

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200S Brian Rathjen

After spending a few weeks tooling around with Ducati’s latest incarnation of their popular Multistrada we came away more than impressed.

Let’s just take a quick run down on this Italian Stallion.

Available in the familiar red and a stunning white we, and many others, thought the machine was striking and different from many other bikes on the road these days. Stunning, sexy and very Italian!

The new Multistrada comes in three different versions, the big differences being the electronically controlled Ohlins suspension on the higher end models and the good size hard luggage on the touring version; which is what we had.

The standard Multistrada comes with a Marzocchi fork and Sach rear shock (not shabby) and sells for $14,995. The S version, for $19,995, swaps out a bunch of body parts for more exotic carbon fiber and electronically controlled suspension or, for the same price, we recommend the touring version with the suspension, bags, heated grips and convenient centerstand.

The riding position was perfect for all three of our testers and allowed for all day riding comfort.

The new Testasretta 1200 engine is technology that has trickled down from Ducati’s successful racing department and all versions of the bike have the ability to change modes at a press of the handlebar-mounted button.

The four modes - Enduro, Urban, Touring and Sport - all have totally different feel and appeal to them Both Enduro and Urban run about 100 horses, while the Touring and Sport modes run a full 150 ponies.

On the highway with full luggage the touring mode was perfect, but we

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found that while tooling around town and on the tight backroads the Urban mode’s 100 horses worked just fine and was far more enjoyable.

Sport mode should be renamed Track mode or Holy Crap mode as the bike gets a bit high strung like it just drank a few cups of strong Italian espresso.

Not that we dwell on super high performance much here at Backroads our test reviews try to stay on the blacktop of planet Earth and the real humans that ride here - but in Sport mode on a roll on against a very green Japanese sport bike we brought along, with the lightest red head rider we have, the Multistrada said ciao bella and took off on the lady.

Very impressive.

Off-road the Multistrada did well too. I wouldn’t say it would outperform another European bike built just north of Italy on the fire roads, but it isn’t getting crushed either.

The anti-lock Brembo brakes also work extremely well and stopping the bike in a wide variety of situations, both dry and wet proved them to be as superior as anything on the market today.

The Ohlins electronically controlled suspension works superbly and has a number of different setting, all of which make the machine handle in a different manner. The Traction Control was also spot on and advances like these are making motorcycles more and more controllable and safe.

All this electronic wizardy allows for a machines that is adaptable and with the Multistrada it is like getting four different bikes for the very tall price of one.

The transmission also was excellent but for one thing.

It had a bad habit of putting itself into neutral when we were downshifting at traffic lights. We would think we were in 1st only to have to drop the bike into gear when the light turned green.

I like to stay in 1st gear when stopped for any unforeseen texting teenager or soccer mom about to nail me (uhh, bad choice of words?).

But, having to pop the Multistrada into gear each time was annoying. Other Multistrada owners we have asked say this is not a problem, so it might have been a peculiar issue with our test bike.

Page 31

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Ducati Multistrada is simply an awesome ride. The Super Bike technology, the Adjustable Suspension, Traction Control and Power Modes make it a pleasure to ride.

The ergonomics, comfortability and hard luggage capabilities make it a great sport tourer - perhaps one of the best on the market today.

Its low weight - under 500 lbs. - and ample power make it a joy to pilot whether on the tight twisty backroads, the highway or track day.

We have always loved Ducati’s Multistrada for being a bike that would appeal more to the average rider and not cater to the super sport riders out there. With this new Multistrada, Ducati has just cemented that opinion in stone. It a superb all-around machine.

We would like to thank all the folks at Jack Trebour Ducati (www.jacktrebourmotorcycles.com) for helping the California-based machine into our hands.

MY

PLAN TO SIMPLIFY MY LIFE

WITH SIXTEEN NEW CHOICES Keith Hyche

I was impressed with the Multistrada’s many features, the most notable being four electronically selectable on the fly drive modes, Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro and within each mode, selections for one or two riders, with or without luggage. By my count, this comes out to sixteen choices.

But there are so many more settings for suspension, traction control and

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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throttle response that there are really probably hundreds of choices but I’ll stop with sixteen because thinking about it makes my head hurt.

I put about 250 miles on the bike. I rode it in a variety of conditions, paved and unpaved roads, two lane backroads, interstate highway and that northwest New Jersey specialty - fresh oil and stone chips. I was so impressed with it that I plan on buying one when my raise comes through (hint, hint).

I have to digress here to explain just how I think all of the new choices a Multistrada will give me is going to simplify my life. You see, I suffer from MBD (multiple bike disorder). This affliction has been made worse by an understanding spouse, who I see as my benevolent enabler. Because of this disease, I own a sport-tourer, sport bike, dual sport and a sidecar rig.

The Multistrada can replace three of these bikes, and if it turns out to be a popular model I’m sure someone will figure out how to attach a sidecar to it so it could theoretically replace all four. Having fewer bikes will make my life simpler, what with keeping up with all the maintenance chores and making sure that I remember to renew the registrations every year. Yeah that’s it, I actually need this bike so I can show my family, who seems to spend a lot of time talking among themselves in hushed tones and shooting sidelong glances to me, that my MBD is cured.

FIRST IMPRESSION Tony Lisanti

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Having ridden one of the previous generation Multi’s I was expecting to throw my leg over the bike and have a relatively sedate ride. The new Multi is completely different than the previous iteration. Other than the tall seat height and off-road style handle bar there is really nothing similar.

The seat is wider, supportive and softer. The ergonomics are very comfortable - upright position, nice relationship between the handlebars, controls and footpegs. Shorter riders may be a bit intimidated by the height, but I’m not tall by any means (5’8”) and fit comfortably and was able to plant at least one foot flat on the ground. The Multistrada has a very light feel, even with the factory hard saddlebags.

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Thumb the starter and the Ducati L-twin Testaretta engine comes to life instantly and settles into a nice smooth refined idle. The Duc had been left in “Sport” mode meaning it had 150 HP on tap and the suspension was automatically in its firmest setting. This bike flat out moves in this mode and has no problem lofting the front wheel. Having this amount of power in a motorcycle with a real lightweight “dual-purpose” seating position took some getting used to. Sampling Northern New Jersey’s twisty roads, one could get addicted to this machine in a hurry. The smooth engine and electric motor like power deliver was great fun. Minimal vibration through the pegs and bars, plenty of torque on hand and very light weight made for a great ride. Selecting the other modes “Touring”, “Urban” and “Enduro” required nothing more than selecting the mode with the button located in the left signal switch, chopping the throttle to lock the setting in and instantly the bike changes personalities. The various modes cut back power (150HP to 100HP) and alter the throttle response. Sport mode has instant throttle response “down” to Enduro mode each having a noticeably softer response. Equally impressive are the suspension settings that go along with the varied fuel injection mapping in the various modes. Each mode has a progressively softer setting and prescribed ride height, all activated when switching modes on the fly. These settings are not “gimmicky” at all. The bike works as advertised. In the case of the Multistrada S, you really get four distinct personalities of motorcycle for the price of one.

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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Why Autumn is the best time to ride...

Now that the Dog Days of Summer are behind us and the air has a crisp clean feel to it - it’s the time to get out and really ride. A couple of warm layers start your morning ride and by a good mid-morning breakfast you’ll start to pack the fleece or sweater away as the temperatures warm to a comfortable high in the 70s. For sure the days are getting shorter but the sky is crystal blue and the leaves, that were so dark and green just a few weeks back, are now taking on bursts of different colors - reds, yellows and gold. It’s nature’s yearly finale. It is Autumn and unfortunately winter comes right after; so now is really the time to get miles in.

This issue has a number of great rides, both in our original Rip & Ride format and downloadable GPS routings. There are so many great places to be seen and discovered and we can’t think of a better time to do this. So enjoy this special issue and we hope to see many of you on the road - where you should be.

It’s A-Mazing With summer winding down and, hopefully, the temperatures along with it, now’s a great time to plan some pleasant Fall adventures. No matter what part of the northeast you live in, there’s bound to be some foliage a-turning within a good day’s ride.

Autumn also brings the harvest season; apples, pumpkins and the end to the most precious delicacy of late summer - sweet corn. With all those fields just waiting to be shorn, many farmers take advantage of their acreage and do a little cutting. No, not crop circles; we’ll leave that to Dr. O’Life. I’m talkin’ ‘bout corn mazes.

