Track Days

October 19, 2026

Sport Touring CornerBy Norm Kern Motorcycle track days are organized events where riders take their bikes to a closed racetrack to ride in a controlled, traffic-free environment, typically divided into skill-level groups (novice, intermediate, advanced) with sessions lasting 15-20 minutes each throughout the day. They’re popular among those who want more than just street riding.…

About Quickshifters

October 14, 2026

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern What is a Quickshifter? Quickshifters use a strain gauge sensor in the gearshift lever linkage that detects force on the gearshift lever when shifting. The signal is used to momentarily reduce engine power and unload the drive train to enable shifting to the next higher gear without having to use…

How to Store Your Motorcycle Over the Winter

October 9, 2026

A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Bike During the Off-Season Storing your motorcycle properly during the winter months is essential to keep it in good condition and ensure a smooth ride when spring arrives. Cold temperatures, moisture, and long periods of inactivity can cause damage to your motorcycle if not addressed beforehand. This guide…

The Most Popular Concealed Carry Firearms

October 6, 2026

A Comprehensive Guide to Top Choices for Personal Defense In a world where personal safety and preparedness are rising concerns, the decision to carry a concealed firearm is an important one for many individuals. The choice of which firearm to carry is influenced by a range of factors including reliability, size, caliber, capacity, ergonomics, and…

Rider Hand Signals: Speak Up Without Saying a Word

October 5, 2026

Rider Hand Signals: Speak Up Without Saying a Word Long before Bluetooth headsets, phone mounts, and handlebar gadgets, riders had a simple way of keeping the pack together: hand signals. No batteries. No pairing. No dropped connection. Just a rider’s arm cutting through the wind, letting everyone behind them know what’s coming next. And truth…

CHASING THE LAST GOOD MILES

September 16, 2026

Fall can deliver the best riding of the year: crisp air, spectacular color and less traffic. It also quietly removes your margin for error. Shorter daylight, cold pavement, wet leaves, low sun, fogged shields and deer can turn a familiar road into a different ride. TREAT FALL AS ITS OWN RIDING SEASON The smart move…

Reasons to Ride Ride Stop Poker Cards!

September 15, 2026

Something to go with those custom poker chips you’ve been collecting! Yet another crazy idea from your friends at Reasons To Ride – Ride Stop Poker Cards! Every year, we hand out thousands of promotional cards featuring upcoming rides, motorcycle events, and recommended Ride Stops. This year, we decided to do something a little different—and…

Layering Your Motorcycle Gear

September 14, 2026

A few suggestions for Staying Safe and Comfortable on the Road This time of year – riding a motorcycle can expose you to changing weather conditions – including wind, temperatures, and rain (maybe even ice and snow!)  It’s important that you dress appropriately – and we usually recommend layering your riding gear.  Layering not only…

Downsizing My Dual Sport Bike

September 9, 2026

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern As my regular readers know, I have been downsizing my bikes to postpone aging out. The process began in 2020 when I added a 650 Suzuki V Strom XT to my stable and learned I could live with a much lighter chain drive bike.  Last September I purchased a…

What is Moravec’s Paradox and What it has to do With Motorcycling?

September 3, 2026

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern Moravec’s paradox is an observation by artificial intelligence and robotics researchers that reasoning requires very little computation while sensorimotor and perception skills require enormous computational resources. What does that have to do with riding motorcycles? For me, everything! When I read about Moravec’s paradox the other day, it took…

Reasons To Ride Blogs ///

Reasons to Ride is your one stop for all reasons to ride, from flat track racing to articles from industry leaders. Enjoy blogs from Reasons To Ride Contributors!

Sport Touring Corner MSTA FlyBy Week 2024

By Norm Kern Motorcycle Sport Touring Association’s largest regional rally returns to Marietta, Ohio, August 19 – 25, offering outstanding sport touring routes, scenic countryside, fine dining, and social time in a location that is easy to get to  from any direction. Most arrive on Thursday, ride for two days and go home on Sunday. Or come early in the…

MUSKEGON BIKE WEEK Rally Run 2024

Get out and discover some popular Ride Stops in the Muskegon area! Reasons To Ride Michigan working with the organizers of the Rebel Road motorcycle rally will be hosting a Muskegon Bike Week Rally Run this year, in an effort to help introduce riders to popular stops in the area. The Ride officially runs Thursday, July 18, 2024 through Saturday,…

CMA Corner July ’24

Heroes… There are so many of them, both named and unnamed. Some get the accolades, parades and recognition, some are in the background or never seen. What makes a hero? The definition of a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. That description could be for many people, but mostly the…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 14 Issue 7

The July 2024 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, and it’s packed with everything you need to make the most of the summer riding season. From patriotic rides to mid-summer motorcycle events, this issue is your ultimate guide to the best adventures on two wheels. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the July Issue? July is the peak…

The Buckeye Motorcycle and Music Rally

The Buckeye Motorcycle and Music Rally is roaring into Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio June 27-29, 2024. This AMA endorsed event will feature 3 great days of music, vendors, food trucks and more! There are 2 parts to this event: the ticketed show inside the stadium and the free Biker Mall area outside the stadium. Inside the stadium you’ll…

Don’t Let the Threat of Rain Keep You From Riding!

Don’t Let the Threat of Rain Keep You From Riding!Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern As I’m writing this column in early May, I just returned home from a fun, new Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) rally in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Named after its location in Tuscarawas County and the nearby Muskingum river, the Tusky-Musky rally features a new collection…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 14 Issue 6

The June 2024 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, and it’s packed with everything you need to jumpstart your summer riding season. From scenic routes to exciting events, this issue is your ultimate guide to making the most of the long, sunny days on two wheels. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the June Issue? June marks the…

CMA Corner May ’24

Be what you is…. This statement has been used numerous times over the years, even to include it in many articles. The truth is that in this small little statement is a big reality, isn’t it? How can one be something they are not? How can we be one way at home, and another way in public? There’s an old…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 14 Issue 5

The May 2024 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, packed with inspiration and resources for riders ready to make the most of the spring season. With warmer days and exciting events, May is the perfect time to hit the open road and explore new adventures. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the May Issue? May is one of…

POKER RUN 101: PART 2 RUN STOPS and HOST SPONSORS

Obviously one of the most critical aspects of hosting a Poker Run is determining the route and stops of the actual run. Unfortunately, though, the critical considerations are not always so obvious. The overall success of the event though, is impacted dramatically by your choice of stops and the experiences of your riders at them. If you are organizing this…