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!

Ray C’s 17th Annual RODEO and BIKE SHOW

Reasons To Ride Michigan came out to Ray C’s Harley-Davidson in Lapeer to join in their RODEO Festivities! And of course, we didn’t just come for the FREE Hog Roast or Ice Cream… we came to host a BIKE SHOW! We had a great mix of bikes and spent the day with some great folks!  Check out pics from the…

Ohio Bike Week 2023 Bike Show

Wow! What a great turn out this year! Click the link below to check out pics from the bike show! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1374129590104119&type=3

Reasons To Ride – Volume 13 Issue 7

The July 2023 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, packed with all the inspiration and resources you need to make this summer unforgettable. From patriotic rides to mid-summer maintenance tips, this issue is your ultimate companion for enjoying the peak of the riding season. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the July Issue? July is the heart of…

Drive Weather App

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern If you are doing day rides or multi-day trips, wouldn’t it be nice to have an app on your phone that lets you put in a route, then shows you what the weather will be at points along the way when you reach them? For years I used a web site called get-there-dry.com. It…

What price Freedom….

“What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.13 The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.14 From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.15 He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.17 Don’t count on your warhorse…

Sport Touring Corner
MSTA FlyBy Week 2023

By Norm Kern Motorcycle Sport Touring Association’s largest regional rally returns to Marietta, Ohio, Monday, August 21 – Sunday, August 27, offering outstanding sport touring routes, scenery, fine dining, and social time in a location that is easy to get to  from any direction. Lasting a full week, attendees are free to come as early or late as they wish,…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 13 Issue 6

The June 2023 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, and it’s your ultimate guide to launching a summer full of adventure. With longer days and warmer weather, June is the perfect time to hit the road and explore new destinations. This issue is packed with tips, events, and inspiration to make your summer riding season unforgettable. What’s Inside This…

Jumpin’ June-ipers…

We are heading into our favorite season of the year, and it just keeps getting better and better! I will say the first half of the year went quickly and we’ve already had so many wonderful moments with all of you out there in the wind and we look forward to many more! You know one of my favorite things…

When A Good Friend Goes Missing
By Norm Kern

Back in late March, good friend and fellow MSTA member Kirk Wintersteen, of Cumming, GA, went missing on his motorcycle. He had been at Two Wheels of Suches, GA, about 50 miles from home, hanging out with friends, having brought a key lime pie to share. He left his friends in mid afternoon to go home on his Suzuki 650…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 13 Issue 5

The May 2023 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, just in time to fuel your spring riding spirit! With warmer weather and blooming landscapes, May is the perfect month to hit the open road and celebrate the season. This issue is packed with everything from scenic routes to holiday events and essential tips for your spring adventures. What’s Inside…