2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST | Review

May 5, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

V-Twin baggers are regularly at the top of streetbike sales charts, and a perennial leader has been the Harley-Davidson Street Glide, with H-D’s Road Glide running close behind. The Glides are revered for the effortless way they trot along American roads accompanied by the loping cadence of their narrow-angle V-Twin motors.

Check out Rider‘s 2022 Motorcycle Buyers Guide

However, there are many Glide owners who put a greater emphasis on performance than on touring ability. The performance-bagger market continues to gain momentum, a trend Harley says is “a new breed of speed.” The incredibly popular King Of The Baggers (KOTB) roadracing series has added more fuel to the performance fire.

To meet this market demand and to capitalize on its KOTB championship title, H-D proffers the new Glide ST brothers, available in Street and Road versions. Touring bikes for a new breed of riders, says the MoCo.

OUT COME THE BIG GUNS

If you’re gonna build a hot-rod bagger, there’s no better place to start than the engine, and so Harley plugs in the biggest gun in its arsenal. The Road and Street Glide STs are fitted with H-D’s biggest production motor, the 117ci Milwaukee-Eight, an upgrade over the 114ci V-Twin found in lesser models. This is the 117’s first appearance in a non-CVO Harley, firing out a tire-shredding 127 lb-ft of torque from its 1,923cc displacement. Harley says the 117 is a value proposition for riders who might otherwise invest in engine upgrades.

Black is the dominant theme, as brightwork is limited to the chrome pushrod tubes, tappet covers, and machined cylinder fins. Matte Dark Bronze finishes on the lower rocker box, timer cover medallion, and the medallion on the Heavy Breather intake provide subtle highlights.

SWITCHIN’ TO GLIDE

The FLHX Street Glide is perhaps the most ubiquitous motorcycle on American roads. Introduced in 2006 as an offshoot of the popular Electra Glide, they are both led by their iconic batwing fairings mounted to the handlebar.

Harley’s FLTR Road Glide was introduced in 1998 as an evolution of the FLT Tour Glide from the 1980s, both using distinctive shark-nosed fairings mounted to the chassis. Other than their fairings, the Road Glide is essentially the same bike as the Street Glide.

The Glide STs are part of Harley’s Grand American Touring lineup, so they naturally include luxury items like a Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with a color touchscreen and navigation, fairing-mounted speakers, a hidden radio antenna, cruise control, and Daymaker LED headlamps. Both Glide STs are equipped with linked Brembo brakes with ABS.

For a sportier, lighter appearance, the STs receive a low-profile tank console and a trimmed front fender, plus a new solo seat that exposes the rear fender but leaves passengers at home. Standard-length saddlebags replace the extended bags used on Special models for additional cornering clearance and to expand aftermarket exhaust options.

Prodigy cast-aluminum wheels feature a Matte Dark Bronze finish to match the bronze engine highlights, while nearly everything else aside from the tins (front end, controls, powertrain, and exhaust) feature blacked-out finishes. For a dash of retro, the Harley-Davidson logo on the 6-gallon fuel tanks is modeled from Harley’s 1912 racebikes, and on black STs, it’s outlined in a gold color that matches the bikes’ bronze finishes.

GEAR UP
Helmet: Arai Regent X
Jacket: Alpinestars Hoxton V2
Gloves: Alpinestars Celer V2
Pants: Alpinestars Copper V2
Boots: Harley-Davidson Hagerman

Both Glides retail for $29,999 in Vivid Black. The Gunship Gray versions are priced at $30,574. Supply shortages due to Covid have forced H-D to exact a $1,000 surcharge.

Optional on Grand American tourers is Harley’s Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements package, formerly called Reflex Defensive Rider System (RDRS). It employs a 6-axis IMU to manage cornering traction control with ride modes, cornering ABS with linked braking, drag-torque slip control, hill-hold control, and tire-pressure monitoring. It’s a $1,025 upcharge.

SWITCHIN’ TO RIDE

The Street Glide is the lighter ST, scaling in at 814 lbs in ready-to-ride form, and its less-expansive batwing fairing adds to the perception. The cockpit is roomy and accommodating, with a handlebar that rises up and sits at an angle. Four analog gauges reside just under the tinted low-profile windscreen, and they’re flanked by a pair of speakers and mirrors integrated at the fairing edges. The touchscreen TFT info/navigation panel sits just above the upper triple-clamp.

The larger fairing on the Road Glide adds visual heft to a rider’s perception, backed up by the bike’s 842-lb curb weight. Here, the vivid TFT touchscreen panel sits front and center just under the low-profile, darkly tinted windshield. The info screen is flanked by a fuel gauge and voltmeter, with a pair of speakers further outboard. A traditional analog speedometer and tachometer pairing reside just ahead of the handlebar mounts. Switchgear on both Glides is the familiar H-D array, including the dual turnsignal buttons.

The 117 fires up with a rumble and the familiar potato-potato thumping from below. The clutch engagement point is easy to ascertain, and, helped by the engine’s immense low-end grunt, you’d need to be a fool to stall the Glides when pulling away from a stop.

Pushrod valve actuation and air cooling suggest a lack of modern technology, but Harley’s M-8 functions extraordinarily well. As its name implies, the V-Twin breathes through four valves per cylinder, and they never need adjusting thanks to H-D’s hydraulic overhead valves. Power from the V-Twin is omnipresent, delivering a satisfying oomph at nearly any engine speed, eventually running out of breath near its 5,500-rpm redline. Rubber engine mounts eliminate harsh vibration from reaching a rider, and there aren’t many other powertrains that roll down the open road as smoothly and effortlessly as this one.

