motorcycle blog

CMA Christian Motorcyclists Association

One thing I have noticed over the years of riding is that you never know what’s going to happen five miles up the road, or sometimes before you even get out of the driveway! Life truly is, as described by Forest Gump’s mother in the movie “Forest Gump, “You never know what you’re going to get.” One day I had to visit a patient and decided to take the bike to his house as I knew he loved all things mechanical. I had just had the thousand-mile service performed but discovered when I went to get on the bike that…
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The Wonder of the Wise Men – Rob Brooks

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been intrigued by the account of the wise men in the New Testament book of Matthew 2:1-12, these magi (from the Greek term “magoi” meaning “wise men” or “learned ones”) who crossed a continent to visit and pay homage to the Christ Child. Even now, as a moto-traveler and part-time history teacher, the story and journey of these men is a yearly favorite of mine to read and reflect upon during this season. You probably know the story of how they showed up in Jerusalem not long after Jesus’ birth, inquiring as…
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Connecting Your Profession and Your Passion – Born To Ride Women’s World

Kelly Vandever enjoyed riding on the back of her husband’s bike, but on a beautiful July day when she wanted to ride, her husband Rich, was out of town. That’s when she decided to learn to ride her own. Her first bike was a Honda Rebel she now rides a Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Superlow. Since Rich likes to tinker with bikes, he made sure she had a comfortable seat and an easy clutch. Her first long trip with Rich and their friends Jim and Stephanie was quite an adventure! When they started out riding from Georgia to South Dakota, his…
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The Course that can Save your Life

ProRider Atlanta The Ultimate Rider Course It is widely understood and acknowledged that motorcycle police officers are among the best trained and most proficient riders on the planet, in any country. The extensive and strenuous street training they undergo challenges the limits of man and machine. Very few police officers undertake the vigorous course. Fewer still successfully complete it. Yet those who do possess a skill level in riding virtually unknown to the rest of the motorcycling world. Ken Anderson is one of those elite riders. With over 30 years experience as a motorcycle officer, including hundreds of hours of…
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Suzuki Ceases Production of the Legendary Hayabusa

Suzuki Ceases Production of the Legendary Hayabusa Suzuki Motorcycles has announced the cessation of production on their legendary GSX1300R Hayabusa sportbike, after a 20-year model run. The announcement came as a surprise to some (author included), amid speculation that Suzuki would actually soon debut an upgraded model. This is truly the end of an era in the world of +1000cc Superbikes, or as one writer called them, “Hyperbikes.” Since its premiere back in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa has been a dominating force of a street bike, leaving other manufacturers chasing shadow and exhaust for years. With an initially unrestricted top…
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Number of Women Riders is Growing

Number of Women Riders is Growing Recent Survey Shows Shift in Rider Demographics   Irvine, CA (PR Newswire) - According to a recent survey, nearly 1 in 5 motorcycle owners in America is now female, compared with 1 in 10 less than a decade ago, based on data accumulated by the Motorcycle Industry Council. In fact, the data suggest that women may soon comprise ¼ of total motorcycle ownership in the U.S., a major shift in motorcycling demographics. Among all age groups surveyed, women riders now make up fully 19% of American motorcycle owners. The survey showed the greatest growth…
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EICMA 2018 Unveilings

EICMA 2018 Unveilings The 76th EICMA motorcycle show was held in Milan, Italy this past weekend. The Esposizione Internazionale del Ciclo, Motociclo, Accessori (loose translation: International Expo of Cycles, Motorcycles, Accessories) is the world’s largest moto show, and every year witnesses the unveiling of many upcoming models and technologies from the various brands around the world. This year’s show was no different. This year’s show showcased horsepower. Three European marquees displayed 2019 models that all make over 200hp, a level of power for years only known to professional superbike racers. Aprilia announced their 217hp RSV4 1100 Factory before the show,…
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Italian Angels Motorcycle Brotherhood Raise Money for Tampa Homeless Outreach

On Sunday, November 11, the Elks Lodge in Tarpon Springs hosted the Italian Angels Motorcycle Brotherhood who presented a check for $4000.00 to the Tampa Homeless Outreach, Inc., to Thomas “T-Man” Brown, army disabled veteran and outreach coordinator of the TPA Crossroads, Inc.   On September 30, 2018, the Italian Angels facilitated a well-attended Spaghetti Dinner Benefit, raising the $4000 in only 3 hours, for the Tampa Homeless Outreach, Inc., also in attendance was Thomas “T-Man” Brown representing the Homeless Outreach organization. The Italian Angels Motorcycle Brotherhood is a local and National organization of Italian descent members from all walks…
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Milwaukee’s “Other” Motorcycle Company

