Handlebars

Bill Powell, is a Floridian who recently moved to Tennessee for health reasons. He’s 72 years old, and rode his first motorcycle right about 60 years ago. Powell tallies off the long list of motorcycles he’s owned: a KZ1 900, a Honda 450, a Honda two-cylinder 160 that he track-raced briefly. All those machines have come and gone. There’s only one bike that Powell has hung on to, and moved to Tennessee with him: a red and black 1979 Honda CBX 1000, with 36,000 miles on it. Full story »

On June 7 of this year, Cindy Douglas took time off from her position as a hair stylist at Salon Azure, loaded up her 2009 Harley Dyna Superglide, and left on a 7,800 mile adventure that took her through 21 states, several state and national parks, and as she puts it, “100 percent restored my faith in humanity.” She returned a month later a little different person than she was when she left, and is already longing to do it again. Full story »

“You can always tell when this stuff is designed by people who don’t ride,” says Francois Saint Laurent. He’s showing a customer protective jacket-and-pants sets, and explaining why the clothing section at Dual Sport Touring, the Blount County shop he owns with his wife Megan, is not exactly a bargain bin. “There are low-end jackets where you’ll be going down the road and reach up with your clutch hand to open a collar vent. All of a sudden the exposed male Velcro on your wrist is attached to the female Velcro on your chest and your arm is stuck there. They never even wore it around the block.” Full story »

“Like father, like son” may be somewhat of a cliché’ phrase, but there is no better way to describe father and son roadracers Chris and Jamie Spencer. At age 17, Jamie embarrasses men double his age while Chris, at 50, does the same to the youngsters. “I guess I’m in it for the competition, and also I love riding the bike to the limit,” Chris says. “I don’t have to win to be happy, just as long as I ride to 100 percent of my potential.” Full story »

If the current economy hasn’t forever banished the concept from their minds, for most folks retirement means slowing down, sitting in rocking chairs, baby-sitting the grandkids, and puttering around the yard. Retired research physicist Bob McMillen is spending his golden years doing something a little faster. Full story »

What do you call a man’s home when he’s given over all available basement and garage space to the storage of obscure parts—original, aftermarket, salvaged, you name it—for esoteric British motorcycles that haven’t been manufactured in decades? Before you answer, take into account the very large detached garage that contains a state-of-the-art shop and the owner’s collection of some 60-plus Brit bikes dating back to the 1940s. Full story »

My first impression of Jack Parker came one day after mowing the lawn. As a reward, I’d given myself permission to ride to Deals Gap before the sun went down. About halfway to the store past the overlook, I checked my mirrors and noticed a group of sportbikes gaining on me quickly. I slowed and motioned for them to come around me. As the big liter machines began to spin up and power away, this tiny, angry bee of a bike blew past every one of us with shocking speed and precision. When I arrived at the store I was greeted by a familiar grin perched on an RD 60 Yamaha. Full story »

Who you gonna call when you rash up your GSXR or need a fuel tank for a ’65 Yamaha Big Bear scrambler? Since 1976, local vintage motorcycle enthusiasts and riders of more modern machinery have sought out Motorcycle Salvage, whether searching for that rare part listed as NLA on the dealer’s parts CD, or to replace expensive breaky-offy bits from modern sportbikes and cruisers that failed to keep the shiny side up. Full story »