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Touring Tip: Discouraging Motorcycle Thieves On The Road

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Written By: RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

As dear old dad was fond of saying, “Locks are mainly to keep honest people honest. A skilled and determined thief will often find a way to overcome locks and alarms.” Having acknowledged that, though, there are many effective strategies for helping to “keep honest people honest” and preventing a theft from ruining your motorcycle touring vacation. Here are some of the best ones that I’ve found, starting with those that are the most obvious:

Lock the bike’s ignition and remove the key
Attach a lock to one of the front brake discs
Use brightly colored locks in easily seen locations so potential thieves will be more likely to see them before approaching the bike
Add an alarm to your motorcycle
At night, park the bike in a lighted area, near the front entrance of the hotel and, if possible, in view of the hotel’s surveillance camera
When stopping for food, if feasible, park the bike where you can see it out the window from your table in the restaurant
If you’re using a chain type of lock, attach it through the spokes of your bike to an immovable object, like a light pole, or to a riding companion’s bike
Remove any unlocked luggage and take it into your hotel room at night
Keep insurance and licensing information on your person, not on the motorcycle
Leave the bike’s title in a safe place at home
Take valuable items, like cameras, into your room at night
Remove electronic gear (GPS, radar detector, etc.) from your bike at night and any other time the bike will be out of your sight for several hours
When trailering a motorcycle, chain-lock it to the trailer, lock the trailer that the bike is hitched to, and back up next to a wall in the evening so your bike cannot be rolled off the back of the trailer
Take a photo(s) of some unique identifying mark(s) or feature(s) on your bike and keep it with you to aid authorities with identification, in case the bike is stolen and later recovered.

With the replacement cost of touring and custom motorcycles climbing to new heights, it only makes sense to take preventative measures that will help protect your investment. And, when you’re on tour in the hinterlands, you don’t want your only mode of transportation to suddenly disappear. The above list isn’t intended to be all-inclusive, but it’s to get you thinking about risks and ways to discourage thieves when you’re on tour. Happy riding.

This article is published with the permission of RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine. It is not for sale or redistribution.

The Lost Art of Getting Lost

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Written By: RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

I used to get lost. A lot. Wrong turns. Missed turns. Plain ol’ curiosity sometimes. I always came out the other side, sometimes a little late, always a little smarter. It was ok because I loved maps. Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed spending time pouring over maps, tracing over windy roads, and imagining what stories they held. Getting lost was just an excuse to take out the map, figure out where I was, and figure out how to get home. And then I got my first GPS, a Garmin eMap. Tiny, low-contrast black and white screen. No turn-by-turn directions. But like I told the kids in the Extremadura in western Spain as the mechanic siphoned the leaded gas from the Aprila Pegaso (don’t ask, long story), “Todo el mundo esta aqui.”

And over time I’ve gotten lost less. And looked at maps less. And bumped into unexpected things less. And discovered things less. And been happily surprised less. You call that progress? Now don’t get me wrong – I love nav systems. Use them all the time. But the screens are still tiny and low resolution compared to a good map, and they don’t really encourage discovery, the kind of “what if we turned down this road?” adventure that I used to love. And they’re not really beautiful – if you want to see some really beautiful maps, check out Raven Maps & Images.

A dear cousin once said to me, “jump and the world will catch you.” It’s not too late to make a New Year’s Resolution, is it? This year, I resolve to get more lost. And I hope that you get lost too.

This article is published with the permission of RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine. It is not for sale or redistribution.

Passenger Car Motor Oils and Motorcycles: Dangerous When Mixed

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Written By: Castrol Motor Oils

When it comes to questions about motorcycle oils, this is the one consumers ask us the most frequently: “Can I use the same motor oil in my motorcycle as I use in my car?” Seems reasonable right? Both have engines that require lubrication and both passenger car and motorcycle oil share some common grades like 10W-40 and 20W-50. So, what do we tell them? Absolutely not. Why you ask?

The key point of difference can be summed up in two words “common sump,” (maybe I should have said “sumped up in two words?”) Motorcycles typically have one, while passenger cars do not. So what does this have to do with the fluid? Simple. A common sump indicates that the lubricant needed to protect vital components in a bike’s engine, gearbox and clutch are contained in one place. Since the fluid is stored in one place, it would stand to reason that there is only one fluid. On the other hand, a passenger car has multiple sumps and thus require multiple fluids (transmission fluid, gear oils, etc.) to protect the same vital components. So, critical components for motorcycles are lubricated with a single fluid, while passenger cars require multiple fluids to protect the same components.

