Daylight fades quickly this time of year, making my evening motorcycle commute a dark and chilly one. My Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 seems to like this season, with the denser cold air giving the parallel twin a bit of extra responsiveness to the throttle. This winter, it will be two years since I purchased the little café racer. The odometer shows 12,000-plus miles, and … [Read more...] about Notes from the road: Winter dreams can be found in your favorite jacket
The Southern Dozen: A lost state reveals 12 routes to paradise
The air temperature rises as you cross to the windward side of the southern Appalachian Mountains, where heat from the Tennessee Valley blows westward. There are so many scenic motorcycling roads here that the local visitor’s center asked motorcyclists to compile a list, which became “The Southern Dozen.” They include excursions to natural wonders and local historical sites. … [Read more...] about The Southern Dozen: A lost state reveals 12 routes to paradise
Chimney Rock: A gorge getaway perfect for lingering amid scenic wonders
Seeing the out-of-state license plate in front of me, I quickly decide to drop a gear and overtake the dawdling SUV in the long straight on U.S. 74A. It will be my last chance for several miles as the old highway crosses a flat farmland valley before climbing up to the Eastern Continental Divide. My Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 howls its twin-cylinder barbaric yawp as I … [Read more...] about Chimney Rock: A gorge getaway perfect for lingering amid scenic wonders
Notes from the road: Get dapper and ride for a cause
After a very long year of event cancellations and COVID restrictions, the summer riding returns along with larger motorcycle gatherings, rides and rallies. One of my favorite charity rides returns this May — The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. The DGR looks like no other charity ride. Participants are encouraged to dress up and look dapper in suits, ties and other formal … [Read more...] about Notes from the road: Get dapper and ride for a cause
Triangle of treats: Columbus, Tryon, Landrum
Springtime arrives early in the borderlands between the Carolinas near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When the high country of the towering peaks remains brown and cold, the foothills surrounding Columbus, Tryon and Landrum offer interesting sights and a wealth of interconnected roads to explore. Columbus, North Carolina, sits at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. … [Read more...] about Triangle of treats: Columbus, Tryon, Landrum
