Motorcycle TourM

agazine

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

APRIL 2014

Volume 20 No. 4

Going Downthe Coast

Alps & Lakes Tour with Edelweiss Bike TravelSomething of the Best of Everything

Getting Ready for SpringTons of Great New Products

Monthly Columns • Upcoming Events

http://www.olympiamotosports.com

http://www.bergenharley.com

MONTHLY COLUMNSFREE WHEELIN’ ...............................................................4

WHATCHATHINKIN’........................................................5

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE................................6

ON THE MARK.................................................................7

THROTTLE BLIPS ............................................................8

BACKLASH .....................................................................10

INDUSTRY INFOBITES .................................................11

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA .............................................14

BIG CITY GETAWAY......................................................16

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

WE’RE OUTTA HERE....................................................20

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .....................................30

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR.............................36

FEATURESGOING DOWN THE COAST.......................................22

EDELWEISS ALPS & LAKES TOUR.........................40

EVENTSSYPDERQUEST RECAP...............................................32

COG NATIONAL & NEW SWEDEN 450.................34

PRODUCTSHJC SI-33 HELMET......................................................15

REVIEWS AND SPOTLIGHTS....................38 + 46-47

FIRSTGEAR RAINER TPG JACKET...........................45

OLYMPIA MOTOSPORTS GUIDE SUIT ...................48

THE ‘S’ PLUG EARBUDS ...........................................49

W H A T ’ S I N S I D E

Publishers Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors Jeff Bahr, Mark Byers,Bill Heald, Mike Simonette,Mike StackhouseDr. Seymour O’Life

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 317Branchville NJ 07826

phone 973.948.4176

fax 973.948.0823

email editor@backroadsusa.com

online www.backroadsusa.com

Advertising 973-948-4176

BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACK-ROADS™, Inc. 2014. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may notbe reproduced in any manner without specific written consent fromthe publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submis-sions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number withsubmissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosedsufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACK-ROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should notbe considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are rid-den on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not re-sponsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Pleaserespect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear properprotective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

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CraCk in the iCe

By the time you will be reading this it will be near

April. Perhaps some flowers will be showing and a

touch of green will be making an appearance here and there.

Since I am writing to you from the past let me remind you of where I am

at now. Looking out the office I see white.

Just white.

There is snow and tons of it. You had it too.

As we all know we are coming out of one of the deepest winters on records.

That one week in February literally buried our region in ‘feets’ of snow and

that was on top of all the other storms that previously pounded the northeast.

Even our friends in Atlanta and the south were not spared by this season;

and we received none of their snide remarks on the telephone this year.

This past Saturday it actually warmed up enough that we could see the

driveway, although it was still surrounded by a track-like luge or bobsled

run. Leaving in the truck we felt we would have to push it quickly down the

driveway and then jump into the seats before getting underway.

This day did have a brief respite where we could see the actual driveway

and local temperatures rocketed to the low 50’s.

Ahh – a crack in the ice?

This was what I had been waiting for, as I needed to pick up my KLR from

our local Kawasaki dealer. (Town & Country- great folks!) The bike had been

running poorly and was beyond my meager wrenching skills, so I brought it

to the pros. Carb cleaned, valves adjusted, fluids changed and the large mouse

condo that I had missed was removed from the back of the air box. The bike

had been parked at the shop for a few months while we had to sort out some

things and I didn’t want them to have to store it ‘till spring. With a half-way

nice Saturday on hand and fairly clear roads around the north Jersey region

I knew I had a window of opportunity.

Unlike before the KLR started happily and settled into a nice idle.

I geared up and gingerly put on and buckled my helmet.

Snapping the Army green machine into gear I was off.

After a very long and difficult winter – in many ways – I felt reborn pilot-

ing the KLR back to home. The bike that had been hesitating, dropping power

and just running deplorably

was now in top shape. Cracking

the throttle open the KLR re-

sponded instantly with its old

vigor and smoothness.

Never a speed demon the

bike still had far better feel to it.

I promised myself I would

ride it more this coming season

and not let it languish in the

barn for months at a time – the

downfall for any great machine.

We, well Shira, had concerns

on a large patch of ice coating the front entrance, but we threw some barn

grit atop it before we left and I was confident on passing this light barrier

easily.

The ride was cathartic, energizing and healing in some ways - even if it

was just 20 or so miles.

I stopped to top off the 650’s tank before scooting through some of the

backroads, still coated with salt sand and gravel, home.

Down through the Twin Bridges and up around the Paulenskill and then

finally the long hill leading to Backroads Central.

When we left we had a more or less clear run into our barn.

Managing the ice flow nicely I rolled up to the barn, which in the last two

hours, had the entire snow from the roof slide down in front of the doors.

Nice. One last slap at me from Old Man Winter.

Thankfully the KLR likes this sort of stuff and I had some fun as well up

and over the small snow bank and into the barn.

F R E E W H E E L I N ’

BRIAN RATHJEN

Page 4 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

next page

Care and Feeding

I was listening to Sirius radio yesterday

and, on Deep Tracks, the DJ reminded every-

one to turn their clocks, watches and other

time-keeping devices ahead one hour the next night. Funny thing, Brian and

I were just questioning when this rite of Spring would take place and -

BAMM - there it is.

Now, I certainly am not one to give up an hour of my life so easily, but

when it comes to Spring, sunshine and daylight, I’ll be a bit sleepy for one

day to keep my vitamin D supplier around for an extra hour in the afternoon.

More importantly, it means this dreaded winter will be that much closer to

departing, baseball will return to Queens and my butt will be back on the

saddle of my motorcycle.

In preparation for that return to two-wheels, I start the next project of

Spring cleaning and going through the gear closet to see what’s new, what’s

old, what needs taking in (yeah, right) or letting out (more likely) and what

needs a cleaning.

Last season I took possession of a new Aerostich Roadcrafter suit, which

got a good deal of use and, thus, a good deal of road dirt, bugs, etc. If you

ask most ‘Stich wearer they’ll say ‘Yeah, so what?

That’s what’s holding it together, keeping out the mois-

ture and such.’ Well, I’m not one to have all my riding

gear look black or grey when it actually has a very nice

color to it. So I did a little looking and, lo and behold,

the good folks in Duluth have updated their care and

feeding formula for their garments. Since they’ve taken

the time to put in in writing, might as well take advan-

tage - here’s what they say:

The Laundry and Care guides for all Aerostich Gore-

Tex textile gear have just been significantly revised as

a result of newly-completed testing results obtained by

by technicians at Gore-Tex. The newly recommended

laundering procedures noticeably help Aerostich rider's

jackets, pants and one-piece garments function better

in extreme and severe conditions, and also last longer.

The critical changes involve the types and amounts

of detergents and fabric treatments recommended, and

changes which increase the effectiveness of Gore Tex's

unique breathable-waterproof membrane. Essentially,

all powdered detergents, fabric softeners, and other

kinds of additives should no longer be used. Small

amounts of liquid detergents are the only recommended

type of cleaning agent, and clear-water-no-soap double

rinsing are also recommended. Drying in a clothing

dryer is also recommended to renew the fabric's DWR

(Durable Water Repellant) treatment.

If you have any garments from Aerostich with Gore-

Tex, you can view their garment care updates on their

website: www.aerostich.com

Yeah, baby, no more drip drying, waiting for a warm,

sunny day so my suit won’t freeze outside as it tries to

shed its moisture.

With the suit being handled and ready for the season, it was on to boots

and gloves (doesn’t that make you think of that stupid GEICO Pig commer-

cial where he’s on vacation and starts saying ‘Boots and Pants’? What the

heck does that mean anyway?) I have been wearing Held ‘s Steve gloves for

a very long time, replacing them every couple of years when necessary. Re-

cently, we got word from Tommy Kincaid, Held North America distributor,

that he would no longer be handling their product. I checked the status of the

ones living in my tankbag and determined they’d make it through at least

one more season. Taking stock of the other six or seven pair of various

weather and temperature gloves showed me to be good to go no matter what

Mother Nature had in store this season.

As for foot cover, I have a brand new pair of SiDi Livia Rain sitting and

waiting for my feet to return to them. The last pair lasted a number of seasons

and were one of the only boots I’d found to truly keep my feet dry, if not a

bit on the warm side. Measuring in at just the right height, and quite com-

fortable for any amount of walking, I do hope SiDi keeps them in their roster

for the forseeable future.

As I’m writing this, the temperature has risen into the 50s, there is a con-

stant dripping coming off the roof of the barn that houses the iron steeds, and

a passle of motorcycles just went by Backroads Central. The Mets will be

on SNY in just a few minutes, from their southern training grounds, and

maybe, just maybe, this will be their year.

I know it’s going to be a great riding season and I hope to see you on the

road often.

W H ATC H AT H I N K I N ’

SHIRA KAMIL

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 5

Free Wheelin’

First little ride of the season done and minor mission

completed.

But, more importantly it was now nearing spring.

The sound of baseballs coming off bats could be heard

all the way from Florida and even though it was still

winter and anything was possible snow-wise I felt the

riding season approaching.

I had seen that crack in the ice and I was looking

forward to have to open my vents on some warm sum-

mer’s day.

Let’s go riding!

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gettin’ Pretty thin

It is a necessary evil from time to time to take a peek

into the automotive world as certain aspects of the

cagey realm have a way of entering the two-wheeled sphere with disturbing

speed. This is especially appropriate when we look at shared resources like

battery technology, tire development and even the precious bodily fluids than

circulate our crankcases. At this writing I have been informed of a victory of

sorts in that last category, in the form of the EPA backing off a bit on the pro-

posed 15% Ethanol implementation which is a very good thing in my opin-

ion. I say this as a person considered more environmentally focused than

most that are considered motorheads. Ethanol is an OK fuel additive when

used in small proportions (up to 10%), but it has its own issues and when

used in the higher 15% scenario has the potential of screwing up a lot of older

engines and fuel systems, not to mention reducing overall fuel economy by

a noticeable margin. At least as the regs stand now there will be huge labels

on any pumps carrying 15% stating that there’s poison in the well (or the fuel

additive equivalent thereof) in the form of the higher concentration of

ethanol. Yes, some “flex-fuel” vehicles can run much higher concentrations

but motorcycles are not among them. True, I haven’t really checked, but I

know they are certainly not available ‘round here.

But this is not really a rant about ethanol, and believe me you’re fortunate

because I could really go on about the stuff in a fair amount of detail. No,

what I’m really thinking about this still icy day (did you know when you

think you broke your finger falling on some ice it may have just been dislo-

cated? Just sayin’) is the latest oil we’re seeing in new cars and trucks. I was

doing the press review treatment on a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup, and in

perusing the engine compartment it came to my attention that the required

OEM oil viscosity was 0W-20. Whaaaa? This is a truck after all, with a sub-

stantial V8 and a very impressive towing spec. Back when I was a lad, I

leaned that the heavier-use engines found in trucks usually required a heavier

oil than their automotive counterparts. This of course has also been balanced

with the contradictory demands that only multi-viscosity oil can satisfy,

namely being as thin as possible for cold starts and thick as necessary for

higher temperatures and heavy loads.

Over time the need for better fuel economy and additional muscle from

smaller, higher revving engines have made the evolution of oil even more

critical, and now as I discovered we’re actually told to put 0W-20 oil in truck

engines, which would have seemed a recipe for failure a few years ago. In-

cidentally, lest you think the Chevy was a fluke the 2014 Toyota Tundra with

its impressively strong 5.7-liter V8 also requires the same viscosity of oil. It

gets more interesting in that in Toyota’s case, for example, new purchasers

get two years of complimentary maintenance and for regular service, oil

changes are scheduled for 10,000 intervals. This is the requirement for the

warranty, you understand, so the company seems con-

fident the vehicle can handle such thin oil for such a

long period of time. The idea that you can improve fuel

economy by just using a lubricant that in and of itself

allows components to spin more easily (especially when

the engine is started when fuel economy and emissions

are at their worst) is very attractive to engineers and

bean counters alike, provided the engine is able to per-

form reliably under stress.

So what does this mean for motorcycles? Plenty.

Along with truck engines, our mills are really pushed

to the limit in terms of tolerances and squeezing the

most power out of the smallest package, and the impor-

tance of reliability is even more paramount for us on

two wheels for a variety of reasons. In addition, there’s

one critical difference you always have to address when

it comes to motor oil and motorcycles: most bike en-

gines out there share their oil with their transmissions,

which present their own challenges in terms of the

proper lubrication of the gears and the proper operation

of wet clutches. The base oil that all the additives are

added to is changing in composition all the time, in ac-

cordance with what the manufactures need and as

breakthroughs in chemistry arrive. What ultimately is

going on is the need for motorcycle-specific oil is more

pronounced that ever, especially if you do have a ma-

chine with the shared oil approach. Oil in general is get-

ting more expensive as the sophistication of the elixir

continues to expand and more elaborate additives are

used, but in return the stuff is more resistant to break-

down and therefore we get the longer change intervals

I mentioned earlier. The bottom line here is while we

seem to be doing OK on the gasoline front in terms of

the safety of the fluid composition we’re using, oil con-

tinues to change dramatically and you need to keep up

with this march of progress. This is even more impor-

tant with older motorcycles compared to the latest of-

ferings, and as always if you have any uncertainties

about exactly what you should be putting in your

crankcase consult the OEMs and dealers to get their lat-

est counsel. “Older” mixes will still be around for a

while to be sure, but as formulations change it will be-

come less feasible for oil makers to keep “older” oils

around since all the other products they make will re-

quire the newer oil technologies.

Better living through chemistry?

I hope so, but as always we must remain vigilant.

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Page 6 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

aCCessorizing:the Way oF the Farkle

I used to know a guy who was married to a woman who was “high main-

tenance.” She’d buy a dress from someplace hideously expensive, but just

when he thought he’d get out of the mall before the credit card exploded,

she’d say “Now, we have to ACCESSORIZE!” and go off to buy shoes and

handbags and hats and unmentionables to go with it. I’m sure the credit card

payments outlasted the marriage.

When it comes to regular clothing, I’m the opposite: if I could wear the

same pair of jeans and a couple favorite shirts every day of my life, I would.

To me, “fashion” means convincing me the perfectly good stuff I own is no

longer any good so you can sell me slightly modified new stuff. I don’t be-

lieve in buying new clothing for appearances: as a 51-year-old engineer, I’m

pretty much a hopeless geek.

I am, however, a diva when it comes to “specialty” clothing and motorcy-

cle gear. I might not change it every year, or even every decade, but I have

gear that is specific to every type of riding. Trials? I have a trials helmet

and boots. Dual sport? I have a dual-sport jacket, pants, and protective gear,

including a motocross helmet and goggles. Road? That begets two different

kinds of boots, three or four jackets, and three pair of pants (two leather, one

textile). I even have specific gear to wear when I’m refereeing a bicycle race

on the moto (helmet, vest, jackets, shirts, et al).

When it comes to motorcycles, I’m no different. There is nothing, repeat

NOTHING more dangerous than a winter day and a guy with a new motor-

cycle, a good glass of whiskey, a credit card, and a high-speed internet con-

nection. When you know your credit card number by heart, including the

security code, you know you’ve been doing too much online shopping. If

my card was stolen, I’d probably wait to report it so I could see if the thief

was spending less…

You see, each motorcycle also needs “accessorization.” My V-Strom came

mostly as an empty canvas, having only a topcase and a few other sundries,

like heated grips and engine protection bars. A coupla bourbons and a little

surfing on the Stromtrooper site convinced me that Twisted Throttle was the

answer to my prayers. Soon, I had quick-detach bag mounts, side bags, and

a tankbag, along with their accoutrements.

It didn’t stop there: my dealer had a used intercom and a fuse panel with a

relay harness. Another vendor had some LED lights that mounted on the en-

gine bars. My own garage yielded some flashing LED brake lights, a BMW

power socket, a Zumo mount, and enough wire, fusible links, and heat-shrink

tubing to make a proper spaghetti bowl of the area under the seat. Knowing

the Wee Strom’s limited electrical capacity, a friend suggested I add a trailer

hitch to pull a small generator. I demurred, giving him a vulgar suggestion

on the placement of said generator.

Still, I’m sure in the middle of my massive farkling session, or perhaps

during the first couple of post-farkle rides, I’ll realize something vital is

amiss. Most likely, the stock seat will be found wanting and I’ll end up set-

ting the electrons ablaze again in search of a commodious perch for my ample

ass. I already have a couple notions of which aftermarket offerings might

pamper my posterior, having been through this with two other machines.

Stock motorcycle saddles are, after all, the Spanish Inquisition of original

equipment.

The windscreen will undoubtedly need help, as motorcycle manufacturers

seem to delight in creating frontal appendages that subject your head to buf-

feting reminiscent of an Ali one-two combo to Sonny Liston’s noggin. The

range of aerodynamic appendages to combat that malady is staggering, and

all but a few of them are useless. The aerospace guy in me will undoubtedly

try to solve that one with homemade vortex generators, but that will still re-

quire acquisition of raw materials and “flight tests” at various airspeeds…

So there you have it: I’m a high-maintenance, motorcycle apparel and ac-

cessory diva. I’m addicted to late-night motorcycle vendor accessory porn.

I need to go to AA: “accessorizer’s anonymous” before I need to raise my

debt ceiling and go into deficit spending. I would wear the same jeans, flan-

nel shirt, and hiking shoes I wear every day to the Academy Awards as long

as I had a new, flip-front helmet and proper riding boots for the trip. Don’t

get me started on gloves…

O N T H E M A R K

MARK BYERS

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 7

got gear?

