We test a lot of KTM motorcycles here at Rider, along with those from nearly 20 other manufacturers, and we realize it’s a privilege to get seat time on the latest and greatest bikes. Test rides at dealers are a rarity, so the KTM Ride Orange Demo Tour is a great opportunity to ride KTM’s street-legal range, everything from the 200 Duke up to the 1290 Super Duke R Evo, ADVs ranging from the 390 Adventure to the 1290 Adventure R, the 690 SMC R supermoto, and the 690 Enduro R and 500 EXC-F dual-sports.
There are currently 15 stops scheduled for the demo tour between March and October, with more to be added. Check out the details in KTM’s official announcement below.
MURRIETA,Calif. – The KTM Ride Orange Street Demo Tour is back for 2023, providing the unique opportunity for U.S. consumers to sample the latest models in the KTM Street range. This year’s tour will commence during Daytona Bike Week in Florida on March 9-11, and will once again be taking place alongside a wide selection of the nation’s premier motorcycle events.
Organized by KTM North America, Inc. in association with participating dealers, this will be your chance to get up close and explore the 2023 lineup together with knowledgeable KTM experts on location before taking to some of the most enjoyable roads in the country. Each ride will take place on pre-planned routes that will be sure to deliver an exceptional experience at this year’s KTM Ride Orange Street Demo Tour.
Participants at the KTM Ride Orange Street Demo Tour will also receive a Ride Orange VIP Card voucher (valued up to $500 MSRP), redeemable on KTM PowerParts, KTM PowerWear and/or KTM SpareParts at an authorized KTM dealer with the purchase of a new KTM Street model.
Registrations for each stop of the 2023 KTM Ride Orange Street Demo Tour open at 9 a.m. on the morning of that event, with riding taking place between 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Demos are first come, first served.
In order to participate, you must be 25 years or older for 690cc and up, and 21 years old or above for 500cc and under. Participants 21-24 years old can Only ride motorcycles 500cc and under. Experienced riders only (no beginners). No passengers are allowed at any time, and KTM staff can revoke riding privileges at any time for any reason deemed necessary.
All riders must show a government issued photo ID with motorcycle endorsement and will be required to complete a signed waiver prior to any demo rides. Proper riding apparel is essential, including but not limited to a DOT-approved helmet, eye protection, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and sturdy footwear.
For a complete list of 2023 KTM Ride Orange Street Demo Tour locations and to connect with your local participating dealer, please visit KTM’s website or email [email protected]. Follow KTM USA on all social media platforms for the most up-to-date information on events.
What better way to ring in the next riding season than with some new perfectly fitted Aerostich gear? This year, there will be three Aerostich Pop-Up events in Pleasanton, California, each lasting five days. The first starts Tuesday, March 21, and lasts through Saturday, March 25, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 4515 Rosewood Dr. in Pleasanton.
At an Aerostich Pop-Up Event, you’ll be able to test out a wide variety of American-made Aerostich gear. With over 60 men’s and women’s graded sizes and hundreds of models and colors, you’ll have no shortage of options to find the gear that’s just right.
Attendees can browse through the event and try on whatever they see or schedule an appointment with a fitting expert. To schedule a fitting appointment, contact Rod Hafner at (715) 781-0939 or email [email protected].
Aside from high-quality jackets, pants, gloves, and boots, there will also be messenger bags, tank panniers, fleece layers, electric liners, and more motorcycle-related products to see.
Many products will be available for a cash-and-carry sale, in which Aerostich fitting experts will help you find the perfect fit and arrange custom alterations and colors.
There will also be prize drawings and in-store deals.
The next two Aerostich Pop-Up Events take place April 18-22 and May 16-20.
BMW Motorrad Days is the annual gathering of BMW motorcycle enthusiasts in Germany, and it will be extra special this year because the marque is celebrating a century of building motorcycles. BMW has announced limited-edition 100 Years Editions for the R 18 and R nineT for 2023, and BMW Motorrad Days will no doubt be a heckuva party. Read the official announcement below.
