Johnny Lewis Presses on at New York Short Track Doubleheader Ladies of Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. highlight MotoAmerica Pitt Race & New York Short Track Milwaukee, WI (Monday, August 16, 2021) – It was a big weekend for Royal Enfield race teams, as Johnny Lewis and the Moto Anatomy X team took on Weedsport Speedway for the New York Short Track Doubleheader. The women of Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) also had a doubleheader of sorts, with both Road Racing at Pitt Race MotoAmerica, and Flat Track at Weedsport Speedway taking place on Saturday, August 14. Johnny Lewis carded a fourth-place finish in the American Flat Track Production Twins class on Friday night, followed by seventh place on Saturday evening. In the BTR showdown at the New York Short Track, Jillian Deschenes edged out previous round winner Jaycee Jones for the win, while the BTR Road Race podium was once again dominated by CJ Lukacs, who continues to shine in the MotoAmerica BTR exhibition. Johnny Lewis and the Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield Racing Team continue to make progress with the Twins FT race bike. After the historic win at the Lima Half Mile, the Moto Anatomy team has tasted success, and are ready to fight for more wins. On Friday night, the first New York Short Track of the doubleheader at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, New York, Lewis was knocking on the door of the podium, right on the heels of Dalton Gauthier, but ended one step away in fourth at the flag. On Saturday night, the Moto Anatomy X team continued to chase setup on the slick track and changing conditions. In a testament to the crew’s hard work and Lewis’ consistency, he carded a solid seventh-place finish on the Royal Enfield Twins FT. “These slick clay ovals have been tough to dial in but we aren’t giving up,” said Lewis. “An ever-changing surface made a day of endless changes right up until the main event on Friday. On Saturday we lost valuable time in the opening laps, but held on for a seventh. I’m ready to put this one behind me and we’re all excited to head to Peoria TT this weekend.” “Johnny continues to improve his impressive performances on track,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “We’re proud to see a solid fourth on Friday night and seventh the following evening on the slick and fast track, where the entire paddock was battling complicated conditions. We’re now looking forward to the Peoria TT.” BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Saturday night at Weedsport Speedway saw the ladies of Build. Train. Race. take to the track for the third round of BTR Flat Track. Once again, it was Jillian Deschenes and Jaycee Jones duking it out for top honors. With one win apiece in the previous two rounds, the duo came into New York locked in battle for the championship. Round-one winner Deschenes answered back with another victory, besting Jones, this time by over five seconds. Malary Lee claimed the third and final podium position. “Flat Track racing never fails to send me home smiling from ear to ear,” said Deschenes. “But the champagne showers on the podium with my friends are those moments I will never forget.” The BTR Road Race team was also in action on Saturday, and it was once again CJ Lukacs with a dominant performance, this time at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The former pro motocross racer proves to be taking to the tarmac with ease, and took her second victory in as many races, leaving the rest of the field to battle behind her. Trisha Dahl claimed another runner-up finish while Becky Goebel took third. Dahl fended off a late-race challenge from Michaela Trumbull to secure her position on the podium in third. Despite her dominant performance, Lukacs admits, “This weekend was a tough one for me. Trying to learn this track with limited time was challenging. I became a little faster as the race went on and just stayed consistent found my flow. Melissa [Paris] really helped me interpret what was happening to help me find my footing. I couldn’t be happier to come out with a second win. I’m so grateful to have the support around us to help us succeed. It wouldn’t be possible without them. It’s humbling; it truly is.” “Our BTR Program participants continue to amaze me. We are a few races in for both Road Racing and Flat Track, and the women are learning more every time out and honing their skills,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “In both disciplines, the battles on track are keeping us all on the edge of our seats. We came up with this program to empower and inspire more women to get into motorsports and I think it’s working. The support from the community and our racing partners has been more than we could have hoped for.” Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Round 2 Results – Pittsburgh MotoAmerica 1. CJ Lukacs 2. Becky Goebel 3. Trisha Dahl 4. Michaela Trumbull 5. Alyssa Bridges 6. Kayla Theisler 7. Scarlett Grosselanghorst Visit https://motoamerica.com/standings/ for detailed results. Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Round 3 Results – New York Short Track AFT 1. Jillian Deschenes 2. Jaycee Jones 3. Malary Lee 4. Lanakila MacNaughton 5. Sarah Dixon 6. Gabrielle Hughes 7. Bridgette LeBer Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default for detailed results. The women of Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing will be back in action September 17-19 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for the third and final round. The Build. Train. Race. Flat Track program will race their fourth and final round at the Charlotte Half-Mile in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 8. Find more information on the Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Road Race Program at https://buildtrainrace.com/. About Royal Enfield The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market. Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 125 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel. For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

Have a plan

Focus on organization

Spread out as much as you can. If you don’t have enough bench space, grab a piece of chalk and draw squares on the floor, labeling components in the order they came off. Taking the seconds to scribble and sort feels like a lifetime in the moment, but trying to find that one mount or spacer when you almost done is significantly more frustrating. I’ve been there, and I promise it is not a fun place.