“A pushrod air-cooled V-Twin is our secret sauce,” said Brad Richards, H-D’s VP of design, who rode with us at the launch. “There’s something special about how it goes down the road.” And he’s right.

Suspension consists of a dual-bending-valve 49mm Showa fork paired with emulsion-technology rear shocks and single-knob hydraulic preload adjustment. Harley pursues low seat heights more fervently than any other manufacturer, but the STs buck that trend somewhat by fitting shocks from the Road King to deliver 3 inches of rear wheel travel, up from the Road Glide Special’s 2 inches. Seat height shimmies upward to a still-low 28 inches.

Both STs feel similar when bending into corners, despite the drastically different fairings, banking over easier than you might imagine for an 800-lb bagger. It’s a willing and stable platform while unwinding a twisty road, but let’s not confuse it with a sportbike. Floorboards begin to drag when leaned over to 32 degrees – enough to have fun, but nowhere near the 55-degree leans that KOTB champ Kyle Wyman can achieve on his Road Glide racebike.

Solid braking performance is provided by Brembo 4-piston calipers operating via braided lines and clamping on 11.8-inch (300mm) discs. The single rear brake has the same specs. The front tire is a 130/60-19 bias-ply, while a 180/55-18 resides out back.

There wasn’t an opportunity to fully delve into the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system, but it seems to be well sorted and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Audio quality via the radio is closer to adequate than exceptional.

Ergonomics are very good, but not beyond reproach. The rear brake pedal is mounted rather high, and the Heavy Breather intake intrudes on knee space when raising a boot to apply rear braking. Also, shift action of the 6-speed gearbox is rather clunky. The seat feels supportive for an hour, but it’s not up to the cushy standards of Harley’s other touring models. And while we’re nitpicking, I’d like to see a larger gear-position indicator and adjustable levers on my $30k bagger.

WHICH GLIDE?

This has been a hotly debated topic among H-D aficionados, with no clear winner aside from subjective judgments on style. In windy conditions, I much preferred the greater stability of the Road Glide, as stubborn crosswinds on the Street Glide’s bar-mounted fairing applied marginal unwanted inputs to the steering. The Road Glide’s triple splitstream vented fairing also delivers smoother airflow around a rider.

That said, the Street Glide is slightly lighter, and its fairing attached directly to the handlebar allows a rider to wriggle his/her way through dense traffic more adeptly. And for some, its batwing fairing is irresistible.

WRAP IT UP

It’s not a surprise to have enjoyed seat time on these new Glide STs. They’re basically the same bikes that we’ve grown to appreciate for their over-the-road prowess and surprising agility but are now blessed with more power and tasteful high-end finishes. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised when a $30,000 motorcycle delivers the goods. And the Road/Street Glide STs include a pair of hardshell saddlebags in which to carry those goods more than 220 miles between fill-ups.

2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST/Street Glide ST Specs

Base Price: $29,999 (Vivid Black)
Price as Tested: $31,599 (Gunship Gray, Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements)
Website: harley-davidson.com
Engine Type: Air-cooled, transverse 45-degree V-Twin, OHV w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 1,923cc (117ci)
Bore x Stroke: 103.5 x 114.3mm
Horsepower: 106 hp @ 4,750 rpm (at the crank)
Torque: 127 lb-ft @ 3,750 rpm (at the crank)
Transmission: 6-speed, hydraulically actuated slip/assist wet clutch
Final Drive: Belt
Wheelbase: 64 in.
Rake/Trail: 26 degrees/6.7 in.
Seat Height: 28.1/28.0 in.
Wet Weight: 842/814 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 6 gal.

The post 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST | Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

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Anything But A Straight Line: Exploring America’s Backroads

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Whoever said a straight line was the best way to get from Point A to Point B didn’t ride a motorcycle. Is there anyone among us who uses a freeway rather than backroads as their main source for motorcycling entertainment? Not many, I dare guess.

When President Eisenhower came up with the notion that the United States needed an Interstate Highway System, was there anyone on his staff who insisted that a few bends in the road might be a good idea? If that conversation ever took place, can there be any doubt that the person rode a motorcycle? The unnamed guy who liked the Point A to Point B straight line seems to have gotten the final word.

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Anything But A Straight Line Exploring America's Backroads — Dave Levingston on I-64 in Alta, West Virginia, which was used for Rider’s April 1981 cover.

Back during the advent of the motorcycle and the automobile, the earth set the agenda for where roads were constructed. Pick any of the older highways, and there’s every probability that it wound around a hill or paralleled a river. Over time, with more potent explosives and bigger and better earth-moving equipment, the scales were altered, and it became easier to make the good earth bend to every highway engineer’s wishes.

Over millennia, glaciers and the earth’s upheaval created the glorious hills and majestic mountains we all enjoy. Over a few decades, the big Ukes (that’s what we called the Euclid earthmovers when I was a kid) scraped up tons of hillside to fill in deep valleys, creating what the highway people knew we needed – a quicker way to get from here to there. Okay, I admit, some of it worked.

When you step down a rung or two from the freeways and turnpikes to the more basic highways, you quickly find where they have been remade for a more effortless trip to get us to grandma’s house or church in the next city. Filter down even further to where the true old highways are, to where there’s a rawer feel, more of the essence of when the old roads were created, many have an ebb and flow where what’s around the next turn is still a mystery to be enjoyed. That’s where I aim my motorcycle, where there is still an unknown, where those bends in the highway invite me back again and again.

