Suzuki stripped away the C90T touring bike’s windshield and factory-issued hard bags to deliver a new Blacked Out Special Suzuki (B.O.S.S.) in classic fashion. The Boulevard C90 B.O.S.S. features black treatments on wheels, fork, exhaust, engine covers and more. The bike maintains the 90-cubic-inch (1462cc) powerplant, a long-and-low steel chassis and shaft drive.

2014 Suzuki Boulevard M190R B.O.S.S.

The 2014 Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S. has new styling that includes black wheels, handlebars, mufflers, fork tubes, engine covers, brake calipers and more. It features Marble Daytona Yellow coloring atop the gas tank, fenders and headlight, and racy wheel striping. The M109R B.O.S.S. has a 109-cubic-inch (1783cc) liquid-cooled engine with Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve fuel injection. It runs on a 240mm rear tire and inverted front fork with cartridge internal components.

The 2014 Suzuki Boulevard C50 B.O.S.S. brings the same sleek appeal to the middleweight cruiser class. From its cast wheels to the handlebars and all along the slash-cut mufflers, what was chrome is now abundantly black. This cruiser’s 50-cubic-inch (805cc) powerplant is fuel-injected and liquid-cooled.

The expanded family of Suzuki Boulevard B.O.S.S. cruisers will begin arriving in Suzuki dealerships across the United States beginning in late July. For more information, visit suzukicycles.com.

2014 Suzuki Boulevard C90 B.O.S.S.

2014 Suzuki Boulevard C50 B.O.S.S.

Developed in Schuberth’s own in-house acoustic wind tunnel, the award-winning C3 and C3W (fit for women) set benchmarks for lightweight, quiet, aerodynamic flip-up helmet technology. Other features include an internal sunvisor, Pinlock anti-fog, advanced ventilation, removable lining and an optional integrated Cardo Bluetooth Schuberth Rider Communication System.

The C3 is available in sizes XS-3XL in colors Black, Silver, White, Dark Anthracite, Hi-Viz Orange, Hi-Viz Yellow, World White and World Black. The C3W (fit for women) comes in sizes XXS-L and in colors Black, Silver, White, Pearl White. Both include a 5-year warranty, 3-year service plan, and registration in the Schuberth Mobility Program.

For more information, visit schuberthnorthamerica.com.

The Gunny—best known for his role as a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant in the film, “Full Metal Jacket”—is deeply involved in advocating for the rights of active and retired or discharged members of the U.S. armed forces. He will attend Rolling Thunder XXVI as an official representative of Victory Motorcycles, saluting U.S. military personnel and their families on behalf of Victory employees and the community of Victory riders.

“We enjoy the freedom to ride because of the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military personnel, and we’re honored to have the Gunny represent our brand at this Memorial Day weekend event,” said Steve Menneto, VP of Victory Motorcycles.

On the Saturday of Rolling Thunder XXVI weekend, motorcyclists will have the opportunity to ride with Gunny to support the U.S. military. Gunny will make appearances on Saturday, May 25, at four Washington, D.C., area Victory Motorcycle dealerships and riders can join him as he rides between dealerships. Visit the Victory Motorcycles Facebook page for details on where and how to ride with Gunny.

An estimated 1 million motorcycle riders, volunteers and supporters are expected to participate in the 26th annual Rolling Thunder in the Washington, D.C., area. This ride pays tribute to U.S. military personnel who gave all in service to their country, advocates on behalf of wounded warriors and their families, and calls for full accountability for military personnel such as Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIA).

“This is really a fun time for Honda fans, as we unveil these incredibly cool machines for 2014 that reach out to entirely different segments of the market,” said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. “This introduction serves as a perfect example of what 2014 is going to be like for Honda, as we continue to bring diverse and completely new concepts to riders, no matter what kind of machines they might favor.”

New to Honda’s lineup is the “friendly and fun-loving Grom, an easy-to-handle package that makes you grin when you see it and keeps you grinning as you ride,” continued Savino. “And we have the impressive new Forza scooter, a very able 300-class machine with strong performance and economical operation for solo riding or two-up travel.” Returning for 2014 is the CRF250L, which was introduced last year.

