We think just about everyone can tell you when they first fell in love with the idea of riding a motorcycle. Of course, some go on to actually ride motorcycles, while others only dream about it briefly before moving on to fast paced lives with their mini vans. For many of us it was the Fonz. For others, it was Evel Knievel who made us want to get on one of those two wheeled bad boys. Long before we were old enough to buy our first motorcycle insurance policy, we dreamed about emulating our motorcycle riding heroes.

Our sister can tell you exactly who she idolized, the one who made her want to jump on a motorcycle and tear up the streets, popping wheelies as she leaves everyone in a cloud of dust. For our sister, the inspiration was Miz Tisdale.

Not familiar with her? Maybe we need to put her into context. Miz Tisdale was the wheelie popping, motorcycle riding grandmotherly post mistress from the Dukes of Hazzard. Over the years, she appeared on thirteen episodes of the iconic television series. During that time, she rode a number of different motorcycles, including street bikes with sidecars and dirt bikes. She is best known, however for tearing down the main drag of Hazzard County on one wheel of a 175 cc dirt bike.

We don’t know if she inspired anyone else to ride a motorcycle or not. Chances are Nedra Volz, the elderly character actress who played Miz Emma Tisdale would have found it amusing that anybody actually got on a motorcycle because of her. But at 6 years old, one little girl decided that if she was ever going to get old, she wanted to get old like Miz Tisdale.

So, spill it. Who’s your inspiration? Who made you want to go out and get on a motorcycle? It would have been cool if our sister had been able to tell Ms. Volz that she had inspired her to get on a motorcycle. Does your inspiration, whether he or she is famous or unknown, know that they inspired your passion for motorcycles? Why don’t you make it a point, before you pay your next motorcycle insurance premium, to let them know. Who knows, you might make their day.

Image by kamshots

Instead of spending the weekends at home, you can enjoy many different things from the road. From a rally that can be any time of the year to places you can go to in a few hours, there is something close by to make your weekend exciting.  Information on the events, tip and tricks to make the trip more enjoyable and even places off the beaten track can give you something to make your weekends memorable.