What could be better than a crisp ride through the countryside ending with a lost amble ensconced in the remnants of sweet corn. Some mazes will have you bewildered but many are just a short diversion from the ride. For our purposes this month, we’ll bring you to the T-Burg Mini Golf and Corn Maze, 1966 Trumansburg Rd (Rte. 96) in Trumansburg, NY. You’ll find this little gem in the heart of the Finger Lakes where you can, not only, have some pleasant riding but visit some tasty wineries, play a little mini golf and use your sense of direction to put you back on the right path. There are many places to rest your head if you venture up for an overnight, from motels (one of our very own Moto-Inn members is right in Watkins Glen: www.backroadsusa.com/moto-innlistings.html) to quaint B&Bs.

Now Taking Deposits for 2011 Models Arriving Soon!

For those hauntingly inclined, on October 30th the T-Burg Maze will become one scary attraction. For just $15 dubloons a head, you’ll get the bejesused scared out of you by semi-human types scattered throughout the maze, along with a hay ride to the corn field. You can wander about from 6pm to 12am - bring your holy water and extra set of panties.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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If that doesn’t suit your fancy, you can partake in the maze seven days a week through October; check their website for hours and rates. In addition to their wicked good maze, they have one of the most beautifully landscaped mini golf courses I have ever seen. When we were there during Labor Day weekend, the flowers were abundant, with over 2000 native plants. You’ll find it hard to believe that you’re playing mini golf and not visiting a nursery. You can play and maze during daylight hours for those scared of ghosts, or have a go at their Glow Golf, complete with glow-in-

the-dark ball after sundown. Our own Notso Happy picked up a little souvenir on his/her visit.

For those further south, why not visit Horse Sleigh Farm in Washington Township, NJ. Here you’ll find not only a very creative maze - this year’s design includes a cowboy on a bull and skeleton on a horse - but many other autumnal offerings. You can harvest your own pumpkins to bring home and decorate, or do your decorating right there at the farm. The obligatory hay

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ride - haunted or not - and plenty of great activities if you bring the kiddies.

Have a little pent-up aggression? Take a shot with their corn cannon or pumpkin slinger. Ever dream of joining the circus? Try their tightrope challenge and see just how balanced you are, or aren’t. If that’s not enough, Horse Sleigh Farm is also home to some very rare water buffalos.

You can find the Horse Sleigh Farm at 438 Route 57 West in Washington Township, NJ. Their hours of operation, through November 6th, are 11am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11am to 11pm Friday and Saturday and 11am to 10pm on Sundays. Please check their website for pricing and to print a $1 off coupon.

There are extensive amounts of corn mazes throughout the northeast and beyond as well as plenty of orchards for your picking pleasure. To get you started, point your browser here and go forth and find yourself: http://hubpages.com/hub/Corn-Maze-Crazy You can download a 160-mile GPS route, starting and ending in Watkins Glen, for the T-Burg Maze here: www.sendspace.com/file/hmaw4s Here’s a Rip & Ride to the Horse Sleigh Farm, starting from Huckleberry’s BBQ in Greenwood Lake, NY. You can download this route in GPS format here: www.sendspace.com/file/p8he5n

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Rip & Ride® HORSE SLEIGH FARMS CORN MAZE RIDE STARTS WITH BREAKFAST AT HUCKLEBERRY’S BBQ 37 OAK ST. GREENWOOD LAKE, NY NORTH ON RTE. 201 BEAR LEFT RTE. 17A LEFT AT RTE. 94 SOUTH RIGHT AT RTE. 1A LEFT AT WATERBURY RD. LEFT AT BLOOMS CORNERS RD. BEAR RIGHT AT DREW RD. LEFT AT CR 515 RIGHT AT RTE. 94 SOUTH BEAR LEFT AT CR 515 RIGHT AT SNUFFTOWN RD. LEFT AT RTE. 23 SOUTH RIGHT AT HOLLAND MOUNTAIN RD. RIGHT AT RIDGE RD. CR 620 LEFT AT MAIN ST. RIGHT AT RTE. 181 LEFT AT CR 517 LEFT AT PERONA RD. RIGHT AT CR 613 LEFT AT RTE. 206 RIGHT AT CR 606 LEFT AT CR 603 BEAR RIGHT AT PEQUEST RD. LEFT AT CR 611 RIGHT AT QUAKER RD. CR 669 LEFT AT CR 612 RIGHT AT QUAKER CHURCH RD. LEFT AT CR 613 RIGHT AT ALPHANO RD. RIGHT AT RTE. 46 LEFT AT PEQUEST RD. RIGHT AT PEQUEST RD. LEFT AT OXFORD RD. STRAIGHT AT CARY WARREN RD. STRAIGHT AT VALLEY RD. LEFT AT MITCHELL RD. STRAIGHT AT CR 628 RIGHT AT RTE. 57 TO MAZE

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T-Burg Mini Golf and Corn Maze 1966 Trumansburg Rd/Rte. 96, Trumansburg, NY 607-387-7888 • www.tburgminigolf.com Horse Sleigh Farm, 438 Rte. 57 West, Washington Township, NJ 908-246-3044 • www.horsesleighfarm.com

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

R E T LO N U OP

THE H

Page 36

The Catskill Mountains have been around for a long, long time. In fact, they are among the oldest mountains on the planet. Shaped and molded by long time geological forces, erosion, a few ice ages and the New York State Highway Department the Catskills today are an exciting and beautiful place to spend a day riding a motorcycle.

We had this in mind a few months back and we put together a little loop - just 131 miles - but if you are doing it right and stopping to see the sights and take in the scenery - it’ll be an all day adventure.

We’ll start this loop from just outside Hunter Mountain, thus the name of this article, and we’ll be heading north and west before looping around in a southerly direction along some tiny backroads that follow streams, run along farms and rise up and down over and through the mountains of Rip Van Winkle.

This route not only covers the entire Catskills Park, but also features some of the highest and more exciting roads that you’ll find in these mountains including Big Indian and Slide Mountain, Peekamoose - with its great waterfalls, Ohayo Mountain Road and Platte Cove, you’ll drop into the artsy town of Woodstock with its artists, musicians and freaks before heading back up to where we began in Hunter.

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

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For those of you with Garmin GPS’ head to our Sendspace site to download the route right to your GPS at www.sendspace.com/file/2xw12y For those of you who prefer good old route sheets then follow along with the Rip & Ride and be prepared for an excellent day’s loop through the marvelous Catskills!

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson® has a great October for you Sunday

Join us for our Annual Fall Foliage ride.

October 10 We’ll be leaving the dealership at 11am

Saturday October 16

Bring your best caldron of bubbling goodness and enter in our Ride-In Bike Show.

Contact Ski for more info at skiman@otooleshd.com or call 845-888-2426 ext. 102.

O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson

®

4 Sullivan Street • Wurtsboro, NY • 845-888-2426

• www.otooleshd.com

Page 38

Rip & Ride® • HUNTER LOOP LEFT OUT OF HUNTER ON RTE. 23A BEAR RIGHT AT WRIGHT RD BEAR RIGHT UP HILL ON FORD HILL RD. LEFT AT RTE. 296 BEAR LEFT AT BROOKSBURG RD. LEFT AT RTE. 296 LEFT AT CR 12 LEFT AT RTE. 23 RIGHT AT CR 19 LEFT AT CASE ROAD LEFT AT CR 10 LEFT AT COZY HOLLOW RD. RIGHT AT RTE. 23 CROSS BRIDGE HARD LEFT ONTO CR 2 VERY SHARP UPHILL RIGHT TO BEECHRIDGE RD. AWESOME VIEW HERE! RIGHT AT RTE. 42 RIGHT AT RTE. 28 LEFT TO BIG INDIAN CR 47 TO FROST VALLEY RIGHT OVER BRIDGE CR 19