Grom
It’s an excellent fit for both new and experienced riders, but to Gen Y buyers in particular the Grom carries a bit of attitude while promising fun times: the compact frame size, low seat, inverted front fork and hydraulic disc brakes make this the real deal. The fuel-injected 125cc engine delivers lots of torque, the 4-speed manual transmission works just like any other full-sized bike, the maneuverability and handling make it a joy to ride, and there’s even room for a passenger. Factor in its efficient size with an affordable price, and there’s just no way you can pass up this chance to get out and ride. Colors: Pearl Red, Metallic Black; Price: $2999; Availability: August
http://powersports.honda.com/2014/grom.aspx

Forza
The Forza is a mid-displacement machine that boasts some pretty high-tech credentials: a fuel-injected liquid-cooled 300-class engine with a single overhead camshaft and four-valve head with sophisticated roller rocker arms. That all adds up to a ride that’s big enough for extended rides for two, but versatile, practical and economical enough to keep transportation costs way down. Color: Pearl Red; Price: $5599, $6099 for Combined ABS model; Availability: July
http://powersports.honda.com/2014/forza.aspx

CRF250L
This dual-sport machine is powered by a compact and sophisticated liquid-cooled DOHC 249cc single-cylinder four-stroke powerplant that produces smooth and consistent torque at low rpm to aid off-road work, yet the short-stroke engine also spins up excellent high-rpm performance for the street. All through the rev range, the CRF250L pumps out a well-balanced and very capable level of power. Its off-road-oriented chassis, which includes a long-travel 43mm inverted fork and single-shock Pro-Link rear suspension, makes it equally at home on city streets or country trails. And with styling cues carried over from Honda’s legendary CRF motocross bikes, the CRF250L offers the full package. Color: Red; Price: TBD; Availability: June
http://powersports.honda.com/2014/crf250l.aspx

“We are honored to make today’s important announcements at this time, as it was roughly 112 years ago that the very first Indian Motorcycle prototype was demonstrated to the press on the streets in Springfield, Massachusetts,” said Vice President of Polaris Motorcycles Steve Menneto. “We’re especially proud to reveal that our inaugural model will be the iconic Indian Chief. Riders around the world will be thrilled to know their choice in American motorcycles will now come in the form of an all-new Indian Chief.”

Indian Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin

In addition to announcing the first model to come out of the Spirit Lake, Iowa, production plant, pricing for the all-new 2014 Indian Chief will start at an MSRP of $18,999. Inventory is expected to be available at Indian Motorcycle dealerships throughout North America later in the year. Additional Indian Motorcycle dealerships will be opening across the country this summer to accommodate bike demand and service needs.

“When Polaris Industries acquired this brand two years ago, our goal from the outset was to leverage our engineering, manufacturing and operational prowess as a market leader in powersports to design and build a truly exceptional motorcycle that represents the perfect balance of legendary heritage and brilliant, state-of-the-art engineering and technology,” continued Menneto. “All of us at Indian Motorcycle are very proud to offer the 2014 Indian Chief at a starting price of $18,999. We set out to make the power and heritage of this beautiful new bike available at a price point that is competitive and more accessible to people who are looking for authenticity and choice in American motorcycles.”

The new Indian Chief will be revealed at the 73rd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, August 3-11, 2013. Specific details on the launch timing will be announced this summer. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the world’s largest motorcycle rally, was started in 1936 by an Indian Motorcycle club, the famed Jackpine Gypsies. Indian Motorcycle is proud to reclaim that heritage and share the historic reveal of the 2014 Indian Chief with the rider community at  the 2013 Sturgis Rally.

For more information, visit indianmotorcycle.com

Alas, not so. The combination of a big sport tourer, a full load and winding mountain roads still littered with winter gravel took their toll. No doubt an enthusiastic right hand accelerated the problem. Only 1,300 miles from home, while giving my Honda ST1300 another once-over in my Aunt Muriel’s driveway, the evidence was clear. The wear bars had been flush for a while already. Numerous chunks of tread were unaccounted for. Sliding my hand against the direction of rotation revealed substantial cupping. Come to think of it, U.S. 421 through Shady Valley felt lumpier than the smooth pavement would suggest.

Bob said, “Bones, your tires are toast!”

With two more days in the Carolina mountains on tap, then two days winding around mountains in Tennessee and Kentucky, then a 1,000-mile blast on super-slab to get home, this newfound lack of tread was cause for concern. Bob looked at me: “Bones, your tires are toast!” I stood there amazed. Tires that looked good three days earlier now looked like crap. I should have known better, too, because I had tires before that deteriorated with similar haste. Suddenly I was in the market for tires. Fortunately, I knew who to call.