The following suggestions may strike some as

preachy. This perception can arise when the wearing

of protective gear is discussed in almost any fashion

since, not unlike politics, the issue can be polariz-

ing. Still, I think it’s better to be informed than mis-

informed; more advantageous to know one’s safety and comfort choices than

to dwell in a no-man’s-land of ignorance, apathy, or both. Here are some

things that you can do to make your ride safer and more enjoyable.

‘Quiet’ helmets and hearing loss – aka ring-a-ding-ding

Hear ye, Hear ye! Here’s a practice so silly I still shake my head in bewil-

derment when I see it. Riders will happily fork over big bucks to obtain the

latest, greatest “quiet” helmets, and then stick these pricey, majestic, cranial

crowns on their noggins sans earplugs.

Five years ago I woke up with a debilitating case of Tinnitus (ringing in

the ears). The condition occurs for many different reasons, but those who ex-

pose themselves to loud noises for extended periods of time (I.E. unprotected

riders) are really asking for it. Two years of therapy have made the condition

more bearable for me, but only just. Given the chance, there are many things

that I would do differently to sidestep this life-altering malady. One would

be to wear earplugs from the get-go while riding.

Wind noise is something that motorcyclists adjust to until it becomes tol-

erable, but the devil is in the details with this one. Hearing damage can occur

even when decibel levels aren’t particularly objectionable to the rider; 85

mph equals roughly 100 decibels, a level that the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA) categorize as loud and damaging.

A so-called “quiet” helmet blocks unwanted noise to a degree, but a super-

lid alone can’t come close to the protection provided by a cheap set of foam

earplugs (up to 30 dB) or other such noise-blocker. Don’t believe me? Try

this simple test: Ride your bike on the highway for an hour with earplugs in.

Then pull them out and return home. You will probably be shocked by the

difference and you may just become a convert.

an overly sunny outlook

Do you wear a full-face helmet with a tinted shield on sunny days? If so,

you may be on your way to developing a basil-cell carcinoma or worse form

of skin cancer. There’s just no getting around it. The sun’s rays can be de-

ceptively cruel. Even when you think you’re protected (tinted shield, etc.)

the rays can be getting through. But there’s an easy way to ward off the in-

sidious effects of Mr. Sun. Just rub some sunscreen onto your mug or other

exposed parts before you set off for the day. Experts recommend an SPF rat-

ing of at least 15 (higher if you’re fair-skinned) to help keep you safe. A “dol-

lop will do you,” they say. Cheap insurance, I say.

Since we’re talking about sunshine we should also consider its nemesis,

rain. This tip is straightforward. If you haven’t yet purchased a dedicated rain

suit or rainproof outerwear you’ll only have yourself to blame when you find

yourself sitting beneath an overpass, wet and miserable, hoping against hope

that the deluge will eventually stop.

Cool heat

Riders, listen up. It may look way-cool to ride in winter with nothing more

than a leather jacket and jeans, but you’ll ride farther and happier if you throw

some electric clothing into the mix. I know some of you will claim to be

hardy and dismiss my suggestion as the mere ravings of a wimp (guilty as

charged), but there’s nothing at all wimpy about being pro-active against the

cold.

It helps to understand that Hypothermia is more than just a little shivering.

Even in its earliest stages, it absolutely will affect your judgment and re-

flexes; vital functions that need to be working at 100% while riding. Besides,

what’s so cool about freezing to death? Even tough guys sit beside a fire now

and again, right?

If I’ve managed to convince at least some of you, here’s the hot set-up.

Get yourself a jacket liner with sleeves as opposed to an electric vest. This

will keep your all-important core warm, as well as your arms. Then, you can

add electric gloves down the road, or even go full wimp with electric pants.

When you find yourself actually looking forward to cold weather riding,

you’ve come full circle. The heat is on!

T H R O T T L E B L I P S

JEFF BAHR

Page 8 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF LONG BRANCH671 Broadway • Long Branch, NJ • 732-229-8518www.HDLongBranch.com www.facebook.com/harleydavidsonlongbranch

SIGN UP FOR OURE-NEWSLETTERFOR UP-TO-DATEEVENTS AND INFO

http://www.schuberthnorthamerica.com

Hi Brian and Shira,

Take a look at the attached photo!! Looks

like we were both at the same place. This is

from a club ride (Rolling Iron Riders-formally

Legends HOG) we took 3 years ago to Maine.

Great magazine!! I have been a loyal reader

since day one. Keep up the great work.

PS we are now an all brands club; and yup

- I represent the Beemer Faithful as I now ride

a 2012 BMW 650 GS Sertao.

Regards

Lou Fraulo - Clifton, NJ

Cuba – one last thought

The Editor Backroads:

As motorcyclists we are naturally wary of four-wheelers making left turns

because while their drivers seem to look, they often do not see us. In the same

sense I read with interest and little surprise that some took exception to my

article about the first motorcycle tour of Communist Cuba without noticing

in it the differences between the rulers of that country and what we learned

about the people living under their yoke.

We met many Cubans who, some openly and some more qui-

etly, showed us friendship expressed in many ways. We saw

that Cubans of all ages admire the United States of America-

and not only for our American made Harleys and automobiles.

We found that the Cuban people were in many respects just like

us, particularly regarding motorcycles. Mindful that the people

we met still live in Cuba, I tried to express how difficult that is

under a totalitarian regime. We didn’t go to Cuba to see how

the Castro brothers run the place, we went for a new riding ex-

perience, and we ended up admiring the people we met because

we share common interests.

No doubt a better writer could have made clearer the differ-

ences of what life is like living in freedom as we do (and take

for granted), and living under a dictator, but Mr. Siegel’s freedom to express

his disapproval in an open letter, and published in the magazine he complains

about, is itself, a simple but perfect example of that difference.

David Taylor

David,

We had more comments - some against, but the majority positive on your

article - than any in recent memory. I have never had to write an editorial

about letters and comments in the 20 years we have been doing this maga-

zine. Always good to get folks thinking by stirring the

pot. Your superb writing and Don’s incredible photog-

raphy are always welcome in our pages. ~BR

Hey Brian & Shira,

Really enjoyed your Edelweiss Rome to Sicily tour.

You really portrayed the countryside, customs, and ex-

citing food varieties. What a wonderful riding experi-

ence!! You both put together quite an adventure!! Keep

up the great work!

Les and Debbie

Backroads,

We were always a big fan of the Honda VFR 700 &

the VFR 750 as we have 8 of them in our rental fleet for

the old Lotus Tours. They were great sport touring ma-

chines that handled well and never seem to need any

unique service or much maintenance. Ultimately, we

graduated to the VFR 800 and continued to ride them

from the Mediterranean coastal roads to the top of the

Alps with great regularity. They made good riders even

better, more confident riders after two weeks of explor-

ing Europe. As Bill Heald points out once Honda added

the VTEC around 2002, they became impossible to ride.

As one decelerated, the VTEC continued to consume

unburnt fuel, which kept the engine running an extra 15-

20 seconds. So, when you snapped the throttle closed

in the middle of your switch back, the bike continued

to roll on under throttle. Ouch, more brake! They only

lasted one ride and we sold all four of them as we felt

they were too unpredictable.

Diane is still happily riding her 2000 VFR! It only

came in red, but it did not match her leathers...

All the best!

Burt Richmond

Page 10 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

BACKLASH Letters to the Editor

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

Letters may be edited,never censored, to fit.

Mail: BACKROADS • PO Box 317, Branchville NJ 07826

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

INDIAN MOTORCYCLES WILL BE CELEBRATED AS MARQUE OF

THE YEAR AT AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS JULY 11-13The American Mo-

torcyclist Association

is pleased to announce

that Indian Motorcycle

will be celebrated as

the 2014 AMA Vintage

Motorcycle Days Mar-

que of the Year, July 11-13, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington,

Ohio. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days featuring Indian Motorcycle as Mar-

que of the Year will include special recognition, displays and race classes for

historic Indian-brand motorcycles (including Indian “Motocycles” from the

early days), as well as participation from the new Indian Motorcycle. Atten-

dees to the three-day festival of vintage motorcycling will experience a spe-

cial Indian Motorcycle-themed tent on the Mid-Ohio infield featuring

beautiful examples of classic Indian machines, as well as the latest machines

from the new Indian Motorcycle. In addition, a full demo fleet of Indian Mo-

torcycles will be at the event, allowing attendees to get a feel for the Indian

Motorcycle line-up

AMA members can purchase a weekend pass to AMA Vintage Motorcycle

Days for $45, or a one-day pass for $25, saving $5 off the regular advance

purchase rate. The AMA member discount is in addition to the regular $10

savings on advance ticket purchases, and there is no service charge for AMA

members when purchasing through the AMA, making the savings even

greater. AMA member pricing, available through May 27, is only available

by calling the AMA directly at (800) 262-5646. Advance tickets are available

to the general public at www.midohio.com, with all kids under 12 admitted

free with a paying, supervising adult.

For updates about events and activities and information about past AMA

Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit www.AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

If you’re not an AMA member, we invite you join the nation’s largest

grassroots organization that fights for your freedom to ride and race visit

www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com Join the AMA.

MOTOVERMONT DATES ANNOUNCED FOR

2014 DUAL-SPORT TRAINING TOURS IN VERMONT

Enjoy the beautiful trails and dirt roads of Ver-

mont with the expert guidance of renowned mo-

torcycle instructor, Lorne Banks. The 3-day

Vermont Training Tour will be spent perfecting

the art of Off-road motorcycling on historic dirt

roads and trails. Obstacles such as water cross-

ing’s, deep mud, hill climbs and rocky terrain will

be encountered, addressed and executed with pro-

fessional instruction. Subjects pertaining to rid-

ing technique, motorcycle adjustments,

mechanics and safety will also be discussed.

The dates for this event are July 18-21, 2014

and September 19-22, 2014. The cost for the en-

tire weekend is $1,499.

Each evening will be spent at the brand new Hotel Jay, part of the 4.5-star

Jay Peak Mountain Resort.

Dining at Jay Peak is second to

none as special attention is

made to provide fresh and

local offerings such as Ver-

mont raised meats and fresh-

from-Maine seafood. After

dinner, relax by the fire with a

warm Cider or a refreshing

Vermont microbrew while we

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 11

While BMW has spent 90 years producing

one of the best motorcycles in the world,

we’ve spent 15 years providing you with

the latest and best in BMW products.

From the newest motorcycle technology to the

hottest new scooters, we can help you

find the right fit for your needs.

Combine this with our friendly, knowledgeable staff and

expert service, we’re convinced Cross Country BMW

will become your only stop for all your BMW needs.

911 Middlesex AvenueMetuchen, NJ

Serving Central and North NJ,Staten Island, NY

and Philadelphia, PA

732-635-0094www.CrossCountryCycle.net

15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

INDUSTRY INFOBITES News from the Inside

recount the day’s events and discuss the riding itinerary for the next.

Retire to your deluxe, King room and get some rest for another great day

of riding!

Tour includes 3-day dual-sport tour, on-trail guidance and support, 3-night

deluxe accommodations, 3 fresh meals per day and access to amenities at

Jay Peak Resort.

Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual-sport motorcycles with off-road tires will be

available for rent if needed for a cost of $129/day.

For more information about the class please visit www.motovermont.com

or call 802-860-6686. For more information about head instructor Lorne

Banks: adventureridersinternational.com/about-us.html.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO OFFER

FACTORY DEMOS AT AMERICADE 2014Harley-Davidson Motor Company will once again have a huge factory

demo fleet at Americade 2014. Among the dozens of motorcycles ready to

ride, Harley-Davidson will be bringing its newest 2014 motorcycles, includ-

ing its latest Project RUSHMORE touring bikes and the new Street 500 and

750.

“Demo rides, at events like Americade, are a great opportunity for riders

to experience the latest products from Harley-Davidson—-the best way pos-

sible: getting in the saddle and taking a ride,” said Manon Durand, Harley-

Davidson Events Lead.

“Harley-Davidson has been a big supporter of Americade every year since

our very first event in 1983,” said Americade Director, Christian Dutcher.

“We’re delighted to have them as such strong partners, and look forward to

seeing the orange and black return.”

A full list of activities and demo providers can be seen at

www.americade.com. Registration is available online through May 1, and

via post entry at the Lake George’s Holiday Inn.

NEW YORK LEGISLATOR SAYS

NOBODY SHOULD EVER RIDE A MOTORCYCLE

A Long Island legislator has sparked controversy, saying motorcycles and

bicycles don’t belong in his County.

Thomas F. Barraga, 70, a member of the Suffolk County Legislature in

New York, made remarks regarding his opinion on two-wheelers when re-

plying to 17-year-old Matthew Cutrone.

Cutrone wrote to Barraga after his mother had been knocked off of her bi-

cycle by a car driver who wasn’t paying attention, suggesting: “there should

be some sort of bike lane or maybe even just some warning signs to put

around in certain areas so that drivers can know when to be careful of bicy-

clists.”

Barraga responded to Cutrone six weeks later saying: “I have lived in West

Islip most of my life and my personal feeling is that no one who lives in our

hamlet or for that matter in Suffolk County should ever ride a bicycle or a

motorcycle.”

Adding: “drivers expect to see other drivers on the road not bicyclists and

motorcyclists.

“Reality at times can be difficult for some to come to grips with but giving

false hope would be inappropriate.”

Barraga has said he is standing by his remarks after a copy of the email he

sent lit up social media.

STATES RANKED BY MOTORCYCLE OWNERSHIP

With 8,410,255 motorcycles registered to 311,800,000 U.S. citizens, ac-

cording to the most recent DOT and Census data that means that out of every

37 Americans you meet, one of them probably owns a motorcycle. But in

some states your odds are better than others, and when you compare

Page 12 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

statewide motorcycle registrations with population figures, you might be sur-

prised where some states stand in the rankings.

For example, Iowa comes in third with 18 people for every motorcycle,

more than double the national average. In 2011 the state had 173,929 mo-

torcycles registered, and a population of just over three million.

The second highest ratio of bike ownership is in New Hampshire, whose

1.3 million population shares 79,266 motorcycles, equaling 17 people per

motorcycle.

First on the list is South Dakota with 12 people for each motorcycle, over

three times the national average. In 2011 the state had 69,284 motorcycles

registered, representing just 0.82% of all motorcycles in America, but its

sparse population of 816,598 gives it the highest concentration of motorcy-

cling in the country.

Rounding out the Top Ten are; Wisconsin (4th with 18 people per bike);

Wyoming (5th/19); North Dakota (6th/21); Vermont (7th/21); Montana

(8th/21); Minnesota (9th/22) and Alaska (10th/23).

KODEWA PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLES (PMC) C-01,LICENSED BY LOTUS, IS ROAD READY

Following two years of careful planning and intense development, Kodewa

is delighted to announce that that the prototype of the world’s first motorcycle

to bear the legendary Lotus marque is now road registered and ready for ac-

tion.

Kodewa has been granted a license to produce the motorcycle by Group

Lotus plc the world renowned sportscar manufacturer

and engineering consultancy.

The C-01 combines ample power via a V-twin engine

with a distinctive body designed by Daniel Simon inte-

grating carbon fibre, titanium and aerospace quality

steel.

The C-01 motorcycle is not designed, engineered or

produced by Group Lotus plc but is the result of a col-

laboration between motorsport veterans under the lead-

ership of Kodewa, lead by Dr Colin Kolles. The

development on the C-01 was carried out with the sup-

port of Holzer Group (co-owners of Kalex) and design

guru Daniel Simon. Drawing on their wealth of motor-

sport experience, the team of engineers has designed a

unique high performance superbike.

The C-01 will be available in a range of liveries some

of which pay homage to Lotus’ sporting pedigree. A

customisation service is also available, limited only by

the imagination of the client. With an exclusive produc-

tion run of just 100 units, superbike collectors and fans

of the Lotus brand will need to move fast to secure one.

The original idea to create the C-01 came from

Kodewa’s Dr Colin Kolles. Speaking about the project

he said: “We set out to create a bike that isn’t just great

to ride but also represents a piece of art in motion. Over

the years I have seen my fair share of style over sub-

stance, what this bike brings to the market is a unique

combination of both - state of the art technology with a

truly jawdropping aesthetic.”

MASA NEW TOP MAN AT KAWASKI

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has announced that

Masafumi “Masa” Nakagawa will succeed Takeshi

“Tak” Teranishi as president of the company, effective April 1. Nakagawa,

who spent six years at KMC’s Irvine headquarters in the late 1990s, will tran-

sition to his new position when Teranishi, who joined KMC in 2009, leaves

to assume the presidency of Kawasaki Motors Corporation Japan.

Nakagawa, the new KMC president, joined the parent company, Kawasaki

Heavy Industries, Ltd. in 1977, after receiving a degree in Economics from

Kyoto University. He held several titles within KHI and subsidiary compa-

nies in Japan and Europe in addition to his earlier posting in the United

States. Most positions emphasized marketing and sales, and included a three-

year stint as the managing director of Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. as well

as his recent position as general manager of the Marketing and Sales Division

of KHI’s Motorcycle & Engine Company in Japan, where he was also pro-

moted to executive officer in 2010.

“Masa’s experience in all aspects of Kawasaki’s business operations will

allow the company to continue its growth path and strengthen efforts to

broaden our brand’s impact in the powersports arena,” said Teranishi, the

outgoing KMC president.

During Teranishi’s tenure at KMC, the company introduced several new

products that have helped to increase its market share. Included among these

are the Ninja 300, KLX 250S, Vulcan 1700 Voyager, Teryx4, Brute Force

300 and Jet Ski® Ultra 310 series.

Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and

Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 13

ROLLIN’ FAST Cycle Sports

104 Main Street, Lebanon, NJ

908-236-9000www.rollinfast.comHere to serve you Monday-Friday 9a-6p

Thursday 9a-7p • Saturday 9a-5p

Gone Riding Sunday

SLIM CHANCE YOU’LL FIND ANOTHER BOBBER LIKE IT,ANYWHERE.

