I've discovered that there are entire forums devoted to motorcycle seat cushions. People get into heated debates about what brand is best to keep your butt comfy. We certainly live in a weird world.
What's even weirder is that the average motorcycle is only ridden a little over 1,000 miles per year, ...
I'm so embarrassed. I went to a party last weekend where bikes were parked around a bonfire providing a great place to sit and have a beer, but I couldn't pack everything on my bike. This is pretty surprising for me because I pride myself on being quick with a bungee, ...
Talking about chain tools seems... wrong. I have a shaft drive and I love it. I really, really love it. Chains do, however, offer a lighter machine and a greater degree of personalization when it comes to function. With a chain, knowing how to care for and adjust your bike's ...
It has rained every day, save one, for the last couple weeks. I love my oiled leather, but it can't take this much, so out comes the rain gear and luggage covers. You can save yourself a few minutes with waterproof luggage, like these PVC bags.
Bikeaccess' T Bar bags ...
Upgrading from a 250 cc to a 650 cc bike has some serious benefits, and unexpected drawbacks, as recently learned by a friend. When you can finally get up to the speed limit on the expressway, you nearly get blown over backward. Your options are hang on, lean in, bulk up those ...
The U.S. has a lot going for it, but we, especially in my state of Michigan, have terrible public transportation. The cities are sprawling and walking isn't practical, but putting all that stop-and-go on your bigger machine isn't so much fun. Scooters are practical, even if they seem irreparably tied to hipsters. ...
With this whole healthcare debate (no, I will not be getting political here), we've heard a lot about preventative care. Everyone knows it's a good thing. You nip a problem in the bud, and you end up with fewer troubles in the future. The body is little more than a ...
All around us, there are cyborgs. Don't believe me? Go walk around any city grocery store and you will see people talking, apparently to no one, with blinking devices wedged in their ears. We're done wiring the world and now we're wiring ourselves, and I say if you can't beat ‘em, ...
After a beautiful, sunny ride, I thought I would park in the driveway at the in-law's place. After a few hours, I came out to find a sticky residue covering my machine. I hadn't noticed the high and mighty pines that were dripping sun-warmed sap everywhere.
This is an example of just one ...
Florida. It's a land of duality. Florida is a nesting ground of old folks' homes and transient youthful exploits, not to mention that it's crawling with Goldwings and big bagger Harleys. Something in the air seems to inspire folks in the land of sunshine to buy big and ride conspicuously. Of ...
That cold wind coming at you will take a toll on your health as well as your comfort. There are lots of ways to deal with the changing weather when you want to keep riding. Stuffing a copy of Truck Paper in the front of your coat is one of the more inelegant ...
Last year I went riding with my brother-in-law. He had just gotten a used KLR that shook some very important bolts free. He felt a dangerous wobble and pulled over. Fortunately I had my handy-dandy tool kit with me, otherwise he would have been doing a lot of pushing.
A single loose ...
I doubt it's intended by Saddlemen, but I like to call their Universal SSR1200 sissy bar bag "The Lunchbox." This bag is completely rigid in its construction and will hold its shape regardless of whether it's full or empty. The size (15 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches deep) is ...
Several times, when talking about windshields, I've badmouthed the "cop" shield. I've likened them to bad '70s sitcoms and been unabashedly derogatory. Well, I won't eat my words, but I might nibble at the edges, because Slip Streamer's Mini Police shield ain't half bad.
I think it's the "mini" that makes it. ...
If you've ever wanted to make some kind of statement about your spartan lifestyle, here's your chance. MC Enterprises isn't kidding around when they use the word "Mini" to define this rack.
This rack will mount, using the included hardware, to your license plate holder and fender. This pops the rack up over ...
The DOT half helmet seems like a wise-ass invention. It's like saying, "I'll protect my head, but only enough so I don't get pulled over." That's not the only way to look at it, but I find it to be the most amusing way to look at it.
Nolan's Cruise half helmet, ...
