The Backroads Report February 3rd 2024 #303

Published: Sat, 02/03/24

The Backroads Report

Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure News

From Around The World

Brian Rathjen's

Free Wheelin'

The Old MJ's Home...

I was reading Mitch’s article on the Honda Interceptor in the AMA magazine, and a little while back I had lunch with Fred Rau…

The fact we are getting older was mentioned a few times during lunch; and that we all were lucky to be part of the “Golden Age” of motorcycles - 1970 to whenever it began to change.

It should only have been mentioned once but either Fred or I forgot we had just mentioned this five minutes back – so you know….

What were we talking about? Oh, yes – MotoGP! How awesome is this?

Perhaps it is time we made a Home for Moto Journalists. The Old MJ’s Home!

Free Wheelin'

Backroads' Spring Break 2024

https://backroadsusa.com/backroads-events

What? Did You Rally Think We Were Done...

A friend asked for a carrot to get her through the winter...

Well here it is, the Backroads' Spring Break 2024!

This long weekend will start on a Thursday, along the upper Delaware River in Hancock, New York and then meander west to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This region of the Endless Mountains is a pure joy to ride and explore.

This SB will be a bit different, and we want to see how good you are at navigating and route planning. Any Road Whisperers out there?

The # 1 rule is Nulla Praecepta - have at it!

So, you got the basics... now it's up to you. Create your best route for any given day, and send your GPX files to editor@backroadsusa.com.

These routes will be judged by Mr. Notso Happy, Pepe & Spenser T. Cat, and the top journeys will be posted for all.

Have fun and good luck!

Spring Break

Welcome to the Jungle proudly brought to you by

Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C.

2024 Ducati DesertX Rally

https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/ducati-desertx-rally-first-ride

Ready to take on anything and everything off-road...

Not one to stand still for a second longer than absolutely necessary, Ducati has upped the adventure bike ante once again with the DesertX Rally, a high-spec and genuinely race-capable development of the excellent DesertX.

The Rally is truly a DesertX on steroids, a road-legal ready-to-race bike with beefed-up, long-travel KYB suspension and little in terms of componentry and intent to separate it from the machine that won the twin-cylinder class of the recent Iron Road Prologue at the Erzbergrodeo.

Cycle World

It's Ice Cream for Breakfast Day!!

https://alwaystheholidays.com/ice-cream-for-breakfast-day/

You can read about how it came about by clicking the image.

After you've read through The Backroads Report, head over to your favorite ice cream shoppe, dairy or farm and get yourself some ice cream for breakfast. We'll be having ours at Tranquility Farms in Andover, NJ (see bottom link) but you can have yours at home or anywhere that will satisfy your ice cream cravings. Enjoy the day!

Tranquility Farms

Winter Tips for Coping When Not Riding

by Mark Barnes, PhD

As winter's dreary gray-brown palette dominates the landscape outside my garage window, I take comfort in the warm orange glow of the space heater angled between my bike and workbench. Temps where I live in eastern Tennessee can get bitter cold, but highs typically hover around 40 degrees in January and February, often with drizzling rain. Like now. I'll ride when it's 40 and I'll ride when it's rainy, but not both at once.

WInter Tips

Hermy's BMW / Triumph

https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation_v2?permalink_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconta.cc%2F42dE4pQ&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0bb3021701%2F9658af1e-3756-4382-9853-21d37fca1ddf.jpg

Save the date – Saturday, February 24th! Hermy’s BMW Triumph would like to welcome all riders from all brands to come in and enjoy a winter-time open house. A hot breakfast from Carmelo's Roman Delight will be served starting at 10am with a noon-time complimentary showing of the latest Backcountry Discovery Route from their growing and extensive ride catalogue – BDR NorCal! So, until the weather breaks and you can get your bike out to northern Cali, stop in and drool with the rest of us!

Hermy's

A Brief History of the United States’ Accents and Dialects

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsE_8j5RL3k

Part II

Migration patterns, cultural ties, geographic regions and class differences all shape speaking patterns...

This week we will continue on our education of accents across the United States with Eric Singer.
He is simply wonderful to listen to, and how our American language, tone and accents came to be...

Smithsonian

Harley-Davidson CVO Pan America

Confirming the initial report, Harley-Davidson announced a new CVO Pan America as part of its 2024 range, adding an adventure model to its high-end Custom Vehicle Operations lineup for the first time.

The CVO Pan America is powered by the same 1252cc Revolution Max engine as the Pan America 1250 Special. The DOHC engine with variable-valve timing produces the same peak performance figures as the non-CVO model, claiming 150 hp at 8,750 rpm and 95 lb-ft. at 6,750 rpm.

motorcycle.com

Backroads' Book of Useless Knowledge

https://www.willowcreekpress.com/products/49229

We all need to know "Useless Knowledge" and we here at Backroads are full of it... useless knowledge that is.

Each week we will add a bit more to your brainy brain...

Then onward to Jeopardy!

Today I Learned

The Amazing Challenge 2024

West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, & Virginia

The 2024 Amazing Challenge is a 4 night 3 day Scavenger hunt event. Starting and ending each day at the Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center in Davis, WV.
Each day (except Thursday) riders will be allowed 11 hours to complete the 300 mile ride. Each day’s objective will be to visit and correctly document 6 pre-determined waypoints using either the rally provided rider card or rally flag. Points are acquired by documenting your visit with a digital camera or phone.

The Amazing Challenge

Progressive

Bluebird of Bitterness

Presents

Escape of the Week

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tomnadashan-mine?mc_cid=f498ca37d2&mc_eid=568804ebbf

Tomnadashan Mine
Perth and Kinross, Scotland

BEWARE of KILLER RABBITS!!!

Monty Python fans will recognize this abandoned mine as the Cave of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog.

There’s much more than dust and bits of metal hidden within the depths of this mine. If you’ve ever seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you know it’s home to things far more sinister.

Finding this mine is a must for all Monty Python fans. They’ll immediately recognize it as the spot where King Arthur and his “brave” knights confront the cute but killer bunny that guards the Cave of Caerbannog, which is home to the Black Beast of Arrrghhh.

Tomnadashan