Monthly Archives: October 2013

WK 300 – is Almost here… Are you still in?

October 30, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Currently there are 69 people signed up to attend the White Knuckle 300 on Saturday 11/2 leaving from Framingham, MA. Originally we at BTB joked that we’d be shocked if anybody showed up. There’s still time for people to all bail but we’re riding regardless.. Here is an easy guide to help you determine if you have everything you need for the ride. It will be cold but right now the forecast looks pretty mild: If you like riding in […]

Categories: Rides & Destinations

Ripped down Road King – part 1

October 28, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Andrew Snow’s Winter Project – Entry 1 Beantown Bagger always likes to hear about local bike enthusiasts who pour their own blood, sweat and tears into their machines. One of these builders reached out to Beantown about a winter project to which he will subject his 2004 Harley Davidson Road King. Andrew Snow plans a major revamp of this classic bagger and he will be sharing pictures and stories throughout the entire process with the loyal readers of Beantown! To […]

Categories: Interviews & Anecdotes, Performance & Repairs

Leave a comment

Monday Zen 10-29

October 28, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Monday Zen showcases a beautiful bagger in a relaxed setting to help you start off your week on the right note. Relax, the weekend will be here before you know it! Though we don’t have any affiliation with them, the guys at The Bike Exchange in North Carolina seem to have some pretty incredible baggers for sale. This is where we found this beauty. Again, we’re not connected to them in any way.

Categories: Amazing Bikes

Leave a comment

Marlon Brando v. Jesse James

October 27, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

Toe to toe, who’s more badass? The modern tough guy, bike builder Jesse James or the original and iconic Marlon Brando? Personally, we think this is an obvious answer though in the interest of remaining impartial we’re throwing the question in your court. Marlon Brando Brando, is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century and he was also an avid motorcyclist. Born out of Omaha, NE in 1924, he quickly gained a […]

Categories: Letters from the Editors

Leave a comment

Wachusett Mountain Barbecue Festival

October 27, 2013 by Road Captain

What is it about motorcycles and barbecue that go so well together? Maybe it’s the fact that so many great BBQ spots are on lonely curving stretches of pavement free of traffic. Maybe it is that barbecue hails primarily from southern states where the climate is more conducive to riding. Or maybe it’s just that bikers have better taste in general and food is no exception to this theory! Wachusett Ski Resort hosted a barbecue festival this weekend featuring dozens […]

Categories: Rides & Destinations, West of Boston

Leave a comment

Windchill and riding speeds

October 27, 2013 by Road Captain

Windchill and Bike speeds: Do you ever wonder what the wind chill is when you’re riding? This chart shows how cold it feels at a given air temperatures when you’re at different speeds on your bike. Right now it’s 45 in Boston. If you’re going 65 MPH, you’ll be dealing with a 32 degree windchill. Let’s you know that you’re alive!

Categories: Letters from the Editors, Ride Preparation

Leave a comment

Two Days in Vermont – 7.75 Rated Map

October 26, 2013 by Road Captain

If you have ever taken a ride through Vermont in any season except winter, you can definitely appreciate the amazing views, spectacular roads and inexplicable calm that covers the entire state. On the way up to (and ultimately back from) Canada, we covered some beautiful terrain starting at Quechee Vermont and making our way up to Burlington. Clearly this ride took us much further north but for the sake of a digestible route, we’ll focus on the Quechee to Burlington […]

Categories: Rated Maps, Rides & Destinations, Trip Journals, West of Boston

Salt – Bad News for Ice, but Worse for Motorcycles

October 24, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

When I was a kid I was at an ice cream stand on the Cape when a guy pulled up in a stunning red convertible. I was really young so didn’t know much about anything and when I asked him about his car he told me it was a Ferrari. He went on to describe the car and when he got to the maintenance one thing that stuck out was his rule of thumb – if he took it out […]

Categories: Ride Preparation

Leave a comment

Maps for the White Knuckle 300

October 23, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

The White Knuckle 300 ride is taking place on November 2, 2013 and the routes are finally outlined below. Additionally, take a look at the White Knuckle 300 Mapping Ride or the flickr photo-set of the Mapping Ride. This will be 300 miles of challenging but unadulterated fun. The roads twist, the air will be cool and the baggers will be loud! We hope to see you there on Saturday 11/2 at 7:00 AM. Details and register on the Facebook Event page. […]

Categories: Live Events, Rides & Destinations, West of Boston

Candy Kane Road Glide – eBay Bike of the Week

October 23, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Every week Beantown Baggers combs eBay to find the week’s best looking Bagger… one you could actually buy should you have the funds for such a purchase. We pick the best pictures, highlight the parts and even link to the bike on eBay (scroll to the bottom of the page for the link). The seller of this week’s bagger claims that the bike won the 2013 Leesburg Bikefest and placed First at Rats Hole. We haven’t verified any of this. […]