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

LEFT AT RTE. 55 LEFT AT RTE. 55A STRAIGHT AT CR 153 - TO SUNDOWN BEAR LEFT ONTO CR 42 - PEEKAMOOSE EXCELLENT WATERFALLS! SURFACE QUESTIONABLE. RIGHT AT RTE. 28A LEFT ON MONUMENT RD. RIGHT ACROSS RESERVOIR RD. RIGHT AT RTE. 28 BEAR LEFT AT OLD RTE. 28 LEFT AT OHAYO MOUNTAIN RD. VERY SHARP SWITCHBACKS -JUST LIKE THE ALPS! LEFT AT TANNERY BROOK RD. DROP INTO WOODSTOCK ENJOY THE SHOW. AHH, COUNTER-CULTURE! RIGHT AT RTE. 212 QUICK LEFT ONTO CR 33 RIGHT AT CR 33 HARD DOWNHILL LEFT CR 33 TO PLATT COVE ROAD LOOK FOR “EYE” CARVED IN THE ROCK WALL AND ENJOY THE MOST SERIOUS OF CATSKILL VIEWS BECOME CR 16 LEFT AT RTE. 23A BACK TO BEGINNING OF LOOP

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

C YCLE S IDEBAR

Page 39

A DIFFERENT KIND Frank L. Palmeri

The Freihofer’s Run for Women is an annual 5K road race in Albany, NY, drawing some of the best female runners in the world. It’s a big event in my area, though I’d never attended it before. This year’s edition had over 4,200 entrants, and the winner had a new race record time. All well and good but what does this have to do with motorcycles?

The night before the race I was busy at home doing a zillion things getting ready for a busy weekend as usual when the phone rang. It was my friend Barbara, who had an unusual request - would I be able to ride a BMW motorcycle during the Friehofer’s race, carrying a still photographer on the back?

Whoa, that was a new one on me. I mean, I’ve not ridden to Alaska (yet) but I’ve done just about everything else you can do on a motorcycle in 30+ years of riding. Still, carrying a photographer during a high profile sporting event?

Now here was something different for sure.

Barb is a friend so I raced over to her house for a rider’s meeting. She and her crew have done the motorcycle support for this race from the git-go, but one of her usual riders was on vacation, so that’s why I was being recruited.

There would be three bikes carrying videographers, and me carrying a still photographer. We looked at a course map, discussed general techniques and requirements (stay to the left, take the outside of the turns when the girls apex the corners, etc.), until I finally got my three basic things to do: - put safety first - don’t get in the way of the videographers - do what the photographer tells you Sounds simple, but the devil is in the details, as we all know.

When I got home I had to fabricate something for the photographer to put his feet on. He’d be on the back seat of the bike, but facing to the rear. Barb, who is also one of the riders, has a nice BMW 750 /5 with foot-pegs hose clamped to her mufflers. My K1200RS has one muffler high up on the left side, so that wouldn’t do without major engineering. Instead, I borrowed my wife’s K75, which happens to have a trailer hitch

OF

RIDING

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

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on it. By removing the hitch ball and drilling one hole I was able to mount a crossbar for the photographer’s feet to rest on - all at midnight the night before the race!

After a fitful night of non-sleep I showed up at Barb’s house bright and early for the ride into Albany to get set-up for the race.

Barb and the others approved my makeshift engineering, and then my photographer showed up. He’d never done anything like this before (that made two of us), but after a couple of loops around the parking lot we were as ready as we’d ever be. From the frying pan and into the fire, as it were.

Soon we were lined up on the course, with 4,200 hot and sweaty women chomping at the bit behind us, screaming crowds on both sides of the cordoned off road, and a huge flatbed truck filled with professional media right in front of us. To say it was intimidating is putting it mildly. There had been talk of showers or an all-out deluge, but fortunately for all concerned that held off; thank goodness, as weather was one less variable to deal with. Then the air horn sounded and just like that the race was off.

Rain date: Oct. 24th Let the games begin!

So here’s the scene: a huge flatbed truck with 20 photographers leading the way on a tight, twisty 3.1 mile course through a crowded downtown park, with the lead pack of women runners right behind, and several motorcycles jockeying for position on the sides to get those live, in your face views we’re all used to seeing. In other words, it was coordinated madness, (wo)man and machine coming together in a synchronized ballet of speed and endurance. What a rush.

My photographer was pretty good back there, not squirming around too much; my wife’s bike has a top case so he was able to rest his elbows on that. The way the race broke made for one big lead pack of about 12 women, and he kept instructing me to stay with them.

At the riders meeting they talked about dropping back to photograph the masters runners and others who had no chance of winning but were newsworthy nonetheless, but my guy just wanted to stay with the lead pack since it was so big.

When the girls would come to a turn they’d apex the corner, just like we do with a bike on a curvy road, so I had to carefully cross my way over to the opposite side, to stay out of their way. The videographers did the same thing, and a couple of times we were all very close, but all of us are veteran riders and quickly we Please make check payable to NJBKXV, 2435 Hwy 24, Box 286, Manasquan, NJ 08736 got into a groove. The big truck in the lead with the other media didn’t seem to mind us, as they we so high NAME __________________________________________________________________________ up they could shoot right over us.

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________ At this point I started to think what it must be like for the leading runners, who in this case happened to EMAIL __________________________________________________________________________ be Ethiopians and Kenyans. Imagine training in a far off, primitive village, with only the animals in the junRIDER $15 ________________PASSENGER $10 ________________TOTAL __________________ gle for company, and then finding yourself in a big You may pay on-line using PayPal at www.BlueKnights15.com downtown city, breathing in truck and motorcycle

MOTORCYCLE RU N

Frost on the Pumpkin Run Sunday, Oct. 17th, 2010

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 41

fumes as you carefully wind your way behind and alongside these vehicles, the crowd, etc. That has to be quite a shock for them, at least at first.

The way the course is laid out, on the way back the lead pack is now facing the rest of the racers, so the street now goes from two lanes to one. We really had to be careful there, because obviously things are that much tighter. Here’s where the skills you develop from 30+ years of riding come into play, as you have to be as smooth and in control as is possible, under very unusual and distracting circumstances.

Soon we were heading down the home stretch, and that’s when my problems started. During the riders meeting they had talked about making a “uturn” at the end. What they all knew and I didn’t was this meant stopping your bike before the finish, letting your passenger off, then physically getting off the bike, manually turning it around (there are runners all over the place), and having a policeman open the barricade so you can leave. Well, in the heat of the moment my mind just focused on the word “u-turn”, and quickly I saw that there’d be no way to do a standard one in those tight conditions. Plus, my photographer was having a grand time, yelling “this is great, keep going!” so that’s what I did. If you see the race highlights you’ll see the winner crossing the finish line and my bike, just to her left, come to a stop just before. At that point I just stood there with the bike idling as the photographer shot all the other contenders crossing the finish line. Later I learned that I’d been too close to the runner as she crossed - I should have been way over to the left, not close to the double yellow line on the road where I was, but in all the confusion, and with so much going on, I’m just glad the whole thing went off without a major problem (crashing, impeding

a runner, etc.) - especially since my photographer passenger and I had both never done anything like this before.

Barb always insists that her riders ride BMW motorcycles when doing stuff like this. Barb is a long time Beemer fan, so I just thought it was her way of supporting her favorite marque, but after doing the race I now know why she insists on BMWs: because they are quiet. To have had a booming v-twin or a wailing four would have been unthinkable in this situation; absolutely nothing should take away from these marvelous athletes and their accomplishments.

If you ever get asked to work a running race with a cameraman on the back of your bike or, heaven forbid, a bicycle race (much faster speeds and more confusion, watch the Tour de France if you get the chance), be aware that it will take all your skills and awareness as a rider to pull it off successfully. Riding with a passenger (facing the wrong way, no less) under such tight and crowded conditions requires a level of concentration above and beyond what we normally do when we go riding, which is already pretty high. Also, be sure to check with your insurance carrier, as your normal coverage may not apply in situations like this.

So that’s the story of my motorcycling cameraman adventure. Would I do it again? Well, I am getting paid, but I only did it to help out a friend. When I think of motorcycling I think of curvy roads and beautiful vistas, not Nikon cameras and Nike shoes. I think my days of riding shotgun are over, but you never know.

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 42

P RODUCT R EVIEW

BEST BACK BACK SUPPORTER

We all like a little bit of support now and again. But, sometimes we really need that support - or our day-to-day life, as we know it, will stop.

At the Tour Expo at this year’s Americade I stopped by a booth selling a new type of back support belt called Best Back.

