THE SPRING TIME CRUSH:  
   Motorcyclists as a group are totally weather dependent. Once the spring-like weather arrives, bikes come out of cellars and garages that haven’t run in months, or maybe years, or maybe even decades. Like the first crocuses that push up through the ground as soon as the days get a little longer and warmer, these riders poke their heads up and they want to ride NOW. It doesn’t matter that their bikes have been dormant all winter long, for them, the time to ride is now, and I totally get that. The problem is that there are many more riders than mechanics, so things back up at repair shops. Many shops now turn away bikes that are more than 10 years old. Parts are hard to find, and the current technicians may never have worked on a carburetor and do not really even know what contact breaker points are. In addition, schedules are booked solid with routine maintenance work on current models. Who wants to delve into a crusty, rusty, 15 year- old Gold Wing that hasn’t seen daylight in a decade. At current shop rates, who could afford the repair bill anyway? With a fuel system overhaul, fuel tank clean out, new tires, fork seals, a battery, lubricants and coolant, maybe timing belts and other minor repairs, the bill will easily delve deep into 4-figure territory. Should this bike be sold as scrap and a brand new fuel injected bike with ABS and a host of other electronic rider aids purchased instead? Maybe.
   We live in a throw away society, but here at RetroTours, we disdain that attitude. In our opinion, newer bikes may be superior on a paper spec sheet, but they are no more fun to ride than old bikes; less fun in fact. Old bikes demand participation from the rider for riding and for routine chores like turning the fuel valve on and off, and of course the inevitable on-the-fly repairs than will be required. We recognize that cell phones and EFI are here to stay, and ‘progress’ will not go backwards, but we aim to make certain that old bikes are also here to stay. Often, something is lost when something is gained. For example, cell phones would seem to connect us all together, yet how many of us really feel closer to our fellow humans as a result of smart phones and social media?
   New bikes may have hill assist, clutchless shifting, automatic chokes, traction control, etc, etc, but how great does it feel to kick over a 650cc twin, shift UP for first gear (on the right) and roll along with a slow spinning, soul stirring, torquey motor that speaks to the rider through sound, vibration, and visceral performance? FIND OUT! Maybe it’s not for you, but you will still enjoy the experience of riding these old irons, I guarantee! 
  Then there is the route. Forget GPS, we use actual paper maps and route sheets. Sometimes we get lost but in over 20 years, we have only lost one rider (just kidding), and he was from New Jersey: no one liked him anyway (still kidding). The back roads routes that we follow are devoid of cookie cutter rest stops and most traffic. When it’s time to eat, we seek out a local establishment with a real menu and food with homegrown character. Mountains are things to be climbed, not avoided, and curves are sought out at every opportunity. When GPS says its 100 miles, we allow 175. We tour at a pace that allows for rubber necking or ear ‘oling; whatever you fancy. Sure, sometimes things break, but we put our heads together and fix them if we can or devise a suitable Plan ‘B’ if we can’t. It all comes under the heading of adventure. We don’t plan everything down to the last detail, we stay flexible and roll with the punches.
   Regarding the weather, it is what it is; we suit up or hole up—we deal with it. This makes every tour unique and when it’s all over, I always feel that this is what motorcycling is or should be all about: unique open-ended adventure. The 2026 schedule is selling out fast now, don’t wait until it’s too late!

Sure, sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere, but sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, we find ourselves.