Tim and Ernie Keel operate Keel Brothers Motorcycle Tires in Lawrenceville, Georgia. I’ve bought tires from Tim and Ernie for years. People have asked me why a born-and-bred New Englander buys moto tires way south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I must admit that I enjoy the chance to work on my north Georgia drawl when calling to place an order, but it goes deeper than boning up on Peach State lingo.

The Keel brothers were motorcycle guys long before they were motorcycle businessmen. Those vintage Evel Knievel lunchboxes on display in the shop office help to gauge the length of time they’ve loved bikes, and their life-long passion means people like me are more than customers, even more than friends. We’re fellow riders. In this internet shopping age when good prices on tires are a click away, you need something more, and Ernie and Tim put something more of themselves into their business that others can’t quite replicate. The Keel Brothers stories I’ve heard around campfires scratch at the surface.

Tim said, “Bones, y’all need tars!”

There was the time Tim saved a trip by first locating a hard-to-find tire and then getting it delivered overnight to a rider stranded someplace west of nowhere. (Actually, this has happened multiple times.) There was the time when I was on the fence about a new set of tires for my Kawasaki Versys. They were a new offering from a brand I’d never bought, so I called Tim for his advice. The tires were so new he hadn’t seen them himself, but he offered to drop ship a set to me in Massachusetts. If I liked them all right, I could send him a check. If not, I could send them back to him and try another variety. Tim also makes the effort to alert the long-distance rider community—people who go through more tires in a year than some riders do in a lifetime—in advance of upcoming price increases from tire manufacturers so serious mile-eaters can stock up.

Fortunately, my error judging tire life was easily remedied because Aunt Muriel’s place isn’t that far from Lawrenceville, Georgia. Steve punched the address into his GPS. “Bones, we can be there in less than two hours.” A plan was building. I called the shop and asked Ernie if he could set up my ST with new donuts and, oh yeah, I’d be there today, before lunch. “Sure, Bones,” he assured me, “we’ll get y’all set.” He even had my preferred brand in stock in the right size. Given the ST’s unusual 18-inch front tire, that’s not something you see every day.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have that lift for tire changes at home? The automatic tire machine and the electronic spin balancer would be nice, too!

So on a sunny Monday in April, I visited Keel Brothers Motorcycle Tires in person for the first time. In fact, all four of us on this trip have been long-time customers from our various locations in the North, so everyone decided to ride down to Lawrenceville.

Ernie took a moment away from his work on a Valkyrie to offer warm greetings and assure me that my bike was next. He displayed the focus of a man experienced in his work and committed to getting it done. For 20 years before going into the motorcycle tire business he was a crane operator, so clearly he’s done some heavy lifting. He and his younger brother Tim also owned a landscaping company before shifting to motorcycle tires, so they knew a thing or two about working together to build a successful family business. For more than a decade now, they’ve been keeping riders on fresh tires.

I walked into the office to say hello to Tim, who I first met several years ago at the Moonshine Lunch Run. Coincidently we would be seeing each other at Moonshine 2013 just four days later. Tim’s wife Leah was there, too, ready to enlighten me with more gems of Southern vernacular. She comes in a day or two each week to keep the office humming. “When I started coming in, there were piles of papers everywhere,” she recalled. “Darlin’ there’s still piles of paper everywhere,” came the rejoinder from Tim, smiling quietly at his desk. “Well sure, Tim, but now we know what’s in ‘em!”

Keel Brothers Motorcycle Tires is still known locally by its original name, Two Brothers.

While Wilson, Leah and Tim’s son, and Wade, the shop mechanic, tended to my bike, I drew more bits of family history out of Tim. I learned that his dad was the kind of father who made his kids try to figure out what was wrong with their bicycles or motorcycles or whatever else was broken to see if they could fix it themselves, before running off to dad for a solution. He was ready to help when needed, but his “help a man learn to fish for himself” approach let his sons develop observational skills, problem solving methods and mechanical aptitude that set them up well for life with a wrench in hand.

As newly shod rims were reinstalled on my ST, another customer, this one a north Georgia native, filled us in on roads he liked that would get us back to North Carolina. In no time, the beautifully banked curves of U.S. 129 heading north through Vogel State Park scrubbed in my tires clear to the shoulders.