Categories: eBay bike of the week

Leave a comment

eBay Bike of the Week – The Ron Burgundy

October 23, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

Given the sequel on it’s way to us this winter we thought we’d feature a beautiful burgundy bagger for our eBay Bike of the Week. This custom 2008 road glide/street glide has already won a handful of contests: – Baddest Bagger, Reno – 1st Place Radical, Las Vegas – Best Bagger, Custom Bike Show – People’s Choice & Best of Show, Cave Creek – To be featured in upcoming issue of American Bagger The Motor & Work – 103 ci […]

Categories: eBay bike of the week

Leave a comment

BTB Part of the Week – Boarzilla 2:1 Exhaust

October 22, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

It is without question if you ride a bagger, your pipes need to wake the dead. They need to rattle passerby’s bones and frighten little ratty dogs. Having the right exhaust set up is key and usually one of the first changes we make. For performance, sound and looks. For those out there with high output motors, we’re highlighting D&D Boarzilla. The sound – mean, the look – and they were developed for big bore motors. After all, there’s no […]

Categories: Parts you Need

Leave a comment

Toughen up and Ride – It’s not snowing yet!

October 21, 2013 by Road Captain

Winter riding is upon us and every year it seems that more of us New Englanders push the riding season a few weeks later than the previous year. It could be that we’re getting tougher. Potentially it is due to the amount we spend on our sleds and desire to extract as much value as possible. It’s also likely that we’re just better prepared for cold weather riding than in past years. [Much more below] Long gone are the days […]

Categories: Riding Gear

“I will never ride a motorcycle”

October 17, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

I can now admit humbly that these were the exact words spoken through my own mouth some years ago upon a friend’s suggestion I start riding. Roughly a week later I had my license and my eye on a slightly broken in cruiser – a starter bike so-to-speak. I’d made a promise to a friend I’d known for roughly 24 years at that point I’d never ride. He’s “on the job” and has seen enough for him to be dissuaded […]

Categories: Letters from the Editors

Only the Strong Survive!

October 17, 2013 by Road Captain

I am able bodied, and fearful looking (6-‘3″ 265 pounds) and able to put a hurt on most people! This was the headline from a 62 year old reader’s email – we were wondering who we pissed off this time. The reality was that this came from Doug Fayle, a Massachusetts Local asking about details of the White Knuckle 300 Ride (http://on.fb.me/GM0PHD) . Doug, you got our attention and I hope we answered your questions. [Much more below] This led […]

Categories: Interviews & Anecdotes, Rides & Destinations, Sturgis

Leave a comment

Mystery Bagger – Guess the year

October 17, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Today we ran a poll on Facebook to guess the year and motor of this Bagger. A few people had the right answer – 1946 Knucklehead.

Categories: Amazing Bikes

Leave a comment

Show me your best McGyver!

October 15, 2013 by Road Captain

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon ride on April 4, 2010. The ride took a handful of us to the Cape and back and resulted in one of the oddest impromptu fixes I’ve ever had to do roadside! After a day of riding and then stopping by some Fenway bars to grab a post ride beer, three of us were headed back to Eastie via Storrow Drive. I was in the lead and as usual, kept an eye out to […]

Categories: Parts you Need

Leave a comment

Beantown Baggers Full Photo Collection

October 15, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

If you haven’t already bookmarked the Beantown Baggers Flickr page, you should do it now. We post ALL pictures from our rides, events and site on the Flickr page. Have you missed a photo? Want to find it but don’t feel like sorting through Facebook? Look at some pictures that we didn’t post on the page or site? It’s all here – just click the link below: http://bit.ly/1bYLy0u

Categories: Letters from the Editors, Live Events, Rides & Destinations, Sturgis

Leave a comment

Find me this road

October 14, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

Categories: Rides & Destinations

Leave a comment

Now that’s skill – Watch this bike cop own this course

October 14, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

http://bit.ly/sDubtK

Categories: Videos: Riding & Event

Leave a comment

Montreal to Tremblant and Saint Donat

October 11, 2013 by Road Captain

This fall a group of us went from Boston to Montreal (Click here to view) and then up to MT. Tremblant for some late fall riding. The roads were in amazing condition with one or two exceptions and the scenery was spectacular! The pictures can be found on Flickr Here: http://btbaggers.com/1iMWYYH and the map of the Montreal to Tremblant and Saint Domain ride is below. Mt Tremblant is a skiing village with a number of bars, restaurants and stores. Saint Donat is […]

