The Backroads Report June 14th 2025 #373

Published: Sat, 06/14/25

Updated: Sat, 06/14/25

Shira Kamil's

Whatchathinkin'

The Prequel

July 1995. The first issue of Backroads hits the hands of riders attending that year’s Ramapo 500 Road Tour. A whopping 16 pages of black and white newsprint which would grow, be colorized and inspire adventure and travel for the next 30 years. Homeric!

There are other events that may have caught your attention in 1995: The Oklahoma City bombing, the end of the Bosnian War and the O.J. Simpson trial. On a better note, it was a pivotal year for the internet, with the release of Microsoft Windows 95 and services like Amazon and eBay emerging. Backroads was not ‘hooked in’ as yet, so our connection to clients was still the fax machine.

As this labor of love might be akin to a wedding anniversary, the 30th is celebrated with pearls. And like a pearl, we took a grain of sand which, over time, developed into what Brian and I like to think is a lovely pearl of a magazine. We have been asked several times how Backroads came to be, so I will give a brief version (consulting with my more knowledgeable historian), a prequel as it were, of the birth of the magazine which you hold in your hands.

Whatchathinkin'

Welcome to the Jungle proudly brought to you by

Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C.

Toprak to MotoGP

https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2025/RAZGATLIOGLUS%20FUTURE%20DECIDED%20El%20Turco%20secures%20MotoGP%20move%20with%20Pramac%20Yamaha%20for%202026?sfmc_c=0037U00000CmdtEQAR

RAZGATLIOGLU’S FUTURE DECIDED: ‘El Turco’ secures MotoGP move with Pramac Yamaha for 2026

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), a two-time title winner in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, will move to MotoGP next season after signing a contract with Prima Pramac Racing to race their Yamaha M1 machines. ‘El Turco’ will once again be a Yamaha rider, having won the 2021 WorldSBK title with the Japanese brand and getting his first taste of MotoGP machinery after that, before his shock move to BMW for 2024 where he won the second of his two titles in WorldSBK.

WSB

Isle of Man News!

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/vikings/braided-gold-viking-arm-ring-discovered-by-amateur-metal-detectorist-on-isle-of-man?lrh=6c515e9a7440282e8fd88a4e7e49d3939c84ff90bab9a9e68bbf5c9c383152f8

What?

You thought we were talking motorcycle racing?

Braided gold Viking arm-ring discovered by amateur metal detectorist on Isle of Man

Around 1,000 years ago, this Viking Age arm-ring from the Isle of Man was likely used not only to display its owner's wealth but also to serve as currency in financial transactions.

An amazing find....

Live Science

Backroads Summer Solstice Rally

Just FIVE Days Away!!!

https://backroadsusa.com/backroads-events

June 19 - 22nd, 2025

It's finally time for the Backroads Summer Solstice Rally!! If you are joining us, our SUGGESTED routes are available for download on our Events webpage. Safe travels and we'll see you in Shippensburg, or wherever you may be joining us.

Ride Safe. Ride Smart. Ride the Backroads.

Backroads Summer Solstice Rally

NEW... MudSling 1300 GS/A

from MachineartMoto

https://machineartmoto.com/products/mudsling-1300-gsa

MudSling™ 1300 GS/A rear suspension guard is designed to protect the wide-open rear shock and under-seat components from stone damage, road debris, and mud accumulation. It shields vulnerable areas helping to reduce wear and ongoing cleaning maintenance.

MudSling™ 1300 expands coverage between the rear tire and suspension for up to 200% more protection than the stock, rubber flap. It helps to guard the Paralever arm and Shock Absorber, while reducing splash-out to the sides and onto the rider’s legs. Its contoured design appears slim from the side and integrates cleanly with the 1300’s styling.

MachineArtMoto

Music on the Road

https://www.advrider.com/combining-interests-guitars-on-motorcycles/

Combining Interests: Guitars On Motorcycles
I think all of us can agree that riding a motorcycle is generally the best way to get around. But, there are times we just can’t carry the things we need to transport on a bike.

