Archive for the ‘Motorcycles’ Category
Sunglasses have become one of the most important accessories in fashion world today. This not only makes your style statement but also protect your eyes. You can find lots of sunglasses on the market. These range from such well-known designer sunglasses Gatorz product types gatorz kegger, gatorz axl, gatorz voodoo and others. Buying sunglasses from famous designer in addition to ensuring protection from UV rays, or from the wind if you like cycling or bike and comfortable to use. If you wish to buy a pair of sunglasses to add to your sense of style.
Nowadays you will not be confused to find sunglasses from famous designer, you can search the online market has grown over the years and you can get a variety of glasses in several shapes and sizes that go with the trends in fashion, you just take your computer and connect to the internet then you can simply look for sunglasses that you want. Read the rest of this entry »
When you’ve just shelled out thousands on a motorcycle or scooter, finding a new scratch on your bodywork can be heartbreaking. As a bike or scoot goes through life the odd scuff or scratch is inevitable, but there’s plenty you can do to ensure they’re few and far between, and kept to an absolute minimum.
First things first, if you’ve got a motorcycle fit a tank protector. With motorcycle styling going the way it has over the past 20 years, where once your bike’s tank was low and level with your thighs, its now often right up against your crotch – and in constant danger of scratching from belt buckles, zips and buttons.
The solution is to fit a tank protector. They range from relatively inexpensive, inconspicuous minimalist designs to carbonfibre works of art, but they all do the same thing, in that they protect the area on your bike that’s most likely to cop a hiding. Get ‘em at just about any bike shop, and fit them yourself in seconds.
Other areas prone to scratching on bikes or scooters include anywhere close to where you’re loading soft luggage. For bikes, tank bags in particular are a big offender, which is why Bagster-type tank bag and bra arrangements are popular – providing a firm mount for your bag, while the tank remains protected by a custom-fit, often colour-coordinated bra.
For other tank bags, slipping an old T-shirt between the bag and your tank can work wonders. Beware of magnetic tank bags – they’re convenient, but put them down by the side of the road and they’ll pick up all sorts of stones and metals with iron content. Put that tank bag back on and ride for a bit, and you may as well have taken to your tank with coarse gauge sandpaper… Old T-shirts are also the go underneath soft panniers, between the panniers and the side panels/tail section of your bike. It mightn’t look great, but your bike will love you for it.
And then we come to the travelling bike or scooter rider’s best mate – gaffer tape. This stuff is brilliant – anywhere you can see potential for your luggage to rub your bodywork, stick on a section or two to nip it in the bud. It also makes a great makeshift motorcycle tank pad, if for some reason you don’t already have one fitted. It can leave a fine line of adhesive when you remove it, but this comes off in seconds with a bit of rag dipped in petrol.
I don’t care how much everybody is complaining about Global Warming, cold is cold, and when you are riding during the winter, it feels even colder. Wind chill is terrible, add in the factor of speed where the quicker you ride the more the temp plummets. Using the following tips, you can survive the winter on your motorcycle. Many of you silly people enjoy cold weather, I’ll never understand that. Maybe it is because I’m a skinny man and I don’t have a lot fat to hold in the heat. I live down South for a reason, but even in the dirty dirty it gets cold now and again.
When the mercury goes down and the wind picks up I’m grabbing every article of warm clothing I can wear at once. If I look like the little brother from a Christmas Story when I’m done, so be it. Hands, are your first line of defense, and Winter gloves are generally a smart idea, something with Gore-Tex or Thinsulate is a plus. Practically every major motorcycle apparel manufacturer sells a winter glove, and many can be purchased for under $80 with different degrees of protection and insulation from the elements. But aside from riding out and purchasing a name brand glove, there are other steps you can try before you shell out your dough on specialty gloves. Take a trip down to either the local grocer, hardware, or auto parts store and pick up a bunch of disposable latex gloves.
