The Backroads Report September 16th 2023 #284

Published: Sat, 09/16/23

The Backroads Report

Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure News

From Around The World

Shira Kamil

Whatchathinkin'

Good Things Come in Small Packages..

One of my favorite things, come the warmer weather, is to spend time at home watching Mother Nature renew itself. Once the ground has warmed sufficiently and the sun has turned the corner to longer days, the planting begins. While we always try to keep our bird feeders out during the winter and for as long as we can before Buddy Bear is sighted, the hummingbird feeders make their emergence sometime in May. Then the wait is on to see who catches a glimpse of one first.

Whatchathinkin'

Triumph's Final Test of the New 250cc Motocrosser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyoy-9s5f-8

Triumph Motorcycles has released the last in its series of films, ‘Vision to Reality’, in which Ricky Carmichael performs the final test of Triumph’s new 250cc motocross bike.

Ricky is joined by amateur motocross sensation, Evan Ferry, who has been involved in the testing program of the new bike, alongside numerous professional riders, as it reached the final stage of development.

In the latest film, Ricky Carmichael is heard talking to Evan: “The chassis is really good, it’s super nimble, it’s plush. When you see a line, boom, you can do it.” With Evan Ferry adding: “They found something special with the frame. I don’t think I’ve ever felt something like that.”

Watch the latest film here.

Motorcycle

The History of Toilet Paper

Other substances had been used for bathroom wiping for centuries, but it was not until 1857 that modern, commercially available toilet paper was invented. It was originally sold in sheets with the inventor's name printed on it!

New York was the first to do what? Yes, toilet paper. Prepare to be razzled and dazzled by the history of toilet paper in this video from History of Stuff:

History of Toilet Paper

Does Colorado have 697 Sides?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/is-colorado-a-rectangle

The Centennial State is technically a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon
America loves straight line bordes...

The only U.S. state without one is Hawaii—for obvious reasons.

West of the Mississippi, states are bigger, emptier, and boxier than back east. From a distance, all seem to be made up of straight lines.

Congress defined the borders of Colorado as a geospherical rectangle, stretching from 37°N to 41°N latitude, and from 25°W to 32°W longitude. While lines of latitude run in parallel circles that don’t meet, lines of longitude converge at the poles.

This means that Colorado’s longitudinal borders are slightly farther apart in the south. So if you’d look closely enough, the state resembles an isosceles trapezoid rather than a rectangle. Consequently, the state’s northern borderline is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) shorter than its southern one. The same goes, mutatis mutandis, for Wyoming.

Atlas Obscura

Ted Porter's Beemer Shop

Ted Porter & Crews offer state of the art, custom built motorcycle shocks from around the globe for all brands including BMW, Ducati, Harley, Honda, Husky, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto-Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha, Aprilia and more.

The GS-911 is a Powerful Diagnostic Tool for BMW Motorcycles.

It's a specialized tool consisting of a unique software and hardware combination that allows the BMW motorcycle enthusiast the ability to communicate with the control modules in a safe and controlled manner. The GS-911 It is also compatible with the Husqvarna Nuda 900, Nuda 900R, TR650 Strada & TR650 Terra.

One of the best investments in your tool box!

Ted Porter's Beemer Shop

Progressive

PA's Best BBQs?

Too much BBQ? Naaaaa.....

Most Pennsylvanians have pretty strong opinions when it comes to food and where to find, say, the best barbecue in Pennsylvania. While Pennsylvania restaurants serve some of the best barbecue in the country, do you wonder what BBQ restaurants in Pennsylvania made the most-recommended list, as decided by you, our readers? Here are five Pennsylvania restaurants that earned a nod from readers.

PA BBQ

Street Survival at the BMW U.S. Rider Academy

When I accepted the assistant editor position at Rider, Woman Rider‘s sibling publication, I expected to ride motorcycles outside of what I was used to. That was one of the many exciting things about the job. This past January, I got what I was looking for – and then some. At the BMW U.S. Rider Academy two-day Street Survival On-Road course at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina, I went from riding my usual Honda Rebel 250 the week before to a BMW R 1250 GS. I can handle some easy math, and that’s about five times the displacement of my personal bike. And at 5-foot-1 and 110 lb, I was feeling like I had bitten off a little more than I could chew. By the end of the weekend, however, I didn’t want to get off the big GS.

Woman RIder

Central New England MotoMarathon

There are still a few more spots available for the upcoming Central New England Motomarathon. October 1-5, 2023. This four day, long distance, self guided motorcycle tour is based out of the High Life Ski Club Lodge, located in Rutland, Vermont. Each day is 300 plus miles, with different interesting checkpoints throughout the day. includes 5 nights lodging at the ski lodge, cold breakfast, and catered hot dinners. Cost is $550 pp. This event is AMA Sanctioned.

MotoMarathon

Bluebird of Bitterness

Back Issues of Backroads!

If you are new to The Backroads Report, you might not be aware that there is a real, honest-to-goodness paper publication that has been keeping riders riding for nearly 30 years.

If you are one of these riders, well....welcome and take a look at our Backroads Library - it's all here and all free.

You just have to read and enjoy the ride!

Backroads Library

2024 BMW F 900 GS, F 900 GS Adventure and F 800 GS Announced

As expected, BMW announced a new middleweight adventure lineup for 2024 with the new F 900 GS, F 900 GS Adventure, and F 800 GS, replacing the previous F 850 and F 750 models. While all three models receive updates including a larger displacement engine, the F 900 GS in particular received additional attention with the goal of making it a sportier model better optimized for off-road riding.

Motorcycle.com

Presents

Escape of the Week

Gray Ghost Inn

West Dover, Vermont

The same great place, but with some new owners!

After so many years our friend Carina has sold the Gray Ghost - but not to worry the new owners Cary and Eamon Duane will keep the hospitality and same fun times going at one of Backroads' favorite haunts...

Gray Ghost

Song of the Week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mEC54eTuGw

Angry

The Rolling Stones

The boys are back, and their new track Angry is pure Rolling Stones Rock & Roll! Sydney Sweeney does not hurt the video all that much either. It is amazing how long and how great The Stones are...still.

And, it give us all hope too... that we can have lunch some day with Sydney and discuss the benefits of ATGATT!

Angry

Now at Shops and Mailboxes - the September Edition of Backroads

We'll Ease into Autumn With This Issue

In the September Backroads we will look at the first annual Cars & Guitars Festival, ride the CB500X, and go in search of the region's tallest waterfalls. If you pick up your copy at one of our advertisers, tell them you enjoy getting Backroads there.

They all need to hear this now and again!

Ride far, Ride smart...Ride the Backroads!

Backroads