1. Jello Farts:  Gives ideas on what to pack on your weekend trips.
2. Ramberg Media:  Tips on what to do for a weekend trip as well as tricks to make the planning and safety of it go as smoothly as possible.\
3. International Travel:  For those that travel globally, this video of Saigon weekend getaways is a unique way to spend some free time while there.
4. Motorcycle Tour Guide:  All about the weekend places that are popular, and hidden, in Nova Scotia.
5. The Shadow Shop:  A personal account of a weekend spent in Upper Pennsylvania with pictures of some beautiful spots he visited.
6. Motorcycle Monster:  Information on the Grand Canyon motorcycle rally for those in the Phoenix area.
7. CMG Online:  Port Dover, Ontario holds a rally that is somewhat of a hidden gem.
8. All About Bikes:  The MCN is an app that track your trips.  It includes a video on how it I valuable for those that ride.
9. eJourna:  His trip was longer then a weekend, but those that live near lake Michigan can use his map and places to visit as a guide on their own 2 day trip when they plan.
10. Trip It:  A free online trip planner specifically for motorcycles can help you find the perfect weekend trip you want to take close to home.
11. Leather Up:  One of the most popular, and best attended, rallies in the US is Sturgis.  This gives information on this rally, and for most it makes a good weekend trip.
12. SMD Strike Lightin’ Bikes:  New Jersey has a rally, and the Thunder in the Park is great for those on the East Coast.  Offers information and dates on this event.
13. Sulphur City MCC:  Sulphur City holds its own rally.  Information will be posted closer to the event, but offers the annual events date.
14. Haul Bikes:  5 destinations for Memorial day are offered here, with a diverse range of locations for people all over the country.
15. Tour Cochise County:  All about the Border To Border Cinco de Mayo motorcycle run in Douglas, AZ.
16. My Big Toy:  Harley Davidson has a Daytona Biker festival in October, and this is all the information for those close to Florida.
17. Business Tip:  The top 3 rallies in the US are listed here with information on dates.
18. American Iron:  The Indian Motorcycle rally is specifically for those that drive and admire the Indian bikes.  Held in Connecticut, offers dates and other information for it.
19. Ship Happens:  A listing of the best of the Summer rallies all over the US.
20. Fredericksburg’s Friendly Blog:  The Hill County rally in Fredericksburg, TX is an event for those in the southwest region.  Offers information and dates on this event.
21. Austin Scooter Club:  The ROT Rally is big in Austin, Texas and this gives information on this event.
22. Vamos A Ver:  Santa Rosa, NM hosts the Smoke Out Rally, and this offers pictures and information for those that are within the vicinity to make plans for their own trip.
23. The Simple Strings:  Virginia hosts a popular rally with the band information and a link to the press release for the main event.
24. Focus On Crofton:  A veteran rally on D.C. on Memorial Day weekend.
25. Church Relevance:  Tougher Than Hell is held in Tulsa, OK.  Information, pictures and a video on this charitable event are included.
26. Life In The Fast Lane:  Alberta, Canada is host to the Kids With Cancer Charity Rally, and this offers information for those that can attend.
27. Travel Nevada:  Three of the best rallies in Nevada with information on them.
28. Motorcycle Travel Information:  Tips on traveling by motorcycle to make the ride easier for you.
29. Ultimate Motorcycling:  Tips on safety and comfort from an expert bike rider.
30. Michigan Auto Law:  Tips about driving safely in the state of Michigan.  Many can be applied anywhere.
31. Eye Dance:  Milwaukee hosts the Rocker Box, and here are plenty of pictures and information given from a newbie at the event.
32. Lookout Point:  Hot Spring Arkansas has an event for weekenders, they host a rally in the town.
33. The Rally That Gives:  Nova Scotia hosts this fundraising event for a place that families can stay at while other members undergo cancer treatments.
34. Places 2 Ride:  An interactive map shows rallies and events in every state so you can find one to travel to.
35. Motorcycle Philosophy:  He shows the difference between riding and rallies with pros and cons of each.
36. NW Motorcycle:  A listing of the rides and runs in the Pacific Northwest for 2010.
37. Drive Mile One:  Information for the charity run of Bikers for Tykes and Troops rally in Virginia Beach.
38. Road Racer X:  The Free Corn for Kids program is looked at.  Free corn is given away at rallies to bring awareness to this national program.
39. South Side Kustoms:  At Florida Panhandle, the Thunder Beach rally is held annually.  This offers information and dates on the event.
40. Freshare:  In the Ozarks, the new Bikes, Babes, and Bling motorcycle rally is held as a sister event to their fall one.
41. Cherokee Info:  The Cherokee, NC biker rally event and information can be found here to honor the tribe.
42. Women Riders Now:  A new women’s rally, Bikes Babes & Bling is being held I Fayetteville, Arkansas.  This gives info on the new ride.
43. Her Motorcycle:  Women at rallies are increasing in number.  This gives information on the trend and some places to look at.
44. Inside Branson:  The bike ralle in Branson, MO is one of the most popular in the region.  Here they offer event details about it.
45. Call Leads:  A video about what happens at rallies.
46. Scooter News: The Four Comers rally is a Labor Day destination held annually in the Colorado 4 corner region.
47. Russ Brown:  All about the San Francisco and Northern California rallies.
48. Bokee:  Top three rallies in the US for those looking to attend.
49. Rates To Go:  The top 10 rallies that bikers love to go to.  This offers information and dates of the events.
50. Weasels:  A list of the 2010 events in California.
51. Alfa Wanees:  The top three rallies in the US by attendance.
52. Travel Everywhere:  Looks at the etiquette and basics to attending a biker rally.
53. 55 Places:  This shows how the baby boomers fit into the rallies and why they are welcome.
54. Helmet Hair:  When you go to a rally, knowing the way to behave is important.

Image Credits: indigoprime

A tool box? Why do we need that, you ask. Simple. Unless you’re one of the extremely fortunate few who counts a motorcycle as your primary mode of transportation and plan on trading in for a new Harley every two to three years, chances are that your motorcycle is going to break down at one point or another. And when it does, you have few choices. You can:

• Take it to the mechanic. This is fine if you’re made of money, but most of us aren’t. And since most of us don’t use our motorcycles as our main source of family transportation, fixing the bike often gets shuffled all the way to the bottom as far as importance of upcoming expenditures is concerned. Ask any married biker and they’ll tell you. Spouses don’t always get it.

• Sell your motorcycle. It should be obvious why this choice sucks, but allow us to point out that, aside from not having a motorcycle, which is bad enough in itself, you won’t get much money for a bike if it doesn’t run. On a positive note, you’ll save on motorcycle insurance.

• Put your motorcycle in the garage. Really, dude. Don’t do it. It’s a motorcycle’s graveyard in there. You say it’ll only be for a month or two until you can afford to get it fixed, then the next thing you know your grandkids will find your motorcycle’s dusty remains after they bury you. Hopefully one of them knows how to work on it.