Keep out distraction
We love a good garage gathering as much as anyone, but when you’re working on deadline, it is not time to have people over to hang out and bench race. An experienced helping hand can be nice and very welcome. However, you won’t have the bandwidth to teach as you go, or to supervise someone whom you don’t trust to do things exactly how you want them done. A plan is extra important should you have someone over to help. Be sure it is thought-out and clear.

Write your list and cross things off
Your plan should include some milestones. “Rebuild engine” is a poor plan; one that includes steps such as “remove and inspect cylinder head” is better. This gives you guidance and also a feeling of accomplishment mid-project when you cross things off the to-do list. Embrace these moments, because they can recharge your mental batteries when your energy is getting drained by a large task. Breaking up a project into chunks also helps you time food or mental breaks to keep yourself fresh.

Take the time for a final once-over
Tightening the last bolt feels great … but was that really the last bolt? In a flurry of work, it is extremely easy to skip the torque wrench or not run the proper pattern when tightening things down. When you think you are done, take a moment and go front to back—or top to bottom, or whatever makes sense for your task—and mentally put your mind to each part you touched while also physically checking that you did you job correctly. Nothing is worse than thrashing to get something done just to have it break again because of something you missed during a moment of autopilot assembly.

Day 1

Friday afternoon Maree and Graeme Lowen ride the Goldwing to Dunedin. This Ice Run is organized by the Deep South Chapter of the Patriots
Motorcycle Club of which Graeme is in the throes of becoming a member. You must attend three meetings, three of their organized runs and lead an
organized run.

It was a great fine calm day for a ride with dry roads and little traffic, until we hit SH 1 at Clinton and then it became a slow ride to Dunedin. Keep in mind that winter runs from June to August.

This is the first of the Patriot organized runs for 2021.

Day 2

Saturday dawned a bit cold and foggy with a smattering of a frost around as well. We figured that by the time we got started there would have been enough traffic to clear the roads and remove slippery areas.

It proved to be true as we made our way at about 90 kph (55 mph) over the motor way and into Killmog. There were some ten bikes and a backup van with a trailer. It was nonstop from Dunedin to Oamaru, something that I am not used to but
I did manage.

The pace was slower than what I would have liked, but I learned later it was the lead rider’s call.
Apparently, he rides like this all the time. Not good pace when with a group.

Some riders needed to refuel in Oamaru by which time it started to warm up a bit. My handlebar mitts were a boon for me. Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometers south of Timaru and 120 kilometers north of Dunedin on the Pacific coast.

Then it was onto Timaru at the same frustrating pace. It’s not often I am in a group being passed by four-wheelers, because we are going so slow.

It was into Timaru, and I refueled there but it was the entry into the Robert Harris Café on the east side of SH 1 in Washdyke that caused a bit of
confusion amongst some of us riders that had stopped to refuel.

We could see all the bikes parked up on the south side of the café but without obvious entry
into it? It never occurred to our leader that the entrance was on the north side. I rode into a large parking area of the building down from the café, did a U turn and rode up the footpath, across bit of a
rock garden and into the carpark on the north side.

About four others followed me. We also met up with some riders from Christchurch and had lunch.

After lunch, Keith took over as the lead rider and picked up the pace as we rode through Fairlie (I did not stop for a pork pie) and on up over Burkes Pass. As we entered the straights around Dog Kennel Corner there were a few police cars out stopping speeding motorists.

We hauled in for a break at Tekapo for refueling. The afternoon started a bit cool. But it
was soon to get a whole lot cooler, as we rolled Out west to the Balmoral Military Camp and headed south and over the Tekapo Canal.

We could see all the fog hanging around the top end of Lake Benmore. When we turned west again, we could see a dense fog bank at the gap known as Simons Pass. Jacko warned us about fog and a hoar frost in Twizel, but it started at Simons
Pass. As soon as you were into the fog, the hoar frost gripped the area as well!

Hoar frost is a type of feathery frost that forms because of specific climatic conditions. The word ‘hoar’ comes from old English and refers to the old age appearance of the frost: the way the ice crystals form makes it look like white hair or a beard.

The density of the fog varied from here on and offered different layers of fog over Lake Pukaki. They appeared rather picturesque if the dense clouds remained in the distance. It was crossing the
dam where the thick fog started to mess with our vision, in addition to the hoar frost all the way
into Twizel.

Keith led us into the township and to the gas station but seemed a bit lost after that. We couldn’t see much in front of us. Another rider with his cell phone acting as a GPS took over and three of us
followed. Only he led us to the wrong camp ground.

