Our Janus Experience, Chapter 3

Our Janus Experience, The 3rd and Final Chapter

For anyone that has been visiting my little corner of the interwebs for a few years, you'll know that in August of 2022, Mrs. MotoWriter and I embarked on a new kind of motorcycling "journey", if you will. While doing some research about new motorcycles, I came across the Janus Motorcycles website and my wife immediately became interested. I won't re-tell the full story, but if you want to read more, I'll link it here, here, and here. Go ahead and click those links and get caught up if you need to, I'll be right here.

Back already? Cool, let's get back into it, then. This weekend, as the title of this post implies, our Janus Experience officially came to an end. 

I Missed A Chapter

In preparing to write this, I realized that, with all the hecticness of last year, while I was wrapping up my payin' gig and getting ready for retirement, that I missed an important update to this story- the fate of Mrs. MotoWriter's bike (#909), back in May of last year.

As a certified motorcycle instructor, I've taught a lot of people how to operate a large, heavy motorcycle with safety, precision and confidence. As a matter of fact, a friend and I just wrapped up another class a couple of weeks ago. Some of the easiest students to teach, are the ones that have no experience with motorcycles at all, because they don't have to break any bad habits or relearn any preconceived notions they may have had about motorcycles and riding. Mrs. MotoWriter was, by all accounts, the perfect candidate to learn. 

Based on the feedback I've gotten from my students throughout the years, I consider myself to be a pretty good teacher. I'm passionate about motorcycle riding and I want my students to learn how to ride out, and then get back home, safely. 

Teaching your spouse hits differently, though.

There's a realization in every class, that at least one of your students, despite your best teaching efforts, might not make it back home one day. Whether it's because they failed to adhere to your instruction (or outright ignored it), or because someone else driving two tons of metal, plastic and bad decisions did something careless or they were driving distracted. Either way, it's a sobering realization, especially since you, as the teacher, inevitably form bonds, and sometimes friendships, with your students. When that person, sitting nervously on the saddle, is your best friend and partner in life... the pressure is really on. 

I won't get into the specific details on here, but I will tell you that Mrs. MotoWriter was doing good in learning how to ride, but a Janus Halcyon 250 is not a good bike to learn on. First of all, the riding position is very wonky and unnatural for a beginner, especially a beginner with a short stature, such as my lovely bride. The hardtail frame and sprung solo seat provide way too much feedback to a new rider just learning what to do, and the Earles-style springer front fork gives the bike a peculiar anti-dive quality that takes a bit to get used to, even for an experienced rider. To be clear, I'm not bashing the Janus, far from it, but they are not "beginner bikes" and in all fairness to the good folks at Janus, they never claimed them to be. If anything, Janus focuses most of their marketing on appealing to experienced riders, rather than newbies, because they know that their custom, hand-built motorcycles are unique, and fairly expensive for a small bore machine. My wife has only been a passenger on the bike with me, but when she saw that the Janus was such a beautiful machine, which really appealed to her inner aesthete, and that it was only powered by a 229cc single cylinder engine, it seemed very approachable to her. 

After a few successful rides through the yard, and a couple of spills (as can be expected), Mrs. MotoWriter was done. Over the next year or so, there were a lot of factors at play that kept her off the bike, and in all honesty, it probably didn't help that her instructor crashed his Dyna.

Regardless of the reason why, she had lost interest in riding her own, and after my not-so-little crash that left me with a lot of internal bruising and a wicked slice across my back, I was completely fine with her decision to not ride her own motorcycle. The only problem was, we had an extra bike in the garage that we were still paying on, and no one was riding. Mrs. MotoWriter ultimately made the decision to let her bike go, and in May 2025, after two and a half years and only 3/4 of a mile on the odometer... we sold Halcyon 250 #909, and her Janus journey was officially over.

Riding and Retirement

2025 was a significant year for us. Retirement was close, and I was busy getting my affairs in order so that I could actually make it happen. Financially, we were in good enough shape for me to leave my payin' gig and start this new retirement life, but the one thing that kept nagging at me was my Janus payment. After we sold #909, the only vehicle that I was still making payments on was the same bike that I rarely ever rode, which was my Janus (Halcyon #908). Since it was delivered to our house in October 2022, I had put less than 1,400 miles on it.

It's not that I didn't enjoy riding it, on the contrary. The Janus Halcyon is one of the most fun bikes to ride, because it feels like the first time, every time. Maybe it's the hardtail frame, the small, single cylinder engine, or the weight and size, or maybe it's all of these things, but the Janus always made me smile when I would ride it. 

