This was a fantastic surprise I didn’t expect

MILES: 60+ TIME: 1+ hrs START/FINISH: Retro Mobil Station

I rode up to Sharon, CT on a Saturday morning to meet up with a buddy of mine and we threw together a couple of points around Sharon we wanted to hit. I was on my Streetfighter and he casually brought out his Superleggera.

There are a ton of options in that area so explore the map and keep adding waypoints to build a ride that works for you. We had around 2 hours to kill so weren’t as generous as I’d normally be.

We started at the retro Mobil station in Millerton. This place is awesome and great for pics. Check out the story of the man behind the build before you go. Take your pics, fill up at the Cumberland Farms gas station right next to it and set off.

Instagram post

From the Mobil gas station, we headed West until we hit 82. You’ll take route 64 on the way to 82 and it gives you a fantastic feel for the rest of the ride. Take 82 south and stretch out a bit. It’s a faster road but not very well paved when we went so take it slower and don’t overdo it; save it for route 57.

The rest of the route is fantastic twists and very little traffic. We were on there Saturday afternoon and I’m used to seeing quite a few more cars on the road than what we saw. Pretty quiet area.

We planned out an inner horseshoe and you should as well. You can even do a quick loop around Hunns Lake (we didn’t but should have).

The real payoff on the way back to the start is the bowl on 44. You’ll want multiple passes. It’s got a great view as well so make sure you save time to pull in and take a few minutes. It’s a pretty rough gravel lot so be ready for that. Take the grass if you’re worried about rock chips hitting your underbelly or tail. I was stressing for my buddy on his SL.

There really are a ton of options in this area and I’m definitely coming back for more. Going West of the route that we did is littered with good roads and the whole area is only around 30 minutes north of Sloop Brewing. Just keep an eye on their open times and don’t show up on a Monday like I once did.

Instagram post

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

🧠 Need to know this week…

1. 🎒 Yooooo it’s riding season. Get your ass out there! I’ve got a ton of routes, including a new Bull Run Loop

2. 📷️ The new Insta360 X5 genuinely is actually worthwhile as a 360 camera now, especially with ND filters. No, I’m not sponsored. Yet?

3. 🦺 I’ve had the TechAir Plasma 5 for a few weeks now… phenomenal airbag that I don’t mind wearing

4. 🏍️ 🥓 Bikes & Breakfast is at Cold Spring, NY this week (July 20)

5. 🏖️ Long Island / Hamptons routes are up on the NYC MOTO Rides Page

6. I’ve been asked a lot; check out Calimoto for route planning

Every group ride starts with great intentions…

Then 45 minutes after KSU (kickstands up), you find yourself in this situation:

Never. Fucking. Fails

All jokes aside though, there are guidelines around how a ride is supposed to go and what a ride actually ends up being.

Rides go sideways so many different ways:

1. Road construction

2. Too many traffic lights & stop signs on an unscouted route

3. Traffic

4. Breakdowns

5. Shit riders (define that how you will)

6. Leaders get lost

7. You get lost

I’ve had all of these and more go wrong on a ride.

Anyway, here’s what to expect:

KSU stands for kickstands up and generally means that kick stands go up and you’re off riding.

• Reality: KSU time is 9am and you’re still waiting for someone at 9:30 and they will probably want to get a coffee when they finally roll up at 9:45. Then you finally kick off at 10am only to have to stop to get gas at 10:15 because Peter is running on fumes. Gas station stop takes 30 minutes. Actual ride starts at 11.

Everyone should generally be prepared with the right gear, tanks full, and bladder emptied

• Reality: Tommy’s rocking ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and a helmet 7yrs old and 2 sizes too big (Tommy’s got a smaller head than he thought) with a ripped strap. Tommy’s license plate “fell off” and is in his backpack (also with a ripped strap). Stay away from Tommy. He’s also the guy you had to wait on for KSU.

The ride leader(s) will hold a ride meeting at the beginning of the ride setting expectations and rules

• Reality: Generally, this is actually well-followed for larger groups. The ride leader does the meeting and goes over speeds, destinations, what to do in the event of whatever, ride roles, etc. For tighter groups with people that do a ton of riding together, this is more ad hoc. They will generally just tell the riders where they’re going and that’s it. If you are a new rider, let the ride leader know! Some rides are just not going to be for you and are a danger to you and those you ride with. Hook up with the ride leader beforehand if possible and let them know.

The route will have been chosen by the ride leader in advance and is sometimes negotiable with the rest of the crew.

• Reality: With smaller, less structured groups, the destination and route is usually just figured out after everyone gets together. Everyone argues about the best route, bitches about lunch options, and then finally sets off with all of the pressure on the leader. If you’re just starting out, just go with the flow and enjoy the ride; don’t make yourself a pain in the ass when the ride leader already has a ton of shit to worry about.