The musicians among us know this struggle. Not so much if you play the harmonica, but if your choice is a guitar, carrying one on a bike is rough. Carrying a stringed instrument presents challenges beyond its form factor. Some are more fragile than others, some are very sensitive to temperature and humidity. Some are just heavy.

ADV Rider

Video Killed the Radio Star

...as e-Commerce Killed Print Mail Order Catalogs

With apologies to The Buggles’ wonderful 1979 song and video. We loved making and mailing out our old print catalogs. They grew from around 15 pages of black and white drawings to just over 300 pages in full color, divided into eight sections covering everything we could think of to help riders enjoy motorcycling in almost every imaginable situation — and DIY maintain their motorcycles, too! It was FREE on request. We filled the pages with products, charts, sidebars, stories and marginal notations, most of which were non-commercial and shared or implied Mr. Subjective’s biases and philosophies.

Aerostich

Crazy Festivals!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/off-the-beaten-path-american-festivals?_kx=m1mcnBEw1k6QgGoCFlWJMf8a38M9ns4M0ZlyHozxEKA.UUnqkC

A Guide to Some Incredibly Niche Regional Festivals

In the nichest of niches, the usual rules of responsible travel apply: come with curiosity and humility. Don’t be the urbanite hipster rolling in to chase the “kitsch” or “folkloric.” Don’t be a voyeur, gawker, or judge—treat these celebrations as opportunities to converse with people who may have different backgrounds, political convictions, and zany obsessions. And be mindful that in many of the festivals below, small towns are exploring their capacities to welcome and accommodate swelling numbers of visitors. Shop local, support independent businesses. Ultimately, get in the spirit of things, and just enjoy!

Festivals

You ever have a Bee inside your Helmet...?

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/250-million-bees-truck-crash-lynden-washington

250 million bees unleashed upon northern Washington after truck overturns!

The 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives on board came off the truck around 9 a.m., unleashing all the bees, deputies said.
Emergency officials have been busy as...well, you know, cleaning up after a commercial truck full of bee hives crashed in northern Washington, unleashing 250 million bees on first responders.

Bees!

Bluebird of Bitterness

$https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N4492.3492528BACKROADS/B25215450.384955996;dc_trk_aid=549863339;dc_trk_cid=186346052;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;gdpr=${GDPR};gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT_755};ltd=;dc_tdv=1$

Progressive

https://www.imtbike.com/tours/pyrenees-northern-spain/pyrenees-coast-to-coast/

The Escape of the Week

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/pennsylvania/strangest-hiking-trail-pa?lctg=663c991d5f118c05c7af27d6&y=6c515e9a7440282e8fd88a4e7e49d3939c84ff90bab9a9e68bbf5c9c383152f8&z=d64e74d43f13e74ec3ee19f33959d4a804a12707

Ticklish Rock Trail

Shrewsbury, PA

What a name... Ticklish Rock.

Explore Ticklish Rock Trail in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania—quirky, quick, and totally worth it.

As we know, Pennsylvania is a state rich in hiking opportunities, from rugged mountain paths to peaceful forest walks. Tucked away in the rolling woodlands of Sullivan County, however, one trail stands out for its quirky charm and one-of-a-kind destination: Ticklish Rock Trail. After digging into the state’s most unusual trail names and hidden gems, we’re convinced this is not only the funniest-named hike in Pennsylvania—it’s also genuinely worth the stop.

Ticklish Rock

BethelWoods Center for the Arts

Presents

Song of the Week

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Disney+Girls+Beach+boys#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1d8d1558,vid:6EmJo2ztmBI,st:0

Disney Girls 1957

The Beach Boys

Oh reality, it's not for me
And it makes me laugh
Oh, fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm coming back

Sad loss for American music with the passing of Beach Boy Brian Wilson.

So many great songs, and so much creativity and magic from this man.

This song is a favorite, and you know who it's for...

Disney Girls

Backroads' July Edition

Coming to Shops & Mailboxes soon...

Secrets of Japan... an in depth look at Edelweiss' Bike Travel's two-week exploration of Japan. From coast to coast, and through the magnificent mountains lying between, Japan is a magical place with a deep history, culture people and topography that is unmatched anywhere else on the planet.

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

Backroads