In the past 10 months that I've been retired, I have put well over 7,000 miles on my Road King and over 700 miles on my Dyna, and I've still got a couple of more trips planned before the end of 2026. Riding motorcycles is so much more than just a hobby for me. I would call it an obsession, but there's a certain, maybe specific, negativity that goes hand in hand with that word. I think it's best described as an insatiable passion... which still sort of sounds bad, but I suppose it is what it is; I look at motorcycles, I ride motorcycles, I read about motorcycles, I write about motorcycles... you get the point. While I love riding the Janus, there are limitations for me when I ride it. For example, I live in the country... and most of these folks only know two speeds- Running Deer or John Deere! One is fast and sometimes erratic, and the other is slow and steady. There's not much in-between, so when I ride a 14 hp motorcycle that comfortably tops out around 55 mph before it starts feeling sketchy on these backroads, it gets a bit nerve-racking trying to watch the mirrors to make sure ole Bubba Hayseed isn't about to run straight over me in his old Chevy farm truck. 

Not to mention, every time I stop... every... single... time... the Janus gets attention. People see it and have to come up and look at it. Most just look, but there's always one that comes walking up with a hundred questions. Don't get me wrong, I like talking to folks, especially about motorcycles... but sometimes I just want to gas up and get back to my ride. The Janus only has a 1.9 gallon fuel tank, so fueling up takes less time than answering the question, "what is that beautiful bike and what year is it?" That means, I spend more time talking to folks at the gas station than I do actually gassing up. My Dyna and Road King look cool, and they both start a gas station conversation every once in a while, but the Janus starts conversations every time I stop... even at traffic lights. 

Motorcycles, Money and Making Good Choices

In February of this year, as any good motorcycle enthusiast would do, I bought myself an old dirtbike as a retirement gift. Between tinkering with it in the garage, and riding it for hours at a time in the woods, I quickly rediscovered how much fun dirt bikes were. When I decided to get a dirty bike, I didn't set out to get a 37 year old, 600cc, Baja 500 bred monster. A 250cc 4-stroke was what I wanted, but the older XRs are hard to find, especially since Honda replaced them with the CRF in 2003.

For 2026, Honda punched out the CRF250F to 300cc and gave it back a 6th gear... and by all accounts... I want one. Here's the catch, though- I have restricted myself to a maximum of one vehicle payment at a time now that I'm on this new "fixed income", so that meant I had a decision to make. Since my Janus was the only vehicle that still wasn't paid for and it sits more than it's ridden (I've put less than 350 miles a year on it since I've had it), I knew what I had to do. 

I'm better at buying motorcycles than I am at selling them. It's not that I don't possess good negotiating skills, it's that I don't like parting ways with my motorcycles. Halcyon #909 wasn't technically mine, so it wasn't that difficult for me to see it go. #908, however, has been tough to let go. I listed it locally first, and had several good trade offers and a few decent cash offers. My goal was never to make any extra money off of it, and trades (as tempting as they were) didn't accomplish the goal of paying off the loan. After a few months of entertaining various offers locally, I decided to list it nationally. After several weeks of getting the same kinds of offers, I started losing my patience with folks. After all, I was only asking for what I owed, and the bike was practically brand new. Then, as I was contemplating just keeping it (again), I was contacted by a gentleman, who I won't name for his privacy, from the other side of the country. We spoke briefly on the phone, then went to a video call (sometimes, technology is pretty cool) so that we could talk while I showed him the bike in real time. He told me that he knew that I was asking a fair price for the bike, and when I told him what I was doing and why, we struck the deal before we hung up the phone. A few days later, he paid for it and made all of the arrangements to have it shipped to his house. 

Kindred Spirits

Throughout your life, you occasionally meet kindred spirits, and this was the case with both of the guys that bought our Janus Halcyons. When you buy a Janus, you don't just buy a motorcycle, you join a community. The Janus community is a small, tight-knit community that is made up of a variety of different personalities, backgrounds, income levels, ethnicities and ages. Motorcycle culture is exclusively inclusive, which is something that is unique to this community as a whole, but the Janus community takes that even further. They pride themselves on being different, of being unique among their, already unique, peers. Janus motorcycles are also very personal, right from the factory. Where a mass produced motorcycle from a major brand has to be customized to each individual owner after it goes home with them, a Janus is customized for that individual owner, starting on the build sheet, before the first bolt is ever turned. Before it ever leaves the factory, a Janus motorcycle was built for a specific person. I think that's why it was so difficult to find the right buyers for our bikes... we weren't just selling our motorcycles, we were finding the right homes for them. I know that we accomplished that for both #909 and #908.

The Final Chapter

When I met the carrier to drop off #908, it was a cloudy, dreary day. The weather reflected my mood, perfectly. Just as the driver was about to record the video walk-a-round before loading it, the skies opened up, and the rain soaked us in an instant- it was the first time that little bike had ever been in the rain. Watching #908 get soaked, then loaded up into a tractor trailer with a dozen other bikes was bittersweet. I knew that my little "smile machine" was going to a good home, to a gentleman that was going to enjoy it and give it the road time and mileage that it deserved, but realizing that it would soon be gone was tough. After all, it was the last of our Janus motorcycles- bikes that my wife and I had such lofty ideas for, motorcycles that my wife and I had special ordered, customized with our personalities and put a little bit of who we are into, and the realization that this was likely the last time I would ever see it again, was kind of sad to think about. As the rain kept coming down, I got into my little pickup truck, and headed back home. 