Ride leaders will always wait at turn points to make sure everyone catches up.

• Reality: Most ride leaders will wait at turn points; if you’re one of those that doesn’t, look at yourself in the mirror and question your existence because you suck. Either way, you’d do well knowing your first destination just in case you get lost. But please hear this: ride your own ride! I’m sure you’ve heard that before but take it seriously. Don’t push your own limits outside of your comfort zone (track is different). I’d rather get lost than go down on a turn keeping up with the others.

You’ll stop for gas based on the needs of the thirstiest bikes (V4’s, I’m looking at you)

• Reality: I almost run out of gas on every fucking ride. Don’t be like me.

There will be a solid route planned for the way back (after lunch)

• Reality: You’ll be doing 110mph all the way home on the most straight-shot boring highway there is. You’ll cramp up 10 minutes before getting home, collapse on the couch when you get in, and then have to do all kinds of shit around the house because your wife thinks you were just playing outside for 8 hours.

Couple more quick points:

• Definitely try to show up with a full tank of gas to the ride

• How’s everyone geared? If it’s just a bunch of sloppy t-shirts, reconsider! Unless you’re squiding too and to each their own!

• Check your tires. If your wear is getting low, keep in mind that the last 10% of a tire’s tread wears super fast. Change your tires before committing to 300 miles.

• Speaking of, longer rides are around 300 miles roundtrip so keep that in mind. Might not be a good idea as your first ride.

• Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. If you’re on a 400 and everyone else brought their liters, you’re going to get left behind.

• Generally speaking, you’ll start the ride as a group and then it’s everyone for themselves on the way home but do check-in with the txt group thread when you get home.

A new route database & ride calendar is coming…

I know I haven’t been around much over the last few months but between the winter and my actual day job, I haven’t been able to focus on the newsletter as much.

What I have had time to do though was to build out an entire route, group ride system that can support us as riders through the summer. Here’s some functionality I’ve built:

1. Routes

   1. All of my custom routes will be in here.

   2. Custom routes will be sortable and filterable by distance, type (off-road/on-road), location, etc.

   3. You can build your own routes and upload links to Calimoto, GPX files, etc.

   4. Add in your own comments on routes you’ve done or are interested in.

2. Rides

   1. This is built to support rides for charity, motorcycle club rides, and a general platform to help with planning, etc.

   2. There will be a calendar for all rides and you will be able to join any ride you want (ride leads/organizers will be able to choose whether riders need to be approved or not)

   3. All of the expected group ride creation functionality will be there:

      1. Routes

      2. Ride date/KSU location

      3. Planned stops

      4. Custom ride rules & guidelines

      5. Ability to tip ($) the ride leader

      6. A group ride can be associated with one of the routes on NYC MOTO or a custom route set by the ride leader

Stay tuned for more updates as I finalize the build.

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🙏 Join the NYC MOTO Free Facebook Group

Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend

These are my favorite loops in all of New York so far.

The Loops

MILES: 80 or 127 TIME: 2 or 3 hours START/FINISH: Mountain Brauhaus

I’ve ridden this route so many times and keep coming back for more. It’s just downright beautiful. Not super difficult to get out there from the city, traffic on the way isn’t terrible (unless it’s leaf peeping season) and good options for food.

You’ve got two options in terms of loops; there is a 80 mile loop and a longer 127 mile ride. I’ve done both in the same day but you do get tired. Most of the road is pretty twisty. Good problem to have, yeah?

Couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Once you’re on the backroads, there is very little traffic but be careful; some sections are tighter than others.

2. Fuel is sparse. I usually fill up at Teta’s (get their roast beef & cheese sandwich) or the Valero at the 55/44 intersection.

3. Food options are plenty but I’d recommend Mountain Brauhaus (great German food but make sure you have time to sit down & wait), Arrowood (although they’re now using outsourced chefs so YMMV), or Teta’s (quick stop w/ fuel and great sandwiches)

4. A lot of the route is canopied. Early mornings can be dangerous after a rain so watch for wetness & debris. Early & late season rides on this road could be a bit rough from gravel, etc so take care.

5. There are two hairpins and you can easily go wide on both. Take care and pay attention.

I’ve learned a thing or two about the anatomy of a good route:

1. Twists are awesome, no doubt, but here’s the thing: Highways are a must. They give you a change of pace when you need it. You get to control your speed on highways. Plus, they’re the bridge between your destinations, helping you stay focused on what you’re really out there to do. Highways might not be where you’re headed, but they sure get you there quicker.

2. Take breaks often. Pull over at all the gas stations. Okay, maybe not every single one, but make it a point to stop regularly, especially if your bike isn’t built for long hauls. Stopping every 60-80 miles for a few minutes works for me.

