5 of the Best Motorcycle Rides in Northern California

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Northern California has a few scenic routes to offer motorcycle enthusiasts looking for a great route this summer. After all, Northern California is far from the hustle and bustle of Southern California, and there’s simply more natural wonders to look at. Here’s a look at five of the best motorcycle routes to take your bike on in Northern California.

1. Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway

Motorcycle ride | Getty Images

According to Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog, one of the best motorcycle routes in Northern California is the Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway. This route is so beautiful that it’s commonly used for motorcycle ads. That’s because, as its name suggests, this route is right next to the Pacific coast, and riders can look to one side to see the beautiful Pacific Ocean, and on the other side, see some beautiful coastal cliffs. 

There are also quite a few touristy areas, such as wineries, that dot the route. However, gas stations are a rarity on this route, so be sure to plan for that.

2. Point Reyes

Another great Northern Californian route, according to Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog, is Point Reyes. It’s actually a fairly similar route to the Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway route, but there’s a significant difference in the first half of the route. 

This route will ultimately give you similar views as the Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway route, except for the first half of the journey. Instead, you will be surrounded by redwood trees. Redwoods are giant trees that are simply a sight to behold, and they’ll provide riders with a lot to look at.

3. Yuba River Ride; Hallelujah Junction to Emigrant Gap

This particular route, according to Riders Share, has a lot going for it. As its name may suggest, not only will it allow riders to see the Yuba River, but it’ll also bring riders to the American River Canyon as well as the Tahoe National Forest.

Riders Share said that this will be a bit of a windy route, but it’ll also give riders many opportunities to stop and see the natural beauty of Northern California. After all, riders on this route can do quite a bit of camping and hiking if that’s what they want to do.

4. Wentworth Springs Road, Ice House Road, Placerville

According to Riders Share, this route may be one of the best motorcycle routes that the entirety of California has to offer. Like its name may suggest, it’s in the Placerville area, which means that riders will get great views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. 

Not only that, similar to the Yuba River, this route will also take riders to the American River Canyon, as well as Lake Tahoe. With that being said, unlike the more populated parts of California, this route can actually get very cold. In fact, according to Riders Share, the roads can even get icy during the winter months, so riders should be aware before setting out on this scenic route.

5. Kingsbury Grade (Highway 207)

Lake Tahoe is undeniably one of the must-see sights of Northern California, and this route is another great one for that. According to Tahoe South, this way is a pretty short but fun one. It’s only about 11 miles long, which means that you may as well ride on this route if you’re in the Tahoe area. Like Tahoe South said, motorcyclists will enjoy the twisting roads and the scenic views that Kingsbury Grade will provide.

RELATED: The Top U.S. Cities for Your Summer Road Trip According to Tripadvisor

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Rocket League Goes IRL With This Special Edition Ford F-150

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Video games, especially racing ones, can be a gold mine for automakers. But high-dollar supercars aren’t the only star-power vehicles out there. Trucks like the Ford F-150 can get players just as excited—especially modified ones. And at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, Ford brought one of its digital racing trucks to life with the F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL.

Rocket League offered some special Ford F-150 trucks for a limited time

Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition | Ford

The video game Rocket League is essentially soccer played with rocket-propelled cars. And while it already features a wide variety of vehicles, fans repeatedly asked developer Psyonix for some kind of truck.

At the same time, Ford was starting to expand its involvement in the gaming world. The Blue Oval’s products have already appeared in games like Forza and Gran Turismo, but the company wanted to go further. And seeing as Ford makes several trucks, including the F-150, Psyonix decided to collaborate with the automaker.

The result—besides a championship sponsorship—was the digital Ford F-150 RLE (Rocket League Edition). Or rather, F-150 RLEs, because Psyonix released two limited-edition versions, Roadshow explains. The first Ford F-150 Rocket League truck was available from February 20-28, 2021. And to celebrate the 4th of July, Psyonix released a red-white-and-blue version available from July 1-5, 2021.