When he dismounted, he had a light layer of frosty ice on the front of his jacket. He wasn’t the only one. However, as we were the only ones in the wrong campground. The GPS was reset and we all
followed him around in very dense fog. We could only see about 25 meters. Even then, we had to stop and reset the GPS before arriving at Lake Ruataniwha campground.

We knew we were at the right place when we saw bikes inside the fence. That must have been the bunk block. We went to the main entrance and checked in.

Maree is not fussed about sharing a room with a whole lot of guys, but we got a Motel unit as did several others. It was an hour or so later that we
got a ride in a van to the local RSA for our evening meal. There must have been some 30 of us.

Day 3

Sunday just sort of dawned much in the same condition as the previous day. I wandered around taking photos as hoar frost is not something most of us get to experience.

Up at the bunk house bikes were in various stages of being started, some more reluctant than others. Riders aimed a kerosene blast-heater at a bike to try to thaw out the carburetor. I returned to my bike and although the engine turned over rapidly it wouldn’t fire. I could smell an excess of fuel and the battery began to decline.

I got a jump start from a car, and it fired into life with no trouble. I was not game to turn the engine off as it did not appear to be happy, but at least it did not die on me. A cold ride as well as fogy followed all the other riders out to the main road to head south to Omarama.

Out on the road side young buff guys stripped to the waist taking brave photos with hoar frost background—no girls.

The fog did rise a bit, and we simply rode out of it just around the bend past the turn off to lake Ohau. Then into Omarama and we refueled
and made our way to the Wrinkly Ram for Brunch.

Having eaten some brunch, it was time to hit the road. One of the riders made comment about me not really needing the handlebar mitts any longer. They would look good on his bike. However, they still looked good on mine and away we rode towards the Lindis Pass.

My fears of there being ice over the pass were unfounded and the road was dry. It was the stop at Tarras that provide us with chilly clues. I got talking to a lady who drove from Tekapo in the morning. She told us that the first club group ran into dense hoar frost and thick fog all the way from Tekapo to the Ohau turnoff. The guys who left 20 minutes later missed most of it.

She saw a classic truck and caravan that slid off the road and another 4-wheel mishap.

We were indeed lucky that the Christchurch guys headed south with us. From there on it was a warm ride until we reached Lumsden where, even though we were only half-an-hour from home, I still felt cold enough to put my jersey back on that I took off in Frankton.

Home safe!

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

There was a time, not long ago, when Harley-Davidson wanted a piece of the muscle bike segment action, and gave birth to mighty V-twin racing street custom, or VRSC. The family was successful enough for a while, and Milwaukee made several versions of it, including the V-Rod, before discontinuing production.

The V-Rod would be the muscle Harley motorcycle that gave birth to the family and, after it died, became one of the favorite bikes to modify in the books of shops across the world. Europeans seem to have a special soft spot for the model, and some have dedicated entire lineups to this particular model.

Russia-based Box39 is one of those shops. Most recently, their passion for all things V-Rod comes down to the Giotto family of custom builds, but that passion had to start somewhere. Digging through their relatively short history (these guys have been around for about ten years), and through their past work, we’ve come across this here, unnamed and orange V-Rod that seems to one of their earlier such projects.

As far as custom builds are concerned, this particular one doesn’t really rock our world. We get the usual custom bits here and there, but other than that, nothing really catches the eye, not even the orange on the body, a color not unlike we’ve seen before. Until the said eye falls on the custom wheels on this thing.

Sized 21 inches front and 18 inches rear, the wheels, like many other fitted by Box39 on their builds, have been made to look this way in-house by the Russians themselves, with the shop bragging about being able to make unique such parts, “from the smallest to thirty-inch monster.“

And they kind of nailed it with these ones as, for what it’s worth, the wheels are what make this particular V-Rod noticeable in a world filled with similar builds.

Sadly, Box39 does not say how much a pair of such wheels cost to make.

Box39 website at: https://box39.ru/vrodorange/

from https://www.wbir.com

Community gathers for car, truck and motorcycle show to support families in need.

The 13th Annual Cruisin’ for Kids kicked off on Saturday August 14, 2021, off Clinton Highway, benefiting the Mission of Hope’s efforts to support families in need.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Engines roared down the highway in Knoxville over the weekend as trucks, cars and motorcycles gathered for an event meant to help children in need.

It was the 13th Annual Cruisin’ for Kids event benefiting the Mission of Hope’s work to support families in need across East Tennessee. The event wasn’t just to help raise funds for the nonprofit, though. It was also a competition to see who had the best vehicles in a variety of categories.

Awards included categories like the Top 3 Rat Rods, the Top 3 Motorcycles, the Top 3 Trucks, the Top 3 imports, the Top 3 Daily Drivers, the People’s Choice Award and the Best Unfinished.

“Our money is raised through registration for cars, we have a silent auction and we sell t-shirts,” said Mary Anne Gamble, an organizer of the event.

