Motorcycles And Life

The other morning I was riding my motorcycle to work, as I do every day I can, and I was thinking about how much my ride to work resembles life. Yes, I have lots of time to think during my hour ride to work and hour and a half ride home every day with just me in my helmet... no cell phones, no calls, no emails, no texts... completely disconnected from technology... completely disconnected from everything except my thoughts.

My ride to work isn't necessarily the most difficult, but there are moments where I wish the road was smoother, the hills weren't so steep, or there weren't so many obstacles in my path... just as in life.

Hills: We all face ups and downs in life. Some feel like mountains, while others feel like small hills. As I was going up one particularly steep hill I found myself coaching my motorcycle saying, "Come on girl, we both know you can take this hill. We've got this!" First of all, yes, I was talking to my bike... what rational, sane human being doesn't talk to inanimate objects? Second, we do this in life, too... at least we should. We need coaching from others, but more importantly, we need coaching from ourselves to get us over these mountains and hills.

10 Tips for a Routine Motorcycle Inspection

Our bikes carry the most precious cargo there is - us. Taking time for a routine inspection can make a big difference when it comes to safety and our enjoyment of the ride. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road, or have an accident because of mechanical failure.

We know that we're vulnerable on the road and that riding a motorcycle carries risk. We can do a lot to lesson that risk by making both we and our bikes are fit and ready to ride.

Pre-ride inspections confirm they're worthy to carry us; checking them post-ride will catch any parts that may have come loose and we'll be able to note minor changes before they become major problems.

Your best resource is your owner's manual. Make these items part of your regular checks:

Tires:

Pressure: Measure when tires are cold. Both the tire and motorcycle manufacturer will have specifications and in all likelihood, front and rear tires will be different. Tread: If you're down to the wear bars, it's time for new tires. Look for worn tread, uneven wear, cracks, bulges, cupping, and any foreign objects. The photo shows something we found at one of our workshops.

Spokes: Uniformly tight and intact; they can be tightened with a spoke wrench. Rims need to be true with no dents.

Drive System: Unless it's electric, your bike will have either a chain, belt drive or drive shaft. Make sure chain tension is correct and that it's well lubricated. Check drive belt for wear and tension; if you have a shaft drive, check fluid levels and that there are no leaks.

Cables & hoses: No fraying or kinking; no binding when handlebars are activated.

Fluid levels: Oil, brake fluid, transmission, and coolant. Refer to your owner's manual for the correct way to assess. Make sure there are no leaks.

Lights and electrics: Activate brake light with front and rear brakes independently; check front and rear indicators, horn, headlights - high and low beams.

Throttle: Should snap back to home position.

Brakes: - check brake pads for wear periodically. Test both front and rear to make sure they're working satisfactorily.

Side stand: Retracts firmly: no bending, cracks or damage; the spring is intact and the cut-out switch functions.

Clutch and brake levers: Smooth operation, correct amount of free play and proper adjustment. Bonus: Look in the mirror. Make sure that you are physically, mentally and emotionally fit to ride.

How to Make Your Motorcycle Jacket Look More Interesting?

Few would debate the fact that our collective unconscious unquestioningly identifies leather with anarchistic rebellion or intimidating toughness. The fashion trends in the mainstream culture are often inspired by the stylish trends initiated by celebrities and fashion designers. If you are a die-hard observer of fashionable biker wear, you have probably taken a close look at the gorgeous images of Fergie and Kristen Stewart in sumptuous black leather jackets.

If you want to add an eccentric look to your persona, you can wear several accessories with your motorcycle jacket. These accessories will make your motorcycle jacket look more appealing thereby projecting a more vibrant and fashionable you! Highlighted below are some of the tips that will make your biker jacket look exceptionally fashionable!

a) If you know the trick of how to achieve perfect color coordination between your motorcycle jacket and other accessories, you are a few meager steps away from becoming a freelance designer. The soft, buttery richness of the jacket would look charming with a brightly colored dress. Additionally, if you plan on going to a formal party or a dinner engagement, your cropped leather jacket would look elegant with a cocktail dress and high heel stilettos.

Motorcycle Chain Maintenance - Chain Cleaning

Before I bought my first motorcycle I remember being a little hesitant about buying a bike with chain drive as I thought the maintenance would be too excessive. Being a newbie I went to one of my buddies who has had motorcycles since he was in his early teens. He laughed and told me he had never owned a bike with anything but, and that my concerns were groundless. He was absolutely right.

Chains are great for a few reasons. They are simple to maintain and cheap and easy to repair. They are light, much lighter than shafts, and introduce no changes to the handling of the motorcycle. Ever wonder why all the top sport bikes use chain? While belts and shafts are also excellent in their low maintenance and clean operation, they are either costlier or heavier.

What is required to maintain your chain? Ideally using a center stand or a paddock stand to get the rear wheel off the ground makes the job much easier. However, a long straight and level surface where you can move the motorcycle to get the chain to go one lap around the sprocket will also suffice in a pinch.

Sizing for All Sized Motorcycle Helmets

When you are considering buying a new fiber carbon motorcycle helmet there are many things to consider. Do you want a full, a 3/4, or a half? Do you want the visor to flip up or not? Do you need a small, medium, or large? Maybe you need an even bigger sized helmet!