Although it’s not a ‘real’ truck, the Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition is based on the production F-150. Underneath the glowing wheels, bed-mounted rocket booster, and tailgate-exiting exhausts, it bears a few F-150 Raptor hallmarks, MotorTrend notes. For example, the grille, headlights, and fender flares. Not to mention the off-road tires and lifted stance.

However, Ford didn’t stop at putting the F-150 into Rocket League. It decided to do the reverse: bring the video game truck to the real world.

How close does the 2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL come to the video game version?

The front 3/4 view of the blue 2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL
2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL front 3/4 | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

The product of this de-virtualization is the 2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL. On display at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show, it’s the closest thing to a real-life F-150 RLE. It even has a rocket booster in the bed, though it’s non-functional. And while the truck’s 37” wheels don’t glow blue fully, they are backlit with blue LEDs.

But just like the video game version, the Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL is based on a regular 2021 F-150. Albeit a heavily modified version. And I got a chance to briefly chat with the design and build team about what it took to bring this truck to life.

Firstly, much like with Hot Wheels, the designers had to tweak the F-150 RLE’s proportions somewhat so the physical truck wouldn’t look ‘off.’ Once the look was set, the build team got to work.

The rocket-booster facsimile in the bed of the blue 2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL
2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL bed | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

Besides the custom tailgate and rear end, the Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL’s bed is roughly 12” shorter than the standard one. Its A-pillars are also five inches further forward, which required fitting new aluminum side panels. But that was necessary to fit the rakish custom windshield. And the truck has the same black-and-green exterior roll cage and C-shaped bed hoop as the in-game version.

Although it rides on 37” wheels and off-road tires, the Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL has stock F-150 suspension. However, it does have a 2.5” lift as well as a Raptor front end. Its front track, though, is actually wider than the Raptor’s front track. The F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL’s headlights and taillights, though, are shaped the same as on the standard F-150.

How much does it cost?

While the 2021 Ford F-150 Rocket League Edition IRL has a functioning powertrain, it doesn’t work very well as a truck. Ford’s spokespeople told me that the wheels’ light elements don’t lend well to high speeds. Plus, even with the lift, the wheels and tires catch in the wheel wells. As such, it’s more of a static concept.

And while it’s based on the production F-150, Ford has no intention of putting something like this into production. The Rocket League Edition IRL truck also isn’t for sale, and there aren’t any plans to make look-alike kits for F-150 owners. Rather, the truck’s job is to “signal Ford’s interest in the gaming space,” MT explains.

Still, bringing a video game vehicle to life is no small feat. And from the sound of things, this might not be the last time Ford does something like this. As for what’s next, that depends on the gamers.

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RELATED: 2021 Chicago Auto Show: The Jeep Compass Gets a New Bearing

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Be Careful in Buying an “As Is” Vehicle From a Dealer

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for a used car and happen to be perusing dealer lots for your next ride, be sure to check all of the stickers in the windows. One of the forms that are typically taped to one of the windows is called a “Buyer’s Guide” and it will tell you whether or not the car is being sold with a warranty. If not, then the checked-off box will read “As is – No Dealer Warranty,” and you should be careful of that.

What does “sold as is” mean?

A dealership advertising financing | Tim Boyle via Getty Images

A car that’s being sold “as is” simply means that it does not include a warranty from the dealership. According to TrueCar, that also means that when you sign the contract to take ownership of that car, you’re also agreeing to take on pre-existing or future repairs it may have. And if any repairs or issues do come up, then the dealer you bought it from is not obligated to pay for them or reimburse you.

Remember that “Buyer’s Guide” we told you to look at? Dealers are required by law to display that on all of their used cars to inform buyers of what they are buying. Keep in mind that “as is” sales could be illegal in some states as well. Edmunds also notes that late-model cars can still be covered under part of the manufacturer’s new car warranty, but still be sold “as is” as they don’t have a warranty from the actual dealer.