Money raised from the event will go towards buying clothes and toys to be given to underprivileged children around Christmastime.

Mission of Hope website: https://missionofhope.org/cruisin-for-kids-2021/

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk

Big bikes don’t come with big scares any more

Back in the day, powerful bikes were thrilling and terrifying, but this naked Italian beauty has all the thrills and none of the terror thanks to a brain that works faster than the rider’s. Well, Geoff’s, although that’s not saying much.

I started doing bike tests in 1846, before bikes were even invented, so I just sat on a fence making bike noises, then hauled out a quill pen and a sheet of parchment and sent in my review to Velocipede Monthly on a passing donkey.

When bikes finally came along, I remember being simultaneously thrilled and terrified by some superbikes, such as the Kawasaki ZX-10R.

You got the feeling that at any moment it would fling you over the hedge, leaving you draped over a baffled cow called Gertrude, although it did get less frisky when Kawasaki fitted a steering damper to later models.

However, I realised at the launch a while back on the Suzuki Hayabusa that I wasn’t a bit scared.

There are several possible explanations for this. Either I’ve taken on board the advice I read from a psychiatrist recently that fear and excitement are just two sides of the same coin in your brain, so when you feel afraid, pretend it’s excitement.

I tried it on my first time back flying after lockdown, and it worked.

Another alternative is that I have become an astonishingly skilled rider, but since that’s highly unlikely, I suspect the answer is that bikes today such as this one are fitted with so many safety features that you’d need to be a complete idiot to end up draped over Gertrude.

I’m talking about cornering ABS, cornering traction control, anti-wheelie control, launch control, adaptive cruise control and so many other controls that before long we’ll be able to send bikes out on their own, and they can come back and tell us what a great day out they had.

And don’t laugh – BMW has already shown off an R 1200 GS which can tootle around without a rider, and that was back in 2018.

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, just about to climb on board the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory, the Factory bit meaning that it’s got electronically adjustable semi-active suspension, lower bars, better tyres and a more comfortable pillion position than the £15,500 base model.

In spite of the lower bars on the Factory, it’s surprisingly comfortable, even for the taller motorcycling chap, which is a welcome relief from the days when sportsbikes hunched you over like the love child of Quasimodo and Richard III and left you calling by the chiropractor on the way home.

Which left me free to admire the rather useful mirrors and a 5in TFT screen which is much clearer than on the previous Tuono, with bigger, brighter graphics which show you everything you need at a glance, including road riding modes, which can be either Tour, Sport and User, where you can geek out to your heart’s desire. There are also three track modes.

Acceleration, even in Tour mode, is gloriously lusty, accompanied by a visceral howl from the V4, handling is sublimely light and precise, and braking is as brutal but seamless as acceleration.

It’s a bike that’s impossible to unsettle no matter how ham-fisted you are in and out of corners, even on rough surfaces. Remarkable.

I spent a very happy hour getting lost on the rural A and B roads of Armagh, Northern Ireland’s apple country, feeling like I was on a bike I’d owned for years, rather than just picked up an hour ago.

Tweaked fuelling from the old model, and a firm but slick quickshifter to snick up and down the six-speed box just add to the feeling that this is a very well-sorted package indeed – fast but safe, agile but stable, and sporty but comfortable.

Switch to Sport mode, and it’s as if the bike’s been given a large and probably illegal dose of steroids, and yet even with the suspension firmer and the acceleration even more ludicrously breathtaking, it still never feels unsafe or unsettled, with the bike’s brain working faster than yours can to keep the bike stable under all conditions.

Well, my brain, anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll put away my quill pen and roll up the parchment, since I see a donkey approaching, and the editor of Velocipede Monthly is an impatient sort of chap.

Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory
Engine: 1077cc liquid-cooled V4
Power: 173bhp @ 11,350rpm
Torque: 89 lb ft @ 9,000rpm
Colours: Black/red
Price: £18,100

by Joe Foreman from https://www.opinion-tribune.com

Motorcycles & Moonshiners: Motorcycle riders and fans of the popular “Moonshiners” television series were in hog heaven Saturday during the inaugural Bootleggers Run motorcycle rally that began and ended at Loess Hills Harley-Davidson near Pacific Junction.

The rally, a fundraiser for the Northeast Elementary School playground project, included appearances by Tim Smith and Josh Owens – cast members from the “Moonshiners” docudrama that’s been airing on the Discovery Channel since 2011. The show features a cast of characters, many who reside in wooded regions of the Appalachian Mountains, that make their own moonshine. Smith is also well known for his legally-produced Climax Moonshine that’s made from a century-old family recipe.

Saturday’s motorcycle rally attracted more than 200 riders and included scheduled stops at establishments in Shenandoah and Macedonia and Glenwood’s Keg Creek Brewing Co.