Munich, Germany (Tuesday, February 27, 2023) – For more than 20 years, the BMW Motorrad Days have been a highlight and must-attend event in the annual calendar of motorbike enthusiasts from all over the world. Be it sport or touring riders, off- road cracks or customizing and racing fans – in some cases they travel not only from European countries, but even from the USA, Japan, and Australia to experience a thrilling BMW Motorrad themed time in Berlin with like-minded enthusiasts. This time, the 21st edition of the BMW Motorrad Days, from July 7-9 2023, will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad Days on grounds of Messe Berlin.
Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, said “We successfully anchored the BMW Motorrad Days at the BMW plant location in Berlin last year with a new concept and there will be no shortage of highlights at this year’s 100th BMW Motorrad anniversary event. This time, we will not only be offering a wide range of exciting activities at the central event in the Summer Garden at Messe Berlin trade fair, but also other event areas in and around Berlin to meet the wishes and interests of our customers and fans. For example, the Pure&Crafted Festival takes place at the same time, which BMW Motorrad initiated and for which it is also the title sponsor. There are tours of the BMW Motorrad plant in Spandau, and there is the MCC Schenkenhorst off-road area, where the International Qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 in Namibia will also be held from July 6-8. In short, for our 100th BMW Motorrad anniversary, we have put together an action-packed program for our visitors. And I can promise you: Everyone will get their money’s worth here.”
Plant Tours at BMW Motorrad Days
This is where BMW motorcycles come to life. In the heart of Berlin’s Spandau district stands the birthplace of BMW Motorrad. From morning to evening, over 1,000 visitors will have the opportunity to experience the BMW Motorrad plant in Spandau up close on an exciting guided tour on the weekend. Free shuttles will be provided from Messe Berlin to the plant and back.
Booking is only possible at the BMW Motorrad Days event site. The number of participants is limited.
Pure&Crafted Festival
In addition to the BMW Motorrad Days, music enthusiasts will also get their money’s worth at the Pure&Crafted Festival initiated by BMW Motorrad.
Music, motorbike culture, and lifestyle come together in a tried and tested manner in vibrant Kreuzberg, at the heart of the city. A unique mix that makes this small, fine festival so extraordinary and special. International music acts, spectacular BMW Motorrad Heritage bikes, renowned customizers, and a General Store with a wide range of products will make the hearts of the Heritage community beat faster.
The Pure&Crafted Festival will have plenty of music and fun.
This year, for the first time, electric mobility will also play a central role at Pure&Crafted. BMW Motorrad – as the festival’s title sponsor – is building a bridge from heritage to mobility concepts of the future, thereby consistently developing this event format. Finally, the Pure&Crafted program is rounded off by a world premiere.
BMW Motorrad Days Adventure Hub: MCC Schenkenhorst Offroad Area
BMW Motorrad has come up with something very special for BMW GS enthusiasts. In addition to the range of enduro training courses and guided offroad tours through beautiful Brandenburg, the grounds of MCC Schenkenhorst will be transformed into the “place to be” for the international BMW GS community.
From July 6-9, camping areas for 500 people and 30 camper van pitches will be available. You need to pre-register for this from March 2023 at BMW Motorrad’s website. Food and drink will be provided and sanitary facilities are also available.
In the evening, fans can look forward to talking shop around the campfire with live entertainment, or they can use one of the free shuttle buses to visit the big anniversary party on the exhibition grounds. The trip takes just under half an hour, and the buses also shuttle back and forth regularly during the day.
International Qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 Namibia
From July 6-8, the MCC Schenkenhorst grounds will also be the venue for the “International Qualifying” for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 Namibia. All BMW GS riders whose home country does not offer national qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 can take part here. The top three will then form an “International Team” for the first time in the history of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, which will compete in the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy in Namibia in 2024.