Certainly, there are exceptions. Straight-as-an-arrow U.S. Route 2 across the northern U.S. is an exceptional ride, so much so that I once saw it on a Top 10 Highways list. Even so, it was better 40 years ago when it was only two lanes. There are stretches of I-70 in Colorado and Utah where it’s a wonderful ride, a rarity when one considers how interstate highways are traditionally perceived.

Given a choice, we all know where to aim our motorcycles – somewhere in the spirit that William Least Heat-Moon wrote of in Blue Highways and Jack Kerouac in his epic On the Road, where the roadway has a soul, a vibrancy, a purpose beyond being a simple means to get to somewhere distant.

The original National Road, U.S. Route 40, called the Main Street of America, still has a romantic ring to it, at least to me. That highway actually is Main Street in my hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, home of the famous (at least to those of us who know it well) Y-Bridge, a part of that highway’s mystique.

Riding Ohio’s Triple Nickel: State Route 555

But that title – Main Street of America – is also claimed by U.S. Route 66, the almost mythical highway known by other famous names, such as the Will Rogers Highway and the Mother Road. To those of a generation long ago, Route 66 represented a way to leave behind pain and despair, the highway itself a lifeline to a place where life would have purpose. At its inception in1926, it was called the Great Diagonal Way, but that same year the U.S. set forth the numbering system for federal highways that’s still used today.

From that original numerical foundation there have been other designations for our well-known and lesser-known highways. U.S. Route 6, which stretches from Massachusetts to California, is called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway; part of U.S. 20 through Nebraska is known as the Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway; U.S. 12 across Montana is the Lewis and Clark Highway. The Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway is in Wyoming, the Schoodic National Scenic Byway is a part of U.S. 1 in Maine, and the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway is in New York State.

U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky is called the Country Music Highway, claiming to be the home of many country music icons, including Loretta Lynn, The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, and Tom T. Hall. A six-mile stretch of U.S. 129 near Robbinsville, North Carolina, is known for its favorite son – the Ronnie Milsap Highway.

The list goes on and on. At the time of this writing, there are 184 nationally designated scenic byways. If you travel almost anywhere, you’ll find our nation’s history in the names assigned to our highways.

Then there are other highways offering a different experience: the highway itself. When the letters PCH come up, is there any doubt what they refer to? For those of us who travel on motorcycles, there are blacktopped magnets we are attracted to. We’re drawn to special places by what the pavement has come to represent. The Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, both winding through the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The Million Dollar Highway in the Colorado Rockies. The Great River Road along the Mississippi River. The old Lincoln Highway, where some stretches can still be found. And for many, the Natchez Trace and Blue Ridge Parkway. Or maybe not. Sorry, beautiful or not, a 45-mph speed limit is not for me.

Other state highways take on a more specific meaning. Twenty memorials mark the 54-mile Selma to Montgomery March Byway, the route taken by Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists, chronicling their march and its results. For those who pursue history of another era, the 180-mile Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, spanning Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, is said to contain more historic sites than any other in America. Then there is the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, which connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. It’s named for the late conservationist and philanthropist who was so disturbed by the condition of the highway, he paid to have it brought up to the standards of the day.

For those with a need to know or who are curious, as of 2019 there were 4.2 million miles of roadway in America, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. There were approximately 48,482 miles of interstate highways; although such highways account for just 1.2% of roadway miles, they account for nearly a quarter of all vehicular traffic. Of the 4.2 million miles of roadway in this country, 2.9 million miles are rural roadways and 1.2 million miles are unpaved. No matter how you crunch the numbers, there are lots of roads to explore.

Every state does its best to help, identifying scenic routes with signs and official designations, with every road map marking them in a special way so they’re easy to recognize. They are generally where I aim my motorcycle. Let me trust the state to point me to a highway it considers special, the smaller its fame, the better.

The photographs on these pages represent some of the special places I’ve found. They are a part of my nearly six-decade personal history of riding motorcycles, chronicling the changes in my life, both in terms of the motorcycles I’ve ridden and in how I perceive the wonderful places along my many miles of riding.

Most appeared out of nowhere, a stunning place before me, something that I needed to record for myself, and now share with you. In all but a few places they were surprises, riding around a turn in the highway or over a hilltop and there it was, a special stretch I’d never seen before. Sometimes, in that instant, it was only me; other times unknown people on their motorcycles happened by. I hope some who are in this collection, should they ever see these images, find themselves being transported back to the time our paths crossed.

Some are from so long ago I have only a general idea of where they were found. But, thinking back, their location isn’t what was important. It’s what that stretch of highway represented to me at the time and where it still lingers in my mind. What I knew, then as I do now, is that there is another great memory, another beautiful stretch of highway soon to be enjoyed. Now to go out and find it.

The post Anything But A Straight Line: Exploring America’s Backroads first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

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Favorite Ride: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Seneca Rocks West Virginia Favorite Ride — Behind our bikes is Seneca Rocks, a crag that towers 900 feet above the North Fork River and is one of the best-known natural features in West Virginia. Photos by the author.

It’s not until we exit Interstate 81, run through some gears on U.S. Route 48, and catch a whiff of dew-covered fields that I feel like we’ve arrived. Craig, a friend from college who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has a pass for the weekend, so he came down for a ride with me to Seneca Rocks through “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia. He’s on his 2000 Harley Road King and I’m on my 2011 Triumph Sprint GT.

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Our starting point is Manassas, in northern Virginia, and the fastest route west to the Appalachians is Interstate 66, followed by a three-mile hop on I-81 before we exit and turn onto U.S. 48.