3. This is not a ride for a large group. I’d do like 6, 7 bikes TOPS. Some of these roads are fairly narrow and you’ll want the space. If you’re using comms on your ride, a long bike procession will mean that the leader can’t talk to the rear.

4. The twists below Ashokan Reservoir are canopied so take it easy for the first mile or so and pay attention to leaves & wet patches. If it rained the night before and you’re out in the AM, take extra care.

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

🧠 Need to know this week…

1. 🎒 Yooooo it’s riding season. Get your ass out there! Proud dad moment for me this week with my daughter.

2. 🎧️ The new Cardo Packtalk Pro truly is a great piece of kit; use coupon code NYCMOTO23 for 10% off.

3. ❤️ Ducati… who tf hurt you? First dirt bike and a retired rider take the championship in Italy.

4. 📷️ Next time someone bitches about congestion pricing, throw numbers at them; check out this traffic tracker to see the impact of congestion pricing

5. 🦺 Alpinestars keeps going with airbag upgrades; their new Tech-Air 5 Plasma is what you want for summer

6. 📱 Check out Peak Design’s mobile mounts (now with wireless charging) for the best damn solution on the market

I know you probably have an opinion on this…

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuttt I don’t really care

I put my 12yr old daughters on the bike this week. No not both of them on the same time… that would be silly.

I geared them up and started taking them on rides around the city. Now I take my 12 year old to school and pick her up whenever I can.

That’s my choice and you may have your own opinion about my choice. You’re welcome to have one but voicing it to me and others is a choice. Make the right choice.

The whole point of me even bringing this up (and very likely inviting opinions which hopefully end up with more love than hate!) is to tell you my story and what I’ve experienced. I’ve never been a pillion.

Here are the steps I’m taking to keep them safe and prepared:

1. They’re geared. Protective leather Dainese jacket, full face helmet with comms to talk to me, gloves.

2. I’ve been riding for a bit now and have been on the track a bunch of times, including CSS.

3. Almost all of my riding has been in the city; let’s just say that I’m confident here but not so much that I get careless. I don’t run red lights, make room for pedestrians, and mostly obey traffic laws ;). I’m not a dick.

4. I don’t over complicate it for them in terms of telling them what to do. They know to keep their feet on the pegs and secure themselves around me in the best way they know and whatever feels best. Once I get a few rides in, I’ll go ahead and start correcting them a bit and give them hints on what to pay attention to (anticipating stop lights, quick maneuvers, when to relax, when to grip tight)

5. I don’t tell them to not move on the bike; I just felt that telling them that would scare them and they’d become too rigid. Instead, I correct them when they’re moving around too much.

6. The sketchiest part of riding with a backpack in the city is acceleration points out of a stoplight. I’m starting to train them to anticipate acceleration by paying attention to crosswalk signs (watch the countdown) and feel when I’m starting to go. I’ll tap their leg or tell them to hang on over comms if I feel like they’re too loose.

7. I absolutely will not go on the highway (or higher speeds) until I feel like they’re ready (and geared). Period.

I can’t explain the joy that you hear during a ride with your kids. Get them on comms with you and listen to how they speak. Complete joy.

Still, don’t mistaken this as me convincing riders to take their kids on joyrides. This is not for every rider and it’s not for every kid, especially for new riders. I know that when I started riding, I was absolutely filled with enthusiasm and wanted everyone to experience it with me. Take a beat and wait. I won’t go too deep into this. Use your brain.

Also, my opinion is my own and yours might differ.

Instagram post

A new route database & ride calendar is coming…

I know I haven’t been around much over the last few months but between the winter and my actual day job, I haven’t been able to focus on the newsletter as much.

What I have had time to do though was to build out an entire route, group ride system that can support us as riders through the summer. Here’s some functionality I’ve built:

1. Routes

   1. All of my custom routes will be in here.

   2. Custom routes will be sortable and filterable by distance, type (off-road/on-road), location, etc.

   3. You can build your own routes and upload links to Calimoto, GPX files, etc.

   4. Add in your own comments on routes you’ve done or are interested in.

2. Rides

   1. This is built to support rides for charity, motorcycle club rides, and a general platform to help with planning, etc.

   2. There will be a calendar for all rides and you will be able to join any ride you want (ride leads/organizers will be able to choose whether riders need to be approved or not)

   3. All of the expected group ride creation functionality will be there:

      1. Routes

      2. Ride date/KSU location

      3. Planned stops

      4. Custom ride rules & guidelines

      5. Ability to tip ($) the ride leader

      6. A group ride can be associated with one of the routes on NYC MOTO or a custom route set by the ride leader

Stay tuned for more updates as I finalize the build.

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🙏 Join the NYC MOTO Free Facebook Group

Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend

West of the Ashokan Reservoir is damn near perfect for crispy October rides and Fall foliage. Just watch the leaves.