These are great for retaining your natural body heat. And because they are form fitting, you can wear them inside your riding gloves as extra insulation. Some people may have a problem with latex, in which case sporting goods stores and outdoor outlets sell glove liners made of different materials. Even if you wear full gauntlet gloves, while in the riding position, and when you are moving around, your sleeves can slide up and let in the wind. Try a pair of wristbands, a great cheap trick for keeping the wind out of your sleeves. Warm shirts are a must, but too many at once cannot only be uncomfortable, but can impair movement. Thermal shirts are always a plus, in addition to a sweater and lined jacket. Try one of those cool max shirts as a base to your layers. Anything to wick away moisture from your body will keep you that much warmer. If your jacket lets some wind through in any areas try and pin point the problem areas from the inside. The fix for this is simple… duct tape. Patch up the problems on the inside so the breeze does not make its way through.
A thin nylon windbreaker beneath the jacket or even your rain jacket over top can be a great help. Your head and face are super sensitive. Good full-face lids with closable vents are always the way to go. If you’re in an area that gets a good amount of snow and really low temps, you may want to look into snowmobile helmets for the winter. The ones that come with heated visors would be a perfect choice. Of course, one of the most common ways to help keep your head warm, is wearing a beanie underneath your helmet. If that is too thick for a comfy fit, try the sporting goods and ski shops for balaclava’s. The ones made of nylon are typically really thin. There’s always the standard bandana as well. This will at least keep the wind off your face, and your breath will keep your face warm.
Keep breath mints handy though. Another simple trick for limiting fog and retaining heat. If your helmet does not include a breath deflector, you can build one out of duct tape. Double up the tape and form it to fit your face. Then, tape it right to the inside of the chin bar. Just be sure you do not leave any of the adhesive exposed, unless you want your face waxed while riding down the street. The feet and knees are always in the breeze. Ski socks are a definite plus. The longer they are, the better too. Insulated boots are really the smart way to go, the less wind that can get in the better.
A great piece of gear I found is motocross knee and shin guards, they are similar to hockey shin guards with plastic caps, foam padding and fabric liners. The great thing about these, is that they are thin enough to wear under loose fitting pants. The plastic deflects the wind really well while the foam helps to retain the heat. These are generally inexpensive too, they can be had for no more than $40. For the rest of your lower extremities, double up on pants. Sweat pants, Track pants, thermals, etc. Of course there is always the option of heated riding gear. This can be pricey, but if you are going to ride in extremely cold climates, it’s probably a wise investment. The cheaper option is using hand warmer packs. They are fairly inexpensive and some last up to 8 hours. If you are going to do some long-distance trips, I would suggest getting a few. You can put them in your shoes to help keep your feet warm, in your gloves to help out your hands and anywhere else you feel could use a bit of warmth.
A motorcycle owner would like to know the insurance premium that he will have to pay on a recurring basis while deciding on the type of motorcycle he would be investing in. Motorcycle insurance prices are dependent on a number of factors and are made attractive by companies to lure motorcycle owners to purchase the insurance from them.
Most motorcycle companies provide for hefty discounts to regular customers. Over and above this, if the motorcycle has limited mileage, additional discounts are available. Topping it is the no-claim bonus that gives the insurance policy the added attraction. However this does not mean that motorcycle insurance prices are always cheap and very affordable. The insurance company charges a higher rate for premium if the motorcycle has a greater horsepower and is a sports model. If the owner of the vehicle has just learnt riding a motorcycle, the insurance costs would be much larger as compared to one who is already a matured driver. The accident history of the bike also is a big deciding factor for motorcycle insurance prices.
Again, if the owner is living in a locality notorious for burglaries and thefts, the theft coverage also has to be robust and user friendly. To provide for the added theft coverage, insurance companies are likely to charge a higher insurance premium as compared to those who live in the other parts of the city.
If the motorcycle is a custom built one with major changes in the design and with added gadgets, while it would be necessary to obtain new registration documents to sanction the modifications, companies also would be charging different insurance rates for the insurance premiums. That is mainly due to the fact that most companies have standard manuals describing the possible modifications that can be done on a motorcycle. But if there are extensions or changes made to the basic designing of the vehicle, insurance premium would be higher.