Although motorcycle oils and passenger car motor oil are similar in their composition, the additive packages are balanced differently due to the type of performance and protection they must provide. Since motorcycle oils are lubricating three different components with a single fluid, they require a highly engineered additive package to address the unique requirements of each component. A typical passenger car oil only has to provide protection and performance for the engine of which fuel economy and emission system protection are the key priorities. As such, passenger car oils include friction modifying additives which reduce friction in specific areas of the engine such as the valve train and piston ring/cylinder. The reduction in friction yields fuel economy improvement. Also, passenger car oil contains lower levels of Phosphorus and Zinc. Both of these ingredients must be controlled to adequately protect the vehicles emission system.

Since a motorcycle is inherently more fuel efficient than a passenger car and fuel economy is not as important to the consumer, motorcycle oils do not require the use of friction modifiers. In fact, friction modifiers can affect wet clutch performance. “Wet clutch” simply means that the motorcycle’s clutch is immersed in oil. Should a clutch be immersed in an oil that includes friction modifiers (like a typical passenger car oil), these additives will be absorbed on the clutch plates and as a result, the clutch will start slipping. This will cause a loss of power transfer to the back wheel, overheating as well as increased wear. Motorcycle oils, which do not include friction modifiers, are specially formulated to provide the appropriate level of “grip” to the clutch plates, but still provide the protection needed to ensure proper functioning and years of reliable service to the consumer. In short, friction modifiers are good for passenger car engines but bad for motorcycles.

The other key difference is the level of antiwear additives used in motorcycle oil versus passenger car oil. Motorcycle oils typically require high levels of antiwear additives to provide a protective barrier, preventing metal to metal contact in the transmission gears due to the extremely high loads between the gear teeth. Direct contact of the gear teeth can lead to scuffing or scoring of the gear teeth surfaces while vibrations typical of high revving engines promote fatigue induced damage like pitting. Passenger car oils do not need to lubricate the transmission as there is a separate lubricant (automatic transmission fluid) charged with this task (back to the common sump concept). So, a passenger car oil will not have a high enough level of antiwear additives to lubricate and protect a motorcycle’s gearbox.

In summary, passenger car oils include additives (friction modifiers) that are harmful to motorcycle engine components and don’t include sufficient levels of antiwear additives that your bike needs to function properly. Formulating a motorcycle engine oil means finding the optimum balance between engine protection, clutch performance and gear protection due to a common sump. Conditions which are not considered when formulating passenger car engine oils. So, when choosing an engine lubricant for your bike, select one that is specially formulated for motorcycles. Your clutch and gearbox will thank you and the reward will be years of reliable service. Click here to learn more about Castrol Motorcycle Oil.

Touring Tip: Touring Two-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Part of the enjoyment of motorcycle travel is sharing the experience with others, particularly doing so with non-riding passengers who are experiencing the exhilaration of motorcycling for the first time. Whether it’s a trip around the block or a journey cross-country, it’s important for a rider to properly prepare their passenger, their motorcycle and themselves before departure. The following are the three most essential areas to plan for when touring two-up.

Passenger: Unlike riding in an automobile, the passenger on a bike should be an active participant. Passengers should: (1) wear protective gear; (2) understand how to lean with the motorcycle on turns; (3) be tall enough to reach the passenger pegs; (4) hold on to the rider’s waist or handholds on the bike; (5) avoid sudden movements; (6) keep hands and feet clear of moving and hot components; (7) avoid banging helmets with the rider when stopping and (8) stay relaxed and supple with the bike’s movements.

Motorcycle: Because the bike will be carrying more weight with a passenger, weight distribution, center of gravity, suspension, performance and handling characteristics of the motorcycle all will be affected. Considering these factors, the rider should ensure that: (1) the rear suspension preload is adjusted appropriately for the additional weight; (2) tire pressure also is adjusted for additional weight and (3) the gross vehicle weight limitations specified in the owners manual are not exceeded. And, of course, it goes without saying that the motorcycle should be designed to accommodate a passenger.