I thought the design interesting, and took a brochure from them; not purchasing one as I was working on almost a year of pain free back - a new record.

That would suddenly and painfully end one afternoon while flipping hamburgers for lunch at Backroads Central.

One second I was up and then next down on the ground with a violent lower back spasm.

This was a doozy.

The next week was spent limping around and visiting Dr. Kevin Shaw and Maggie for chiropractic and massage relief a number of times.

As always the folks at Newton Health & Wellness helped, but I had a 3,000-mile trip to ride and I needed something to help get me through it.

I remembered the folks at Best Back and their unusual belt and ordered one that day and had it shipped overnight as I needed it three days before.

Unlike other such belts the Best Back uses a system of expandable thin steel bands that

wrap around your waist and lower back, almost in an embrace.

The breathable cotton belt goes around your waist and attaches by Velcro-type material. You then cinch it as tight as you need it with two side straps that pull the thin steel bands tightly around your back and belly, cradling your lower back in support.

It is almost corset-like in appearance and is very thin; once on you’ll hardly know you’re wearing it except that your back now has some serious support.

This product would probably work well in the gym as a lifting belt as well.

I easily got used to putting it on and off and, when on, it was barely noticeable with my riding gear on.

On the road the pain that I had been experienced was greatly lessened, although it took a few weeks for the back to really sort itself out, I was able to ride those weeks where I would most likely have been sidelined if not for this excellent product.

The Best Back Support Belt comes in a few different colors - Iron, Denim, Lady and Orange; in sizes XS through 3XL. The Best Back lists for just $129, about the price of a chiropractic visit with a massage session tossed in. For more information or to order yours log onto www.best-back.com or call toll-free at 877-537-0335.

Brian Rathjen

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

P RODUCT R EVIEW

Page 43

HELD STEVE II GLOVES

Do you ride a lot? I mean a lot!? Then you probably go through a set of gloves each season. Fingers wear out, stitching unfurls, leather wears through.

I know I used to go through the annual glove buying ritual each Spring.

That was until I took my first CLASS school with Reg Pridmore.

During that first day Reg showed me the gloves he was using.

Held.

I bought my first pair that week. That was some 15 years ago and I just picked up my third pair.

Yes, the old Held Gloves were beginning to show wear and certainly had taken on a life of their own; so I went to the Held folks to see what was new. What I found was the next level of what I was already wearing. Called the Steve II the new gloves are a superior day-to-day glove and make an excellent touring companion.

They utilize Kangaroo in the palms and WR100 leather for the rest of the glove. The gloves are preformed and after a few hundred miles conform to your hand making an almost custom feel.

The Steve II gloves are particularly great for sport and sport touring riders and although not perforated in anyway are comfortable 3/4 of the year - during most of the riding season.

The unlined gloves are padded at the knuckles and there is a very convenient Visor Wipe on the left index finger to help keep things clear in the wet.

The new Steve II use the same gray kangaroo leather as their high end race gloves and the combo of black and gray makes for a very sharp looking glove. The palms also have impact rivets, backed with Kevlar and Nomex to dissipate heat in case of a hand first slide.

Held’s famed Step Seam stitching keeps everything together and there are no internal seams to aggravate the pressure points of your fingers on long days. The wrists have two Velcro closures, at the wrist and gauntlet to tighten the gloves up and keep them in place.

The Steve II Glove is available in long and short finger length for an even more perfect fit.

Selling for just $159.99 this glove will last for many seasons and combine that with the ultra-high quality and trackstyle protection and you will get every penny from these gloves.

See your local Held dealer or log onto www.heldusa.com to get some serious hand protection today.

Brian Rathjen

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 44

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 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 Saturday • Bergen County H-D/BMW Saddle Up Saturdays and BBQ • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com Second Sunday • Philadelphia Breakfast Ride. Meet at Silk City Diner - 5th/Spring Garden, Philadelphia PA - 8am • 215-922-2214 Every Sunday • Eastern Suffolk ABATE Breakfast Run. Crossroads Diner - Calverton NY. 10:30am. Eat and Ride After • 631-369-2221 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 First Wednesday of the Month • Bergen County H-D/BMW Hump Day MusicFest.

Free concert from 6-9pm • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com Every Wednesday • Country Bike Night at the Airport Pub sponsored by the American Legion Riders Post 132, Franklin, NJ • 6pm - ? • CR 639, Sussex, NJ - next to the airport • 973-702-1215 Every Wednesday • Bike Night at Tramontin Harley-Davidson, Exit 12 of I-80, Hope, NJ • 6-9pm • 908-459-4101 • www.tramontinhd.com Every Thursday • Bike Night at the Chatterbox Drive-in sponsored by Tramontin H-D and Rider Insurance. Corners of Rtes. 15 + 206, Augusta, NJ. Great food, outdoor seating, DJ spinning tunes • 973-300-2300 • www.chatterboxdrivein.com

What’s Happenin’ 2 • Locomotion Powersports Fall Open House. Free food, Music and Specials. 138 Orange Ave/Rte. 202, Suffern, NY • www.locomotionpowersports.com • 845-3571190 2 • Morton’s BMW Oktoberfest • 9am-4pm. Nat Kern and his race S1000RR, Demos, Door Prizes, German Lunch, Music, Vendors and more • 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VS • 540-891-9844 • www.mortonsbmw.com 2 • Bob’s BMW Oktoberfest, Flea Market and Clearance Sale. German food, Factory Reps on site, fun and much more • 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com 3 • 2nd Annual Breathe for Britt Ride for Cystic Fibrosis sponsored by South Shore MC. Sign in Renegade Classics, 511 Commack Rd, Deer Park. NY 9-11am.$20/rider; $10/pass; $10/non-rider. Live music, food, 50/50 raffle and door prizes at the after party at South Shore M/C Clubhouse, 6 Seabro Ave, Amityville, NY. 100% of proceeds to benefit Breathe for Britt Foundation • 631-316-3004 • www.breatheforbritt.org 3 • New Rider Club Raffle and Poker Run to benefit Touch of Home Charities. Sign in/Endsite: American Legion, 5th St, E. Stroudsburg, PA - 9 to 11am.$20/pp • Party 16pm. Incl. Run with cash prizes, drawing for $5,000, 5 bonds, food, raffles, 50/50, tricky tray and much more • www.newriderclub.com 7 • COG Northeast Regional Fall Rally. Natural Bridge, Virginia offers first class accomodations and great sport-touring riding. For more information check the Concours Owners Group Northeast calendar of events at www.cog-online.org • 540-582-9414 9 • Liberty Harley-Davidson Open House. Music, BBQ, Patch Lady and Pinstriping • 12 W. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ • 732-381-2400 • www.libertyharley.com 9 • Woodstock Harley-Davidson Cili Cookoff. $5 tasting fee • 10am-3pm • 949 Rte. 28, Kingston, NY • 845-338-2800 • www.woodstockharley.com 9 • Cliff’s Cycle Revolution Flea Market/Swap Meet/Garage Sale • 10am-4pm • 465 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT • 203-740-1270 • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com

Every Thursday • Red Knights XX PA at the Dairy Queen, Route 209, Marshall’s Creek, PA, exit 309 off Route 80 • 6-9:30pm, weather permitting

10 • O’Toole’s Fall Foliage Ride. Leave at 11am from 4 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY • 845-888-2426 • www.otooleshd.com

Every Thursday • Bike Night at The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant, Rte. 206, Downsville, NY • 607-363-7814 Every Friday • Bike Night at O’Toole’s H-D. Open until 8pm. Food available. 4 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY • 845-888-2426 • www.otooleshd.com

10 • 2nd Annual Graham Turpin Memorial Charity Motorcycle Rally/Poker Run to benefit Garden State Cancer Center. $25/rider; $15/pass. incl. ride, breakfast (9am) and lunch at endsite. Sign in: Tramontin H-D, Exit 12, I-80, Hope, NJ. Police escorted ride departs 11am sharp • www.turpinfoundation.org

OCTOBER 2010

14 • Cliff’s Cycle Revolution Motorcycle Detailing/Winter Storage Seminar. 6-8pm • 465 Federal Rd, Brookfield, CT • 203-740-1270 • www.cliffscyclerevolution.com

1-3 • 3rd Annual Color in the Catskills at Hunter Mountain sponsored by MAX BMW. Vendors, seminars, entertainment, off-road school with Team MAX. In conjunction with Hunter Mountain’s 30th Annual Oktoberfest. Discount rooms and on-site camping available. www.HunterMtn.com • 800-486-8376

16 • Black Label Customs Open House/Customer Appreciation/Octoberfest. 11am to 6pm with food from 1-4pm • 228 E. Blackwell St, Dover, NJ • 973-989-4252 • www.4BLC.com

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Sunday Oct. 17th

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Escorted ride leaves at 11am

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Come back from the ride and enjoy Entertainment, Freewheelers car show, vendors, charity auction, bike raffle drawing and the Colonial Chapter of Antique Motorcycle Club.