Scan QR code above to view route on REVER, or click here

Once off the interstate, everything changes. Time – and our speed – slows down, giving us the opportunity to notice our surroundings. Simple houses have cinder-block foundations and detached garages. Folks out here don’t walk behind wimpy electric mowers, and they don’t put grass clippings in bags. Out here they proudly ride large gas-powered mowers, with clippings flung far and wide across expansive yards. We take in that unmistakable smell of freshly cut grass – it smells like summertime.

U.S. 48 is two-lane road with farmland on both sides for about five miles before ascending through the forest and over the ridgeline that serves as the border between Virginia and West Virginia. It’s a quick descent on a 9% grade to Wardensville, where 48 gets a major makeover and becomes a four-lane divided highway. Before the superhighway starts, we divert to Old Route 55 (McCauley Road) and wind our way through the shaded Lost River valley.

We hop back on 48 just before Baker and make our way to Moorefield, where we head south on Main Street (U.S. Route 220). The road flattens out through more farmland, but mountains on all sides feed our anticipation of future switchbacks. At Petersburg, we continue west on State Route 28 and follow the North Fork South Branch Potomac River, which carved one of the many gaps through the mountains.

Heading south, we catch glimpses of Champe Rocks, a pair of vertical crags that emerge from the Champe Knobs in the Allegheny Mountains. Roughly 230 million years ago, rock that was once at the bottom of the sea was pushed up until it became vertical. Softer rock eventually eroded, but the quartzite that makes up the fin-looking outcroppings is much harder and still stands today. The rocks are within the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area in the Monongahela National Forest. Cabin rental advertisements along the road speak to the great fishing, canoeing, hiking, and camping to be found nearby.

Before long, the Seneca Rocks formation – a well-known scenic destination in the Mountain State – emerges from the dense forest of the River Knobs range. The rock walls are popular among climbers, but after our 150-mile morning ride, Craig and I are more interested in eating. We kick out our stands at Yokum’s Vacationland, at the junction of Route 28 and U.S. Route 33. In business since 1923, Yokum’s has a general store, a deli, a motel, cabins, and a campground.

The short-order grill is in the back of the store, so Craig and I walk past all manner of local goods (Traffic Jam catches my eye) and order lunch. Being from Philadelphia, Craig surprises me by ordering a Philly cheesesteak, but the result looks even better than my cheeseburger, which hits the spot. After our meal, we ride a couple hundred yards down the road, park the bikes in a lot along Roy Gap Road, and walk to the river, our eyes focused on the climbers high above on the rocks. We agree that Yokum’s would make a great hub for riding some of the more adventurous routes through the eastern part of the state.

A curvy 35-mile ride west through the Alleghenies on U.S. 33 brings us to Elkins, a classic American town with restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops. In the center of town is the West Virginia Railroad Museum and a historic train depot that’s one of the stops on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, a tourist train that travels through rugged mountain scenery.

After returning to Seneca Rocks, we continue south on U.S. 33, which makes a sharp turn to the east at Judy Gap. On the ascending turns I’m tempted to open up the throttle, but I check my urge so as not to miss Germany Valley overlook – a great view of the valley and the River Knobs range just before the crest of North Fork Mountain. Thirty miles later we crest High Knob and cross back into Virginia. On the descent, where the road is straight and the old growth creates a canopy a hundred feet above, it feels like riding through a cathedral.

We brave the stoplights and traffic of Harrisonburg before again ascending to Swift Run Gap, where Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive intersects with U.S. 33. Two monuments give a bit of history of the pass, where in 1716 Lieutenant Governor Spotswood and a group of rangers, Native Americans, and government officials set out to prove that an easy path over the Blue Ridge Mountains existed.

At Stanardsville, we take Business Route 33 through the historic district. We turn north on State Route 230, which eventually ends at U.S. Route 29, where we again turn north. Less than half a mile later we stop at a brightly colored Tastee-Freez to escape the summer heat and wolf down hot fudge sundaes. A local informs us it’s the oldest continuously operated, privately owned Tastee-Freez in America.

The mountains fade from our mirrors as we continue northeast toward our starting point. We’ve only scratched the surface of what we can discover in West Virginia, and we’re eager to return.

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Favorite Ride: Bridges of Charleston County

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Charleston, South Carolina, is a true Southern belle. She turns 352 years old this year and has quite a past. In America’s early days, her importance rivaled New York and Boston. Shipping, as well as rice and cotton production, created extreme wealth. Hurricanes, wars, and bondage brought great despair. Like Scarlet O’Hara, Charleston has persevered, and today she wins “Best City” awards for her food, culture, and history.

One of the best ways to experience Charleston is from the seat of a motorcycle, flying over her many bridges. Charleston’s bridges link more than land and water. They link past and present, problems and answers, people and places. These days, twisting the throttle over Charleston’s bridges provides reflection and hope.

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To view route above on REVER, scan the QR code or click here

Since Charleston is located an hour off the I-95 superslab, many riders miss her charms. That’s a shame, as Charleston hits the redline on the motorcycle smile-to-mile dial. For you Northern bikers on a Florida run, this is a fantastic stop-over spot. I’ll bet you a flounder sandwich it will be a highlight of your journey. Lodging is plentiful at all price levels, and the local cuisine is world renowned, bringing together farm, ocean, Southern, and soul.

This ride can be done any time of year, but beware: Charleston is in the Deep South. Summers can be stifling and rainstorms can be intense. Wearing mesh apparel, keeping raingear handy, and avoiding afternoon traffic are highly recommended during summer months.

From I-95, head southeast on I-26 for an hour. Take the ramp for I-526 East to Mount Pleasant. Cruising high above the salty marsh, in the first 15 minutes you’ll glide over two major bridges – the Don N. Holt over the Cooper River, and the James B. Edwards over the Wando River. You’re riding over the Lowcountry, a sprawling coastal region that’s just above sea level. With the tides shifting four times a day, much of the marshy terrain spends half its time under water.