• Fix it yourself. You can’t do this without a good tool box full of tools. Hence, the need for a good tool box. A lot of people are afraid to try working on their own bike, but what do you have to lose? If it doesn’t run, the worst thing that can happen is it still won’t run. The mechanics of a motorcycle aren’t as daunting as you might think. Pick up a repair manual, some tools, and give it a try. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding other bikers who can help you out if you get in a bind and can’t figure something out.

So, about that tool box: it doesn’t need to be extensive. A few basic tools will do, and you can add tools as you need them. Believe us, if you ride older, used bikes like we do, it won’t take long before you build an impressive collection of tools.

Photo via Librarian Avenger

• Fringes. Fringes on the handlebars are for bicycles. Girl’s bicycles. And even then, they look a little silly if the girl is older than about eight. Nobody should put fringes on a motorcycle’s handlebars. It doesn’t matter if they’re made of black leather with spikes and fringed with chains. It still looks silly.

• Pull Trailer. OK, it’s still slightly cooler than your father’s Oldsmobile station wagon, but it just doesn’t look right. If you want to haul a trailer, get a truck, and you can still look kind of cool doing it. On a motorcycle, not so much. We know it lets you carry more, but part of what’s cool about a motorcycle trip is carrying less.

• Sidecar.  Not only do they make it harder to handle your motorcycle and cost you more in motorcycle insurance, they also look really dorky. And think of the poor guy who actually rides in the side car. We’re not sure anything says loser quite so loudly. If you carry a passenger, have them ride behind you, especially if the passenger is of the opposite sex. We mean, really, what does it say about you if she’s rather ride in the sidecar?

• Girly Paint. If you’re a lady, you might be able to get away with riding a pink or purple motorcycle, although even then, you won’t exactly be mistaken for a typical biker babe. Black and chrome are the only colors a biker really needs, but if you do want to go more colorful, just stay away from the girl colors. Nothing looks more ridiculous than a lavender colored Harley Davison.

Let’s face it. If you bought a motorcycle, at least part of your reason was because it’s cool. So, don’t screw it up. Let your motorcycle look like a motorcycle. After all, putting pink pain and fringes on a Harley is kind of like putting lipstick and thick glasses on a linebacker.

Photo via Lara604

• Rainbow: Fronted by the iconic Ronnie James Dio (who later fronted the bands Elf, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell) motorcycles are featured in at least two Rainbow videos: Since You’ve Been Gone and Death Valley Driver. The second, Death Valley Driver masterfully mixes video games, motorcycles, heavy metal and disgruntled youth in that rock video way that defined the early 1980s. Unfortunately, Ronnie James Dio passed away recently, so there isn’t much chance of seeing him on a Harley again. RIP, RJD.

• Judas Priest: Turbo Lover. Great motorcycle scenes in this video, along with one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. Remember back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, back when so many bands were going glam? A lot of us thought there was only one rocker we knew for sure couldn’t be gay: leather clad Priest front man Rob Halford. Oh well, what he does in his personal life is his own business. No one looks more badass belting out heavy metal or sitting on a Harley in biker leather.

• W.A.S.P.: Wild Child. The video makes it clear. When Lawless belts out “I drive the winds that bring the rain,” he’s driving them on a HOG. And let’s face it, if you really want to be a badass wild child, what else would you ride?

• ZZ Top: This band features several of Billy Gibbons’ custom and classic vehicles in their videos, including his custom Harley Davison HogZZilla. While the band is better known for their Ford coupes, like the famous red ’33 in the videos for Legs, Sharp Dressed Man, and Gimme All Your Lovin, Gibbons’ favorite HOG makes plenty of trips to the plate in ZZ Top videos as well.

• Mötley Crüe: We’re not the only ones who first linked motorcycles and sex while watching the Girls, Girls, Girls video, I’m sure. We just wonder if Vince Neil and Tommy Lee’s motorcycle insurance agents got to go along with them to the clubs featured in the video.

Rock n’ Roll and Harley Davison. Put them together and it just doesn’t get any better.

Photo via opethpainter

Big Body

The Dream Big Bike (also called The Monster), built by California native Greg Dunham, definitely isn’t at risk of being missed by passing motorists. With a motorcycle that stands 11 feet, 3 inches tall, and is over twenty feet long, nobody dares cut him off in traffic. As for us, we just wonder what the motorcycle insurance runs on that bad bay.

Big Engine

The Dream Big Bike is powered by a massive 502 cubic inch engine, and kicks out more than 500 horses. Big as it is, it can actually travel on the highway, reaching speeds up to 65 miles per hour. The few who have rode it say that the ride is surprisingly good for such a big bike, and the view is definitely better than anything else on the road.

