JUNE 2025

It’s June and the weather patterns have been weird. There are periods of 50 or 60-degree weather, with rainy spells in between. Next week promises a day or two in the 70’s, we may even hit 80, but this week looks Iike rain every day. The economy seems to also be in ‘roller coaster’ mode and I think it is fair to say that optimism is not running rampant. Stil, riding season is surely upon us; nothing like a good long, hard ride to help with attitude adjustment, eh?

The first three rides of 2025 have all gone off in fine weather. We have been incredibly lucky in that regard. The season opener saw 14 riders and 3 passengers cover close to 200 miles on a one-day tour with barely a hitch. An unscheduled “custom’ tour, which was a 50th birthday gift, was equally enjoyable, and the most recent 2-day trip to Bill’s Old Bike Barn was a small group—just three of us: easier to prepare for and to manage. On the other hand, larger groups mean more interesting people to meet and more fascinating bikes to try. I get to ride either way, but I have been wondering what might be holding some people back from signing up for a tour. Seeking an answer, I have asked several people about it. The most common response is: “I just don’t have the time”.

Money is tight for many of us just now, and time is even tighter. We are all working harder than ever, and the demands of career, family, the economy, and what have you, have got us all stretched pretty thin. Many of us feel the weight of helping to care for parents as well as kids. RetroTours offers the possibility of getting a beneficial respite from these demands with the smallest possible time investment.

Instead of preparing your own bike for a road trip, motivating and coordinating with several friends, planning your route, doing the research and making the reservations, you can just check the schedule, email RetroTours, and show up with your helmet. In fact, if you don’t have a helmet, we’ll lend you one. Upon your return, you will not need to wash your bike, change the oil, or replace the tires. Of course, it’s not free, but it also costs money to prepare and maintain your own bike when you ride it. Also, you will get to experience motorcycle adventure as it once was: simple machines— without electronic aides— that demand involvement and commitment from the rider: Zen for your soul/cell phones optional.

Many of you may already own classic bikes. Understandably, you may be reluctant to run up the mileage, to explore dirt roads, to ride through inclement weather, to scratch the paint. Even if you have no qualms about devaluing your own bike, RetroTours enables you to experience a variety of classic iron and to enjoy the company of like-minded individuals. Also, if you don’t currently own a collectible, ride one of ours, and if you become smitten, you may even have the opportunity to purchase it.

I see myself as offering a useful service to motorcyclists. You don’t have to pay thousands of dollars and commit a huge block of time to fly overseas to be chased by a van through a foreign country. Backroads America beckons, and it rivals anyplace on Earth for beauty and riding quality. My job is to first entice you to sign up, and then to make it as simple and as easy as possible for you to ride with us. I’m not in it for the money; one look at our rate schedule makes that obvious. Seeking adventure on these old bikes is something I fell in love with nearly 50 years ago, and I want to share that feeling. If I can get you out of your routine for a day or three, I honestly feel that I will be doing one small thing to improve the world we live in.

Check out the 2025 schedule at  www.retrotours.com .

Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere.
 Sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, we find ourselves. 

RIDE A PIECE OF THE PAST ON THE PATH LESS TAKEN!

PS: Check out the ride reports from 2024 which are posted at www.retrotours.com.