What displacement does a serious two-up touring bike need to be? I haven’t taken a survey, even an informal one, but my guess is that most people would say that true touring capability starts at around the 1000cc mark. I started looking for a bike suitable for touring in 2003. Our children were getting old […]

In 2011 I embarked on a five-month journey with my best friend Nick. The plan was to ride from the southernmost tip of Africa to the northernmost tip of Norway. Since we were planning big, it only made sense to also attempt summiting Kilimanjaro on the way. Nick and I were going to meet our […]

Back in June of 2012 I wrote Rider to Driver , which made the case that riders and drivers can share the road with each other if we act on a case-by-case basis and don’t label a group based on the irresponsible or reckless behavior of a small percentage of that group. This morning I had an […]

I got married on October 29, 2004 in Macon, GA. This date was hastily chosen because it was the last good weekend to profit from the wonderful colors of the autumn leaves. My French bride, a newcomer to the motorcycling world, was excited about the idea of honeymooning on a motorcycle. After a simple wedding […]

Known as the “Mile High Legend” the Cherohala Skyway runs 43 miles from Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN and offers one of the best rides in the area (which is saying a lot). Unfortunately, on Thursday, January 17, after three days of heavy rain, a 150-foot section of the Skyway near the North Carolina-Tennessee […]

“Honey, I’ll be right back, I am just heading out to get some milk for the kids.” These are words my wife would never believe. First, because I never call her “honey;” second, we have our milk delivered, and third, if I am throwing my leg over the bike the chances of me being right […]

Like a squadron of F-18 jet fighters preparing to launch off the deck of an aircraft carrier, 40 students and instructors in my Cornerspeed track class at Virginia International Raceway are revving-up the engines of their high performance motorcycles in a snarling, deafening roar.  Finally, the pit boss receives the track all-clear message through his […]

This year Victory Motorcycles turns 15 years old and to celebrate they’re releasing a special anniversary edition of their Cross Country Tour. This anniversary edition CCT will be limited to 150 units and will feature a Antares Red and Gloss Black paint scheme with gold pin striping reminiscent of Victory’s inaugural model, the 1998 V92C. […]

When testing thermal wear, it can be hard to determine what effect comes from the clothing, and what is the result of the jacket over it. That said, BiLT’s Freeze-Out gear is certainly something I want to have on when the temperature drops. I recently tried out two products from the Freeze-Out line, the BL […]

I’m in Maui, HI right now dodging the coldness of Michigan. I have a couple friends who live here and have been urging me to visit for quite a while now. Just getting off the plane, I understood why. My three short weeks of vacation have already reached their waning portion, and I wish I […]

One of my favorite quotes is, “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” By Khalil Gibran. Cori and I visited her stepmother Gladys last summer on a riding/hiking weekend. Gladys is a kind soul, a family matriarch much like my own […]

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc. (SMRi), the not-for-profit organization that sponsors a weeklong event in the Black Hills of South Dakota, has donated $50,000 to the Sturgis Rally Charities Foundation. Run by volunteers, SMRi raises funds by collecting fees from the hundreds of vendors that attend the yearly celebration, which includes bike shows, concerts, and races. […]