Race Track Training on the Spreewaldring
A short hour’s drive from Messe Berlin, nestled in the unique cultural landscape of the Spreewald forest, lies the Spreewaldring, a training and racing circuit. The 2.7-km-long and 10-m-wide race track offers ten right-hand and seven left-hand corners, high-level grip, and can be used in two circuit variants.
You can ride the latest BMW S 1000 models there under the professional guidance of experienced instructors from our partner MotoRacingSchool. In addition, Race Taxi Drives with BMW M2 cars are offered several times a day. Product advisors, exhibitors, and partners will be on site as well.
Campervan pitches are also available here for the sports community. The Tropical Islands water park and the Stork Club Whiskey Distillery, well-known from the Pure&Crafted Festival with its beautiful courtyard garden, are also in the immediate vicinity. All other BMW Motorrad Days events and areas are also quick and easy to get to.
BMW Motorrad Days Summer Garden, Heritage Area, and Festival Tent
On July 7 at 2 p.m., Messe Berlin will open its doors at the north entrance to the exhibition grounds for the 21st BMW Motorrad Days.
Visitors will be able to choose from a great variety of food and drink at many different outlets all over the grounds: in the Summer Garden, the Heritage Area, or the specially erected large Festival Tent. It offers space for around 2,000 people and will become the focal point for party-goers from all over the world. The live music already ramps up here in the late afternoon offering a cross-over of laid-back Bavarian and Berlin metropolitan flair. And if that’s not enough for you, the party continues into the small hours with international cover hits at the Palais.
At the fair grounds, attendees can shop through a variety of vendors.
The Heritage Area offers lots of custom bikes, cool music, and a beer garden. The DJ gets going in the afternoon, while on Friday and Saturday evening, rock ‘n’ roll bands deliver the musical goods.
The original motodrome, already a tradition in the Heritage Area, is where the legendary “Motorellos” defy gravity and put on an impressive show with their motorbikes.
Those who prefer a quieter atmosphere can simply find a shady spot in the spacious Summer Garden and chill out with a delicious ice cream or a freshly prepared cocktail.
BMW Motorrad Days Exhibitions
The various exhibition areas are BMW Motorrad Days fixtures. The BMW Motorrad brand experience will be celebrated with more than 60 red-hot motorcycle models, accessories, and a large fan shop, as well as more than 30 international travel, training, and test ride partners in the air-conditioned and approximately 4,000-sqm hall 20. In addition to Rent A Ride, Fuel for Life, the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, and BMW Group Classic, there will be numerous international exhibitors and partners in hall 18 and in the outdoor area.
There will be custom BMW motorcycles on display at the custom bike exhibition.
“100 years of BMW Motorrad” Special Exhibition
To mark the anniversary, visitors to the BMW Motorrad Days can of course also look forward to a special exhibition with motorbikes and experiences from every decade of the company’s 100-year history.
And after all, what would the BMW Motorrad Days be without loads of bike action? That’s why spectacular motorbike shows will be hot in 2023: a breathtaking FMX show, the trial show by and with Adrian Guggemos, or the streetbike stunt show with Dirk Manderbach.
Test Rides
Attractive riding offers will also be a central feature at the 21st BMW Motorrad Days. The program includes extensive test rides with the fleet of over 100 motorcycles, consisting of the latest BMW Motorrad models including the BMW CE 04 scooters, which you can use to explore Berlin electrically.
And if you’ve never sat on a motorcycle before, simply book a slot at “Riding without a license.” Here, your first attempts at riding a motorcycle are sure to succeed under the expert guidance of our partner riding school.
Family Activities
The BMW Motorrad Days are traditionally a festival for the entire family, with plenty to offer for kids and youngsters in particular, whether it’s the miniature town for the little ones, the kids course for bicycles and push bikes, the wheelie school by Dirk Manderbach, or the BMW Motorrad e-gaming trailer for fast-paced racing battles.