The streetbike community is overrun, drowning in a deluge of textile jackets. Don't get me wrong; there are companies, like Icon, that make some great leathers for the street rider. There is, however, a particular style to this kind of jacket, and manufacturers will charge you an arm and a leg ...
I had a bad habit of wearing my regular shoes and non-riding boots on the bike. This has resulted in melted soles, split toes, and more wear and tear than the shoe manufactures anticipated. I thought I was saving money by not investing in a riding boot, but instead ...
The older I get, the more convenience I want. I'm not talking about the big things in life, like having a maid to clean my house... although that would be nice, but I mean more along the lines of small conveniences. Little things that save me precious moments mean more to me ...
As much as everyone tries, a lot of the new fancy luggage just doesn't hold up to the classic appeal of saddlebags. You know, I couldn't really tell you why they rank higher than tail bags, tank bags, or sissy bar bags, but they do and probably always will. Now, there ...
Not everyone in the world is keen on magnetic tank bags, but you wouldn't know it based on how many companies seem to be selling bags with only magnetic mounting systems. I am not opposed to magnets, but good old fashion straps have their place and are a secure and sure ...
Full-face helmets are not for everyone. The claustrophobic, for instance, might find them restrictive. Heck, I find them restrictive and I'm one of their most avid defenders. I'm inclined toward the half helmets for their style and the wind-in-your-face experience. Scorpion's Spitfire is a nice compromise if you're ever feeling ...
Cruiser seats and motocross seats are different animals. One is meant to cushion you for hours and hours of lazily sitting, and the other is for the short, hard ride. Cruisers baby their seats, covering them in inclement weather, whereas the motocross riders are willfully abusive to themselves and their equipment, ...
Ditch the passenger seat, strap on a case of beer, and hit the road. This is not a suggestion; it's is my own constant temptation. I get kind of ornery as the summer comes to a close, trying to use up the last scraps of good weather, fighting the encroaching hibernation instinct.
Motherwell's ...
Sometimes you look at a product and you don't have to give two thoughts about its purpose. River Road's Basic leather motorcycle jacket is just that: a basic motorcycle jacket. You look at it and you know that it's cut and designed for riding because it looks like the jackets ...
Helmet branding is important. My natural inclination is to reject branding due to its relevance to status, which is a bunch of bull in my opinion. Branding, however, has function beyond that superficial stuff. It's a way to know that you're getting a good product without having to conduct crash tests in your ...
A friend of mine has just finished dishing his own seat. He actually made a mold of his own rear end and then dished a piece of metal to fit his unique posterior. He's yet to add the padding, but says it's the most comfortable seat he's had yet. I'm not about to go ...
If you have to resurrect a dead battery, you've been neglectful. Shame on you. Okay, so I'm being harsh, but to prevent this kind of situation, or recover from it, the TecMate Optimate 4 charger has a few features that are pleasantly surprising in a charger that only costs around ...
When, albeit in the far flung future, I get to retire, I may just give up this whole "house" thing. I know folks who sold their legal residence and went on a two-year camping trip. As zen-like as I'd like to be about the transience of physical possessions, I do like having ...
August went out with a heat wave here, but now that September has arrived, it's been cool. This is not the best weather for me to be thinking about a mesh textile jacket, but last month, stuck in traffic with the heat beating down on me, I gave some serious consideration ...
I don't tend to wear sunglasses. After breaking pair after pair and losing the ones I didn't break, I just gave up on it. So, I'm left in a bit of a pinch when the sun is near the horizon. Having a tinted shield for day riding frees you from even ...
I'm a young rider, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the classic look. I was 3 years old when my bike was manufactured, and the art of the modern machine -- the lines that make it a thing of beauty -- have changed drastically since that time. Still, I can't look ...
Having a backrest is only beneficial if it doesn't cause you more grief than comfort. Passengers don't get the solo rider's benefit of being able to shift around to get comfy. If they do wiggle about, it irritates the person who actually has to control the machine, so a proper rest that you can ...