The Route

MILES: 90 TIME: 2 hours 15 minutes START/FINISH: Teta’s Market

West of Ashokan Reservoir is God’s land. It’s just so beautiful out there and last time I did a foliage ride in that area I couldn’t help but slow down and just take it all in. Once the leaves come down (be careful of the damn leaves on the ground), you get a clear view of the creek. This is one of those rare cases where an electric bike might be nice; hearing the sounds of nature around you could be amazing on this route.

We’re starting and stopping at Teta’s for three reasons:

1. Gas is not exactly plentiful in this area so fill up before and after

2. They make a fantastic roast beef & cheese sandwich

3. The people-watching is top notch and the employees are super kind

As I’ve warned in the past, be careful of canopied roads. Early mornings can be dangerous after a rain so watch for wetness & debris. Early season rides on this road could be a bit rough from gravel, etc so take care.

In any case, I specifically routed you by Pigeon Brook Rd so you can hit that hairpin.

Instagram post

I’ve learned a thing or two about the anatomy of a good route:

1. Twists are awesome, no doubt, but here’s the thing: Highways are a must. They give you a change of pace when you need it. You get to control your speed on highways. Plus, they’re the bridge between your destinations, helping you stay focused on what you’re really out there to do. Highways might not be where you’re headed, but they sure get you there quicker.

2. Take breaks often. Pull over at all the gas stations. Okay, maybe not every single one, but make it a point to stop regularly, especially if your bike isn’t built for long hauls. Stopping every 60-80 miles for a few minutes works for me.

3. This is not a ride for a large group. I’d do like 6, 7 bikes TOPS. Some of these roads are fairly narrow and you’ll want the space. If you’re using comms on your ride, a long bike procession will mean that the leader can’t talk to the rear.

4. The twists below Ashokan Reservoir are canopied so take it easy for the first mile or so and pay attention to leaves & wet patches. If it rained the night before and you’re out in the AM, take extra care.

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

SA1NT has graciously donated $10 gift cards for all new NYCMOTO Riders Club Members which essentially makes your first month free. If you’re not already a member, start the free trial below and you’ll get your card once you make the first payment.

Free $10 SA1NT Gift Card

Free Cardo Gear

PLUS, I’m giving away some Cardo gear for all new signups this month. You’ve got a crazy good chance to get some free shit.

Good roads in New Jersey do exist. They’re a bit shorter in length but can have decent payoffs.

The Routes

All of the links to these routes are below as usual but do require a Riders Club Subscription to view the Calimoto/GPX routes.

1. Tabernacle Loop

MILES: 50 TIME: 1 hours START/FINISH: Tabernacle Township

Great, quick 1 hour loop south of Trenton, just above Atlantic City. I did this one years ago while staying in Atlantic City with my wife. Well worth it while she hung out in AC for a few hours.

No traffic lights, barely any traffic, and passing cranberry bogs (owned by Ocean Spray) made the trip worth it.

You’ll get some gentle curves but the road is mostly flat. Still, the condition of the roads is far better than what you’ll find in other parts of Jersey so can’t complain.

I stopped at Pic-A-Lilli Inn along 206 for lunch.

2. Harmony to High Point Monument

MILES: 60 TIME: 1 hour, 30 minutes START: Harmony FINISH: High Point Monument

This is another ride I did long ago. I used to do a lot of backpacking and have started a few trips at High Point where the Appalachian Trail runs through.

I’ve started at Riverside Bar & Grill on the PA side before heading to Harmony but there are other places on the way for a stop as well.

There are a bunch of options for this route. In general, it’s a fairly twisty part of NJ and this particular route finishes right at the start of Port Jervis so feel free to continue on route 23 after the monument to Hawk’s Nest and beyond.

3. Watchung Reservation

MILES: 6.8 TIME: 15 minutes START: Route 22 FINISH: Route 527

Love this short ride. Massive elevation gain coming from route 22 so take care if you’re doing this in reverse, especially if the road is wet/leaf covered

You get a nice payoff up top overlooking Scotch Plains, Fanwood, etc. Really nice views at night, especially after leaves have fallen.

Only problem with this little route is that 22 sucks and 78 isn’t much better. It’s literally sandwiched by shitty roads.

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

SA1NT has graciously donated $10 gift cards for all new NYCMOTO Riders Club Members which essentially makes your first month free. If you’re not already a member, start the free trial below and you’ll get your card once you make the first payment.

Free $10 SA1NT Gift Card

Free Cardo Gear

PLUS, I’m giving away some Cardo gear for all new signups this month. You’ve got a crazy good chance to get some free shit.

The Mountain Brauhaus is a national treasure and the twists on the way ain’t bad either.

The Route

MILES: 170 TIME: 4 hours START: 9W Market FINISH: Mountain Brauhaus

This isn’t the first time I’ve gone down this stretch but I’ve learned a few things.

First of all, I’ve learned a thing or two about the anatomy of a good route:

1. Twists are awesome, no doubt, but here’s the thing: Highways are a must. They give you a change of pace when you need it. You get to control your speed on highways. Plus, they’re the bridge between your destinations, helping you stay focused on what you’re really out there to do. Highways might not be where you’re headed, but they sure get you there quicker.

2. Take breaks often. Pull over at all the gas stations. Okay, maybe not every single one, but make it a point to stop regularly, especially if your bike isn’t built for long hauls. Stopping every 60-80 miles for a few minutes works for me.

3. This is not a ride for a large group. I’d do like 6, 7 bikes TOPS. Some of these roads are fairly narrow and you’ll want the space. If you’re using comms on your ride, a long bike procession will mean that the leader can’t talk to the rear.

4. The twists below Ashokan Reservoir are canopied so take it easy for the first mile or so and pay attention to leaves & wet patches. If it rained the night before and you’re out in the AM, take extra care.

Couple of specific notes for this route:

True story at 9W

We’ll start at 9W Market. I know I know. It’s packed and filled with those bicyclist asshats. Whatever man. Get your coffee and get out. Don’t get caught sitting there for 3 fucking hours losing daylight and any motivation to get on the bike for the next 4 hours.

9w sweeps. This particular stretch of 9w (after the Palisades) is FAST and has fantastic views up top if you want to pull off.

• I never do. I’m usually leaned over and doing bad things on the road and blaming other drivers for my terrible actions.

• These are the best fast sweeps you can find less than an hour from the city.

87 sucks but deal with it. It’s the fastest way to get to where we’re going without feeling exhausted by the time we get there.

You’ll pass through Haines Falls and some of the best riding and scenery you’ll get upstate. Plenty of hiking out there too if that’s your thing.

If you’re traveling Nov 1 - April 15, there is a good chance that Platte Clove Road will be closed. Easy. Take the long way through Edgewood and you’re good.

The twists below Ashokan are fucking mesmerizing. Enjoy them but keep your head on a swivel. They’re canopied so watch for wet roads and leaves.

Main Street is a beautiful Hawk’s Nest type road. Great views and good twists. Watch the hairpin coming down. It’s easier to see coming from this direction but still possible to lose your shit.

Enjoy the Mountain Brauhaus restaurant. I usually do this route in reverse (food, then twists) but I’m an idiot. Eating after twists makes a bit more sense, eh?

• It’s German food so think brats, sauerkraut, schnitzel, etc.

• But everything (even the brats) somehow takes 1hr+ no matter how busy they are.

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

SA1NT has graciously donated $10 gift cards for all new NYCMOTO Riders Club Members which essentially makes your first month free. If you’re not already a member, start the free trial below and you’ll get your card once you make the first payment.

Free $10 SA1NT Gift Card

Free Cardo Gear

PLUS, I’m giving away some Cardo gear for all new signups this month. You’ve got a crazy good chance to get some free shit.

🧠 Need to know this week…

1. 🆘 Eddie still needs our help

2. 🕴️🏍️ Enigma’s Bougie Bike Night is tonight at the Brass Monkey. Dress to impress!

3. 🥞 ☕️ Bikes & Breakfast is at Bogota this Sunday

4. 🤑 Revzilla is starting to blow out their summer inventory; check out their 50% off sale

5. 🇹🇭 🫠 Harley Davidson is shifting production of the Revolution Max to Thailand. That’s gonna go over well.

6. 🎒 This is literally the perfect small bag for hauling a laptop around while riding.

7. 🏁 Get your ass to the track with PJ’s track days. Tell him Arthur sent you and he’ll take good care of you. Only 2 days left this year.

8. 🙏 SA1NT (best damn riding gear out there) has donated $10 gift cards for all new NYC MOTO Riders Club members

9. 💫 Roadside assistance for riders is coming. Get on the waitlist.

The best riding weather is here

65 degrees in the morning and 80 in the afternoon. You really can’t ask for much better. Only tough decision is wether to wear leather or textile. Go textile and layer underneath.

As the weather gets a bit chillier, consider this:

1. Leaves will start to coat the roads. You may be riding a 200hp 2 wheeled wrecking ball (don’t wreck) but leaves will bring you to your fucking knees. Go figure. And don’t go yeeting through leaf piles either. Or do but make sure you’re recording. Wet leaves are fucking dangerous.

2. Hidden roads in the mountains are fantastic twisties and whatever dew develops overnight dries out quick with the sun. As the days get shorter though, the sun comes out later so those roads might still be wet at 9am. Be mindful and adjust the time you get out there.

