Pennsylvania ranked fifth among all states in rider crashes in 2017. Motorcycles are dangerous. We’ve heard this far too often. What’s more dangerous? Other people in cars. Getting into an accident isn’t something you can plan for, especially if you’re unfortunate enough to get rear ended by a drunk driver. After living in Pittsburgh for only two months, that’s exactly what happened to Travis Gaines on Stanton Avenue while riding his 1979 Kawasaki KZ400.

To me, it’s always great meeting younger people that are interested in building custom motorcycles. It’s even better when they build something truly impressive. On his own time and in his own garage, Andrew Frederick slowly put together this meticulous 1973 Honda CB350G that he calls “Princess”, simply because it requires a great deal of love and attention. This was his first true custom build and took roughly seventeen months to finish—hence the number seventeen on the tail.

As the weekend passes, many of us have to wait another five long work days before festivities reign again. Want an excuse to break the rat race monotony and exercise that moto waiting patiently in the garage? Jergel’s Rhythm Grille Bike Night, one of the region’s long-standing gatherings has your Tuesday night fix.

Do you know what’s enjoyable to sit and think about sometimes? The evolution of our own personal interests. Time has a definite influence over our curiosities. In John Wagner’s case, the progression that led to his interest in choppers makes perfect sense. Dirt bikes led to skateboarding, which led to cars and more motorcycles. There’s a good chance this sounds familiar to many of you.

Jason is the owner and co-founder of Mothership Moto, a repair and maintenance shop located conveniently on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh. They handle anything from a complicated problem to a simple oil change. He took time out of his busy day to answer some questions and provide some information about the shop.

Do you ever think ahead about where your interest in bikes might lead you over the years? Motorcycles exist throughout the countless stages of our lives in various forms. They become a dependable accomplice connected to our past, present, and future. Down the line the stories will start to pile up—and so will the parts. This connection of man and machine manifests in someone like Greg Gump—a true motorhead with a passion that stretches through generations. 

“I bought a brand new skateboard two months ago, and I haven’t even touched it yet,” Brian Petronchak mentioned while we photographed his stunning Triumph TR6 at Brady’s Run Skate Park in Beaver County. Balancing between building bikes, his job at a custom car shop, and his family can get tricky—especially now that he is a new father.

Steve Simqu works throughout the day as a CAD manager and project engineer. In other words, he does a lot of mechanical stuff. In the evenings he tinkers in the garage with his many projects. We first ran into each other at the 2017 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, which you’ll read about later in this issue. He led our group out of Oakland to start the two-hour ride on his custom-built Yamaha XS650.

The Bonneville lineup continues to grow. To introduce their new Bobber Black and Speedmaster models, our friends from Triumph Motorcycles organized the Back in Black tour. This V.I.P. party took place across the United States in different cities to offer an exclusive look at the new additions.

As we neared the end of a summer full of weekday bike nights and gatherings, there was one last event to end the season off right—The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. This isn’t your ordinary ride. The event takes place across all countries to help raise funds and spread awareness for prostate cancer and men’s mental health.

I must admit that I have a serious problem when it comes to Craigslist’s motorcycle section. I spend way too much time scrolling through endless pages for absolutely no reason and spending money I do not have. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I will catch a brief moment of clarity that assures me I already have too many bikes and absolutely do not need anymore. Hell, I can’t even park my car in the garage. 

If you're searching for a nearby biker bar, then you're not thinking big enough. Through the twists and turns of Route 50 in Western Pennsylvania you’ll find a special place that will surely become one of your favorite hangouts. The Bull Pen Rustic Inn provides all of the elements that make a perfect ride destination.