RoadRUNNER September/October 2004
Shamrock Tour
Shamrock Tour®: Williamsburg, Kentucky
Two-lane asphalt snakes its way through steep mountain gorges sculpted over millions of years by rushing streams. Lush vegetation presses in from all sides, often overarching the road and blotting out the sun. On this, the fourth day of our tour, my feet and hands move with practiced precision, downshifting, tapping the brakes, leaning deeply into the...
National Tours
Northern Arizona
I awake in Flagstaff to a dusting of snow on the trees and bushes. More of the same is heaped upon the naked rock that crowns Humprey's Peak, the highest point in Arizona. This sharp summit, stretching 12,633 feet above this old railroad town, tears holes in the fast-moving storm clouds, and I'll come to use it like the North Star to navigate in Northern...
In search of Washington's Coastal Mountains
At a Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group meeting the president looks over and says, "Robert's just back from an interesting trip."And perhaps a bit too smugly I begin to sketch the details of my recent tour of Washington's Olympic Peninsula; 700 miles in three days on my 1970 Bonneville. Other members begin to pipe up scornfully: Dan rode his 1952 Vincent...
Eastern Ohio
Why did the black snake cross the road? I don't know either. Maybe he's fleeing to higher ground from the floodwaters that have recently plagued the Eastern Ohio countryside. Maybe the critters on his menu are just a bit more succulent on the other side. Either way, he doesn't have far to go to reach safety. Traffic is light and the day is beautiful....
Missouri Rhineland
Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet left the first written account of the land that became Missouri after descending the Mississippi River in 1673. Today, Father ChristianNeuhauser, his wife Christa, and their sonsManuel and Florian are on the road withAprilias and Piaggios to follow their trail....
International Destinations
Norway: Wild, Scenic Fjord Country
Want to explore Europe's wild North? Then traveling western Norway between the historic city of Bergen and Geiranger, along the secluded coast and over the central mountains with its demanding rides around Dalsnibba and Trollstigen, is your best bet....
Riding Impressions
Victory Vegas / Triumph Speedmaster Comparison
Parallel twin versus V-twin in a no-holds-barred contest of cruisers. We grabbed two contemporary powerhouses in the muscle bike market to see which one holds the edge: Is it the parallel Brit style or American know-how in the tangent?...
Aprilia Atlantic 500
It took some doing to find out where Salina is. Now I know. It's in the middle of Kansas, and after a 14-hour drive, we finally arrived at Salina Powersport. Robert Bohm, the owner, welcomed us heartily and set about explaining the operation of two Italian scooters, Aprilia's Scarabeo and the luxury liner I'm scheduled to cruise upon, the Atlantic...
The Vespa 200 GT
Few other popular creations – maybe a piping hot Neapolitan pizza – convey the life-loving verve of the Italian people than a Vespa. As our city planners and legislators grapple more with the effects of traffic congestion and dwindling resources, it wouldn't surprise me some 20 years down the line to find that the Vespa has become as common...
BMW R1200GS
Airborne at 50mph isn't the time to tell myself I should have slowed down. I have to keep the throttle open and brace. Landing cleanly and gracefully, I'm surprised to find I'm still in business, so I twist the throttle. The rear end spins up, launching dust, gravel, and a loud "Yee-haa!" before I grab another gear. Somebody forgot to tell BMW you can't...
Yamaha R1
No doubt about it, Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists ever and a free spirit the like of few others before or since. Trendsetters in architecture, music, fashion, cars, and bikes, Italians seem born with an eye for design. And when I first saw the original YZF-R1 in 1998, I had my suspicions there existed a pact between the Italians and the...
Chronicles
City Portrait: Australia
Within 25 years of European settlement, the community that became Melbourne was home to 300,000 people. The gold-fueled frenzy made it the fastest growing city in the British Empire, and its prodigious wealth earned it the name Marvelous Melbourne. Is it still marvelous, or has rival Sydney stolen its cachet?...
De Soto National Forest
Day trips through the De Soto National Forest appear most suited for those passionate about forestry or fishing. The best that riders can expect are the sparsely populated roads. And even though there aren't too many choices for good touring destinations in western Alabama and eastern Mississippi, this national forest can be a lot of fun if you're willing...
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Parkfield, California, lies along the San Andreas Fault where trails and streams can change direction with each quake and local property lines might as well be drawn with an Etch-a-Sketch. Ride into Parkfield with a group of Monterey Bay HOG members and you may even create your own little quake, shake a few leaves loose, and maybe discourage the ground...
Never too old
We have all heard that lame excuse: "I'm too old for that!" Perhaps it is true for some things. But it is not necessarily true about experiencing the thrill of a motorcycle ride. I came to this realization when I had the opportunity to give my mother-in-law a ride on the back of my Kawasaki Concours. During a recent visit, Mom expressed a great deal...
Packing a bike
High above Roanoke, atop Mill Mountain, there is an 88-foot tall, illuminated star visible for miles after dark. And I suppose if you are organizing a rally in honor of Yamaha's Star line of cruising and touring machines, that big beacon could certainly be perceived as a sign. Also consider, Roanoke is part of the Shenandoah Valley and shenandoah means...
