Cruiser

Let's say, hypothetically, that you're the type of person that really likes to keep adding accessories on your bike. Heck, that's why you keep coming back to look at reviews about accessories that you might be somewhat interested in right? What if you ran out of items to install on your ...

There are motorcycle covers, and then there are motorcycle covers. What's the difference, you ask? Well, I've seen "covers" that are made from a 10-year-old bed sheet. Not really going to protect that investment of yours, right? Another common "cover" is the good ol' 10'x10' blue tarp. Sure, it'll keep the rain ...

If these boots were made for walking, they probably wouldn't make very good motorcycle boots. I'm not saying that they're uncomfortable to walk in, but I would suggest breaking them in a little bit before walking a marathon in them. My experience has always been that if you don't ...

What sets us apart from the other animals in the world besides our opposable thumbs? It's got to be our love for things of a frill-like nature. You know, like the fringe that is put on the sleeves of leather coats to make them look even more interesting, ...

Give a man a fishing pole and he can spend all his time at the river bank casting the line, but hand him a sissy bar bag and he can buy a fish at the store, carry it on his motorcycle, and cook it at home. I'm pretty sure ...

Where I come from, there's almost a mandatory law that states that if you don't have stickers or other accessories on your truck or car that states exactly what your political views are, or the brands of vehicles you enjoy, it's weird -- because if you don't have a bumper sticker ...

"Now, Franklin, why don't you tell me where your fixation on license plate frames came from?"

"Well, to be honest, Doc, I don't really know. I mean... my Pops always used to switch out the ol' plate frame on the family Bonneville. Ya know, one month we'd have one that said ...

Let's do some word association:

I'll say a word and you say the first thing that pops in your head. First word: "Road Rash" (you probably thought of "Ouch"). Second word: "Naked Leather" (maybe you thought of a shaved cow running through a busy mall?). Last word: "Protection" (perhaps an ...

Before all this GPS being able to get mounted to the handle bar nonsense, the only way I had a map of where I was riding to was by taping a MapQuest printout to the inside of my windshield and hoping that it would stay put. Actually, now that I ...

Let's say, hypothetically, that I'm a big Walker, Texas Ranger fan strictly because of the jacket that Chuck Norris wears throughout many episodes. You know which one I'm talking about, right? The denim jacket in which Norris wears holds all the secrets of the roundhouse kick itself. So, logically I ...

How many times have you gotten on a bike and adjusted the mirrors over and over again, only to realize that the only way that you're going to be able to see behind you is to shift your shoulders to either side when you want to take a peak? ...

There are some things that the cowboys had a knack for, and one of those things was coming up with practical clothing designs while out on the trails. The poncho, for example, is ingenious. It keeps you warm but also doesn't hinder your hand movement at all, and heck, it's ...

The evolution of motorcycle apparel has been an interesting thing to witness, especially as I'm just a casual observer. In the past, the only items for safety that were usually made were made for men, because it was something like 1% of the riders out there were women, so not really ...

The thing about buffalos is that you know they're pretty tough to begin with. They have big strong backs, can weigh a ton, and have large horns capable of skewering a man like a shish-kabob. This is probably what helps buffalo leather be as durable and protective as it is, and ...

One of the most bizarre things that I ever saw riding down the freeway was pulling up past a couple on a big touring Harley-Davison and seeing the woman on the back asleep. Not only was I dumbfounded that someone could feel comfortable enough on a bike to catch some ...

Ever get that feeling when you're riding on the freeway that you could fly off at any moment, or that even at 60 mph you're holding on as hard as you can to the handlebars? It's not because you're going too fast; it's probably because you don't have ...

No saddle bag is created equal to another. With all the different sizes and materials out there, it can be hard to find the pair that will compliment your bike as well as have all the room you need. These Willie and Max Black Magic Compact Slant Saddlebags ...

In my opinion, there's never really a wrong accessory that you can put on your bike. Sure, there are ones that work better than others or have more features that you really need, but at the end of the day no matter what you do, you're customizing your motorcycle ...

So, you own a motorcycle and a leather vest. I guess the next logical step is to join a motorcycle gang and cause lots of trouble, right? Well, if you're not quite ready for the lifestyle change that will most likely involve some time behind bars as well as getting ...

"It's not so much of a problem having to deal with helmet hair as it is trying to deal with not being able to ride my bike because of the weather." This was told to me by a seasoned woman rider who I noticed pulling off a Harley-Davidson half helmet after ...

I'm a firm believer that helmets should be worn when riding, but I can also understand that a lot of them on the market feel bulky and heavy. It's not always the thicker or heavier helmet that protects best, either. Sometimes, just having the right material can make ...

Fire is what separates man from beast. It's the life-giving warmth that has carried mankind through the dark ages and helps us survive through extreme, cold climates. That is perhaps why fire in itself has been burned into the very DNA of every man, woman, and child ...

The Sportster Fuel Gauge Kit, made by Harley-Davidson, is designed to give you a little bit of stress relief, because there's nothing like the added frustration of getting just a couple of miles out of town only to start sputtering and run out of gas. After installing this bad boy, ...

Getting a new jacket is like making a new friend. You're bound to go on grand adventures that will add a wealth of experience to your life. Your jacket will enjoy getting to see the world, and you'll enjoy having the protection that your best jacket friend offers if you ...

Part of the reason for owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is having the ability to bling it up with accessories that help define and separate your bike from the rest of the herd. Though there are several thousand different accessories that will chrome the crap out of your cruiser, ...