Wd-40the unusual history oF something We all use

I was watching one of my favorite shows, the Travel Channel’s ‘Mysteries

at the Museum’, when a segment on the Cold War, nuclear annihilation and

a common household product came on the screen.

“What was this all about,” I wondered.

Many times you are left guessing till the very end to find what the artifact

or story is really about. I admit to getting this one quickly, although I had

never heard the entire story on this product that just about everybody has in

the home or garage. WD-40.

Here’s the real deal.

During the early ‘50s the Cold War was

heating up and the United States and the Soviet Union were one-

upping each other with atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Looking to create a safe and accurate delivery system for their deadly

payload that didn’t involve aircraft actually carrying the bombs to

Moscow, the US military decided on a system of missiles to do the

dirty work for them.

But, there was a problem.

The outer skin of the new Atlas missile was prone to corrosion and

rust. Failure of the outer skin might result in failure of the missiles

flight and possibly creating a nuclear problem far short of the in-

tended target, or even here in the United States.

The military needed a solution and they turned to a small company

in San Diego called the Rocket Chemical Company.

Company founder Norm Larsen, and his staff of three, set out to create

a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace in-

dustry that would specifically displace water and stop corrosion on the Atlas

missiles.

But this proved to be no easy task as each attempt failed by not being able

to withstand the extreme cold of the upper atmosphere or the heat of the ac-

tual launch.

Again and again Larsen and crew tried different combinations of formulas

only to be defeated by heat or cold.

Thirty nine times the Rocket Chemical Company tried and failed at man-

ufacturing what they had set out to create.

Then Larsen added in two common compounds – baby oil and petroleum

jelly.

This addition, on the 40th attempt, seems to do the trick and the Rocket

Chemical Company’s Water Displace-

ment #40 stopped corrosion regardless

of temperature extreme.

The Air Force coated the prototype

SM-65 Atlas missiles with the com-

pound and it halted all the corrosion and the missile system went active just

a few years later.

Yep, the same thing that protects a baby’s ass would protect our missiles

too.

But the workers at Rocket Chemical find that the new ‘military secret’ for-

mula has many uses and they take it home for all sorts of uses and lubricating

chores.

Squeaky hinges, sticky locks, lubricating tools and the like. It seemed

the uses of this Water Displacement #40 were endless.

Seeing an entire industry opening in front of him Norm Larsen

asked the U.S. military if his company can sell the compound to

the general public and was happily surprised when they said yes.

They changed the name to the easy to remember WD-40 and

began selling the lubricant in San Diego in 1958.

In 1969 the company was renamed after its only product,

WD-40 Company, Inc.

In 1973, WD-40 Company, Inc., went public and was listed

Over-The-Counter. The stock price increased by 61% on the

first day of listing.

WD-40 can be found to be in 4 out of 5 American house-

holds - it seems everyone has a can or two – I know we do.

Sales have grown to more than one million cans each week.

We all know that WD-40 is great at silencing squeaky hinges and removing

road tar from automobiles to protecting tools from rust and removing adhe-

sive labels. But the uses for this miracle lube get a lot crazier than that. Some

of the more interesting stories include the bus driver in Asia who used WD-

40 to remove a python snake, which had coiled itself around the undercar-

riage of his bus, or when police officers used WD-40 to remove a naked

burglar trapped in an air conditioning vent.

There is even a website with over 2,000 uses for this product at

wd40.com/uses-tips.

This might seem like the most non-motorcycle article we have ever done

in Backroads; but, in truth, you probably have a can of WD-40 right in your

own garage not far from your motorcycle. If you don’t you should.

Page 14 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents

Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

For a few years now, I’ve been contemplating getting a ¾ open-face hel-

met. Now, before everyone goes off on me, I KNOW it’s not

the protection that my full face gives me. However, I’d

been wanting something lighter than my full face that

would allow me to pull it on and off without taking

my glasses off. As it was going to be a back-

up helmet, I wasn’t going to drop a lot of

money in case I didn’t like it.

The HJC IS-33 appeared to fit the bill.

Retailing at between $139.00 and

$149.00, the price was right and trying it on

at my local dealer, the fit seemed absolutely per-

fect. Made from an advanced polycarbonate/composite

construction, the IS-33 has a SilverCool anti-bacterial

interior and EPS multi-density liner. The shield is an op-

tically correct unit with 95% UV protection. The strap has a

handy retainer and there is also a one-touch, easy to operate

retractable sun shade. The shield releases and re-installs with

ease and it seems to hold up against scratches. All great features

for a $140.00 helmet.

When I tried it out for the first time, it slid

right onto my head without disturbing my

glasses. It snugged into place nicely and the fit,

as mentioned before, was outstanding. With

vents open, I took the test run on my ’02 Bon-

neville which has no windshield or fairing.

Wind noise was surprisingly low for a helmet

without a chin bar and a wind block under your

chin. Even though the Triumph’s gauges tend

to direct the windblast to the chin bar area, it seemed fine riding around the

neighborhood. Ventilation also seemed to be much better than my full face

and even in very hot weather this helmet seems to keep you cool.

The helmet stayed in place well until speeds got up around 65,

at which time it started to get a little lift. Otherwise, the

aerodynamics of the shell work well. The sun shade is

a one hand operation that slides the shield into your

preferred position and releases, with a snap, at the

touch of a button. Unfortunately, with the visor

down far enough for me to be able see forward

through it without lowering my chin a bit, it was

just about touching my nose. It does work great

when riding into the sun, allowing me to actually

see things, so I guess that makes it a wash in my

book.

Since the purchase, I have gotten to use the HJC

often and on different bikes. On the V-Strom, the

windshield always buffets the shields and yet the

HJC stays as quiet as my full face when riding. Once

again, this isn’t a helmet to go fast on and I believe contin-

uous highway riding at speeds above 60 would fatigue

you a bit because of wind lift. (This is on a bike with no

windshield) Other than that, this is a cool, attractive hel-

met that seems well made, light and very, very comfort-

able. Yes, this helmet won’t give the protection of a

full-face BUT, if you’re someone who is now wearing a

“pudding bowl” or no helmet at all, this helmet would

be a great step up. It’s going to give you more protection,

both from the helmet shell itself and having a shield, and

of course it’s much better than going without. This is a

no excuse helmet and I really enjoy riding with it. ~ Mike Stackhouse

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 15

PRODUCT REVIEW HJC IS-33 HELMET

the ameriCan museum oF armor

1303 round sWamP road, old BethPage, ny 11804

museumoFameriCanarmor.Com

When we mention Tank, we have some drummers bring up Carl Palmer

and ELP, a phenomenal drum solo, but not what I have in mind. What I am

really talking about is the mechanized behemoths that changed warfare for-

ever - the armored tank.

The history of the tank began in World War I, when armored all-terrain

fighting vehicles were first deployed as a response to the problems of trench

warfare, ushering in a new era of mechanized warfare. Though initially crude

and unreliable, tanks eventually became a mainstay of ground armies. By

World War II, tank design had advanced significantly, and tanks were used

in quantity in all land theatres of the war. The Cold War saw the rise of mod-

ern tank doctrine and the rise of the general-purpose main battle tank. The

tank still provides the backbone to land combat operations in the 21st cen-

tury.

Powerful, seemingly indestructible and getting faster and modernized with

each successive generation tanks, in a nutshell, are just cool!

Sure you will see tanks on just about every VFW or American Legion Hall,

but the best is to see a number of them and get to read about their history

and how each of them changed history.

With that in mind we have a great place to take an up close and personal

look at some real tank muscle – brand new for 2014 - The American Museum

of Armor on Long Island, New York.

Here in this steel-plated and iron jewel, found in Old Bethpage Village,

you will find one of the most serious collections of armored vehicles in the

nation and it is still growing.

The Museum of American Armor is in the throes of building a 25,000

square foot facility at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, where it will not

Page 16 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

Hanover Powersports Presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

only honor every American G.I. but will

strengthen the county’s tourism and destination

industry, providing a new source of revenue for

the county’s park system. It reflects an effective

multi-purposing of OBVR that has won the en-

dorsement of the History Channel as it cam-

paigns to preserve our nation’s history.

Over 25 pieces of operational WW II vehicles

in the museum’s collection have the ability

to create an armored column that replicates the

sights and sounds of American forces during

World War II. Place the armor in a setting of vin-

tage farmhouses and country roads reminiscent

of the WWII era Normandy countryside, and

one has walked into a virtual time machine that puts visitors in touch with

the heroes in their own family. While based in its new facility, armor will

operate in the village setting several times a year in concert with living his-

torians so that visitors can capture the sights and sounds of Europe in 1944.

All this takes money and History Channel

Historian endorses this effort with a

$1,000,000 grant from Armor Museum’s

founder and president Lawrence Kadish that

was matched by a $1,000,000 grant from the

State of New York that, in turn, allowed con-

struction to begin. Chief Historian for the His-

tory Channel, Dr. Libby O’Connell, stated,

“This museum marks a unique commitment by

public and private sectors to preserve and pres-

ent a seminal chapter in the history of our na-

tion... and our world. It also reflects a

commitment to apply a variety of innovative

resources to the task of funding the preserva-

tion of our history.

Visiting the American Museum of Armor, opening this spring, you will

surely take a journey back and come away with the knowledge that your mo-

torcycle isn’t really that tough after all.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 17

texas smoke BarBeCue

400 rte. 15 south, JeFFerson, nJ

862-209-4078 • WWW.texassmokeBBQ.Com

Awhile back we did a few weeks touring the Lone Star State of Texas. De-

spite the wrap it gets from some, we found Texas to be a wonderful place.

The people were nice, the roads in the Hill Country fun and the food, most

excellent, especially the barbeque.

For the last few years, just outside the town of Jefferson, New Jersey – in

the very rideable northwest part of the state – you can find a bit of Texas here

in the Garden state.

We’re talking about Texas Smoke Barbecue.

This place is not all too far from where we call home and we have been

there more than a few times; whenever we get a hankerin’ for some serious

barbeque.

We got a chance to hear owner Scott Reid’s story…

“Welcome to Texas Smoke Barbecue. We specialize in authentic, Texas-

style barbecue. I have been trained and worked with one of the biggest bar-

becue teams in Texas, The Texas Rib Rangers. We continue to work with them

on some events. We are also a competition team, winning several awards

since 2007, including being named Grand Champion of the Champions ofthe Grill at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in 2009, 2011 and 2012. We also

won Best Ribs 6 years in a row at the Champions of the Grill.

We are truly southern authentic barbecue. While

other barbecue restaurants around here will add bar-

becue sauce to their meat to give it a barbecue flavor,

we leave it out and let the customers add it later if they

choose. One of the first things I was taught in barbecue

is that there are 3 things that you should taste in true

barbecue- the spices, the smoke and the meat, not the

barbecue sauce. This is the true Texas way.”

We were first turned onto Texas Smoke at the Cham-

pions of the Grill at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

Here you would find a good number of professional and

semi-professional barbequers and Texas Smoke’s booth

always had some serious delectable fiddles.

We made it a point to try their restaurant and have re-

turned a number of times since.

Make sure to arrive here hungry; as looking at the

menu you might have a hard time choosing your meal.

They have a good selection of sandwiches – pulled

chicken or pork, chopped or sliced beef brisket and

grilled Texas toast.

The mac ‘n’ cheese was awesome as was their chili.

If you are in the mood for chicken their wings are

awesome and come in a wide number of servings, from

6 to 50, that’ll handle the largest group of famished rid-

ers. Texas Smoke also offers “dry rub” smoked chicken

as well.

Personally I will usually go for the ribs and their St.

Louis cut ribs are large and meaty and come with their

savory sides.

The same great pork and beef that came on the sand-

wiches is also available by the pound and half pound.

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Page 18 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN tasty places to take your bike

If you really like your riding buddies why not

just order one of Texas Smoke’s “Family-Style”

meals of pulled pork, chicken or chopped brisket.

If you have trouble deciding, do what Shira did

and just order “The Sampler,” pulled pork,

chopped beef brisket, pulled chicken and ribs, with

two sides. Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Macaroni

Salad, Potato Salad, Black Bean and Corn Salad,

Spanish Rice, Tossed Salad, Garlic Mashed Pota-

toes or Seasonal Veggie

Purely a case of ‘eyes bigger than her belly’ and

she had lunch for later in the week – which I

promptly stole.

For you healthy types… and, you know who you

are, there are a couple of tasty salads available and

TS’ Tex-Mex offers burritos, chimichangas, cheese

and meat quesadillas and empanadas stuffed with

a variety of good and scrumptious fillings.

If by some outrageous reason you can actually

do dessert you are in luck as Texas Smoke has

dessert empanadas filled with strawberry, apple or

chocolate chip fillings. Deep fried ice cream is al-

ways a treat, or stay basic and get the Triple

Chocolate Brownie.

Whatever ends up in front of you we know you

will not be disappointed and you will find that we

have led you to a little bit of Texas right here in NJ.

And, if you are looking for a good excuse during

the week to try Texas Smoke, they have just an-

nounced Tuesday Bike Nights!

Many of our readers from the south have asked for

more Rip & Rides so this route will start at Wash-

ington’s Crossing in Pennsylvania – enjoy the ride!

Rip & Ride® on page 50

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 19

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This story begins with something simple. Something

we all take for granted.

Bread.

Most of us know that one thing you need for good

bread is good yeast. A few centuries back that was not

as easy as today. In fact it was one man who changed

all that.

Charles Louis Fleischmann.

In the late 1860s, he and his brother Maximil-

ian created America’s first commercially pro-

duced yeast, which revolutionized baking in a

way that made today’s mass production and

consumption of bread possible.

Who has not seen those familiar yellow

and red packets in the grocery store?

Creating something like this for the masses also

creates a good-sized fortune.

The bank accounts rise like yeast!

Soon Fleischmann’s Gin followed, adding more to the ledger.

The Fleischmann’s built a wonderful summer lodge above the

town now named after them; a town that they cared for and looked

after. The Fleischmann generosity was near legendary.

Building this wonderful Great Camp in the mountains brought a

boon of sorts and many of the noble homes of the area found their creation

at that time.

Sadly, most are gone now to time, vandals or fire.

But, Spillian remains.

And, if you wish to ride back into time and find “a place to revel” then

you must follow along with us to the reborn

Fleischmann’s Mansion.

The old building, high above Route 28 and

the town, had seen far better days. It had

changed hands a number of times after the

Fleischmann family headed west, but for the last

two decades and then some, it sat quiet, empty

and secluded.

Enter Leigh Melander and Mark Somerfield.

The couple have been together since college

and looking for a place that could be many

things - retreat and escape, a place to broaden

your mind and place for family,

friends and strangers to enjoy life.

They found it in an old and di-

lapidated mansion in the Catskills.

Remarkably, even though the

building and its many outbuildings

had sat idle for decades they were

still in workable shape and Leigh

and Mark set about the tough job

of making this old place right.

Much like the Twelve Labors of

Hercules, this would not be an

easy task. But, it would be fun.

Under the Backroads logo you

will read motorcycles, travel & adventure.

As we visited this Catskill jewel in mid-February - exchanging New Jersey

snow for Catskill snow – we kept the two-wheel German machines in the

stable and brought out the “other German toy” – the Audi R8.

This R8 has been specifically modified, for insurance and licensing con-

cerns, to resemble a common Audi A4 cabriolet.

Page 20 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

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Spillian was and still is a

retreat, so the road up the

hair-pinned hill is not paved

(but well groomed and hard

packed when the weather

leaves it alone). Toss in this

winter’s mess and we had

some real fun each time we

went up or down the road.

With its 5.2 V-10, 525

horses and Quattro All-

Wheel Drive system, Shira

made the boys at Top Gear

look like wankers.

Okay, maybe not the Stig.

Atop the hill, where Spillian majesti-

cally sits, the view from the porch is just

phenomenal. And, on a warm summer’s

evening – with the bikes cooling off in

the lot and a cool breeze circling the

mountains - a seat on one of the many

rocking chairs with a glass of wine can-

not be beat.

Walking into the entrance of the Great

Room, with its early last century furni-

ture, Salvi concert grand harp and Stein-

way grand piano your breath might just

be taken away.

But, that is just the beginning.

Spillian has one of the greatest dining

rooms in which we’ve broken bread - it

seats 20 - and add to that the bar and their professional kitchen and you have

quite the place to “revel”.

Spillian offers 8 different rooms, all with their own themes and flavors.

While we were there we stayed at Scheherazade Room, with its middle-

east flavor and dreams of 1001 Nights. This was an unplanned surprise for

us. There was even a camel and monkey wearing a fez. Above the bed a car-

pet seemed to ‘magically’ fly.

There is The Lotus Room, marrying the Catskills with the Far East. The

Camelot Room, which will make any couple feel like Lancelot and Guine-

vere. The Secret Garden Room makes use of the lovely original painted dec-

orations found throughout the house.

Leigh and Mark are especially proud of The Four Seasons Room. They

believe it was originally Max Fleischmann’s sitting room with its own fire-

place and big bowed windows and magnificent vista.

There is also the William Morris Room and the Klimt Room celebrating

the work of symbolist painter Gustav Klimt.

My favorite just might be the Jules Verne Room. Like Morris, Verne saw

and imagined so many great things. So many of his fantasies came to life in

just a century. They say the room is part Victorian travel, part Steampunk.

It has a telescope – that works for me, especially with Spillian’s great

views.

We rarely gush about individual rooms but, as you see here, we must.

In the morning we were treated to an excellent breakfast of bacon, eggs,

bagels, fruit, muffins, cereals, juice and coffee (really good coffee).