Rider: The motorcycle rider must appropriately modify his or her riding technique when touring with the extra weight of a passenger, because: (1) stopping distances will increase; (2) handling will not be as crisp as riding solo; (3) passing distances will increase; (4) cornering clearances may decrease; (5) pressure on the tire’s contact patch will increase and likely reduce traction on wet or loose surfaces; (6) additional weight over the rear tire will likely increase the effectiveness of the rear brake; (7) gusty crosswinds will have more surface area to grab onto; (8) throttle and clutch response will be altered and (9) last, but certainly not least, it’s important to make sure that the passenger is comfortable with the riding pace and that their biological needs are being met. Riders generally should have at least one year of solo riding experience before transporting a passenger. They also must ensure compliance with legal requirements for passengers in the states they will be touring in, such as minimum age and necessary safety gear.

Seeing the country two-up on a motorcycle, with a special someone, can be a wonderful touring experience, but riders must make sure that the proper safety precautions are followed to provide a safe and enjoyable riding experience.

This article is published with the permission of RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine. It is not for sale or redistribution.

RoadRUNNER is a bimonthly motorcycle touring magazine packed with exciting travel articles, splendid photography, maps and GPS files. Subscriptions are available on our website, or by calling (866) 343-7623.

Like A Bike Facebook Photo Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:03:00 +0000

In honor of the American Motorcyclist Association Get Out & Ride month, we’re holding a fan appreciation contest to giveaway five $50 gift cards to help you get out and ride this Spring. Upload a photo of your motorcycle, or one you found on CycleTrader.com for your chance to win a free tank of gas.

Five grand prize winners will each receive a $50 gift card.

Ten second prize winners will each receive a CycleTrader prize pack

Upload a Photo of Your Motorcycle

Touring Tip: Riding In A Proper State Of Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Written By: Jim Parks, RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

It’s been observed that operating a motorcycle is 90% mental and only 10% physical. In addition, scientists tell us that we are not consciously aware of most of what the mind is doing in everyday life. Do you consciously think about breathing or making your heartbeat or which foot operates your bike’s gearshift? Like an iceberg, some 90% of the brain’s activity is taking place below the conscious surface. This may fly in the face of some historic perceptions of motorcyclists as brawny he-men muscling heavyweight cruiser-type bikes down the road.

The predominance of an expert rider’s mind, over his or her physical strength, was never made more clear to me than during a track school day. The students were overwhelmingly males, riding large displacement bikes. They would streak down the track’s straightaway at warp speed, but then almost panic and brake to a near stop before entering the upcoming hairpin curve. This was followed by them riding tentatively around the ensuing chicanes, s-curves and sweepers before again launching into rocket-mode on the straightaway.

Meanwhile, the instructors, one of which was a petite female riding a Suzuki SV650, were passing the students with such ease that the scene was almost comical. Clearly muscle power and physical prowess were not ruling the day and, for that matter, neither was the significantly higher horsepower of the students’ mounts. Through the course of the class, it became painfully obvious (although not in the physical sense) that superior riding skills were mostly due to mental training and focus, not bicep size. The day ended with a cadre of humbled, but wiser and more proficient student riders.

How does this all relate to your next motorcycle tour? The mental aspect of riding a motorcycle safely is of paramount importance, regardless of whether you’re riding to the neighborhood Starbucks or going cross-country. I’ve organized my tips for “riding in a proper state of mind” into the following three categories:

Before the Ride: Similar to going through a mechanical checklist of your bike before riding it, perform a mental status Q & A before hitting the starter button.

