Goldwing motorcycle articles

Motorcycle Gloves
By Peter Gitundu

Our hands come into contact with many harmful objects and substances that pose a threat to the safety of these vital body organs. For this reason, it is important that we take all the important measures we can to see to it that we protect them from such conditions. One of the major steps that we can take is to ensure that we wear some protective clothing that covers the palms and the fingers, commonly known as gloves.

These garments come in many forms and they are for different uses. There are what are known as the motorcycle gloves, whose purpose is to provide the hands with a tight grip of the bike's controls so that one is able to negotiate corners and maneuver even on rough terrain.

The best motorcycle mitts are those made of leather. Leather is durable as well as warm especially during winter. People who enjoy motorcycle riding during winter will find the heated mitts very useful.during rainy seasons. They are made from a plastic material, but one bad thing about them is that they tend to get slippery in such situations. There are also those that can be used Moreover, they come as a safety accessory that protect a motorcyclist during accidents.

If you need to invest in these gloves, remember that there is a wide variety to choose from. There are those which are fingerless, medium weight, winter and summer ones. The only way to really be right about what you actually need is to check it all out in the Internet and see what is being offered, both online and offline. The prices are quite affordable.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Gloves. For More Information on Motorcycle Gloves, Visit His Site at MOTORCYCLE GLOVES

You Can Also Add Your Views About Motorcycle Gloves At MOTORCYCLE GLOVES

Packing For a Motorcycle Tour - Top Ten Tips
By Alan Liptrot

It's always a problem knowing what to pack for a motorcycle tour. Fortunately, that feeling of utter freedom we get when we are riding our bikes far outweighs the problem of limited luggage space. Having said that, the problem doesn't go away, but by applying a little thought, it can be overcome. Here are some tips to make life easier on the road.

TRAVEL LIGHTLY

It's tempting to throw as much as possible into your panniers, but remember, every ounce you pack onto your bike reduces handling qualities. Add to this a pillion and the needle on the pleasure-ometer begins to swing to the low side. Of course, there are some things that you can't do without, but the keyword here is need. Take what you need and nothing more. If you are going on an organised guided tour, the company should (if it's worth its salt) have a back-up vehicle that will carry your luggage.

PACK SENSIBLY

To optimise the handling of your bike, place heavy items at the bottom of your panniers.

BEFORE YOU GO

In the weeks leading up to your planned tour, begin making a list of what you might need to take with you. At this stage, it doesn't matter if the list is too long; you can always cross things off as the time draws nearer. By using this method, you will ensure that the things you take with you are what you really need. You will also reduce the risk of leaving behind an essential item.

MOTORCYCLE LUGGAGE

Unless you like riding for hours with a rucksack strapped to your back, it's invariably better to have panniers and back box. Detachable panniers are great; they can be unhooked as carried like a suitcase. Belt bags are also popular for carrying things like money, credit cards and mobile phone.

TO ROLL OR NOT TO ROLL

You'll have to decide this for yourselves, but personally speaking I prefer to roll my clothes before placing them in a bag inside the panniers. Other riders like to lay things flat, but it doesn't work for me. Some bikers like to use zippable plastic bags that are sat upon to squeeze out the air before they are sealed. They claim that the vacuum keeps their clothes crease-free, but of course, I'm just not heavy enough (hee-hee).

TANK BAGS

Tank bags are fine and some of expandable ones can hold quite a lot of luggage, but it does take the fun out of it a little bit for me. If you're going on a tour with a back-up vehicle, you only have to put up with the tank bag until you reach your starting point, then someone else carries it for you; great.

PLASTIC SEALABLE BAG

It's always good to keep your smelly socks away from your good clothes. How many times have you gone into your luggage and found that you can't decide whether you've worn those socks once before or not?

SMALL ITEMS

Very often small items are forgotten, such as; mobile phone charger, camera, camera batteries, first-aid kit, toiletries etc. This is when list-making comes into its own. If you're going to a hot country, don't forget your insect bite/sting cream. Something I always carry is a pack of tissues; I know it's just a small item, but it comes under 'Essentials' for me.

REALLY ESSENTIAL

If you get as excited as I do prior to a motorcycle tour, please pay extra attention to making sure that you are carrying your bike documents and driving licence. If you are going overseas, don't forget your passport, or you'll be turning around and going home. .

DON'T FORGET

Unless you are heading for some remote region, there will always be a chance to buy things that you forget, but you aren't really going on a shopping trip so try to remember as much as you can. No doubt, there will be something you need, and it can be fun finding these things in a foreign town, but if the list is long, it can become tiresome.

Well, you've packed and you're on your way. Have a great time and ride safely. May the roads be long and winding, and the sky blue.

