General Posts

In celebration of International Female Ride Day 2018, women’s lifestyle brand MotoChic is debuting the Moto Angels Contest, in partnership with leading companies run by and for women who ride. Inspired by the millions of female motorcyclists in the U.S. and beyond, MotoChic combines leading edge design with high performance materials to create safe and stylish accessories and apparel for adventure-loving women. International Female Ride Day(IFRD), created in 2006 by Motoress founder, Vicki Gray, is a global ride day occurring annually on the first Saturday of May. Its mission is “building awareness of women motorcycle riders and promoting those who enjoy the sport…[and] encouraging other women who have not yet explored motorcycling to take up the activity.” MotoChic founder, Debra Chin, stated, “International Female Ride Day is an opportunity to share our love for life on two wheels, and to introduce this empowering experience to other women.” This year, International Female Ride Day is on May 5, 2018, and the Moto Angels Contest will run from April 1, 2018 to May 7, 2018. Whether a woman rides on her own (motorcycle, scooter, three-wheeler, dirt bike, etc.), enjoys riding as a passenger, or dreams of learning to ride, MotoChic invites her to tell the world why she is a Moto Angel — someone who is passionate about riding, and gear that is functional and fashionable. The winner will receive a grand prize package of moto goodies worth over $1600.   The Moto Angels Contest Grand Prize winner will be announced on May 14, 2018. For more information, visit: http://www.motochicgear.com/motoangels

Additional rear lighting is always a good thing. The new Kuryakyn® Tour-Pak® Lid Light for Harley-Davidson® delivers a triple dose of run-turn-brake functionality to significantly enhance rider visibility for trailing motorists. The Tour-Pak Lid Light mounts inconspicuously in the recessed area of the lid on models with or without trunk-mounted luggage racks. High-intensity L.E.D.’s serve as a full-time running light bar, additional steady illumination upon applying the brakes, and flashing indicators on the right and left side when turn signals are activated. Housings are made from durable injection-molded ABS and scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses. The full kit includes a Y-adapter, cable ties and mounts, and cord keepers to discreetly run wiring behind the passenger backrest. Installation is plug-&-play on ’14-later King or Chopped Tour-Paks, and does not require drilling or any modifications to the lid.  P/N 6706 – Chrome, P/N 6707 – Satin Black MSRP: $99.99

Hey, This news may seem a bit confusing. Folks are constantly asking why magazines are failing. You can help me with this question. Is it that we are bombarded daily with social media, internet and phone stuff to an extreme point. We don’t have time to really read an article or a book. Maybe there’s another consideration, which impacts the motorcycle arena. Maybe we are hit with too many issues to consider anyone carefully. For instance, motorcycling consisted of fewer groups and opportunities in the past. Now there are too numerous factions to even consider some of them. Let me know what you think. On one side our ability to go in lots of motorcycle directions is good, even wonderful. One the other, how can anyone keep up? Let me know your thoughts. Read more.

92 years of living and riding packed into 256 pages leaves the reader wanting more. When will Volume #2 be available? Gloria was born into a family of motorcyclists, literally in the family apartment in the back of the motorcycle and bicycle business her dad operated. Her Dad, Ernest, was an multiple -awarded hill climber. Her older brother, Bub, also followed his father’s tire tracks and passion, into hill climbing and retired as the oldest professional hill climber. It was Bub, who decided to teach Gloria to ride a motorcycle at the age of 16. Since his wife rode, Bub had the same idea in mind for Gloria. Gloria was definitely not interested and sealed it with a foot stamp – NO! Well, having an older persuasive brother eventually got Gloria onto a 1931 Indian 1010 Scout and rolling down the road. She hasn’t stopped since. Read more.

A while back we introduced you to a new L.A. bike shop called Heroes Motorcycles, purveyors of rare and historic motorcycles, the operation run by Serge Bueno who in 2014 had arrived from Paris with his wife, four kids and a ton of awesome bikes. Well, at last count he’s restored over 100, and also opened a second location, call it Heroes Motorcycles Melrose because it’s located on that poshy boulevard near Hollywood. While his original place functions as the workshop, the new place, again built by his own hands, focuses on displaying both his restorations and his custom creations plus a wild spectrum of the best builders’ machines including Confederate, Zero, Ecosse, Arch and soon the new Brough-Superior, among others. Read more.

From a young age, Robert Jan van der Kaaij has been an adventurer. One day when he was watching a TV show about a man documenting his travels across countries, van der Kaaij decided he wanted to do something similar. About a decade later, he got his driver’s license and in 2013, bought his first motorcycle. Two years after that, van der Kaaij embarked on a solo motorcycle trip from his home in the Netherlands to India, traversing more than 10,000 miles in just under three months. (Related: “5 Reasons to See Morocco By Motorcycle”) Read more.

The Yucatan peninsula is well known for its party life in Cancun, the Mayan ruins, beautiful beaches and incredible resorts. I’ve ridden Harleys in Asia, Europe, Jamaica and Bali, why not here? The upside is the toll roads are amazing, secondary roads pretty well maintained and generally the drivers are very well mannered. Like any foreign country you need to get your directions clear before the ride and obey all the local speed limits. The downside is it’s a jungle out there; dense tundra foliage carpets the entire peninsula. Read more.

Drones don’t lie! Tropical Tattoo in Ormond Beach was the hottest place to be during Daytona Beach Bike Week 2018! Willie’s Old School Ride In Chopper Show has garnered a following like no other. 2018 was the best year yet! Proof is in the pictures! Read more.

The third and final day of the World Speed Trial Australia, Monday 19 March, started with a dramatic turn of events when Valerie Thompson and Team 7 Racing made an early morning attempt that ended in a stunning crash. Thompson lost control of the “Bub 7” streamliner, but fortunately was able to walk away from the wreck with only minor injuries. Following the heartbreaking end to Team 7 Racing’s effort, racing resumed and by the end of the day, three more FIM World Records were set. Conditions were ideal in the morning, as anticipated, and Team 7 Racing set out to make their assault on the all-time FIM World Record, aiming for speeds near 400 mph. Thompson had passed the four-mile marker and reported being at 553.1km/h (343.7 mph) when disaster struck. Chase vehicles saw the tail end of the streamliner come up in the air, which prompted the chutes to automatically deploy. The chutes helped stabilize the streamliner in the subsequent crash, which left a trail of wreckage nearly a mile long. “Today didn’t go as planned,” said Thompson. “I always said that crashing was not on my bucket list, but I did it. It doesn’t feel very good because at 343 miles per hour, standing here talking to you is pretty, truly amazing.” Read more.