Big Itinerary

The Dream Big Bike has been shown all over the world, and was a particular hit in England and Germany. Regardless of where you live, though, who can resist a motorcycle that can ride over and crush cars? Bigfoot, eat your heart out, Mr. Dunham’s doing the same stuff on a motorcycle. And nothing could be cooler than that.

Big Sticker Price

You’re probably thinking that there’s no way you could ever own one, but that’s not true. The Dream Big Bike can be purchased for the reasonable price of only $300,000. When it comes down to it, what’s $300K next to having the biggest, bad ass bike at the bar? Well, all right, chances are neither of us will be affording it anytime soon, but it really isn’t that much more than the average house. Good luck getting someone to finance it, though. And the motorcycle insurance would be a killer.

Big Family Friendly

On the other hand, if you have a big family, but don’t want to drive something as terminally uncool as a minivan, the Dream Big Bike just may be the ticket. It has six seats, so the whole family can sit comfortably. You might want to get your order in early, though, as the bike took over three years to build.

Photo via ColumbusCameraOp

We all know that some Middle Eastern countries have some strange laws, a lot of which are pretty restrictive to women, but this one takes it to a new extreme. The entire reasoning behind the law is that women who ride on the back of motorcycles need to hold onto a man’s waist. Well, duh! That’s half of the reason we want to bring the women along in the first place. The other half doesn’t happen on the motorcycle. Well, unless your woman is particularly flexible and adventurous, anyhow.

Here are some of the other heinous crimes your wife or girlfriend would get in trouble for on the Gaza strip, as long as Hamas is running the show:

• Smoking water pipes. I know, most of our women don’t do it anyway, but if she ever wanted to, she can’t. At least not in public.

• Dancing. Strictly forbidden. As if men are going to get turned on by seeing the shapeless forms of completely hidden and veiled women who could just as easily be 80 as 18. Well, OK, maybe they have us on this one. Our imaginations would fill in the missing details if the hips are shaking.

• Swimming. This is allowed, but only if your lady is covered from head to toe, and is wearing a burka. Man, talk about buzz kill. So, if you’d rather see her in a bikini, stay stateside.

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about riding in the Gaza strip region anyway. The truth is it’s kind of a shame that they have so many repressive rules. It’s a beautiful country, with great dessert and mountain roads perfect for riding (if you’re careful of the potholes). Maybe someday, the women over there will be free like the women over here are. We can hope so. For now, though, the men in the Gaza Strip can save on their motorcycle insurance, since there won’t be any front and back riding, at least not with a female.

Photo via chefranden

The sidecar was developed shortly after the motorcycle itself, and continued to be widely used up through the fifties. The rise of the biker image may have had something to do with its downfall. After all, you don’t see many people in leathers riding in a sidecar. Over the course of their history, sidecars have come in several shapes and sizes, but in general they feature a place for a person to sit and a single wheel on one side and a mechanism to attach them to a motorcycle on the other side.

One ambitious sidecar design in the 1930s doubled as a canoe. Plans were made to further develop it, giving it a rudder and other improvements, but alas, they were made in Germany and the late ‘30s brought about World War II, causing the canoe/sidecar to get lost in the shuffle somewhere.

As for us, before we were old enough to ride our own motorcycles, we’d never experienced anything better than the wind in our face and the big motorcycle roaring along next to us. We can’t help wondering if more motorcyclists used sidecars if it wouldn’t attract more people to the motorcycle community, especially young people. If you’re a motorcycle lover and want to bring your kids along, it’s a lot safer than having them ride behind you.

Adding a sidecar doesn’t add much to your motorcycle insurance, if it adds anything at all. This does vary a bit depending on your insurance company, so you’ll want to call them and find out if you do add a sidecar.

If you do decide to get a sidecar for your bike, consider taking your kids out for a long motorcycle trek. There really is nothing quite like the open road in a sidecar with mom or dad on the motorcycle next to you.

Photo via Rigadoon Glass

For the most part, motorcycle riders are a tight group and bond together well. One thing they all have in common is they love to show and tell you their bikes. Another thing they all seem to love is to share their adventures with you. Thanks to blogging, bikers from all over the world, from mechanics to businessmen have united to do just that. These blogs are great examples of what they have to say.

