Kickstand Alley

6 Favorite Motorcycle Radio Shows

Kerry Atkins — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:35:30 +0000

Listen to the following motorcycle radio shows “live” on your computer, or download their podcasts through iTunes to listen to them wherever you go, wherever you are. Be sure to check out current and archived episodes for a whole bunch of fantastic guests, cool topics and useful tips.

Radio Show	When Is It on?	Description
	Monthly	Ride! BlogTalkRadio’s premier motorcycle blogcast. Join freelance motojournalist Adrian Blake as he talks with noted personalities and experts in the international motorcycling community. Ride! is an award-winning series that airs from Toronto.

	Tuesdays 7 pm EST	Side Stand Up Radio Show, the World’s Only Motorcycle Radio Road Show. Join Tom Loudermilk and Friends every Tuesday 7 pm to 9pm EST as they talk to new and exciting guests who share their adventures, stories and dreams.

	Tuesdays 8 pm EST	Pit Pass Radio, America’s weekly motorcycle talk show, your source for weekly updates on what’s happening in the world of motorcycle racing, industry news, trends, and the people involved. Listen to the live broadcast Tuesdays, 8 pm EST.

	Wednesdays 8 pm EST	Biker Lowdown Radio focuses on entertaining and informative news going on in the Biker / Motorcycle world. Join LJ James , Chuck, Brenda Fox and Hammering Hank every Wednesday at 8 pm EST.

	Saturdays 9 pm EST	Motorcycle Radio Network is proud to present the voice of the American Biker. They not only design, build, destroy and rebuild the fanciest metal two wheels can stand, they ride, Baby. Only one looks good in leather though. Listen to the Block Head Boys’ one-hour radio show every Saturday night at 9 pm EST.

	Saturdays 10 am MST	Hog Radio, the Best in Bikertainment with hosts Walt Fletcher and Steve Johann covers the world of motorcycling and biker lifestyle: street, adventure, customs and cruisers with a special emphasis on Harley-Davidson. The show broadcasts live on Castle Rock Radio Saturdays 10:00am – 11:00 am MST.

Motorcyclist, 91, Gets His Motor Running

Kerry Atkins — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:20:54 +0000

REUTERS – Motorcyclist, 91 year-old Ernst Baltisberger from Switzerland, prepares himself before driving his partly self-made motorbike on the new A4 “Knonaueramt” motorway near Affoltern am Albis November 13, 2009. The 15.7 km (9.7 mile) long new A4 motorway opened for traffic on Friday to link Zurich’s new west motorway ring to the Kanton Zug.

Motorcyclist, 91 year-old Ernst Baltisberger from Switzerland, prepares himself before driving his partly self made motorbike on the new A4 ” Knonaueramt ” motorway near Affoltern am Albis November 13, 2009. The 15.7 km (9.7 mile) long new A4 motorway opened for traffic on Friday to link Zurich’s new west motorway ring to the Kanton Zug.

“Semper Ride” Motorcycling the Right Way

Kerry Atkins — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:48:47 +0000

(YouTube Link)

The Marines teamed up with some of motorcycling’s most talented riders to produce “Semper Ride.” This awesome fast-paced, action-packed film explores a wide variety of riding disciplines, machines, and terrains and captures riders in some of the sport’s most scenic and challenging settings. “People buy motorcycles to have fun on them,” says Executive Producer Jim Conway. “You can’t just tell them don’t go fast, don’t have fun. You tell them here’s when to go fast, here’s how to learn to go fast, and here’s the right place to go fast, which is never on the street.” Link to full video.

Kickstand Alley salutes all members of the Armed Forces, today and everyday. Happy Veterans Day!

8 of the World’s Best Motorcycle Safety Ads

Kerry Atkins — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:51:36 +0000

1. “Bugs” – Norway

2. “Distracted” – United States

3. “Don’t Speed” – Thailand

4. “Great, Wear a Helmet” – Denmark

5. “Perfect Day” – Scotland

6. “Sécurité routière – Téléphone” – France

7. “The Day You Went to Work” – United Kingdom

8. “The Road’s No Place to Race” – South Australia

A Look Back at the 1915 Harley

Kerry Atkins — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:29:13 +0000

YouTube Link

Dale Walksler from Wheels Through Time Museum is The Bob Vila of Early American Motorcycles. In this video he makes final adjustments to a 1915 3-speed Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He then dons vintage riding apparel and takes the Harley time machine for a spin. “It’s really kind of interesting,” Dale says. “In 1915, Harley-Davidson made several different models and always had the trend to carry over previous-year items with their new technology.” Dale briefly discusses the early technology introduced by Harley-Davidson that revolutionized the motorcycle industry.

There’s some really good literature available about the 1915 Harley-Davidson at Hog Heaven: Celebrating 110 Years of the Harley Davidson (Library of Congress Special Presentation). Here is a picture of a beautifully restored 1915 Harley…oh, and here, here and here.

