I have used K&N air filters in no fewer than 5 of my prior motorcycles, and I use one in my truck. Obviously, I'm a believer in the technology. Motorcyclists are a passionate and opinionated group. Any performance product will have its supporters and detractors. An ...

Shorter pipes, as a style statement, can really clean up the look of a bike. Depends upon what you're going for, of course, but they do add to that lean, tough, all-business approach.

The Vance and Hines Short Shots fill the style bill nicely: slash-cut ends, an included heat-shield that ...

Pure sport riders require a sticky tire and generally have relatively little concern for mileage. Pure touring riders have exactly the opposite mindset. Stuck in the middle is the sport-tourer. Just like the label suggests, the sport-touring motorcyclist desires the best of both worlds.

I have been sport ...

I'll admit up-front that I am not a cruiser guy. However, I do understand and appreciate aftermarket exhausts. In fact, I had a Vance and Hines exhaust on a Kawasaki ZX-10 that I used to own. It was a well-made and nice sounding piece.

Most motorcyclists ...

Bolt-on parts are fun. You pick out an after-market option you like, remove the original or previous after-market choice, and bolt on the new. Quick and easy, and all of a sudden your bike takes on a whole new look. You never knew it could ...

People keep coming up with new designs for holding bikes up, and one of these days someone's going to get it right. Another addition to the pile is this 26-pound wheel chock from Condor, which (depending upon whom you quote) can support motorcycles from 2400 to 3000 pounds. ...

A few springs ago I went on a long ride with some friends, heading south about 75 miles to take part in a parade. Against all odds in the great Pacific Northwest, it rained buckets the whole way down. When I was just about completely fed up with the rain, ...

Just when you think you can't say anything else about motorcycle mirrors, Willie G goes and does it again. It's easy to over-do with skulls. Too many skulls, skulls that are too big, skulls that are ridiculous, skulls in the shape of kitty heads with bows on them -- yeah. ...

The warmest it is going to get today in my part of this fine state of Michigan is 48 degrees Fahrenheit. I almost wish I didn't know that. I might be willing to tough out an under-geared ride at 40 degrees if I didn't know it was 40 degrees. Of course, that ...

There are noble and ignoble uses for a really loud horn. Letting that 16-year-old, who's been given a license to wield a 2-ton deadly weapon, know that they are about to do something that everyone will regret is a perfectly valid reason to add to their elder-year deafness with a ...

Of those who are bad at estimating the time, there are two kinds: folks who get everywhere late and folks who get everywhere early. I'm of the latter end of that spectrum, and it drives me crazy. If you're late, you can at least jump right in when you get there, but ...

My brother-in-law has a Kawasaki KLR because he wanted options. He didn't want to be restricted to the road or to the trail. With that kind of demeanor, it is needless to say that he's also a nut for gadgetry. KapscoMoto provides options for gadgetry with their adjustable tank mount.

Constructed of ...

Cops are funny about license plates. They absolutely insist that you have the entire thing rather than what's left after long term vibration and poor seating has cracked it in half, leaving a couple numbers and half of a letter on a long forgotten stretch of highway. A proper 4-peg plate ...

Products like the Kruzer Kaddy stainless cup make me nervous. It isn't the look, intention, or application of such a thing that triggers my caution, but what it could represent for the riding community. A cup holder alone is fine. I like a frosty beverage as well as the next person, as ...

Hardware doesn't need to be about basic function. If you never thought that the nuts and bolts could be decorative features, consider Lucky Bike's engine bolt kits. These kits provide a set of high strength aluminum bolts for your crankcase cover and your alternator cover. The bolts come ...

Cosmetics aren't just used to spruce up a bit. Sometimes cosmetics are used to hide that big scar so no one knows you're really a superhero by night... or just clumsy. Chrome covers work the same way; they can add a little more shine or cover the effects of wear, tear, and time.

Cobra's ...

Some people think I'm wasteful because I like frivolous accessories. Those people are dead wrong. I'm against waste in all forms and fashions. I do like to decorate my bike with a little leather, which is technically unnecessary, but I wouldn't call that wasteful. Now, big traditional-style turn signals are ...

I hate buying third party computer software for the same reason I love buying third party cruiser accessories: compatibility. Software requires plug-ins and mysterious workings, but the manufacturers of quality accessories for bikes make them mated perfectly to the machine you own. Which reminds me, make sure you get Cobra's dash plaque ...

Last year I came to the end of a long trip and the skies were darkening with rain clouds. I pulled my cover out and tried to get it over the the top without touching the pipes. I failed. While adjusting one side the cover had fallen over, the other was was ...

You'd think that someone designing a product for motorcycles would have more sense than to call it a bike diaper. The last associations I'd like to make with my bike are of parenting or incontinence. I'm going to call it an oil sling.

The oil sling mounts to the bike using a harness and comes ...

I'm something of a traditionalist. Logically, I know that synthetics have come a long way and many can hold their own when pitted against leather, but I have an irrational fondness for hide. Humans have been using leather since we stopped running around naked, after all, while synthetics have been around ...

Scooter tires should not be neglected. Far too many people don't seem to understand the level of wear that stop-and-go traffic can put on rubber, even if that rubber is under a very light machine. If your tires are looking a little worn down, don't take risks like skidding during a stop ...

Chase Harper's Dual Purpose bags will fulfill almost any functional needs you have for a set of saddlebags. A long feature list accompanies this product, so beyond the short time we are about to spend together, you should look up all the specs.

To start, the one feature that Chase Harper is ...

A couple months ago I was out, and an older guy came over to have a look at my machine. He lamented his riding days briefly and then asked if I would give him a burnout. I get that he missed his rebellious youth, I really do, but I still had ...

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, ...

Air, fuel, oil, spark, and hate; these are the things that make a motorcycle run. The last one is up to interpretation, but I've found you have to hate it just a little or it will abuse you. Everything must be in the right balance.

Racing requires exertion. Air intake is important, ...

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 ...

Motorcycle security systems have run the gamut from no-tech to high tech, but the Digital Guard Dawg is the first product ever to offer advanced "Personal Recognition Technology" in a motorcycle security system. This technology is similar to systems featured on some luxury cars, but it was designed and developed specifically ...

My ex-boyfriend, who shall remain un-named but whose name rhymed with Bill, had a stunning Springer Harley Davidson that he liked to customize. And he liked to do the customizations himself. He was mechanically sound, but not all the aftermarket parts he bought were as sound as he ...

There's something about bullet accessories on a motorcycle that just seem right. I can't say the same thing about naked chrome women in silhouette, but I do like the look of a small, sleek bullet light. Especially one in flat black, and especially ones that put out enough LED ...

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. ...

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 ...

If you happen to notice your clutch in any way, this typically means there's a problem. Difficulties getting the bike into or out of gear, a clutch that won't release well (a.k.a. a sticky or dragging clutch), or your engine revving up and the bike not picking up speed are the ...

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 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 ...

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, ...

The X-Wing is what's known as an "intake tract". Designed to move more air into the engine, it does this by creating a smoother flow of air similar to airflow over an airplane's wing -- also known as laminar flow. If an engine can get enough air when it needs ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...