If you feel like a walk Spillian’s offers 32 acres of pristine Catskill wood-

lands and trails and, of course, there is wi-fi for those who have forgotten

they are trying to escape.

You would think that a place so thoughtfully created would cost you a

small fortune? You would be wrong.

Rooms are $150 for the night, stay a second night and get a 15% discount

for just $255. You can also arrange for the entire place for your family, friends

or riding group.

Visit them at their website for more information or to book a well deserved

get away today.

Spillian is an old English word that means “to play, to jest, or to revel.”

It’s also the root of Leigh’s mother’s maiden name.

It fits this magical place well.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 21

Going Down the Coast

Page 22 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

I was a bit surprised at how smooth this ferry was. No herky jerk start to this short journeyand nothing jarring as the cable led the mighty - 700’ something - crossing of theWillamette River at Buena Vista. At one time there were dozens of ferries crossing rivers

like this in Oregon, today just three remain on this river.Sure there are dozens of free bridges to be taken, but we always enjoy a good ferry crossing

over a bridge any day and besides – it was a great way to start another journey.We had left the capital of Oregon, Salem, just a short hour before, leaving early the Sunday

after the BMW MOA Rally. We had four days to get back to Los Angeles and we wanted to beable to make them four reasonable and enjoyable days of riding.Leaving the Ferry Buena Vista we vectored south and searched out Route 34, also called the

Alsea Highway, which snakes its way some 45 miles through the Siuslaw National Forest.This is prime Big Foot territory and I could almost feel those deep dark eyes tracking us as

we sped by along the very enjoyable road.

(Coming from Up the Coast)words and images • Brian Rathjen

About an hour later, with no ‘confirmed’ sighting of a

Sasquatch we rode by the protected Alsea Bay and made

a left, south on US 101, called the Oregon Coast Highway

in these parts.

We passed a number of state parks including ‘Devil’s

Elbow’ and made a quick stop at the Sea Lion Cave, re-

puted to be the largest sea cave in the USA. The lines,

screaming children and price made us reconsider this and

we rode onward.

This part of the coastline of the northwest is quite stun-

ning with its jagged cliffs, and rocky islands just off shore.

As with the Willamette River earlier in the ride this coast

presented a bit of a challenge years back, but modern en-

gineers would not be thwarted

and a series of bridges were

built crossing over dozens of

deep chasms and gorges, such

as the Cook’s Chasm Bridge

that was first built in 1931 and

then rebuilt, as the constant

pounding of the Pacific finally

took its toll after so many years.

Later on we crossed over the

highest bridge in Oregon at

some 345 feet above the crash-

ing waves.

Heading further south we

found the Oregon Dunes Na-

tional Recreation Area.

The Oregon Dunes are a

unique area of windswept sand

that is the result of millions of

years of wind, sun, and rain ero-

sion on the Oregon Coast.

These are the largest expanse of

coastal sand dunes in North

America. Some dunes tower up

to 500 feet above sea level, pro-

viding numerous recreational

opportunities including off-road vehicle, of which we saw plenty.

The hike up the dunes was a bit tough with riding gear on but the view

from the top was well worth it.

Further down the coast we rode into the historic section of Bandon, Oregon

and found a little crab shack on the wharf. Fresh raw Pacific oysters and Dun-

geness crab sandwiches made for a perfect break in the day.

Walking around town we learned of its history, some not very pretty.

Original settlers mingled well with the local Coquille tribe for years until

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 23

gold was discovered, bring-

ing in less desirable men.

Eventually the lust for gold

brought things to a boiling

point and on January 28,

1854 a group of miners

burned the local native vil-

lage while they slept. The

survivors were later forced to

leave their lands and move to a reservation

far to the north.

Reading this it was hard to understand

anything so evil.

There is a Coquille totem pole down by

the pier, a silent reminder of whose land

this once was.

Another thing we spotted in the town, as

we did one the road, were a number of

tsunami warning signs. On this part of the

Oregon coast tidal waves are real and pres-

ent danger. Anyone who saw the video of

the tsunami in Japan knows how danger-

ous these killer waves can be.

An earthquake in Alaska could mean big

waves along the Oregon

coast. In fact one sign said if

there is a quake to immedi-

ately seek higher ground and

to move inland as fast as

possible.

After lunch and a stroll we

geared up once again and

continued south toward the

California border.

The coast here is truly

amazing and we had to stop

more than usual just to take

it all in. At one vista we

hiked down to the ocean,

walking along the beach and

around the giant rocks jut-

ting from the dark sand.

Along the road I spied a

familiar giant figure.

Big Foot, or as close as I

could hope to come meeting

the large man face to face!

By early evening we rode

into the waterside town of

Brookings, along the Chetco

River, and found an excel-

lent suite on the water.

Showered and refreshed we strolled next door to a small local place for

chowda’ and fish tacos and then made it an early night as we had some seri-

ous miles to tackle the next day.

Brookings Harbor to Napa ValleyThis part of the United States has an amazing amount of micro-climates,

especially along the coast, and when we started from the little Oregon harbor

town it was misty, almost drizzling, and a chilly 50 degrees. On went the lin-

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Page 24 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

ers and the HEDz and all the vents were

zipped closed. The first 50 or so miles went

in and out of the fog and mist, with the oc-

casional burst of bright morning sunlight

filtering down through the Redwoods.

I have always loved riding here; the

giant trees making this rider feel humble

and small. We turned off the 101 to the Av-

enue of the Giants; 25 miles of great pave-

ment closed in by massive Redwoods.

As I rode I began to sing a song that

would not leave my head…

They wanted the highway.

They’re happy there today

Funny how a song will park itself in

your mind for days and never leave.

Earworms, gotta love ‘em.

Parking the bikes in a small clearing

amongst the trees we walked around a

bit feeling like we had left Earth and

landed on Star War’s Endor moon. I

was waiting for an Ewok to pop out.

They’re just like Bigfoot only smaller.

Riding a bit further inland the tem-

peratures rose by the mile. What was

high 50’s on the coast was low 90s in

the hills.

All day long gear went on and off

many times.

We found Bigfoot, yet again, right

off the highway. He has his

own store. Notso and Pepe

tried to make friends and

almost got carried away.

We rescued them and went

in search of a late breakfast

which we found in a tiny

town on the Pacific side.

Who would expect such

delicious bagels so far from

the Lower East Side?

We soon caught up to

Route 1 and did the com-

plex 22 miles down to-

wards the Pacific and a free

run down towards Fort

Bragg.

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 25

Yet again Shira was in search of one

of her now famous ice cream joints and

Cowlick in Fort Bragg was on her list of

10 best ice cream stops in the nation.

This would be the second on this en-

tire trip. Well worth the search.

Earlier we had contacted our friends

Rich and Kathy from RKA Luggage –

makers of some of the best motorcycle

luggage on the planet – as we had been

invited to stop by their home many times

and today would work out perfectly.

They live in the Napa Valley region so

we had to vector off Route 1 and head

east. To do this we chose Skaggs Springs

Road that twisted and turned for nearly

50 miles up and over the hills.

The first half must have been the “Sk-

aggs” part as it was technical, tight, bumpy and closed in by deep forest.

We loved it.

The second part heading down into Geyserville was newly paved, twice

as wide, graded, sprinkled with motorcycle goodness flakes and had a Rossi

freshness in the air as it wound around Lake Sonoma.

It has to be one of the finest riding roads in California without a doubt.

Remember this road…. Skaggs Springs!

Oh, and it had wild boar running around the rustic parts as well.

Dropping into the valley we saw a couple walking their goats.

California can be so strange.

Our night with our RKA friends was fantastic and we got to watch the USA

Moto GP as well. Did you see that pass?

Napa Valley to the U. S. Army…sorta

In the morning we stopped by the RKA World Head-

quarters and took a tour before giving and getting hugs

all around and blasting off south.

We toured in and around the vineyards and then found

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Page 26 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

breakfast in the town of Napa that

was a bit too built up for my taste,

but we found some wine for later

that evening, so it was worth it.

Shira had a surprise for me this

evening and we needed to get near

King City by early evening.

I plotted our route around San

Francisco, avoiding the city traffic

and Golden Gate and instead fo-

cused on a number of mountain

roads that seemed to convulse

around on the map.

These turned out to be as fun as

they looked and at one point we

rode for miles and miles along

golden California hills high above

the valley.

Near Salinas we picked up the

101 again, but this highway is a far

cry from the beautiful roadway far

to the north. This was a busy Cali-

fornia Freeway, but it did the trick,

as we needed to make time this day.

We rolled through the center of

Gilroy and there was no mistaking

that this town is the garlic capital of

the world. The aroma was delicious

and by the time we were done with

the town I was famished.

Just south we rode through miles

of strawberry fields. Once again our

senses were treated to wonderful

smells. California is truly a great

agricultural state.

By evening time, under directions from Shira, we rolled up to Fort Hunter

Liggett a US Army Base lo-

cated on land once owed by

Randolph Hearst.

Many folks go to the coast

in this part of California and

stop by the Hearst Castle, on

Route 1. Sure you can pay $20

or more and hang out with

thousands of tourists at the

world famous Castle. But did

you know Hearst had another

mansion near Big Sur called

the Hearst Hacienda? Even

better, this second mansion is

far from the throngs of

tourists, and free to visit and

you can overnight there as

well.

Before he constructed the

massive Hearst Castle,

William Randolph Hearst, the

newspaper baron, built this

much more modest hunting

lodge and ranch he called the

Milpitas Ranch House. It was

designed by Julia Morgan, the

same architect who built the

Hearst Castle, and was de-

signed after Mission San An-

tonio, less than a half mile

away. In the 1930s, the entire

ranch including the hacienda

was sold to the US Army to

become Fort Hunter Liggett.

Today the military has priority

on hotel rooms at the Hacienda, but any of the remaining 14 rooms in the

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small hotel are available to the pub-

lic. Also in the building are a nice

bar and a restaurant. Hotel rooms

range from $45 for a shared bath to

$145 for the private suite, more rea-

sonable than many chain hotel and

far cooler.

Along the road leading into the

base we spotted coyote, rabbit and

there was even a bobcat slinking

through the grass.

The Hacienda was stunning, re-

minding me of the Eagle’s Hotel California album.

Shira had booked the tower suite.

As dusk fell a full July moon rose large

and orange over the California hills.

This was a wild part of California and a

great place to spend our last evening on the

road, made even better by the colorful July

full moon rising over the California hills that evening.

Nearby the Hacienda is the San Antonio Mission. This mission was one

of the first in California and the first Christian wedding in California hap-

pened here on the 16th of May, 1773.

We were given free reign to explore the old church and museum, quite the

place and full of rich history. Miles behind the Mission and looming in the

horizon is Junipero Serra Peak. The mountain has been used for centuries as

a guidepost and landmark; first by sailors and then by pilots flying across

the region.

And, to think all this history …. the church, the Randolph Hearst and now

the United States Army continues here.

Fort Hunter Liggett to LA

We followed a small road that wound tightly through miles of oak forest

and then over the peaks that were deeply shrouded in the clouds.

We paused atop one turnoff on the crest and just drank the whole scene in.

What a fantastic few weeks on the road.

We picked up the PCH 1 and motored south, stopping to visit our friends,

Page 28 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

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as we always do - the Elephant Seals near Hearst Castle.

These mighty beasts can weigh up to 5,000 lbs. at certain times of the year and avoid their adversaries, the great White and Killer

Whale, by diving more than a mile deep. This colony and part of the California coast is the perfect opportunity to see them lounging,

birthing and occasionally battling for supremacy amongst the herd.

We needed to return the machines this day and hop a flight back east, so we made time down the 1 and 101, making a short side

tour through the Chumash Indian reservation.

Stopping for one final meal on the road at a seaside café we talked about how wonderful this particular trip had been.

After a few curve balls being thrown at me these last two years, I needed a real trip and adventure to

clear my head and soul.

I wondered aloud if this had done it.

My answer came in a form of a song coming across the café’s sound system. As if the universe was throwing me a bone.

Of all the songs in the world why would, how could, this particular tune come on at this exact moment, I wondered.

The quiet little atheist in me shuddered.

The words to The Way by Fastball could not say it better.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 29

Anyone could see the road that they walk on is paved in goldAnd it’s always summer, they’ll never get cold They’ll never get hungry They’ll never get old and gray You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere They won’t make it home But they really don’t care They wanted the highway They’re happy there today, today…

toP gear in nam • you Weren’t there, man!

Over the winter we have taken to taping the episodes of Top Gear that run on BBC America during the

day whilst we are busy with the daily workings of the magazine.

In the evening we have a couple of Top Gear episodes and pop the corn and get couch-bound for a few

hours of fast fun.

For those of you who have never seen it, Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles,

primarily cars, and is the world’s most widely watched factual television program. It has been around

for years and has 350 million views per week in 170 different countries.

Always humorous and a tad irreverent it is hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James

May, and a silent test driver known as The Stig - their version of Dr. Seymour O’Life and the only driver

that seems to understand the need for real protective gear.

Yes, Top Gear is basically a car show… But, what cars!

We’re talking competitions between some of the highest end automobiles on the planet. Pagani, Ferrari,

Caparo, a few Formula 1 cars, as well as more realistic Mercedes, Porsche, and Jaguars –

just to name a few.

We recently viewed a special program they filmed years back, that was originally aired on December

28, 2008 - Top Gear: Vietnam Special.

Here the trio found themselves in Saigon and were each handed shoeboxes full of 15 million Viet-

namese đồng each to buy vehicles. Though at first the presenters were ecstatic about the seemingly vast

amount of money they were given by the producers this time, they soon discovered that it was not nearly

enough to buy a car. It was about $1,000 U.S.

Much to our surprise they decided to buy motorcy-

cles….sort of.

Hammond bought a Belarusian-built 125 cc two-

stroke Minsk (the powerhouse here), May a four-stroke

Honda Super Cub (a classic ride – but, not this one) and

the unenthusiastic Clarkson purchased a two-stroke

green 1967 Piaggio Vespa. Clarkson does not ride at all

and really is a bit scared of things on two-wheels. He is

also six and half feet tall so he made quite the sight on

the Vespa.

Their challenge was to ride the bikes some 1,000

miles up the coast from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to

Ha Long City. If any of their machines failed they

would be forced to ride a 1973 Honda Chaly mini-bike

festooned with an all-American red, white and blue stars

and stripes paint scheme, American flags and that con-

stantly and unstoppably blared Springsteen’s Born in

the USA.

Maybe not exactly the machine to be tooling around

on in Vietnam.

Vietnam is a stunning and beautiful place and we

think it is best seen by motorcycle, but we think every

place is best seen by motorcycle, so we were keen on

watching the special episode.

But, from the beginning it was obvious that as far as

gear, these guys were clueless.

Yes, they say when in France, but of the hundreds of

motorcycles we saw on this show it was obvious that

current, modern and reliable riding gear is as rare as

snow in this Pacific coast tropical nation.

Lacking helmets and any sort of riding gear they went

in search of such. Only Richard was able to get one that

fit; to Clarkson’s 6’5”, Hammond is 5’6”. So are most

of the Vietnamese. A local welder created a wok-like

colander helmet for James May. Clarkson began with a

steel bucket, but upgraded to something akin to a cheap

helmet. They had no riding jackets, pants or boots. It

was the rainy season and they needn’t take showers as

Page 30 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride SkillfullyA column dedicated to your riding survival

they were soaked to the bone each day.

The traffic in the cities here is not even close to controlled chaos

and makes Rome look easy. Nobody is wearing anything of worth and

it was said that four times the riders die here in Vietnam than in Great

Britain.

With the mayhem and lack of any protective gear you wonder why?

It just seemed to us, watching the show, that the producers might

have gotten some actual riding gear sent to them. Fun, frivolity, blood

and road rash instantly followed. And, once Jeremy Clarkson got used

to two-wheels, something completely new to him, he got cocky and

had one heck of a nasty spill.

Some tending too and a few bandages later he was back on the road,

though not nearly with as much bravado.

It was obvious that Richard can and does ride a lot and I bet he

wished he had his own gear with him. The same for James May.

But, they were thinking cars in Nam, not bikes when they arrived

in Saigon.

Watching this show while the snow was coming down a few months

back we couldn’t help to take notice how much more enjoyable and

safe this journey would have been with just a real jacket, helmet and

gloves; bare minimum gear – even in Vietnam.

Our point is real gear all the time makes for better and safer riding.

As the Global Warming crowd likes to say – “The debate is over!”

If you’ve never seen Top Gear, please don’t judge the boys from

this adventure – there’s a reason it’s the most popular show on the

planet and most times (and I mean that) they know what they’re doing.

You can Google the Top Gear: Vietnam Special and watch it on

YouTube.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 31

Can-Am Metuchen911 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ (732) 491-2900

www.CanAmMetuchen.com

Victory Metuchen911 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ (732) 491-2900

www.PolarisMetuchen.com

Save the Date • Wednesday, April 2Victory Demo Truck • Your chance to ride a Victory before buying

Mike Simonetti

…as our friends from Monty Python might say. In late September I at-

tended SpyderQuest 2013 at Lake George NY, home of the venerable Amer-

icade rally. This was a Can-Am Spyder event being held for the first time,

and envisioned and executed by the NY Spy-

der Riders. This is the only rally in the north-

east dedicated to Spyder aficionados.

By now I imagine all motorcyclists are at

least aware of the Spyder line, but for the

record Spyders are reverse trikes (two

wheels in front) displacing 998 CCs and pro-

ducing around 100hp. They come in pure

sport (RSS), sport touring (ST), and touring

(RT) configurations, and they rival even

Gold Wings in their available creature com-

forts.