It was a stark contrast from the jubilation of beginning our Janus Journey, almost four years ago to the day.  Our new, sequentially numbered, Janus motorcycles were delivered together, in the company delivery van right to our home, on a bright and sunny morning. They went to their new homes, separately, over a year apart. Our Janus Journey came to a final, drab and woeful end, on a rainy, dreary afternoon, in the parking lot of a truck stop. I know that to most people, motorcycles are just machines, but to those of us who are true enthusiasts... they are much more. 

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Janus Motorcycles, and I wish them all the best in their continued efforts of carving out their place in motorcycle history. Maybe, one day, I'll rejoin the community of Janus Motorcycle owners once again... but for now, I'm going to be doubling down on spending more seat time on my beloved Road King Special. Before I jump into buying a new dirty bike, I think I'm going to enjoy some time without a vehicle payment and just spend my off-road time ripping through the woods on my old XR. 

Until next time, MotoReaders...

Ride safe and make good choices

 

New Collab- Epoch Eyewear

My current personal favorite- the Victors

Epoch Eyewear

Good morning my loyal MotoReaders! I've got a new collaboration to share with you and in all honesty, I'm pretty stoked about this one!

When I first started this blog, I never imagined it would have almost a half a million visitors in such a relatively short amount of time, especially considering that I don't advertise and I rarely ever post it on the socials. I never expected it to reach, and have regular visitors from, around the world and I certainly never imagined that anyone would ever want to "collaborate" with me because of it. After the first couple of companies reached out to me, though... it got me thinking- if I can share the products and companies that I like with all of you, and at the same time, help these places keep the doors open and the lights on another day or two, and get all of my loyal MotoReaders a few discounts here and there, why not do it? It doesn't cost me anything extra to help them out, and, to show their appreciation, most of them will even give me a small percentage from the sales when you use my code. While the little bit that I earn certainly doesn't pay my light bill, it does help to keep the website up and running, so at least my little corner of the interweb isn't costing me anything extra to run anymore.

Now, I told you all of that, so that I could tell you about how this new collab came about. They are a small company, based out of Colorado, and I've been wearing their glasses for YEARS. They are Epoch Eyewear and they truly are, and have been, my favorite brand of sunglasses. 

Epoch

Epoch, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is as follows:

epoch

noun

ep·​och ˈe-pək ˈe-ˌpäk US also and British usually ˈē-ˌpäk

a: meaning, an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development

b: a memorable event or date

According to their website, this company was built around "living an epoch lifestyle" (not to be confused with "epic", which means a long story or a grand, heroic action). The folks at Epoch Eyewear believe in making memories over money and they strive to be a great service to their community. They are veteran owned and they make a point to give back to those among us that sacrifice daily, to make our world a better place- the hard working men and women in our communities, our military, our veterans and our first responders. Those are core beliefs that I personally appreciate, and I'm sure that we can all stand behind. 

Rebecca Milner, Founder and CEO

The company started in 2014 after the founder and CEO, Rebecca Milner, decided that she wanted to build a high quality brand of sunglasses, that were actually affordable. With major brands, that I won't name, charging hundreds of dollars for a pair of sunglasses, there was definitely a need for Rebecca's "vision." See what I did there? So, Rebecca started this company from her dining room table while she was pregnant with her first child. The whole operation began with, as they say, "only 30 cases of sunglasses, a riff-raff group of misfits, and a dream." 

Hell yeah. 

Six years later, in 2020, at a time when businesses were failing because of the covid pandemic, Epoch's business took off. Why, you might ask? Because quality doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. 

Price and Quality

Now, you've heard me say, more than once, that "cheap gear isn't good and good gear isn't cheap", but let me make this point of clarification, if you will- there is a huge difference between affordable and cheap. Affordable gear is good quality stuff that doesn't require any justification to buy. Epoch Eyewear sunglasses are affordable, not cheap.

In my former career, I was hard on glasses; hell, even now, in my retirement, I am still hard on them. I drop them, toss them into a saddlebag, pull them from the arms and I rarely ever keep them in a hard case. I also tend to get headaches and the wrong pair of glasses will cause enough eye strain that my head will be throbbing in less time than it takes to get to the next rest stop. Because of this, I've tried glasses of every shape, size, darkness, and lens material over the years, except glass- for obvious reasons. I've tried everything from major name brands to dollar store and gas station shades, but the one problem was consistency. Every major brand gave me eye strain headaches, all of the "cheap" brands gave me eye strain headaches, broke quickly or there was no consistency from one pair to the next. I refused to pay over $200 for a pair of sunglasses that I would, inevitably, drop and break, so I just suffered in my search... until I came across Epoch's website. I figured, for less than $30, I'd give them a shot. After getting that first pair of shades and wearing them everyday with no eye strain, no headaches and no breakage- I was sold. I've been a loyal Epoch Eyewear customer ever since. 