Take the exit for Hungry Neck Boulevard, then turn right onto the Isle of Palms Connector (State Route 517). Cruising over the estuary, flip up your visor and enjoy the salty air and coastal views. At low tide, you’ll see mounds of “rocks” in the marsh, which are actually wild oysters. Raw, roasted, or in a Bloody Mary shot, they’re delicious.

You’ll cross two more bridges before reaching Isle of Palms. When the Connector ends, keep going straight to Front Beach. Biker law says you can’t get this close and not get in the ocean, so this is a great place to kick off your boots and get your toes wet.

Continue southwest on Palm Boulevard (State Route 703). Ride with the breeze along the Intracoastal Waterway until you cross Breach Inlet on the H.L. Hunley Bridge, named after the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. In 1864, the hand-cranked Hunley sank a Yankee ship but then disappeared off the coast of Sullivan’s Island, along with its crew of eight men. It wasn’t found until 1995. Stop at Thomson Park to enjoy the views and learn more about this historic location.

From the park, hang a left on Middle Street. You’re now riding through “shabby chic” Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina’s wealthiest zip code, and you’ll see bars and restaurants. All are good, but the crispy/spicy Bangin’ Shrimp tacos at Mex 1 Coastal Cantina are my go-to. Salt in the air, beach on your boots, shrimp tacos in your hand, and your faithful steed parked under a palmetto tree. Life is good!

Continuing southwest on Middle Street takes you to Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. This high ground has a long history as a military post, going as far back as the Revolutionary War. The self-guided tour and harbor views are interesting, inspiring, and a great way to stretch your legs.

Backtrack to where Route 703 turns north and becomes Ben Sawyer Boulevard, a causeway that cuts back across the marsh. Take in the scent of salt, oysters, and tidal “pluff” mud. The Ben Sawyer Bridge is a swing bridge that rotates to allow tall boats to pass through. First opened to traffic in 1945, it was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. When the islands evacuated, the tender left the bridge unlocked. When hurricane-force winds hit the bridge, it spun like a top, and one end plunged into the water.

Crossing the Ben Sawyer takes you into Mount Pleasant. Traffic increases through this vibrant area, with plenty of good restaurants and bars attracting the hungry and thirsty. Another bridge on Route 703 crosses over Shem Creek, with boats, kayaks, and bars below jammed with folks having a good time. Fresh local seafood is sold right on the docks. For a closer look, make a left and visit Shem Creek Park.

Continuing west on Route 703 (Coleman Boulevard), the road merges with U.S. Route 17 before crossing Charleston’s most prominent span, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River. Riding over the Ravenel, you’re at the highest point in the Lowcountry, with inspiring views of Charleston Harbor and the USS Yorktown, a WW2-era aircraft carrier anchored near Patriots Point. The Yorktown is now part of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, and military buffs can easily spend a full day touring the ship, imagining or remembering the challenging days of our Greatest Generation.

After crossing the Ravenel, follow signs for U.S. 17 South to Savannah and take the King Street exit. Turn right onto King Street for a fun, sweeping ride through history, from modern hipster hotels to perfectly preserved colonial-era homes. It’s a great time to reflect on our nation’s past, present, and potential.

Take King Street until it ends at Oyster Point overlooking the harbor. The views are spectacular, but Charleston is more than just her pretty petticoat and parasol. She’s beautiful and strong, old and new, happy and sad. Like America, she’s not perfect, but she’s authentic and awesome. This ride makes me proud, and hopeful for what’s over the next bridge.

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Source: RiderMagazine.com

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Mother’s Day Motorcycle Gift Guide 2022

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Spoil mom this year with a gift she’ll never forget.

Spoil mom this year with a gift she’ll never forget. (Harley-Davidson Motor Company/)

Chocolates, flowers, a nice card… Of course these are all perfectly fine gifts to give your mom on Mother’s Day, but let’s face it, they’re a little tired. Go a different route this year and surprise your motorcycle-riding mother with something a little more thoughtful. Motorcycle parts and accessories make her life as a rider or passenger a little more comfortable, or safe, or fun. There’s something for every motorcycle mom in our 10 gift selections.

GloveTacts: $14.99

These little stickers make any glove touchscreen compatible.

These little stickers make any glove touchscreen compatible. (GloveTacts/)

GloveTacts make any pair of gloves touchscreen compatible. These stickers can be placed anywhere on the glove where compatibility is needed, and are made with a dural polyurethane film. A pack of six is only $15 bucks and they’ll make things like snapping a photo, taking a call, or texting so much more convenient during a ride stop. Your mom will thank you, we promise.

Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit: $12.99

Spoil your mom with a little self-care package from Burt’s Bees.

Spoil your mom with a little self-care package from Burt’s Bees. (Burt’s Bees/)

The Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit makes it possible for your mom to have a little moment of self-care after a long ride. It comes with hand creams, foot cream, lip balm, and cuticle cream, all in containers small enough to easily fit in a jacket pocket, tank bag, or saddlebag. Each item uses natural ingredients and comes in recyclable packaging. It won’t break the bank by any means and will let your mom know you care.

Cardo Systems Freecom 4x Duo: $499.95

Give mom a fresh communicator so she can jam out to tunes or gossip with her buddies next time she’s on the road.

