J. Joshua Placa

Western Odyssey, Part 1

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Aug 4, 2026 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

The West is still wild, vibrant and alive in its red rock wonderlands, ancient canyons, burning desert rivers, towering buttes and mesas still home to some native tribes. It resides in otherworldly forms born of water and wind, incomprehensible time and earthly forces beyond reckoning. It lives forever in our imaginations as part myth, part history, all adventure. Riding into the great deserts, dusty towns and alien landscapes is not just piling miles and eating sand, it’s riding into the history and folklore of what once was, and what we still want to be.

Winter Work: Harley-Davidson Super Reach Seat

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Jan 20, 2026 | Bikes & Gear, Nuts & Bolts |

After much meditation, thought, internal debate, posterior pain, and consulting with my witch doctor, I finally concluded it was time to find a touring machine, one with some built-in creature comforts. For me, this translated to a smooth, powerful motor and a seat that will stay comfortable for many a mile. Unfortunately, the 2012 Road King Classic I picked up came with an aftermarket saddle that was, as hard as it is to believe, too cozy.

Gear to Go: Harley Jacket and Gloves

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Dec 18, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

On my recent expedition to Tombstone, AZ for Helldorado Days, Harley outfitted me with two of their best sellers, the Triple Vent Passing Link II Leather Coat and Circuit II Weatherproof Leather Gauntlet Gloves. For an enthusiast, your leather is much more than just a protective second skin, it’s a lifestyle statement. It has to look good, feel good and fit your personal fashion and function needs.

Harley’s 2025 Street Glide Ultra

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Dec 11, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

You may scoff and say I’m just getting soft, but I prefer to believe riding smarter is better than riding harder, at least in the long haul. Making slightly fewer dumb decisions is a nice perk of getting older. Comfortable bikes relieve road fatigue and extra storage space makes packing and unpacking quicker, easier and less tiring. Sit the roomy hard bags and big tour pak on a counterbalanced and rubber-mounted 117 cubic inch (1923 cc) power plant, load it with tech I can’t figure and you have Harley-Davidson’s luxury liner, the 2025 Street Glide Ultra.

Eat Like An Earp In Tombstone

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Dec 3, 2025 | Rides & Roads |

Tombstone has about a dozen primary eateries and all are busy during Helldorado Days, so make reservations if they accept reservations, or plan to dine early or late to avoid peak hours. Otherwise, since there isn’t a supermarket in town, your best bet may be the Circle K for snacks or gas station sushi. Instead, we sampled two toothsome places in town, and one in nearby Bisbee.

Tombstone’s Helldorado Days

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Nov 19, 2025 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

The way to Tombstone, AZ can feel like a wagon trail that happens to be paved. Passing through small, dusty towns that aren’t much more than stage coach stops, a place to get some grub, put up your boots, feed your steel horse and get back on the trail. For those of us who watched too many westerns, this is the way of the west. Whether you’re pushing cattle, prospecting for precious metals, running from the law, endlessly searching for a homestead or riding to the next cold beer, we are always trying to get somewhere else. Just passing through, gone before the dust settles. The West is less a place and more a state of mind. It embodies wanderlust, adventure, independence. Not much more needed than our ride, big black boots, and shoulders covered in well-worn leather. It is freedom. And for three days and nights in the third weekend of October for the last 96 years, it is Helldorado Days.

Motorcycle Gear Review: Garmin Zumo XT2

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Sep 25, 2025 | Bikes & Gear, Nuts & Bolts |

Garmin has built guidance systems specially made for hurling ourselves into the the wind with no need for real maps or even a sense of direction. The Zumo XT2 is Garmin’s latest platform for telling us how to get from A to B, the fast way or the scenic way, with pretty much every conceivable convenience stop along the way while also alerting us to sharp curves, state helmet laws, speed cameras, traffic conditions, ETA and probably a few more things I haven’t figured yet.

When the Ride Goes Wrong

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Nov 29, 2024 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

There are times when nature, dumb luck and poor planning conspire against us. You can take all the usual and sensible precautions before rolling into the wild: check the weather report, carry your own personal chrome-plated barometer, even stick your head out the window. Feeling unencumbered and packing light, the skies are clear, a soft cool breeze caresses your cheek, the bike rumbles instantly to life and you think to yourself with a smile, what could possibly go wrong?

FIRST LOOK: 2025 Yamaha YZF-R9

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Oct 9, 2024 | Bikes & Gear |

Tucked inside an old, concrete smog-test garage in Los Angeles, Yamaha hid its newest edition of its R-series lineup. It didn’t seem much of a mystery to the seasoned sportbike journalists gathered around. Rumors spread, teasers released, sporty minds connected the dots, which led to the 2025 YZF-R9.