Smith and Owens, donned in their trademarked bib overalls, signed autographs and posed for photos at each stop along the rally route.

by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com

To most motorcyclists, the term “pure” evokes images of kickstarters, chrome finishes, and cable throttles. It takes us back to simpler times; a time before electronic nannies and catalytic converters. Back then, motorcycles were easy on the eyes—and the technology.

Charming as it is, nostalgia certainly has its limitations. Most riders aren’t rushing back to hardtails, drum brakes, and carburetors. Luckily, modern-classic motorcycles can cherry-pick the best aspects of yesteryear and today. At least that’s what BMW attempts with its R nineT family. Now, circular headlamps can house LED lights. Wire-spoke wheels can bear retro styling as well as tubeless tires. Design can be both timeless and trendy.

The four R nineT models express this dual nature to various degrees, but the Pure variant embraces the back-to-basics philosophy most. The main ingredients remain intact, but the Pure favors stripped-down practicality over performance. A steel fuel tank replaces the lightweight aluminum unit, a conventional fork steps in for the responsive USD front end, and the cockpit hosts just one round gauge.

Those concessions result in a $10,995 price tag, cementing the Pure as the less-is-more option in BMW’s feature-rich lineup. Since introducing the R nineT in 2015, the Bavarian brand has positioned the neo-retro naked as a custom-friendly platform. The Pure just takes that approach to the next level. Sporting a Mineral Gray Metallic paint job, the base trim is both comely and capable. However, BMW proved that the stock guise is just the starting point when it put an R nineT Pure Option 719 in our charge for a few weeks.

The Ultimate Customizing Machine
In 2021, the R nineT’s air/oil-cooled, 1,170cc, boxer engine earns a Euro 5-compliant update. While noise emissions regulations muffle much of the platform’s signature bark, it holds onto its bite with 109 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 85 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. The upgraded shock absorber now boasts a hand wheel adjuster and travel-dependent damping while ABS gains cornering functions. Rain and Road ride modes now come standard and full LED lighting illuminates the way.

Despite those generous revisions, BMW went even further with the R nineT’s paint and accessories catalog. Each model now features series colorways along with BMW’s custom in-house Option 719 paint schemes and accessory kits. For an additional $1,350, customers can trick out the R nineT Pure with the Option 719 Aluminum package seen here, which includes an aluminum front fender, fly screen, tail cowl, and gas tank.

The brand’s Billet Pack Classic tacks on milled cylinder head and engine front covers along with an extra $1,050. Additional cosmetic upgrades such as spoked wheels and the design option silencer add another $975 to the bill. Of course, the House of Munich offers a Comfort Package that unlocks the Dynamic ride mode, heated grips, and cruise control. On the other hand, the Select Package prioritizes safety with traction control, engine braking control, and an adaptive headlight.

After all the extra components, software patches, and destination charges, the R nineT Pure Option 719 retails for $15,865. That’s still $80 under the standard R nineT’s $15,945 MSRP, but it’s a far cry from the minimalist machine that the Pure sets out to be. For that reason, we’re going to primarily focus on the model’s standard equipment, and that all starts with the big-bore boxer.
The Ride

BMW may have updated the eight-valve, opposed-twin to meet modern emissions standards, but the aging powerplant retains all of its vintage charm in 2021. Twist the throttle while in neutral and the bulletproof boxer still jolts to the left. As always, vibrations course through the handlebars and foot pegs at higher revs. Unlike most modern motorcycles, BMW preserves these quarks, chalking them up to the R nineT’s “character”.

The Bavarians may hold on to those old ways, but the boxer now delivers an even stronger punch in the mid-range. Road mode harnesses those pulses with a linear power delivery while Rain mode dampens the effect in the name of safety. Unsurprisingly, the mid-range surge is most prevalent in the optional Dynamic mode. Those looking to maximize the Pure’s performance potential may spring for BMW’s Comfort Package as a result, but Road mode was notably capable in nearly all situations.

While the flat-twin went flat out in the mid-range, the Euro 5-compliant tune also produces lean fueling at the low-end. After a few unintended stalls off the line, I learned to babysit the clutch away from each stoplight. The low-end fueling paired with the engine’s high rpm vibes produced a narrow range of usable power, and that quality was most evident on twisty roads.

Without a slipper clutch, quickshifter, or auto-blipper, the R nineT was best ridden with smooth inputs and a patient demeanor. Aggressively banging through the gears only unsettled the big boxer, and in turn, the chassis. Consequently, R nineT riders are encouraged to let the corners come to them. That’s when the modern-classic comes into its own. On flowy canyon roads, the 43mm fork and steering damper hold a true line while the Metzeler RoadTec tires provide more than enough grip for the available lean angle.