BMW motorcycles will be lining the streets of Munich July 7-9 for BMW Motorrad Days.
There is something for everyone here. The program is rounded off by presentations held by world travelers, and there will be many other exciting fringe events.
Our guest on Episode 54 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief at American Rider, a V-Twin magazine published by the same company that owns Rider magazine. Duke and host Greg Drevenstedt are longtime friends, and they’ve attended many motorcycle press launches and events together. They talk about their shared history – including bungee jumping off the 700-foot Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa – as well as the unique stories, features, and event coverage in American Rider. If you love American-made motorcycles and the community that surrounds them, then you should check it out at AmericanRider.com.
MV Agusta unveiled the SuperVeloce 1000, which is anticipated to be available in 2024.
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail – or in the case of Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt, being battered by gail force winds on his Yamaha MT-10 in Death Valley – could keep the Rider magazine editorial staff from traveling to Las Vegas for the 2023 AIMExpo, North America’s largest motorcycle and powersports tradeshow and lifestyles event.
The expo runs this year from Feb. 15-17 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s been a busy couple of days. There have been a couple of unveilings, ranging from the high-tech MV Agusta SuperVeloce 1000 racer to the Greenger Powersports G3 electric dirtbike and G3S supermoto version.
Greenger Powersports’ General Manager Doug Chapman unveils the G3 electric dirtbike and G3S supermoto version
It was a pleasure to see some bikes in the wild (well, relatively wild; it is Las Vegas) that we had previously just written about, including the 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and the 2023 Suzuki GSX-8S.
We also got a peek at the QJ Motor SRT750 reviewed by former EIC Mark Tuttle, except with spoked wheels instead of cast.
The QJ Motor SRT750
And the photos of the 2023 Triumph Chrome Line bikes don’t do justice to how pretty they are in person.
After last year’s exciting King of the Baggers series, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Harley-Davidson 2023 bike on display.
Check out some of our photos from the event in the gallery below, and check back for more updates.
As they have done many times over the years, rallygoers and volunteers created an Americade “living logo” in a parking lot overlooking Million Dollar Beach in Lake George, New York. This one is from the 8th anniversary of Americade. (Photos courtesy Americade)
During the week of May 31-June 4, Americade will celebrate its 40th anniversary. What has long been the world’s largest touring rally started from humble beginnings when founder Bill Dutcher reached a crossroads in his life and asked, “What next?”
A lifelong motorcyclist who began roadracing in the mid-1960s, Bill is a man of irrepressible energy. I’ll never forget meeting him at my first Americade in 2012. I was the featured speaker on a Tuesday night, and the title of my talk was “Lessons Learned from Crashes, Countries, and Cover Stories.” Bill introduced me to the audience, but before I took the stage, he shared a story about the time he wore roadracing leathers under his gown during his Harvard University graduation ceremony. He was scheduled to compete in a race later that day, so after he and his fellow graduates tossed their caps in celebration, Bill sped off to the track. He then regaled the audience about arriving late to the starting grid, riding over his head to catch up, and ultimately crashing out of the race. He was a tough act to follow.
Bill Dutcher at Americade ’87 with the winner of the “longest distance ridden to Americade” award – he rode from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Lake George, New York, to attend the rally.
Bill spent his career in the motorcycle industry, holding marketing positions at Bultaco and Can-Am before becoming the head of public relations at AMF/Harley-Davidson, a position he held until 1981. Ready for a change, Bill and his wife, Gini, decided to start a touring rally near their home in Lake George, New York. Understanding the importance of brand recognition, Bill reached out to Til Thompson, organizer of the Aspencade rally, which had been held since 1971 in Ruidoso, New Mexico, to license the name for an eastern event. That was the easy part.
Americade has always been popular among Honda Gold Wing riders. Here a member of the Red Knights tows a firetruck trailer with working lights and a hose spraying water. The Red Knights have long been a part of Americade.
