A Raucous Ride
Monday, June 29, 2009
Dan Paransky’s Blount County shop is rich in large boat motors, motorcycles, and European cars. Giving a tour, he is preceded by a lit cigar that he is not actively smoking, much as the priest follows his censer. Full story »
More Featured Stories
Father-Son Day at the Track
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
“Like father, like son” may be somewhat of a cliché’ phrase, but there is no better way to describe father and son roadracers Chris and Jamie Spencer. At age 17, Jamie embarrasses men double his age while Chris, at 50, does the same to the youngsters. “I guess I’m in it for the competition, and also I love riding the bike to the limit,” Chris says. “I don’t have to win to be happy, just as long as I ride to 100 percent of my potential.” Full story »
More Profiles in Motorcycling
Lehman Trikes Founder to be Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
Monday, June 29, 2009
If you did a double-take the first time you saw a Goldwing three-wheeler cruising past on a two-lane, you’re probably not alone—but trikes have become so prominent in recent years that the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. itself recently introduced the Tri Glide Ultra Classic, supplied by modern-day trike inventor Lehman Trikes. That’s one sign of company founder John Lehman’s success in the world of motorcycling—another will be his induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame on August 5. Full story »
More News Briefs
- Mladin Finally Challenged at Infinion and Road America
- The Portland 555 Head This Way
- Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson Takes the Gold
- In Memoriam: Kris Hawkins
Kickstands Up
Monday, June 29, 2009
I’m still getting used to being on two wheels myself. After being out of the saddle for many years, I succumbed to the habit of so many middle-aged guys: Buying the dream bike you couldn’t afford when you were young. In my case, that’s the Honda Hawk GT. No, you probably haven’t heard of it. Imported for just a few years in the late ’80s, it’s now considered to be the original (modern) naked V-twin sport bike that preceded the models that Ducati, Aprilia, and Suzuki now produce. Full story »
More Editor's Note by Coury Turczyn
Accidents Happen to All Vehicles
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I’ve never understood the “Kill a biker, go to jail” thing and I defiantly didn’t get Steve Dupree’s column, “Liars!” [Rubber Side Down, April 2009]. What are people like Dupree trying to say? That because I’m large enough to be seen that you shouldn’t hit me? That’s crazy. Using that logic, then surely cars would be large enough to be seen, too, and we’d never have any traffic accidents at all because everyone is large enough to be seen... that is, until a mistake is made. Full story »
More Letters to the Editor
Liars!
Monday, March 23, 2009
In the biker community, there is a saying that there are two kinds of motorcycle riders: those that have slid and those that will slide. It is pretty much accepted that if you ride long enough, you are going to wreck. Most of the guys I know that ride, myself included, have a number of wrecks to our credit. Sometimes it is gravel where there should be none. Sometimes it is just plain bad judgment. Full story »
Todd Wooldridge's Tribute Bike
Monday, June 29, 2009
My uncle Bob and I rode together for about 20 years in Chicago—I lived in Chicago before I moved here to Tennessee. He was the uncle your mom and dad didn’t want you to hang out with, who got you your first beer, but I hung out with him anyway. He put me on my first Harley, and then he and I rode together for a long time after that. And when I moved to Tennessee, he said he would come down and ride the Tail of the Dragon with me on his ’86 FLHTC—it’s a classic, a Liberty Edition motorcycle. He had planned his trip, got new tires, got a new seat—but before he could leave Chicago, he passed away. Full story »
More It's a Mod World
- Douglas Snavely and His 1978 Honda Goldwing
- Nathan DiClaudio and his Yamaha
- Steve Gilkey Bought his Krauser New, Made it New Again
- David Ketterman and His Customized Hayabusa
Riding the Long “Tail”
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Highway 129, or “The Tail of the Dragon” as it’s more commonly known, is a dream road for many motorcyclists with its 318 turns in 11 miles. But for the unprepared, or unskilled, it can be a nightmare. Mention riding the Dragon to non-motorcyclists you’ll get responses full of words like “die,” “death,” “insane,” and “stupid.” These really aren’t the best words to have in your head when skirting Tellico Lake on the way to see if the hype is real. Full story »
More Newbie Journal: Countersteer by Patrick Beeson
- Wear What You Want To Crash In
- First Time Into the Four-Wheel Fray
- MSF Course a Must For Riders Old and New
True Adventures
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sometimes you go to an event and you just know you’re going to have a great time. Well, this was one of those days. The first day of the Slate Creek Adventure ride (April 18-19) was one of those times where everything came together. The weather was absolutely perfect, the route was lots of fun, and the organization of the event went way beyond what you usually experience at a first-time ride. Full story »
More Off Road & Dual Sport: Getting Dirty by Russ Townsend
- Yes, the Kid's Dirt Bike/ATV Ban is Real
- Dirty Politics
- The King Daddy of All Riding Areas
- Your Guide to Exploring East Tennessee’s Dirt
To Rally or Not To Rally...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Lately several people have asked me, “Mel, why don’t you throw a scooter rally???” Maybe it’s because I’m not getting to go to a ton of rallies this summer or because I want to hang out with other scooterists so badly, but… honestly, I’m getting a little jealous of my husband and all the like-minded old motorcycle enthusiasts he hangs out with. Jealousy is never a good thing… or is it? What if I channel that energy into getting off my ass and putting together a rally after all? Full story »
