RIDE-CT.com

By BUD WILKINSON

     The throaty rumble emitted by motorcycle exhausts keeps increasing across Connecticut as the popularity of riding continues to grow.

Christmas Gifts

for Avid Riders

By BUD WILKINSON

     Open any motorcycle magazine and you’ll see countless products designed to make your riding life easier, or to make your bike perform better, or to polish your image. In the ever-broadening motorcycle community, there are all sorts of folks who ride and they spend an incalculable amount of money each year above and beyond the cost of their bikes.

     It’s probably safe to say that pretty much all of them would appreciate a Christmas gift that accounts for their love of riding, so, keeping with tradition, RIDE-CT has assembled a few ideas for this holiday season.

     For Harley lovers, there’s a gift this year that will last more than a lifetime. Harley-Davidson is building a museum in Milwaukee to celebrate its history, and which is due to open in summer of 2008. Plazas and walls are being built on the grounds that will display stainless steel “Living the Legend” rivets “as a symbol of the bond between Harley-Davidson and all those who celebrate freedom and the individual spirit of adventure,” according to museum director Stacey Schiesl.

     The rivets can be customized with engraved personal messages for all visitors to see, and thousands will be permanently displayed. They’re not cheap, though. For individuals, a three-inch rivets costs $250, while a six-inch rivets runs $1,500. Dealers, H.O.G. chapters and friends of the museum will be charged $1,500 for rivets as well. Deadline for ordering is December 31.    

     For more info, visit h-dmuseum.com/livingthelegend.  

     If safety is a concern – and it should be for anyone who rides – there’s a new undergarment from the company that sells the Kevlar-lined Draggin’ Jeans. 

     Hickory, N.C.-based Fast Company now offers Draggin’ Liners, which are actually Kevlar-lined long johns, complete with elastic stirrups to keep the bottom of the legs from riding up. There’s a double layer of Kevlar in the knees and butt for added resistance to abrasion should a mishap occur. The price is $149.95.

     While more expensive that the regular Draggin’ Jeans, which cost $99.95, Draggin’ Liners can be worn under any jeans or pants, and there’s also optional knee armor that can be inserted for added protection.

     Having purchased a pair of Draggin’ Jeans and worn them for a couple of years ago, I’ve been pleased with both the quality and the added sense of security that they provide. I can also attest that they are sufficiently cool in the summer, while providing an extra layer of warmth when the temperature drops. Fast Company promises that the Draggin’ Liners will do the same.

     For more info, visit dragginjeans.com.

     If you ride two-up and find the pillion seat insufficient, especially for long rides, there’s another new product worth a look-see called the ButtyBuddy.

     The ButtyBuddy is a three-panel, concave portable passenger seat that attaches to either the existing passenger seat or the rear fender for bikes with solo seats. The company that sells it, BB Comfort Systems in Maryville, Tenn., boasts that the ButtyBuddy offers the same size seating area as the driver’s seat on a Harley Softail. The price for the ButtyBuddy on the company’s web site this week was $99.95.

     For more info, visit buttybuddy.com.

     Some products, though, make one wonder why they were ever created. It’s not that they’re bad; it’s just that you ponder if they’re really that necessary.

     Earlier this week, I came across the Hurt Hyperpouch, a storage bag for riding gloves that “captures and channels away contaminants that would otherwise embed themselves into your gloves and slowly break down the integrity of the material.”

     The company’s web site notes that the “Hyperpouch incorporates special ‘hypermesh’ which not only absorbs sweat and bacteria, but channels these contaminants away from your gloves,” and suggests a perfect use is after a day at the track. After all, the London, Ontario-based company does specialize in racing gloves. 

    Maybe racers have different needs from those of us who just ride on the streets, but a storage bag for riding gloves seems, well, unnecessary, even if the price of the Hyperpouch is only $29.99. Wouldn’t a little air and a blast of Febreze do the trick in keeping your gloves fresh?

     For more info, visit hurtmoto.com.

     One common practice among sellers of all goods is to reduce the price after an item has been on the market for a while or after demand wanes.

      A year ago, RIDE-CT suggested that the MFX Classic faucet, a designer faucet from a company in Wilton that is fashioned to resemble a motorcycle’s gas tank with the hot and cold water taps shaped like handlebars, would be an interesting Christmas gift. The price at that time was $699. This year, the faucet can be purchased for $375.

     For more info, visit cyclefaucets.com.