Milwaukee’s “Other” Motorcycle Company   Harley-Davidson has a neighbor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it’s older than the iconic American brand. Royal Enfield established their U.S. headquarters there about three years ago and has been rapidly growing their dealer network across North America. With dealerships now in 34 states and Puerto Rico, the brand has come a long way (literally) since first arriving stateside in 2015, from zero to nearly 90 dealerships in America and Canada, and more opening and/or joining the brand monthly. Celebrating their 115th anniversary this year as a motorcycle company, Royal Enfield established itself in England in…
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High Tech Helmet

High Tech Helmet A Lid with AR Display and Alexa/Siri Support Numerous motorcycle helmet companies have been attempting to introduce built-in “smart tech” features in recent years, with limited success. Yet the trend is inevitable. The latest to debut a smart helmet is Jarvish, a Taiwan company known for cutting-edge, user-friendly technology for riders. Jarvish recently premiered two new models packed with rider aids, the X and X-AR motorcycle helmets, both of which will be available in 2019. The Jarvish X will include an integrated microphone and speakers, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant support, and a 2K, forward-facing built-in camera…
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Can-Am Unveils the Ryker

A Spyder for the Masses Can-Am debuted a new 2019 addition to their Spyder line this past week, a model targeted at younger, beginner, and women riders. Dubbed the Ryker, the new 3-wheeler is smaller, lighter, more affordable than ever before, and supremely approachable. Long perceived as a company building machines for older males with money to burn but who prefer the stability of a tripod stance, Can-Am takes a turn toward the younger generations with the Ryker. In two iterations, a 600cc twin and 900cc triple, plus an up-spec “Rally Edition” of the 900, all Rotax-powered, the Ryker models…
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Winning Battles, Losing the War

Winning Battles, Losing the War MotoAmerica Epic Season Ender at Barber The MotoAmerica motorcycle road racing season wrapped up at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this past weekend, in two days marked by devastating crashes, fierce competition, the retiring of a legend, and the crowning of the 2018 champions. An epic weekend to end an epic season. With most class championships sewn up by the New Jersey round earlier in September, the MotoAmerica staff nonetheless predicted stiff competition across the two days of racing, with riders battling for the remaining points and podiums, and their drive to finish strong…
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Major Moto Moves

Major Moto Moves   This past week, two major motorcycle companies announced plans to relocate large portions of their operations, on opposite sides of the United States. Both moves came as a surprise to industry insiders, yet both companies see great prospects in their new locales. Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited_Touring     Harley-Davidson announced plans to locate an all-new R&D division in the Silicon Valley of California. The company is moving forward with plans for a complete line of “E-Bikes”, electric motorcycles, and sees the tech center of the world as the perfect location to assist development. As H-D seeks to…
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Beaubier Clinches MotoAmerica Crown

Beach, Dumas, & Lee claim titles as well Cameron Beaubier claimed his third MotoAmerica Superbike title at New Jersey’s Thunderbolt Raceway this past weekend, after two wet, treacherous days of racing. Beaubier led race 2 from the get-go, sewing up the championship with the Barber round still ahead. Beaubier’s Sunday win also marked his eighth of the season, and his 32nd career, placing him in third on the all-time most wins list in AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike. Roger Hayden took second in Sunday’s race, followed by 2017 champ Toni Elias. Hayden has announced his retirement the end of the season. JD Beach…
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Creating a National Motorcycle Flashmob of Lifesaving

Following a visit to our headquarters by Ken Engelman, I reached out to BTR. Ken, who is an American, was on a tour around Israel to see how the country uses and works with motorcycles to respond to medical emergencies. He was very impressed with our operation and suggested that I reach out to Born To Ride. After looking at your website and online media, I thought that this would be a terrific place to tell the story of how motorcycles are used to save lives here in Israel. United Hatzalah’s motorcycle responders are Israel’s most active volunteers. We come…
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Race Like a Girl

Jamie Astudillo in MotoAmerica Not many females currently run professionally in motorcycle road racing, but those who do, have definitely earned their place. Here in the States, in MotoAmerica, there are only three—Caroline Olsen in Supersport 600, Melissa Paris in Stock 1000, and Jamie Astudillo in Liqui Moly Junior Cup. And of these, only one has rewritten the record books—Jamie Astudillo. We pointed out in our May issue that Jamie etched her name in the MotoAmerica/AMA Road Racing archives as the first woman to ever podium in an American professional motorcycle road racing event when she took third place in…
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