Am I fit, relaxed and calm? As noted above, riding a motorcycle proficiently and safely on the street requires a high degree of mental focus. That focus will be impaired if a rider is tired, emotionally upset or mentally distracted with other pressing matters. Make sure you’re rested and able to concentrate on the mental demands of motorcycling.
Have I considered the weather, road and other riding challenges I’m likely to encounter on today’s ride? Mentally project the riding conditions you are likely to encounter during the upcoming day’s ride so you will be mentally (and physically) prepared to deal with them; this also will reduce the likelihood of you encountering unanticipated problems. This is somewhat like an athlete envisioning a winning performance.
Was the last bike I rode different than the one I’m on now? Each motorcycle has its own unique handling and riding characteristics. Once your subconscious mind has been programmed on one bike, it usually stays programmed for that bike, at least for a period of time. Consequently, it’s usually wise not to ride your current mount aggressively, until the reprogramming has taken hold.
Am I preoccupied with thoughts other than those about today’s ride? If your conscious mind becomes focused on something other than the ride, the important external sensory information needed for safe riding is probably being compromised. Your subconscious mind may well know how to operate the motorcycle, but it may not be perceiving and processing possible threats, such as a stray dog running loose, debris in the road, a car entering from a driveway or a hundred other potential risks. Sometimes, distracted riders will automatically slow down, miss a turn, blow a curve or exhibit some other warning signal that lets them know their mental focus is compromised. If this happens to you, or you observe it in a fellow rider, it’s time to take a break and get refocused.
Are riding conditions distracting my concentration? Much of our passion for riding emanates from our experiencing the surrounding environment with all five senses. Those sensory experiences, though, can become mentally distracting if they’re too intense, usually in the form of heat or cold. Riders also can become distracted from physical discomfort, like a full bladder, a headache or some other malady. Riders should identify and eliminate the distraction at the earliest opportunity. Whether it’s stopping to cool down with a cold drink, adjusting layers of clothing, using the restroom or something else, it’s important to alleviate the cause of the mental distraction.

During the Ride: It’s important to monitor your state of mind and how it’s affecting your riding while you’re motoring along. Ask yourself these questions:

This is not to suggest, however, that riding a motorcycle will always be as comfortable as riding in an air conditioned car. It clearly won’t be, but riders should take the actions necessary to minimize physical discomfort when that discomfort is sufficiently high enough to compromise their mental focus. If the discomfort is moderate and not physically threatening, here’s a technique I’ve used quite successfully: just don’t think about it!

Am I in “the zone”? When someone first learns to ride a motorcycle, they have to consciously think about the actions necessary to operate their machine: let out the clutch, twist the throttle, change gears, look through the corner, push on the handlebars, properly apply braking, etc. Before venturing out on the street, however, these actions have to be practiced and become second nature, not requiring any conscious thinking.

To obtain a high level of riding proficiency and safety, however, motorcyclists must substantially expand and refine their basic riding skills. There are literally hundreds of additional techniques to be learned and riders should make progress learning and mastering them every year. Each new skill, whether it is learning how to ride through curves more effectively or adding new street survival skills for avoiding accidents, the process is always the same. Practice the technique until performing it becomes automatic or until it has migrated from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind. Riders always know when they’re riding with their mind, because they get that very pleasurable “Zen” or “in the zone” feeling of effortlessly flowing with the road. If you’re not flowing with the road, figure out why.

After the Ride: To continuously improve your riding and safety skills, it’s important to answer several questions after the ride:

What did I do or not do today that could have led to an accident? At the conclusion of the day’s ride, debrief yourself on whether you made decisions or took actions that increased your risk of an accident. For example, was I riding too aggressively around several blind curves or was there a “close call” that I could have avoided?
What were the lessons learned today for future rides? After your debriefing and self-evaluation, make a mental note of any changes needed to your riding style and strategy that will make you a better and safer rider in the future.

There’s no reason that proficient riding lessons learned have to be learned the hard way. Use your head and ride safe.

Touring Tip: Selecting a Touring Motorcycle

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Written By: RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

You’ve been riding locally for a while, but now want to start taking overnight trips of a much greater distance. Although any motorcycle (and many scooters) can be used for touring, some are much better for this purpose than others. Before the shopping phase of selecting a touring bike can begin, however, there are six fundamental questions you need to ask yourself:

How much can I afford to spend? In addition to the purchase price of the intended new or used bike, you also need to consider the cost of any modifications or aftermarket products needed to make the bike meet your touring needs. For example, if the intended touring bike is a standard (or naked) bike, the cost of installing an aftermarket windshield, luggage, seat, etc. should be added to the purchase price in determining how much the bike will cost.

Will I be riding solo or two-up? Touring with a passenger often translates into needing a more powerful bike with more carrying capacity than touring solo. As a rough guide, a two-up touring bike should have a carrying capacity (riders + gear and luggage) of at least 450 pounds. (GVWR – lbs. wet) and put out 60 hp or more.

What type of roads am I likely to be touring on? This is a key question to answer, because the answer will determine the best type of bike for your touring needs:

Interstate/Mostly Straight Roads: Luxury touring, cruisers, touring cruisers, standards
Twisty/Technical Paved Roads: Sport, sport-touring, standards, dual sports with at least 650cc.
Unpaved Roads: Dual sports with at least 650cc.