I'm not an especially possession-oriented individual. I've had things stolen from me and it's annoying, but nothing that I'd get all up in arms about. There are, however, a couple things in my life that would send me on a rampage if they came up missing: my computer, and my bike.
To ...
Nothing says, "I'm getting the heck out of Dodge" like a pair of saddlebags. Of course, they also say things like, "I don't have to drive my car to pick up my groceries." I like the heat resistance of leather but, so long as you're not supporting them on your pipes, synthetic ...
I always cringe a bit when I start looking for exhaust systems. Even buying stock is usually expensive, but getting something that lightens you up and offers a little more power starts creeping up toward the equivalent of a mortgage payment. The odd logic there is that it actually sounds ...
Swimming against the current is tough. And no, I'm not talking about the philosophical state of being a deviant. I'm talking about a literal current. Riding down the road at speeds that you ought not to be going, along with a headwind, will tire anyone out in a hurry. You shouldn't have to ...
Big bikes are made for big trips. They are the stalwart machines of the road, that carry you in comfort for hundreds of miles per day. Vance and Hines, known far and wide for their excellent exhaust systems for all models of machine, have developed the Monster Oval ...
Where I live, riding year-round is out of the question due to iced-over roads, but there are other lands where the bold-blooded can ride all year. Sounds like a mythological fantasy land to me up in the northlands, but it's very likely you live in such a place.
If the frigid ...
Sometimes I think I'm cursed. I will forgo my natural instincts to pick up used parts because I want something new, something that shines like the sun itself. New pipes, for instance, are very pretty. So, I get the new toy and am almost finished with the installation when ...
I've been itching to get out for a fall camping trip lately. Perhaps it's because the weather is growing colder and I know the riding season will soon be ending. Either way, it's time to throw a bag on my bike and hit the road for a few days. If you ...
Like any sport, motocross riders develop their gear preferences over the lifetime of their career. Some decide they want more impact protection, some less. Some find stiffer retention systems to their liking, others prefer increased flexibility. It's a matter of riding style and comfort. Alpinestars refers to their Tech 3 as a boot ...
Finding a decent pair of gloves can be hard for me. I have small hands. Adult small gloves often have fingers that are still too long, and kids glove's fingers are too short. Caught between these worlds, I've found that the very thing more riders don't like about Alpinestars' SP-X gloves is my ...
Anyone who knows me knows that I like versatility. I'm terrible at making the big decisions because I always want to make the "right" one. Any product that can assure me it will accommodate me during a sudden snowstorm in a desert has my vote. Maybe the AGV Sport Evolution/Rally ...
I've been pretty lucky with my most recent battery. Even after winter storage, I didn't need to give it any electrical pep talk before getting my bike going. That wasn't the story with my last battery. It was moody as a 14-year-old and would approach death if I didn't ride for a ...
I'm going to get right into the AGV S4 specs, because it's an impressive list.
The shell is constructed with carbon Kevlar fiber stratification and high resistance and absorption thermoplastic resins. The composite fibers keep it light but strong. To ensure this brain cage fits, the rider has the selection of ...
Once I was riding to Reno from Portland, Oregon, with a group of friends. We had more than one mishap on that trip including electrical problems with my bike. At one point, as we were tearing down a two-lane highway in the middle of nowhere, my friend Dana pulled ...
The only folks I know who own dual sport bikes tend to ride mostly on the road. The off-road capabilities are for the weekend and the vacation. For some of these folks, I'd have to go so far as to say they got a bike that could handle the trail due to some ...
Most tank bags are oval, or at least have rounded corners. This might make sense for the shape of the gas tank, but it makes little sense for a lot of the things I want and need to carry on my bike. First aid kits, laptops, camera cases, and boxes of ...
Alpinestars' riding boots are great, everyone knows that, but most of them are nothing I would ever buy. I don't ride motocross, and I don't race. I like to keep my gear at a reasonable level, but not to the extent of paranoia. I'm not alone in this perspective, and Alpinestars' ...