My vulcanized link with the road was back. Next time, I won’t forget: nothing feels better than new “tars.”

For more information, visit keelbrotherstires.com/.

“Harley-Davison and its dealers, riders, fans and H.O.G. chapters are some of the most passionate when it comes to helping provide independence to kids and adults with muscle disease,” said Brian Bentley, dealer principal of Brian’s Harley-Davidson and head of the Ride for Life steering committee. “Ride for Life is a tradition that continues to exceed our expectations year after year. One of the best feelings is seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids who we are helping, and I think this has been one of the most memorable years we’ve had in the past two decades.”

More than 1,300 motorcycle enthusiasts rumbled into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on May 4-5 for the nation’s largest charity motorcycle ride hosted by the Eastern Harley-Davison Dealers Association (EHDDA). The fun kicked off on Saturday, May 4, at the Arts Quest Center at SteelStacks with live entertainment, silent auctions, raffles, and food and beverage vendors. Day one festivities were highlighted by an exclusive Joan Jett and The Blackhearts concert that evening.

MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Bryson Foster, 12, who is serving his second term as the face and voice of MDA, made his first appearance at the legendary event to thank Ride for Life participants for the incredible difference they’re making for families like his.

Ride for Life events carried on into May 5, beginning with the parade of motorcycles. Willie G. Davidson, former senior vice president and chief styling officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company, made a special appearance with his wife Nancy. They greeted the parade and signed autographs for participants and MDA families.

Davidson also addressed the crowd during Ride for Life closing ceremonies, which marked the end of the two-day event, complete with a 2013 Harley-Davidson Street Glide bike giveaway and a trip for two to the Milwaukee 110th Anniversary Celebration on Labor Day weekend.

Funds raised from Ride for Life stay in the five-state area (southern New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and northern Virginia) and directly benefit MDA families. Ride for Life XXVI was just one of the numerous events held across the country throughout 2013 to help Harley-Davidson celebrate 110 years of riding strong. To learn more about Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary events that benefit MDA, visit mdarides.org.

Ride for Life is the nation’s highest netting Harley-Davidson fundraising event. Since it began in 1988, it has raised nearly $18 million and has had more than 51,000 participants.

I crossed the Appalachian Trail and entered the Litchfield Hills on my BMW near Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state and glided beneath the highest point. I scooted between idyllic Twin Lakes and found repast in Canaan at Collin’s Diner, a National Historic Landmark. Through the old mill town of Winsted there are no fewer than four impressive stone churches, and the brick facades of downtown look unchanged for generations.

Bikers congregate at a popular way stop in the village of West Cornwall adjacent to its iconic covered bridge.

State Route 20 leads me to a glass blowing studio in Riverton and the landmark Hitchcock Chair Factory, founded in 1818. Hitchcock’s hand stenciled chairs are considered antique collectibles. North of Riverton, the road bores through a tree tunnel as it loops around the north end of Barkhamsted Reservoir. I pass through Colonial villages of West Granby, Granby and East Granby, where I take a side road to Old New-Gate Prison. The prison was originally a copper mine, opened in 1705. Political prisoners were confined here during the Revolutionary War. It later became a state prison, but closed in 1827 when it was considered costly to run and inhumane. Visitors today may enter the underground tunnels and decide for themselves.

I followed the airliners landing at Bradley International Airport, which serves Hartford, and located the New England Air Museum. In the lobby, I am startled by model airplanes almost invisibly suspended from the sky-blue ceiling in a mobile-like diorama. Two massive hangers display both military and civilian aircraft, helicopters and, interestingly enough, vintage motorcycles in Concourse condition. Down the road, I lingered in contemplative solemnity at the stirring Firefighters Memorial in front of the Connecticut Fire Academy.

Intricate stone walls border the byways throughout Connecticut.

Crossing the Connecticut River at Windsor Locks leads to one of two trolley museums in Connecticut, the other in New Haven. My jog up U.S. Route 5 takes me to State Route 190 eastward. This rural road drives through woodlands for the most part. It begins to rain, and the descending autumn leaves have me worried about traction loss. I stop at Chelle’s 50’s Car Hop Diner in Stafford Springs for a hot chocolate and to don rain gear. Prudent decision, because now it rains harder, just as I encounter sweeping curves on State Route 197 to North Woodstock, where I turn south onto picturesque State Route 169.