Lunch & drink included in the $20.00 pp registration fee.

Children under 12 are free.

Contact Kathy 973 670 8045 or Katsnips@ptd.net

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 45

16 • O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson Witches Brew Chili Cookoff and Bike Show. For more info contact Ski at skiman@otooleshd.com • 4 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY • 845888-2426 • www.otooleshd.com 16 • Warren County Chamber of Commerce/Tramontin Harley-Davidson Charity Fall Foliage Poker Run. Sign in: Tramontin H-D, Exit 12, Rte. 80, Hope, NJ 10am-Noon. $20/ride; $25/pass. Endsite: Walters park, Phillipsburg, NJ • 908-835-9200 • www.warrencountychamber.org

NOVEMBER 11 • Harley-Davidson Long Branch 3rd Annual Veteran’s Day Run and Celebration. Sign in: 9-10am; Ride leaves 10:15am • 671 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ. Endsite: NJ Vietnam Veteran Memorial, Holmdel, NJ. Continued celebration at Woody’s Roadside Tavern, 105 Academy St, Farmingdale, NJ 6pm-? • 732-229-8518

JANUARY 2011

16 • Bergen County Harley-Davidson/BMW Ride United Tricky Tray & M/C Tricky Ticket Run. Like a Poker Run but BETTER! Sign in: 10-11am. $25/rider; $10/pass. incl. t-shirt, BBQ & 25 Tricky Tray tix. Tricky Tray Noon to 3pm • 124 Exxes St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com

7-9 • 34th North American International Motorcycle SuperShow. Toronto International Centre, Ontario, Canada. Over 500 exhibitors and 1,000 motorcycles on display in7 giant halls. A true shopping extravaganza and unveiling of 2011 new motorcycles. For full information visit www.supershowevents.com

17 • Ride for Kids - Knoxville, TN • www.rideforkids.org

14-16 • Progressive International Motorcycle Show at Washington, DC • www.motorcycleshows.com

17 • Ramapo MC ‘The Have It Your Way’ Charity Fall Foliage Tour. Sign in: El Dorado Diner, Rte. 119, Elmsford, NY - 9 to 10:30. $10/bike - PASSENGER FREE. 120-mile scenic ride in the Tri-State area. Guided or Self-Guided Tour. Guided tours leave 9:30, 10 & 10:30. Go on your own or join along the way. GPS Routes available for download. For more info: Steve Peck: 845-358-3870 • ramapomc500@yahoo.com 17 • Blue Knights NJ XV Frost on the Pumpkin Run. Sign in: 9-11am McDonalds, Rte. 35/Hazlet Ave, Hazlet, NJ. Pre-Reg: $15/ride; $10/pass; DOR: $20/ride; $15/pass.

Awards given. To benefit Emmanual Cancer Fund. Food, Music, Door Prizes.

17 • 22nd Annual Harvey C Irons Make-A-Wish Charity Run sponsored by Blue Knights NJ IX. Sign in: 9-Noon Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Rd, Augusta, NJ. Group escorted ride leaves 11am SHARP. $20/pp includes food, drink, run, vendors, bike show and much more • 973-670-8045 23 • Bergen County Harley-Davidson/BMW Seller’s Assist Sale and Gold Rush Party.

Please check website or call for full details • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com

21-23 • Progressive International Motorcycle Show at Washington, DC • www.motorcycleshows.com

MAY 2011 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

JULY 2011 17-24 • Head off with Backroads’ publishers Brian & Shira for a tour of a lifetime as we join up with Edelweiss for their High Alpine Tour. Ride the roads you have dreamed of in the past - Paso Del Stelvio, the Grossglockner, the famed Dolomites. We’ll even have a day’s ride to Venice. For all the information you’ll need to book this great trip, please email Doris at Edelweiss Travel: doris.waldegger@edelweissbike.com

AUGUST 2011

24 • Bergen County Harley-Davidson/BMW 6th Annual Fall Motorcycle Classic and Bike Show. Music, Raffle, Prizes to benefit Tomorrow’s Children Fund. Run info: Sign in BCHD, 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ 10-11am. $20/ride; $10/pass. Ride leaves 11:30am SHARP. Bike Show 1-4pm at Office Bar & Grill, 32-34 Chestnut St, Ridgewood, NJ. $20/bike to enter; in by 2pm • 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com

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

24 • American Spirit MC Annual Tombstone Tour to benefit Hicksville Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sign in: VFW Hall, 320 So. Broadway, Hicksville, NY – 9 to 10am. $20/rider; $10/pass. Food, music, prizes • www.americanspiritmcinc.com • 516-485-8270

THE SOONER IT’S LISTED THE SOONER PEOPLE KNOW.

31 • Pikesville Volunteer Fire Co. Inaugural Poker Run sponsored by the Tribe and Baltimore Yehudim Riders. Sign in/Endsite: 40 E. Sudbrook Lane, Baltimore, MD 7:308:45am • Run 9am-1pm • Fun until 5pm. $20/rider; $10/pass. Food, music, prizes, vendors, long sleeve shirt to all participants • www.pvfd32.org

FILL IT OUT, SEND IT IN • IT’S FREE!

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

The Perfect End to the Perfect Ride High Alpine Tour with Backroads and Edelweiss

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Head off with Backroads’ publishers Brian & Shira for a tour of a lifetime as we join up with Edelweiss for their High Alpine Tour.

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

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Ride the Alps, if not now, when?

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 47

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ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

Ask about our Diners Club.

Gift Cards available.

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

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

Sharing your passion for good food since 1983

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The Narrowsburg Inn & Grille

Enjoy quaint Victorian Belvidere and scenic Warren County

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

Tuesday Thru Sunday 11am - 9pm • closed Mondays

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!

1040 Cty Rd 521 Swartswood, NJ

182 Bridge St • Narrowsburg NY • 845-252-3998 • www.narrowsburginn.com

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Open 7 Days a Week (Check for hours) • Rooms start at just $95

Nestled in the heart of Warren County New Jersey surrounded by great roads and scenery Perfect for couples or small groups Comfortable accomodations and Comforting food Featured in Best of Backroads 2009

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

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BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 49

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

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The Riverton

123 Bantam Lake Rd.

Travel along the scenic backroads of the Delaware river.

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

Best bar menu, lunch or dinner.

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

Route 209 • Bantam, CT (Next to Bantam Cinema)

860-567-YUMY (9869) www.WoodsPitBBQ.com Open Lunch & Dinner Tuesday - Sunday

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

(Closed Mondays)

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

The Riverton Hotel and Restaurant

Member of

At Belvidere-Riverton Free Bridge, Riverton, PA

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As featured in June ‘10 Backroads’ BBQs

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 50

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

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GenMar HANDLEBAR RISERS

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chneider’s Restaurant

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“Two Wheels or Four, Your Table is Ready”

801 Main Street (Rte#71) Monmouth County Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ Open for Casual Lunch and Dinner Tues. thru Sat. from 11am Member of

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BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 51

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 52

MOTORCYCLE MARKETPLACE

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

Come Ride the Dragon Deals Gap Motorcycle Motel & Restaurant

Deals Gap 318 Curves in 11 Miles

www.dealsgap.com Visit Us Online @

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BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 53

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS PARK TOOL TWS-2 STAR DRIVER FOLD-UP SET Park Tool TWS-2 Star-Shaped Drivers use multi-position composite handles that are comfortable, lightweight, slipresistant, and 40% stronger than steel handles. Made from Bondhus Protanium, these Torx®-style drivers are through hardened and tempered for long life. Wrench tips are precision chamfered for a clean, tight fit.