“In the fall of 1981, I approached Bob Blais, the mayor of Lake George Village,” Bill recalled. “When I pitched him my concept of an ‘Aspencade East,’ he took a deep breath when I said ‘motorcycle rally.’ About a decade earlier, when he was chief of police, he’d dealt with some bloodied bikers who had gotten too rowdy at one of the local bars.” Bill ultimately won the mayor over, and with his backing, the village board approved the proposal.
A BMW picnic in the late 1980s atop Prospect Mountain, which overlooks Lake George. BMW introduced their industry-first motorcycle ABS at the event.
The first Aspencade East was held in 1983, and the Dutchers expected perhaps 1,000 people – about as many attendees as the rally in New Mexico. “When more than 2,000 people showed up, I was astounded,” Bill said. “We ran out of T-shirts, caps, and everything else.”
Gini added that when the first attendees arrived at the registration room to pick up their tickets, there was a “certain energy about the rally.”
Bill and Gini Dutcher, the founders of Americade – 40 years old then, 80+ now, and still participating in Americade and still riding.
“People were excited by what was about to happen. We knew that they were just as excited about this new Aspencade East as we were.”
Attendance doubled in 1984, doubled again in 1985, and topped 10,000 in 1986. That same year, the Dutchers changed the event’s name to Americade. It had grown well beyond its association with the original Aspencade rally. And the Dutchers didn’t want their event to be too closely associated with one particular motorcycle brand or model since Honda had introduced a luxury-touring version of the Gold Wing called the Aspencade in 1982.
Parking motorcycles on Beach Road along the shore of Lake George has long been an Americade tradition.
Even though attendance at Americade has exceeded 50,000 many times over the years, it has always been a family affair. “Bill’s original vision of making a family-friendly motorcycling event still powers what we do,” said Christian Dutcher, Bill and Gini’s son, who took over management of Americade several years ago. “We have many riders who attend other rallies, and they tell me that they love Americade because it continues to be ‘sane.’
The tall guy in the middle is Christian Dutcher, son of founders Bill and Gini, and now the owner/director of the rally.
“Despite having been part of Americade my entire life,” Christian continued, “I am still caught off-guard by the letters we receive. We get letters from people who want to get married here, who bring their children because they met their spouse here years earlier, and even some who spread the ashes of their lifelong riding partner at the rally. It’s very touching and reminds us that what Americade is to many people is larger than the sum of its parts.”
Americade 1990. Rather than the rally’s normal “living logo,” a yellow ribbon was created to honor the U.S. and Canadian troops serving during Desert Storm.
Through his PR position at Harley-Davidson, Bill knew Rider’s founder, Denis Rouse, and many of the magazine’s staff editors and contributors. “Rider has been part of every Aspencade/Americade,” Bill recalled. “I can’t think of any other company who has attended every event except Rider.”
One of two wooden signs hand-carved many years ago by Rider’s former National Sales Director, Joe Salluzzo.
Over the years, Rider has sponsored Americade’s Opening Celebration, mini-tours, dinner cruises, and other activities. Our editors and contributors have given seminars and talks, led tours, and met thousands of readers and fellow riders. We’ve judged bike shows and photo contests, helped select the Americade Queen, and published dozens of rally reports in the magazine and on our website.
And we’ll be there again this May, joining the Dutchers, the rally’s many dedicated volunteers, and tens of thousands of attendees to celebrate Americade’s big 4-0. We’ll have more details about the festivities in the coming weeks. For registration and other info, visit the Americade website.
See you in Lake George!
This was the First Gear column written by Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt for the March 2023 issue of Rider.
