Rob Brooks

Montana BDR Debuts

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 3, 2026 | Rides & Roads |

The newest BDR route has recently been announced in Montana, and Triumph Motorcycles sent us some information on this extraordinary new portion. The motorcycle brand is once again partnering with and helping sponsor the new Montana route (MTBDR), with valuable travel resources that can benefit riders, as well as the rural communities the roads and trails navigate through. As dual sport and adventure riding continues to grow here in the States, the BDR network is growing with it.

Then Came Bronson

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 22, 2026 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life |

In 1969, a man quit his job, threw a leg over his Harley, and rode away from everything- and an entire generation wanted to follow him. His name was Jim Bronson. And though he only existed on television screens for one brief, beautiful season, his spirit would outlive the show by decades.

Rob’s Monthly Musings: Awake, Alert, Aware

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 13, 2026 | Ride Life |

I was out for a ride on a rare, warm winter day recently, and making a left-hand turn onto a side road, I found myself suddenly stopping behind a small transport van. There was a gas station entrance to the right, and opposite on the left was the entrance/exit for a restaurant. In the moment, I considered a quick skirt to the right around the van, so I could continue on my way. But further examination halted my impulse. I glimpsed a black pickup truck ahead, coming the opposite way, and a small silver sedan stopped at the restaurant exit. The transport van was waiting to make a left into the restaurant parking lot, while the black truck suddenly took its left into the gas station lot. Had I not paused before making an impulsive move, I would’ve been broadsided by the pickup truck. A little awareness and prudence quite possibly saved my life.

Flow Rider

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 5, 2026 | Ride Life |

Descending off the high plains of panhandle Texas and into the desert and Mesa’s of New Mexico, the setting sun was splashing a kaleidoscope of color across the sky. Behind us, as darkness crapped over the canopy above, a full moon was rising behind our right shoulders. Mike was riding lead, his silhouette framed by the sinking sun, and I fell into a completely calm state, almost like a trance, and time seemed to stand still.

Rob’s Monthly Musings- Year End Reflections

Posted by Rob Brooks | Dec 5, 2025 | Ride Life |

It has been quite the holiday season already here in the United States. Although everyone celebrated Thanksgiving, it seems like Christmas decoration, sales, and the general spirit of the season began right after Halloween. So much of it is commerce-driven, of course, but I still love this season, when you peel back all of the extraneous layers

The Rise & Demise of Vincent Motorcycles

Posted by Rob Brooks | Nov 13, 2025 | Legendary Bikes |

I inquired as to what he knew about the part, and the vendor explained, “When Vincent ceased motorcycle production in the mid-1950s, the company kept manufacturing small displacement engines, for everything from small boats to lawn mowers. This is a casting from one of their lawn mower engines, I believe.” We haggled for a moment, and I bought the part, if for no other reason but the Vincent logo and inscription. It fascinated me, and sent me down a rabbit hole of moto-history I knew nothing about.

Drew Perlmutter- An Old Moto Soul

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 29, 2025 | Ride Life |

Drew Perlmutter is a fascinating anachronism.
A younger Millennial born into the digital age of the internet and social media, Drew is nonetheless an outlier, a young man who doesn’t follow the crowd, doesn’t live or die by post clicks. He’d rather tinker on an old Honda Dream 305, his 1982 Gold Wing, or ride across the country on a motorcycle, tent camping along the way.
The first time I met Drew, after an hour of conversation I told him, “You have an old soul, and I mean that as a high compliment.” Though in his early 30s, Drew reminds me of the free spirit and heart for adventure that existed among my generation that came of age in the 1960s-70s. We grew up riding beater motorcycles, could tinker enough to keep them running or fix them, and we loved to see the world without windows and ceilings, riding and camping out in the elements.
Drew is cut from our cloth.

Lusso Leather- Premium Custom Leather Jackets

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 16, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

So when Lusso Leather reached out earlier this summer, offering me a custom tailored, fitted motorcycle jacket to ride with and review, I jumped at the chance. Lusso is a Canada-based leather apparel and accessories company, with a New York State distribution facility in Niagara Falls, that has begun offering motorcycling-specific jackets to the North American market. Their jackets and leather accessories are handcrafted in Turkey, then shipped to Canada and/or the upstate New York warehouse for distribution. Per their contact with me, “Our garments are manufactured in Turkey, where we work closely with skilled artisans to ensure high-quality craftsmanship and materials, especially for our motorcycle jacket line.”

Gems Among Junk: Motorcycle Swap Meets

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 8, 2025 | Nuts & Bolts, Ride Life |

Roaming the seemingly endless aisles at the swap meet during this year’s 20th annual Barber Vintage Fest, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Some decorative old part or tool for my garage, maybe a pair of plastic turn signal covers to replace a couple of old glazing ones on my 1978 KZ650, or some vintage sign to hang in my basement man cave. Each booth was either a feast or a famine- dusty, discarded old parts, or beautiful classic motorcycles in need of a new home. Stacks of old motorcycle magazines no longer in print, dog-eared owner’s manuals for antique bikes, even some black & white signed photos of once famous racers and riders, the swap meet is the place to slow down, take your time, and browse until you find something that strikes your fancy.