I've literally bought several pairs, and several styles, over the years. Some of you might read that and say, "well, ya know... you probably spent as much, or more, on those as you would have on one pair of the expensive ones." To that, I'll say... yeah, maybe... however, the problem is that if I had spent all that money on one pair of sunglasses, I would have broken them immediately, then had to spend even more money on repairing or replacing them. Instead, I'm able to sustain good, high quality pairs of glasses over the years for the same, or less, money. Whenever I do pull, drop or drag them a little too hard, I just get online, order a new pair, and in a few days, I've got a new pair for about what I pay for a decent lunch somewhere.

I Reached Out To Them, For You

Sporting the Midways in Florida

I always like to put my little "disclosure notices" out there any time I do a review or a new collaboration announcement, and this one is no different. While I've had some companies reach out to me, I've done most of the reaching out since I realized that I can actually save my MotoReaders some money by asking these companies to collaborate with me. Like I said, I've been wearing Epoch Eyewear sunglasses for years and it never occurred to me to reach out to them until recently. I figured that, since I love their products, why not see if they would want to work with me, so I reached out to them and asked. To my surprise, Rebecca (the CEO, herself), replied to give me the good news! To say I'm stoked about this collaboration is an understatement. In part, because I love their products, but also because it's a brand that I've been pushing on my friends and family ever since I discovered them all those years ago. Now, with this new collab, I'm not only able to support this awesome company by hopefully increasing their sales by a few extra pairs a month, but I'm able to get you, my loyal MotoReaders, a 15% discount on them! They are already a great price, but you get an extra 15% off by smashing the link on the upper right side of my page or using the discount code "RIDE_WRITE_REPEAT"! 

I think this code might be a one-time use only, though, so just in case it is, make sure to buy a few pair so that you can save the most amount of your hard-earned dollars. 

You can click any of the links in this post to get the discount, click on the "Epoch Eyewear" banner on the upper right side of the page, click here, or just put in the code RIDE_WRITE_REPEAT at checkout.

Until next time, MotoReaders...

Ride safe, Look Good, and Save Money!

https://epocheyewear.com/RIDE_WRITE_REPEAT

Here are just a few of my personal favorites...

The Victor- my favorite to wear on or off the bike, for classic, casual style.

The Foam (great for riding)... I've got them in shades and clears, and I keep them on the bike at all times.

The Brodie- Also great for riding, no foam, but the lack of a lower frame makes it easy to see the tank mounted speedometer without moving my head down.

TCX Blend 2 Boots

MotoReview- TCX Blend 2 Boots

Greetings and salutations my awesome and devoted MotoReader friends! Today, I'll be talking about my new TCX Blend 2 Waterproof Boots, not to be confused with the X-Blend Boots that I reviewed a few years ago (click here for that review). If you read my previous reviews (I actually did a couple on the X-Blends), you know that I really liked those boots, so much so, that after wearing holes through the soles of my first pair after a few years of constant use, I picked up a second pair. So, after my second pair met the same fate, I figured I'd head on over to my favorite online retailer, Revzilla, and pick up another pair. To my dismay, I learned that TCX had replaced the X-Blend boot with the similar, but different, "Blend 2" boot. Now, I'm going to try my best to do a fresh review, and not a comparison, since the X-Blends are no longer an option, but some comparisons are going to be unavoidable.

Disclosure

If you're new here- before each of my MotoReviews, I like to give a disclosure statement regarding the gear I'm reviewing. My goal is to be as transparent as possible about the company or gear I'm reviewing, and how I came to be in possession of the gear in question. I take pride in the trust that I have established with all of my loyal MotoReaders and I value the confidence they, you, have in me regarding my thoughts on this stuff. So, with that said, this one is pretty straightforward- I was not, and am not (yet? But I'd absolutely be willing to be... hint, hint TCX!) an affiliate of TCX, Revzilla, Comoto, Union Garage NYC, or any other brand related to this review. I bought my first pair of TCX boots after doing my own research, and I've been a loyal TCX boot customer since. I bought these boots with my own hard-earned money, without any deals, promises, affiliate discounts or other incentives and this review is mine and mine alone. With that said, let's get into it.

