Whatchathinkin'

 What’s the magic number? When the first Duke debuted 30 years ago, it was 602cc, which was packed into a single-cylinder engine that made 58 hp. These days (in the U.S. market), Dukes range in displacement from 249cc in the Duke 250 to 1,350cc in the 1390 Super Duke R Evo. In between, KTM offers the 390 Duke (399cc), 790 Duke (799cc), and 990 Duke (947cc). For this KTM 990 Duke review, we take one of the newest Dukes on a test ride in the mountains of southern Spain.
 

RIDER

Few things are as annoying to riders as getting finished after a day's wet ride and finding all your stuff is damped...or soaked. Soaked sucks.
Rigg Gear's Hurricane Series of ADV Luggage will end that problem for good. The Rigg Hurricane Series has Tail Bags, Dual Sport Saddle Bags, Cargo & Duffel Bags and Tank Bags - all 100% waterproof, stylish and very workable on many machines, not just Adventure bikes.
Log onto their website to see the entire series.
 

Rigg

Announcing the 10th Annual

NEW SWEDEN 450!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

NS BMW Riders are back for their tenth anniversary year and are excited to offer a new venue! The Inn at Starlight Lake, Starlight, Pa. Enjoy a 2 day ride filled with miles of great back roads in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Get together with your friends and fellow riders. Elect to ride in groups, with friends or solo. Registration fee includes GPS route with paid registration (when ready), as well as pastries and coffee during sign in. Saturday Dinner May 18th and Breakfast Sunday May 19th are available for purchase. A special dinner menu will be offered. The Inn has a bar on premises. Festivities start at 6:30 PM and will include prizes, possible swag and a 50/50 drawing. Ride starts at VFW Post 7677, 317 Church Road Medford NJ and ends at PJ Whelihan's, 1854 Rt. 70 Cherry Hill NJ. Sign-in is from 8:30-10AM Sharp May 18th. Not everyone ends ride at PJ's. Some riders head directly home.

New Sweden 450

We have been asked where we get some of our Final Thoughts - especially when they apply to motor racing?
Well, there is an excellent site called BlipShift... and their image and tee shirt designs are really awesome. Most of these can be done in stickers, key chains and the like. Get a cup of coffee and get ready to go down a Rabbit Hole with Horsepower!
 

BlipShift

Backroads Magazine Current Edition

In 1919, a viscous 40-foot wave slammed into the city’s North End, killing 21 people...

On January 15, 1919, 10-year-old Pasquale Iantosca went out to gather scraps for firewood. Although it was a warm day, his father, Giuseppe, was taking no chances: He had bundled his son into two crimson sweaters, and was keeping an eye on him from the second-story window of their small apartment building in Boston’s North End. But peril is not predictable, and as Giuseppe watched, Pasquale suddenly vanished. “A dark wall had consumed him as though he never existed,” the historian Stephen Puleo writes in Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. 
 

Atlas Obscura

Few People Know The Real Reason Behind The First Civil War Land Battle Taking Place In West Virginia...
 

When discussing the American Civil War, one cannot overlook the significance of the first land battle that took place in Philippi, West Virginia (which was at the time still Virginia). As a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, why did this obscure location become the stage for the initial clash between Union and Confederate forces? To understand the events that unfolded, we must take a closer look at the strategic importance and circumstances surrounding this historic battle.
 

First Civil War Battle

What? Did You Rally Think We Were Done...

A friend asked for a carrot to get her through the winter...

Well here it is, the Backroads' Spring Break 2024!

This long weekend will start on a Thursday, along the upper Delaware River in Hancock, New York and then meander west to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This region of the Endless Mountains is a pure joy to ride and explore.

This SB will be a bit different, and we want to see how good you are at navigating and route planning. Any Road Whisperers out there?

The # 1 rule is Nulla Praecepta - have at it!

So, you got the basics... now it's up to you. Create your best route for any given day, and send your GPX files to [email protected].

These routes will be judged by Mr. Notso Happy, Pepe & Spenser T. Cat, and the top journeys will be posted for all.

Have fun and good luck!
 

Spring Break 2024

Stop Getting Scared in Turns...

We discovered CC a while back and really enjoy their take on riding and technique...

What if I told you that what you read on the internet, or maybe what you were taught was totally wrong? What if us as a motorcycle community have been looking at corner entrance the wrong way? Let me show you what I mean.

Canyon Chasers

Spring Matchbox Car Show

Spring Matchbox Show

Progressive

Bluebird of Bitterness

The Artwork of Ken Condon 

Shelbourne Arts Cooperative

26 Bridge Street, Shelbourne Falls, MA

Through the Month of April 2024

You many know the name Ken Condon from the motorcycling world of excellent teaching, mentoring and journalism but, as Ken says on his bio, "Art has been part of my life since I was a kid. This led to art school and a 20 year career as an illustrator. And now, my attention is on creating paintings of places I’ve visited and places I know well. I hope you enjoy the art I’ve done. ”

Ken's artwork will be on display at the Shelbourne Arts Cooperative through the month of April. You may know the name Shelbourne Falls for its Bridge of Flowers; now there is something equally as beautiful for which to visit. And you can take home one of Ken's pieces as well…

Ken Condon Artwork

Question

The Moody Blues

Here at Backroads Central we were trying to learn to play Question - from the Moody Blues, and came across this great tutorial from            The Lone Piper..

The tuning is all different, and the strumming frenetic... but this video made it easy.... and who doesn't love Jeopardy?

Enjoy this take on the song and if you play guitar...

What is - Here is Your Chance!

 

IN a form of a QUESTION!