We’ve long been fans of REV’IT!, whether it be their backpacks, riding jackets, gloves, or pants. I’ve personally never owned a piece of gear from them that failed me, yet. So when REV’IT! USA reached out to us about their new Sand 5 H2O line of adventure gear, I jumped at the chance to sample a pair of their riding pants.
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Born from MacKenzie and Davidson roots, MacKenney reunions on my mother’s side, in memories of my childhood, were always filled with laughter, hugs, games, and lots of food. And they were always held outside, in an expansive backyard under towering oak and willow trees overlooking the Charles River, or by the waters of Hamblin Pond, a small bay near Falmouth Harbor on the Cape.
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With the rapidly growing popularity of small bore motorbikes these days, something we have documented frequently here at Road Dirt, Honda reached out and asked if we’d like to ride and review the 2025 Dax 125, otherwise known as the Trail 125. One look at the bike, it’s old school “t-bone” frame and design, and I had to ride one. It so recalled my cousin‘s old Trail 70, it made me think back and wish I had not been so easily deterred by that small pipe burn as a youngster.
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I’m riding a 2025 Honda CB750 Hornet on this our first of a two-day press demo of the new Hornet 750 and 1000 models, and the roar of this 755cc twin as I’m galloping through the swift traffic is fueling my thirst to pin the throttle. This engine is howling, daring me to pour more coal to the fire. I’m obliging, at least as much as I’m able in the fast, dense traffic. Soon, we catch the front group, traffic thins as we roll northeast past Roseville, and we settle into a nice 75 mph cadence heading for the hill country before us.
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A guy standing next to me on the bridge, wearing a black patch-filled biker vest and a Harley-Davidson cap, commented, “The best race is about to begin! I came here specifically for this race today. Why would anyone want to leave now?!” Clearly most folks in attendance agreed with him. Everywhere around the track, for both the Saturday and Sunday races of this class, fans were pressed against the fences, to both see and feel this most remarkable category of motorcycle racing. And they were not disappointed.
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I first came to ride the Cherohala Skyway a few years after it opened, in 1998 or ’99. I rode up with a group of CMA friends from the Atlanta area, and we spent a day riding the parkway from Robbinsville NC to Tellico Plains TN. After a hearty late lunch at the popular Tellicafé on the western end of the skyway, the group turned around and rode back across that afternoon. It was early October as I remember, and the mountains were awash in the colors of autumn- gold, orange, red, purple, with pine evergreen interspersed.
It was magical. I was hooked.
While most of the time I feel like “cagers” (biker slang for automobile drivers) are aware of and largely respect us on the roads, it’s a sad fact that too many motorists don’t give us the margin and consideration that we deserve. We are often viewed as a traffic nuisance at the very least, and at worst are considered outlaw biker gang types or irresponsible stunters. Newsflash: While those elements do exist, the overwhelming majority of us riders are law-abiding citizens, with families and jobs, like our fellow “cagers.” Conversely, all too often we riders regard our fellow motorists as inattentive, distracted adversaries, who crowd us out and cut us off on the roads, with no consideration for our rights or well-being. Of course, we know that’s a generalization as well, aware that most motorists aren’t trying to kill us.
They are pretty distracted nowadays, however.
News came today that Harley-Davidson’s CEO, Jochen Zeitz, is stepping down from his position. The company is now beginning the search for a new leader.
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4 1/2 years. That’s how long it’s been since the last time I rolled in and set foot on the grounds of Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, North Carolina. Had it really been nearly that long? My memories of our last trip here in many respects feel like yesterday. Phil, Ted, my friend Lyle, and myself, all enjoying one of the most beautiful, colorful autumns in recent memory, up in the mountains of western North Carolina. We stayed in one of Iron Horse’s creekside cabins, waking to the gentle burbling stream every morning. Delightful meals, even more delightful people, nightly campfires, and exceptional hospitality by owner Jerry Goss and his staff. We even rode a trio of Yamaha Nikens, those mechanical silverback gorillas, across the famed Tail of the Dragon, along the Cherohala Skyway, and a stint on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Iron Horse owns and operates Wolf Creek Rentals, just down the street from the lodge. More on that shortly.
I remember it all as if it were yesterday. And yet it’s been almost five years. Too many years.
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