Similar, But Different

Okay, so I know I said I was going to try to avoid comparing the boots, as much as possible anyway, so let's get those comparisons out of the way, right up front. Apparently, TCX listened to their customers and made some changes to their "Blend" boot design, based on reviews and critiques... or at least that's what it seems like. The first thing you'll see when you compare the two boots, is on the toe. The X-Blend had an additional leather patch sewn onto both toes. I really liked the additional leather, but one of the problems I found on the first pair of X-Blends I had was, after a year or so of use, I noticed the stitching broke loose on the right (brake side) boot, which caused the leather to curl up. It didn't affect the functionality, especially since it was on the brake side, but it didn't look great. The second pair of X-Blend boots I bought, never had that issue, though... so maybe it was just a defect in that one boot. By comparison, though, it looks like this was enough of an issue that TCX did away with the leather toe patch altogether for the Blend 2 boots. The new Blends have an embossed area on both of the toes now, instead of a sewn-on leather patch. While the patch of the X-Blend and the embossed area on the Blend 2 on the brake side boots is for decoration only (unless you ride an older bike with a right side shifter), I do like that TCX designs their boots to be symmetrical... I just think it looks better. As far as the embossed area is concerned, I think it will serve the purpose of masking any shifter marks on the boot, but I do wonder how well it will hold up over time and regular use. If I do see some excess wear as time goes by, I'll be sure to do another review. 

Another change that TCX made was to the soles of the boots. Where the X-Blend had a squared design, the Blend 2 has the inverted  honeycomb design you see here. The rubber compound seems to be different on the two boots, as well... which is potentially a good thing, since I wore holes through both pair of my X-Blend boot's outsoles. Hopefully, the new sole of the Blend 2's will hold up better than their predecessors. 

 

One final detail to note, is the new lace stay on the Blend 2, which was absent on the X-Blend. It's a simple, yet smart, little addition that you can use at your own discretion. Basically, it's a small elastic strap with a convenient grab-tab that will hold your laces in place to keep them from getting caught on any protruding parts of the bike, like a shift lever, for example. Some folks may think it's silly, but I've been using it on these boots and, while I don't necessarily think it's needed, I do think it's handy to have. 

Styling, Comfort, Safety, Sizing & Price Tag

Overall styling is pretty great, in my opinion. The Blend 2s, like the X-Blends, look like casual boots, but with the right amount of features that someone who knows, will be able to recognize them as riding boots. The best part of them, though, by far... is the comfort. TCX won me over several years ago with the comfort of their X-Blend boots and the new Blend 2s are carrying on that tradition. Most riding boots aren't great for walking around in, and most casual boots lack the necessary safety features of a proper riding boot. Features like the ankle cups and waterproofing that the TCX Blend boots have. I also like that that they lace up and that the eyelets for the laces are well made and durable. Speaking briefly on the waterproofing, I should point out that the X-Blends were more... uh, let's say, water resistant, than water proof. This could be because of the way the leather panels of the outer shell were sewn together, which has been changed on the Blend 2s. The upper leather on the X-Blend boot was sewn flat with exposed stitching, where the Blend 2 has a hidden seam design, which should prevent water from getting into the boot. Admittedly, I've only had the Blend 2s for just under a month now, and haven't had a chance to test that theory, yet. It seems like I have another reason to do an updated review later on.

TCX is an Italian company, which I recently learned was bought out by Dainese in 2020. While both pair of X-Blend boots I own were made in Romania, the Blend 2s that I'm wearing now were made in Vietnam. As an Italian brand, they are sized in EU, so make sure you check their size guide for your specific size. From my experience, they run true to size, so you shouldn't have any concerns there. 

Now, let me say this for any critics of "foreign" products- I like American made products, but I'm more interested in quality and value. Most American made products, like boots, are so expensive, that it's hard to justify the cost. Let's be honest, too- we are living in a world market in 2026. The vast majority of the products that you use daily are made overseas. In our modern world, we have the luxury of importing and exporting goods from one continent to another, all to the benefit of you and I- the end consumer. What I look for in any product that I buy and use, is the quality and the value. Sure, I could spend $675 for a pair of White's boots, or $664 for a pair of Nick's Boots (and wait 10-14 weeks for the "Quick Ship" option), or I could pay $218 for a pair of TCX, that I know will last me for several years, and have them on my feet within a week of ordering them. 

Look, I'm absolutely not bashing Nick's or White's... I'm positive that they both make an outstanding product, but for the working man, dropping almost $700 on a pair of boots is just not reasonable. That's not to say that their boots aren't worth the price they're asking- after all, both companies make their boots by hand in Spokane, WA... and yes, I recognize that I've now spent close to that, at just over $600 on my three pair of TCX boots over the past 5 years or so... BUT... I also abuse my boots- I wear them ALL the time- I don't even own a pair of sneakers. It's a lot easier for me to justify spending $200-ish bucks every 2-3 years on a new pair of boots, than it is to drop $700 once to get the same amount of time and use. After all, materials are materials... rubber wears out, thread breaks, leather wears and what's left is the same thing- a worn out boot that either has to be replaced or re-soled (which is my plan for both pairs of my old X-Blends). 

Bottom line here is, if you want an American made boot, and have the dough to drop on them- go for it... I'm sure you'll be very happy with them. But, if you are a little more budget-minded, and have to spread that expense out, then grabbing a pair of TCX boots is a great way to get a high quality boot at a more accessible price. Personally, I like to buy from Revzilla, but you can also order directly from TCX, which is a nice option if your favorite retailer is out of stock (which Revzilla was for a couple of months).