The original article, along with other motorcycle articles can be seen at http://www.motorbike-tours.co.uk. The website is dedicated to motorcycle touring in Europe. The tours can be seen at http://www.motorbike-tours.co.uk/tour.htm

Motorcycle Gear Tips Will Help Keep You Safe
By Frank Medley

When it's time to buy new motorcycle gear, it can be hard to know where to start. Maybe the last time you bought gear when in 1972 when you first got your bike. You could also be a new rider who doesn't know what's important. Regardless, there are several pieces of gear that are essential for every rider, and that you should purchase for yourself. You need gear not just for safety reasons, but also to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. If you need assistance in deciding what to get, check out the following motorcycle gear tips.

The first motorcycle gear tip we have for you is to buy a helmet, if you don't already have one. And if your helmet is old, or dented, or you know it's fallen and hit the ground, even if it was only off your bike handles. A safe helmet is the key to motorcycle safety, and you're going to be glad you've got one should you ever be in a crash. Any damage to a helmet can mean it won't be able to protect you fully should you crash, so if you haven't always been careful with yours, now is the time to invest in a new one.

Your next motorcycle gear tip is to get a good jacket. You may often see riders in t shirts during the summer, or bundled in winter coats when it's cold outside. Both of these situations are a bad idea. A motorcycle jacket that fits you properly will keep you safe while you're riding, and is essential. It will also keep you comfortable, no matter what the weather. In warm weather, it keeps the sun off of you, and has vents to open for airflow. In cold weather, it keeps the wind from hitting you, and keeps body heat in.

There are many other important motorcycle gear tips to give you, but we'll focus our next two on your extremities. First up, you need a good tough pair of leather motorcycle gloves. These are important not only for your safety, but also for your comfort. In the safety situation, gloves will help to prevent your hands from sustaining damage in an accident. They will also help you get a firm grip on the handle bars. They also help to keep your hands comfortable, and prevent them from getting wind chapped.

Motorcycle boots are also an important motorcycle gear tip. Any serious rider needs them, and not just to look cool. Motorcycle boots help your feet to stay locked into the foot pedals while you're riding, but allow for release during a sudden stop, like an accident. They also help to keep the skin of your feet safe in a crash, and help to stabilize your ankles, preventing breaks and sprains.

So what's the hold up? Order these pieces of gear today, before your next ride. Following our motorcycle gear tips will help you to stay happy and healthy as you're riding, and will keep you more comfortable on the road as well!

Need gear and don't know where to turn? Check out our motorcycle gear tips. When you're done, you can get all the motorcycle gear onlineat Splat Hat.

Chrome Exchange Parts For Motorcycles
By Michael Mathews

One of the first things many people like to do when they get a new motorcycle is improve its appearance by loading it up with lots of chrome goodies. One of the options that's available and has been very popular for several years is the use of a chrome exchange service.

The upside of using this type of service is that instead of removing your components, sending them off to a plating shop and having to wait weeks, or even months, to get your stuff back, you can get your "chrome" right now!

If you've decided you can't wait and this is the way you're going to go, there are a few important issues that you may want to factor into this decision. For starters, it's not a great idea to remove your "moving" components from your brand new motorcycle and exchange them for "other" chrome replacement parts.

Let's use the example of lower legs. Say you remove these items from your new motorcycle... and you've only got about 1300 nice and easy "break-in" miles on those babies. When you exchange them for a chromed set, there's a good possibility you could end up with replacements that have 40,000 miles on them along with no knowledge of how they were maintained!

Or how about the rocker box covers. How do you know if the person who owned them prior to you wasn't running the crap out of the motor and maybe because of the heat factor, the components got distorted? It's the same thing with brake calipers, swing-arm components, etc.

Keep in mind the businesses that offer these chrome exchange programs have no idea where these parts may have come from, how many miles have been put on them, or how that might have been abused.

If you decide to use a chrome exchange program, make sure you get some type of warranty or guarantee in writing for fitment and leak issues. And, check to make certain the plating process used on the parts is a high quality copper-buffed, triple-plated chrome process.

If you are just swapping out basic bolt-on items, it's not that big of a deal where the parts may have come from. But keep on the look out for a substandard plating process.

Mike Mathews has been producing Custom Bike Building Motorcycle DVD tutorials along with various other award winning informational creations, seminars and many other cutting edge custom motorcycle builder products for over 13 years. His works have been featured on the Internet... in numerous motorcycle publications... and even on TV. Thousands of savvy custom bike builders from all over the world have been trusting and using this information for various bike building projects and business applications. He currently owns and operates the only accepted and recognized custom motorcycle appraisal service in the industry which is used by insurance companies who specialize in custom motorcycle insurance policies along with many finance companies. If you're looking for the best deal possible for full coverage custom motorcycle insurance, check out http://www.custommotorcycleappraisals.com

Biking in Winter - Be Prepared
By Victoria Cochrane

Of course, there are many bikers that are recreational riders and use their motorbikes only during the summer months or on milder spring and autumn days. In addition, there are those who use them as their primary transport on a daily basis and in all weathers, meaning they need to take extra care during the winter months.