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BRIDGESTONE BATTLE WING TIRES

FOR

ADVENTURE MACHINES

At the beginning of the season we spooned a set of these BW 501 & 502 tires onto the R1200GS and, after putting on 5K or so, I feel we have enough miles to give an honest opinion on this rubber.

The Battle Wings were designed specifically for big adventure/touring machines like the GS, V-Strom and Tiger. The tires, although similar in design, are different as the 501 has 5mm tread depth and the rear 502 a full 9mm. This allows for more even wear during the life of the tires. The Diagonal short groove allows for wet grip and light handling and the tires performed well in the heaviest of downpours as Bridgestone uses a High Grip Silica Compound. And, the tires also have Aramid Flippers on the sides for better cornering stability.

On the road the BW 501 & 502 tires offer great feel and handling characteristics and felt more like real pure street or track tires than adventure tires. But, with the healthy and deep tread pattern they performed well off-road too, as long as it didn’t get to gnarly.

With over 5,000 touring miles behind them we’re pretty sure we’ll easily get 8,000 miles total before putting on new rubber - a good deal for tires that perform so well.

The Battle Wing 501 & 02 are an excellent choice if you are looking for that elusive combination of street and dirt charm. Check your local dealer for pricing.

TOURATECH LOCKABLE MOUNT

FOR

ZUMO 660 & 665

The new Zumo 660 & 665 GPS units are top of the line these days. Unfortunately they are also near the top of the list for any thieving miscreant that can easily snatch it if you leave the GPS unattended on the bike.

The old 550 has a security screw, which at least would slow any common thief down and the 550’s bracket seemed much sturdier; especially for those of us who might be riding off smooth pavement some of the time.

We have already heard stories of 660 & 665s popping off their plastic brackets on extremely rough surfaces and deep potholes, never with a good result. Dropping the Zumo off the motorcycle at speed is almost always fatal for the GPS and is best avoided.

It didn’t take us long to find Touratech’s Lockable Mount for Zumo 660/665. Available in black or silver it is created from lasercut anodized aluminum that was manufactured using CNC technology for precise cuts and clearances.

The brackets can use the standard RAM mount and installation on our GS was about a half an hour.

Rubber mounted and vibration resistant the lockable mount offers far more keyed security than what comes from Garmin (which is none at all) and still allows the rider easy access and removal of the unit when needed.

The Lockable Mount uses the standard plastic cradle that comes with the GPS and that is fitted and screwed onto the mount. All this is rubber mounted to the back bracket, which uses the standard RAM Mount.

There is also a bolt available to lock the RAM mount on as well, so somebody doesn’t just unscrew the entire RAM mount and make off with the GPS. Like anything, if a good thief has the time and inclination, they will get the Zumo, but the casual thief will move onto an easier target.

On the trails and rough fire roads this mount is far more staple and secure, allowing you to concentrate on riding and not concern yourself with an expensive piece of farkle jettisoning off your machine.

Think of it this way - you have already invested a lot for your Zumo (which has now surpassed the price of the previous most expensive accessory - your helmet) so strongly consider upgrading your bracket it rides on.

The Lockable Mount for Zumo 660/665 from Touratech lists for $140 and can be found at touratech-usa.com.

It’s that time of year again. Be prepared for cooler temperatures, wet leaves on the ground and smashed pumpkins on the road. If you don’t already have it on your bike, pull out your heated gear and make sure it’s fully functional.

Keep that extra set of warm gloves and neck warmer close at hand and make sure your tires are up to snuff.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 54

C YCLE S IDEBAR

THE STORY Dennis W. Lid

It all ends here - in the junk yard and then the recycle bin. The motorcycle graveyard is the final destination for most bikes. It’s a sad affair, the death of a motorcycle, but a few of the steel steeds manage to escape this fate and are resurrected through a total restoration. Instead of being dismantled, crushed and melted down to create new commercial products, their restorers give them a second life and honorary titles as motorcycle classics.

This transformation is usually a time-consuming, expensive and tedious

process for each restorer. Yet each has his or her own reasons for undertaking such a rigorous and demanding task. The project is a labor of love for some restorers, for others it is an artistic impulse to create or salvage something, and for still others it is motivated by commercial considerations or to satisfy the need for a challenging and constructive project. Truly, for most owner/restorers, it is a combination of these motivations that drives them.

Colors in the

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OF A

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What follows is a rendition of one such resurrection. It is the story of one man’s motorcycle restoration from beginning to end.

He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from Phoenix, Arizona by the name of Ken Dusseau; his bike is a 1975 Norton 850cc Commando Mark III Roadster. It is now a fully restored prize-winning classic motorcycle.

Ken made it so by his meticulous rebuild and restoration of the Norton Commando.

Ken has been an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast all his life and was looking for a worthwhile project to work on during his days off. Time was especially heavy on his hands after his divorce. He mentioned this desire for a new task to a client who knew of Ken’s expertise in rebuilding old automobiles. The client offered Ken a challenging project in the form of an old, classic motorcycle in pieces for $1000. The bike’s pieces were literally contained in several boxes. The parts had all the earmarks of a classic,

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BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 55

but the bike had to be completely rebuilt. Some pieces were missing or broken, others were bent, rusted and corroded. The disassembled and neglected iron horse was in bad shape. Ken had never rebuilt a motorcycle but accepted the challenge, bought the bike parts and became the Norton Commando’s new owner and future restorer - an old-timer, a CPA and now a “bike nut” of a restorer.

Now it was time to put the puzzle together. First Ken had to figure out which pieces were missing, and then he had to replace them. Fortunately, Ken had the help of the client, his brother and some motorcycle parts distributors that still carried miscellaneous Norton parts. They all contributed to the effort of finding and replacing the missing and broken parts. Thereafter, the bent pieces had to be straightened, and the rusted and corroded parts had to be cleaned, polished and/or refinished. Ken made steady, though tediously slow, progress on the bike at his work bench in the garage and on the bike platform. Each piece of the Norton Commando was carefully rehabilitated and put in place. The bike frame and parts began to take discernable and recognizable shape as a motorcycle.

It was while accomplishing these rebuilding tasks that Ken discovered one of the most expensive drawbacks of the restoration process - that of the astronomical cost of having parts re-chromed and of having certain specialized pieces and modules refurbished or rebuilt.

The gas tank and electric starter are cases in point, as are the handlebars, control levers, suspension system, instrument pods, exhaust pipes, rims and spokes.

Although Ken paid only $1000.00 for the whole motorcycle in pieces, the cost for painting and refinishing the gas tank alone was $500.00. Rebuilding the starter motor cost another $500.00 while the instrument pods were less expensive to rehabilitate at Agents who ride and understand

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$300.00. One can easily see how the price tag for reconstructing a classic motorcycle and restoring it to mint condition can, indeed, be a very costly proposition. Even considering the free technical advice and discount prices on some of the missing or broken parts from experts and suppliers like “Old Brits,” Ella couldn’t greatly alleviate the high cost of total restoration. Add to this the tediousness of tasks like lacing the wheels and rims with spokes and the bike rehabilitation is not only sufficient to practically bankrupt the restorer, but to drive him insane as well.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 56

The result of all the blood, sweat, tears and cost emerged as a classic motorcycle fully restored. The final product of the motorcycle reconstruction effort and its proud but exhausted restorer were exhibited at the March 16, 2008, 24th Annual Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet at the Al Zaribah Shrine Auditorium grounds in Phoenix, Arizona. The show was sponsored by the Antique and Classic and Motorcycle Enthusiasts Association.

Ken Dusseau’s three year restoration project of the Norton Commando resulted in a fully restored 1975 Norton Commando 850cc Mark III Roadster originally produced in England. This year and model bike was the last in a long line of Norton Commando motorcycles, with the exception of a limited number of models made in ‘76 for the European market. It was the only Commando produced with front and rear disc brakes and with an electric starter. The bike has a top end of about 120 mph and was one of the top racing bikes of its time with its 60 horse- power, 8.5 to 1 compression ratio and weight of 465 pounds. Some of the other innovations on the 1975 Commando were the left-hand shift lever, rear disc brake, crush rubber on the rear hub, oil seal rather than O ring on the gear box, longer rear swing

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arm, inspection cover for timing chain and a hinged seat. These were in addition to its other firsts.