SpyderQuest, though small by some stan-

dards, drew about 100 participants on a wide

variety of customized Spyders. Spyder rid-

ers love their farkles as much as anyone!

The event began with a meet and greet for participants at the Lake George

RV Park. I was impressed by the genuine warmth of both the staff and the

rally participants. They seemed even tighter than riders I’ve encountered at

two-wheel rallies, their bond perhaps being strengthened by their common

addiction to all things Spyder.

A BBQ followed the tire kicking in the parking lot.

The food was plentiful, hot, and delicious. We had an

opportunity to see some of the prizes being stored on

stage for the next event, “farkle” bingo. The bingo and

prize drawings saw many attendees win valuable

prizes, including several hundreds of dollars worth of

service vouchers donated by BRP. Also up for grabs

were LED accent lights, and some unique Spyder ac-

cessories donated by Lamont Brydon, aka “LaMon-

ster,” our spyderlovers.com forum moderator. I had the

pleasure of meeting Lamont at the end of one event

and to commiserate with him over our mutual “bingo

fuel” status. I thanked him for his efforts in moderating

spyderlovers.com, and I hope he made it to the gas sta-

tion unscathed.

My friends John and Donna, known to us collectively

as Johnna, won the 50/50, collecting $200. They also

scooped up an IPS key cover and some Spyder decals.

With luck like that it’s too bad we didn’t sign up for the

next day’s Saratoga Casino run!

The next morning we gathered at Progressive Motor-

sports in Hudson Falls for a breakfast sponsored jointly

by Progressive and BRP. BRP’s representative dis-

cussed some tantalizing leaks about the 2014 Spyders’

increased displacement and performance over fresh pas-

tries and steaming coffee. From there we rode as a

group to Fort Ticonderoga for a historical tour and a

great lunch. A group of 60 or so Spyders riding single

file down the pristine roads of the Adirondacks was

something to behold. The short ferry ride across the

lake is always fun too.

The Fort Ticonderoga is itself a very historic site.

Originally called Fort Carillon, it was built by the

French in the classic star shape during the 1700’s to

guard the strategic narrows at the south end of Lake

Champlain, and was again of great importance during

Page 32 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

EVENT RECAPAND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT….

the American Revolution. Walking the fort will take you back to the

days of Red Coats, Indians, and Minutemen, and a visit is always time

well spent.

From the Fort we rode as a group to the Queensbury Airport to see

the annual Balloon Festival. Police escorts guided us in as we ap-

proached the airport, which was closed to fixed wing traffic for the

duration of the festival. As dusk approached huge, fanciful balloons

began to rise as if by magic from the airport grounds. Traditional

spherical balloons drifted over the crowd, punctuated by the occa-

sional hiss of propane and tongues of flame, as balloonists drifted in

their fragile baskets into the evening sky. A balloon shaped as an ele-

phant stood on his nose, and character balloons both familiar and

strange slowly inflated as hot air bellowed into them. Hot air balloons

are something everyone should take the time to experience!

The next day’s agenda was a ride to Whiteface Mountain followed

by a dinner cruise on Lake George but, as one of our group was under

the weather that morning, we skipped the ride in favor of John and I

relaxing by the pool as money was spent at the outlet stores.

I’d like to ask riders in general to take a closer look at Spyders, and

perhaps even test ride one. No, they don’t provide the exact same vis-

ceral feedback as a two-wheeler, but they are a growing part of the

biker community, and there are destined to be many more of them as

the biker population ages. At a time when the general public is equat-

ing us with the Sons of Anarchy, broadening the spectrum of riders might be

just the ticket. I say this as a rider with 40 years of two-wheel experience.

Besides, Spyders are FUN!

I’m looking forward to adding SpyderQuest to my list of annual motorcy-

cle events.

SpyderQuest 2014 will be held September 11-13. The Rally Headquarters

will be Six Flags Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, NY, with rooms

$99/night and a two-night minimum. Either call 518-824-6060 or book online

at www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com. Use discount code 091014SPYD to

receive discount.

For other SpyderQuest information please visit www.spyderlovers.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 33

CONCOURS OWNERS GROUP 25TH ANNIVERSARY

”SILVERDAMMIT” NATIONAL RALLY

JUNE 16-20, 2014 – JOHNSON CITY, TNThe Concours Owners Group (COG) will host the 2014 “Silverdammit”

National Rally the week of June 16-20, 2014 in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The rally marks the celebration of the group’s 25th anniversary, and will in-

clude many social activities, information seminars, guest speakers, technical

sessions, and a banquet dinner.

For over a decade COG and its European sibling, GTR Club Europe (GCE)

pull off a remarkable effort called “Over the Pond” (OtP). This is where a

lucky rider is selected by their peers to attend the foreign rally as the OtP

Traveler. Alternating years the OtP Traveler is selected from the U.S.A. or

EU. This year two lucky members from the EU will travel to the “Silver-

dammit” National Rally. This covert operation is funded by member pledged

donations to assist the OtP traveler’s expenses. Normally a Concours is pro-

vided to the traveler in the host country by a fellow member, however, the

past few years Kawasaki has generously provided a Concours 14 for use by

the OtP Traveler during their visit to the host country.

The Silverdammit Rally is the namesake of a term affectionately used

among owners that they felt best described the color of the first U.S. produc-

tion Concours in 1986. Kawasaki’s official color name was “Pearl Gentry

Gray”. However, the running inside joke one member started was “…it’s not

gray, it’s silverdammit!!”

Johnson City is a perfect venue to celebrate COG’s big event. Conveniently

located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Johnson City is a very

motorcycle friendly community, and the surrounding region offers some great

riding. The twisty, scenic mountain roads surrounding Johnson City is sure

to please sport-touring and other riding enthusiasts. Johnson City Convention

& Visitors Bureau maintains the “Southern Dozen” web site that promotes a

“series of 12 of the South’s greatest motorcycle rides that start and end in

Johnson City, taking riders to historic sites, unique caverns, famous music

venues, wolf habitats and more.” Additional self-guided rides will be

planned, including a dual sport ride.

The Holiday Inn of Johnson City has been selected to serve as the rally

headquarters. There will also be nearby tent and RV camping available to

rally attendees. The rally area offers many nearby tourist

attractions for attendees to enjoy. The rally team has

been working on this event since summer 2011. Bob

Dombrowe, the rally committee chairperson, says “we

are working diligently to make this the biggest and best

COG National Rally ever.”

INAUGURAL NEW SWEDEN 450 ROAD TOUR

MAY 17 & 18MOTORCYCLE TOURING WEEKEND LOOKS

TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE BEST ROAD

IN NJ, NY AND PANew Sweden BMW Riders, a riding club based in

south Jersey since 1981, is trying to dispel the myth that

there are no ‘good’ roads in the Delaware Valley. South

Jersey has long been thought of as straight and flat when

discussing riding on a motorcycle. Phil Levin, VP and

Ride Captain of New Sweden, has been riding long

enough to know where to find them. Phil has created a

string of roads originating in Shamong, NJ and winding

up through northern NJ, NY, PA and back again. The

WHERE CAN YOU GETALL THIS AND SO MUCH MORE

IN ONE PLACE?MOTORCYCLEM A D N E S Swww.MadMotorcycle.com

MOTORCYCLE MADNESSis New Jersey’s LARGEST Pre-Owned Bike Seller,has a ridiculously HUGE selection of Mens andWomens Gear and A WALL OF HELMETS.

Professionally Trained Mechanicswill take the BEST care of your ride.

8 State Hwy 94 • Lafayette, NJ • 973-579-6088 • 877-252-9828

Page 34 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

chosen route will put an ear-to-ear smile on any rider’s face. The roads that

were selected are hidden gems that stay away from interstates and heavily

congested primary roads. Over hill and dale, riders will be blown away by

the roads and scenery! Detailed route sheets will be handed out during reg-

istration and GPS downloads will be available as well. The route sheet will

also highlight fuel stops and local eateries along the way. This is not a parade

ride. Entrants can ride with friends, as a group or solo. Modeled after the fa-

mous Ramapo 500, this ride will expose local riders to this type of touring

event and hopefully get them to participate in the Ramapo 500 as well. The

New Sweden 450 offers miles of great roads, a night of camping up north,

dinner and a quick breakfast, plus awards, prizes and surprises for under 50

bucks. For those riders who do not prefer to camp, the Barryville, NY area

has plenty of other overnight options (not included in entry fee). More in-

formation can be found at 450.nsbmwr.com. Discounted admission fee is

available when registering before May 3, 2014 and is limited to 200 riders.

The New Sweden 450 starts and finishes at the Pic-a-Lilli Inn, Shamong, NJ.

All makes are welcome. This event is AMA sanctioned.

Log onto their website at www.newswedenbmwriders.com for more infor-

mation.

MOVE OVER SPA VACATIONS! MORE WOMEN BUYING MOTORCYCLES TO DE-STRESS

More women than ever before are choosing motorcycling as their way to

unwind and de-stress from their busy lives. Latest motorcycle ownership

numbers, just released by the Motorcycle Industry

Council, show female motorcycle owners rose to 12.5

percent up from 10.5 percent in 2009.

This comes as no surprise to Genevieve Schmitt,

founder and editor of the leading resource for female

motorcyclists, WomenRidersNow.com. She has her

pulse on the women’s motorcycling demographic.

“More than ever, women need a way to unwind, discon-

nect and de-stress from their busy, on-the-go lifestyles.

My readers tell me riding a motorcycle does wonders

for their soul as being out on the open road re-charges

their mental batteries while helping them find clarity

and peace of mind.”

“I’m a busy realtor in one of the most desirable areas

of the country, Scottsdale, Arizona,” says 56-year-old

Jan Kane. “Motorcycling is my way of unwinding from

my busy life. Feeling the wind on my face and getting

out in nature on the open road helps to slow me down

enabling me to prioritize and focus on what’s really im-

portant. Riding is far better for me for de-stressing than

a day at the spa.”

Ashly Holland, 33, of Livingston, Mont., started rid-

ing last year. “If you told me I would feel this good by

simply riding a motorcycle, I’d have started years ago.

I actually spend less time mentally unwinding on a mas-

sage table now that I have a motorcycle,” she laughs.

“It seems counterintuitive to think that riding motorcycles could have such

mental health benefits,” says Schmitt, “but talk to any woman rider and she’ll

agree riding is far more powerful at creating balance in one’s life (excuse the

pun!) than one would imagine.” Harley-Davidson recently publicized results

of a survey indicating women who ride motorcycles feel happier, sexier and

are more confident than those who don’t.

Of the approximately 27 million motorcycle riders, 6.7 million are women.

WomenRidersNow.com, now entering its 10th year online, is the most com-

prehensive resource for the growing number of women riders, offering mo-

torcycle and gear reviews, a beginner’s guide, advice and a way to connect

with other riders through the WRN Forum.

Visit WomenRidersNow.com to learn more.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 35

EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTINGEvery Sunday • Eastern Suffolk ABATE Breakfast Run. Crossroads Diner - Calverton NY.10:30am. Eat and Ride After • 631-369-2221

Every Tuesday • The Ear - Spring St, NYC. Come meet some fellow riders and do somebenchracing or whatever. 8pm-ish

Every Tuesday • Bike Night @ Texas Smoke Barbecue, 400 Route 15 South, Jefferson,NJ. Dine indoors or out with dinner specials. Meet and kick some tires while enjoyingsome terrific barbeque • www.TexasSmokeBBQ.com • 862-209-4078

Third Tuesday • 7:30pm ABATE of the Garden State, North Jersey chapter. Black RiverBarn, 1178 Rt. 10 West, Randolph, NJ. 7:30pm. New members and all mc brands wel-come. Help fight for rights as a motorcyclist in NJ! Alex Martinez 973-390-1918

Every Wednesday • Chelseas Restaurant/Pub, 1051 Rte. 22 East, Lebanon, NJ 6-9pm,weather permitting all summer • www.chelseasrestaurantpub.com

Every Thursday • Bike Night at the Chatterbox Drive-In, Rtes. 15/206, Augusta, NJ.Tire kicking, good food and friends • www.chatterboxdrivein.com

Every Saturday • Stop by the dealership at 9am for coffee and bagels. Ride departs at10am. Return to the dealership for FREE food and music. Proper attire MUST be worn!No shorts or sneakers. • Bergen Harley-Davidson/BMW Motorcycle, 124 Essex St,Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenbmwmotorcycles.com

APRIL 20142 • Victory Metuchen Victory Demo Day. Victory Demo Truck will be on-site for demorides. For full details please visit www.VictoryMetuchen.com • 732-906-9292

6 • Motorcyclepedia Museum Swap Meet. Clean out your garage and closets and makesome money. 10am-4pm. Indoor motorcycle parts and accessories. Vendor spaces areavailable, and included in museum admission cost. Adults $11 • Kids $5 • Under 3 free.Motorcyclepedia Museum, 250 Lake St, Newburgh, NY • 845-560-9065 • www.mo-torcyclepediamuseum.org

10-12 • Montgomeryville Cycle Center Spring Kickoff Open House. 2901 BethlehemPike, Hatfield, PA • 215-712-7433 • www.MontgomeryvilleCC.com

12 • Morton’s BMW Spring Open House • 9a-4p. Join hundreds of bike enthusiasts forone of the largest BMW open houses in the region, featuring demo rides, food, music,door prizes, sales and much more - ALL FREE. Morton’s BMW, 5099A Jefferson DavisHwy, Frederickburg, VA • 540-891-9844 • www.MortonsBMW.com

12 • Liberty Harley-Davidson Blood Drive. 12 W. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ • 732-381-2400 • www.LibertyHarley.com

23 • Liberty Harley-Davidson Garage Party • 12 W. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ • 732-381-2400 • www.LibertyHarley.com

26 • Harley-Davidson Long Branch Spring Open House. 9am-4pm. 671 Broadway, LongBranch, NJ • 732-229-8518 • www.HDLongBranch.com

28 • Bob's BMW Spring Open House. All brand riders are encouraged to join the fun.FOOD, PRIZES, ONE-DAY SPECIALS, VENDORS AND LOTS OF FUN. Motorcycle Dyno.On-site food trucks. Vendors contact hanna.creekmore@bobsbmw.com 10720 SuilfordRd, Jessup, MD • 301-497-8949 • www.bobsbmw.com

29 • Liberty Harley-Davidson Blacktop Bike Nights • 12 W. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ •732-381-2400 • www.LibertyHarley.com

MAY 2014May 23-26 • Backroads Spring Break • Marion, Virginia

4 • International Female Ride Day • www.motoress.com

4 • Ramapo MC Spring Run. Most unique Poker Run combining marksmanship,hand/eye coordination, intuition or just dumb luck. $15/entry • Sign in: 9am. RhodesTavern North, Route 17N, Sloatsburg, NY. Charity benefits Helen Hayes Hospital. Info -Dick Roberts • 201-767-3594

14 • FW Speer Yamaha hosts Vito’s Full Moon Cruise. Call for details • 7 Main Ave,Passaic, NJ • 973-778-6256 • www.SpeerYamaha.com

16-18 • Morton’s BMW 2014 Spring Fling Rally. A weekend of great roads, good food,interesting seminars, and terrific company, all at historic and scenic Natural Bridge, VA.$45 rally fee incl. vendors, seminars, route sheets/GPS data, scavenger hunt, door prizes,Sat. dinner and presentation. Optional Friday nite Brats & Brew dinner $20. Visit websitefor complete details • Morton’s BMW Motorcycles, 5099A Jefferson Davis Hwy,Fredericksburg, VA • 540-891-9844 • www.mortonsbmw.com

16-18 • 9th Annual Whitehorse Gear Open House. Expanded hours to accomodate every-one. 9am-5pm with 10% off any non-sale items. Saturday enjoy morning coffee on usand enter for free raffle prizes. Free lunch at noon. NO SALES TAX. 107 East ConwayRoad, Conway Center, NH. GPS: N 44° 00.33' • W 71° 05.03/ Elevation 553 ft.

17 • Tramontin Harley-Davidson Puppy Rescue Ride to benefit The Puppy Rescue Mission,helping military men and women bring their battle buddies home. Sign in: 10-11am •Kickstands up 11am SHARP. $20-rider/$15-passenger/$15-non-rider participant. 2 hourscenic ride led by NWJ HOG Chapter, followed by food, music, vendors, prizes and more.Tramontin H-D, Route 80 Exit 12, Hope, NJ • 908-459-4101www.PuppyRescueMission.com

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Join us for our 16th Backroads Fall FiestaWe’ll have our base camp at the historicShippen Place Hotel in Shippensburg, PA

Surrounded by some of the most scenicand twistalicious roads in Pennsylvania

You can explore the beautifulMichaux State Forest, take a spin to

Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum orcheck out Centralia, the town on fire.

We’ll have a group dinner Saturday nightat the University Grille, at the hotel.

