Passing through the rust belt near Allentown Pa, I can see the black wall of angry storm clouds racing towards me from the southwest. It seems “thunderstorms and test bikes” are my constant theme in 2012. First it was tropical storm Earl and the Victory Cross County Tour, then it was an unnamed but equally [...]
A mischievous grin split my face as I approached the empty intersection a mile from my house. Poor planning years ago had turned what should’ve been a mundane 3 way city intersection, into a quarter mile twisty motorcycle launch pad. I slowed slightly, shifting my weight to the left, and pushed the bike over into [...]
It was a perfect fall day . . . not a cloud in the sky, with the temperature around 70 degrees. The colors of the trees were just reaching their peak, and the red maples wore their crimson red leaves with pride, and the full palette of fall was on display. And to make, matters [...]
With my feet tucked up in a semi-race position, arms stretched out in front of me like a Streetfighter, and the Spanish road dividers beside me traveling backwards at over 120 mph, it feels more like being in the latest Tron movie than out on a test ride. Futuristic electronic gauges feed me information, as [...]
“A purpose-built sport bike for the street.” So you are getting older and your knees and back aren’t what they use be but you love sport bikes. You grew up with your wrists down, rear end up, and as far as you are concerned it’s how a real motorcycle should be. They were built for [...]
Sitting in the press meeting at the historic Driskol Hotel in Austin, Texas, preceding the first ride of the new Stryker 1300, there are familiar faces wearing Star shirts. Long-term employees and lifelong motorcyclists, I’m among designers, product planners, accessory specialists, road testers, media staff and more. A closely-knit team of highly qualified and dedicated [...]
By Neale Bayly. Photos by Tom Riles and Brian J Nelson. “You motorcycle guys have got life figured out.” I heard that while talking with a corporate executive the other day. His short statement caught me by surprise. He no longer rides a motorcycle but he looked at me, shook his head, and hurried [...]
By Neale Bayly Photos by Brian J Nelson. “It’s got a petrol engine son.” I’ve always imagined the moment in the future when my grandkid is in my garage asking me what the weird looking two-wheeled machine is in the corner. After all, by then we’ll probably be heading to work on hydrogen powered smart phones, [...]
Riding through the slot canyons around Gateway, Colorado, with the headlight of a good friend occasionally blinking in my mirrors, I’m once again reminded that I belong to a small tribe, at least when compared the number of people there are in the world who don’t ride. Realizing how incredibly fortunate we are to experience [...]
Honda CBR1000RR…by Neale Bayly. Photos by Neale Bayly and FS Enterprises. Firing the 2010 Honda CBR1000RR to life for the first time, slipping into gear and easing out onto the road next to my home, I’m amazed by the lack of drama. Slotting into traffic, picking up the Interstate and dialing the big, four cylinders [...]