If you are in the market for a helmet over a large be aware, they can be hard to find in a store. If you are looking for an XXXL Carbon Fiber Helmet you may need to turn to an online store. These helmets are rare and are not always the most stylish. Style is not the reason for buying the helmet though, it's safety.

To make sure you do in fact need an XXXL Motorcycle Helmet, you want to follow the sizing chart provided by the helmet manufacturer. The size of your helmet is primarily based on your hat size, and the measurement of your head. You will want to take a tape measure and wrap it snuggly around your forehead area. Once you have done that, check your measurements. XXXL Motorcycle Helmets are generally made for men with heads that measure 66-67 centimeters around. They usually will wear a hat size of 8 1/4- 8 3/8.

Tips to Take Home a Motorcycle

Of course people like to dream and when it comes to dreaming, many youngsters dream to own motorbikes which can run as fast as they can on the roads. In fact it is a thrilling experience to drive the motorbike in hilly regions, terrains, small lanes, deserts, seashore and valleys.

The young son aged ten years starts imagining about riding a motorcycle while he sees his dad proceeding towards his office riding on a motorcycle. He never misses a single opportunity to go along with his dad by sitting on the motorcycle and he starts dreaming a lot in his heart about driving the vehicle in deserts, roads and streets.

When it comes to buying one motorcycle, the buyer has to follow certain basic principles. He should finalize his purchase decision depending upon the various factors namely; the affordability; features available in the vehicle; the mileage potential and availability of spare parts in the case of old and second hand vehicles etc.

Basic Motorcycle Gear

Riding a motorcycle on or off-road is not an addiction, it is a way of life. Anyone that rides does it for the love of it. There is no other way to experience the freedom and the camaraderie that comes with riding. Riding also means that an understanding of basic motorcycle gear is no longer something that you have to think about. You already know.

Unlike a car, the design of a motorcycle offers no protection to their rider. There are no seat belts or air bags in case of a collision, no reinforced framework to help lessen the impact. These are the things that the basic motorcycle gear is designed to do. Protect the rider in the best ways that it can to lessen these shortcomings during an accident.

Motorcycle Accidents Are Rarely Minor

You've seen them in your car on the highway: one, or possibly even a crew of bikers gunning it down an open road. Clad in cool, tough-looking leather, and with the wind on their face, it looks like the picture of freedom. But it's not hard to imagine travelling at such high velocities on top of an open machine going horribly wrong. When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident, there can be losses to normal functioning, disfigurement, and even death. Once you decide to drive a motorcycle, you need to be sure you've got insurance to absorb the costs should you be involved in an accident. It's also wise to seek a lawyer's help in giving you all the power you can towards a full recovery and towards only paying for what is really necessary.

When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident, there is much less to protect him than the driver of a car. There is no metal to absorb some of the fall, and no seat belt to keep him in place. Not surprising then that they are in a riskier situation. The treatment you'll need should you crash your motorcycle might range from physiotherapy, chiropractic, acupuncture or massage therapy. Another cause for concern is recouping lost income, attendant care, and other expenses in your life that you won't be able to earn money for while you're sitting out with a serious injury. There are plenty of instances where a car crash is perhaps scary or worrying, but doesn't entail serious damage to the driver. It's a very rare instance when a motorcyclist can walk away from his bike with just a bit of a headache, a small limp, and carry on with his life. It's wise to be protected.

Motorcycle Maintenance Q and A

Owning a motorcycle can be frustrating when you aren't able to do regular maintenance on it without seeking the help of a professional mechanic. Fortunately, basic maintenance, such as recharging the battery, is relatively easy to learn. Here are some common maintenance questions that motorcycle owners ask and easy answers about how to keep your bike in good shape.

Is it safe to check the oil level of my bike when the engine is hot? Motorcycle owners go both ways on this one. Some prefer to check the oil when it's hot, because it makes for a better oil change should it be necessary. Others like to check it when the engine is cool. It's recommended to check the oil when the heat level on the dipstick reads between hot and cold.

Visiting the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa Iowa

I have an addiction to most things motorcycle. When I learned there was a motorcycle museum, and the National Motorcycle Museum at that, I headed for Anamosa, Iowa. The National Motorcycle Museum opened in 1989, and in 2012 moved to a large space right off U.S. Highway 151. It doesn't look like much from the outside, since it is a converted Walmart, but it's the inside of a museum that makes the difference.

There is dedicated motorcycle parking out front, enclosed in cement barriers with motorcycle-sized gaps, to prevent people from filling it up with cars. There isn't a discount in tickets for riders though. I asked. There are a variety of stickers and patches, so you can prove you were there.

Inside is a small gift shop and desk where you pay to get into the museum itself. The large space in broken up into exhibits, some walled off and some separated only by space. With over 300 motorcycles on display there is something for everyone. The one machine that caught my attention was the steam powered motorcycle, with the boiler between the rider's legs!

Wandering around, it was hard to follow a specific path. One of Evel Knieval's Harleys (in an un-crashed state) was on display, as well as a Captain America chopper from Easy Rider. I had seen another one of these in another museum, but this one also had s certificate from Peter Fonda, saying it was authentic. Since only one of the two copies made for the movie survived, this is a unique piece of American Motorcycling history.