Knocking on the door of 500 pounds, the Pure isn’t the nimblest Beemer of the bunch, but the centralized mass makes side-to-side transitions less strenuous than expected. The rear suspension adjustment knob will please two-up riders, but in the single-seat configuration, users will set it and forget it. After experimenting with the top and bottom settings, the mid-position produced the best feel without sacrificing too much comfort. However, it’s hard to characterize the ride as luxurious in any setting.

Conversely, the dual 320mm discs and Brembo four-piston calipers outperformed the spec sheet with a strong initial bite and surprisingly direct feel from the axial master cylinder. As anticipated, the two-pot Brembo binder and 265mm rotor in the rear delivered a less responsive experience, but they did a great job of steadying the 483-pound naked at slow speeds. The R nineT Pure may not win any performance shootouts, but the package sure fits the bill for everyday road use.

The Fit
Throwing a leg over the Pure for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the wide handlebars, broad seat pan, and narrow midsection. The low foot pegs position the knee at a 90-degree angle, though the hard parts drag much sooner as a result. Up top, the reach to the bars is a slight stretch, but the tank cutouts allow the rider’s knees to relieve pressure on their wrists. If it weren’t for the thinly padded saddle and nonexistent wind protection, the Pure could double as a suitable touring rig.

In stock form, however, the R nineT functions best in urban environments and twisty canyon roads. While the standard equipment includes a bench seat, the optional seat cowl increases both form and function. The tail unit not only locks the rider into the cockpit but also acts as a storage compartment. The removable backplate enables users to stash legal documents, disc locks, hats, and small tools in the rearward cubby. It may not replace a backpack or accommodate groceries, but it’s a convenient and reliable solution for most naked bike riders.

Similar to the ergonomics, the streamlined electronic suite is straightforward and user-friendly. The single gauge doesn’t include a tachometer, but the LCD display reports engine temperature, ambient temperature, time, mileage, and trip distance. The analog speedometer is a nice retro touch while a dedicated button allows riders to effortlessly cycle through the ride modes.

With the Comfort Package, cruise control settings are located at the top of the left switchgear and the right-hand side hosts the heated grips button. Select Package features like the adaptive headlight unit and traction control work in the background, freeing the rider to concentrate on the road ahead. The simple but effective accommodations should satisfy most riders, but BMW’s robust add-ons collection will also serve those that enjoy the bells and whistles.

Conclusion
Thanks to the lack of flashy TFT displays and radar-assisted farkles, the Pure lives up to its namesake. The tried-and-true boxer produces just enough rumble to enliven the ride and the tech never presents a distraction. What the platform gives up in performance it gains in ease of use and enjoyment.

Even without the Option 719 cosmetic kits and additional electronic upgrades, the R nineT Pure is an excellent companion for the weekday commute and the weekend cruise. The modern-classic Beemer may have electronic nannies and a subdued exhaust note, but the entry-level R nineT still captures the pure fun of riding a good, old-fashioned motorcycle.

by Erik S. Hanley from https://www.jsonline.com

A motorcycle ride supporting veterans with disabilities is rumbling through Oak Creek later this month

When T.J. Oman, a retired Navy lieutenant commander in Wisconsin, reached out to a fellow veteran in Minnesota about the fifth VIPER ride, he learned the man had been diagnosed with cancer and had months to live.

VIPER, or Visually Impaired Patriots Experiencing the Road, will hold its fifth annual motorcycle ride on Aug. 22 in Oak Creek at the Oelschlaeger-Dallmann American Legion Post 434, 9327 S. Shepard Ave. The Minnesota man has traveled to the Milwaukee area for every past VIPER event, but his sister was keeping this year’s announcement from him because of his diagnosis, Oman, one of the VIPER ride founders, said.

“I messed up her plans because when I didn’t see his application this year, I put together an email and sent it to a batch of people curious about their absence,” Oman said.

Now that he knows the ride is happening, despite his diagnosis, that veteran is coming to ride.

Motorcycle owners, known as “pilots,” are partnered with a veteran called a “tailgunner.” The duos stay together throughout the day’s events. Volunteers are known as the “groundcrew” and they work to give directions, welcome participants, set up food and drinks, clean up and more.

“We’re looking forward to it this year because we missed it last year,” said John Carter, a former Marine and co-founder of the VIPER ride. The 2020 ride was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Initially only for blind veterans, the ride recently became “the VIPER ride plus+” expanding to allow veterans with any physical disability that prevents them from operating a motorcycle. There is no cost to participants.

“We don’t charge anybody a dime, this is not a fundraiser,” Carter said.

2021 VIPER ride schedule of events
Early in the morning, breakfast will be offered, Carter said. The 50-mile, 90-minute ride through Milwaukee County will kick off around 11 a.m. with two-wheel motorcycles, trikes and motorcycles with sidecars. This will be the first year incorporating a lot of freeway driving with the entire return trip on the interstate, Oman said. After the ride, a big luncheon with live music will be held.

