J. Joshua Placa

2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Aug 19, 2024 | Bikes & Gear, Ride Life |

The 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival is right out of America’s Golden Age of Design, the Space Age thrust into artful forms of innovation and style. The Revival is an homage to the original 1956 Hydra-Glide (1949-’57), which introduced hydraulic front forks. It’s the fourth iteration in the Motor Company’s limited and numbered Icons collection, its factory version of a resto-mod. Earlier Icons included the 2023 Electra Glide Highway King, 2022 Low Rider Diablo and 2021 Electra Glide Revival. Modern performance wrapped in vintage looks can be an irresistible combination. I hope H-D continues bringing back its style heroes. Maybe a 1959 Sportster would be nice, or a ’36 Knucklehead.

Riding With The Ghost Of John Wayne, Part II

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Jul 26, 2024 | Rides & Roads |

The badlands will change you. It can elevate your wanderings into something spiritual, or it can turn you savage. It is an unforgiving world with small tolerance for error or idiots. It will make you feel like the first to touch a new planet. It can uplift you to heights unimagined, or make you fight for your life.

Riding with the Ghost of John Wayne

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Jul 4, 2024 | Rides & Roads |

I saw the nearly life-size cardboard cutouts everywhere- restaurants, saloons, souvenir shops, even gas stations. Wherever I wandered through “John Wayne country,” a place of sprawling red deserts, towering buttes and mesas and bone-dry ancient seabeds. It’s harsh and inhospitable to most creatures that don’t have scales or stingers, but there he was, ready to draw. Saddle up, pilgrim, it’s going to be a hot, dusty, spectacular ride.

The Budget Biker II: Don The Deal

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Mar 29, 2024 | Bikes & Gear, Ride Life |

I’m not sure what really happened or how; do any of us when a nasty habit takes over? Something went wrong. Somehow I was drawn into this lurid world of pre-owned shoes and pants, and most seductive of all, perfectly broken-in jackets. Lord knows what stories their well-worn leather could tell.

Riding Through The Red Stone

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Dec 5, 2023 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

There are some places on this planet that defy description. They are unexpected, ostensively in a different realm. Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “d’shay”), hidden deep within the vast Navajo Nation, is an epic wonder created by shallow seas that advanced and retreated over millions of years, leaving behind deep layers of scarlet stone. Of course, all wonders, natural and unnatural, are best seen from the saddle of your bike, or in my case, a Vampire.

Too Sexy For My Bike

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Jun 23, 2023 | Ride Life |

Preconceptions about motorcyclists swirl though the head of every citizen who crosses their curious path. Tinged with Hollywood images of reckless lawbreakers and life takers, bikers are an essential yet often misunderstood part of our folklore. In a country formed by rebellion and settled through aggression, the wild rebel is both feared and admired. It’s the American way.

Midnight in Metropolis

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Mar 22, 2023 | Ride Life |

Steam was still rising from the titanic Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 floating under me. I had only stopped for a few minutes to wipe my sunglasses, have another cigarette, and figure out how the hell to find her again. It’s been three days of relentless rain and seven straight nights since I last saw her. She has jet black hair, blood red lips and hard green eyes that could turn me to ice under a dog-day sun.

In Search of Los Angeles

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Nov 23, 2022 | Ride Life |

It never rains in Southern California, except for today, and yesterday. It’s been pouring, turning streets to rivers. Seems like the better part of valor is to live to ride another day. In my case, that’s the “temporarily” purloined Indian Super Chief Limited. It is, however, a lovely time to have a beer can regatta in my alley. The water is flowing at about two knots so conditions are pretty good, but that’s another story for another pub.

Indian Motorcycle Gear For Wind And Road

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Nov 4, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

Like most manufacturers, Indian offers a long lineup of motorcycle gear for men and women, from bandanas to T-shirts, jackets, helmets and gloves, among other offerings. Leading off our selection is what I would like to think is Indian’s flagship men’s moto-wear, the Horsehide Liberty Jacket. Made from genuine horsehide, it is tougher than cow leather, and more abrasion resistant. The Liberty is thick, warm, heavy and very serious. It is the Cadillac of motorcycle jackets.