Final Thoughts

I am pretty happy so far with my new Blend 2 boots. They look as good as my X-Blends, feel great to walk in and they are breaking-in easily. I've ridden my Road King, my Dyna, my Janus and even my old XR600 in these boots and shifting and braking is easy and comfortable. The short, wedge shaped heels fit on the pegs nicely and they don't "lock" my feet in to one position, like the squared heels of my X-Blends did. I'm still on the fence about the embossed toe protector, and I'm sure I'll have an opportunity to ride in the rain in the coming months (more on that later), but for now, I'm pretty darn happy with them. 

So, if you bought a pair of X-Blends based on my previous reviews, found them to be an ideal all-around boot like I did, and you are now in need of a new pair of boots, like I was- fret not because I think TCX did a damn good job of upgrading it with the Blend 2 and, with the price remaining, basically, the same, I definitely think it's a win-win for all of us. 

Until next time, MotoReaders...

Ride safe and make good choices!

P.S.

If you haven't checked out my affiliate links at the top right of this page yet, now's a great time to do it. As Summer winds down, and the cooler weather starts coming in, you can save a lot of money on new leather gear or some fresh comms, just by clicking the links on my page. While I definitely don't get enough to pay for my time writing this blog, I do earn enough for a tank of gas and a burger every once in a while, so make sure you gear up for the next phase of the riding season (and save yourself some money at the same time). See you on the road!

2026 Harley-Davidson Deadwood

The Deadwood

Well, well, well, MotoReaders, it looks like Artie is making good on his promises, so far. The MoCo just released a new, at least in name, motorcycle and I have to say... I dig it. 

I'll admit that I'm a sucker for black motorcycles... always have been, but did the designers make the right choice by dipping into their usual bag of tricks for the 2026 Harley-Davidson Deadwood? Let's take a look and talk about H-D's new FL.

Black Is Beautiful

Out of all the bikes I've had throughout the years, the vast majority of them have been black. Sure, I've had a few that weren't, but let's be honest- as far as motorcycles are concerned- the only thing prettier than a black and chrome motorcycle, is a black on black motorcycle. Now, there's nothing wrong with having some color on your scooter, but there's just something about that deep ebony paint that evokes an, almost, emotional response. Needless to say, when I saw the Deadwood, it's dark and moody demeanor piqued my interest right away. The MoCo's new scoot comes in black, and if you don't like that, it also comes in black. Chrome? No. Brushed aluminum? Nope. But... for the folks that absolutely have to have a little color in their lives, the MoCo does offer the "Redline Collection"... which gives you the option of adding some, you guessed it- red (or oddly enough- blue and... black) trim pieces like timing and derby covers, footboards, gas cap, grip ends, brake pedal and shifter pegs for accents. 

Just Another Softail

At first glance, you might be asking yourself though- is it just another Softail? Isn't the Deadwood, basically, just a blacked-out Heritage, or a Slim with full fenders? Well... yeah, more or less. But, pretty much every Softail is "just another Softail." They always have been. A Fat Boy uses the same frame as a Heritage, a Slim, a Standard, a Night Train, a Deuce and so on- you get the point. Back in the day, before H-D killed off the Dyna and the Evo Sportster, there were several models in those "families" to choose from, just like their flagship Touring bikes, too. The frames on each of these lines are interchangeable within the family. For example, I have a friend that took a 2003 Anniversary Road King and made it into a Road Glide. He did such a good job with the conversion, that the only way that someone would know it wasn't a factory Road Glide, is by decoding the VIN. The MoCo has always used a common frame for a line of bikes, then trimmed each one out to make a different model, and it's a brilliant business model that H-D has used for decades, thanks to Willie G. Take 5 or 6 frame designs and upfit them with a variety of tanks, bars, wheels, seats, fenders, front-ends, etc., and you can make, exponentially, more options for new models. Artie Starrs seems to recognize the genius in this concept, which is evident in the new Deadwood and Super Glide, and he also sees the potential in it, which is also evident by his claim that they will be bringing back the Evo Sportster. There is limitless potential for improving revenue, by creating new models, trim levels and selling custom parts. 

Some folks might argue that the Deadwood is not a "new" bike, it's just trim. But, let's be honest for a minute- while anyone can customize a Heritage and turn it into a Deadwood... most people won't. Just like anyone can take a perfectly good anniversary Road King and make it into a Road Glide... but my buddy is one of the few people, that I know of, that actually did it... because that kind of customization takes a lot of time, money and work... work that most people can't, or won't, do themselves. Heck, most people won't even do their own oil changes, much less swap tanks, bars, wheels, exhaust, engine covers, etc. A lot of my beer money has come from doing, just that kind of work for folks. I'm not complaining, though- because their inability, or outright refusal, to work on their own bikes has kept my beer fridge stocked with the Champagne of Beers for a few years now.