     Let’s not forget stocking stuffers. Sometimes the cost of the “little things” can add over the course of a riding season, so a can of Plexus to clean windshields and helmets visors, a new tire pressure gauge or a gift card from a gas station to keep in the saddlebags in case of an emergency can’t hurt.  

(Published in "The Republican-American" on December 8, 2007) 

Time to Winterize, 

Mouse-Proof Your Bike

By BUD WILKINSON

     Yes, it’s finally getting colder. Donning layers of clothing (and plugging in for those with heated apparel) is now becoming a necessity when riding. Those leisurely, sun-drenched breakfast cruises of summer have given way to briefer, more spur-of-the-moment afternoon rides for the increasingly bundled up riders of autumn who are stoically resisting what’s likely ahead weather-wise.

     Stopping at the Kent Coffee and Chocolate Company late Sunday afternoon to give my own chilled fingers a chance to warm up before switching gloves to the more insulated gauntlets stowed in my saddlebag, I heard myself ordering hot chocolate instead of the usual coffee, which certainly suggests that the 2007 riding season may be much closer to an end than most riders would like to acknowledge.

     Last winter’s surprisingly short hiatus, which for me only lasted from January 15 through March 15, provided sufficient time for mice to nest under the V-Rod’s air box cover. They packed grass clippings and stuffed seeds around the air filter as my bike sat silently strapped on a motorcycle lift in the back of garage.

     “Mice will go anywhere,” said Lee Farley, general manager of Doc’s Motorcycle Superstore in Waterbury (shown above), recalling the mess that they created while telling me that a sure-fire way to thwart the rodents this winter is to spread a sheet of plastic under the bike, then spray bug killer on the plastic around the bike and “repeat monthly.”

     What about mousetraps as an alternative solution? “If you’ve got six traps and eight mice, you lose,” Farley replied wryly.

     Tossing down some mothballs wouldn’t hurt, either, suggested Bob LaRosa, owner of LA-One Motorsports in Waterbury, who also counseled that it’s a good idea for anyone who puts their bike away for a winter nap to check in all storage compartments for treats that might tempt wildlife or eventually ooze in hard to clean places. “Don’t leave candy in your fairing,” he said.

     What other advice is there for prepping a bike for winter storage?

     “What do you consider winter? Some folks ride (year-round, while) some folks don’t. It’s not Anchorage, Alaska,” said LaRosa of the climate in Connecticut, explaining that there are no one-size-fits-all guidelines for winterizing a motorcycle.

      That’s because there are different types of bikes (air-cooled versus liquid-cooled, for instance), different types of riders (from hardy to wimps) and different storage possibilities.

     At one extreme for storage is a heated indoor facility, which Doc’s, LA-One, and many dealerships provide and which can include oil changes and battery maintenance.

     The other extreme is to simply leaving a bike outside in the elements, but why would anyone do that?

     While the year-round rider probably doesn’t have to worry too much about winter, the rest of us do, and both Farley and LaRosa provided some general tips for ensuring that a bike will be road-ready come spring.

     The most basic advice? “Don’t over think it. You don’t want to overdo it,” said LaRosa, while warning that “the killer is condensation,” whether it be in the gas tank or on the bike itself.

     To prevent water droplets in your gas tank and to keep gas fresh, use a fuel stabilizer and make sure the tank is full when the bike gets put away, “No air gap, no condensation,” said LaRosa.

     Farley suggested adding stabilizer to the tank before heading out for a fill-up. You should then top the tank and ride straight home. That provides sufficient time for the stabilizer to get mixed with the new gas and for some of it to make its way through the system.

     To prevent corrosion on the bike’s outer surfaces, spray the bike with a protectant, even WD-40, “so the moisture won’t stick to it,” said Farley. Lubing your chain and cables can also help prevent corrosion.

     The bike can then be draped with either a motorcycle cover or a clean sheet to keep dust as well as stray pets and kids from coming in contact with sticky surfaces. “No tarps, no plastic. Don’t do the zip-lock bag. You don’t want to hold the condensation in,” added LaRosa.

     Also needing attention are the battery and tires.

     The best way to prolong battery life is to keep it charged. If your bike is stored in warm, attached garage, you may not need to pull it from the bike; otherwise, remove it and bring it inside. In both cases, “hook it to a (Battery) Tender until the light goes green, then disconnect for two to three weeks. Repeat throughout the winter,” said Farley.

