New England's First Choice For Motorcycle News & Information

 

 

 

     

  

Spring Prep Shouldn't Ignore Brakes

Bob Stewart of Stewy's Custom Cycles in Wakefield, MA sent us some tips on checking out your brakes.  The newsletter from  DP Brakes and Clutches covers some things that you might not think about.

Click here for the tips..

 

Wanna go for a GLIDE?

That’s right, a glide, as in on a Segway.  If this peaks your curiosity, you may want to contact Steve at Adventure Glides.  For those who may not be familiar, a Segway is a Personal Transportation Device. Riding on a Segway is commonly referred to as gliding, rather than riding.   Click on the picture for more info!

MA Adult Helmet Choice Bill Clears First Big Hurdle !

(State House, MA)    News was received earlier this week that the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation has voted the adult helmet choice bill 'favorably' out of its Committee, recommending it "ought to pass."     Click here for the details

Massachusetts State House
HB 1464 Testimony

As riders, we know the horror stories of those who turn left in front of oncoming motorcycles and/or force us off the roads trying to get into our lanes and/or pull out from parked positions into our lanes of travel. 
 
If the violators are cited at all, its a $35 civil fine.  Meanwhile, lives are lost and bodies are broken, . . . and families and friends are left to pick up the pieces.  Often, the attorneys representing the victims make more money than the victims, due to contingency fee agreements sharing in the minimal liability limits of $20,000 from the at-fault operators insurer and no other assets to attach to.
 
Massachusetts House, No. 1464, has been filed to address these issues.   Click here for the details..

Spadafora Choppers Grows Into New Location

The word has spread, Spadafora Choppers builds top shelf customs.  As a result, they quickly outgrew their initial shop space and have now moved to a larger facility.   Click here to read about their growth and see some pictures of their new digs!

The Best Place to Buy Vintage British Motorcycle Parts in Central Connecticut

Since 1974, riders and enthusiasts of  Vintage British motorcycles have come to rely on the professional service and parts inventory of  Moore's Cycle Supply. Located in the Elmwood section of West Hartford, Ct, this fairly small business has grown from a  garage- based repair and parts operation, to a well respected physical retail outlet, as well as being one of the leading mail- order suppliers of British motorcycle parts in the Northeast  United States.

Read what By: Thomas J McCabe has written...

Rippin-Kitten Motorcycle Themed Blog

A local woman, Liz Frazier, has created and maintains  the Rippin-Kitten  blog.  Once you start reading her blog you can't stop!  Liz seems to write about everything.  A large part of her writing has a motorcycle theme to it (from bikes and motorcycle accessories to tattoos and their connection to motorcycling).

She has a very casual writing style, you immediately feel that you are sitting with a friend as she just talks about things of interest.

This is one blog to check out!  Be prepared, you'll be there a while.

Man carries BBQ on bike
 

A New Zealander photographed riding a motorcycle along Melbourne's Eastern Freeway with a barbecue strapped to his body has admitted it wasn't a bright idea.

Check out this idiot!

American British Cycles

Boston Biker took a field trip to American British Cycles in Marlborough.   If you get some time, stop in and visit their shop, they always have a pot of coffee on and welcome riders to check out their shop.   Click here to see what we did!

Keyless Motorcycle Ignition

The Digital Guard Dawg is a new product ever to offer advanced "Personal Recognition Technology" in a motorcycle security system.

Similar to systems featured on high end Corvettes, Cadillacs, Lexus and Mercedes that require no key required operation of the vehicle.

Personal Recognition Technology allows the rider to arm and disarm their security system in a completely "Hands Free" manner.

The rider simply carries with them a small RFID device called a Dawg Tag. The Dawg tag transmits its unique digital identity to the system as the rider approaches to within 10' feet of their motorcycle.

All security functions are handled automatically as the rider walks away from and later returns to their motorcycle. . . It's Just That Easy!

Check out the Digital Guard Dawg website.... 

Do motorcycles cause cancer and sexual dysfunction?

In his just released book, MOTORCYCLE CANCER?, author Randall Dale Chipkar raises questions about motorcycle safety. He asks, "Are unsuspecting riders at risk for cancer development from electromagnetic radiation shooting up right between their legs?" "Is it a paradox that thousands of motorcycle riders participate in fundraiser rides for cancer awareness when the event itself may be causing cancer?" asks Chipkar.

He adds, "Are motorcycles shooting potentially carcinogenic electromagnetic (EM) energies into the rider as a 'Death Shower' from below? Could this increase the risk of developing lymphomas, leukemia or cancers of the prostate, testicle, colon, bladder, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, etc? Are both the heart and immune system also at risk? Various non-motorcycle electromagnetic energies have been called 'Invisible Death'
and 'The Silent Killer'."
 

To buy the book, called ‘Motorcycle Cancer? Are motorcycles killing us with cancers of the prostate, colon, kidney, bone, etc?’ visit www.motorcyclecancer.com  (we haven't been able to find it listed with Amazon or any other large bookstore.)

