Upcoming Rides

With summer just around the corner it is time for organized rides and events for motorcycle enthusiasts. As a community of bikers we often come together to support many charitable organizations through poker runs or just weekend events. Of course i would be nuts if I did not mention the just for fun rides and legendary bike weeks.(Sturgis, Daytona, etc...) I hope as this blog and others like it grow we will use these forums to spread the word of upcoming rides and events. Feel free to post your motorcycle ride or event here. Ride free and Safe!

Dunlop Tires

Dunlop Tires as we all know are great motorcycle tires. The research and development put into their product has proven to pay off as many bike manufactures use Dunlop. Harley recommends the use of Dunlop's D402 series for its touring bike line. Built with a three-ply polyester casing with two fiberglass belts, the D402 offers greater load-carrying capacity and stability. As posted earlier your care for your motorcycle tires is very important. Not only for safety, but also for the quality of your bike's performance. Other motorcycle tire manufactures such as Bridgestone, Metzeler and Pirelli also stand out and deserve recognition for their efforts. Which ever motorcycle tire you choose, remember to change them out as needed as a bad tire could cost you more then a afternoon beside the road!

Riding Gear

As the time goes by so does the way we outfit ourselves to ride. Traditional riding apparel is being challenged by the new textile garments. With the majority of our leather industry being forced out of the country(US), the quality of leather products is a 50/50 proposition. Now more than ever room for quality textile gear has grown. Personally I still wear my leathers, but as I ride I see more and more textile gear on our fellow riders. The functionality of both apparel for protection is becoming a very even playing field. So I ask this Question, is textile gear more comfortable or is leathers, is the quality better for one then the other? In coming post I will be doing a little more investigating on my rides and some research from some manufactures to figure this out.

Loud Pipes, Do they Save Lives?

The question has been asked many ways. You might be surprised at the answer that studies have shown. The answer is no. Statistics show that in reality other motorists tend to swerve towards the motorcycle because they suddenly realize your there and swerve toward you. Surprised? I was. Please.

Motorcycle Tires

There seems to be a lack of attention paid by many cyclists to proper use and maintenance of their tires, particularly when fitted to motorcycles intended for touring.

The requirements for proper tire usage are not complicated, but they do require consistent attention.

Owners and operators of motorcycles should closely monitor vehicle loadings to insure they are within the maximum loads and corresponding inflation pressures for their tires. This basic load and pressure information is clearly stamped on the tire sidewalls.

The tire does not support the load-the air pressure does. The manufacturer's ratings for the maximum load and inflation pressure are critical tire design elements. If not observed, the handling and performance of your motorcycle will be greatly affected.

Performed Studies have checked inflation pressures at several touring rallies and found a high percentage of rear tires to be underinflated. In addition, weight checks of the rear axles of these motorcycles indicated a number of tires were loaded beyond maximum capacity.

Regardless of the make of tire, this is a serious problem. Riders of motorcycles with significantly underinflated and overloaded tires will experience handling and steering difficulty. In addition, this abuse will result in disappointing premature tire wear and may cause catastrophic tire failure.

The addition of accessories, cargo, and dual riding to touring motorcycles aggravates the problems of overloading and underinflation. The excessive flexing that results from underinflation or overload causes buildup of internal heat, fatigue cracking and eventual carcass breakup resulting in complete failure. A consequence of such failure may be an accident with serious personal injury or death.

The appearance of stress cracks in the tread grooves is one indicator of overload and/or underinflation. If you find evidence of tread groove cracking, you should remove and replace the tire immediately. This damage is permanent and non-repairable.

Our inspection of tires of various style and manufacture at rallies and our subsequent testing have confirmed that underinflation (and/or excessive load) causes tread groove cracking and can result in more serious damage within the tire body. Uneven wear may also accompany underinflated use. Failure to heed these visual warnings can result in tire failure or blowout.

The use of trailers can also contribute to tire damage and touring motorcycle instability. Although most motorcycle manufacturers recommend against their use, a percentage of the motorcycles we have inspected were so equipped. The trailer tongue weight added to an already heavily laden motorcycle can fail a rear tire. The percentage of overloaded motorcycle rear tires found during our inspection would have been higher if trailer tongue weight had been considered. The forces of rapid acceleration and deceleration may also multiply the effects of trailer tongue weight.

To get the maximum safe use out of your tires and maximum touring enjoyment you should:

1. Properly maintain all aspects of your vehicle in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. Read and reread your motorcycle owner's manual.
2. Never exceed the loading and accessories restrictions found in your motorcycle owner's manual, or the maximum load displayed on the tire sidewalls. Know your loaded vehicle weight!
3. Check air pressure at frequent, regular intervals, particularly just before and during long trips. Always use an accurate tire gauge* and check pressures only when the tires are cold (i.e., wait one hour after running). We have found many cheap gauges to be off more than 5 psi, so be sure to use a top quality gauge and preferably one that retains the pressure reading until reset!
4. Inspect your tires as often as possible. Look for irregular wear, any signs of cracking in the sidewalls and tread, blisters, knots, cuts or punctures. Immediately remove and replace damaged tires.

If in doubt, ask your motorcycle tire dealer to check your loading, inflation and tires. Remember, your tires stand between you and a serious accident.

For touring motorcycle loading, follow these general guidelines:

1. Light loads-single rider with some luggage (up to 200 lb. total)-minimum tire pressure of 32 psi front and 36 psi rear must be maintained.
2. Heavier loads-dual riding and/or luggage (from 200 lb. total up to maximum motorcycle capacity stated in the owner's manual)-pressure of 36 psi front and 40 psi rear must be maintained.
   

In addition to following these recommendations, notice what your tires are telling you while you're riding. If your steering response is slow or mushy, or if cornering and braking response is heavy, there's a good chance your tires are underinflated. Vibration or wobble may signal that actual tire damage has occurred and failure is imminent!

If you conscientiously follow these recommendations, you will enjoy better, longer, and safer tire performance and many, many miles of touring pleasure.

Information gathered from Dunlop Tires.

Motorcycle Training, Education, Safety

Recently I participated in a motorcycle training course and was glad I did. Though I have rode off and on for a while I learned a lot and regained my motorcycle endorsement. If you live just about anywhere in the United States, most states now require a motorcycle endorsement and or completion of a riders safety course. I am not a big believer in gov't regulation but, this may be one of those times it pays off for the average person. After attending and completing the course I can honestly say that my knowledge and riding skills have improved. As long as I continue to use the techniques taught that is, I am better off for attending. Of the dozen or so fellow classmates, it was obvious that most of us were there to renew our endorsements. After talking with my fellow classmates towards the end of the day, it seemed all of us were glad to refresh or learn some new techniques which ultimately improve our abilities to ride smarter and safer. Young or "Seasoned" riders could all benefit from these type of courses. To find your local training provider check with your local DMV or your states DMV website. Remember some states now take your bike if you ride with out a motorcycle endorsement, and nobody wants somebody else taking our rides! Like I mentioned earlier, I am not about a bunch of regulation only know it has helped keep me legal and a better rider.

New Beginning

I wish to invite all who share a passion for motorcycles and the excitement of a motorcycle ride to share their ideas and knowledge. My passion for motorcycles has grown to a point that I realized that learning more about the world of motorcycles was necessary. So here in this blog I plan to research motorcycles and all that goes with them, and post that information here to share with other enthusiasts. From leading manufactures of motorcycle products to leading safety tips and classes to help us as riders become more aware of the information available!

Ride Safe
Stuart