Give mom a fresh communicator so she can jam out to tunes or gossip with her buddies next time she’s on the road. (Cardo Systems/)

If you want to go in the other direction and drop some more serious cash, consider a new Cardo Systems Freecom 4x Duo communicator pack. This set of communicators utilizes Bluetooth 5.2 universal connectivity, has an auto-reconnect intercom and HD audio, JBL speakers, automatic volume control, 13 hours of talk time, FM radio, is able to conduct over-the-air updates, and comes with Natural Voice operation. It’s an awesome gift that will definitely elevate your mom’s next ride.

TCX Lady Sport: $119.99

Of course mom will like a new pair of shoes for Mother’s Day. Especially ones as feature-rich as the TCX Lady Sport.

Of course mom will like a new pair of shoes for Mother’s Day. Especially ones as feature-rich as the TCX Lady Sport. (TCX Boots/)

Give your mom some stylish new footwear with the TCX Lady Sport riding shoes. They are made from a suede leather upper and feature an Air Tech mesh breathable liner. The malleolus area is reinforced, as are the heels and toes. The OrthoLite footbed makes the Lady Sport shoes nice and comfortable off bike, and the rubber outsoles provide ample grip on the pegs, whether she’s in the rider or passenger seat.

Apple AirTag: $29.00+

Get mom an AirTag and she’ll never misplace her valuables again.

Get mom an AirTag and she’ll never misplace her valuables again. (Apple/)

There’s nothing worse than misplacing an essential item on the road. So if your mom is one of the millions of iPhone users in this country, an Apple AirTag might be just the right gift this Mother’s Day. She can attach it to her bike keys, keep it in her wallet, or even stash one somewhere on her bike. She’ll never lose track of her belongings again. And if she’s particularly forgetful, picking up two or three still won’t make a huge dent in your wallet.

Shoei RF-SR: $449.99

Mom will love a new lid, especially if it’s a high-quality one like the Shoei RF-SR.

Mom will love a new lid, especially if it’s a high-quality one like the Shoei RF-SR. (Shoei/)

Another big-ticket item to consider for the mom who rides is a new helmet, and Shoei’s RF-SR is a great mid-point between high performance and affordable price. Shoei lids can run you up some serious dough, but the RF-SR keeps things approachable with its $449.99 price tag. Still, this helmet ain’t some cheap knockoff. It’s built with Shoei’s Multi-Ply Matrix AIM+ shell, features a dual-density EPS liner, has a remarkably comfortable interior lining system, and is Snell 2020 and DOT certified for safety. Plenty of sizes mean you’ll be able to find the perfect fit as well.

Green Jade Bracelet: $19.90

If your mom is into crystals and spiritual energies, a green jade bracelet is a great way to show her you have her back on her next ride.

If your mom is into crystals and spiritual energies, a green jade bracelet is a great way to show her you have her back on her next ride. (Amazon/)

This one’s a little cheesy, but there are loads of moms out there who are totally into crystals, healing gemstones, revitalizing energies, all that stuff. If that’s the case for your mom, then consider this green jade bracelet. She’ll know that jade is traditionally believed to promote good luck and good fortune. She can wear this under her glove and feel you rooting for her safe return every time she goes out for a ride.

Alpinestars Tech-Air 5: $749.95

Go all out and get your mom the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5. She’ll never see it coming.

Go all out and get your mom the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5. She’ll never see it coming. (Alpinestars/)

This is the biggie on the list, but if you want your mom to know there’s no price too high for you to help keep her safe on the road, then you’ll want to look into the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 airbag system. This is a self-contained unit, meaning she can wear it under any riding jacket as long as there’s enough clearance inside. It provides instant protection to the shoulders, chest, ribs, and back when it deploys and decreases impact force by up to 93 percent when compared to comparable CE-rated protectors. Plus, it’s Bluetooth compatible and easy to use. She’ll be stoked with this one, that’s for sure.

The MotoLady’s Book of Women Who Ride: $14.99–$30.00

<i>The MotoLady’s Book of Women Who Ride</i> is an inspirational and fascinating read for any female rider.

<i>The MotoLady’s Book of Women Who Ride</i> is an inspirational and fascinating read for any female rider. (Amazon/)

Alicia Mariah Elfving is a pioneer in women’s motorcycling today, and her book The MotoLady’s Book of Women Who Ride celebrates a vast array of notable female riders. This book is great if your mom is into history, motorcycles, female riders, the history of female motorcycle riders, or is simply into some rad photography and compelling stories.

Treblab Z7 Pro Headphones: $159.97

Who doesn’t love a new pair of high-quality wireless headphones?

Who doesn’t love a new pair of high-quality wireless headphones? (Treblab/)

The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones are a great gift for the mom who wants to have a little me time off the bike. They are noise canceling and provide top-tier sound quality. They offer up to 45 hours of battery life on a single charge and have seamless touch control functions built in. She’ll also be able to connect to Bluetooth and answer calls, or utilize the active voice assistant function as well.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Motorcycle News, News

American Rider Revs Up

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Our sister magazine, Thunder Press, has a 30-year history covering the American V-Twin community. In a strategic move, its May issue rebranded the title as American Rider, joining Rider and WomanRider.com to form a cohesive group of motorcycle publications.

American Rider will continue its focus on the bikers, builders, events, and motorcycles that comprise the V-Twin scene, publishing feature stories, event coverage, and historical retrospectives about the people, products, and machines that make up the American motorcycle industry.

“It’s been inspirational and educational pulling together high-quality, high-impact stories about American bikes and their riders and builders,” Editor-in-Chief Kevin Duke reports. “I’ve had fun attending cool events and seeing how bike building is evolving, and I love sharing historical stories about the movers and the shakers of the industry that have brought us to the point we’re at today.”

American Rider and Rider are among the few national motorcycle publications still producing magazines, and both publish issues 12 times a year.