Yamaha Champions Riding School has added a new offering to their digital curriculum, the Champ U: New Rider class. Previously, ChampSchool only offered the Champion’s Habits Core Curriculum online (in addition to their in-person ChampSchool and ChampStreet programs, of course). Whereas Champion’s Habits, which includes 12 modules and a final set of drills, is focused on improving riding, the New Rider class is geared toward nonriders who may be considering taking up the joys of two wheels, as well as new and returning riders. For more information, read the press release below from Yamaha Champions Riding School.
ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch demonstrates how lean angle affects the 100 points of grip concept, which is one of the ChampSchool Four Core Habits.
Yamaha Champions Riding School, the premier motorcycle riding school in North America, is proud to announce a new Champions University digital curriculum: New Rider.
Champ U: New Rider is over three hours of digital content with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist. This interactive course follows the ChampSchool tradition of truly explaining the “why” of everything a new rider must know, from how a clutch engages to proper and safe emergency-braking practice.
“New-rider parking-lot schools are the gateway to our sport and they have done the job of getting hundreds of thousands of riders licensed to ride on the road,” said ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch.
Ienatsch said the goal with New Rider is two-fold:
One: Use the reach of the internet to deliver motorcycle riding’s best practices to any person interested in becoming a life-long motorcycle rider, or any current rider intent on improvement.
“These best practices are data driven and focused on drastically reducing risk while greatly increasing riding enjoyment,” Ienatsch said. “Champ U: New Rider students can expect to become excellent riders very quickly.”
Two: Bolster the current license-waiver classes with context and proven foundational truths to not just earn a license but to be truly ready for the road.
“A license doesn’t make you a safe rider! Understanding how a motorcycle works best and what inputs bring those best results is vital; New Rider goes above and beyond to teach how to practice and refine these inputs for a lifetime of riding success.”
Champ U: New Rider is designed for non-riders, new riders, and returning riders. This digital curriculum is accessible from anywhere in the world with connection to the internet and is affordable for almost any budget with an introductory price of $19.95. More information is available at the Champions University Champ U courses webpage.
Champ U: New Rider is part of the growing Champions University ecosystem of digital motorcycle training tools that include Champ U: Core Curriculum with more than 15,000 users and hundreds of five-star reviews. Champ U also has several rider education support tools like a members-only forum and new for 2023, Video Coaching: stay tuned for our Video Coaching program to be announced very soon.
“We know that riders who are properly educated and wear appropriate gear will have more fun, ride longer, and encourage more people to become involved in motorcycling,” Ienatsch said. “Our mission is to make quality motorcycle education available to all riders and grow the sport of motorcycling. Champ U: New Rider will be a powerful tool in reaching our goal.”
About Yamaha Champions Riding School:
Yamaha Champions Riding School (ChampSchool) is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. ChampSchool is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High-Performance Riding School and is led by racer, author, and former right-hand man of Spencer, Nick Ienatsch. ChampSchool uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster safer, while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. ChampSchool is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do.
This was the First Gear column written by Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt for the February 2023 issue of Rider. The magazine’s parent company runs MyVoiceRewards, an ongoing panel survey that rewards participants with gift cards for completing surveys.
Motorcyclists are a select group. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, there were 10.4 million U.S. motorcycle owners in 2020, which is just 3.1% of the 331,449,281 Americans recorded in the census.
Motorcyclists are also a misunderstood group. We participate in a wholesome, fun, skill-based activity, but most of our fellow citizens think we’re crazy for doing so. They believe we have a death wish, but in fact, the opposite is true. Riding a motorcycle makes us feel alive. We enjoy the sensations, the escape, the freedom, the challenge, the thrill – and yes, the risk.
Despite persistent stereotypes, few of us are hell-raising outlaws or adrenaline-fueled daredevils. On average, motorcyclists tend to be older males, mostly married guys with families, jobs, and mortgages. But that’s changing. According to the MIC, the proportion of motorcyclists who are female increased from 6% in 1990 to 19% in 2018.
