- National Tours
- International Tours
- Motorcycle Reviews
- Product Reviews
- Chronicles
- Sponsored Articles
RoadRUNNER March/April 2010
Shamrock Tour
Wheeling, West Virginia - Shamrock Tour®
"West Virginia, almost heaven ... Country Roads, take me home, To the place I belong: West Virginia, mountain momma, Take me home, country roads." - Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver The western foothills of the Appalachian Plateau may not possess the purple mountain majesty of the Rockies in the west, but they do offer motorcyclists some...
National Tours
Northern California Wine Country
It’s a happy coincidence: the same undulating topography that makes Northern California’s hill country so perfect for growing grapes has also challenged transportation engineers to create some classic motorcycling roads. So what better way to find a bit of heaven on earth than to sample the hills and valleys during the day, and a bit of the Cabernet...
Georgia Coast
The Georgia coast might not be the first place that comes to mind for a quick motorcycle ride from Atlanta. But with only a weekend to spare, my husband and I wanted somewhere that we could ride to, within a few hours of our home in North Atlanta. With its rich history, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and remote barrier islands, the Georgia coast...
Vermont and New Hampshire
Progress, like the odometer, rolls on and on. Time flies, wheels turn, numbers roll higher, and just about everything increases in complexity. Forests give way to farms, that concede to homes, that spawn shopping centers, that lure expanding city boundaries. But unlike the forces that drive the increasingly familiar conurbation, a good traveler will...
Southern Utah and Northern Arizona
“Nobody goes up the mountain anymore,” laments Bob, my newfound, 76-year-old friend. “Everybody takes the highway. You got to go up the mountain!” Since this local character clearly has had much time to collect wisdom, I decide I best take him up on his advice....
International Destinations
History Lessons in Central Europe
I’m in Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp. The railroad tracks beneath my feet…if they could talk, what stories might they tell of the cattle cars and the breaking apart of families and the dehumanization and the death? I am at a loss for words and struggle with capturing pictures as well – how can you encapsulate in a photograph, the horrific...
Moto Mundo Maya in Mexico, Part I
“I have found out there ain‘t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” Tom Sawyer Abroad by Mark Twain...
Riding Impressions
2010 Honda Elite 110
Times are tough and money’s tight. You need to get to work or school and run errands. Choice A is to spend three grand on a beat-up, gas-guzzling car that’s long out of warranty, and will probably break down at the worst possible moment in rush-hour traffic. Choice B is to buy a brand new gas-sippin’ scooter that comes with a warranty, and you...
2010 KTM 990 SM T
This past November, KTM invited the motorcycle press to sample their 2010 line of street machines in lovely Monterey, California. Plenty of hot (or in my case, lukewarm) laps were turned on the world famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course, aboard the impressive 1190 RC8 R superbike and the super sporty 990 SM R Supermoto model. But despite all...
Chronicles
How to Ride a Trike
Trikes are only for old people and children, and definitely for the unbalanced who can’t keep a two-wheeler upright. Right? Wrong!...
The Joys of Camping
Location, location, location. This real estate mantra certainly applies when selecting a piece of land on which to pitch your tent. The good news, though, is that finding a perfect camping spot is far less stressful and less consequential than purchasing a home. When searching for a great campsite, you should focus on two aspects: the type of campground...
Best Western International / Harley-Davidson
Best Western International and Harley-Davidson recently invited members of the press along for a four-day ride through the northeastern countryside of Vermont and upstate New York, with accommodations at Best Western properties along the way. The purpose of this unusual invitation was to publicize the renewal of their joint participation in the Ride...
Johnson City, Tennessee
It's no secret that northeastern Tennessee is a motorcyclist's playground. With every type of tarmac, including curvy roads that seem unending, this area won't disappoint. US 421 is just around the corner from Johnson City, with its smooth asphalt, free of gravel, and repetitive curves that allow for the most rhythmic and thus enjoyable riding in the...
MotoMojo - Brake Service and Maintenance
Brakes are a crucial safety system, yet they seldom get attention unless there’s a problem. Fortunately, minor brake work is within the capability of most experienced home mechanics. You don’t need a lot of tools, and you can save a bundle of money doing it yourself....
Product Reviews
TOURATECH Tire Puncture Repair Kit With Tools
If you frequently tour, you should definitely ride with some sort of a tire repair kit. Most riders carry a quick-fix product that can plug a hole and add air to the tire, but a quick-fix often doesn't suffice – especially if you're into dual sport and off-road riding. Imagine you're out on the mountain trails, and you end up with a punctured...
Leatherman Super Tool 300
For the most part, motorcycle tool kits aren't comprised of the finest quality fix-it items available. They're usually rather anemic collections of pot metal pieces that often aren't up to even the most rudimentary tasks. Unfortunately, a proper tool collection takes up space and it usually ends up far from reach at the very bottom of the saddlebag...
Buyers' Guide - Touring Boots
It’s time to dust off the riding gear so we’re ready to roll when the mercury finally rises. While helmets, jackets, and gloves grab most of the attention, it’s important to remember that our feet also need their fair share of protection. Think about it: when we ride, those intricate masterpieces of bones and tendons that act as our primary source...
Speed and Strength: Coast is Clear Textile Jacket
Just like every woman's struggle to find that perfect pair of jeans, the same problem arises when looking for a riding jacket that is formfitting, functional, and safe. What sets this women's jacket apart is versatility and comfort. Waist adjuster straps eliminate the common boxy structure, and two vertical zippers expand the base to accommodate both...
Tour Master Decker Leather Pants
Tour Master's new Decker leather pants offers the protection and styling of leather with the comfort of textile riding gear. The pant's Grade-A Drum Dyed Leather construction features high strength, bonded nylon stitching, removable CE approved knee and hip armor, two layers of leather in the seat and knee areas, zippered hand pockets, mesh lining,...
HJC CL-16 Helmet
HJC's newest CL-16 model is another big hit. Typical of HJC's lids, the helmet fits snugly and is all-day comfortable with nary an annoyance. The lightweight, polycarbonate outer shell was designed using CAD technology and on the freeway, this extra bit of research really showed through. Even awash in tractor-trailer wake, the CL-16 showed no adverse...
Kelty Gunnison 2 Tent
If you're looking for the perfect companion for your motorcycle journey, look no further! The Kelty Gunnison 2 tent is lightweight, easy to pitch in just four minutes, self-supporting, and spacious enough for two people with luggage. Double opposite entrances, combined with vestibules, ensure comfort for each occupant. There are plenty of mesh-vents...
Petzl Tikka XP Headlamp
Headlamps are one of the most useful pieces of equipment on a camping trip. If you need two hands to read a book, cook, or repair a bike – this is the way to go. The small, lightweight, comfortable, and very versatile Petzl Tikka XP is well built and one of the best headlamps on the market. The three AAA batteries last, depending on the lighting...
Marmot Midweight Down Mummy
I never sleep better than when I'm in a down sleeping bag. Moisture-transport, insulation, weight – there's no other material that matches down. And there's no other sleeping bag that matches the experience of the Marmot Midweight Down Mummy bag. Rated at 15 degrees Fahrenheit, it surpassed my expectations and kept me feeling comfortable in...
Storm - A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance, and Transformation
Riding a motorcycle is an experience that is hard to capture in words. And one could argue that unless you ride, you just don't "get it." However, Allen Noren's hyper-descriptive narrative, Storm, does a great job of conveying to everyone, the almost spiritual connection riders have with their bikes. And of course, the book also taps into the complexity...
