Sport Touring Corner-Salvaging the End of the Season

December 3, 2025

Sport Touring Corner- Salvaging the End of the SeasonBy Norm Kern At the beginning of September I broke the fibula in my left leg while loading my bike on a trailer for a rally trip to Missouri. Fortunately it’s not a load bearing bone- I was able to get a removable boot and move around…

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Steps for Planning a Motorcycle Poker Run

December 3, 2025

A Basic Checklist to Help Start the Process – Stay tuned for more articles to come! Motorcycle poker runs are a popular fundraising or social event where participants ride a set route, stopping at various checkpoints to collect playing cards. At the end of the ride, there’s usually a party and the rider with the…

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Join the Ride — Discover Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA)

October 22, 2025

By Norm Kern What is MSTA? If you’re a sport touring rider who enjoys the freeing experience of motorcycling – with adventure – discovering new roads or reliving your favorites, MSTA is for you. We seek community, the opportunity to make new connections and experience our passion.  We’re a national club with about 1,100 members,…

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Dress for THE RIDE, not just the SLIDE.

October 21, 2025

High Quality Riding Gear Makes All The Difference While many say the opposite, the real truth is that if you don’t find yourself comfortable in your protective gear,  you’re not likely going to wear it.  It’s also a hard truth that if you think you look like an idiot – you may also not wear…

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Sport Touring CornerMSTA FlyBy Week 2025 

August 31, 2025

By Norm Kern Motorcycle Sport Touring Association’s largest regional rally returns to Marietta, Ohio, August 18 – 24, 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.…

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Rochester Hills 2nd Annual Bike Show & Family Day 

August 26, 2025

Rochester Hills, Michigan – Sunday, September 14th NEW BIGGER LOCATION! BIGGER SHOW! We are proud to announce the return of the Rochester Hills Strong Custom & Vintage Bike Show & Family Day! This is a GREAT community event that brought out some of the coolest bikes in the state last year in support of the…

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Dale’s Wheels Through Time: A Living Chronicle of American Motorcycles

August 6, 2025

America’s Most Dynamic Motorcycle Museum Nestled in the picturesque valley town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Dale’s Wheels Through Time stands as both a museum and a living testament to the passion and perseverance of American motorcycling. Revered among enthusiasts and travelers alike, this unique institution is more than a mere repository of mechanical artifacts;…

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MSTA TWISTAR Rally, Spring Green Wisconsin

July 28, 2025

Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern In June, I attended the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) TWISTAR rally in Spring Green Wisconsin, which was revived in 2025 after a ten year hiatus. I was excited to return, as western Wisconsin’s Driftless area has wonderful roads throughout a lush, rolling countryside where the roads’ gentle hills…

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CMA Corner: It’s beyond me how time flies by so quickly…

July 22, 2025

Do you remember when you were a kid, and you thought time was never going to hurry up? Like waiting for summer break or Christmas seemed to be an eternity. Now the days and weeks just fly by like a breath of air and Christmas came and went, summer is rushing through and before we…

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Reaching ALL Veterans in Need.

July 17, 2025

Chaplain Otto Ministries has established the first ever American Legion Post inside an Ohio Prison. In 2024, John “Otto” Guthmann established a ministry focused on a segment of the Veterans community that many had forgotten or written off – those incarcerated within our prison system.  Chaplain Otto believes that even behind bars, Vets deserve healing,…

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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!

group riding

Group Riding, MSTA Sport-Touring Style 2025

Part Three: Norm Goes on a Social Group Ride In previous articles we discussed the Sport Touring riding style- riding a fun, challenging road, at a brisk pace, getting in the “zone” of total concentration on a capable motorcycle, often with a small group of like-minded friends. Most other riders do what I call Social Group riding, which has different…

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Your Spring Pre-Flight Inspection

If there’s an issue, it’s better to discover it in your garage than on the road! 1. Start with a Thorough Inspection Before you even start the engine, take a good look at your bike.  Inspect the frame for any cracks or signs of damage. Straddle the motorcycle and bounce a few times to make sure the front and rear…

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FLAT TRACK RACING

Flat Track is the oldest form of motorcycle racing, ranging from 1/10th of a mile ovals to mile long ovals with speeds up to 135 mph on dirt. The tracks vary in consistency with multiple forms of material on the surface from clay based to crushed limestone. The technique of riding these tracks also changes slightly, making flat track a…

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RTR JAN 25 Digital cover

Reasons To Ride – February Volume 15 Issue 2

The February 2025 edition of Reasons to Ride is here, packed with content to fuel your passion for motorcycles all month long. From scenic Valentine’s Day rides to cold-weather tips and upcoming events, this issue will keep you inspired and ready for adventure as you prepare for the spring riding season ahead. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the…

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CMA Corner Jan 2025

In the year 2025… Yes, I know it’s 2525 in the song, but you know how it is when you get a song in your head! How are you all doing? Did you have a great holiday? Did you maintain while gathering with the fam? It’s hard to do sometimes, but I must tell you, when it’s all said and…

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RTR JAN 25 Digital cover

Reasons To Ride – Volume 15 Issue 1

Welcome to the January edition of Reasons to Ride! This issue is packed with everything you need to jumpstart your riding adventures for the new year. Whether you’re planning your next big trip, looking for the latest motorcycle gear, or exploring upcoming events, this issue has you covered. What’s Inside This Month’s Issue? Why Read the January Issue? If you’re…

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Beginning a New Adventure – Sport Touring Corner

Beginning a New Adventure  Sport Touring Corner By Norm Kern In 2020 I was feeling the need to downsize from my beloved Yamaha 1300 FJR sport touring bike. As I get older and lose body strength, I wanted to transition to a lighter bike. I bought a Suzuki 650 V Strom XT, my first Adventure style road bike, which weighs…

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NOW BOOKING FOR 2025

Reserve your date for a RtR BIKE SHOW, TATTOO PARTY, SOUND COMPETITION, or PHOTO SHOOT! As the year winds down, it’s time for us to focus on next year’s event schedule.  One of the biggest challenges we face every year is trying to develop a schedule that covers “our market” with active appearances and reaches the most riders – without…

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BECOME A LOCAL ROAD REP

If you’re a rider that’s active in your local riding community, we’d invite you to consider becoming a Local Road Rep for Reasons To Ride.   This is NOT meant to be a high-pressure sales position and is probably best as a fun side gig for those that want to get involved in the local riding community.  It might be…

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ERSKINE LAW Presenting Sponsor for 2025!

Reasons To Ride is proud to announce the return of Erskine Law as a Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Championship Bike Show Series and Reasons To Ride Magazines!  “Erskine Law is a solid law firm with an outstanding reputation for professional representation and taking care of their clients.  We are proud to represent them and recommend their services to riders…

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