Every couple of years, Rider conducts a reader survey to help us get to know you better. Just as we appreciate the emails and letters we receive from our readers, we also value feedback we receive through surveys. I’d like to extend a personal thanks to the 2,010 of you who completed our 2022 survey.
From the responses, we know that 79% of our readers are married, 81% have a college degree or have attended a vocational school, 65% have a household income of $75,000 or above, and 30% are active military or veterans.
More than one-third (37%) of you own just one motorcycle, but 27% own two, 14%own three, and 20% own four or more. BMW, Harley-Davidson, and Honda are the most popular brands, but every major brand from Aprilia to Zero is represented among our readers.
In terms of type of motorcycles owned, the most popular are touring (37%), sport-touring (31%), adventure (27%), cruiser (25%), naked/standard (17%), dual-sport (16%), and vintage (12%). But let’s not leave out dirtbikes (9%), scooters (6%), sportbikes (4%), trikes (4%), sidecars (1.5%), and electric motorcycles (<1%). (The total adds to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one type.)
Our readers are experienced riders: 87% of you have been riding for 20 years or longer, and 8% have been riding for 11-20 years. When readers were asked to rank the primary use of their motorcycle(s), the top choice was day rides/pleasure, followed by light touring/weekends, touring, adventure touring, commuting, and off-road.
In the past year, 24% of you rode less than 3,000 miles, 31% rode 3,000-5,999 miles, 23% rode 6,000-9,000 miles, 20% rode 10,000-24,999 miles, and a highly dedicated 2% rode 25,000 miles or more.
MyVoiceRewards
In addition to our reader survey, our parent company conducts research on all powersports segments through a program called MyVoiceRewards. You may have received an email from us or seen ads in the magazine, our e-newsletter, or on our website inviting you to join. Nearly 2,000 of you have signed up so far, and folks who take surveys earn gift cards for their participation.
Since last March, the MyVoiceRewards team has conducted motorcycle-related surveys about helmets, jackets, tires, audio, service and maintenance, events and rallies, ride-assist technology, and ride sharing/rentals. As a former number cruncher, I enjoy digging into the results and pulling out interesting nuggets of info, such as the following:
91% wear a motorcycle helmet all the time, 7% wear one some or most of the time, and 2% rarely wear one.
Full-face (41%) and modular (30%) are the most popular types of helmets. 92% own two or more motorcycle helmets (30% own five or more –that’s a lot of lids!).
90% own two or more motorcycle jackets (7% own five or more).
When buying motorcycle tires, 72% expect to pay between $100 and $200 per tire.
45% buy motorcycle tires through a dealer, while 41% buy them online and 11% buy them from a mechanic.
In terms of ride-assist technologies, 72% own a motorcycle equipped with ABS, 39% with traction control, 38% with ride modes, and 30% with tire-pressure monitoring.
65% listen to music or podcasts when they ride. 65% use a helmet communication system, 36% use an audio/stereo system with speakers, and 19% use earbuds.
42% do their own motorcycle maintenance, 38% rely on dealers, 11% go to independent repair shops, and 7% have friends or family members work on their bike (I hope that 7% of you provide the pizza and beer!).
37% attended a motorcycle event or rally in the past year, and 52% attended one in the past 1-5 years.
The most popular activities at events or rallies are bike shows (71%), demo rides (71%), food and beverage (65%), local tourism (65%), group rides (53%), and live music (52%).
42% are familiar with peer-to-peer motorcycle rental programs, and 52% think motorcycle ride sharing will grow in popularity, but less than 2% rent out their own motorcycle to others.
To join MyVoiceRewards, scan the QR code below or visit MyVoiceRewards.com.
Our guest on Episode 53 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Darryl Cannon, a photographer better known as Killboy. If you’ve ridden the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, then you’ve seen Killboy banners along the road where he and his team of photographers capture motorcycles in action. Killboy went from being a factory worker who enjoyed riding his motorcycle on the weekends to teaching himself photography and building a thriving business. Our host, Rider’s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt, tells the embarrassing story about his first encounter with Killboy during his first press launch back in 2008.
