The Backroads Report December 9th 2023 #296

Published: Sat, 12/09/23

The Backroads Report

Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure News

From Around The World

Brian Rathjen's

Free Wheelin'

Dirty Work

A bit back I was talking with my friend Jim Banks.

I had just met Jim fairly recently, as he had ridden along with long-time Backroads alumni Mike Mosca and Ken Hilley to Alaska the year before.

Riding to and from Alaska, and especially Prudhoe Bay and back, is a monster trip.

The calcium chloride that can coat the bike is an absolute bear to remove, and it seems to stick around for years afterward. While talking with Jim and Mike, Jim pointed out a bit of the white grit that still lingered on his R1250GS, near the steering stem.

I reached out and touched it, and jokingly rubbed the tiny dot on my head – Ash Wednesday-style.

Jim kind of looked at me, and it was semi-funny – but later I thought maybe I should not have touched it at all. That was Jim’s calcium chloride, and he and his GS earned it...

Free Wheelin

Welcome to the Jungle proudly brought to you by

Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C.

Nine New 2024 Adventure Bikes at EICMA 2023

https://adventuremotorcycle.com/bikes/2024-adventure-bikes-of-eicma?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=2023-11-16%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email

ADVMoto has been tracking adventure bike segment growth since before it was a popular genre in in North America. Over the past 20 years, the selection of adventure bikes in all sizes and configurations has never been better! This year's EICMA only adds fuel to that fire with even more models from more brands trying to capture more of this exciting market space. We're especially happy to see the long awaited 450cc range bikes finally starting to populate the market. The United States, like the rest of the world, is fully ready for more options in this size category and after over decades of waiting, we're so happy to see it finally start to arrive!

ADVMoto

Superbike comparo, 40 years too late:

1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R vs. 1983 Honda CB1100F

by Lance Oliver

It's the summer of 1983 and a consumer walks into a multi-line motorcycle dealership, the repetitive strains of "Every Breath You Take" (inexplicably lodged at #1 on the Billboard chart) thunking in the background. Our would-be buyer has cash burning a hole in his Guess jeans, so he's checking out the new Honda CB1100F in its bright red-and-white paint when a similar-looking bike in even more eye-catching green nabs his attention.

"That's the Eddie Lawson replica," coos the salesman, who has glided in behind him, ready to set the hook. "Lawson," our buyer thinks silently, not wanting the salesman to know he's not fully up to date. "Isn't he a racer or something?"

Revzilla

Rider's Stocking Stuffer!

RKA Luggage

We have been using RKA Luggage for decades now.

Well designed, durable and made right here in the USA - these bags have helped us traverse the backroads for a long, long time.

Tankbags, Tailbags and so much more check out their site and get RKA Luggage on your list to Santa.

RKA Luggage

8 Things You Should Know About Hanukkah

These 8 Crazy Nights!

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C., following the triumph of a small group of Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, against their oppressors the Greek-Syrians, who had defiled the temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls. In order to rededicate the temple, the Maccabees had to light a menorah that would burn within the temple at all times. However, they only had enough pure olive oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply of oil.

But there's more...

Hanukkah History

Your Personality Depends on Which U.S. State You Live In

A map of confidence and kindness from California to New York.

Does Where You Live Have any bearing on the kind of personality you have? Science says yes, and these maps show how.
But which science is that, exactly? It sounds like something cooked up after hours in the back alley between the geography and psychology departments. When this rogue discipline becomes respectable enough to get its own lab, it will need its own name.

Atlas Obscura

Why Adventure Motorcycles Have Surged in Popularity...

There is a Reason for Sales and Popularity

The wide range of riding and customization options makes these bikes a fit for a vast array of riders.

ADV Sales

Stocking Stuffer

https://www.cardosystems.com/shop/freecom-4x/

CARDO FREECOM 4x

All you ever wanted from a high-end motorcycle intercom - with Sound by JBL, Live intercom for up to 4 riders, Natural Voice Operation, and tons of other amazing features.

Communication can be key when riding with others...

the Cardo Freecom 4X Makes it Easy!

Cardo Feecom

Simon Crafar Blasts Qatar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgcYd6BawxY

Riding the MotoGP Course Under the Lights

MotoGP sent Simon Crafar out to go and have a blast under the lights on the Lusail International Circuit!

A truly amazing lap!

Simon's Lap

Progressive

Bluebird of Bitterness

Presents

Escape of the Week

Tour Spain with IMTBIKE

We just returned form a fantastic motorcycle journey through the Iberian Peninsula with IMTBIKE. Mountains, a land of 10,000 curves AND MotoGP!

We can't say enough about this tour company, and look for a full feature in an upcoming edition of Backroads...

IMTBIke

Presents

Song of the Week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmZGqiXS5M

Da Roof

War

Many years ago we saw War at The Bottom Line. Yep, we are that old.

They opened with this song, and it came across our queue the other day, and we were reminded on how great this band was.

Superb in every way... turn it up and listen!

Da Roof

At Shops Now...

The December Edition of Backroads!

We End 2023

With a Great Holiday Issue!

It's has been an awesome year of riding, and we'd like to finish 2023 with a Special Holiday Issue. We have stocking stuffer ideas, a look at the Spyder RT (Hey, it's Sonny and Famous Face), we go in search of mermaids, visit one of the grandest gardens in the nation and see what Spock's brain has to do with a Kawasaki upgrade.

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

Backroads