Cool Bike, Cool Name

Deadwood, South Dakota is an historic city, known for its proximity to the beautiful Black Hills. It's the final resting place of Wild West heroes like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok and of course, it was the home of one of the country's first major gold rushes, in 1876. It might be a tourist trap now, but that doesn't change it's history or significance in shaping the West and that doesn't make it any less cool. My more clever MotoReaders may have picked up on the simile, there. The Wild West town of Deadwood, SD turned into a place that brings in thousands of visitors a year, to see and be a part of the town's history. They are drawn in by the mystique of the town, and the historical significance of it. The H-D Deadwood is a genius play on that concept. The Deadwood's model designation is FLHD, which is as brilliant as it is simple if you know the way the MoCo codes their bikes (click the link to learn). The H-D Deadwood, much like it's geographical namesake, seeks to draw people in to Harley-Davidson dealerships, and get them to spend their money on souvenir T-shirts, poker chips, jackets, parts, services, and of course, the ultimate goal- to sell them a badass, American made motorcycle backed up by 123 years of uninterrupted motorcycle building history. 

Riding In The Right Direction

The Deadwood's style isn't for everyone... but by offering another unique model, straight off the showroom floor, at a pretty reasonable price point, I might add... the MoCo is sparking new interest in the brand. Unlike the other guys, who are currently under new ownership, yet again, who have remained pretty stagnant in their, rather limited, lineup. Maybe Indian's new owners will diversify their lineup and, hopefully, even get out from under Uncle Polaris altogether, and actually build something new and fresh, but for now... that remains to be seen. Harley-Davidson's newest CEO, on the other hand, is actually listening to his dealers and customers, and is pushing the Company to give dealers bikes that will draw customers in, at prices they can actually afford to buy. The FLHD Deadwood is priced (just barely) below $18k and others in the Softail lineup start as low as $15k. The RevMax Nightster comes in at $9,999, which is a pretty competitive price for a great bike- I've ridden one and I can attest that it is a genuinely fun ride. While the pricing for the new Sprint and the, soon to be revived, Evo Sportster has yet to be determined, I'm guessing that the MoCo will most likely be able to put their name badge in your garage for well under $10k, very soon. The name of the game is building brand loyalty, and getting people to see that H-D has, hands down, the best dealer network of any motor vehicle company in the world, is a great way to start that ball rolling. 

Maybe the new Deadwood is just another variation of the same old concept, but hear me out for a moment- if a chef makes an award winning steak that brings customers in, why would he change the recipe? That makes no sense. The smart thing to do, instead, is to offer more things to the menu to keep people coming back, but the one thing that attracted them in the first place, has to stay the same... because that is what brought folks in to begin with. Consumers love consistency, and the 2026 Deadwood is about as consistent of a Harley-Davidson as any bike I've seen. It's simple, dark and cryptic, dripping with attitude and it has the perfect balance of modern enhancements and analog styling. 

Final Thoughts

Regardless of how you feel about the 2026 Deadwood, one thing is for certain, and that is that Artie Starrs is off to a great start with his "Back to the Bricks" strategic plan. I'm actually excited again about seeing what the newest CEO of our beloved Motor Company has in store for us. To be completely honest, for several years, I dreaded reading the news and going in to dealerships because it was obvious that dealerships were struggling with Jochen's "Hardwire" plan. While I've seen the Chinese-built X350RA (the Riding Academy bike that I'm fairly certain will eventually be re-badged as the Sprint) and I'm not really impressed with it, I am interested to see what the actual new Sprint will look like, and will be priced at. I'm also very excited to see what form, and price tag, the Evo Sporty will return to us in.

While we continue to wait on the XLs triumphant return, though, at least we get to see, and maybe even ride, a sexy new Softail model.

Until next time, MotoReaders... 

Ride Safe and Make Good Choices!

The Return Of The Sportster!

photo courtesy of Thunderbike

 
Sportster Fans Rejoice!

Harley-Davidson's new CEO, Artie Starrs, has confirmed it- the Evolution Sportster WILL return to the model lineup. Along with the Sportster's confirmation, he mentioned that the Sprint will debut with the Sporty, and he also hinted at the return of another touring motorcycle... the Road King, perhaps?

Zeitz Versus Starrs

Jochen Zeitz's plan to 'right the MoCo ship' was, basically, to save build costs by eliminating models that were lower priced, in order to focus production and sales on the big price tag bikes. The problem with his idea, is that, as Scott Bumpus told Artie Starr's when he met him- "most Harley-Davidson riders wear their names on their shirts." A, not so subtle, way of reminding the incoming CEO that the Motor Company needed to get back to their roots, and focus on the blue-collar, working class riders that have kept the brand alive for over 120 years. Jochen's plan eliminated the entry level bikes, and made it more difficult for bar-and-shield loyalists to be able to afford anything more than used bikes, or worse- competitor's bikes.

