Whatchathinkin'

BMW announced a new R 12 G/S model for 2026, adding a new adventure model to its air/oil-cooled Boxer platform.

The new R 12 G/S essentially replaces the R nineT Urban G/S from the previous-gen platform, drawing similar styling inspired by what many consider to be the first adventure bike, the BMW R 80 G/S. Unlike the nineT model, the R 12 G/S drops the “Urban” aspect and puts more emphasis on the G/S, or “Gelände / Straße”, German for “Off-road / Street” side of its name.

Motorcycle.com

 June 19 - 22nd, 2025

You didn't think we'd NOT be doing some special things in celebration of our three decades exploring the backroads of the USA, did ya?!

The format might be a little different but the riding, the venues, and the things we will toss in during the ride will be pure vintage Backroads Motorcycle Magazine!

We promise a most excellent time, and you should book your rooms now... today - we mean now - as they are ARE ALMOST GONE.

Stay tuned for more news as it rolls around the twisties at us!

Ride Safe. Ride Smart. Ride the Backroads.

Backroads Summer Solstice Rally

Aerostich

Best Space Pranks: 

From Space Apes to Smuggled Sandwiches

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream!

Exploring space is serious business, but that doesn't mean astronauts are above a cheeky practical joke or two.
It turns out the sky is not the limit when it comes to a good old-fashioned practical joke.

With April Fools' Day 2025 this past week, we're exploring some of the best pranks carried out in space, from a forbidden sandwich to a gorilla at large on the International Space Station (ISS).

These pranks show the lighter side of space exploration.

Space.com

Sunday - April 27th

10 am to 1 pm

This has become an event that truly starts the region's riding season off in the best way.

It is a gathering  not just of Nortons, but so many great machines that are all , almost all, ridden to the show that morning.

We'll be there and hope you will be too!
 

Gathering of Nortons

The first signs of spring are here at HU HQ - bulbs are coming up (and it's raining atmospheric rivers, but that's what we get for living on the Wet Coast!) For you, it means the adventure motorcycling season will be upon us sooner than you can imagine, and HU Virginia is coming just in time to inspire and inform your travel plans! The team has already assembled a fantastic array of presentations and tech sessions - read on!

Horizons Unlimited is thrilled to invite you to be part of a truly special milestone! Following the success of the first HU Travellers Meeting in 2001 in the UK, and 300+ events worldwide later, we're celebrating 25 years of HU adventure, discovery and community. We hope you will join us in celebrating journeys, lessons, and unforgettable moments that shape us as travelers.
 

Horizons Unlimited

After 62 years of family ownership, California’s famous Willow Springs International Raceway is about to have a new owner: private equity. The Drive can report that a Boston-based private equity firm named CrossHarbor Capital Partners that specializes in “property turnarounds” for commercial real estate is in the closing stages of purchasing the iconic race track.

We received a tip that the firm was involved in a deal to buy the track, and a spokesperson confirmed the news when we reached out. “While CrossHarbor Capital can not provide details on acquisitions before they are complete, we can confirm that a deal is pending and the team is excited to preserve the legacy and enthusiast access to one of America’s most iconic racing facilities while also setting up the property for growth and success in the future. More details will be released soon,” read the statement provided to The Drive. Hmm. Enthusiast access, you say…
 

The Drive

Date: Saturday, April 26th 2025
Place: VMA Hall, 66 Lake Rd, Congers, NY
Sign In: 9AM – 10:30AM

Light breakfast will be provided at sign-in

Register day of event for $25 per rider + $10 per passenger
This is a charity event – to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation – leads the way in funding childhood brain cancer research to cure the kids, supports families affected by this disease, and advocates for policies that help patients, survivors and their loved ones.

 Lunch will be available for purchase at the midpoint. A drawing for door-prizes will take place at the end of the self-guided tour.

Route sheets and .gpx uploads provided.
 

Ramapo MC

Bluebird of Bitterness

                    You Can Still Show Support!

Benny's Bodega, Backroads' chosen charity, has its 3rd Annual 50/50 going on RIGHT NOW! $25 will get you in the drawing for a potential $25,000, to be drawn TODAY - April 5!
You gotta be in it to win it (but don't have to be present to win), plus helping out some of the greatest people on this planet.
Click picture or link below to buy tickets.
 

Benny's Bodega 50/50

The AACA Museum welcomes dirt, road, competition, scooters, mopeds, and minibikes. Join them for their cycle-themed flea market, bike show, and group ride through the PA countryside. 

Coinciding with their awesome Husqvarna Motorcycle Exhibit, they are hosting another FREE SPECTATOR outdoor event for motorcycle lovers of all ages! 

Each $10 flea market vendor will receive 1 museum general admission. Regular museum admission tickets are available at the door.
 

AACA Motorbike Day

Progressive

Saved from Demolition

The ancestral home of the co-founder of Harley-Davidson motorcycles has been saved from demolition after it went on the market and was about to be scooped up by developers who would tear it down.

The Davidson Cottage, located in the Angus village in Scotland, was home to William C. Davidson, who emigrated to America in 1857, where three of his children (Arthur, Walter and William) joined 20-year-old William Harley to create the iconic Harley-Davidson company.
 

Good News

Ye Olde Landmark Tavern

Bouckville, NY

This wonderful combination of restaurant and hotel in upstate New York has long been a favorite of ours, and it has a great story. The history of the beautiful and historic Landmark Tavern Building begins with the efforts to procure a canal route from Binghamton to Utica. This route would join the coal fields of northern Pennsylvania with the recently open Erie Canal. Highly recommended!

Ye Olde Landmark

A Taste of Honey

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Sticking with recent concerts we have seen - we took in Herb Alpert for his 90th birthday. He was amazing still.

So, it is natural we play one of his greatest hits. This is from a recent live show...

BUT, the real reason is that it gives Brian an excuse to put the stunning Dolores Erickson and the Whipped Cream album art in The Backroads Report.

A little known fact... She was three months with child, and the whipped cream, really shaving cream. But, do we really care?

Nope. Not at all.

Herb Alpert