Cycle Connections

September 2016 Issue

Our September 2016 cover bike is a 2008 Yamaha V Star 1300, which is owned by Todd Ashe, and this month's cover model is Michelle from Independence, Missouri. Scroll down to check out this month's articles and for more details on our cover bike and model.

In This Issue:

Our September 2016 cover bike is a 2008 Yamaha V Star 1300, which is owned by Todd Ashe from Lenexa, Kansas. To find out more about Todd, check out his interview, and for more photos of his bike and our cover model Michelle, check out her interview as well. For this month's issue, we also invite you to check out our behind the scenes photos and video taken at our September 2016 cover shoot.

Our September 2016 cover bike is owned by Todd Ashe, and we enjoyed shooting his 2008 Yamaha V Star 1300 for this month’s cover. Todd is from Lenexa, Kansas, and we had the opportunity to gather additional information about him and his “Monster Glide.” We also had fun shooting cover model Michelle on Todd’s bike for this month’s cover. I’m sure you’ll also enjoy this month’s behind the scenes photos and video!

Michelle from Independence, Missouri is our September 2016 cover model. She is an executive assistant, and her ambitions include traveling the world. Michelle’s hobbies include cooking, creating craft cocktails, drawing, and reading. Michelle told us her turn-ons include “A man who knows his whiskey, a nice smile, chivalry, fast cars, and sexy bikes.” On the flipside, she also told us that “Smokers, Affliction clothing, cheap beer, and a lack of confidence” are big turnoffs. Michelle also admits that she’s a sucker for bad boys. When asked what the smartest thing is she’s ever done, she said “Loving myself.” She also admits that “Staying in a loveless marriage” was the most stupid thing she’s ever done. Michelle describes her personality as “Playful,” and has been told that her eyes are her best attribute.

For this month's issue, we invite you to take a look behind the scenes at our September 2016 Cover Shoot video, which follows cover model Michelle through her photo shoot and interview, and make sure to check out the specs and additional photos of this unique 2008 Yamaha V Star 1300 and our interview with bike owner Todd Ashe.  

Photos by Dick Carlson with Carlson Digital Photography

Video by Randall “Sea Hawk” Hauk with Sea Hawk Media Productions

This year’s Sturgis trip seemed very strange due to the absence of several friends who would be staying home due to various circumstances. Included among them were Editor Mike and Nichole. They were missed by all, but we managed to have a fun trip anyway. The Road Trippin’ to Sturgis article is normally Mike’s work, but I’m doing my best to cover for him while still providing coverage of some racing events at the 76^th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis babes.  Watch for more pics to be added. 

Photos by Stripe & Lonnie

Even as a seasoned Sturgis rally attendee, I’m always in shock and awe at the number of beautiful and hardworking ladies that travel to Sturgis every year to work as bartenders and food servers.The rally would be much different, or even not possible without them, so this year I did a special pictorial dedicated to the sexy servers of Sturgis.

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikers.  Watch for more pics to be added.

Photos by Stripe

 Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikes.  Watch for more pics to be posted. 

Photos by Stripe& Lonnie

Competitive motorcycle events have always been a part of the annual Sturgis Rally. The man recognized as the father of the Black Hills Rally was Clarence “Pappy” Hoel who owned an Indian Motorcycle dealership in Sturgis and was one of the founding members of the Jackpine Gypsies club in 1936. The Gypsies’ first event was a motorcycle race with nine competitors and a small audience. From that humble beginning grew an annual rally with attendance ranging from 400,000 and 600,000 each year. Motorcycle competition is still featured at the rally with moto-X, drag racing, hill climbs, ½-mile flat track, short track, and rodeo. This year, my agenda included Monday’s amateur hill climb at the Jackpine Gypsies’ Clubgrounds, the A.M.A. Pro Half-mile Flat Track races at Sturgis, Gypsies’ Short Track (rained out), and the Pappy Hoel Classic Vintage Half-mile races also at Sturgis.    

The Las Vegas Marine Riders Toys for Tots Kickoff Party was held at the Leatherneck Club on June 25, 2016. Marine Riders from California and Arizona, as well as other motorcycle clubs and individuals attended, and even the 105+ degree temperature didn’t deter anyone from attending to the event.

It was such a beautiful day as we rolled up for the 10^th year memorial ride for one of the sweetest, most loved men we have had the honor of knowing and calling a friend. For 10 years now, Larry “Mad Dog” Rogers has been a VERY missed man.

On Saturday, August 13, 2016, after leaving a memorial ride we had been on earlier, we headed over to the Birmingham, Alabama chapter of the Veteran’s Brotherhood for Chow Call.

When I had my stroke four years ago, it was questionable whether I would ever ride again. I learned to walk again, and then learned to drive the “cage” again. Many people told me I would have to get a trike to be able to ride again, but I said I was going to learn to ride on two wheels again first, and that is just what I did, even though it took me about three years after the stroke.

I belong to a Facebook group of women riders from across the US and Canada. Recently I asked them to tell me why they ride. Below are their responses: