Cruiser

I just got back from a 500-mile ride in the upper Baja of Mexico wearing the Alpinestars Rodeo Denim jeans. Are they the perfect casual armored riding pants? No. Are they good? Yes. I like them; and I believe they will become my primary ...

Comfort versus protection is a battle many of us in the motorcycling world fight. In reality, protective gear needs to be relatively tight for ultimate protection. All you need to do is watch a MotoGP or World Superbike race to see how tight the racers' suits are. ...

We have talked here on SpotMotorcycles about the issues plaguing motorcycle batteries. The combination of small size, infrequent charging, high power demands, and a plethora of other ravages take a toll on our relatively small electrical storage boxes. Eventually, every motorcyclist is going to need a jump. ...

This Harley Davidson specific windshield is a nice combination of classic cruiser styling and modern aftermarket convenience. To me, it has a feature that trumps other windshield options.

The styling includes a substantial profile and chrome lateral and vertical support bands. This look fits the timeless lines of the American V-twin. ...

Motorcycle intercom systems have never been high on my gadget priority list for one reason: I seldom carry a passenger. However, I do often ride in a group, and thus my interest has been piqued by the Scala Rider G4 PowerSet and its list of unique features.

I'm going to cut ...

Here is a little item that many might immediately relegate to the "unneeded trinket" category. However, anyone who has ridden a motorcycle for any amount of time has faced the dreaded pant-leg balloon effect. OK, I'm sure this was a bigger problem in the '70s with bellbottoms -- heck, ...

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 ...

Four years ago, I would not risk buying inexpensive bags. Why take a chance at dissatisfaction when you can just drop another $50 and buy some confidence? Well, like I said, that was four years ago, and this old economy ain't what she used to be. Now, I look for every bargain, and I ...

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. ...

Because I ride, I get a lot of questions about biker culture. It's as if people think there's some kind of handbook that comes with the bike about being a big bad biker babe. One of these questions was about vests and why they're so popular in the riding ...

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 ...

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 ...

Jafrum needs to get their website in order. They list that their three pocket PVC windshield bag is made out of "thick cowhide leather." Unless they've started making cows out of polyvinyl chloride, I believe they are mistaken in one place or the other.

This trio of connected bags, whatever they're made from, ...

When a manufacturer says their leather is "distressed," they mean that it looks like you've put the miles on it when you haven't. To get that look on some modern leather, after it's been softened and treated, you have to buy it. The way old leather used to scuff was because ...

Cruising along, it's nice to put your feet up, but that headwind can push your pant legs up, leaving your skin exposed to all kinds of hazards. Even if you don't get hit by a rock, the force of the air can chap your shins something awful. ...

More than half of the adult American population wear glasses, yet those of us who are ocularly challenged seem resigned to wear full face helmets or those stupid straps that hold your glasses on your face. Some of the more creative of my optician-visiting friends have fashioned their own goggles, which ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

Alpinestars has a much greater reputation in motocross and sport riding than they do in the cruiser world. I am not suggesting in any way that their quality is not recognized, but long haul riders tend to be a suspicious and diverse lot. Having a look at the Ridge boots, I ...

Tires: Those big, round, expensive things that you can't leave home without. Take every mile into account and they're pretty cheap, but it never looks that way when it comes time to buy them. Even those as tight-fisted as myself must understand that tire shopping is not where you want to cut ...

Camping last year, we pulled up next to a classic machine from the '50s. The owner, seeing a couple more bikes at this mostly-car event, came over to brag. Along with many impressive attributes, he said, "That's original rubber, too." Original rubber. Very old tires. He said this as if it were ...

The world of the dual-sport rider is often one of compromise. You are compromising between speed and torque. You are torn between devoting your vacation time to a cross-country road trip with your cruiser buddies or a cross-state trail trip with your off-road buddies. It's a hard life.

Tires are of particular concern ...

Not many of the cruiser riders I know are looking for speed. We all have our stories about that one time we decided to open it up and see what it could do, but usually we're cruising along a hair over the limit. This is why cruisers can be outfitted with ...

If you like someone well enough to let them on your bike, you like them well enough to give them a comfortable seat. A buddy of mine actually removed every seat but the driver's seat from his car because he didn't like passengers. Needless to say, his rear fender is ...

