If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I’ve still got a lot to learn. About many things in general, but Shovelheads in particular. Most of the Shovel owners I know have been riding them since the ’60s or ’70s, but I just acquired my 1982 FXRS last year. I’m still a newbie in this regard, so I’ve been taking ...

Twin City takeover Saint Paul, Minn., Mar. 24–25—When Neil Ryan took over as promoter of the one-day Donnie Smith Bike Show and Swap Meet nearly two decades ago, I wonder if he knew it would be such a remarkable success story. When I asked, his response was, “I did have a vision when I bought the show. I knew I ...

While attending this year’s Donnie Smith Bike Show, I noticed some of the theme bikes on the display floor: a Spiderman bike, a purple Barney bike, and the Harley Tracks bike, among others. The Spiderman and Barney bikes seemed to represent a simple idea that goes along the lines of “I really like this character,” while the Harley Tracks bike ...

I’d always admired the Harley-Davidson Road King, but from the 2007 to 2016 model years, the primary had been widened to accommodate the six-speed transmission introduced with the 2007 model. For the 2017 model year, Harley once again redesigned the primary, resulting in a slimmed-down cover. Finally, I could plant both feet on the ground while seated! The new Milwaukee-Eight ...

“The future’s in the air I can feel it everywhere Blowing with the wind of change”—Scorpions (1991) When Reg Kittrelle founded THUNDER PRESS in 1992, his intention was to provide a source of information that was sorely lacking in the motorcycle world: where to ride and find event information. This quest quickly grew into one much broader, to bring our ...

Early one morning, as I crested a hill in the northern part of New Jersey, I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a diner I’d passed dozens of times. I’d never had occasion to stop there, but this morning my rumbling stomach pulled me into this place of perpetual breakfasts. The ’50s railroad-car style structure with its shiny ...

Marry New Jersey’s title of Diner Capital of the World with the city of Wildwood’s claim as the Doo Wop Capital of the World, and the Pink Cadillac Diner is born. The ’50s-inspired diner, with its stainless steel and checkerboard exterior, draws Jersey Shore tourists all summer long. It’s only open seasonally, so it’s always packed with families, college kids, ...

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier’…” So wrote 19th century poet Alfred Lord Tennyson. And most famous quotes for the new year seem to reflect the same philosophy. But this year, in trying to look optimistically toward the future, I found myself looking backward. I figure, to know where I’m going, ...

Custom comfort Avon Grips Avon Memory Foam Grips Chrome or black anodized: Sizes S, M, L-$64.95 Chrome or black anodized spike: Sizes S, M, L-$74.95 Custom Contour Anodized Throttle Assist End Cap Chrome or black anodized, $19 avongrips.com 800.334.7477 One of the first things I customize when I acquire a new bike is the handlebar grips. Years ago, I discovered ...

Much as I was tempted to ride my 1982 FXRS, Foxy Lady, to Sturgis, I left only three days after I acquired her. So, I adhered to the adage, “Discretion is the better part of valor,” and left her with my friend and fellow AMCA Colonial Chapter member Rob Nussbaum at Retrocycle. Rob promised that he’d have his tech Ryan ...