The work is done; the project is completed. Ken won the 24th Annual Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show first place trophy for Modern Classics, 1966 - 1980. What now? What new project lies ahead for Ken Dusseau? Would he do this same project over again knowing what he now knows? His answer is a resounding “No!” But, he hesitantly added that he might take a crack at rebuilding a Kawasaki RE-2 Motorcycle with rotary Wankel engine. Ken’s just a glutton for punishment . . . but what a restorer he is. Like “The Old Man and the Sea,” Ken Dusseau isn’t finished yet.

Although he has plenty of years behind him, his zest for life and young at heart attitude will surely lead to his next “Story of a Restoration.”

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 57

! o H ! d o r H a ! d o w r H h a !! t d o w r r H a h o d t H w r NoNor d a h thwar NorNtorNtohrw Brian Rathjen

This all started with a bet.

Not that I know a thing about hockey, or care for that matter. Backroads Central is New York Metropolitan ground.

Still this was a national pride issue back, started with a slightly boastful comment to my friend Marc in Ottawa regarding this past Winter Olympics and the final for the gold between Team USA and Canada. When the smoke cleared we were destined to ride to Canada to visit him and his subservient and big time fibber British / Indian wife Brenda; and not the other way around.

Truth is this worked out perfectly for us. Exploring new territory is part of our job description and the parks just north of Canada’s capital looked enticing.

Marc met us on a dreary Sunday morning at the end of Americade and with hopes of clearing skies the three of us spun northward from Lake George, New York towards Ticonderoga and then along some great old logging roads, finally into the heart of the Adirondacks and the big lakes found there.

We headed north and west with some superb riding along the way. Near noon the skies cleared and the Adirondacks faded away to large areas of farmland.

Along the way we ran into our friend and Marc’s fellow Canadian Peter and the four of us crossed over the Saint Lawrence at Prescott.

This bridge is such a joy as the steel deck caused my GS’ tires to dance from side to side during the crossing. So much fun.

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 58

We headed to Peter’s home to meet his wife Leslie and to take a little break before finishing the day’s ride into Ottawa, the nation’s capital.

Here we had a great private joke played on

us as Brenda, whom we had never met, greeted us at the door in full Indian robes complete with head gear with hands nicely placed together and bowed hello and welcome to her home.

Okay, not what I expected, but Marc is a unique guy.

I returned the bow, said hello and, bewildered, went to fetch something from the bike only to return to find Shira and Brenda laughing as she had discarded the robes and was back her regular clothes; the big joke being to see how I would react to a “faux subservient” wife.

We like the real Brenda, who is a bunch more fun than the fake Brenda.

We enjoyed the rest of the evening and then, the following day we did the tourist thing around the capital, taking in the city of Ottawa.

Ottawa is a great city found at the confluence of four rivers. Atop The Hill sits the stately Parliament buildings and truly magnificent structures they are. Canadian’s have every right to be proud of their seat of government.

I particularly enjoyed the National Cats that have taken residence on The Hill and do an admirable job of mousing for the heads of state.

We took a ride out of the city to Merrickville which is a fine little town located right on the Rideau canal that was created, as Marc repeatedly told us “To keep those pesky Americans from invading!”

But Marc, we’re already here.

The town was a great mix of quaint shops, superb restaurants and deep history. We even got to meet the local constabulary, who insisted of honoring Marc with his own special gift. We saw this coming.

That evening we hit a great restaurant in town and were joined by Peter who then gave me a great little neighborhood tour in his new 911. Nice!

We made an early run out of Ottawa the next day after giving

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

many thanks and hugs to Brenda and Marc and soon found ourselves crossing over the Ottawa River and into Quebec Provence.

We had a pre-planned route, but took a few suggestions from Marc and rerouted our course.

This brought us north on Route 323 and into the Quebec Parklands near Parc Du Mont-Tremblant.

Unlike some of Canada in the northeast, which can be flat, straight and as boring as hell, this region had great elevation changes and incredible rivers, lakes and vistas along each kilometer.

We stopped for coffee in the town of MontTremblant and then continued on a basically northeasterly ride. Along the way we found some seriously fun pieces of pavement that ribboned up and down following the hills and lakes of the region. As is tradition we hooked up on some unexpected gravel for a number of miles, allowing both BMWs to get properly dusty.

Near Lac Oureau we turned our course towards the east and rode through what I called the Saints.

Delightful little towns named St. Damien, St. Gabriel and St. Didace.

Eventually we found ourselves with the mighty St. Lawrence, the river, not a town and at St. Ingance-DeLoyola we ferried across to Sorel-Tracy.

Hey, what’s a backroads’ trip without a small ocean cruise.

Now properly in what is known as the Eastern Townships we went in search of a convenient auberge for the night and found one right along the river.

Page 59

With both dinner and breakfast included with the key we got comfortable and properly fed and hydrated at the hotel’s restaurant and bar; a most excellent way to end a most excellent day of riding in Quebec.

We had heard that some semi-serious storms were aheadin’ our way so we got going earlier than usual.

We doubled back to our Zumoed route and found some roads that gently flowed alongside the farms complete with some stingingly aromatic bouquets.

All too soon we began to run on the typical Quebec roadways, which were rather straight and boring, but once again our pre-planning came through and the roads running south and east began to bring the smiles back. We crossed into the Estados Unidos, leaving the French behind near Cannan, Vermont and in no time had crossed into New Hampshire.

In Colebrook we stopped by the Fallen Motorcycle monument and took some time to remember our lost friends and especially Terry Deeds who had just ridden on from us.

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 60

Dix Notch, the first place to vote in the United States, was a blast as always and spying a great digital moment I turned around and rode it back to back again.

Well, it had to be done. Super road and a method to my madness.

Heading into Pinkham Notch I spotted one of the many moose signs and a few miles later there was Bullwinkle himself on the side of the road. A full and mighty Bull - he was magnificent.

The largest creature in the northeast, at up to 1,400 pounds, the name moose comes from the Algonquin word for Twig Eater, as these big monsters can eat nearly 40 pounds of branch, leaves and twigs daily.

We u-turned and went to take a few pictures. We were a good distance away from him and they usual do not turn and run away from humans so far away, but this big guy did just that.

I then realized I had my Hornet Deer System on and I wondered if that had anything do with it.

Hmm, electronic rabbit’s foot.

A few miles on we stopped to explore the Moose Cave. We didn’t see any more moose but we did find a great trail and pristine forest that smelled better than any place we could remember.

We rode into Maine and then back down near Mount Washington. The last time Shira and I rode up this peak we were two up on a 600 Ninja.

Some 20 years later we ascended up the 6,288 feet to the summit where Mr. Happy celebrated his being the first of the Happy folk to reach the summit.

The Auto Road to the top is interesting, starting off a pleasant ride through the woods, which quickly becomes more and more barren.

No guardrails and a severe fall to your death drop are found on the open-air side and there is a mile section of gravel along the 8-mile ride.

Here the highest winds ever recorded by man were observed, regardless what the folks from Oz say.

We rode into Conway and stopped by our friends at Whitehorse Press, where strolling around the store is well worth the visit for any rider all by itself.

Dinner that night was about as good as it gets and sharing it with old friends made it even better.

By the time dinner was done the rain had come in with full force and it stormed through the night.

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By the time we got going the hard rains had fizzled to a drizzle and the

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Page 61

Kancamagus Highway was beckoning westward.

Now say that name right Kancamagus (kan-kay-magus).

There is no second “N” in this name. New Hampshire folks get peavey on this.

Lunch was taken on the far end of the highway after a joyful 30 or so miles through the

sun and hanging clouds.

From Lincoln we vectored westward and in no time crossed the Connecticut River and rode back into Vermont.

We had routed along some tiny backroads in the direction of one of our favorite Vermont haunts - the Gray Ghost Inn. Nothing beats surprising friend and extended family than showing up at their door unexpected.

Well, that drives me crazy, but Magnus, Carina and the girls do this for a wonderful living and after the initial shock wore off wine and cheese came out and we felt like we had already returned home. And, putting our gear in our room at the Gray Ghost - in a way we had.

The most telling sign of this was that the deep clouds that had followed us all day suddenly vanished while we were all saying hello and brilliant sunshine ended the day.

