RIDE-CT.com

 2004 Triumph Sprint ST 

RIDE-CT's stable of rides...

(Updated May 4, 2010)

RIDE-CT's current rides include a 1994 BMW R100RT, a 1985 BMW K100RS and a rebuilt-from-trashed 1969 Triumph T100R Daytona.

Bud Wilkinson took up riding at the age of 51 in the fall of 2004. His first bike was a 1999 Triumph Legend (below), which was replaced a year or so later by a sportier 2004 Triumph Sprint ST (above).

1999 Triumph Legend

When Wilkinson found that his aging knees couldn't tolerate the Sprint's riding position for long distances - a day trip to Americade in Lake George, N.Y. was excruiating - the bike was quickly traded for something more comfortable, a 2003 Harley-Davidson VRSC/V-Rod (below).

2003 Harley-Davidson VRSC 

A 1985 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special (below) later got added to the collection, purchased from a neighbor who had too many bikes in his garage. It stayed for but a short. When the Triumph T100R and the BMW K100RS (below) were acquired, RIDE-Ct's own garage got too full of motorcycles so the XS850 got sold.

1985 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special 

1985 BMW K100RS 

Desiring a different riding experience, RIDE-CT sold the V-Rod in April 2010 and replaced it on May 1 with the R100RT (picture to come). In signing over the title to the V-Rod, Wilkinson was surprised to discover that he'd ridden it more than 18,000 miles in three years.

Wilkinson now estimates that he upwards of 10,000 miles per year and, like many riders, always has his eyes open for another acquisition. 

About Bud Wilkinson

(Updated May 2, 2010)

Award-winning print and broadcast journalist Bud Wilkinson writes the weekly RIDE-CT motorcycle column in The Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, Conn. He is also afternoon personality at Hartord's WJMJ (FM 88.9) and, up until recently, hosted the nationally syndicated syndicated radio show Broadway's Biggest Hits.

The weekly RIDE-CT column premiered in July 2005 in The Republican-American. It celebrates motorcycling and promotes safe riding. An avid motorcyclist, Wilkinson is also a regular contributor to RoadBike and Motorcycle Classics magazines. 

A Connecticut native, Wilkinson spent more than two decades in high profile media positions in Phoenix. He launched Broadway's Biggest Hits as a local show on KOY radio in late December 1997. It became an instant ratings success, prompting syndication nine months later.

Bud Wilkinson interviews Donny Osmond

for Broadway's Biggest Hits

The show ran nationally for nearly 12 years and for more than 600 performances, during which time Wilkinson relocated to Connecticut, which enabled him to interview Broadway's biggest stars, including Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Kelli O'Hara, Kristen Chenoweth and Harry Connick Jr. The show continues to be heard as a local program from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday on WJMJ.

Prior to creating Broadway's Biggest Hits, Wilkinson spent eight years as Entertainment Editor at Fox-owned KSAZ-TV (Channel 10) and Entertainment Reporter for news/talk KTAR radio, preceded by 10 years as TV/Radio Columnist for The Arizona Republic.

A graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, Wilkinson brings an award-winning background in journalism to the RIDE-CT column and web site as well as to WJMJ.

Wilkinson was honored with a Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award in 1992 for a series of reports on adult literacy for Channel 10 and received a regional Emmy Award for commentary on Channel 10 that same year.

During his career he has also written frequently for Arizona Highways, Phoenix, (Arizona) Diamondbacks, Arizona Golf Journal and Theatre CT magazines.

Wilkinson lives in Harwinton, Connecticut and may be reached by phone at 860-485-3118.