More Scooters: Scoot Around Town by Melanie DiClaudio
The Harley Mystique
Monday, June 29, 2009
What is it about a Harley... Mystique? Nostalgia? The Stuff? The Love Affair with a Steel Horse-Riding Cowboy? The way you can feel the hoofbeats of the engine in your chest? The Options, the Models, the big Dealer Showrooms? The way they love you back by reaffirming everything you love about Harley through their marketing? Full story »
More Spike & Me by Carol Watkins
Keeping It Local
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
With times getting tougher for many these days, it’s natural to want to shave a few bucks here and there in your second-tier requirements like recreational riding. I keep hearing about great deals online from others who spend hours clicking pages in the hopes of saving a few bucks here and there, and it made me wonder how many people don’t realize just how important it is to keep your money local with a reputable dealership or bike shop. Full story »
More Sportbikes: 6th Gear by Ben Steinberg
- Off to the Races
- Motorcycle Gear and You
- Taking It to the Track
- Staying In Tune for Off-Season Riding
Form Over Malfunction
Monday, June 29, 2009
The lady I passed on the one-lane bridge on Indian Ridge Road in Grainger County thinks I am a maniac, scofflaw, or, if she’s familiar with the term, squid. She couldn’t see through my face-shield and sunglasses that my eyes were wide as saucers with terror as I squeezed by. She couldn’t see the pucker marks on the seat vinyl, either. Full story »
More Vintage: Fred's Garage by Fred Sahms
Betty’s Excellent Adventure
Monday, June 29, 2009
Betty and I crossed the George Washington Bridge around 6:30 Wednesday evening. Stopping every 20 feet or so there was plenty of time to breathe in the city and feel the warm embrace of our fellow travelers. They honked, waved and drove really close, trying to get a better look. You’d think they’d never seen a Ninja 250 with a Tennessee tag; much less one named Betty. Full story »
The Essence of Cruising
Monday, June 29, 2009
With our choice of transportation we make a statement, riding in the wind, which differentiates us from the cage dwellers. We motorcyclists are a motley crew indeed, taken as a whole—we all see the sportbikers with their flashy and insanely fast machines, the “wingdingers” and Beemer riders touring to destinations unknown, the “scooter trash” zipping nimbly through the urban sprawl, more and more trikes as the boomers and their bodies get older. By and large we are seeing the majority of today’s riders on cruising machines, and this is no accident. Cruising is probably the most satisfying way to roll down the road for the average rider. Full story »
Harley's Fat Bob: Minimalist Monster
Monday, June 29, 2009
Full disclosure: the 2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is the first Harley I’ve ridden. And a woman (Angie Cole, who rides a Fat Bob and saw me struggling through the window at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson in Maryville) had to show me how to start it. So there. I don’t get my testosterone from the dealer. Full story »
More Take That Ride
- American-Made Café Racer
- 2009 Genuine Scooter Co. Stella
- 2008 Aprilia 750 Shiver: Molto Buono
- Harley Sportster is Badass Reborn
Down Into The Devil’s Triangle
Monday, June 29, 2009
Depending on where you live, this is another ride that can easily be done in an afternoon or morning. Despite being relatively close to Knoxville, this is one of the most remote rides you can tackle. It’s also one of the more serious rides you can make. Not trying to scare anyone off, but this is not a good road for beginners. Full story »
More Ride Routes
- Hot Springs on a Hot Day
- Foothills Parkway Loop
- The Road to Reliance
- Clearing the Salt to Crab Orchard
Spotlight Events for June
Thursday, May 28, 2009
1st Annual Rally at the Strip: English Mountain Dragstrip in Newport is the location for a new, three-and-a-half-day motorcycle rally, which means it’s got something no other rally can claim: namely, a dragstrip. Participants can make timed runs on their own motorcycle on the dragstrip. Anyone whose bike and gear passes the safety inspection can race their buddy, or just make a pass on their own. Full story »
More Spotlights
May Bike Nights
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ray’s ESG: Tuesdays at Ray’s ESG [7355 Kingston Pike, 865-766-0464]. Happy hour 3-8 p.m., live entertainment at 8 p.m. Full story »
More Bike Nights
Club Meetings in June
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Volunteer Riders (off-road club) meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Time Warp Tea Room [1209 N. Central St., 524-1155]. Full story »
More Club Meetings
Instructional Programs for June
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Knoxville Rider Education Program: Training sites in Knoxville and Morristown. Courses for beginner to advanced riders. Full story »
More Instructional Programs
Regional Events in June
Thursday, May 28, 2009
State H.O.G. Rally: June 3-6 at the Clarion Hotel [2227 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 615-896-2420]. Will feature guided and self-guided rides, live music from local bands, a poker run, exhibitions and field events that all end with the nationwide race at Nashville Superspeedway. Full story »
More Regional Events
Upcoming Events (June Edition)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
BMW Riders of Knoxville ROK’On Pre-Rally: July 12-15, at the Two Creeks Campground [Highway 107, Del Rio]. The registration fee is $40 and includes three nights camping, two dinners, unlimited coffee and a breakfast buffet, along with a Rally Pack and maps. Full story »