For an illustrated, down-home ride report from someone who visited the Wheels Through Time Museum, you have got to read Monk’s priceless post. Family, I believe a road trip to Maggie Valley, North Carolina is in order.

Mangoes for Motorcycles

Kerry Atkins — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:01:26 +0000

(YouTube Link)

It doesn’t seem like a fair trade, but that’s exactly what the United States and India have agreed upon. While we’re eating mangoes for breakfast, Harley-Davidson’s 107-year old history is the focus of a massive brand-building campaign in India. The official reveal of Harley-Davidson’s full line of motorcycles will take place during the India Auto Expo in January 2010. Meanwhile, ‘boot camps’ are being held for journalists and motorcycle enthusiasts throughout India to familiarize them with the iconic Harley-Davidson brand. Leisure, adventure and group rides are being organized as well as talk of creating Harley-Davidson Owner Group (HOG) of India. The idea is to give Indian riders an opportunity to get out and explore the truly authentic experience of owning a Harley-Davidson.

Link via The Hindu.

Connecticut Fall Swap Meet

Kerry Atkins — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:04:55 +0000

The Connecticut Annual Fall Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Show took place this weekend at the Stafford Motor Speedway. Clear skies and sixty-degree weather drew a lot of vendors and a huge crowd. The beauty of going to motorcycle swap meets is digging in a $5 box and pulling out a $50 part. If you want something shiny, you’re probably in the wrong place. Anything else, and you’ll probably find it at a swap meet. As usual, I took a bunch of pictures and respected the privacy of those tattooed long-beards and their prospects. They could very well be the most photogenic people I’ve ever seen, but I’ll never know.

Just outside the gait was this vintage beaut made by Indian:

With the holiday season closing in, Santa’s younger crowd had to be drooling over these mini bikes. Here’s a Toyoco, sold by K-Mart in the 1970s. Asking price now is $400.

Three circa 1973 Honda Trail CT 70…these are just beautiful!

1970 Honda QA-50 2-speed automatic, runs good but smokes

Even this 1955 Cushman Eagle, for $2,600, would make a fine gift.

For $1,800, this 1968 BSA 441 Victor Special can be yours!

Now here’s putting a roll cart and four milk crates to good use.

Perennial favorites are the patch ladies.

Check out The Slipper Lady’s boots.

Vintage black leather kidney belt with studs and jewels

Belts for the rest of us.

Here’s a 1932 VL, 95% complete and 95% restored. Asking price, $10,900

How would you like to take a ride on this 2009 Ural Gear-Up 750 with camouflage paint scheme?

V.T. Cycles from Poland, Maine was there with the Ural sidecar (above) and this Royal Enfield Bullet Electra X. Beautiful bike.

Used parts galore!

1972 Harley-Davidson 45 for $5,500

1972 Suzuki T500, $1,800:

1979 Yamaha SR500, $1,800:

A herd of Triumphs:

1967 Heald Super Bronc, asking price $800. The owner took it for a lap around the swap meet. It appeared to run pretty good!

Tiger Cub races at Stafford Motor Speedway on Monday nights, 5 to 7 year-round, fun and cheap, ready to race, $17. A lot of Tiger Cub racers started racing at 5 years old.

The owner of this 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA Model did a number of laps around the swap meet.

All Out War Cycles was a popular hangout for guys looking for the hottest-selling items.

Here’s a Pope in need of a 1915 HD tranny.

This colorful show bike caught my eye:

This custom Street Glide is beautiful too. Check out the frenched-in turn signals.

I think this is a circa 1970 Honda Trail CT90:

Twin anniversary edition Electa-Glides

Live music by Ron Jones. That man can sing!

This lady was a wee bit wobbly on her Sportster. It was her first time on a bike in 11 years.

Upcoming swap meets:

Top of the Heap Motorcycle Swap Meet & Bike Show, December 5, 2009 at Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA, 10 am to 4 pm. Enter your bike in the Top of the Heap Bike Show. Win cash and trophies, $500 to best of show. Live music with Ron Jones. Tattoo contest. Spectators $10, children under 12 free; dealers $65-100.
Connecticut’s Annual Spring Motorcycle Swap Meet, March 28, 2010 at Stafford Speedway, 7 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. Music by Ron Jones. Antique/Custom Bike Show. Spectators $7, vendors $25

Support a Soldier this Holiday Season

Kerry Atkins — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:48:46 +0000

Veteran’s Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2009, which starts the holiday season for military heroes of America. If you’ve got a minute, please send a thank you or holiday card to a soldier this season. The mailing address is:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

It’ll only take five minutes to do and will probably be the best card you send this holiday season. There’s a bunch of guys and gals out there who have put their lives on the line to protect democracy around the world. Soldiers and their families would love to hear from you. So please take a moment to send a card to encourage them, thank them, and support them. Let them know you care.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Monday, December 7th. Cards postmarked after this date will unfortunately be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays. For more information on how the Holiday Mail for Heroes program works, visit the American Red Cross.