Similarly classic or vintage vehicle owners would get added discounts since their vehicles would not be used regularly and therefore are not subject to the normal wear and tear factors applicable to the normal vehicles. Motorcycle insurance prices in these cases are substantially lower and the owners of these vehicles can actually get a better bargain by discussing their requirements with the insurance agent.
To know all possible combinations that finally affect motorcycle insurance prices, it would be wise to always apply and keep a set of spot quotes available online.
Keeping your visor clean is not only important to your image but your safety too. If your visor is not cleaned enough, your sight will be impaired and might even be in danger of having an accident. Your visor is there to protect your eyes from dust and dirt on the road, but, for it to work properly it does need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
Driving on the road and ‘off road’ can cause a large amount of dirt to collect on your visor. Although at the time, the visor protects your eyes from the sun’s glare and dust and dirt particles, which could cause an accident if it was not for a visor; if not cleaned properly in the long term a visor will no longer keep you safe. The cleaning process for visors is quite particular, as it needs to be looked after very carefully indeed.
Chemical cleaning products are a bad idea when it comes to visor cleaning, as they may damage the visor. Iridium and mirrored visors are particularly prone to damage when using industrial cleaning products, as they interact badly with any chemicals.
In fact, the best way to clean a visor is to keep it simple. Detach the visor and either rinse in hot or cold water. Soap can cause problems, including permanent smudging, which is definitely not good for your visor. When rinsing the visor, it’s very important that you are careful with any attached grit. Use a soft cloth, not one that will scratch your visor, to gently wash down the visor. Try not to move the grit too forcefully as it will scratch if you do so. It might also be best to rinse the cloth every time you wipe the visor, and make sure that no pieces of dirt are stuck in the cloth, which could if not removed consequently cause scratches.
If the visor is soiled quite badly, don’t be tempted to wash it down too forcefully, or with a rougher cloth. It is best that you continue to wash the visor carefully until every bit of dirt is removed. It may take a while, but in the long term it will save you money and will keep you safe on the road.
If you are on the road quite frequently, it’s worth investing in a soft reusable V2 sponge, which will clean your visor without causing damage. These sponges maintain water for a certain period of time, keeping them soft and hydrated, making them perfect to use on motorcycle helmet visors.
Cleaning your visor regularly will keep yourself and others safe on the road. It’s integral to wash your visor regularly with a gentle cloth, in order for the visor to continue to do its job – and keep you safe. It might be best to get into the habit of cleaning you visor. Cleaning it before or after every time you use your motorcycle is a good way of maintaining the habit, which will in turn keep you safe.
When it comes to looking good on your motorcycle, nothing does the job better than the leather motorcycle vest for a number of reasons. Motorcyclists around the world purchase leather motorcycle vests for a number of reasons including the fact that they provide added comfort in just about any type of riding condition, they look good, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg like some of the other motorcycle gear items.
When you purchase a leather motorcycle vest, you’re investing in another piece of motorcycle gear that is going to add to the comfort level that you enjoy while out on your motorcycle. This particular piece of gear not only makes your wardrobe more stylish, but it also helps provide a little more warmth in cool riding conditions, which can be vary important in maintaining the level of comfort that you require when riding.
Besides the fact that they can provide extra warmth and comfort on cool motorcycle trips, they just look good in my opinion! Leather motorcycle vests are made of the same high quality leather that jackets are made with so when you combine the two together in your collection of gear, you get a well matched outfit that looks very fitting for the motorcyclist.
Finally, the leather motorcycle vest is typically very affordable so you typically won’t have to spend a fortune to get one. You can generally find leather motorcycle vests available in the price range of $45 to $80 give or take, which isn’t bad when you compare that to what you’ll normally pay for motorcycle jackets. So if you live in an area where the temperatures don’t get so cold that you need a jacket, but you still want to where your leathers, then the vest would be the perfect answer.