     If you leave the battery inside the bike, resist the urge to fire it up. “Do not start your bike once a week and let it warm up,” said LaRosa. All that does is drain the battery and create the possibility of condensation. A bike needs to be ridden 15 to 20 miles for a battery to return to its fully charged state. He suggested detaching the negative lead as a preventative measure.

     The best way to preserve tires is to keep them fully inflated and off of the cold concrete. An inexpensive motorcycle lift is a good solution. “Is it beneficial if you have the means to do it securely? Absolutely,” said LaRosa.

     If a lift isn’t in the budget, Farley suggested a piece of plywood under the tires. “You basically want to break contact with the concrete. There’s a lot of moisture in the concrete and it tends to affect the rubber in the tire,” he said.

     There are two places to avoid touching, though, when prepping a bike for winter storage. “Nothing on the tires, nothing on the seat,” cautioned LaRosa. A little ArmorAll, for instance, can create a slippery situation for the butt or dangerous situation for the rubber.

     Both Farley and LaRosa also suggest an oil change before putting the bike into storage. Leaving old oil in the bike is a bad idea because “a motor develops carbon. Carbon has an acidic nature to it,” said Farley. That’s why fresh oil is golden and used oil is black.

     A second oil change before putting the bike back on the road is also recommended because “of the possibly of condensation,” especially if you bike is stored in an area with a fluctuating temperature, Farley said.

     LaRosa did have one other unassailable suggestion that eliminates the need for winterizing altogether – go to Florida for the cold months and take the bike with you. 

(Originally published November 10, 2007 in "The Republican-American")

Teaming up to form Cycle Concepts Unlimited in Waterbury are, from left, James Draper, George Lewis and Megan Lewis. (Photo by Bud Wilkinson)

New Motorcycle Business

Now Open in Waterbury

     It’s a safe bet that almost anyone with a passion for riding would love to find a job connected with motorcycling. Megan Lewis, George Lewis and James Draper are no exception, and they’ve banded together and launched a new business in Waterbury devoted primarily to Japanese motorcycles, especially sport bikes, as well as quads and dirt bikes.

     Cycle Concepts Unlimited at 1504 North Main Street opened in November and handles both repairs and customizing. “The passion really came together for the three of us,” said Megan on Thursday afternoon from behind her desk in the showroom.

     In the shop behind the showroom, her husband, George, had a 1987 Yamaha Royal Star Venture up on a lift, its fairings pulled off and the underpinnings exposed. Draper shuttled between the two rooms, mulling quotes that they’d just received on business insurance.

     “We’d been thinking about this for a couple of years,” Megan continued, recalling that the couple initially thought about moving to Florida to start a bike shop. However, when George became a member of the Street Runners Motorcycle Club in Waterbury, of which Draper recently became president, it made more sense to stay put.

     “It was something that we always wanted to do. It just came out in the open,” said Draper, suggesting that Cycle Concepts Unlimited will tap a market of riders not served by other area shops, which focus on repairing Harley-Davidsons.

     “I’m not trying to infringe on anyone’s livelihood,” said Draper, who goes by the club nickname “Babyjay” and rides 2002 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300.  “We’re a customizing, repair service – Dyno-testing and tuning, custom paint.”

     He views the company as an alternative to having work done at a dealership. “They just stick with the basics. They don’t do any customization,” he said.

     The biggest hurdle to date has simply been getting the word out that Cycle Concepts Unlimited is open for business. “That’s the hardest part of business,” Draper said. 

     But word of the company’s existence is apparently spreading as a half-dozen or so svelte sport bikes were parked in a line in the back of the shop, either awaiting service or pickup. In the showroom was a bright red 2000 Honda CBR 929RR that another member of the Street Runners wants to sell.

     The sales of used bikes might be something Cycle Concepts Unlimited tackles in the future, said Megan. For now, the company is sticking to repairs and accessorizing. “We’d like to become the spot (to go). The one thing we really pride ourselves on is (customer) satisfaction,” she said.

     While Draper is a longtime rider, George, who has the nickname “G-Money,” took up riding four years ago. Megan only took up the recreation three years ago. She’s currently between bikes having sold her 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i to help her husband get into a 2003 Honda CBR 954RR.

     Straying from talking about the business for a moment, Megan eyed the CBR 929RR as a possible replacement bike. A few more customers and she’ll be back on the road riding.   

2007 Miracle Ride

Charity Rides Set Dates

  The actual events may be months away, but 2008 dates are already being locked in by some charity rides.