But, not only do they need to ensure that they are fully aware of any hazardous driving conditions before heading out on the road, their bikes will also need extra care and attention when driving in the Northern Hemisphere winter. Indeed, poor weather can make biking difficult but it can also adversely affect the condition of your motorcycle, so being prepared is vital.

Ongoing cleaning and maintenance of your bike is important, but so is making sure that you have fully prepared your machine to see you through the winter. Of course, first check that all on your beloved machine is in full working order. If there are any mechanical or electrical faults fix them immediately, or get a trained professional to correct the problem for you.

Also, ensure that your battery is ready to face a possible harsh winter by cleaning the terminals and checking that it is maintaining charge. If not, it may be wise to consider a replacement unit unless you are willing to take the risk of being stranded out on the road as your battery dies.

Ensuring sufficient traction during winter is especially important for riders of two-wheeled vehicles. Unless you want to be claiming on your motorbike insuranceduring the winter months following a spill, make sure that the tread on your tyres is sufficient and if possible, change to a tyre that is more suited to winter conditions. Slicks are only suitable for summer use and you should ensure that you have sufficient tread driving into winter.

But, if you are considering biking at the height of winter ensure that you are fully protected against the harsh conditions and wearing all the relevant safety gear; thermal undergarments and leathers are a necessary winter combination unless you want to freeze. And once you start riding your bike during winter, ensure that if at all possible you wash and clean it regularly to remove any salt, grit and dirt that may affect the paintwork, and other exposed mechanical parts. However, if you decide to brave it in the winter, then prepare well and take care on the roads.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

How to Maintain a Strong and Reliable Motorcycle Battery
By Michael Mathews

A good, solid power supply is an absolute necessity to keep your custom motorcycle in peak running condition. So making sure you keep a healthy strong battery is important.

If there's ever been a constant and common theme with motorcycles, it's battery problems and failures. And if you're like most motorcycle owners, you don't pay much attention to your battery until it looks like it's dead and gone and then you end up having to visit the local shop or dealer to plunk down a chuck of change for a new one. Well, here's the thing, more than likely you probably ended up spending your hard-earned cash way too soon.

What causes a battery to take a dump is the interaction between sulfuric acid and the surface area of the lead plates that comprise the makeup of the battery.

Although your battery should offer you good dependable service for several riding seasons, in most cases they don't. This is due to issues created by heavy sulfate buildup within the battery. Although there is a natural and necessary formation of scaling that takes place on the internal plates, a battery is able to store and supply energy if enough of the active plate material is available to allow the transfer to occur naturally.

As your battery gets older, or remains inactive for a long time, sulfate crystals will build up to the point where they create an obstruction on the plate grid. Over a not-so-long period of time, this obstruction can become so thick that the battery will no longer accept a charge or release the power your motorcycle requires. This buildup is why over 80% of all batteries fail or "die".

While this is particularly important for infrequently used and stored motorcycles, it is also a major problem for motorcycles that are used on a regular basis. Over time, the charge ability and reserve capacity of your battery decreases until the battery will no longer function at an acceptable rate, or fails altogether.

In most cases, the battery is probably still good, but the energy is not able to transfer properly due to excessive sulfate buildup. That means you have to buy another battery even though yours may still have usable life. You can eliminate... or maybe even prevent this buildup from happening and keep batteries working longer for you by the consistent use of a battery maintenance device that is specifically designed for motorcycle batteries.

The types that really work well have features that prevent sulfate from becoming a problem with your battery and keeps the inner workings cleaned up while maintaining optimum contact with the electrolyte for the required charging cycles and more energy. With more energy, your battery lasts up to three times longer between charges and your electronic accessories function much better.

Mike Mathews has been producing Custom Bike Building Motorcycle DVD tutorials along with various other award winning informational creations, seminars and many other cutting edge custom motorcycle builder products for over 13 years. His works have been featured on the Internet... in numerous motorcycle publications... and even on TV. Thousands of savvy custom bike builders from all over the world have been trusting and using this information for various bike building projects and business applications. He currently owns and operates the only accepted and recognized custom motorcycle appraisal service in the industry which is used by insurance companies who specialize in custom motorcycle insurance policies along with many finance companies. If you're looking for the best deal possible for full coverage custom motorcycle insurance, check out http://www.custommotorcycleappraisals.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Mathews
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