As expected there was a small group of riders staying at the inn that week, all from central Connecticut. Great people and we enjoyed our time with them around the bonfire that night.

I had a low-beam bulb burn out the day before so we planned a ride around Max’s BMW where we replaced the bulb and then set out following a most curious ride that Shira had spent some time with the evening before.

Shira has a unique way of looking at maps, time and distance where I try to be a bit more pragmatic.

Still, she finds roads that have long been forgotten by state’s respective governments.

Such was the case this day and the roads were impressive as was the mileage.

The entire day was spent jumping around New York State and by late afternoon we finally got into the Catskills and then onto a few tiny roads around McAuley Lake and the Rio Dam, on the Swing Bridge reservoir in Mongaup Valley.

We eventually popped out just north of the Hawks Nest and in no time were over High Point and putting through the non-bustling town of Branchville, New Jersey.

We always love trips like these. The excellent starting point at the end of Americade, travelling and visiting friends old and new. Riding in a region we had never ridden in before and seeing what is out there to see is what motorcycling, for me, is all about.

Now it’s time to go wash a few weeks worth of grit off the bikes, do some light maintenance and maybe get a cup of coffee.

It was almost summer time and the riding was easy.

I think I’ll pull out some maps and see where we’ll head to next.

As my friend Roy says - “Ride on!”

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Page 62

C YCLE S IDEBAR

Jumping to Contusions Tim Wineland

I had a flashback the other day as I lay in a heap on the highway. A minor mishap, thankfully, involving some loose gravel and an oblivious fourwheeled fiend who mistook me for a vague patch of nothing. Noting the few spectators and well-wishers, and a few minor abrasions, I was suddenly reminded of the first motorcycle wreck I had witnessed. I vividly recalled a scene of mud and tattered hair, and the look of shock on my friend’s bloodied face. As always, the thought brought tears to my eyes. I mean, it’s amazing - that even after all these years - it still makes me laugh ‘til I cry.

At sixteen, my rowdy friend Lyman sported proud, lengthy, corn-silk hair, and a “righteous” motorcycle. The fact that this motorcycle was an un-intimidating 125cc Riverside - right out of the now defunct Montgomery Wards department store - didn’t seem to matter to our fossilized folks. Lyman was branded an outlaw by the parental community and held responsible for every misdeed around town; which, of course, granted him instant “idol” status to we younger admirers.

Lyman liked to jump things conclusions being his favorite. His scoured and dented helmet, which he rarely took time to strap, was testament to his many near successes. One particular afternoon he had stopped by to inform me and Jimmy Cowan that he intended to jump Boggs Creek - a rather formidable obstacle traversing the even more formidable Whitaker Road. Lyman had already jumped to the conclusion that this amazing feat of aerodynamic derring-do would ele-

OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

vate his already infamous standing in the neighborhood. We, of course, told him we couldn’t wait to watch him break all previous records of height and distance. The fact that there were no previous records to break was of little concern to the parade of neighbor kids making their way down Whitaker Road that afternoon. We were hoping to witness something more interesting being broken.

Whitaker Road was the kind of road not found on today’s GPS devices.

If it had ever been given a highway number, it would have certainly been in the single digits, possibly negative. It was dirt - not gravel - but plain, brown dirt that veered from the main highway a few miles from town before descending into deep wooded darkness. It alternated between fox-hole sized craters and framescraping trenches until it finally leveled off at “the bottoms” where, more often than not, it disappeared completely.

Here, Boggs Creek cut a swath of liquid destruction. In more inclement weather it flooded the entire valley forming a deep ford for the foolhardy; but in the dry season it was usually satisfied with creating a simple wash-out known to us local boys as the “Ditch of Death”. Attempts at bridge building, like the bridges themselves, had fallen-through years ago and were finally abandoned by county road crews, many of whom are still unaccounted for today. Added to this primordial slew was the discarded detritus of the local indigenous tribes who had used this secluded site for generations as a final “rusting” place for the flotsam and jetsam of the surrounding farms.

BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2010

Page 63

By the time we arrived, Lyman was just fingentle. Fortunately, however, the same soft, ishing a final inspection of his “ramp” - a crude muddy banks that had caused the tower to colbut ingeniously engineered forty-foot incline lapse has helped break Lyman’s fall. beginning just shy of Whitaker Road hill and Unfortunately, the half-submerged washer has ending at the very brink of the Ditch. broke his nose.

Constructed entirely of local materials, it Insult to injury comes when it is discovered included several planks of water-logged twothat Lyman’s lengthy hair is now inexorably by-twelves laid end to end supported by a roll entwined in his bike’s chain somewhere deep in of rusted sheet metal, piles of dissolving car the bowels of the crankcase. Some wads, in fenders, the business end of a broken manure fact, have already been removed from its forspreader, and - perched on the very edge of the mer place of residence, much to the displeasure chasm’s crumbly precipice - an impressive tenand pain of its former owner. With time runfoot high tower made from the stacked hulks of ning out (it is almost suppertime) Jimmy an ancient washer-dryer combo topped by the Cowan, in what he would later relate as a selfremains of a black and white Zenith TV. less act of heroism, quickly brandishes his The tower was by design the tallest link in pocket-knife and performs what can only be the infrastructure; by oversight the heaviest - in described as an emergency “folliclectomy”. retrospect, a highly under-rated detail.

Lyman’s carefully coifed tresses are soon layEyewitness accounts differ slightly on the speed and trajectory of the haping in shreds upon the muddy banks of Boggs Creek. less Lyman, but agree on the chronology of events as they transpired that Which is why - even as I picked myself up from the roadside rubble - the late Saturday afternoon: memory still made me laugh. I mean, it’s not everyday you see a friend like At approximately five-thirty-eight, Lyman waves to the crowd from atop Jimmy Cowan sporting ragged swatches of freshly shorn blonde hair; hastiWhitaker Road hill signaling his readiness for departure. The crowd cheers ly glued to his head with muddy swamp glop and clutching a freshly bloodand waves back, drowning out a frantic Jimmy Cowan who is suddenly ied nose of his own. screaming and pointing at the “tower” which has started a sickeningly slow descent into the soft earth of the canyon’s edge. Within seconds, however, Lyman is midway through his approach, masterfully dodging pot-holes and veering around ruts - his concentration so intense that he fails to heed several of the on-lookers’ cries of anguish as they watch the tower continue its silent slide into the Ditch of Death.

Moments later, Lyman shifts into third and gains speed as he reaches the bottom of the hill. His eyes lock-on to the entrance of the ramp only yards away.

The tower, having completely disappeared into the depths of the defile, has taken half the ramp - and all hope of survival - along with it. Some of the more merciful attendees continue to yell and wave their arms in a vain attempt to abort the misguided missile.

The more sadistic members of the crowd cheer Lyman on.

As his front wheel makes contact with the ramp, Lyman at last realizes something is amiss as he notes the abrupt engineering modifications directly ahead.

Realizing stopping is not an option, Lyman defiantly guns his screaming motorcycle full-throttle in a desparate attempt to instead hurl himself into the soft waters of Byram Lake, more than a quarter-mile away.

Lyman shoots into the sky, achieving premature liftoff twenty feet shy of the intended launch point. The Enjoy the Colors last surge of fuel and adrenaline has unintended, but quite stylistic, consequences, as his little bike is proof Autumn along the pelled into an “air wheelie”, rearing her front tire skyward while continuing her graceful arc through the air. beautiful Delaware while The crowd is in turn impressed and horrified, as it is dining or meandering now evident that the wheelie has continued into a full back-flip with half-twist. As if on queue, Lyman’s unalong the calm waters. strapped helmet is itself flung high into the air and is caught daggling in the upper branches of an Elm tree.

Mistaking this to be Lyman’s whiplashed-severed head, many in the crowd scream hysterically; others break into applause. Lyman and his co-star disappear into the gulch.

Moments after splash-down, the crowd creeps lightly to the edge and peers down to find a steaming but unscathed motorbike resting gently atop a muddy pile of swamp glop which has evidently cushioned her fall.

It is not until the swamp glop moves and mutters something unintelligible that the spectators realize Lyman’s landing, by contrast, had not been quite so

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OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 64

WORLD’S TOUGHEST FOOT PEG

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