Connecticut’s tranquil northeast corner, this area is called, and Route 169 is often listed as a top scenic drive. The length of this 37-mile route to Norwich started as a wagon trail traveled by Colonial settlers. Neatly-laid stone walls border the roadway alongside rolling hills with pastoral views. I pass village landscapes with town greens and Congregational church spires adding to the serene ride. The landscaped grounds and stone-bordered lawns of boarding schools appear in the town of Pomfret. An Audubon Sanctuary connects with the Quinebaug River Valley National Heritage Corridor, joining other nature preserves along this byway known as “The Last Green Valley”.

A true waterman’s residence on Twin Lakes near Canaan.

I diverted onto State Route 14A out of Canterbury, another Connecticut village with a National Historic District. I wanted to explore an adjacent green-dotted road nearer the border with Rhode Island, so I turned south onto State Route 49. Not a mile farther I came upon Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm and the Brown Cow Café. I sought sanctuary within, and the proprietor took pity as I dripped rivulets onto the wooden floor, presenting me with hot and spicy pumpkin soup on the house. The gobblers outside prompted me to order, what else, a turkey sandwich to accompany the owner’s largess.

Somewhat rejuvenated, I headed off down the road with a fresh perspective as the rain abated. I passed more examples of classic New England stone walls. Since the earliest days of the Republic, farmers have displaced glacially deposited rocks and formed walls to define property boundaries. I saw their decaying remains meandering off into the undergrowth. By the time I reached Stonington, Connecticut’s easternmost coastal community, the sky was clearing. I capped the day with genuine homemade New England clam chowder at Noah’s in downtown Stonington as the sun set over the harbor.

The nation’s first nuclear submarine is now a museum outside the sub base at Groton.

Morning found me on famed coastal U.S. Route l, extending from Maine to Florida. My little thread of it brought me over a Bascule bridge into Mystic Seaport, where I visited a recreated maritime village along a waterfront of restored whaling vessels. Just a few miles farther I stopped at Groton, where the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, the Nautilus, is now berthed as a museum outside the sub base. I was stationed here on a diesel submarine in the 1960s when the Nautilus and the Triton were the two only active nuclear subs in existence. I often viewed the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s training vessel, the barque USCGC Eagle, sailing on the Thames River while I stood topside watch aboard my boat, USS Corporal SS-346. Those were the days!

Out of New London, State Route 156 hugged the coastline to Old Lyme, a 19^th century arts colony worth exploring. A few Colonial inns beckon, including the Bee and Thistle dating from 1765. Crossing the Connecticut River and following State Route 154 slightly north brought me to Essex, where the town’s River Museum displays a working replica of the first submarine, Bushnell’s Turtle. Murals within depict the British burning the Colonial fleet of privateers in 1814. Also here you can board an historic schooner and experience the Connecticut River’s heritage, or explore the river valley aboard a steam train.

Numerous Connecticut cemeteries are repositories for 200-year-old remains.

Back on slow-moving U.S. Route 1 past numerous beaches, I notice that it parallels fast-moving Interstate 95 to New Haven. Growing hungry, I hop into the frenetic mix that propels me toward the cityscape on a search for the landmark diner that is the reputed birthplace of the hamburger. I find Louis Lunch (Est. 1895) in a single-story cottage-like brick building on a busy street in downtown New Haven. I learn not to ask for ketchup or a bun. I innocently inquired what kind of cheese it had and was told “Delicious.” They don’t grill, but steam the meat. It may be an original, but I’ll stick with the traditional. I had expectations of visiting Yale University, alma mater of presidents, but New Haven’s intricate maze of one-way streets discouraged me, so I headed out of town.

I next desired to see the P.T. Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. It turned out to be an impressive stone and terra-cotta edifice with Byzantine and Romanesque architectural influences. Unfortunately, it is closed indefinitely because of tornado damage. The next two cities, Norwalk and Stamford, join Bridgeport as part of the greater New York City metropolitan area. In between is quaint little Westport, home of the late Paul Newman and his beloved Westport Country Playhouse, venerable home of New England summer stock.

Many libraries are located in architecturally historic buildings like this one in Norfolk.

Past Stamford, in Connecticut’s appendix jutting into New York, I cut over to the Merritt Parkway, an architectural achievement highlighting its Art Deco bridges. One of the oldest parkways in the U.S., the Merritt is designated a National Scenic Byway and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It ends back in New Haven, but I leaped off onto U.S. Route 7 at Norwalk. Shortly thereafter, I veered left onto State Route 33.