  Miracle Ride, which benefits the Connecticut Children's Medical Center and which traditionally kicks off the riding season, will be held on May 18 and will originate from a new location, according to the event's web site.

  Staged at Hartford's Bushnell's Park in the shadow of the State Capitol in recent years, Miracle Ride will now begin in Newington at the former Connecticut Children's hospital. The end point will once again be Lake Compounce.

  Also getting a new location will be the Bikers for the Cure ride to fight breast cancer. It will move to MountainRidge in Wallingford when goes off on August 10.

Ducati Reduces Service Costs

     Ducati vows to reduce maintenance costs on its 2008 models by as much as 50 percent. The new bikes will require less frequent service and, when they are serviced, fewer parts and less time for labor.

     As an example, Ducati compared the service requirements of a 2006 Monster 620 versus a 2008 Monster 695. Over three years, the Monster 620 would have to have 17 parts replaced, requiring 15.0 man-hours of labor. The new Monster 695 would only need seven parts and 8.5 man-hours.

     That's 59 percent fewer parts and 43 percent less labor.

     "Ducati wants to get the word out" to address public misconcpetions that Ducatis are high-maintenance and expense bikes, explained Cliff's sales manager Chris Kirkness, noting that MSRP on a 2008 Monster 695 is $7,995. 

No Place in CT to Ride

ATVs and Dirt Bikes

By BUD WILKINSON

     Connecticut’s tourism web site at ctvisit.com brags that the state has 137 state parks, 800 miles of hiking trails and 230 lakes. It boasts of numerous outdoor activities ranging from biking, boating and horseback riding to fishing, golfing and even hot air ballooning. But nowhere does it tout ATV or dirt bike riding. 

     That’s because there is no state land specifically set aside for ATVs or off-road dirt bikes – despite the fact the legislature passed a law in 1986 requiring that the Department of Environmental Protection “shall make available” state property for off-road riding. 

     After 21 years of waiting, the Connecticut Motorsports Business Association is going on the offensive on behalf of dealers and the extremely frustrated off-road riding community. 

     “We are the only form of transportation that does not have space to ride,” said Lewis Davidson of Old Lyme, president of the C.M.B.A., who sent a letter to D.E.P. commissioner Gina McCarthy on November 14 requesting answers to off-road enthusiasts most obvious questions.

     In the letter, which D.E.P. acknowledged receiving on Wednesday morning, Davidson diplomatically asked that McCarthy to notify him “as to what land is currently available for such use” and further inquired “…has any land in Connecticut been designated for such use at any time during the past 21 years?”

     Davidson already knows the answers, and so does Jerry Shinners, administrator of the New England Trail Riders Association, who lives in Collinsville.

     “There is nothing. Essentially there is no legal place for ATVs to ride or ATV-plated motorcycles (dirt bikes),” said Shinners.

     The trail system at the Thomaston Dam in Thomaston – the only spot in the state dedicated to dirt bikers – doesn’t count because it is on federal land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

     Unlike with a more limited appeal activity, such as hot air ballooning, this isn’t a case of a handful of ATVers or dirt bikers being excluded from the state’s recreational mix. Shinners estimated that Connecticut residents own some 70,000 off-road vehicles – 20,000 dirt bikes and roughly 50,000 quads.

     N.E.T.R.A. alone has 900 members in the state, and many of them are forced to go to Massachusetts to ride.

     According to Shinners, Massachusetts has set aside land in six state forests, some 200-300 miles of trails, for off-road riding. “Massachusetts has it s act together, Connecticut never has done it,” he said.

     The drain of riders going over the border to the north is of particular concern to C.M.B.A. members, who sell and service off-road machines as well as sell related gear.

     “People deserve a place to ride. We’re losing big money to out of state,” said Ralph DeLuco of Canton Cycles in Winsted, referring not only to lost revenue at his motorcycle-ATV dealership, but also to lost tax dollars that could be used to cover the cost of trail maintenance.

     Another visible consequence of a lack of available land for off-road riding is the illegal operation of ATVs and dirt bikes, notably on town roads across the state. “Right now, everybody who has them is pretty much riding around as outlaws. That’s a tough way to bring your kids up – when you see the cops, you’ve got to run,” said Jim Tabor of Willow’s Motorsports in Cheshire.