Overall, Carter estimated the event will last from about 8 a.m. to 3:30 or 4 p.m.

All motorcycles large enough to carry a passenger safely are allowed on the ride. Organizers validate every driver’s license for a motorcycle endorsement, get a copy of everyone’s insurance and perform a full safety inspection on every motorcycle.

“It takes a little bit of time but everything we do is all about the VIPER ride and participants,” Oman said. “The reason we do this is the social side of it, just to hang out and talk with these guys. Some of these guys are true heroes.”

The ride will be escorted by police on motorcycles. Oman said the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has been a supporter “from the very beginning.” Additionally, officers from the Milwaukee Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol have ridden with the group.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” Carter said.

In the past, the ride lasted substantially longer, Oman said. The first two years the ride went out to Kettle Moraine and East Troy, totaling 111 miles round trip. The second year was a little shorter but still hit triple digits on the odometer. After two years, some veterans said it was a little long, Oman said.

VIPER rides have nationwide participation
Oman, who served on a nuclear submarine during his tenure in the Navy, said this year was the smallest group of participants since they started with 30 tailgunners and between 50-55 motorcycle pilots. In the past, the event had about 50 tailgunners and as many as 120 motorcycles.

Oman attributed the smaller sign-up numbers to the cancellation of the ride in 2020.

“The out of sight, out of mind mentality affected us,” he said. Oman said many were likely still hesitant to come out and do anything in a group as well given the surging number of delta variant cases.

Registration for the ride itself ended in June, but Carter said everyone is welcome to attend the other festivities.

“We match up pilot and tailgunner and put time and effort into making sure we match the tailgunner and the pilot for size,” Carter said. “We try to get it all finalized in June so we know what we’re doing.”

In the event’s inaugural year, participants from across the country, encompassing 15 different states, attended the ride. Carter said one regular rider travels from Mesa, Arizona every year.

“He takes a train here, travels three to four days, rides that morning, then takes a bus back,” he said.

While many friendships were gained from the event, some early-year participants have been lost.

“I never really foresaw the impact and the long-term effect but a lot of these guys, the pilots and the tailgunners, have become lifelong friends,” Oman said. “They communicate year-round, they maintain contact, it has become a family and as a result of that we’ve lost a few.”

One veteran and big supporter of the event died a few months ago, Oman said. The group is “breaking the rules” and letting his wife and daughter ride with them this year in his honor.

“They’re part of the VIPER family,” Oman said.

The VIPER ride website has a memorial page for participants that have passed to “keep their memory alive as part of the ride,” Oman said.

“Unfortunately, the list keeps growing, but I guess part of living is dying,” he said.

Supporting veterans with disabilities

Oman said he’d been trying to convince Carter to do a motorcycle ride for the blind in the past. Carter, who became the president of the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, was looking to enhance recruitment for the organization. Out to lunch one day, the two came up with the VIPER ride.

“We mutually agreed it would be a good tool for recruitment,” Oman said, adding he’d been involved with motorcycle rides for the blind in the past.

Carter said one goal for the event was to get blind veterans back out into the fresh air “experiencing something they wouldn’t experience again.”

“Once you lose your sight you don’t want to participate in much, many don’t,” he said.

Carter wasn’t thrilled about the motorcycles, but Oman convinced him to get on a trike with a friend every year for the VIPER ride. For Oman, he doesn’t need convincing.

“I don’t need much of a reason to ride a motorcycle,” he laughed. He still invites Carter out for other rides but with no success.

“Motorcycles scare the liver out of me,” Carter said.

by Christopher Vondracek from https://www.dglobe.com

Noem rode both a horse and a motorcycle at the Rally on Monday, helping sell an oil painting of her for $55,000 in a charity auction. Staff says this was Noem’s first time at the massive western South Dakota biker bash.

STURGIS, S.D. — Call it South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s victory lap.

On Monday, Aug. 9, the conservative firebrand auctioned off “True Grit,” an oil painting showing the governor on a horse during Custer State Park’s annual Buffalo Roundup.

The charity auction in Deadwood, South Dakota, was in the heart of roaring Harley-Davidsons and the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Next, Noem rode 50 miles on a denim blue Indian motorcycle into Vanocker Canyon and eventually out onto the plains of the Buffalo Chip campground.

“South Dakota is getting recognition that it’s never got before,” said Rod Woodruff, owner of the Chip, seated in a tent next to Noem in her signature baseball cap Monday. “And it’s a direct result of the respect this governor has for the freedom and liberties of the citizens.”

The governor followed up on her nostalgic vision of Sturgis.

“They can come here and remember what America feels like,” Noem said.

Had there been a crowd, they would’ve revved their hogs.

