Scooting past sky-high gas prices
June 16, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
Motorcycle dealers in the Roanoke Valley say the rise in gas prices has driven a steadily increasing stream of folks into their shops.
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A pickup truck, motorcycle, six bicycles and a scooter sit in George Hunter’s garage and driveway.
But for the retired schoolteacher, the scooter is the preferred choice.
“The scooter is just the best choice for what I need — it’s cheap on gas and easy to get around in,” the 61-year-old said.
According to Roanoke Valley bike merchants, Hunter is just one example of the scooter craze in America that is infiltrating Southwest Virginia.
The number of registered motorcycles and scooters in Virginia increased 81 percent from 2001-07 to 166,806, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Motorcycle ride with dad revs up bond
June 15, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
“This is my daughter. We started in Staunton, Va., and we’re riding the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway — it’s our first father/daughter trip.”
I lost track of how many times my dad introduced me like this to fellow motorcyclists. Then, he invariably would add, “And she rode 500 miles her first day. She’d never been on the bike more than an hour.”
If only I’d known years ago that’s all it took to make my dad proud.
Harley event lures fans
June 15, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
STAUNTON — The Harley crowd likes their bikes loud, and they wear their gear proud. Such was the case Saturday at RV4, the fourth annual installment of Rallyin’ the Valley where an estimated 10,000 people are expected to visit the Shenandoah Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership this weekend on Rolling Thunder Lane.
Of those in attendance Saturday, about 90 percent of them were wearing their favorite motorcycle brand name.
High Gas Prices Could Hurt Motorcycle Week
LACONIA, N.H. — Rising gas prices may trim the turnout at this year’s Motorcycle Week in Laconia, organizers said.
Motorcycle Week is back for an 85th year, and Gov. John Lynch was on hand to kick off festivities on Friday. But organizers said they would be lucky to approach the 300,000 visitors who came to the event last year.
“Everyone’s psyched up for it,” organizer Jennifer Anderson said. “It’s just going to be a little tighter on the purse strings.”
Hundreds expected at benefit for officer
June 13, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
Roanoke, VA – Organizers putting on a fundraiser Saturday for an injured Roanoke police officer are expecting hundreds of people — possibly 1,000 — to turn out.
The money collected from a motorcycle ride, silent auction and raffle will benefit Officer Bryan Lawrence, who was paralyzed about a month ago when he was attacked while making an arrest.
Lawrence is at an Atlanta rehabilitation facility, where he has shown progress in his recovery. In an update at carepages.com, Lawrence reported that he could move fingers on both hands, and a previous update said he could point his toes.
Registration for the ride is $20 per motorcycle and begins at 8 a.m. in the Roanoke Civic Center parking lot.
Indian Motorcycle unveils 2009 Chief
June 12, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
With cruiser sales in the toilet and the U.S. economy going from bad to worse, 2008 might not be the best time to re-launch the legendary Indian brand, but that’s exactly what’s happening. Will the third try be a charm? Only time will tell if the new Indian Motorcycle company, in Kings Mountain, N.C., will be able to succeed where the original Indian (1901-53) and its follow-up California Motorcycle Company (1999-2003) failed.
On Friday, the new manufacturer of the old marque unveiled pictures of its pre-production Chief.
First Woman Owned EagleRider Franchise Opens in Winchester, Virginia
June 12, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
WINCHESTER, VA–(Marketwire – June 12, 2008) – EagleRider, the world’s largest motorcycle rental and guided motorcycle tour company, is proud to welcome its first female owned motorcycle rental franchise: EagleRider of Winchester, Virginia. The new store is located inside Grove Harley Davidson, Virginia’s oldest authorized HD dealership.
“EagleRiders’ fast growing franchise network, proprietary rental, tour and travel distribution system and brand reputation make them the perfect partner,” said owner Carol Hutchins. “We promise our customers some of the best motorcycle riding on the East Coast of the United States.”
Navy program stresses safety for motorcyclists
June 12, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
At the signal, the 11 riders started their sport-style motorcycles with a chirp of their ignitions. Engines rumbling and ready, they stood by for instructions.
The first exercise Wednesday had them making their way around a large ellipse to warm up their tires, then easing into a weaving pattern to practice working their handlebars and looking through their turns.
The riders’ immediate plan: to get better at riding the high-powered bikes, which originally were built for racing but are appearing increasingly on streets.