3. Speaking of sun, the days will get shorter and shorter. Tinted visors are the shit during the day but but bring along a clear as well if you know you’re going to be out a while. I’ve been caught in the night with a tinted visor; it sucks.

4. If you’ve switched out your tires early this season, take a good look at them now. Wear bars are there for a reason. If you’re getting low, don’t wait to change your tires, do it now. Once you hit the wear bars, the rest goes quick. I started out a ride on the wear bar last year and this is how the ride ended:

   

5. Your tires will take a longer time to warm up on cold roads on the chilly mornings. Take it easy on the lean until you’ve been on the road for a while. This is mostly why you see some riders lean their bikes back & forth on straights. Well, actually it’s pretty useless but whatever; it looks cool.

6. Just in case, be prepared for the worst. Flats, dead batteries, running out of gas (V4 bros unite), etc etc. They all suck. Keep MotoSweeper roadside assistance with you. We’re launching soon so get on the waitlist.

😇 MotoSweeper is AAA for motorcycles

I’m no stranger to being stranded on the side of the fucking road. My best friend and I are launching MotoSweeper, a roadside assistance membership for riders. We are starting off with unlimited towing to the closest service center for $297 a year. Anyone on the waitlist gets the first year for $197.

Why us? Between the two of us, we’ve got half a century (ffs we’re old) of professional experience launching companies, advertising, servicing, and logistics. We’re the combination of break shit and launch and that pain in the ass guy in the room that thinks too far ahead. Put together, we’ve got a balance and MotoSweeper can only succeed if that balance is maintained.

MotoSweeper will launch next month but we’ve opened a waitlist with a massive first year discount ($100 off) for anyone that signs up. It doesn’t cost you anything to get on the waitlist but please only sign up if you’re truly interested.

Instagram post

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

For a limited time, SA1NT has graciously donated $10 gift cards for the next 20 members to sign up.

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

We’ll shoot you the SA1NT gift card after your trial’s done.

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🙏 Join the NYC MOTO Free Facebook Group

Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend

🧠 Need to know this week…

1. 🆘 Eddie still needs our help

2. 🏍️ Ride to Florida (no, not that Florida) this Saturday

3. 🥞 ☕️ Bikes & Breakfast is at Cold Spring this Sunday

4. 🪖 Crash detection technology is shaping the future of motorcycling

5. 🤦 Tesla sued again over a fatal motorcycle accident

6. 🔴 Have you been living under a rock? Ducati’s new Panigale was announced and fan boys are ticked

7. 🔋 🚲️ Zero’s new Minimoto. Yo, I kinda like this thing.

8. ⭐️ This route isn’t the fastest way to get to Hoodoo BBQ bit it might just be the best

9. 💫 Rodger and I started MotoSweeper; a roadside assistance membership that we are going to launch next month. Get on the waitlist to get $100 off your first year.

🆘 Eddie is a pillar of the NYC riding community and he needs our help

On Saturday (August 10th) morning at around 10:30am, Eddie Song came off his motorcycle in a slow speed crash. He broke his neck and back. His neck will heal over time but his back is far more problematic. He is currently paralyzed from his med-section down and there is a good chance he will be paralyzed for life.

Eddie loved his bike

Eddie has been a pillar of the motorcycling community in NYC and we all love him very much. We're all in shock. What we feel now pales in comparison to what Eddie, his wife June, and family are going through. We are asking all of the many people he has touched to pray for him and his family during this difficult time.

The expenses will pile up. We are also asking the community to come together as Eddie would have surely done for us. He needs our support and we need to show up.

Please donate whatever you can; it's going to be a long road. We’ve got a GoFundMe going.

😇 MotoSweeper is AAA for motorcycles

I’m no stranger to being stranded on the side of the fucking road. My best friend and I are launching MotoSweeper, a roadside assistance membership for riders. We are starting off with unlimited towing to the closest service center for $297 a year. Anyone on the waitlist gets the first year for $197.

Why us? Between the two of us, we’ve got half a century (ffs we’re old) of professional experience launching companies, advertising, servicing, and logistics. We’re the combination of break shit and launch and that pain in the ass guy in the room that thinks too far ahead. Put together, we’ve got a balance and MotoSweeper can only succeed if that balance is maintained.

MotoSweeper will launch next month but we’ve opened a waitlist with a massive first year discount ($100 off) for anyone that signs up. It doesn’t cost you anything to get on the waitlist but please only sign up if you’re truly interested.

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

The Riders Club has been mostly flying under the radar but it’s time to open the cage.

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🌟 Feature your product or service in the newsletter

NYC MOTO is the only motorcycle newsletter for the NYC/NJ/PA tri-state area. We carefully review sponsorship opportunities to make sure your product/service aligns with and adds value to our readers.

Interested? Reply to this email and let’s talk.

