RoadRUNNER (Page 21)

RoadRUNNER

Motorcycling Makes You Happier, Healthier, and Smarter

Motorcycling Makes You Happier, Healthier, and Smarter

Talk to any motorcyclist and you’re likely to hear how they love the exhilarating feeling of freedom they get while riding. The feel of the wind, the intensity of the smells in the air, the vibrant views that come at you as if you’re wearing 3D glasses … Even

Zen Motorcyclist: Soothed Through Movement

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: Soothed Through Movement

When my daughter was little, maybe six or seven, I took her outside on a summer night and we climbed a ladder up to the roof of our house to look at the moon and stars. I’ll never forget it; she looked at me with wide eyes and said,

2021 Honda NC 750X

2021 Honda NC 750X

An exciting blend of practical- and performance-minded features increase the NC750X's capabilities for 2021. Already applauded for its versatility, the model’s engine now has more power, plus a higher redline and revised gearbox ratios for exciting response at low rpm. Throttle-by-wire opens the door to three riding

Zen Motorcyclist: No Mud, No Lotus

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: No Mud, No Lotus

I almost didn’t submit a column for this issue, not wanting to revisit the events of last summer, but many years ago on the advice of a dear friend I promised myself I’d write what’s true for me and hope it finds a sympathetic ear. As you’

Zen Motorcyclist: Wander Often, Wonder Always

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: Wander Often, Wonder Always

The photograph that accompanies this column was taken by my friend Bob on a ride a year or so ago. We had planned a three-day trip to a BMW rally in Wellsboro, PA, near the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania (Pine Creek Gorge). It’s a beautiful area a few hundred

Zen Motorcyclist: A Little Bit of Everything

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: A Little Bit of Everything

> “Whether one moves slowly or with speed, the one who is a seeker will be a finder.”—Rumi— A couple of years ago I was touring Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with my friend Ken and his wife Cindy. I used the occasion to extend a solo trip and

Zen Motorcyclist : In Memory of a Friend

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist : In Memory of a Friend

I had other ideas for this column, but today I find myself unable to write a single word about anything other than the loss of my dear friend Bob Walden, who died tragically in a motorcycle accident in August in Virginia. Bob and I met through RoadRUNNER after his complimentary

Can-Am Refreshes Spyder RT for 2020

Can-Am Refreshes Spyder RT for 2020

Can-Am has introduced an updated version of its Spyder RT, what it describes as the ultimate luxury-touring road-trip vehicle, which now offers enhanced comfort and additional convenience items. In addition to its new contemporary appearance with LED headlights for enhanced visibility, the Spyder RT features a redesigned cockpit with a

2020 Yamaha MT-03

2020 Yamaha MT-03

Yamaha has released a stylish new naked sports motorcycle to appeal to junior riders. The MT-03 takes the bones of the YZF-R3 sportbike and repackages them into this sassy new model. Its aggressive, mass-forward appearance gives the MT-03 a leg up over some of its mundane-looking competition. A centrally located

2020 Indian Motorcycle Upgrades

2020 Indian Motorcycle Upgrades

With the arrival of the Milwaukee-Eight motor from Harley-Davidson two years ago, boasting 107 and 114 cubic inches of displacement, Indian’s Thunder Stroke 111 suddenly wasn’t the baddest cruiser engine on the market. The balance of power shifts back to Indian with the arrival of the Thunder Stroke

Zen Motorcyclist: Joy Made Double

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: Joy Made Double

I recently met a young man named Matthew at my garage who came to rent my Bonneville T100 for the day. He said he had grown up in my area and now lived out of state but wanted a bike to ride for the day with his old riding buddy.

The Art of Stealth Camping

The Art of Stealth Camping

There is an art to what I call “stealth camping,” and as traveling motorcyclists, it is something that we have probably all done at least once. Camping along the road is often necessary for a variety of reasons. However, it does not come naturally for many, but it is a

Zen Motorcyclist : Gently They Go

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist : Gently They Go

A few columns ago I was happy to announce my marriage to Dawn. She was raised in southern South Carolina, where her parents still reside. I had spoken with Dawn’s mother and father, Beverly and Jim, prior to our marriage, though we had never met. Shortly after our elopement,

What’s the Big Deal About Motorcycling?

What’s the Big Deal About Motorcycling?

What’s more exciting? Watching a movie or being in the movie? Those were the words Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Christa Neuhauser at RoadRUNNER magazine used when I asked for her thoughts on why motorcycling was such a big deal. And what a perfect sentiment. While watching something may be fun,

Riding in Comfort: Banishing the Aching Back

Riding in Comfort: Banishing the Aching Back

Touring motorcyclists are often on the road from dawn until dusk, and riding for days at a time. To maximize enjoyment, riders need a mount that is set up as ergonomically comfortable as possible. Since each person’s body is different, a bike fresh off the showroom floor may not

Getting Your Body Ready for Motorcycle Touring

Getting Your Body Ready for Motorcycle Touring

Much has been written and said about preparing a rider’s motorcycle for a new touring season, but relatively little is ever said about preparing a rider’s body for long motorcycle rides. As all serious riders know, it takes much more mental focus and physical stamina to ride a

Zen Motorcyclist: The Road Not Yet Traveled

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: The Road Not Yet Traveled

> Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. —”The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost When I started blogging for RoadRUNNER five years ago or so, I used the title “The Road Often Traveled” for

Zen Motorcyclist: The Best Lessons

Zen Motorcyclist

Zen Motorcyclist: The Best Lessons

I have a tendency to meet people at the supermarket when I take the motorcycle for my weekly supply run. I like the looks I get carrying my grocery bags and helmet; people wonder where I’m going to put everything. I’ve written before about others feeling at ease

2014 Northeast V-Strom Rally

2014 Northeast V-Strom Rally

In the spring of 2011 a thread was created on the stromtrooper.com forum asking V-Strom riders in the Northeast region if they wanted to join a camp and ride event. Veteran Connecticut rider Richard Weir, the organizer of the event, noticed that there were no events in this quite

The New 2014 BMW K1600GT Sport

The New 2014 BMW K1600GT Sport

For 2014 BMW is adding a new trim-line to their king-tourer, the K1600. The “new” K 1600 GT Sport differentiates itself from its siblings, the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL, with a two-color Sakhir orange metallic and black metallic paint scheme, black gloss coated wheels, low windshield, and