Research is important when buying a car “as is”

If you happen to find a used car on a dealer’s lot that is being sold “as is,” have no fear. Here are a few helpful tips that will give you the peace of mind that you’re buying a good car regardless if it has a warranty or not:

  • Do your research: Before you purchase a used car, Carfax recommends that you do as much research about it as possible. That means looking up various car reviews on make and model in addition to reliability ratings. You can also check out reviews from other owners and forums to see what you can expect when purchasing that specific car.
  • Check the vehicle’s history: While they might not show everything, a vehicle history report can tell you a lot about a car. Sites like Carfax and AutoCheck are great resources, so be sure to check at least one of them.
  • Get the car inspected: Taking the car to a third-party mechanic is always a good idea. They will be able to tell you what’s wrong with the car so that you can determine if it’s worth buying or if the car’s a potential lemon. Getting a pre-purchase inspection could cost you $100 to $200 and an hour of your time, but that’s better than thousands of dollars and months wasted on a car that you shouldn’t have bought.
  • Test drive the car: Never buy a used car without test driving it first. And make sure you take the car on a long enough drive that you can hear, see, and smell any obvious issues.

Buying a car “as is” can save you money

Used cars on a sales lot
Used Cars | Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Once you’ve done all of the aforementioned tips, then you can safely purchase the car in confidence despite the fact that it doesn’t have a warranty on it. You can always purchase a third-party extended warranty, but those are typically overpriced and you might never use it. Regardless, be careful and do your research before buying a car “as is” and you’ll be even happier when you save some money.

RELATED: Is Getting a Pre-Purchase Inspection Before Buying a Car Worth it?

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Volvo Reports Best-Ever Sales Figures for First Half of 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Volvo can consistently deliver a high-quality product when it comes to luxury cars. Like many other luxury brands during the pandemic, customers held off from buying due to the economic downturn. However, like a few other automakers, Volvo managed to rebuild quickly from its pandemic lows for sales.

New Volvo cars in a new era

Volvo sales | Getty Images

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the U.S., few people knew how bad it was going to be. Things are starting to get better. Not that the world is close to putting the pandemic in the review mirror, but those first few months were rocky. Millions of people lost their jobs, the stock market collapsed, and for Volvo in particular, few cars were being sold.

In the first few months of the pandemic, sales fell about 18 percent compared to the year before. This made a lot of sense. Being a luxury brand meant that someone who just lost their job probably wasn’t going to look at buying a luxury car. But of course, Volvo was ready to stimulate sales one way or another.

In late 2020, Volvo introduced the Recharge. It’s not a model but rather a line of all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Many folks had money sitting around in their bank accounts since the pandemic didn’t really hurt the incomes of the upper-middle class and the rich. Many of those folks chose to buy a brand-new car, and as it turns out, many chose to buy a Volvo.

Volvo recently announced record sales

Those sales figures kept improving in late 2020, and it’s been even better in 2021. According to Volvo, in the first half of 2020, the company sold just under 270,000 cars around the world. Europe was the biggest customer, with about 123,000 cars in those first six months. China was second, with about 66,000 cars, and the U.S. came in third with 43,000.

In the first half of 2021, Volvo smashed those numbers and sold a total of 380,000 cars worldwide, which represents a 41 percent increase from last year. The luxury brand said that this was the company’s best first six months of sales, ever. Europe was responsible for buying about 167,000 Volvos, a 35.4 percent year-over-year increase from 2020. China was again in second, as 95,000 Volvos were sold, a 44.9 percent year-over-year increase.

The strongest growth happened in the U.S, as almost 64,000 Volvos were sold in 2021 so far. This represents a 47.4 percent year-over-year increase in sales. Volvo wrote that those new Recharge models represent about 24.6 percent of all sales so far. This means that 1 in 4 cars being sold right now is part of the Recharge lineup. 

What the lineup will look like in the future

The great success of those brand-new Recharge models is by design. After all, the company aims to have 50 percent of its production cars run on electric power by 2025, and that goal is less than five years away. Many Volvo customers want a Recharge should be very encouraging news to the company and fans.

As such, Volvo is almost definitely going to continue pursuing that goal. Many of the lineups are currently available with a PHEV powertrain, but only a handful are fully electric. In the near future, Volvo will probably continue electrifying its lineup. And, based on current sales figures, customers will continue buying those eco-friendly versions. 

RELATED: What Is Volvo R-Design, and Why Should You Care?

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