Author Archive
American Iron Magazine May 2009
Posted by: | CommentsAmerican Iron Magazine May 2009
Subscribe and Save 69% off the cover price!
American Iron Magazine May 2009
American Iron Magazine May 2009
Buzz Kanter - Who Cares? Let’s Ride - May 2009
Posted by: | CommentsBuzz Kanter - Shifting Gears May 2009 I wouldn’t try to guess how many times in the 30 years I’ve been riding motorcycles that I’ve used one to transport myself to a place far away from all the problems and pressures of the everyday world. I’ve not found a better way to escape the day-to-day frustrations than to pull on some riding gear and head for the back roads on my Harley. Once on the road, it might take a few miles, but eventually I know the stress peels away as I focus on the ride. Understanding what most of us are facing in this tough economic climate, we can all look forward to when our biggest decision is if we should stop for gas or food. With that in mind, it’s never too soon to start planning on a weekend or longer getaway, perhaps with a riding buddy or three. And a motorcycle road trip can be a lot cheaper and more fun than most other kinds of vacations.
Who Cares? Let’s Ride
Chris Maida - Trees And Dogs
Posted by: | CommentsTrees And Dogs
Though it’s still cold in some parts of the country, most of you are getting to ride in decent weather. As we see it, besides offering you a variety of feature bikes and tech every month, we should also be encouraging you to ride the wheels off your bike by showing you cool and fun places to go. To that end, we’ve asked you, our readers, for submissions about your favorite roads and places to ride on and to. Some of you have responded by sending in great stories, which have appeared in AIM. Unfortunately, the photos for some of the articles weren’t usable. Since we can’t run the tour without good photography, we’ve had to pass on features we really wanted to run, articles we felt you would have enjoyed. That had to be corrected. Our fix is to run an article on how to shoot a magazine-quality tour story! After all, writing and shooting a tour like a pro is no different than doing maintenance on your bike. If no one shows you the right way to do it, how will you know? Read More→
Genevieve Schmitt - Who We Are And How We Shop
Posted by: | CommentsWho We Are And How We Shop
“You’d have to ride with your eyes closed not to notice the number of women motorcyclists on the road these days.” This is how I started my first column for American Iron Magazine, back in January 2006, entitled What’s All This Talk About The Women’s Market? It’s now January 2009, and as I pen my column for this May issue, the assumptions I made three years ago about the increase in women riders have proven to be correct. According to the latest motorcycle owner survey conducted by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) since 2003, 29 percent more women own and ride motorcycles. Preliminary results of the survey have just been released, with final results expected this spring. Read More→
American Iron Magazine April 2009
Posted by: | CommentsAmerican Iron Magazine April 2009
Subscribe and Save 69% off the cover price!
Buzz Kanter - Tough Economy & A Happy Birthday
Posted by: | CommentsTough Economy & A Happy Birthday
Times are tough, and we all have to watch how and where we spend whatever disposable income we still have left. Even the sales of Harley-Davidsons have been way off in the last year, so you can imagine what challenges the smaller companies that support our passion face. On the other hand, gas prices have fallen from almost $5 a gallon last summer to well under $2 as I write this column in January. And it’s a great time to buy a new or used motorcycle, as prices haven’t been this low in years. Dealers are selling models below MSRP, and might even throw in a free leather jacket or oil changes for life if you play your cards right. Read More→
Chris Maida - Spring’s A-Coming!
Posted by: | CommentsSpring’s A-Coming!
The April issue is one of my favorites. It hits the newsstands just before Daytona Bike Week, the kickoff of the new riding season. But it’s still January as I write this. Living in the Northeast, I look forward to winter and how it changes the region where I live. Connecticut has lots of trees, lakes, streams, and hills, which look very peaceful when you drive or walk through the countryside when it’s covered in snow. After a busy year, chillin’ in front of a fireplace and going on slow-mo for several weeks is a welcome change. It gives me a chance to recharge and get ready for another busy year. And that’s especially so this year, since we’ve been getting lots of the white stuff. However, by the time you read this, I’ll have had enough of the cold and ice and will be itching to get on the road to Daytona for my yearly round trip ride. Even though it’ll still be cold by the time I get back home, Daytona means spring is just around the corner! Read More→
Genevieve Schmitt - Back In Time
Posted by: | CommentsBack In Time
You’ve heard the expression “You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” This thought came to mind when I stepped into the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee last summer during the Motor Company’s 105th anniversary celebration. In an earlier column I wrote about the “Harley high” I was feeling after attending the 95th anniversary celebration. Well, thanks to this incredible motorcycle museum, I wasn’t just Harley high this time, I was Harley high and humble, reveling in the new appreciation I was feeling for the history of a company whose motorcycles have been a part of my life for the last 20 years. Knowing where Harley-Davidson has been puts my passion for riding and my love of the brand in perspective. I love history and museums, but when that history has a direct effect on something I’m involved in, the artifacts I’m looking at and reading about have a greater impact. Read More→