The Black Hills, the most conservative corner of this red state, wasn’t always unabashed Noem’s country. In the 2018 primary, Noem blew past then-Attorney General Marty Jackley with a statewide 14 points victory, but Jackley, a Sturgis native, bested Noem in his home, Meade County.

Five months later, in the general election, Noem — who grew up on a crop-and-cattle farm in the far northeast corner of South Dakota, more Minnesota than Custer — squeaked by another West River politician, this one the former rodeo champion, Billie Sutton, a Democrat from Burke.

Even through the first half of her gubernatorial tenure, the former four-term congresswoman’s polling was low across the state. But that all changed during COVID-19.

“She’s normal South Dakota, and that’s what the rest of the world is missing,” said R. Victor Alexander, who runs the Three Forks C-store and campground outside Hill City, where a “Trump won” flag waves in the wind.

Alexander says he believes Noem’s opposition to mask mandates pressured the local school board to oppose mask requirements, as well, something he approves of. He also supports what he calls her “tourism policy” and “the fact that we did not necessarily shut down.”

“I’m supportive of what she’s done and what she will do,” he concluded.

What’s next?
It’s the “will do” that is keeping people guessing. Noem has notched national TV spots, and traveled to fundraisers in Wyoming, Texas, and Florida. She’s given speeches in Iowa and Minnesota and campaigned last fall in New Hampshire.

These are the places one would go if they were running for president, not South Dakota governor. But, so far, Noem insists she has her eyes on a 2022 gubernatorial campaign, not the White House.

But if Noem does look to pivot toward a more Trumpian brand, she could do worse than take a trip down Vanocker Canyon or attend a charity auction in Deadwood, where Noem T-shirts now hang in stores.

A Noem staffer said this was Noem’s first time participating in the Rally, noting that the governor used to ride a motorcycle prior to starting her family (her three children are now grown), and recently picked up the motorcycle again.

And at least by mid-August, the ride is smooth for Noem. Pierre isn’t in session till next year. Democrats still lack a challenger. And the state just purchased the jet Noem requested and legislators approved.

Sure, there have been bumps.

Her Department of Education has come under fire for overriding teacher-drafted social studies standards, removing multiple references to Lakota and Dakota history and culture. A billboard went up in Rapid City sniping at her for opposing a voter-approved recreational marijuana amendment. And health experts anticipate a spike locally in the delta variant, which could draw further scrutiny of her hands-off approach to public health.

But appearing at a motorcycle rally, even one dominated by mostly older white people, where political incorrectness is as popular as riding without a helmet, could be a battleground state in her own backyard.

“It’s been a strong rally,” said City of Sturgis spokeswoman Christina Steele, though not as much as the 1 million attendees predicted by Woodruff. Still, along with RVs, Harleys, spending money, and maybe a virus, political disenfranchisement has also seeped into the rally’s mountain towns.

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, across from a billboard of the presidential wax museum featuring a smiling Joe Biden, Jay Perkins smoked a cigarette outside the store he runs. His T-shirt said, “We the People are pissed.”

“That’s what I used to think,” Perkins said. “But now I blame us.”

Perkins said he “quit” news media after this election, and isn’t vaccinated, repeating skepticism about the safety of the vaccine. When two masked people walked into his store, he explained that some people who live outside South Dakota “believe all that stuff.”

Health officials are concerned this week the crowds — estimates of 750,000 — could send a spike in the delta variant around the region, with the state sitting just above 50% of its population totally vaccinated. But Perkins thinks the media focuses too much on the “drama.”

“What about all the charity events [during the Rally]?” he asks.

Artist David Uhl’s painting of Noem, for example, fetched $55,000 for a human trafficking non-\profit based in the Hills. Noem has even offered to fly down to Texas to install the painting in the winning Texas couple’s home (the couple did not respond to an interview request, though they told a local paper they “like” Noem).

On Wednesday, the crowds moved west across the Wyoming border into Hulett for a one-day rally.

“Topless Wednesday in Hulett,” said Steele, later clarifying the rowdy town’s annual “Ham N Jam” event in the shadow of Devil’s Tower. “It gets quiet around here, relatively.”

Smoke moved in overnight from a wildfire in Montana, and news broke late in the day about a growing wildfire southwest of Sturgis, not far from the road Noem took days earlier.

But at the Gold Dust Casino in Deadwood, a man working painter Uhl’s booth — astride another painting of “True Grit,” plus a few more that resembled Noem — chatted about people “renting sight unseen” in the Black Hills.

Uhl’s usual stuff is biker propaganda. A longhaired rider cruising in front of Bear Butte. A gal bending near her motorcycle with a rattlesnake snarling at her while she points her pistol toward a distant cliff.

And now in the casino’s window, there’s an array of framed Noem paintings on display, capturing the photogenic governor — or a close look-alike — in heroic poses, buttoning an old-school leather helmet or riding her horse amongst the bison, as tourists from around the country walked past, snapping pictures.