There can be a lot of prejudice in the motorcycle world. People who ride Hondas tend to buy gear with Honda's name on it, where the same could be said for Harley-Davidsons or Kawasaki. Though, riding jackets all have the same goal in mind, basically saving your skin. If a jacket comes ...

Sometimes when you're deciding on which bike to buy, it can be easy to forget about the potential passengers that are going to ride with you. Sure, you might not have a significant other now, or maybe you don't think you're ready to take someone's life in your hands through ...

"The gods of Metal hath called down upon you from the heavens to show thy appreciation and love of Metaldom. Thou hath been ever ready, with jackets and pants made from the skins of bovines, and art noble, indeed, to be presented with a most Metal idol from which thou ...

Sometimes it's not enough just to have a way to see behind you on your bike. Sometimes, you've got to add a little personality, or maybe even a little bit of attitude to your beast. If you've seen as many bikes as I have, you start to notice the subtle ...

Part of the love of owning a motorcycle for years is being able to dress it or add a little of your own character to it. I don't think I've known a single person that has truly ridden a bike for an extended period of time and decided to keep ...

Part of the timelessness of Harley-Davidson is the fact that even though technology has made leaps and bounds, Harley bikes dedicate themselves to preserve the feel of the old glorious days of motorcycledom, which is my word for the beginning of the motorcycle revolution. They don't need to put fancy ...

"It just won't fit," exclaimed Jerry as he was trying to strap a purchase from Ikea on the back seat of his Kawasaki. "If only I had a rear rack. Then it would fit for sure."

That night, Jerry hunted vigorously for a good-looking online rack that not only is ...

When you're on a cruiser bike, you are saying a statement to the rest of the motorcycle community. You're letting them know that you're in it for the ride. Typically (and you may argue with me), the cruiser style is more comfortable, designed to give the rider a ...

Motorcycles are considered grown-up toys. I know there are kids these days in motocross and other racing outlets, but really, how young is too young to get your children interested in motorcycles? I don't think that's a question that can be answered honestly. There are too many variables, ...

How loud is too loud when it comes to the roar from your monster, which lays quietly in the garage until you disturb her slumber? In most cases, I'd say to let the police or your neighborhood alliance make the call on that. Until then, you should try and ...

Some of the coolest looking mods that you can do to your bike, in my humble opinion, are throwing some good, cool-looking tires on. Not only do you get a great sense of relief knowing that your tires are new and will grip the pavement solidly, but throw a ...

It's hard to deny the fact that more and more women are riding bigger cruisers and sport bikes more than ever. No longer just sticking to the Honda Rebel or the smaller Suzukis, I'm seeing women handle Harleys just as well as their guy counterparts. This is a ...

If you're on a Harley, you've probably got a nice leather jacket and a stylish helmet already. Those seem to go with the whole package. The problem with the leather jacket, though, is that on those really hot days, it's almost like sticking yourself in an oven. If you still want ...

On long rides, sometimes it's easy to forget that your legs have been sitting in one spot for hours at a time. Unlike flying in a plane or driving in a car, you don't have any ability to move your legs unless you pull over and take a stretch. ...

It's that time of year again, finally. It's time to go out to the garage, take the cover off of your ride, pull it out of the garage, and put the ignition key in it. The warmer weather means that fair-weather riders will be getting their rubber on the road, and to ...

Oil is the blood of your bike. Mechanics will tell you time and time again to change it frequently because, unlike you and I, motorcycles don't come with kidneys and livers to clean out all the impurities that build up in the there after thousands of miles of rides. ...

There are some things that we, as society, have accepted in the past that can no longer be tolerated in modern times. Things like mesh T-shirts (which I'm sure was decent on the fit male model, and was never actually intended for the average man to wear), or mullets ...

There's probably not a more effective way to show off a political message or a personal statement than by wearing it on a T-shirt for all to see as you walk. Pass people in the mall or grocery store, and instantly they've beared witness to your charming sense of ...

My co-worker and I are different in a lot of ways, but if you saw our bikes sitting next to each other, you would be able to tell right off the bat which one of us spends more time tinkering. I typically tend to keep things relatively stock, not ...

One of the things that always makes it hard for showrooms to sell motorcycles to everyone who walks in the door is the inability to make every bike fit every person. You can't adjust the seat with the push of a button like in a car, you don't have a ton ...

Getting comfortable on a long ride can be a tricky thing. There are many handy add-ons that will offer relief in a variety of ways to position your body so that you avoid cramping up. Highway pegs, back rests, sissy bars, and stirrups are only a few.

If stiff legs ...

Over the years, I have become convinced that the desire to ride is a communicable disease, or if nothing else, genetically embedded and passed down through the generations. I know where I caught it: my grandpa instilled the desire to ride in me and in the tribe of cousins ...

My friend Dave loved to smoke cigars. He liked the kind with the little plastic filter, and he liked to smoke them while riding. I have fond memories of Dave riding down the road on his huge orange Harley (affectionately named Queenie), arms covered in full-sleeve tats, and a ...

Chrome accessories are like tattoos and piercings. A little goes a long way, and one should aspire to a touch of grace and class along with the pre-eminent bad-assery. It's easy for the accessorizing to get out of hand, and suddenly you wake up one morning to discover ...

The Kruzer Kaddy Motorcycle and ATV cup holder is a nice little device that bolts into the highest point of your handlebars. It will fit any motorcycle, scooter, or ATV with 7/8 or 1-inch bars. It is a nice, brushed chrome. Mounting instructions are included as ...