Rooms start at $87.20/nightCall today and get yours. Please askfor Backroads Group when booking.

www.shippenplace.com • 717-532-4141

FALL FIESTA 2014September 25-28A SHAMOKIN’ TIMEIN SOUTHCENTRAL PA

Page 36 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR What’s Happening

17-18 • The New Sweden 450. The premise is simple: we provide you with 450 miles ofamazing roads, throw in a night of camping, provide a hearty dinner and a quick break-fast, then invite 199 of your fellow riders. All for under $50. Be part of te inaugural run.The ride stars and ends at the Pic-A-Lilli Inn. Make plans to attend this annual ride throughNJ, NY and PA. SIgn in: 8-10AM • Pic-A-Lilli Inn, 866 Rte. 206, Shamong, NJ • Pre-Reg:$43 / Day of event: $48. Details/Info email: ns450@newswedenbmwriders.com

17 • Maghogomock Hook and Ladder Benefit Ride. Rain date: May 31. Sign in RiversidePark, King St, Port Jervise, NY 8-10:30am. $20 rider/$15 passenger. Benefit ride throughthe beautiful scenic byways in Orange/Sullivan Counties. Chicken BBQ, live music anddoor prizes at end

18 • Bergen County Harley-Davidson Freedom Run & Festival. $25-Rider/$15-Passenger.Incl. ride entry and meal tickets. First 500 receive FREE event pin. Start point: OverpeckPark, Ridgefield Park, NJ • 8:30-9:30am - Ride leaves 10am SHARP. Live music, vendors,great eats. For full details please visit website www.bergenharleydavidson.com

24 • 12th Annual Twisted Throttle Open House. You've probably heard by now abouthow much fun previous Twisted Throttle Open House events have been. Entertainment,food, and see what's new for the upcoming season. REGISTER NOW. Stay tuned for de-tails about performers, vendors, demontrations, workshops, seminars and special deals.TwistedThrottle.com

29-June 1 • 42nd BMW RA NATIONAL RALLY. Barber Motorsports Park/Museum, Birm-ingham, AL. Get ready for a close encounter with every little thing you love about oursport: grand scale riding, the finest motorcycle museum in the USA, good food and drink,grassy and comfortable camping and thousands of your moto brothers and sisters--newand old. As an added bonus, Keith Code’ California Superbike School will be on handwith his fleet of BMW S1000RR superbikes. Participate or watch as students fly aroundthe fabulous undulating track. Your rally fee includes 3 nights camping, admission to theVintage Museum, entertainment and much more. www.BMWRA.org

JUNE 20141 • Morton’s BMW Off-road training - exact date and details TBD. Stay informed withour News & Notes e-newsletter or check our website. Morton’s BMW, 5099A JeffersonDavis Hwy, Frederickburg, VA • 540-891-9844 • www.MortonsBMW.com

2-7 • World’s Largest Touring Rally Returns. Americade, Lake George NY. For all the de-tails and registration information visit www.americade.com

6-8 • AltRider Adventures Conserve the Ride Weekend. Ride the scenic, lush trails ofPennsylvania. GPS routes (created by the locals in Seven Mountains Conservation Corp.)for all skill levels on scenic off-road trails, 2 nights of camping at Woodward Caves inCentral PA, 5 meals including a special pig roast + adult beverages, off-road seminars,live EnduroCross race on a custom built track, prize giveaways from our sponsors. Findout all the details at www.altrider.com • info@altrider.com

13-14 • Rhinebeck Grand National Meet. 8am-5pm. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550Spring Brook Ave, Rhinebeck NY

14 • 4th Annual Carney Vetrano Benefit. Sign in: Shore Lanes Bowling Alley, Rte. 35,Neptune, NJ (Just south of Asbury Park circle) Poker Run sign in: 10am-Noon. BowlingNoon-5pm. Ride-in Bike Show Sign in 1pm. Poker Run $20-rider/$15 passenger • Car& Bike show $20/entry • Bowling $20 donation includes 1 adult + 1 child 2 games andshoes. All proceeds beneift the Ronald McDonald Childrens Cancer Camp. ContactSteven Vetrano: svetrano@thebarhamgroup.com

14-22 • 90th Anniversary of the original riding rally- Laconia Bike Week. Weirs Beach,Laconia, NH. www.LaconiaBikeWeek.com • 603-366-2000

16 • RIDE TO WORK • www.RideToWork.org

16-20 • Concours Owners Group 25th Anniversary ‘SilverDammit’ National Rally. RallyHeadquarters: Holiday Inn of Johnson City, TN. Tent and RV camping located nearby.registration available online @ concours.org/national/nationalrally2014

JULY 20142-5 • Wing Ding - Madison, WI • www.GWRRA.org

12-13 • 38th Annual Ramapo 500™ • Sign in and 'day-of' registration 7-9am, Veterans'Memorial Association, 66 Lake Foad East, Congers, NY. This two-day 500-mile tour, de-signed and orchestrated by the Ramapo Motorcycle Club, will take participants on anoriginal ride through the northeast along back-country roads and routes less-traveled, cul-minating at a unique camping venue (hotel accommodations will be available). Dinnerand breakfast, pins, patches, and dozens of prizes and awards are part of the package.*Total participation strictly limited to 400 – Rain or Shine this event is always a sell-out.Further information and money-saving advanced registration forms (highly recommended)are available on-line at www.ramapomc.org

18-20 • AMA Vintage Motorcycle Rally. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Lexington, OH •www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com

SEPTEMBER 20145-7 • Women’s Sportbike Rally VIII - Deals Gap, NC • www.WomensSportbikeRally.com

10-13 • Westchester Beemers NY Trio Tour 2014. Sport-touring ‘scavenger hunt’ event.3 consecutive daily rides begin and end at Hampton Inn, Elkins, WV base location. Dailyrides average 8.5 hours covering 350 miles. Limited to 33 riders. $50 incl. Sat. eveningclosing dinner, rider card and prizes for top three finishers. Discounted lodging arrange-ments in place at base location (304-630-7500). For full details call or visit 914-328-7909 • www.triotour.org

Sept. 26-28 • Backroads Fall Fiesta • Shippensburg, PA16th Backroads Fall Fiesta. We’ll have our base camp at the historic Shippen Place Hotelin Shippensburg, PA. Surrounded by some of the most scenic and twistalicious roads inPennsylvania. We’ll have a group dinner Saturday night at the University Grille, at thehotel - $34/pp. Rooms start at $87/night. Call today and get yours. Please ask for Back-roads Group when booking. www.shippenplace.com • 717-532-4141

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 37

GERBING COREHEAT 12 HEATED JACKET LINER

NEW & IMPROVED HEAT FOR COLD-WEATHER RIDERS

We have been big fans of heated riding gear for decades and always have our heated liners

and gloves stashed somewhere on our bikes while touring.

Recently Gerbing Heated Gear, now owned by Prospect Brands, has released an updated

heated jacket liner for motorcyclists.

The Gerbing Coreheat 12 Heated Jacket Liner lists for $249 – money we think is well spent.

The new liner, still made in the USA, is more significant in a number of ways as it is created

with a bit thicker padded inner-lining and almost feels like a light jacket rather than just a liner.

The Coreheat 12 Jacket Liner plugs directly to your bike’s battery or electrical system and

uses Gerbing’s own heat controllers (an additional purchase).

The heated collar area and pockets are made with a soft red material, adding a touch of style,

and there is a zippered area on the back that can hold a separate Flex-Pack lithium battery if

you wish to stay heated up to 4 hours while off your machine. The Flex Pack is an optional pur-

chase at $199. Yikes!

The jacket liner operates the same way they always have, but the new liner has an easier plug

system. The older style had a small, but hard, plastic “box” that could sometimes get a bit un-

comfortable.

The new version has simple color-coded leads that are found in a small zipped pocket on the

lower left side of the liner.

As before the leads for heated gloves are found at the end of the liner’s sleeves for easy and

comfortable connection.

All the “micro-wire” elements, originally developed

for the US Military, are coupled with thermal resistors.

If the liner temperatures get too hot they shut down till

they reach the maximum temperature of 135 degrees,

which draws some 77-watts of power.

Like before this liner goes from off to warm in about

5 seconds, which can be important on very cold rides

and the first few miles.

The Coreheat 12 Jacket Liner comes in a variety of

sizes and fitting is crucial.

It also comes in a ‘long’ version that has a bit more

sleeve to it.

When you buy the Coreheat 12 Jacket Liner and you

wish to add gloves, pants or socks you will need the

Dual-Controller as well. This allows you to heat and

control the liner and extras separately. This is also an

additional $99, but we never said that top of the line

heated gear was a cheap investment.

All in all Gerbing has made small, but noticeable, im-

provements to their heated liner and their high quality

heating elements (life-time guarantee) will extend and

make your riding season safer.

If you find yourself in a riding situation where the

temperatures are quickly dropping and you are able to

add some serious heat to your body-core and extremities

you will appreciate every penny of your investment.

gerbing

200 s henry street, stoneville, nC 27048

1.800.646.5916 • gerbing.com

or search for a store location near you

MACNA PROTON ELECTRICALLY HEATED

GLOVE FROM TWISTED THROTTLE

Riders everywhere are interested in continuing to ride

longer into the cold season, and getting back

on their machines before Mother Nature might like

them to. Macna has addressed this with the all new Pro-

ton Heated Glove. The Proton is constructed with drum-

dyed, water-resistant leather and has touch screen

sensitive field on the index finger. Underneath the

leather sits a waterproof, breathable Raintex liner, of-

fering a truly waterproof glove that won’t waterlog like

some other gloves. Other materials incorporated into the

Proton are a Bemberg liner for comfort and a layer

of Thermolite for added thermal protection from the

Cycle Insurance Agency Inc.Recreational Vehicle Specialists

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Page 38 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

P R O D U C T R E V I E W S & S P O T L I G H T S

cold. The Proton is not just a cold weather glove, however; it was designed with a rider’s safety in mind. Protective details include a TPU

protector over the knuckles and extra layers of leather on the outside of the palm. A screen cleaner is incorporated into the ergonomically de-

signed index finger of both gloves, and the Velcro-style fastener at the wrist is rotated 30° to reduce pressure and increase comfort, a common

design element seen throughout the whole range of Macna Gloves. The Macna Proton glove uses low-draw pulse-width modulation to auto-

matically regulate temperature and includes a fused wiring harness so there are no additional parts to buy. The controller is an intelligent

regulator of heat that senses and adjust the temperature to keep you focused on the road not the cold. No more constant fiddling with

the temperature; similar to modern vehicle climate control systems, the rider simply sets the dial to the desired temperature setting

and the intelligent controller maintains it. The Proton also includes a thigh mounted leg band to clip the controller to so that the rider can

simply unplug from the bike and step off without fidgeting with wires, and the coaxial connector makes the Proton compatible with heated

gear from a wide range of suppliers. Retailing at $237.50 the Proton Gloves stand apart from the crowd as a well-designed, protective,

great fitting, truly waterproof glove that offers the added feature of intelligent heat control.

Available from Twisted Throttle and its retailers throughout North America. Sizes XS- 4XL.

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standard, is leading the way again with the revolutionary new Blizzard. The Blizzard is made

of a lightweight, semi-rigid material and durable, abrasion-resistant textile fabric that encircles the

grip and levers, creating a cave of warmth and protection and making this cool new product unlike

any other handguard available for motorcycles today. Unlike other “muff” type products that might

hinder the rider’s ability to extract their hands quickly in the event of an emergency, the unique

enclosure of the Blizzard is a perfect balance between protection from the elements, good looks,

and safety. The flexibility of the Blizzard material allows it to bend when contacting objects

such as windscreens and tankbags, thereby allowing almost any motorcycle, snowmobile, or ATV to be fitted with

the handguards.

The unique flexible, yet rigid design will not flap at speed and even provides some protection against small objects

such as stones, hail, or brush. In the event a rider already has standard handguards installed, the Blizzard can be fitted

over the existing backbone. They can be attached or removed in minutes via a hook and loop strap on the control

side of the handlebar, and a simple screw in the bar-end. Included in the Blizzard kit is a wide range of hardware to

facilitate mounting to handlebar weights, hollow handlebars, and existing aluminum handguard backbones.

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 39

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Somethingof the

BestofEverything

Carve a hairpin on a winding alpine road amidst snowy peaks. Catch a ferryover a placid lake, en route to a palace built by a mad monarch. Finessethe bike over a writhing path through Austrian farms. Order tea at a quaintchalet and be fed a selection of fantastic pastries. Have a laughter-filleddinner with twenty new, international friends at a restaurant dating to theninth century. Do it all within a week designed to suit a busy schedule.The Edelweiss Alps & Lakes Tour is a sample of the best of many worlds.

words and images:Mark Byers

When my wife and I chose a tour,

we wanted to scratch my itch for hair-

pins and hers for stunning views and

culture, but time was limited. Fortu-

nately, guide Marko Bauer designed

such a tour five years ago when he

created Alps & Lakes. An eleven-

year veteran with Edelweiss, he de-

scribed the tour as for the ‘Alps

beginner.’ Challenging passes were

coupled with pastoral roads to give

riders and passengers a chance to ab-

sorb the scenery. Because Marko has

a sweet tooth, we also sampled great

cuisine.

The odyssey started in the Munich

suburb of Ismaning at the modern Hotel Zur

Post. Ismaning has a charming business dis-

trict and a park where we walked off the jet

lag. We saw Marko returning from the op-

tional ‘Alps Riding School’ with two pupils;

if your mountain riding is rusty, this instruc-

tion hones your skills. Some chose to do the

Munich Tour instead, and reported it to be

well done.

Our group rode eight BMWs, two Ducati

Monster 1100s, and a Harley Road King.

Marko rode a Honda Crosstourer, demon-

strating the wide range of brands and models

available. All were equipped with bags, so

even though Edelweiss carries your luggage

in a van, it is nice to have storage for riding

gear and souvenirs. After a brief inspection, assisted by Tobi, our co-guide

and van driver, the bikes were ours!

Our tour companions were great. We were pleased to have seven couples

(riding two-up) of the 18 people in our group. The demographics ranged from

retired folks to financial professionals.

Canada, South Africa, Brazil, and the

US were represented. Marko set a nice

tone for the week, making sure we

knew it was “our vacation” and stress-

ing that Edelweiss wanted us to be

“free to ride and meet the locals.”

From the banter, it was clear this

group would get along.

I don’t remember dinner: I was

busy talking to new friends. I’m cer-

tain beer was involved, as most places

featured an Oktoberfest brew. I do re-

member Marko saying “No one ever

lost weight on this tour!” and he was

right – the two meals per day included

in the tour were always more than

ample. We nicknamed the tour ‘Eating

Austria.’

Our first day started with breakfast

in time for the daily briefing and 9

AM departure. We chose the more se-

date of two routes, as did most. We

took our only short sortie on the Au-

tobahn and I found it to be just an ex-

pressway, except that Germans are

very well-disciplined drivers! We

were soon on some excellent second-

ary roads to the ferry at Prien, which

took us across Bavaria’s largest lake,

the Chiemsee, to one of King Lud-

wig’s three architectural wonders.

Ludwig’s third and final palace is as beautiful as it is tragic: he spent $250

million of today’s dollars to create a replica of Versailles as a tribute to Louis

XIV, bankrupted himself, was declared insane, and drowned in mysterious

circumstances after spending just 16 days in his unfinished masterpiece. We

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 41

spent just a little over an hour in the

breathtaking palace and on the

grounds. The island is also home to

an old Augustinian monastery, part of

which is now a restaurant with a beau-

tiful view of the lake. We lunched on

weisswurst and pretzels, strudel, and

apfelkuchen, served by waiters in tra-

ditional garb.

We encountered our

worst traffic entering

Salzburg, but Marko skill-

fully guided us through it

to our hotel. Tobi arrived

earlier and our bags were

already in the room. Salzburg is a charming old city known for its culture

and its most famous resident, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Marko artfully

steered us through the narrow streets on an impromptu walking tour, stopping

at Mozart’s birthplace and the Sound of Music Square and fountain. We even

sampled ‘Mozart’s Balls,’ a local chocolate delicacy.

Keeping with the epicurean theme, we dined at St. Peter Stiftskeller, the

oldest restaurant in Europe, dating to the year 803! Another fine meal was

seasoned with the shared experiences of people who were quickly becoming

friends. We lifted glasses with our companions to toast a successful first day

and we shared stories, not only of our rides, but of ourselves. We had a night-

cap at a rooftop bar overlooking the Salz River and the old part of town.

Our second day dawned rainy and offered two options: a half day walking

in Salzburg followed by a short,

straight ride to Gmunden (a charm-

ing, lakeside town known for ceram-

ics), or an immediate departure to

visit Hitler’s mountaintop lair, the

Eagle’s Nest. Riders all, our group

was soon on the way into the Alps.

One thing to remember about the

Alps in the fall is that you have to be

prepared for any kind of weather – we

were and it was fortunate. A wet, but

beautiful ride brought us to the

Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle’s Nest.

Three thousand workers

built the Eagle’s Nest as a

present for Hitler’s 50th

birthday. It sits at just over

6,000 feet, is reached by a

400 foot elevator from in-

side a tunnel… and Hitler

hated it! Afraid of heights,

Hitler wanted no part of

this beautiful structure

with stunning views, so he came

just 14 times. We braved wind-dri-

ven rain and spitting snow to take

photos outside, then retired to the

café for tea, sandwiches, and

warmth.

The weather improved and we

came to some of the best roads of

Join Team Backroads as we head to the

southern Virginia Mountains where

we’ll call the General Francis Marion

Hotel in Marion, VA home for three

nights. This region has some of the

most serious motorcycling roads such

as the Back of the Dragon and Claw of the Dragon, with

hundreds of miles of incredible riding. In addition

there’s quaint towns, deep history and phenomenal

scenery. We hope you can travel south for what prom-

ises to be a superb weekend of riding and a memorable

Memorial Day Weekend.

SPRING BREAK 2014

May 23-26

Get out your maps and start planning now!