One of the best forms of protection for motorcycle riders, especially if they are in an accident, is motorcycle helmets. This important piece of motorcycle gear protects the most vulnerable part of the body and is actually made to break in the event of an accident. This is done as a way of expending any energy that would have otherwise impacted the skull directly. Once a helmet has been in an accident or dropped a few times it may not show outward physical signs of being damaged but it may still be damaged, so it is a good idea to replace a helmet every few years, even if there has been no impact to it.
Not only are the helmets designed to protect the head, they are also made to protect your eyes from wind and debris that has the potential to impair vision, thereby causing an accident. A motorcycle helmet may seem a little uncomfortable at first if you are not used to wearing one, but they do have ventilation; it just takes a little getting used to. Some people complain that their head gets really warm when wearing one but that is a small price to pay for the amount of protection that they provide.
A customized helmet is the best type to get if you can afford it, if not, then get one that fits as good as possible. The better the helmet fits, the more protected your head will be. While there is no absolute guarantee that motorcycle helmets will prevent all injuries, they have been proven to reduce the severity of injuries, as well as decrease the number of fatalities.
Helmets, like other pieces of motorcycle apparel, such as motorcycle jackets and motorcycle boots for example, are made for safety and comfort; the helmet that most riders prefer is made from a carbon fiber. You can also choose the type of chin strap that best fits you; many choose what they call fast hooks that makes the fastening and unfastening of the helmet very easy and quick.
Motorcycle helmets come in many different styles with the full face model offering the most protection in case of an accident, as well as from inclement weather and flying debris. Most of the full face models also have interchangeable visors, and you can choose from ones that are tinted, that reduce glare or are clear. Other styles available include flip up and open face helmets; however, neither provides the same protection as the full face style.
One may think that motorcyclists, or “bikers” as they are known, wouldn’t have much of a care in the world as they cruise the highways, but that isn’t the case. There is something that nags at almost every biker as he is riding the ribbons of asphalt. That is, of course, the problem of waving.
It seems like a simple problem at first, but then you get into the details. The dilemma can be categorized into many sections. The following is just a few.
Should you wave at every biker you meet? If so, what constitutes a “biker?” Obviously that would include most two or 3 wheeled vehicles, but what about someone on a moped? Some mopeds are fairly large and can be mistaken for a smaller motorcycle.
What about waving at bikers on a brand of bike other than yours? If you ride a Harley, should you wave at someone on a Honda Gold Wing?
Sport bikes pose another conundrum. Regardless of the brand, should bikers on sport bikes wave to people riding a touring bike, and visa versa?
What happens if there is a long line of, say…100 bikes that meet your particular waving criteria? Do you wave at the entire line, or just the first few bikers? That could irritate the bikers farther back in the line.
You can see that there is more to it than one might imagine. There is also the question of the type of wave to be used. There is the “low hand, one or two finger” wave. Another popular wave is the “raised fist.” Though not as popular as the low hand wave, it does serve the same purpose. Some bikers will simply wave like they are saying “hi” to their neighbor like they would if they were both in their front yards. That wave does convey the necessary fact of recognition, but it is much to wimpy for a “real biker.” It is best to avoid those kinds of bikers.
One more facet of waving exists that can cause all sorts of consternation for a “real biker.” Let’s say you pass a biker who is sitting in the parking lot while he waits for someone. You wave…he waves. Then you get to your destination, which in this case is just a few blocks farther down the street. You take care of business and then head back. When you pass the same biker just 5 minutes later, do you wave again? I don’t know. That is a real stickler.
What the biker community needs is some sort of equipment that would eliminate the guesswork about motorcycle waving. It would also relieve the biker of the anxiety of deciding to whom he should wave. Some sort of automatic waving arm would be ideal. If someone could develop such an item he would be a millionaire. As it is, all of us “real bikers” must continue to deal with the motorcycle waving problem.