Loading your motorcycle onto your truck or trailer can be like walking the plank with a 500-pound load. Using the wrong ramp can be downright dangerous. All of us would all rather ride than tow, but motorcycle transport is a necessary evil. The 5 Star Shine 7' ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

Motocross riders who have been around the track know exactly what these are: these are Alpinestars' Tech 8 boots. Well known and well worn, many riders stick with these when it comes time to get a new pair of boots. There are numerous reasons why these have developed such a loyal following in ...

The 304 has been around for a while now. Named for the grade of stainless steel it's partly constructed from, it's also the first silencer Pro Circuit ever built. Intended as an OEM replacement, the 304 was designed to add horsepower throughout the power-band yet keep noise close to stock ...

Every time I tell of a long motorcycle trip, there is an inevitable question looming in the mind and will come out at some point in the conversation: "Did you have any mechanical problems?" It is sometimes asked bluntly and other times delivered in a quiet voice that overcompensates for ...

I bought my current bike from a big guy -- a really big guy. He was upgrading from a 650 to a 1500, and it was about time. I wasn't going to tinker with the suspension in his driveway, so I rode it home with his adjustments. This was spring; the road ...

Aside from the tires, the most vulnerable part of an off-road motorcycle is the section right below the engine and transmission. Knowing this, most manufacturers include minimal skid plates on new machines. But stock skid plates don't cover much and are often at least partially made of plastic. That's fine if ...

I am not a fan of windshields. They remind me of CHiPs. But I'd be dumb to reject their practicality. Windshields don't exist solely for style; they prevent fatigue from being hit by wind for hours on end. On a still day, the current pressure is going to be determined by your ...

Motocross, and really any kind of dirtbiking, is a killer on the ol' knees. Your legs are like extra suspension for your bike, and just like your forks and shock, they react to every big triple or tiny bump on the track. EVS is a company dedicated to keeping you ...

There's only so much you can bolt to your bike before it starts looking like a motorcycle collage. If you want extra lighting, there's no end to the selection, but not everything is going to look good on your bike. Cobra has designed their light bar to support stock turn signals and a ...

Here's another fairly attractive aftermarket exhaust system for your big twin Harley or Victory machine. It'll also provide a slight boost in horsepower over stock to improve low-end torque and high-end performance. And it'll probably put a little rumble in where there may previously have been ...

When you come to a screaming halt, your brake pads are not the only part of your system suffering the degrading effects of friction. Your rotor is also enduring the squeeze and, like any part, these can wear out. We all know, however, that replacing a rotor is about more than ...

A scooter may not be buzzing along the highway at 70 mph, but that doesn't mean they don't need protection from blustering gusts kicked up by trucks and Mother Nature. Not to mention a shield from rocks, bugs, and the occasional idiotic bird. If anything, the mass of a scooter should make ...

Vance and Hines has been around for exactly 30 years now, and clearly intend to continue their tradition of quality and innovative products for street and racing. The founders of the company (and their progeny) are in fact active, winning racers themselves with their own NHRA motorcycle team.

The slip-on SS2-R was ...

If you've had your bike for a while, you're probably dying to revamp it and give your machine new life. Two Brothers Racing will let you change your look, your sound, and your performance in one go with their dual exhaust system.

The FZ6 slip-on exhaust system with V.A.L.E. technology allows ...

When chemists first created a clear, lightweight polymer, they must have had all sorts of crazy ideas about its applications. In white coats, around the bench, they probably conjured a vision of the future where their discovery would change the landscape of our culture. They were right -- but we mostly got ...

I can always trust Motion Pro to give me a specified tool that is meant to fulfill a particular need. This, by no means, limits the tool to that use, but will definitely make the task less grueling.

Take, for instance, Motion Pro's 90 Degree Hex Driver. Manufactured of aircraft grade ...

Off-road riding in the middle of the dark is an enlightening experience. Or should be, that is, if you've set up your bike for lightless conditions. Motoring along over uneven terrain at night is a surreal event; shadows move and shift with each bump or change in slope, and ...

If there's one thing I know about people, it is that they are everywhere. There's no getting around each other, and we've got to learn to share the space we have. Not annoying the neighbors with a window-buzzing rattle as you ride the local track and trail is just polite. If you're ...

In order to maintain your bike, there are a few chores that need to be done regularly. Changing your oil is one of these tasks. Depending on your make and model, this can be easy, and you'll want to buy a beer for the engineers that made everything so accessible. But ...

The Acerbis Cyclops headlight and floodlight was designed by the indecisive. They couldn't decide if they wanted to make a headlight for street bikes, off-road bikes, or racing. Then they couldn't decide for what conditions their light would be optimized. So, they did what any rational indecisive person would do: they made it ...

I've been reading a lot of arguments about the meaning of "Hayabusa." The hayabusa is, apparently, a falcon. So it doesn't mean "strong bike," or "heavy slow bike," which would have amused me to no end. The falcon, however, is an insanely fast animal and therefore an appropriate name for a ...

One of the best things about aftermarket bolt-on accessories is their versatility. Sure, there might be a recommended attachment location, but you could also pick up a few parts at the hardware store and make your own mounting points all over the bike. My significant other recently made turn signal ...

I once lost three gas caps off a bored-and-stroked twin in less than 30 minutes. It wasn't even my bike. A friend had just got his bike running, but it wasn't running well, and he asked me to take it for a spin -- not like I knew anything, ...

