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!

My Riding Adventure  

By Mary Blackard, Reasons to Ride Contributor Sixty years ago, my love affair with motorcycles began. I rode every chance I got with whomever would take me. Life in the mid-sixties was certainly a safer time AND God kept His eyes on me! After many years of cycle envy, I bought a new 1978 orange AMF Harley 350. My husband…

Don’t Just Ride — Become Part of the Riding Community

Don’t Just Ride — Become Part of the Riding Community There’s nothing wrong with being “just another rider.” Every one of us started there. You buy the bike, you hit the road, you show up when you can, and you enjoy the freedom that comes with two wheels. But at some point, a lot of riders realize something important: the…

Ride More. Win More. Discover More.

Introducing the 2026 Ride & Win Contest! What if every ride you took this season could turn into a chance to win prizes—just for doing what you already love to do? That’s exactly what the Ride & Win Contest from Reasons To Ride Motorcycle Magazine is all about. It’s a fun, free, rider-driven program designed to get you out on…

Tire Tales

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern Riders who don’t do multi-day trips miss out on a lot of fun, But there is one stressful thing they don’t have to pay much attention to or think about- tire wear. You check your tire after each day’s ride and if you’re down to the wear bars, you replace it. Simple! (There are…

From the Publisher: Get in the Wind

By Our Publisher Derek Smith As Reasons To Ride continues to grow, we’re proud to continue rolling out new regional editions and reaching more corners of the riding community. As we do, you will notice some stories, events, and features crossing over between state editions — and that’s by design. We want riders to look beyond the same old roads.…

Summer 2026 Has Been a Whirlwind!

By PA State Editor – Tracie Irwin Summer 2026 has certainly kept me on the move. My travels have taken me across several states and even beyond our borders. I kicked off the year with a cruise, where I had the opportunity to rent a Harley and explore the beautiful Grand Cayman. Just last week, I made a day trip…

License Plate Frames

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern, RTR Contributor / MSTA  I recently received an inquiry from a fellow Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) member about the availability of license plate frames. The club used to offer a nice custom frame with the club name and logo, but ran out of them a few years ago.  The request triggered my memory…

The Group Ride

By ReasonsToRide Riding Together: The Roles, Positions and Responsibilities of a Motorcycle Group Ride There is something special about seeing a well-organized group of motorcycles traveling down the road together.  Whether it’s 6 bikes or 60 – a group of riders presents a bold statement.  When everyone understands the plan, maintains proper spacing and watches out for the riders around…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 16 Issue 3

The March 2026 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, and the riding season is officially waking back up. As winter fades and the roads start calling again, this issue is all about getting you and your bike ready to hit the ground running. From early-season events to must-ride routes, this is your kickoff to spring. What’s Inside This Month’s…

Reasons To Ride – Volume 16 Issue 2

The February 2026 edition of Reasons to Ride is here to keep your passion for motorcycles alive through the heart of winter. Whether you’re planning your next ride, maintaining your bike, or just staying connected to the riding community, this issue is packed with inspiration, events, and tips to carry you into the upcoming season. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue?…