Artie Starrs is coming in strong, in my humble opinion. He has visited numerous dealers and learned what they have been struggling with. Artie seems to understand that the dealers are critical to the success of the Motor Company, as they always have been. By focusing on improving dealer relations, he is effectively opening the pipeline to actually move bikes. By bringing back entry level bikes, he is giving the dealers more options in order to move inventory, and giving the customers a variety of options to fit their individual riding styles and, more importantly, their budgets. The fact of the matter is, when a new rider buys a small bike like a Sportster, or the new Sprint, they'll ride that bike for a while until they get more comfortable, then they'll be right back in the dealership upgrading to a bigger bike. By giving dealers more options in the lineup, Artie is providing them the opportunity to increase revenue in bike sales, services and parts and accessories sales. 

Will The King Live Again?

Don't get me wrong, I like the new Street Glide and Road Glide, but I'm a Road King man at my core. I prefer a more visceral ride over the watered down, refinement that comes with fairings and infotainment systems. I like tank-mounted analog gauges and I like a simple, quick-release windshield. I've had a Road Glide and I rode an Electra Glide for several years... and they are both exceptional motorcycles, but I don't think it was a smart move for Harley-Davidson to remove the option of a Road King to customers like me. Truth be told, now that I've retired from my payin' gig, I don't see myself buying any new motorcycles, not for a while anyway. I have my Road King Special dialed-in perfectly to my tastes, so I'm not interested in trading her in on a new Road King, even if they offered one. But... let's play the "what if..." game for a minute, shall we?

• What if my 107ci M8 gives up the ghost early? It is sitting at over 41k miles, after all and I've heard a lot of horror stories about the first generation engines.
• What if, God forbid, my bike is destroyed in a crash? 
• What if it is stolen and not recovered?

If any of these things were to happen, and I survive the scenario, of course, thanks to Jochen's idiotic plan, I'd have to leave the royalty of the Road King, and settle for "Gliding" on the "Road" or "Street", or settle with buying a used bike. But, if Artie was hinting at the return of the Road King... then I wouldn't have to settle on anything other than exactly what I wanted. To be clear, he didn't specify which touring bike would return, but I would like to think that he was talking about the Road King.

 Sportster

So, apparently, I was wrong in my prior assumptions (what happens when you make an assumption?) and the MoCo did not sell the designs to SWM for their Stormbreaker motorcycles, although, I don't know how they are able to make a ripoff Sportster without any legal ramifications, but that's a story for another day. Today, I'm focusing on the fact that H-D is going to bring the Evolution Sportster back. Let me say that again, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company is bringing back an air-cooled Evolution powered Sportster. I don't know what model they are going to release, if it will be an 883, a 1200 or both, and I don't know how they are going to market it alongside the RevMax powered Sportster S and Nightster models, but damn... I am excited to see what they do. 

The reason I'm so excited about the return of the dual shock, Evo Sportster, is because it gives me hope. Hope that if they are bold enough to bring back this bike, maybe, just maybe... they will see the value in the Dyna lineup and reintroduce that family of bikes. I've mentioned it before, but I still get giddy over the idea of a 114 Milwaukee 8 engine stuffed into the small frame of a Dyna. I would love to see the return of the Wide Glide... now that is a bike that I would go to the dealer for.

Final Thoughts

I'm going to address Artie directly, here... not that he reads my humble little blog, but on the off-chance he does... here goes:

Artie, can I call you Artie? Artie, I appreciate your candor and how you openly admit that you weren't a "motorcycle guy" before getting the call from Harley-Davidson. I also appreciate how you acknowledge the importance of the H-D dealer network and how you seem to really understand who your core customer base is. I'm a Harley guy, I guess I have been since I was a kid, but it really bloomed in 2009 when I was finally able to buy my first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Ever since that fateful winter day, I've had a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I've spent a small fortune on new motorcycles since then and I've peer-pressured more of my friends into joining the bar-and-shield club than I can count. Keep doing what you're doing. Bring some stability back to the brand. Harley-Davidson is unique in that the company has been in business, without interruption, for 123 years now. Unlike Indian, who has been bought and sold, over and over, and again this year. Those guys like to claim "since 1901" but their slogan really needs to be "established the first time in 1901..." I'm not a brand-basher, but every once in a while, I feel the need to give it back to the Indian Motorcycles crowd (just for fun). Bringing back the Evo Sporty is a bold move and, although I'm not a fan of the Chinese partnership for the Sprint, I understand the reasons for that choice. I do really hope that you'll also bring back the Road King and, while I admit this is probably a pipe dream, the Dyna line. Regardless of what hits the showrooms, I'll still be riding my Harley-Davidson motorcycles, wearing my Harley-Davidson attire and writing about the MoCo, all while hoping that you can undo the disastrous plan of your predecessor. 

Until next time, MotoReaders, it looks like we'll just have to wait and see what comes out of the 414... so in the meantime, you know what to do...

Ride safe, and make good choices!