Call for a free brochure 877-255-9928

visitwytheville.com/motorcycle-trails.html

Walking distance to GFMH • Collins House B&B • 278-781-0250 • Lincoln House B&B • 276-781-0804

The host hotel is fully booked but taking waiting list names. The Comfort Inn is 6 miles on Rte. 11 (AAA rate $112/night)

General Francis Marion Hotel • 107 East Main St, Marion, VA • 877-783-4802 • www.gfmhotel.com

We have set up a group

buffet dinner at the hotel

Saturday Night, May 24Cost: $34.40 per person (incl. tax and tip)

RESERVATIONS MUST BE IN BY MAY 1st

Please email name and number in partyeditor@backroadsusa.com

Page 42 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

the trip, the beautifully-paved goat

path from Pernegg to Voglau, and the

toll road to Strobl. Our ‘kaffee stop’

on the toll road was at a small ski

chalet, the Blonden Hutte, for tea and

pastries, including ‘Kasierschmarrn’

(Emperor’s mess), a torn pancake

with powdered sugar. Soon we were

on the road, passing the Traumsee and

through a couple tunnels, one of

which was 3 miles long. A dozen

bikes in a tunnel was an Austrian

symphony! We rode across the court-

yard in front of city hall to get to the

Seehotel Schwan, a beautifully-ap-

pointed older hotel right on the lake,

my favorite of the trip.

Bad Ischl is anything but – “bad” means “spa” – and the beau-

tiful Café Zauner was our first stop the next day for their famous

pastries. Our next stop was unique for lots of reasons, the first of

which is that we parked inside a tunnel! Hallstatt is a lakeside

town on the side of a mountain, but the rocky Alps present a prob-

lem, because there’s no room to bury the dead. The solution is to

dig up the old and reinter the bones and skulls in the Beinhaus or

“bone house” in the churchyard. The skulls, the last of which was

placed in 1995, are painted with crosses and other adornments.

It’s Edelweiss tradition to hold a picnic, which is a well-pre-

pared lunch served using special features on their van. Ours was on the shore

of the Hallstatt lake before departure for Kaprun. The selection of cheeses,

meats, fresh fruits, salad, and goodies reinforced our nickname for the trip.

Dessert was the tasty route we surfed on our way to the resort village of

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 43

Kaprun and the modern, com-

fortable Hotel Sportskristall,

our home for two nights. It not

only has a great bar, but also a

bowling alley and an automo-

tive museum in the basement!

Our penultimate day was for

rest, but we rode. A large

group went to Italy, while we

did a double-shot of the highest

pass in Austria, the 8,200-foot

Grossglockner! We danced the

snow-lined hairpins, enjoying

electrics in the 42-degree sum-

mit temperatures. The views

were stunning, as was the rid-

ing. We snaked down the other

side, through a couple tunnels,

and had a fine lunch of spaetzle

and other goodies at the scenic

Hexenkuchl restaurant at the

foot of the ‘Virgin’s Jump’ wa-

terfall. Then, we rode the

Grossglockner again in the op-

posite direction, bagging over

100 hairpins! This was the best

day by far.

Our final day was eventful.

The quirky hotel owner gave

us a sendoff using a replica

Olympic flame and a check-

ered flag! We surfed great

roads on the way to the

Krimml Waterfall, the highest

in Austria. Soon after our kaf-

fee stop in Hainzenburg, we

had the only mishap of our trip. In

September, people dressed in tra-

ditional clothes herd cows down

the roads to lower pastures. It’s

quite a spectacle, as the cows are

decorated with evergreens, tinsel,

and huge bells. While threading

our way around one herd, a deco-

rated cow rear-ended one of our

BMWs, sending a saddlebag skit-

tering down the road.

Marko made a field repair and

we were on our way back to Is-

maning for a final dinner and fond

farewells with newfound friends. I

am not always a fan of group tours,

but this one was excellent and I

highly recommend it, as does my

wife. It has a great mix of different

types of roads (with options for

more or less challenge) and pictur-

esque stops. It is definitely a gas-

tronomic delight! If you have

always wanted to ride the Alps, but

aren’t quite sure whether it’s your

cup of tea, or whether your passen-

ger will like it, this is an excellent

introduction. Tchüss!

To find out more on the tours of-

fered by Edelweiss Bike Travel,

point your web browser towards

www.edelweissbike.com. You’re

sure to find a tour to fit your needs,

wants and desires.

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For riders who already have basic skills. Similar to the BRC, the Basic Rider-Course 2 is done on your own motorcycle at higher speeds. Informal classroom

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Page 44 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

With the recent surge of adventure bike sales three-quarter-length jackets are suddenly all the rage.

If one plans to ride off-road it makes good sense to go for the greatest degree of upper-body protection

available. On road, it’s pretty much the same story.

In all likelihood, however, that’s not what’s driving this trend. Fact is these jackets symbolize the

new “cool” in motorcycle attire. Sure they’ll protect riders one-quarter more than their shorter coun-

terparts, but the latest crop of textile “longs” will also make riders look and feel as if they’re on an

exciting two-wheeled expedition – even when that far-flung trek terminates at the local cappuccino

shop. First Gear has been at the motorcycle outerwear game for some time now and the company

certainly has its fans. This is why I was so jazzed when given the opportunity to test the latest iteration

(re-release) of the company’s Rainier TPG three-quarter-length jacket.

For the past five years I’ve been rockin’ the First Gear Teton jacket and have been plenty happy

with its performance – save for a stubbornly stiff collar that never took a liking to me. But jackets

need updating now and again if only to impress one’s friends take advantage of the latest safety ad-

vances. For my current needs (I’m on my second adventure bike) this jacket fit the bill splendidly.

The newest Rainier departs in concept from its predecessors by completely eliminating inner liners

for thermal/water protection. This move is becoming more common in mid to high-end jackets these

days since seasoned wearers generally prefer choosing their own insulating layers. Or so I’m told.

First Gear now places engineering emphasis on the shell by incorporating a number of high-tech

comfort and safety elements within.

Standouts in the Rainier are D30® adjustable T5 Evo-Pro armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back;

YKK zippers; Teramid® fabric protection reinforced with Dupont™ Kevlar fiber in critical abrasion

areas, and Cocona® waterproof/breathable technology throughout.

D30 molecular armor is CE-approved and nearly impervious to temperature extremes. Relatively

soft when not put to the test (read that flexible), the pucks stiffen-up upon impact and transfer energy

away from the rider. Impact areas are further bolstered against abrasions by Kevlar-reinforced,

Teramid fabric.

The Cocona breathable waterproof system lives inside the shell and takes care of H2O duties. Sim-

ilar in scope to the often pricier Gore-Tex®, the membrane allows smaller sweat molecules to escape

while blocking larger rain droplets. Active “micro porous particles” use a rider’s body heat to hasten

evaporation and accelerate breathability, according to First Gear.

Additional niceties found in the Rainier include double storm flap entry; articulated sleeves with cinch straps; two front and two rear exhaust vents; a sculpted

drop-tail back; comfy air-blocking cuff gaiters; two large rainproof cargo pockets on the exterior, and stash pockets including a cell-phone pocket on the inside.

A handy waterproof hood guards against rainy and/or cold weather, on or off the bike. The material used here is thin and stretchy – just the ticket when worn

under an already snug helmet. When not in use the hood folds back into the fleece-lined collar. Nice touch. (next page)

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 45

FIRST GEAR RAINIER TPG JACKET REVIEW Jeff Bahr

Since I tested the Rainier in winter I wasn’t able to put the jacket to the rain test. Nevertheless, the Rainier never made me feel clammy; a claim I cannot make

about other jackets that I’ve tested.

Impressions

The Rainier is on the thin side for a three-season jacket but therein lies its beauty. Without a waterproof mid-liner to add bulk, wearers never look overly

inflated or feel overheated. This slimness should prove beneficial during summer when stifling temperatures and sudden rainstorms conspire to make one sweaty

and miserable.

The Rainier jacket feels considerably more flexible and less crunchy than most, a fact owing again to its relative slenderness. Sizing seems spot-on with a size

large fitting my 44” chest perfectly.

The adage about getting what you pay for really applies here. While there are many jackets below this price point, I have yet to experience one as comfortable

off the rack (nice friendly collar, too!) or as sophisticated (read that beefed-up) in critical impact areas as the Rainier. At $500 the jacket falls into the middle of

the cost equation - but you do get a lot of jacket for the money. This one, as they say, is a definite keeper.

The First Gear Rainier TPG jacket lists for $499.95. It comes with a two-year crash protection warranty and a five-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. It’s

available in sizes small- 4XL, and tall sizes Medium- 2XL. Two colors – silver/black and Day-Glo/black – are available.

The First Gear TGP jacket is available at your local dealer. You can find yours on the First Gear website: www.firstgear-usa.com

NEARLY 40 ON THE 37“There’s no time like the present to explore…” A few days before his fortieth birthday, author Trevor Marc Hughes hopped on his

motorbike and rode north into the unknown. Part of his motivation was his age, some came from a desire for adventure, but

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Inside the pages of Nearly 40 on the 37: triumph and trepidation on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway readers travel along with Hughes

into seldom explored northern British Columbia along Highway 37, a part of the province that is set to change very soon…

His new book is available through Whitehorse Press at whitehorsegear.com • e-book available through the Amazon Kindle Store.

TREKKER – OUTBACK BAGS FROM GIVI

GIVI have ventured into the adventure touring market with the new

Trekker series. These aluminum/polypropylene cases utilize the

patented GIVI Monokey system giving a lockable, waterproof and

easily removable case option.

Givi’s new Trekker – Outback series add cutting edge looks and high

performance to your adventure machine. These fully aluminum cases are available in 37 and 48-

liter versions in both polished and flat black aluminum finishes. Trekker – Outback These can be

purchased individually as either left or right, alternatively they can be purchased as pairs. Prices per case start at $460.00 each up to $1,020.00 per pair. Additional

accessories include inner bag, exterior bag, carrying handles, lid protectors and reflective stickers.

Page 46 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

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973-875-3640 • www.sussexmotorsportsnj.com• Family Owned and Operated in Northwest NJ• Near the border of Pennsylvania and New York

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to perform all your Yamaha authorized service

P R O D U C T R E V I E W S & S P O T L I G H T S

The 37 and 48-liter GIVI TREKKER series are their newest adventure touring cases utilizing a unique full and partial lid opening

system. The spacious 52-liter top case does not sport the dual opening system but does allow the storage for two modular helmets.

Made from a combination of polypropylene and aluminum panels, the TREKKER series with its patented

MONOKEY© latching system now offer the convenience of GIVI hard cases in a more rugged style for

the adventure touring motorcycle rider. And, the new Trekker Outback series uses the all-new PL - CAM

series model specific mounting hardware. This heavier duty side case mounting hardware has been de-

signed and manufactured specifically with adventure touring style riding in mind. The PL - CAM hard-

ware utilizes a heavier gauge tubular frame and comes complete with a unique and easy to use

lock/unlock indicator. These cases are fully lockable and removable cases.

Givi offers durable custom bag liners for the Trekker bags, making stowing, packing and carrying that

much easier.

see your local dealer or contact givi • 9309 Forsyth Park dr., Charlotte, nC 28273

704-679-4123 • www.giviusa.com

PIAA’S NEW LP550 AND LP560 LED LIGHTSPIAA Corporation USA has introduced two new rugged and durable LED driving lamps that offer new choices of size and performance to drivers of on-highway

and off-roading cars, trucks, 4x4s, SUVs, and powersports vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles. The new lamps from PIAA

(pronounced pe’-uh), models LP550 and LP560, nominally five or six inches in diameter respectively, nicely fill the niche

between their existing LP530 3.5” lamp and the LP570, at just over seven inches in diameter.

The new medium-size LP550 and 560 lamps, like the other lamps in the LP family, each use a pair of 7 watt LED

bulbs that offer better illumination and greater durability than traditional halogen bulbs. Current draw of LED bulbs

is far less than that of halogen bulbs, and the near-indefinite lifespan of LEDs makes these new lamps very cost-

effective. In fact, these new lamps, like all PIAA lamps, are covered by PIAA’s exclusive limited lifetime warranty,

which reflects the company’s confidence in the durability of their lighting products.

All of the lamps in the LP series feature PIAA’s exclusive Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), in which the

LED bulbs actually face rearward into a computer-designed multi-surface parabolic reflector that concentrates

and focuses the beam pattern more precisely than other lamp designs. This provides greater light output per watt

plus far less power consumption than traditional halogen and forward-facing LED lamps. The result: more con-

centrated light exactly where you need it. PIAA invented RFT technology, and was the first company to offer fog

and driving lamps using this design.

Both the LP550 and LP560 feature a rugged design with a cast aluminum housing, high strength polycarbonate lens, and

protective grill. Both offer a 30-degree driving beam, and produce a very crisp white beam of light with a color temperature

of 6000 kelvin. The LP550 and LP560 lamps are sold in pairs, and come complete with pre-wired harness with fuse and switch.

Both the LP550 and LP560 are SAE/DOT-compliant, which is important in many of the United States and Canada where such

compliance is required.

Piaa Corporation • 3004 ne 181st ave., Portland, oregon 97230 • 800-525-7422 • www.piaa.com • or locate a dealer near you

www.EuropeanCycleServices.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 47

OLYMPIA MOTO SPORTS AND MOTOQUEST TEAM UP TO

INTRODUCE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE TOURING JACKETOlympia Moto Sports has teamed up with Alaska based MotoQuest to de-

liver what they consider to be the finest adventure touring suit on the market.

The basic design principles incorporated in Olympia’s MotoQuest guide gear

are based on enhanced versions of their highly functional “Mega Vent Panel”

and “Multi Layer Systems Designs”. These time tested product features are

widely reported to deliver unmatched levels of performance when riding

through extreme wind, rain, heat, and cold.

The MotoQuest Guide Jacket – Layer one consists of a rugged main shell

outfitted with zip down, self stowing oversized “Mega Vent Panels” located

at the chest, arms and back. These panels transition the shell from solid body

to adjustable airflow construction in seconds. This allows the jacket to func-

tion extremely well in a wide variety of temperatures. Constructed in authen-

tic 500 and 2000 D Cordura® the shell also includes a zip off integrated

backpack with a 2 liter hydration bladder. Seven storage pockets and an over-

sized waterproof back pocket offer plenty of room for storing personal items.

Layer two includes a sleek soft shell liner jacket with authentic Thermolite

insulation for added warmth. Forget having to pack a casual jacket as this

stylish liner pulls double duty as functional

sportswear. Layer three includes a

fully functional rain jacket with a

stowaway stretch knit hood and

rubberized aqua barrier at the

front and back neck. This fully

functional rain jacket can be worn

over or under the main shell as

weather dictates, a first in motor-

cycle apparel design.

The MotoQuest Guide Pant -

Layer One consists of a rugged

500 and 2000 D Cordura®

main shell. Zip down self-

stowing “Mega Vent Panels”

at the front thighs transition

the pant from solid body, to

adjustable airflow construction

in seconds. Standing, boot on entry

is a snap as side leg zippers extend

from cuff to waistband. 3 tier ad-

justable knee armor positions,

stretch waist panels and

Olympia’s exclusive EZ hem

bottom detail helps riders

achieve a custom fit. Two front

zipper pockets and two rear

stash pockets offer plenty of

room for stowing personal

items. Washable leather re-

inforcement panels at the

inner legs offer tank-gripping

stability as needed. Layer Two

offers a fully functional rain

pant that’s sized to fit over or

under the out shell. Generous

leg openings with an ad-

justable Velcro closure sys-

tem makes standing boot on

entry a breeze. An elasticized

waist plus side waist slide

buckles help riders achieve a

custom fit.

As the official apparel

supplier for MotoQuest,

Olympia Moto Sports own-

ers Kevin and Karilea Rhea

agree that they’ve been

blessed to explore the globe with MotoQuest’s team of ace international

guides. As part of their ongoing research and development, they’ve toured

with MotoQuest in such diverse and exotic locations as Alaska, Peru and

Japan. When MotoQuest founder Phil Freeman asked Kevin to design a rid-

ing suit that would protect his crew across the widest possible range of harsh

weather conditions and constantly changing micro-climates, he was definitely

up for the challenge. According to Kevin, “Phil and his guides are world class

adventure touring riders who demand ultimate performance from their gear.

The enhanced technical features offered in the MotoQuest suit could only be

achieved through intense product testing and direct collaboration in the field”.

According to Phil “We’ve tested other top brands both foreign and domestic

but none came close to matching Olympia’s level of quality, function and fit.

As enthusiasts, they truly understand the tough demands our guides place on

gear. They walk the walk, they listen. They just get it”.

MotoQuest Guide Jacket - MSRP $549.99 – sizes S – 4XL. Colors -fatigue

grey/ black, neon yellow/black, Ivory/black. MotoQuest Guide Pant -MSRP

$349.99 – sizes 30-44. Colors - ivory/black, black, black/neon yellow.

olympia moto sports • 824 locust st ste 100, hendersonville, nC 28792

www.olympiamotosports.com • 866-473-4327

motoQuest • 4346 spenard road, anchorage, ak 99517

www.motoquest.com • 800-756-1990

Page 48 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

Are you ready for the most comfortable motorcycle saddle?A saddle that fits properly eliminates pressure points that reduce

blood flow. It takes a solid understanding of human anatomy

and extensive motorcycle experience to make a truly fine mo-

torcycle saddle. Let Rick’s medical expertise as a critical care

nurse and extensive riding experience combine to create a truly

great saddle hand-made just for you. Prices start at $269.

www.RickMayerCycle.com

THE S PLUGS FROM PLUGUP.COM

A number of years back we made the investment to have

created ‘custom ear plugs’ by Marilyn Navia, licensed audi-

ologist, from PlugUp.com. In addition to being ungodly quiet

and banishing much of the hearing destructive noise that comes

with motorcycle riding, they also had small speakers to allow for

more pleasant sounds, music and point-to-point directions.

It is hard to wear other and lesser ear protection when you have

experienced earplugs this good. Add in the speaker drivers and

you have crisp and clear spoken Garmin directions, music or cell

phone if wanted. Still, as well made as these are. I have found

numerous ways of destroying, breaking and rendering them in-

operable over the last decade.