Following the success of the first partnership between BMW Motorrad USA and Backcountry Discovery Routes in 2022 with the Wyoming BDR, the two groups have announced a second partnership for a route in Oregon. The new route will be officially launched Saturday, Feb. 4, at the premiere screening of the ORBDR Expedition documentary in Portland and other select locations around the nation. For more information, read the press release below from BMW Motorrad USA.
BMW Motorrad USA is excited to announce its second partnership with adventure motorcycling nonprofit, Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) on their newest route – Oregon. This is the second BDR route on which BMW Motorrad has collaborated, the first being the Wyoming BDR, released in 2022.
The ORBDR represents the organization’s 12th route for adventure and dual-sport motorcycle travel, with free GPS tracks, travel resources, and a Butler Motorcycle Map scheduled to accompany the film’s debut.
Luciana Francisco, BMW Motorrad USA head of brand and marketing, said BMW Motorrad is proud to partner with Backcountry Discovery Routes for the second time in two years.
“In 2023, BMW Motorrad celebrates its 100th year anniversary and also marks 43 years of BMW GS motorcycles,” Francisco said. “This is the perfect time to share our passion for the adventure and dual-sport riding communities and show our continued support for the BDR organization and what they stand for. We look forward to both new and experienced off-road enthusiasts being inspired by the scenic routes of the ORBDR.”
To launch of the new Oregon route, Backcountry Discovery Routes and BMW Motorrad will kick-off with a film premiere event in Portland, Oregon, and selected BMW Motorrad dealer events on Saturday, Feb. 4. Additionally, over 70 film screenings are planned through spring 2023, hosted by dealers and clubs around the country. More information on the film screening locations is available at the Backcountry Discovery Routes events webpage.
The ORBDR expedition film features members of the BDR team and special guests from BMW Motorrad USA, Mosko Moto, and Edelweiss Bike Travel as they take a first run on the all-new ORBDR. Starting in the high desert landscapes of Southeastern Oregon and exploring North into the Cascade Range, the crew tests their endurance, riding cross-state through 750 miles of lava rock, silt, sand, and steep mountain roads. Highlighting the state’s many natural wonders including hot springs, pyroducts, caverns, buttes, and glaciated volcanoes, the route and film showcases why traveling by motorcycle is one of the best ways to discover the backcountry of Oregon.
Story continues below trailer for ORBDR Expedition
Bryce Stevens, Oregon Route architect & BDR co-founder grew up in the Pacific Northwest and said he has “always been fascinated by volcanoes.”
“The ORBDR is a route filled with natural wonders of the volcanic kind. We designed the ORBDR to show off different regions of the state and keep the route ever-changing,” Stevens said. “Oregon has vast high desert in the southeast, sparse pine forests in the central part of the state, and densely forested mountains in the Cascade Range. It almost feels like three BDRs packed into one.”
Joining the expedition team in Oregon was Ricardo Rodriguez, lead motorcycle instructor at BMW’s U.S. Rider Academy in Greer, South Carolina. Ricardo is a graduate of BMW’s rigorous International Instructor’s Academy and has been teaching on-road street survival, adventure off-road, and authority riding skills since 2010.
“The BDR Team has set out on a fantastic mission, helping keep public lands accessible to the adventure community,” he said. “I am very proud and excited about the relationship between BDR, BMW Motorrad, and the BMW U.S. Rider Academy. Having the opportunity to be a part of the Oregon BDR has helped build my experience as a rider and a coach. Overcoming the challenges along the ORBDR reinforced to me the value of the skills we teach daily at the US Rider Academy.”
Rodriguez continued to say that Backcountry Discovery Routes offers properly trained riders an opportunity to put their skills to the test.
“The Oregon BDR is a challenge and reward riding adventure.”
