For the true motorcycle enthusiast, nothing is more important than your gear. And when it comes to motorcycle gear , the key factors are style, safety and comfort. From your helmet to your boots, it is important to invest in quality items that you can wear comfortably while riding or even when off your bike.

Helmets
From a safety perspective, the most important items to consider are Motorcycle Helmets. They protect the head from severe injury in the case of an accident, and definitely save lives. When it comes to helmets, there are a couple of options to consider, depending on your style and preference. A full face helmet covers the complete head and has an extra section that covers the chin and an extension on the rear that covers the base of the skull, which provides more safety when riding. An open face or ¾ helmet covers the ears, cheeks and back of the head but does not cover the lower chin as a full face helmet does. A modular or flip-up helmet as they are sometimes referred to, is a hybrid between full face and open face helmet. Basically, a flip-up helmet resembles a full face helmet that has a hinged front section that flips open to be an open face helmet. Choosing a helmet almost always depends on personal preference, safety, comfort and the type of motorcycle riding. There are many popular brands on the market today that vary in prices and of course style.

Apparel and Accessories
Motorcycle apparel and accessories are a great investment when it comes to style, comfort and safety. Such apparel comes in many forms such as Motorcycle Jackets, pants, gloves and Motorcycle Boots. Depending on your style and budget, there are many top motorcycle apparel brands that are known for quality and comfort. Some name brands include; Joe Rocket, Tourmaster, Alpinestars, Firstgear and many more. There are many motorcycle accessories on the market today with the motorcycle enthusiasts in mind. Some motorcycle accessories such as saddlebags, tail bags and communication devices can make motorcycle riding easier and less stressful. Other motorcycle accessories such as covers, tool kits, locks/alarms and chemical cleaning supplies are a great way to maintain your bikes riding condition all year long.

Purchasing a motorcycle generally involves a great deal of research before you decide on the one that is right for you. There are so many makes and models to choose from that it can also be confusing. You will want to think about your motorcycle riding experience when you are looking at the type of bike to purchase. You will also want to consider what you will be doing with your motorcycle.

There are many different types of motorcycle to consider based on your interests. Do you want a motorcycle that is known for speed? If you will be taking long road trips on your motorcycle then you definitely want one built for travel and comfort. You may also want one that offers compartments to hold your necessities while you travel. Other motorcycles are designed for riding on dirt or for competition. There are also scooters that are fun for in town.

If you are new to the feat of motorcycle riding, it is recommended that you start with a moderately priced motorcycle or even with a used one. This is because a new motorcycle can cost you $20,000. Do you want to risk scratching it up or having costly repairs from dropping the bike over? Trust me, if you are new to riding that is going to be a part of the experience! You can always purchase a newer motorcycle once you have become a seasoned rider. Read the rest of this entry »

There are few things more pleasurable to the motorcycle enthusiast than riding their bike down an open road. But care should be taken to engage in this favorite pastime safely. No amount of momentary fun is worth months in the hospital, after all.

Safe driving can be attained through following a few simple, common sense techniques. Things that most everyone is aware of, but many fail to practice from time to time. Motorcyclists should be especially aware of all of these things, as they are vulnerable to injury, more so than anyone in a car or certainly a truck.

It should be drilled into all of our heads by now that a main cause of accidents is inebriated drivers who believe that they can still manage to drive but are really incapable. Instances of the effects of drinking can be seen at pretty much any gathering or party when out of nowhere, someone forgets how much they’ve had and makes a stumbling spectacle of them.

For safety reasons, you shouldn’t ever drive after drinking or even allow your friends or family members to do so. This applies even more so to operating a motorcycle. Drinking can effect the vision of the biker. It can slow reaction time, and cause reckless driving. None of which are good ideas when hurtling down the road on an open piece of metal. Read the rest of this entry »

Your skills are good. You ride every week. Last year you took the Basic Rider Course and this year you took the Experienced Rider Course. Turning around in the street, two-up, is a breeze. And you do your SIPDE so well, watching 12–15 seconds ahead, that you can’t remember the last time you had to do an emergency braking or swerving maneuver.

But perhaps the problem is that you are so good at avoiding using emergency maneuvers that you’re out of practice. If you ride properly, you don’t get to practice some of your skills on the street. That doesn’t mean you should let them deteriorate until the next time you take a rider course.

That’s why they make parking lots. And you thought those painted yellow lines were just there to corral the cars. Their real purpose is to provide a marked area to practice so you can keep all your skills sharp—not just the ones you use every day. The same skills which degrade in a few months can be retuned in a few minutes of practice. Read the rest of this entry »

I learned to ride two ways—the hard way and the right way. I can tell you the right way is far, far better.

I was a motorcycle hater. No one loathed bikes like I did. Then my husband bought his brother’s little Yamaha 200 cc two-stroke. My husband had never ridden and the evil thing had tossed him off the back once when his brother gave him a ride.

My husband’s first effort wasn’t pretty. Remember that I hated motorcycles and was diametrically opposed to his having it. He got about four blocks from his brother’s house, with me following in the car. He had about 35 miles to go through Houston freeway traffic once he got out of the neighborhood. He kept dumping the clutch and stalling the engine. In frustration, he revved the engine and popped the clutch. The little beast was torquey and promptly popped a wheelie across the empty intersection and up into the yard across the street, where it fell over. My husband jumped up, knowing that if the bike hadn’t killed him, I was probably going to, and the bike with him. He yelled that he wasn’t hurt, but the bike was damaged. I went racing back to his brother’s house, yelling that it was Larry’s fault his brother was almost killed. Larry came running, expecting to find scattered parts of human and machine. Instead, there was a broken lever and a bent gear shift. The bike went back to Larry’s and my husband went home.

A friend kindly took Robert out on his Suzuki 380 and taught him the fundamentals. That same afternoon, Robert managed to make it home unscathed. Talk about dumb luck! Read the rest of this entry »