More stone walls. Property boundary walls. Picket fences verboten here. This continues past Danbury, where I guide the BMW onto State Route 37 and encounter a continuation of the same. I imagine town planners decreeing no property complete without a congruent stone border. I recall Robert Frost’s poem, Mending Wall: Something there is that doesn’t love a wall; That sends the frozen ground-swell under it; And spills the upper boulders in the sun….

As I reenter the rolling hills of Litchfield County on U.S. Rote 7, I notice the motorcyclists proliferate. Drawing them into this region are 18th century hamlets with Colonial homes bounding classic village greens, in addition to covered bridges, waterfalls, and meandering byways through state forests. Riders congregate at Kent in front of the Coffee & Chocolate Company. South of town, they ride over Bulls Bridge spanning the whitewater gorge of the Housatonic River. North of town, past Kent Falls State Park, is another historic covered bridge leading to West Cornwall and the Wandering Moose Café. In between is the Sloane-Stanley Museum of Industrial History.

Two immaculately restored vintage bikes are displayed amidst the aircraft at the New England Air Museum.

After making the circuit of said sights, I diverted at Cornwall Bridge to follow State Route 4 toward Sharon. Just outside of town, I stumbled upon an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. This facility cares for and releases injured and orphaned animals. Admission is free to view exhibits of reptiles, amphibians and birds. Surrounding the center is a nature preserve with a multitude of trails circling around and between two ponds. Time to get off the bike and stretch!

I learned that the numerous state parks in this region are a result of forest preservation. The landscape of western Connecticut was practically denuded of trees to feed iron furnaces, the  remnants of which can be viewed in numerous places throughout the Litchfield hills. Early settlers also cut down large areas of forest to create pastures for grazing and fields for grain and hay. Reforestation efforts have restored the habitat of the Housatonic Valley, making it a haven for motorcycle travel.

My nutmeg sample is complete, but I must return to sprinkle more spice on morsels of Connecticut yet to be discovered.

(This is a web-exclusive article from May 2013 that did not appear in the print edition of Rider magazine.)

The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, built in 1893, celebrates the showman, his circus and local history.

Sunset at Stonington Harbor.

Blackwell, an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer inducted in 2000, will be honored alongside the class of 2013 as part of the AMA Legends Weekend, hosted by the American Motorcyclist Association, on Oct. 18-19, at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino.

“Not only did Mark Blackwell rise to the top to become the 1971 American 500cc motocross champion, but he also raced internationally at a time when the Europeans dominated the sport,” said Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame. “His grit, a win in Switzerland, and a podium finish in Germany earned him fans worldwide.

“In addition, Blackwell is probably best known for his major contributions to American motorcycling through his work at Husqvarna, Suzuki and Victory,” Heininger said. “He helped return Husqvarna to profitability in the United States, helped turn the motorcycle and ATV division around at Suzuki, and served as general manager of Polaris Industries’ fledgling Victory Motorcycle business during a critical growth period.”

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends are existing members of the Hall of Fame whose lifetime accomplishments are spotlighted as part of the annual induction ceremony of new Hall of Famers. Blackwell joins Torsten Hallman, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, as a 2013 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend. Hallman was instrumental in introducing the sport of motocross to America and founded the Thor brand.

“This is an incredible honor for me for which I am very grateful,” Blackwell said. “To be recognized alongside the iconic Torsten Hallman makes it even more special. Torsten was the first European motocross racer I ever saw as the sport was coming to America, and his professionalism, education and business accomplishments had a huge impact on the sport, as well as my life and career.”

The AMA Legends Weekend kicks off with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, Oct. 18, in a star-studded gala event that honors the motorcycling world’s fast and famous. The next morning features the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception, where the class of 2013, the 2013 Legends and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers from previous years will be honored and interviewed on-stage in a relaxed setting that allows fans and friends to get up close and personal with motorcycling’s greatest.

Tickets are on sale now at motorcyclemuseum.org. Price is $140 for Friday night’s induction ceremony, and $20 for Saturday’s reception, which includes a continental breakfast. Rooms at the Green Valley Ranch can also be reserved for a special rate.

For more information, visit motorcyclemuseum.org.