I took a riding course years ago at the local community college. Folks in the class came from all levels of riding experience, right down to those who had never sat on a bike, let alone ridden one. One of these novice riders was sitting too far back on the 250 dual ...

Knees were never meant to be battering rams, but they certainly take a lot of abuse. On a dirt-bike you use your knees as secondary suspension to absorb all the pounding from a track or trail. And when you stuff yourself into the ground, sometimes your knees hit first. Or, ...

The other day there was a guy at a party talking about the bike he almost bought. He said he had the jacket all picked out, and described a few details of the leather. When asked what he was thinking of getting, he answered that he didn't know the company... that made ...

When it comes to getting your bike into the bed of your truck, there aren't a whole lot of ways to do it. Sure, that nasty old deck plank you found behind your grandparents' shed works, but eventually you might want something a bit sturdier and better constructed than a water-logged piece ...

Do not stare directly at the sun, or these lights. Harrison Specialties has taken the LED cluster light to a new high with these 48 LED amber super-lights. There is no doubt that putting a set of these on your bike will increase your visibility.

These lights can be used as low intensity ...

The idea of reverse is a strange, almost unfathomable concept to most two-wheeled riders. Save for the biggest of street cruisers, the mythical reverse is absent from the world of motorcycles. Well that's not the case on a quad.

Reverse is alive in the four-wheeled world. A handy and often necessary feature, Dr. D's ...

This is an off-road must-have. Once, in a light rain on a wide trail coated in greasy mud, I was in third gear and moving right along when I noticed my back wheel nearly parallel with my front -- at the wrong angle, though. I shot sideways into ...

Ever shift into sixth gear when you only have five? Ever tried to go lower than first? I have, and almost as often as I've attempted to find neutral. You know the neutral game-up, down, up, down, and gingerly easing out the clutch in hopes it doesn't engage, ...

All Terrain Vehicles are not known for either power or speed. They're fun for bumping over muddy ruts, and perhaps for hauling out a kill, but not fast or sexy. That's about to change with the DMC Twin Exhaust!

This exhaust system delivers big performance gains at a twist of ...

Cleaning and changing the air filter on your quad is one of those dreaded yet so very necessary maintenance routines everyone has to live with. Decades ago K&N set out to simplify and change the way we do things when it comes to air filters.

At first glance, the price might turn you off ...

If you are the proud owner of, say, a 20-year-old Honda CR500R, then you will have to replace a part here or there. When you find yourself in the market for a new silencer, it would serve you well to buy something that baffles the growl and increases performance.

FMF Racing's PowerCore silencer ...

Tire pressure is one of the most critical yet often most overlooked maintenance issues on a motorcycle. Your tires are the only things on your bike that actually touch the road so it would seem wise to take care of them. Considering changes in your tire pressure can dramatically affect ...

Hearken and attend thee to this custom cruiser add-on set: a spike-shaped (or lance-like, in its forward position) air-cleaner housing and filter for Harley-Davidsons and select models of Kawasaki, Honda, and Yamaha. This very medieval-looking design manufactured with very modern techniques will certainly catch the eye of anyone ...

When it comes to grips, I encourage shopping around. Your hands are going to be spending a lot of time with whatever you buy. All hands are different, so take the time to find out what diameter or material is comfortable for you. I prefer hard grips and my buddy prefers gel grips. ...

Heel of your hand feeling like it needs a shoe? Back aching from leaning just a little bit too far forward? Doctor prescribing a scooter-ectomy to ease your pain? Might be time to install some Heli Bars Handlebar Relocator Adapters, and possibly put the full joy back into your ride.

New ...

This is one classy boot. The colors stand out, and the way that the calf is designed makes the shape extremely flattering to... well, to boot.

Horrible puns aside, the Answer MX boot didn't just throw all their money into the style category and leave the rest alone. ...

Wait, are these really boots? These seem more like a pair of comfy sneaks than they do a pair of riding boots at first glance.

But Icon still designed these boots with motorcycle-specific features. Each boot has a buckled midfoot support strap, and a sole meant to stick to the bike pedals without ...

These cycle boots by Fox Racing are priced right to be an entry-level dirt bike boot.

These offroading boots weigh in at five pounds, and come comfortable and pliable from the moment that you put them on for the first time.

This Fox Racing boot is completely newly designed ...

This carrier is the perfect choice for those of you who want to transport your motocross bikes without having to go to the trouble of rigging up a trailer.

Made of lightweight aluminum, this carrier can be loaded with two motorcycles in a matter of minutes. The ...

Azonic presents these ultra-strong Deluxe Wall Handlebars for Yamahas.

The oversized tubing is custom made to maximize strength and durability. End caps on each bar are thoughtfully included in order to extend the life of your grips.

Graphics are laser etched into these bars to add a unique and custom touch. The crossbar ...

These are some of the most popular dirt bike boots you can find. They're pretty slick looking too.

The genuine, full-grain leather upper has been redesigned to allow for improved flexibility, while the four-buckle aluminum buckle system features a "memory" that allows it to quickly revert to its previous position. They also sport a ...

These boots are a comfortable, rugged and affordable option. For something higher-end, see the Gaerne SG-10 boots. But for an excellent combination of quality and value, stay right here and read on.

These boots from Fox Racing provide much of the technology available in more expensive boots. The buckle system, for ...