Each time damaged plugs get packed up and sent to Marilyn who, dreading

my phone calls, repairs and returns them in perfect condition regardless.

I now have two sets of these custom earplugs – one for the BMW and one

for my KLR.

Last summer I once again tugged the wire loose when dismounting the GS

(yes, I am clumsy) and, looking to still be able to hear my Garmin’s voice

prompts and that afternoon’s Mets game on XM radio, I went to a local sports

shop looking for suitable replacements.

Nothing I found came close.

After this tour was over and we were back at home I took a look at

PlugUp.com’s website looking for suitable back up.

We had once done a review on their ‘S-Plugs’ and I

thought that a set of these would make good Plan B for

the next time I spoil my custom set.

Over the years Marilyn has made improvements to

the S-Plug and the newest are available with dual

speaker drivers in each ear bud, each containing a

woofer and tweeter. If you want a truly awesome sound

then this is the way to go, even at the higher price over

the single driven earbuds.

I placed my order that day.

A few weeks later I received my new S-Plugs that

came in a protective zippered carrying case with a clip

for a lanyard or attachment sewn on.

The S-Plug Earbuds are the smallest of their kind on

the market and the only truly flexible ones as well.

Your ear canal has a basic ‘S’ shape to it and these

buds conform nicely to most ears, even if they are not

custom made for the individual.

This flexibility allows for the speakers to be placed

deep in the ear for increased bass response and better

outside noise cancelling.

Circumstances had me off the bike for a part of this

year and with the need to test my new S-Plugs we

booked a cabin on the Norwegian cruise line’s Break-

away and sailed out into the Atlantic Ocean on a cold

and very windy January weekend.

We would tough this out as nothing is too good for

you kids when we need to test products.

When the gale was at its peek I bundled up, put in the

S-Plug Earbuds and took a seat outside the port side of

the Breakaway.

With gusts well over 40 miles per hour and ten foot

swells, I felt I had approximately the same din of wind

noise I would get on the bike at speed.

Just having the S-Plugs inserted cut the noise down

considerably. Turning on a small iPod I dialed up ‘In

the Country’ from Chicago’s landmark ‘Live at

Carnegie Hall’ collection. For 10 minutes and 38 sec-

onds, including the quiet introduction by WNEW’s

Scott Muni, the earbuds transported me back to 57th

street in Manhattan and April of 1971. The sound was

crisp, clear and loud (my doing) with each instrument

and even comments from the audience being heard by

themselves and not getting lost in a stew of sound.

Although not as good as professional headsets or their

own custom earplugs the S-Plugs did an excellent job

reproducing music or Garmin voice prompts.

When the song ended I turned off the iPod and in the background I could

here the wind softly blasting along the side of the ship.

Removing the earbuds the true volume of the ocean wind gust, on the

moving ship, came clear, that and the fact that the S-Plugs do an awesome

job in both quieting outside noise and delivering clear music and

voice commands at speed.

Simply stated PlugUp.com’s S-Plugs are the best earbuds

you can buy without having custom plugs of your own cre-

ated.

The S-Plugs also fit in tighter and more snugly than any-

thing else on the market, allowing for a more comfortable

experience when you put your helmet on. Gone was the

tightness and pinching found with more commonly found and

store bought earbuds. It is our experience that if your helmet is

not completely comfortable or you have pain and pinching around

the ears and throat there is really no point in using this sort of product.

The S-Plugs are free of that issue.

The S-Plugs are available in 22”, 3.5’ and 4.5’ wire lengths and the single-

driver S-Plug sells for $139.95 and the dual driver S-Plugs run $235. The

difference in both price and performance is very noticeable and dramatic.

Either way you go we know you will not be disappointed.

Plugup • 10265 n.W. 56 street, doral, Florida 33178

305.477.2333 • www.plugup.com

or find marilyn navia at various rallies around the country

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 49

August 15, 16 & 17

3 Days of Music, Food,

Vendors, Beer, Wine

and Lots of Fun!

Under the Big Top Tent and Knowlton Lions

Club Pavillion • Route 46, Delaware, NJ

Highlights for this year include the return

of the Grand Slambovians • Friday, Aug. 15

Check website for full schedule and tickets

www.WNTIstage.org

Page 50 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

START: WASHINGTON CROSSING PARK, PACROSS BRIDGE INTO NEW JERSEYSTRAIGHT WASHINGTON CROSSING PENNINGTON RD.LEFT AT BEAR TAVERN RD.STRAIGHT AT MT. AIRY HARBOURTON RD.RIGHT AT MT. AIRY VILLAGE RD.LEFT AT QUEEN RD.STRAIGHT AT SANDY RIDGE MT. AIRY RD.LEFT AT SANDY RIDGE RD.QUICK RIGHT AT CEMETERY RD.RIGHT AT CR 523LEFT AT COVERED BRIDGE RD.LEFT AT LOWER CREEK RD.RIGHT AT CR 519RIGHT AT CR 625BEAR LEFT AT MINE RD.RIGHT AT IRON BRIDGE RD.LEFT AT RIVER RD.STRAIGHT AT CR 643CROSS RTE. 57STRAIGHT AT MILLBROOK RD.RIGHT AT CR 647LEFT AT CR 623BEAR LEFT AT BRASS CASTLE RD.RIGHT AT SOUTH BRIDGEVILLE RD.RIGHT AT RTE. 46LEFT AT HOPE RD.RIGHT AT SHADES OF DEATH RD.LEFT AT LONG BRIDGE RD

RIGHT AT CR 615RIGHT AT CR 612LEFT AT CR 517CROSS RTE. 206RIGHT AT CR 613LEFT AT CR 605RIGHT AT RTE. 181RIGHT TO RTE. 15 SOUTH TO TEXAS SMOKE

Rip & Ride® • TEXAS SMOKE BARBECUE400 RTE. 15 SOUTH, JEFFERSON, NJ

862-209-4078 • WWW.TEXASSMOKEBBQ.COM

GPS DOWNLOAD: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/PRO/DL/CAMLJ9

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 51

FROM PORT JERVISRTE. 97 THROUGH HAWKS NEST

RIGHT AT CSR 41STRAIGHT AT SR 42RIGHT AT SR 43LEFT AT SR 44STRAIGHT AT PLANK RD.STRAIGHT AT STARLIGHT RD.LEFT AT RTE. 17BRIGHT AT RTE. 55BEAR LEFT AT WEST SHORE RD.RIGHT AT HURD RD.LEFT AT BRISCOE RD.RIGHT AT RTE. 52LEFT AT SR 149LEFT AT CREAMERY RD.RIGHT AT COVERED BRIDGE RD

LEFT AT SR 179BEAR RIGHT AT BEAVERKILL RD. SR 151/152BEAR LEFT AT BIG POND

STARIGHT TO BARKABOOM RD.LEFT AT BWS RD 8RIGHT AT RTE. 30RIGHT AT RTE. 28LOOK FOR SIGNS ON LEFT

IN FLEISCHMANNS FOR SPILLIAN

GRAVEL ROAD, SHARP TURNS – TAKE YOUR TIME

Rip & Ride® • SPILLIAN – A PLACE TO REVEL50 TODD MOUNTAIN RD, FLEISCHMANNS, NY 12430

1-800-811-3351 • SPILLIAN.COM

100-MILE ROUTE • GPS DOWLOAD: WWW.SENDSPACE.COM/PRO/DL/ZOH7TW

FROM NEW YORK CITY (TRIBORO BRIDGE)GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY

CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY SOUTH

SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY EAST

ROUTE 110 NORTH

LEFT AT SPAGNOLI ROAD

RIGHT AT ROUND SWAMP ROAD

TO VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

Rip & Ride®

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ARMOR1303 ROUND SWAMP ROAD, OLD BETHPAGE, NY 11804

MUSEUMOFAMERICANARMOR.COM

Page 52 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

JDS CYCLE PARTSEST. 1988

247 W. Westfield Ave, Rosell Park, NJ908-245-2445

• Parts & Accessories• Award-winning Service• Performance Work• Dyno Tuning• S&S Pro Tuning Center• Power CommanderTuning Center

American • Metric • Sport

www.beemerboneyard.comUSED OILHEAD & K-BIKE PARTSHundreds of used parts at 50% off new cost or lessOrder online 24/7 ~ M/C, Visa, Discover or PayPal

100% money-back guarantee ~ parts ship in 24 hours

NEW MAINTENANCE PART ~ BELOW RETAILNo Backorders ~ We Stock What We SellWe now carry German Liqui-Moly Engine & Gear Oil for BMWs

973-775-3495 • M-F 12pm~5pm • inquires@beemerboneyard.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 53

RiSiNg WOLF gARAgE NYC

EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE PARKING FACILITY

Monthly Parking

Long & Short Term

24 Hour Access

Video Surveillance

Service Area

Personal Storage

Air Compressor

Battery Charging

We p ro v i d e a f r i e n d l y, c l e a n a n d s e c u re

e n v i ro n m e n t f o r t h e m o t o rc y c l e e n t h u s i a s t

By Appointment Only

East Village NYC

Ph: 212 475 5858 • Fx: 212 505 5205

risingwolfgarage@aol.com

www.risingwolfgarage.com

M O T O R C Y C L E M A R K E T P L A C E ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

O’TOOLE’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON®

Serving New York’s Hudson Valley for 40 yearsFactory Trained Service • New Model Sales

Genuine Harley-Davidson® Parts and AccessoriesConveniently located near the areas of Monticello, Middletown, Ellenville, Montgomery, and Walden

4 Sullivan St • Wurtsboro, NY845-888-2426 • www.OToolesHD.com

Fire Pit • Free WiFiCooked-to-order BreakfastHeated Pool • BYOB

We welcome everyone from

a lone rider to a full chapter

344 Route 100, West Dover, VTwww.BigBearsLodge.com

802-464-5591

Page 54 APRIL 2014 • BACKROADS

M O T O R C Y C L E M A R K E T P L A C E ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

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

Open Daily for Breakfast and Beyond • 7am to 4pm • Sunday 7am to 1pm

Try our Full Throttle Breakfast Special every Saturday + Sunday

Worth the ride from anywhere!

NOW AVAILABLEBarbeque Catering

Flexible • AffordableReady When You Are

Sharing your passion for good food since 1983Member of

Tues. thru Sat. 11am-10pmSunday: Breakfast 9am-Noon

Lunch and Dinner served until 9pm

The RivertonTravel along the scenic

backroads of the Delaware river.Meet the Markopoulos family

and taste chef George’sGreek American cooking.Best bar menu, lunch or dinner.

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

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

The Riverton Hotel and RestaurantAt Belvidere-Riverton Free Bridge, Riverton, PA

610-498-4241 • www.rivertonhotel.com

Member of

‘50s-Style Drive-In RestaurantFull and Varied Menu

Room for the Whole Gang

Located at Ross’ Corners • 1 Route 15 • Augusta NJ • 973-300-2300

www.chatterboxdrivein.com

Cool Nights, Hot Bikes • Two-Wheels or Four, join us at

THE CHATTERBOX DRIVE-INGREAT FOOD • GOOD TIMES • EXCELLENT RIDING

The Boat House

Restaurant

Join us for Brunch, Lunch

or Dinner overlooking

Swartswood Lake

1040 Cty Rd 521 • Swartswood, NJ

973-300-0016

www.theboathouserestaurantonline.com

Member

Tuesday ~ Sunday 11am-9pm

Brunch 10am-2pm • Closed Mondays

Call for Seasonal Hours

Excellent Ride Destination

Hudson Valley’s

Number One Riding

Barbeque Restaurant

Located on Picturesque Route 9W

minutes from Perkins Drive

and Harriman State Park

just south of historic West Point

1076 Route 9W North

Fort Montgomery, NY

845-446-0912

www.barnstormerbbq.com

Celebrate the Season withsome awesome barbeque!

If you go home hungryit’s your own fault

www.facebook.com/pages/Backroads-Motorcycle-Touring-Magazine/86102625812

‘Like’ us on Facebook for all the latest news, up-to-the-minute ridesand events and just cool motorcycle stuff. We often do impromptu lunch

or dinner rides, as well as weekend jaunts. Don’t be left out.

If you didn’t like cool stuff,

you wouldn’t be reading

this magazine.

Here’s something

you’re going to love.

TORQ-ITScrewdriver/Speed Wrench/ Palm Ratchet

All In One Tool

Variable Speeds Over 600RPMLow Profile, with an “Ergo” Grip and a Non-Slip DesignAccepts All 3/8” and 1/4” Sockets and Extensions

BASIC SET: $19.95 • DELUXE SET: $29.95 • ACCESORY SET: $9.95

TORQ-IT PRODUCTS, INC. 1701 Manor Road • Havertown PA 19083Tel: 1.888.876.9555 • Visit Our New Website: WWW.TORQ-IT.COM

BACKROADS • APRIL 2014 Page 55

M O T O R C Y C L E M A R K E T P L A C E ALL THAT GOOD STUFF

THE BIKE SHOP@ Automotive RevelationsMotorcycle Service

Repair + Parts

111 Mountain Spring Rd, Milford, PA • 570-228-6101 • fisherfabrications@gmail.com

Specializing in resurrecting old bikes and Vintage Custom work

Custom welding serviceand PA inspections available on site

DAYTONA, BIKETOBERFEST,STURGIS AND BEYOND

MOTORCYCLE TRAILERS

BARN TRAILERS718-426-7039 • www.barntruckrental.com

57-05 BROADWAY • WOODSIDE NY 11377 (OFF THE BQE & LIE)

SALESRENTALS

Come Ride the Dragonwww.dealsgap.com

800.889.555017548 Tapoco Road, Robbinsville, NC 28771

Deals Gap318 Curves in 11 Miles

Deals Gap StoreMotel

Bar and Grill

Sussex Hills Ltd.

973-875-2048946 Rte. 23 SouthSussex NJ 074613 miles north of Sussex Borough

Norman GrossSince 1976

Our Reputation Speaks for Itself

Specializing in Motorcycle

Repair, Parts & Supplies •

Cycle Tires Mounted & Bal-

anced • Batteries & Hard

Parts • Dynojet 250 Dyno

available for testing

For All Your Harley-Davidson Needs

Now stocking a full line of heated gearMake your riding season last all year.

WASHINGTON CYCLE WORKS

WCWWashington Cycle Works Junction of Rtes. 57/31 • Washington, NJ 07882

908-835-0043

www.washingtoncycleworks.com

We cater to road racers and support all Track Day organizationsCheck us for Suspension Setups • One-piece Road Race suits in stock

Closed Sun-Mon • Open: Tues-Thurs 9:30AM-7PM • Fri 9:30AM-6PM • Sat 9AM-3PM

PAYPAL NOW ACCEPTED FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS

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http://www.nolan-usa.com

http://www.jmcorp.com

ONLY Full Line KTM Dealer in the tri-state area

HUGE inventory of KTM Parts,

Accessories and Apparel

honda.com ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. NEVER RIDEUNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND NEVER USE THE STREET AS A RACETRACK. OBEY THELAW AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. For rider training information or to locate a rider trainingcourse near you, call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 800-446-9227. CTX™ and Gold Wing® are registeredtrademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (07/13)

2014 Valkyrie®

Legendary Power • Groundbreaking Style

Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and theMotorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227.Professional rider depicted on a closed course. ©2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaMotorsports.com

www.Powersports.Honda.comMon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-6pm • Thur: 9am-8pm • Sat: 9am-5pm

SUNDAY: CLOSED - GONE RIDING

210 Route 10 West

East Hanover, NJ

973-428-1735

www.HanoverPowersports.comMon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-6pm • Thur: 9am-8pm • Sat: 9am-5pm

SUNDAY: CLOSED - GONE RIDING

www.HanoverPowersports.comMon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-6pm • Thur: 9am-8pm • Sat: 9am-5pm

SUNDAY: CLOSED - GONE RIDING

210 Route 10 West • East Hanover, NJ • 973-428-1735

JUST 35 MINUTES FROM NYC BRIDGES AND TUNNELS

Here’s the formula: Take Honda’s legendary 1832cc flat six andbuild it into the ultimate cruiser—powerful, awe-inspiring and like

no other. Now add in great handlingand iconic style, and you’ll seewhy it’s the cruiser that only

Honda could build.

Honda's iconic V-4 powerplants havean alluring character all their own,a unique combination of torque,an aggressive rush of power asthe tach needle swings up intothe meaty part of the powerband,

and a certain texture to the enginefeel that tells you this could only be a Honda V-4. This is a sport bike with plenty of emphasis on sport,plus the versatility for commuting, two-up fun rides and long-haul sport touring.

210 Route 10 West

East Hanover, NJ

973-428-1735

The FJR™1300ES features an all-new electronicallyadjustable suspension to take the bother out of adjusting

the suspensions to fit different riding conditions and bring greater convenience to touring,and all the other great features that continue to make this the supersport touring king.

WE INVENTED SUPERSPORT TOURING.NOW WE’VE PERFECTED IT.

2014 VFR®800Interceptor

The leaner, meaner V-4 is back.

Unleash the Beast 1290 Super DukeIn Stock Now • Come Get Yours Today!

FRIDAY APRIL25

KTM Red Bull

In the form of the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, KTM has crowned its legendary Naked Bike model range with a machine thatredefines the term 'Streetfighter'. Thanks to unbeatable performance in conjunction with the versatility provided by the ad-justable riding modes and PowerParts setups, pure riding pleasure is pre-programmed - from the racetrack to the city andeverywhere in between. The new KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R perfectly embodies the KTM philosophy: endless power, highestprecision, perfect ergonomics, finest ingredients, not a gram too many, simply "Ready to Race"! The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKER – high-tech in an aggressive design with unprecedented functionality and razor-sharp sportiness reduced to the essentials.