Nelson-Rigg's Dayrunner confuses me. It's a great piece of luggage, but I don't understand the name. With 33.63 liters of storage space, this bag is for more than a day run. Unless you're running away from your old life and going where the road takes you... and happen to be doing it ...

A new seat is expensive, and to get one that is really comfortable for you might be even more expensive. There may be a lot of reasons your present seat isn't all that you could want. It could be old and worn down, or it may never have been comfy to begin with, ...

A cover is a nice addition for a bike's overall care and maintenance, even if you keep yours in a garage. But if your motorcycle is often outside, or if you tour frequently, this H-D Super Shield will do a good job of protecting it from those elements of decay. Think ...

Mechanically, a new pipe can change the feel and power of your bike. We all know this, but most cruisers are not on the racing circuit. More power is always good, but I'm not about to invest in a new set of pipes unless they can promise more than better ...

Joe Rocket's Meteor boots are some of the best looking, most understated riding boots I've seen in a while. These are full function street or cruiser boots with molded plastic side protection and a reinforced, padded shin panel.

Reflective patches on the heels will give upcoming motorists two more chances to ...

Being a cruiser rider, I'm a fan of leather due to the abrasion protection and the classic cruiser styling. I'm also a fan of Icon apparel, but they focus on the street bike crowd so most of their pants are textile. The Automag is the only mens leather pant made by ...

So, for the sake of amiability, I'm not going to tell you that you need to run out and buy the Venom tires by Avon Tyres (that's British English for "Tires"). We're all adults and we make adult decisions, so here are the facts:

Avon has been making tires since 1890 and tires for motorcycles ...

I have four bags on my bike: a fork bag, a saddlebag on each side, and a tail bag. My saddlebags are my main storage area because the others are small, but if I had the Nelson-Rigg CL-200 tail pack, I could really clean up the look of my bike.

The ...

Often a motorcycle accessory originates for functionality, but it looks so good that it becomes an item of style. I've heard them called engine guards and crash bars, but more often than not they're on a bike because they add chrome and look great.

Yamaha's Big Bar guards are 1.25-inch tubing ...

It took one trip in a downpour to learn many lessons. One of these lessons was that my saddlebags were not waterproof. My bags were leather, and they probably held the water at bay for a while, but eventually they started sopping it up like a couple of old, dry sponges. I had ...

Best story I could find for the origin of apehangers goes something like this: Back in the old days (no time period specified) folks would string wire across a road as a motorcycle gang deterrent. Bikers began using apehangers to protect themselves from the supposedly neck-high wires.

Honestly, this seems pretty ...

The Honda Rebel has secured an odd place in motorcycle history. It is the standard in 250 cc bikes and is known as a wear and tear machine. Often called a starter bike, people get attached to these feisty little creatures.

Riders sense that the Rebel can endure a ...

Every summer we used to take a cross-country ride. We would usually end up riding about 4,000 miles one way, turn around and head back. This is a trip that I've done over and over to different destinations, on a 250 Virago, a 600 Shadow, a 535 Virago, a 500 Vulcan ...

I learned to ride when I was just a kid, but it wasn't until I was a grown woman that I decided that I needed my own bike. Me being a tiny little thing, it naturally made sense that my first bike would be a 250 Rebel.

The 250 Rebel is made by ...

A compass and extra socks used to be enough to get me through a long trip. Somewhere along the line I decided I wanted to know where I was going and have a few creature comforts, like toothpaste.

Fieldsheer's Access tank bag has enough room for the basics and a waterproof, ...

A clean air filter improves the performance of your motorcycle overall and K&N is the name in air filters. As with any deluxe product you will pay more, and in the case of K&N you pay quite a bit more, but here's why it's worth it:

K&N makes air filters for ...

The BT020 by itself, naked without a stripe, made a fair impression on the sport/touring world when it was released. Designed for that market, it is now the original equipment on a fair number of bikes from BMWs to Triumphs, and models from each of the Big Four are ...

If you've never ridden a bike with a fairing or any sort of windscreen, consider trying it out. It may not be your cup of tea, but it'll definitely show you an aspect of riding you wouldn't otherwise notice. Even a small wind-breaking shield can make a major difference in ...