Toni Elias will return to the saddle for the 2023 MotorAmerica Road Racing Championship, with the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. Toni will once again compete in the Superbike class, and again on a Suzuki GSX-R1000R, a bike he has a long history with. The Spaniard looks to battle with the frontrunners this season, and he has proven he still has the mettle to compete at the highest level.
Read MoreThe first time I ever saw Robbie Knievel in action was his televised 1989 Caesar’s Palace fountains jump, in tribute to his world famous father, “Evel”. Unlike his dad, Robbie successfully completed the jump without crashing. Evel had attempted the jump in 1967, and we’ve all seen the slo-mo footage of his ill-fated landing and subsequent bone-crunching tumble down the ramp, head over heels. 22 years later, April 14, his son Robbie stuck the landing, rolled to a stop, and tearfully announced, “That was for you, Dad.” I remember thinking, “He’s a chip off the old block.”
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The first time I ever laid eyes on a Harley-Davidson XA was at my friend John Landstrom’s establishment, Blue Moon Cycle, about 7-8 years ago. John has a vast array of historic North American and European motorcycles in his collection/museum, and when I came across the XA in his World War II display, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. Is it a Harley? Or a BMW? Maybe a Ural knockoff of a BMW, in Allied livery? I was so confused. John proceeded to share with me a bit of the history of the XA model, and I was intrigued, being a history buff. This was a piece of Harley history I was unaware of. I later encountered one at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, and knew one day we’d have to tell its story.
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Sometimes, a motorcycle ride is not only enjoyable but therapeutic, even deeply soul satisfying. Such was the ride I took by myself on January 1, 2023, New Years Day. The perfect way to bid farewell to 2022, and welcome 2023. I needed it.
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Quality motorcycling luggage, whether traveling across a continent or across town, is an absolute essential for us riders. Durable, weather-proof, and adjustable gear for the road that doesn’t compromise comfort and safety, at an affordable price point, are all tall orders for moto gear manufacturers. Stores and online catalogs are full of cheaply priced (and cheaply made) pack gear that might fit the budget and fill the need for a season or two, but with no guarantees of longevity. I’ve personally experienced gear failures on road trips, a couple of which could have landed me on the pavement and in the hospital. Trustworthy gear is absolutely critical.
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Motorcyclists are a generous lot, giving of our time, talents and resources to worthy causes, year-round. During the Christmas season, however, “Biker Goodwill” ramps up even more, with charity rides and events dotting the landscape and nearly every day until the new year. We especially love children’s causes, whether it be for underprivileged boys and girls, kids with severe illnesses, or recent loss and orphaned children. Those definitely tug at our heartstrings. Beneath the leather and loud pipes, we are softies for serving those in need around us.
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Back in the summer I was visiting my friend Barry, the sales manager at Cycle World of Athens, discussing our time with the Yamaha Tenere 700. “This bike is so popular with the ADV crowd, do you think Honda will respond with a mid-size Africa Twin?” I asked. Barry responded, “Not that we’ve caught wind of yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them bring back the old Transalp in this size.” I had not thought of that model in quite some time, but it turns out Barry was prophetic in his proclamation. Honda has indeed reintroduced the venerable old adventure bike from yesteryear, in an all-new package and livery.
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I first met Mark Augustyn of Little Rider Enterprises at the final race weekend of the 2022 MotoAmerica Road racing series at Barber Motorsports Park. I was familiar with the book series, having seen them in MotoAmerica‘s merchandise tents over the years and at other events around the Southeast. Mark and I talked extensively that weekend about his and Nancy’s inspiration for the book series, and the hopes they had for its future.
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As we swung our truck and trailer around in the cul-de-sac and parked, I could already see it down Tom’s driveway. Glimmering, almost glowing in the late afternoon sun filtering through the golden leaves of autumn, sat the motorcycle of my youthful dreams- a fully restored 1978 Kawasaki KZ650. Tom, the owner, met me in the driveway and proceeded to share the unique story behind this bike I was about to buy and trailer home. “It looks just like one I owned while I was in college,” Tom told me. “I loved that bike, hated to sell it, and always hoped I’d find another one someday.”
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