| Motorcycles and Twowheelers: Motorcycle clothing and luggage - "Packing Tips For Motorcycle Trips" Thursday, 29 July, 2010 | Home | Suggest a Link |
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Most people who ride motorcycles, from enthusiasts to occasional riders, have at one time or another thought about getting away for a long road trip. For such a trip, planning is a very important part of the preparation. In this article we'll talk about what to pack on your bike.
First, after the initial rush of energy and excitement when you finally are able to arrange your dream trip, the first thing you need to do is relax and start making a list of all the things you might need. Some suggestions:
1. Road map. You can buy fold up maps, or if your cell phone has internet access, you can use one of the many free map services (Yahoo, Google, Mapquest). If you really want to get fancy, you can purchase a navigation system for your motorcycle. 2. Tool bag/kit. Don't forget to bring along some simple tools in case the need for minor repairs arises. Cable ties, screwdrivers (Phillips and standard), pliers, a couple of standard size wrenches, and a repair manual may save the day in case of a problem. You certainly don't want to be out in the middle of nowhere and be stuck because of a minor problem that could have been easily fixed with a simple tool. 3. Clothes. Keep an extra set of clothes handy, and don't forget your rain gear. It's best to pack the rain gear last, so you can get to it in a hurry if a sudden rainstorm kicks in. 4. Snacks. You should pack some light snacks for the road-nuts, dried fruit, power bars, granola bars, water, and a couple candy bars are ok if you have a sweet tooth. Don't forget to take care of your trash. 5. Think of anything else you might want or need on your ride, and include that on your list. You can always remove non-essential items if you are getting too loaded down. After you make your list, gather everything together, and go through each item, checking it off. It may seem like overkill, but sometimes this is the stage where you remember a critical item that you forgot when making your initial list.
Make sure that as you pack your luggage, the weight is balanced on both sides of your bike. An off balance bike is harder to handle, takes much more energy, and safety is always a major issue for riders. When your bike is fully packed, take it on a short test drive to ensure that everything is packed tightly and well-balanced.
Planning for your long bike trip is essential to the enjoyment of the ride, you won't have to spend time (like I do!) wondering what you forgot, you can just relax and enjoy being on the open road.
When you purchase leather clothing online or at a store, what exactly are you getting? We've been selling leather for a long time online. Time and time again, many people want to know more about leather types and quality to make sure they are receiving value for their dollar. This article is a brief rundown on leather types and qualities found in stores and online, plus some prudent advice.
First, when we think of leather, each of us may have a different idea of what leather is. We can think of the leather furniture, a fine pair of leather shoes, or
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A motorcycle helmet is one of those essentials that will help save your life should you have an accident while riding your bike. This will protect your head from a damaging and even potentially fatal head injury. Motorcycle helmets are so important that state lawmakers have even included a directive in the state laws that orders all people riding the motorcycle to wear helmets.
Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be
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Quality motorcycle gear combines comfort, style, fit, durability, weather protection, and armor. The bottom line with equipment is, you WILL eventually fall, and when you do, you will most likely become very close friends with the pavement. So you need the "maximum impact and abrasion resistance" as possible.
Armor is extra padding sewn into the jacket or pants to cushion likely spots of impact. Road rash is the not so fun part about riding a motorcycle. It is painful and bloody, but impacts can cause serious and sometimes fatal internal damage. So shoulders, elbows, buttocks, and knees are spots that you
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Most motorcyclists put their bikes away sometime around October or November, and leave them tucked up in the garage until March or April. Some of us are more foolish and ride all year round. Keeping the motorbike in good order through the winter requires work and I hope to write about this soon.
Keeping warm is the other problem. I have been riding through 15 winters now, and I have learnt an awful lot, mostly the hard way. It is a cold and fresh November day as I write this and I've been out on the bike. I would like to
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There is some great looking motorcycle clothing on the market these days, but believe me not all of the motorcycle clothing offers as much protection as you think. In Europe, for motorcycle clothing to be lawfully sold as “safety clothing, it has to pass a series of European standards, which are pretty lengthy but are available on my website. The standards cover the clothing's performance in abrasion, tearing and impact tests, and when they have passed; they are sold with the CE mark. However, no such regulation is available in the USA, so what should you look for?
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