🙏 Join the NYC MOTO Free Facebook Group

Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend

Listen, I know it’s the second email this week but I’m psyched for this announcement. Ever since I launched the NYC MOTO newsletter a bit over a year ago, the idea has always been pretty simple: to deliver only the shit that riders care about the most in NYC.

I’m proud of what’s been accomplished. I’ve got over 5,500 people reading the newsletter, hundreds of people joined the Riders Club, and have had countless positive comments about the newsletter. It’s truly humbling and I appreciate the support more than you know.

Now, on to the meat of today’s newsletter…

We’re launching MotoSweeper. Roadside Assistance for riders.

Getting stranded on the side of the FDR sucks. I’ve been stranded on the side of the road with a flat (Chef remembers this well), have run out of gas on the FDR, lost my shift peg on the Turnpike, and have been on many rides with all kinds of issues.

The whole thing is a day ruiner. Each and every time, without fail, each situation has been absolutely terrible and completely ended the day. Finding and then waiting for tow trucks fucking sucks.

Rodger and I want to change that. Together, we are launching MotoSweeper, a roadside assistance membership for riders. We are starting off with unlimited towing to the closest service center for $297 a year. Anyone on the waitlist gets the first year for $197.

Why us? Between the two of us, we’ve got half a century (ffs we’re old) of professional experience launching companies, advertising, servicing, and logistics. We’re the combination of break shit and launch and that pain in the ass guy in the room that thinks too far ahead. Put together, we’ve got a balance and MotoSweeper can only succeed if that balance is maintained.

MotoSweeper will launch next month but we’ve opened a waitlist with a massive first year discount ($100 off) for anyone that signs up. It doesn’t cost you anything to get on the waitlist but please only sign up if you’re truly interested.

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend

🇺🇸 🎆 July 4th Gear Sales

Much like how my riding group is always peer pressuring me into buying shit for the bike, here’s a bunch of excuses to spend money this July 4th. This is going to be an expensive email.

Please don’t sue me Revzilla

1. Revzilla is blasting out a bunch of shit for up to 60% off

2. SA1NT is running fantastic deals on the best damn moto gear out there. Use discount NYCMOTO20 for another 20% off.

3. For Track Nerds: Use code “RbSpecial15” to get an extra 15% off already discounted prices on Racebox lap timers

4. Fanttik is doing a Prime Day preview sale with up to 50% off their tire inflators, toolsets, etc

5. Bohn Armor is running 10% off their hot weather gear

6. Troy Lee Designs has got a 40% off sale up for their moto gear

7. Grab your Cardo units with a 20% off discount with coupon code “NYCMOTO2023” from yours truly.

8. Check out the NYCMOTO Discounts Section for more deals

9. Also, not exactly a deal, but check out the NYC MOTO Riders Club for riding routes, etc.

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

The Riders Club has been mostly flying under the radar but it’s time to open the cage.

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🙏 Serving the community

Thanks for reading! When you signed up for this newsletter, my promise to you was to provide the best and most important news, reviews, ride guides and more around the NYC/NJ/PA area. What did you think of today's newsletter? Reply to this email and let me know what you'd like to see more of.

Thanks for reading. Go ahead and hit up our freshly launched FB Group to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. if you want to sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter or share it with a friend, you can find us here

This isn’t the fastest way to get to Hoodoo BBQ from the Palisades but it might just be the best.

The Route

MILES: 222 TIME: 5 hours START: Palisades Mobil Gas Station FINISH: Hoodoo Browns BBQ

This isn’t the first time I’ve gone down this stretch but I’ve learned a few things.

First of all, I’ve learned a thing or two about the anatomy of a good route:

1. Twists are great and everyone loves them, but:

2. Highways are necessary. You need a dose of highways for a change of pace. You can decide how fast you go on the highways. They also act as the ferry between your destinations and keep your mind & body focused on what you came out to do. Highways aren’t the destination but they help you get there faster.

3. Stop often. Stop at all the gas stops. Fine, not all of them. But stop frequently, even if you don’t need gas and especially if you’re on bikes not meant for longer trips. Stopping every 60-80 miles for a few minutes works for me.

With that said, I cut out a significant portion of backroads and focused just on the main points of the ride: twists, sights, and food.

Couple of notes for this route:

We’ll start on the Palisades at the Mobil Gas Station. I’m not sure why we always use this gas station as a meeting point. The gas station takes Apple Pay (don’t have to dig for your wallet) but it has one of those awful pumps that requires you to pull back the shroud to get the gas out. BS.

9w sweeps. This particular stretch of 9w (after the Palisades) is FAST and has fantastic views up top if you want to pull off.

• I never do. I’m usually leaned over and doing bad things on the road.

• These are the best fast sweeps you can find less than an hour from the city.

First lunch option. The Mountain Brauhaus restaurant is a good stop as long as you have time.