1. Cycle Trader: Articles cover the difference between motorcycles, gatherings and races.
2. For Women Motorcycle Riders: Woman describes how tough it was for her to find good motorcycle riding apparel.
3. Weeks Motorcycle: Provides cycle riders with good advice on how to maintain and repair their bikes.
4. Dirt Rider: Features blogging about dirt riding and motocross news and events.
5. Mbike: Biker community news about events and new motorcycles.
6. Brass Ball Boppers: News and recaps about upcoming and recent biker events. Also includes motorcycle reviews.
7. Cyril Huze Blog: Motorcycle news and reviews of custom motorcycles and companies.
8. Clutch and Chrome: Interesting motorcycle riding articles about celebrities, accidents and road trips.
9. Future Motorcycles: Provides news, photos and background about new concept motorcycles.
10. Bikerholic: Motorcycle blog dedicated to bike fanatics. Includes reviews, new product releases and news stories.
11. Bolty: Motorcycle rider of three years discusses learning experience, biker news, travel and motorcycle events.
12. Chrome and Pearls: A young woman reveals her stories as a bike rider including photography and posts about gear, philosophy, cooking and her personal rants.
13. Hawktane: A young man logs his ride reports and favorite biker rock videos.
14. Pipeburn: Reviews and commentary on new and tricked-out motorcycles. Includes safety tips from guest writers.
15. Road Captain USA: A ride log and general biker story blog by a man who goes by the name of Road Captain.
16. Biker Chick News: Biker chick mom and business professional shares news about events and trips. Blog has tips about properly wearing biker gear.
17. Raven’s Rides: A 39 year old women logs her motorcycle riding trips. Lots of photos.
18. Rippin-Kitten: A young female bike rider started this blog to compile good resources for bikers.
19. Helmet Hair: Tips on motorcycle safety, motorcycle shows and installations and repairs.
20. Cruisin’ Down Under: A biker shares good riding routes in Australia, bike reviews and videos.
21. 2 Stroke Buzz: Industry news for bikers including racing and rallies. Also includes articles on other biker hobbies.
22. Biker Punks: Motorcycle riding and gear tips.
23. Brain Bucket: This blog has over 45,000 news stories, tech articles and product reviews. Also has over 15,000 pictures of rallies, parties and biker chicks.
24. YamYam Biker: A man from Scotland logs his rides and journeys across Scotland. He also does some reviews on bikes and biker gear.
25. Your Bike Life: Updates and news about the world of motorcycling, biking gear and biking laws.
26. Swag’s Rant: A biker documents his rides and shares photos of what he has seen.
27. Electra Glide: This blog is about motorcycle shows and bike runs. Also includes posts about biker safety.
28. Lucas County Choppers: Blog created by four Ohio air traffic controllers who built their own mini-chopper.
29. Biker Radio Magazine: A blog about a biker radio show. Posts announce the latest free radio and some additional commentaries.
30. Motorcycle Philosophy: A man talks about his experience in riding a bike, going to riding events, biker bars and his general philosophy.
31. Northwest Harley Blog: A blog about news biker news in the Pacific Northwest. Includes a ride log and his personal theories.
32. Lily Boys: The editors on this blog refer to themselves as soft-handed bikers who enjoy travel, good food and wine.
33. The Ride Report: A motorcycle rider documents his life on the road with his bike.
34. Bluepoof:  A woman who rides a motorcycle shows off her bike and reviews good campsites for ride destinations.
35. Steady on the Humble: Posts about riding motorcycles in New York City and surrounding area.
36. Tilted Horizons: A self-proclaimed geek from Newark logs his rides with pictures and humorous commentary.
37. J&P Cycles: Various authors provide information about motorcycle parts, tips to maximize performance, and good bike trip locations.
38. Passes and Canyons: A writer blogs about his beautiful bike trips. Documented with photos.
39. Why Bike: A web designer who became frustrated with spam filled motorcycle blogs started his own to offer riding tips and offer his perspective on related issues.
40. Guilty Customs: Information about motorcycle parts and care, plus general commentaries on the world of biking and the United States.
41. Knucklebuster: Devoted to motorcycle repairs and maintenance.
42. Atlas Rider: A young man from the Phoenix area documents his journeys around the U.S. with comments and pictures.
43. Bikes in the Fast Lane: Reviews and information about unique items that relate to motorcycle riding.
44. Knee Slider: In depth ‘how-to’ posts about motorcycles and bike parts.
45. Bike Exif: Pictures and posts about cool look motorcycles.
46. Motorcycle Bloggers: Reviews, tips and comments about motorcycles and racing.
47. The Sidecar: Interesting ‘out of the norm’ articles about peculiar event in motorcycling news.
48. webBike World: Provides statistics about motorcycle riders.
49. Confessions of an Aging Motorcyclist: A biker in his sixties learned to blog and now shares his biking adventures from early in his life.

Image Credits: Luciano Meirelles