Categories: Rides & Destinations, Trip Journals

Packing the necessities

October 11, 2013 by Road Captain

Often we are asked about packing for a long motorcycle ride and though we have written articles on the topic in the past (Packing for a motorcycle trip), we have never gone through the trouble of photographing all of the contents prior to a ride. Some of the Beantown Baggers staff is going on a ride to Montreal on Friday and have been spending this week getting prepared for the ride. Below are pictures of the contents of my bags […]

Categories: Ride Preparation

Leave a comment

The White Knuckle 300 (Ride)

October 9, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Ride to celebrate the Beantown Baggers First 5,000 Fans! This ride is called the White Knuckle 300! In just two months over 5,000 of you decided that you care enough about motorcycles, riding and most specifically BAGGERS that you joined the Beantown Bagger Community. Date: Saturday November 2, 2013 Meeting Location: Parking Lot at Shoppers World (There’s a Starbucks there) at 1 Worcester Rd Framingham, MA Distance: 300 Miles Duration: Whenever we are done Cost: Free We have been asked by countless […]

Categories: Live Events, Rides & Destinations, West of Boston

Leave a comment

Ballistic Cycles Road Glide Fairing

October 7, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

This week’s part of the week is the Ballistic Fairing supplement (Ballistic Site) for Harley Davidson Road Glides. This $1,300 fairing upgrade provides a sleek streamlined look that looks more like a cobra than a bike. Some dissenters say it looks like a CBR, they’re not wrong but cannot disagree that it does add some serious originality to the shark nose. We spoke with Matt Shay, owner of Audio Werks in Tewksburry, MA (http://www.awcycles.net/) about his Bike called “Spare Change” […]

Categories: Parts you Need

Leave a comment

We flock by the droves to watch things die – Rated Ride – West (7.625/10)

October 6, 2013 by Road Captain

New England in autumn is a favorite destination for travelers the world round. They come for the foliage, the cool air, small town charm and a slice of home baked apple pie. We decided to add a new twist to this Norman Rockwell scene, infusing some horsepower and the rumbling of a handful of big twin motors. There is no better addition to a beautiful landscape than glossy paint and sparkling chrome blowing up leaf piles on the side of […]

Categories: Rated Maps, Rides & Destinations, West of Boston

Leave a comment

Rated Day Ride to BBQ and the Rock (Plymouth) (6.25/10)

October 5, 2013 by Road Captain

After last week’s Bagger Show at Boston Harley Davidson, a dozen of us had two forms of hunger: we had to fill our bellies and feed our souls. Spending a few hours looking at 45 spectacular bikes was exciting and even better to talk with 300 locals who came out for the festivities but all of this conversing created quite an appetite. Furthermore, we had only ridden a few miles that day and needed more to truly feel fulfilled. Food […]

Categories: Rated Maps, Rides & Destinations, South of Boston

Leave a comment

The Mighty 300

October 3, 2013 by Road Captain

In the “most loved bagger” class from last week’s show, three bikes showed up to compete! With nearly 300,000 miles among them, it’s clear that these tins have some stories to tell. Bikes on this site feature hours and hours of painstaking commitment to reach perfection (in the eyes of the owner). This is no exception but the definition of “perfect” can be seen through many different lenses. Perfect to these owners means worn, tested and loyal. These bikes have […]

Categories: Live Events

Leave a comment

Nothing calms the soul like the browns and rock & roll

October 2, 2013 by TheTravelWriter

A number of wise people have told me booze doesn’t heal. Now, I never taught Symbolic Logic, but I know a thing or two about developing an argument and there are plenty here to challenge such a blasphemous statement. That said, a little – taking off of the edge goes a long way for an evening that calls for it. Tonight, we delve into one of the finer things in life we haven’t spent time on talking about. Bourbon. A […]

Categories: Whiskey and Cigars

Leave a comment

A Call to Arms – Congress has shut down our best riding roads!

October 2, 2013 by Road Captain

This organization never brings politics into a conversation…it’s just not our place. We would prefer to stick with what we know, bikes, rides, destinations, cigars and whisky. That’s why our readers visit this site so that’s what we write. Unfortunately the government shutdown hits us where it hurts – our roads. We’re sympathetic to all of the government workers who are going to have a difficult October (or beyond) without pay checks. This isn’t something any motivated person should experience. […]

Categories: Rides & Destinations

Leave a comment

2013 Black Ice & Yellow Pearl Street glide

October 1, 2013 by thebeantownbaggers

Often we like to showcase a bike that is actually available for a somewhat reasonable cost on ebay. Here we have one that is selling for $33k but may be worth it to the right buyer. ebay auction link custom black front end custom black & contrast fork sliders custom black engine cover kit black crash bar black dash panel custom black & contrast cut roland sands boss 21-inch front wheel with matching roland sands boss rotors custom black & […]

Categories: eBay bike of the week

Leave a comment