AutumnRiders Expands Business

AutumnRiders, well known for its high quality, custom embroidered motorcycle apparel, has added automobiles to its line. Every design can be ordered in any of 70 colors to match the customer’s vehicle. AutumnRiders offers dozens of quality apparel styles from tee shirts to long sleeve denim, hats to jackets. All styles come in numerous colors and sizes, some to 5X and 3XLT.   -...more-
 

Chrome Plating Process

Is your chrome getting a little tired looking?  Have you thought about chroming a few parts on your bike? Have you dropped the bike and a piece or two is scraped, cracked, or broken?  Thinking of restoring an oldie?

 

We went to a local chrome plating shop with these thoughts in mind.  What happens when you want to get something chrome (or gold or silver) plated?  What can they do?

Boston Biker's article about chrome plating process

Innkeepers embrace the motorcycle community.


Innkeepers Carina & Magnus Thorsson of the Gray Ghost Inn of West Dover, Vermont welcome fellow motorcycle riders to the green mountains and country roads of Vermont. Carina and Magnus have ridden and driven thousands of miles of back country roads, curvy hills and river flats to create route maps, marking noted points of interest for your enjoyment. They have written detailed descriptions of suggested rides of various lengths and intrigues. Who knows what you might see!   -...more-

Electric SuperBike

Lightning Motors' electric motorcycle is powered by lithium ion batteries only. It goes 0 to 60 mph in around 3 seconds, has a top speed of 100 mph and can go about 100 mile before recharging.  -...more-

Motorcyclenight in Lowell, MA - Every Tuesday Night!

 

Got a bike? Need a destination? Motorcyclenight in Lowell, MA is the answer, every Tuesday 6-9 pm, all summer long, all bikes welcome.   www.motorcyclenight.com for more details

Girl Power!

Motorcycling has been seeing a surge in women riders and even a few female bike builders.   Boston Biker's Publisher, Larry Cahill, met with a female builder that stands out from the rest.

(click here to see why we think this one is so different)

Motorcycle Dreams

By David Pambianchi

Iron horse, wind, passing scenery, and you glide alert and in control. Something about constant breeze, the open air as you speed along, gives a feeling of freedom and release, a form of meditation in motion.  -...more-

Easy Riding 

Anyone that's ridden long distance or ridden in cold weather knows the agony of the numb right hand. You really want to give that hand a break, or warm it up but you can't let go of the throttle long enough to do any good.  -...more-

Detail Your Own Motorcycle
In 30 Minutes

Jim Pyatt sent us his approach to cleaning a motorcycle in about 30 minutes.  In reading through his approach it sounds reasonable if you don't have excessive amounts of chrome on your ride.

(click here to check out Jim's approach)

Nuts & Bolts...

Some of our bikes vibrate by design..  Others are so smooth you have a difficult time knowing that the engine is running.  What they all have in common is that parts are held together and held on our bikes with good old fashioned nuts and bolts.  We've been digging around for sources of stainless steel, chrome, high strength, and just plain 'normal' fasteners.  

Click here to check out what we have found so far...

It's the Law - But it is Wrong!

Our Constitution ensures that everyone is entitled to speak freely on any topic.  At times the intent of the law is twisted and the public just has to listen.  The somewhat recent antics of a few misguided religious zealots that are protesting at funerals takes the cake.  They only want to find the stage where they can get the most shock value and media exposure.  They don't care about the innocent people they hurt as long as they get their faces on television.  -...more-

 

Don't call a tow-truck
Call a Tow-BIKE!

retriever1.jpg (32481 bytes)

A company in Sweeden has invented a process where a motorcycle can be quickly converted into a TOW-TRUCK!  Check out our summary and the company's website

Click here for more info

Radial bike

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While poking around the web (yeah, we do it too...) 
we came across a couple of builders that are using 7 cylinder, 
110 horsepower, aircraft radial engines. They might not 
be practical but are pretty cool looking.  JRL Cycles showed their
bike at the Experimental Aircraft Associations annual fly-in at 
Oshkosh, WI and then at Sturgis.  What a machine!
Another bike has reportedly been built by Jesse James. 

http://jrlcycles.com/

RMS Choppers - Custom Choppers!

There are many bike shops that will build you a custom bike.   They will work with you to find the catalog items that best suit your project, order the parts, assemble and paint your bike.  Yup, it's a custom.  But if you are looking for a custom fabricator, then you might want to read on...

click here to find out about RMS Custom Choppers

 

Motorcycle Seats - Mild to Wild!

A local upholstery shop has been repairing and restoring motorcycle seats for almost 30 years.  They are also one of the country's top custom motorcycle seat builders.

Check out All-Nu Upholstery!

Sport Bike Buyer's Guide

Chris Sedition sent in an excellent article outlining how to go about buying your first sport bike.  It is worth a read..

Click here to read Chris' article

 

The Buddy System

Boston Biker has a new writer.  Dianne Prendible's first task was to chat with Gabe Kapler and Kevin Millar.  As team mates on the Boston Red Sox they shared a passion for motorcycling.  Read what Dianne found out.

The Buddy System

Powder Coating - What is it?

One of our readers asked if we could visit a powder coating shop and document the process.  We visited a local custom powdering shop to find out all about powder coating.  What is it?  How is it different from paint? What are the advantages/disadvantages compared to painting?  We've got the answers for you.  

Click here to read all about it and check out the pictures.