“It’s an exciting and interesting time in publishing and also in the V-Twin world these days,” Duke continues. “Harley-Davidson and Indian are battling on racetracks and on showroom floors, and the launch of Harley’s Revolution Max engine platform is bringing new heat to the game.”

Like Rider, American Rider publishes full-color, glossy issues each month, available in both print and digital editions. If you love V-Twins, check out the new AmericanRider.com website, where you can subscribe, sign up for a free newsletter, and more.

The post American Rider Revs Up first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

JuniorGP™ World Championship ready for lights out in Estoril

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

The Hawkers ETC is another class which features some familiar faces, with reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Laglisse Honda) back in action for another season. With three wins last year and finishing four of the last five races on the podium, the 14-year-old will aim to make more history in 2022. The next-best returning rider is Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0), with fourth overall last year and one victory. 2021 podium finishers Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) and Alberto Ferrández (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) are back, as is Irish hopeful Casey O’Gorman (VisionTrack Racing Team), the reigning Honda British Talent Cup winner. His teammate is Johnny Garness, who is back in Hawkers ETC after race wins in the BTC at the start of 2022. In all, 21 nationalities from six continents make for a packed field once more in the Hawkers ETC.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Puig: Marquez’ objective is not to finish 4th or 6th

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

“We are working to fix the points on the bike that are still not working, and this process is ongoing. We had an important test that will allow us to understand the new bike better because, of course, Marc’s objective is not to finish fourth or sixth, his objective, and also that of the Repsol Honda team, is to win races and titles. This is the only objective.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

Motorcycle News, News

Triumph recalls Speed Triples on brake issue

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Triumph Australia has urged owners of its 2021/22 Speed Triple RS and Speed Triple RR motorcycles to bring their bikes in for a brake check “as soon as possible”.

They have issued a recall notice for the bike blaming a “manufacturer defect”.

The notice says the brake disc may have been fitted incorrectly and “could become loose and interfere with other nearby components preventing the wheel from rotating freely”.

“This could reduce the expected braking performance,” the notice says.

“A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to the rider and/or passenger, or other road users.”

Owners can contact their preferred authorised Triumph Motorcycles dealer to have the work carried out “as soon as possible”, free of charge

The vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of the 200 affected bikes are listed at the end of this article.

This is the first recall for Triumph this year after four last year when there were 46 safety recalls in total, the highest number monitored since 2009 and significantly more than the previous high of 37 in 2018.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS ON RECALLS

Even though manufacturers and importers usually contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.

Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle and scooter recalls as a service to all riders.

If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.

To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:

VINs of affected bikes

SMTS3P01SCNAE9934	SMTS3P01SCNAE9985	SMTS3P01SCNAV9061	SMTS3P02SCNAW9085
SMTS3P01SCNAE9935	SMTS3P01SCNAE9986	SMTS3P01SCNAV9062	SMTS3P02SCNAW9086
SMTS3P01SCNAE9936	SMTS3P01SCNAE9987	SMTS3P01SCNAV9063	SMTS3P02SCNAW9087
SMTS3P01SCNAE9937	SMTS3P01SCNAE9988	SMTS3P01SCNAV9064	SMTS3P02SCNAW9088
SMTS3P01SCNAE9938	SMTS3P01SCNAE9989	SMTS3P01SCNAV9065	SMTS3P02SCNAW9089
SMTS3P01SCNAE9939	SMTS3P01SCNAE9990	SMTS3P01SCNAV9066	SMTS3P02SCNAW9090
SMTS3P01SCNAE9940	SMTS3P01SCNAE9991	SMTS3P01SCNAV9067	SMTS3P02SCNAW9091
SMTS3P01SCNAE9941	SMTS3P01SCNAE9992	SMTS3P01SCNAV9068	SMTS3P02SCNAW9092
SMTS3P01SCNAE9942	SMTS3P01SCNAE9993	SMTS3P01SCNAV9069	SMTS3P02SCNAW9093
SMTS3P01SCNAE9943	SMTS3P01SCNAE9994	SMTS3P01SCNAV9070	SMTS3P02SCNAW9094
SMTS3P01SCNAE9944	SMTS3P01SCNAE9995	SMTS3P01SCNAV9071	SMTS3P02SCNAW9095
SMTS3P01SCNAE9945	SMTS3P01SCNAE9996	SMTS3P01SCNAV9072	SMTS3P02SCNAW9096
SMTS3P01SCNAE9946	SMTS3P01SCNAE9997	SMTS3P01SCNAV9073	SMTS3P02SCNAW9097
SMTS3P01SCNAE9947	SMTS3P01SCNAE9998	SMTS3P01SCNAV9074	SMTS3P02SCNAW9098
SMTS3P01SCNAE9948	SMTS3P01SCNAE9999	SMTS3P01SCNAV9075	SMTS3P02SCNAW9099
SMTS3P01SCNAE9949	SMTS3P01SCNAE10000	SMTS3P01SCNAV9076	SMTS3P02SCNAW9100
SMTS3P01SCNAE9950	SMTS3P01SCNAE10001	SMTS3P01SCNAV9077	SMTS3P02SCNAW9101
SMTS3P01SCNAE9951	SMTS3P01SCNAE10002	SMTS3P01SCNAV9078	SMTS3P02SCNAW9102
SMTS3P01SCNAE9952	SMTS3P01SCNAE10003	SMTS3P01SCNAV9079	SMTS3P02SCNAW9103
SMTS3P01SCNAE9953	SMTS3P01SCNAE10004	SMTS3P01SCNAV9080	SMTS3P02SCNAW9104
SMTS3P01SCNAE9954	SMTS3P01SCNAE10005	SMTS3P01SCNAV9081	SMTS3P02SCNAW9105
SMTS3P01SCNAE9955	SMTS3P01SCNAE10006	SMTS3P01SCNAV9082	SMTS3P02SCNAW9106
SMTS3P01SCNAE9956	SMTS3P01SCNAE10007	SMTS3P01SCNAV9083	SMTS3P02SCNAW9107
SMTS3P01SCNAE9957	SMTS3P01SCNAE10008	SMTS3P01SCNAV9084	SMTS3P02SCNAW9108
SMTS3P01SCNAE9958	SMTS3P01SCNAE10009	SMTS3P01SCNAV9085	SMTS3P02SCNAW9109
SMTS3P01SCNAE9959	SMTS3P01SCNAE10010	SMTS3P01SCNAV9086	SMTS3P02SCNAW9110
SMTS3P01SCNAE9960	SMTS3P01SCNAE10011	SMTS3P01SCNAV9087	SMTS3P02SCNAW9111
SMTS3P01SCNAE9961	SMTS3P01SCNAE10012	SMTS3P01SCNAV9088	SMTS3P02SCNAW9112
SMTS3P01SCNAE9962	SMTS3P01SCNAE10013	SMTS3P01SCNAV9089	SMTS3P02SCNAW9113
SMTS3P01SCNAE9963	SMTS3P01SCNAE10014	SMTS3P01SCNAV9090	SMTS3P02SCNAW9114
SMTS3P01SCNAE9964	SMTS3P01SCNAE10015	SMTS3P01SCNAV9091	SMTS3P02SCNAW9115
SMTS3P01SCNAE9965	SMTS3P01SCNAE10016	SMTS3P01SCNAV9092	SMTS3P02SCNAW9116
SMTS3P01SCNAE9966	SMTS3P01SCNAE10017	SMTS3P01SCNAV9093	SMTS3P02SCNAW9117
SMTS3P01SCNAE9967	SMTS3P01SCNAE10018	SMTS3P01SCNAV9094	SMTS3P02SCNAW9118
SMTS3P01SCNAE9968	SMTS3P01SCNAE10019	SMTS3P01SCNAV9095	SMTS3P02SCNAW9119
SMTS3P01SCNAE9969	SMTS3P01SCNAE10020	SMTS3P01SCNAV9096	SMTS3P02SCNAW9120
SMTS3P01SCNAE9970	SMTS3P01SCNAE10021	SMTS3P01SCNAV9097	SMTS3P02SCNAW9121
SMTS3P01SCNAE9971	SMTS3P01SCNAE10022	SMTS3P01SCNAV9098	SMTS3P02SCNAW9122
SMTS3P01SCNAE9972	SMTS3P01SCNAE10023	SMTS3P01SCNAV9099	SMTS3P02SCNAW9123
SMTS3P01SCNAE9973	SMTS3P01SCNAE10024	SMTS3P01SCNAV9100	SMTS3P02SCNAW9124
SMTS3P01SCNAE9974	SMTS3P01SCNAE10025	SMTS3P01SCNAV9101	SMTS3P02SCNAW9125
SMTS3P01SCNAE9975	SMTS3P01SCNAE10026	SMTS3P01SCNAV9102	SMTS3P02SCNAW9126
SMTS3P01SCNAE9976	SMTS3P01SCNAE10027	SMTS3P01SCNAV9103	SMTS3P02SCNAW9127
SMTS3P01SCNAE9977	SMTS3P01SCNAE10028	SMTS3P01SCNAV9104
SMTS3P01SCNAE9978	SMTS3P01SCNAE10029	SMTS3P01SCNAV9105
SMTS3P01SCNAE9979	SMTS3P01SCNAE10030	SMTS3P01SCNAV9106
SMTS3P01SCNAE9980	SMTS3P01SCNAE10031	SMTS3P01SCNAV9107
SMTS3P01SCNAE9981	SMTS3P01SCNAE10032	SMTS3P01SCNAV9108
SMTS3P01SCNAE9982	SMTS3P01SCNAE10033	SMTS3P01SCNAV9109
SMTS3P01SCNAE9983	SMTS3P01SCNAE10034	SMTS3P01SCNAV9110
SMTS3P01SCNAE9984	SMTS3P01SCNAE10035	SMTS3P01SCNAV9111
	SMTS3P01SCNAE10036	SMTS3P01SCNAV9112
	SMTS3P01SCNAE10037	SMTS3P01SCNAV9113

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

MotoGP™ strengthens collaboration with Tata Communications

May 4, 2022 mcnews Leave a comment

Manel Arroyo, Chief Commercial Officer, Dorna Sports: “Tata Communications has been pivotal in enabling us to bring immersive live race action to our millions of fans around the world. Together, we’ve pushed the boundaries of innovation in sports broadcasting, increasingly bringing our global fans closer to their favourite sport. With this renewed collaboration, we trust Tata Communications to help us take the fan experience even further, using cutting edge technology to deliver an incredible experience for fans at home, which is as enthralling as watching the races on tracks.”

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotorCycle News

Monthly Archives: May 2022

2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST | Review

2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST/Street Glide ST Specs

Anything But A Straight Line: Exploring America’s Backroads

Favorite Ride: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

Favorite Ride: Bridges of Charleston County

Mother’s Day Motorcycle Gift Guide 2022

American Rider Revs Up

JuniorGP™ World Championship ready for lights out in Estoril

Puig: Marquez’ objective is not to finish 4th or 6th

Triumph recalls Speed Triples on brake issue

VINs of affected bikes

MotoGP™ strengthens collaboration with Tata Communications

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