     The C.M.B.A. wants the state to set aside two tracts of land in 2008 – one in the western part of the state and one in the eastern part – and two more tracts in 2009 for ATV and dirt bike use, and “to do it so there’s no harm to the riders or the environment. We do not want to harm the environment. We cherish state property and we cherish the state environment,” Davidson said.

     While the outward approach of both Davidson and Shinners is subdued and respectful, there’s also a sense that their patience as well as the patience of dealers and riders has worn extremely thin. “We’re second-class citizens,” said DeLuco.

     In his letter, Davidson suggested that D.E.P. has “supplanted the legislative intent” of the 1986 law by “requiring some ‘organization’ to do all of the work associated with making such land available” and then assume the responsibility and liability of overseeing the land.

     “They are stonewalling this and they have been stonewalling this for 30 years,” said Shiners. “Money. That’s the main issue. They never have the funding or the staff” to do what’s necessary to implement the 1986 law. “It has been a very frustrating experience. I don’t why I haven’t given up.”

     For now, the C.M.B.A. simply wants a response from D.E.P. prior to the start of the next legislative session in January.

     “We’ve approached this thing every which way we can,” said Tabor. “The last step is to maybe change the law and maybe put a timeline on it.”

     Shinners isn’t optimistic, believing that the current effort to get the 1986 law implemented will get bogged down in the bureaucracy as it has in the past.

     In confirming the receipt of Davidson’s letter and promising that a response will be forthcoming, D.E.P spokesman Dwayne Gardner said, “We are not against the use of ATVs in state parks.”

     There are environmental concerns that will need to be studied, though. “The wheels of state government obviously move slower than the wheels of ATVs,” said Gardner.

     So far, they’ve been spinning for 21 years.

(Published in "The Republican-American" on November 24, 2007)

Makeover in Works

for Marcus Dairy

By BUD WILKINSON

     Yes, CT riders, there is some truth to the long-circulating rumors that Marcus Dairy Bar in Danbury is closing.

     Yes, the legendary Sugar Hill Road gathering spot for Sunday morning riders will shut its doors sometime next spring.

     Yes, the brick and glass building that has stood since 1947 will be razed.

     But, no, the family-owned Marcus Dairy Bar is not – repeat, not – closing forever.

     Motorcyclists will continue to have a place to hang, fraternize and admire each other’s rides – sometime in the spring or summer of 2009. That’s when a new Marcus Dairy Bar, along with some additional restaurants, will open on the roughly nine-acre site where I-84 and Route 7 meet.

     “Our Sunday morning crowd, which is most special to us, should not be affected. It is our hope that the customers who like it now will like it then,” said Marcus Dairy director of special projects Sean Marcus earlier this week.

     What apparently prompted unfounded rumors about the future of Marcus Dairy Bar, which routinely attracts anywhere from 500 to 1,000 riders on a typical Sunday morning, were some rather fluid initial plans for the property and a story in another newspaper that left the impression that the business was simply being demolished.

     “That’s partly our fault,” said Marcus of the confusion. He added, “I have found that there’s some misinformation” being circulated.

     Now that plans have been largely solidified, Marcus is able to talk about the future, and he did so by tracing the past.   

     While Marcus Dairy opened a milk processing and distribution plant on the premises 60 years ago, along with the dairy bar, the site didn’t really become a destination location for riders until the 1960s. An article in “The New York Times” in the 1980s helped to boost the popularity of the place and it hasn’t waned since.

     However, the dairy business has changed. Two years ago, faced with the prohibitive cost of relocating its milk processing operation, Marcus Dairy stopped processing milk and shifted its business to distribution only. The plan now is to move the distribution business elsewhere, although a contract has not yet been signed.

     “Once that’s done, everything on this property gets shut down. We level the property. We start construction on a 94,000-square-foot development. This will consist of five buildings. One of the buildings is scheduled to be a brand new, free-standing Marcus Dairy Bar,” said Marcus, who admitted to being “a little concerned” about losing the motorcycle crowd for most of the 2008 riding season.

     “My best guess is that people will scatter,” he continued, “but they’ll miss the experience of congregating in one single place.”

     What Marcus Dairy Bar has going for it is tradition and something even more important – location, location, location. It’s easily accessible for riders from New York City to Boston, and is a great jumping off point for scenic roads in northwestern Connecticut and the Hudson Valley.

     “You can hit fantastic roads in 10 minutes,” said Marcus. “I don’t think anything’s going to develop and give people the community sense you get here.”

Marcus Dairy in Danbury

(Originally published October 27, 2007)