• It’s German food so think brats, sauerkraut, schnitzel, etc.

• But everything (even the brats) somehow takes 1hr+ no matter how busy they are.

• It’s a great stop before the hairpin & twists but make sure you have the time and don’t load up too much on the food.

Watch the hairpin. Right after the restaurant, watch out for that damn hairpin on route 44/55.

• It sneaks up on you and the sign is easy to miss. I’ve seen people go off multiple times.

• The road after the hairpin on the way to the Valero gas station at the T intersection is gold so hammer it or stop and enjoy the views.

55/42 is the payoff. After that, 55/42 is the best riding you’ll see outside of 23a up north (which is always packed). Keep in mind a few things:

• There is a hairpin but it’s an easy one to watch for

• You’ll hit very little traffic, if any at all

• Some of the riding can get a bit technical with most of it likely done in 2nd-3rd gear

• You’re riding right along a creek under some canopy so take care if it rained the night before. You might see some gravel and debris.

• Gas stations are sparse on this loop. If you stopped at the Valero after Brauhaus, you should be OK. If not, there is another station about halfway through that also happens to have 🔥 sandwiches.

Cold Spring. Riding through Cold Spring on the way to 301 should be a pleasant ride.

• You’ll ride in with the coast on your right so feel free to pull off.

• You’ll ride through Main Street which has plenty of opportunity for coffee/snacks.

Route 301 is a good road that used to be great. It’s twisty but the road repairs leave a lot to be desired. Still worth it and it’s on the way to BBQ.

👉️ Calimoto & .GPX Download Links 🔗 

Click on the Calimoto link or download the .GPX file below (must have a Premium Subscription) for a full waypoint by waypoint route.

Open it in Calimoto on your phone to follow the whole route turn-by-turn.

I’ve tried numerous waypoint apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Rever, Detecht, etc) and Calimoto is by far my favorite and easiest to use.

🧠 Need to know this week…

1. ⛰️ Wyoming lost a whole damn road and is fixing it within 2 weeks; are you listening Storm King?

2. 🏍️ Not much has changed for the 2025 Grom and that’s probably a good thing.

3. ☎️ Cardo has outed the Packtalk Pro. Bigger speakers, crash detection, auto on/off, & more

4. 🤑 Take a tour through the latest brand gear discounts we’ve got

5. 🏍️ 🍳 Bikes & Breakfast is at Cold Springs this Sunday.

6. 🧥 👖 SA1NT’s Force Straight Armored Jeans & Engineered Jacket are the perfect denim combo for summer. Super stretchy and armor everywhere. Use NYCMOTO20 for 20% off.

7. Check out the NYC MOTO Routes; subscribe to the Riders Club to get the Google Maps & GPX links

Congestion tolls are dead

1. Congestion pricing is dead, for now

2. 🚇️ Impact of killing congestion pricing on the MTA (subways)

3. ♻️ Contrarian’s view on congestion pricing; is killing it a mistake?

4. 🤑 But the city demands funding and will get it one way or another so we haven’t seen the end of this.

   1. “Hochul will look to replace the tolling plan with a tax on New York City businesses”

5. NYC advocates consider legal action to reinstate congestion pricing

☕️ Hamilton Underground (coffee shop) is now open

The coffee shop on West 148th/St Nicholas is now open and it’s fantastic.

It’s owned & run by a buddy & fellow rider and his family (yep, his son has been known to man the register) so pay them a visit. Tell them Arthur sent you.

Hamilton Underground

www.hamiltonunderground.com

🛑 Update on the Garage/Lounge

I would have loved for this to have happened this year. But it won’t.

I was partnering with GMC & Paddock on this build. It became clear that GMC doesn’t want to deal with motorcycles (why put up with asshats on bikes when they can just fill those spaces with cars?) and so ended up pricing the space far out of reach.

The simple outcome of this is simply that garage owners in the city hate bikes and that’s exactly why we have such a hard time finding garages we can park in.

I’d still love to do something in Manhattan/Harlem and am keeping my eye open for buildings. To do it right though, I’ll need an investor. Know one? Are you one? Hit me up and we can talk. I’ve got the audience & financial model; just need a building.

Here’s the intro post on IG:

Instagram post

And here’s another one with more info:

Instagram post

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

The Riders Club has been mostly flying under the radar but it’s time to open the cage.

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

🌟 Feature your product or service in the newsletter

NYC MOTO is the only motorcycle newsletter for the NYC/NJ/PA tri-state area. We carefully review sponsorship opportunities to make sure your product/service aligns with and adds value to our readers. You can ask about advertising opportunities by simply replying to this email or heading here for more info.

🙏 Join the NYC MOTO Free Facebook Group

Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

NYC MOTO

p.s. Sign up for the NYC MOTO newsletter here or share it with a friend