These are just general guidelines, because I’ve toured on gravel roads with cruisers and sport touring bikes (although not for a great distance), and I've also ridden cruisers and luxury touring bikes on technical, twisty roads and had a great time.

Do I plan on camping or staying in hotels/motels? If the intended touring bike will be carrying camping equipment, then it obviously will require greater luggage capacity than if you will be staying in accommodations with fixed walls and a roof. Also, it’s helpful for a touring bike taken on camping trips to have external hooks, grommets and other tie-down hardware for strapping-on additional gear externally.

What length of trips am I likely to take, both in terms of number of miles and days? Longer trips impact several of a bike’s key touring attributes discussed in the section below, including carrying capacity, fuel range, and comfort.

What is the maximum seat height of a bike that I can ride safely? Many touring bikes have adjustable seat heights and other bikes can be lowered an inch or so with aftermarket suspension components. Because fully loaded touring bikes are, by nature, heavy, it’s very important that riders not exceed a safe seat height for their particular inseam.

Answering the above questions, will give you a strong basis for evaluating the following key attributes of prospective touring motorcycles:

Reliability: The prospect of a breakdown on a lonely stretch of road far from home can be a most unpleasant experience. For this reason, a touring bike’s reliability is of paramount importance. Select a touring bike with a demonstrated reputation for reliability. If the bike under consideration is used, try to determine the care with which it has been maintained; have a qualified mechanic check it out before purchase. All other things being equal, when evaluating used bikes, less mileage is better than more.

Riding Range Before Refueling: This is somewhat dependent on what type of touring you will be doing and where you’ll be doing it. In highly populated areas, a range of 125-150 miles is probably sufficient. For more remote areas, a bike with a range of at least 175-200 miles should be selected. Auxiliary fuel tanks can extend a bike’s range, but be sure to observe proper safety precautions when transporting additional fuel on your motorcycle. For off-pavement touring in remote areas, it’s probably not possible to have too much fuel.

Carrying Capacity & Type of Luggage: Bigger bikes do not necessarily have more carrying capacity than smaller ones. Therefore, it’s important to calculate each bike’s carrying capacity by subtracting the bike’s wet weight from its GVWR. The amount of carrying capacity needed equals rider(s) weight + riding gear + luggage (and any camping gear). Also, the convenience factor of having lockable hard luggage is an important consideration in selecting a touring bike.

Comfort: A motorcycle’s long distance riding comfort often determines a rider’s level of enjoyment on a trip. Riding comfort is mainly a function of the following:

Wind Protection: Because wind buffeting is more tiring during a long day of riding, and it can increase the risk of hypothermia, wind protection is clearly one of the most important considerations in selecting a touring mount. Fortunately, the aftermarket can help you accessorize rides that don’t come with adequate wind protection from the factory.
Suspension: A bike with an adjustable front and rear suspension will allow riders to dial in the proper settings for the load they will be carrying. Unfortunately, many bikes have suspensions that aren’t adjustable, except possibly for preload and damping in the rear and are sprung too soft. Here again, the aftermarket can help supply solutions.
Seating Position: The ideal seating position for long distance riding is for the rider to be leaned slightly forward with his or her feet positioned under their thighs. Handle bars positioned below the triple clamp and rear set foot pegs put riders in a “jockey position,” which is great for corner carving, but can be quite tiring for the wrists, arms and legs. At the other extreme, the stretched out, laid-back riding position on some cruiser bikes concentrates the rider’s weight on the tailbone, which also can become very uncomfortable on a long-distance ride.
Seating Support: To help keep their motorcycles cost competitive, some manufacturers don’t provide a high quality seat with their new bikes. For multi-day riding, it’s important that a seat have firm support that’s not concentrated in one area. Even a relatively short motorcycle ride usually will reveal any shortcomings in a seat. If your stock seat doesn’t do the job for touring, aftermarket seats can provide a big improvement in long distance comfort. The best solution, however, may be a seat that is custom made both for your bike and your body.

Sportiness: There’s usually a noticeable trade-off between a bike’s sportiness and its comfort and carrying capacity. For example, a sport bike can be a lot of fun for a day of zooming over twisty tarmac, but it may not have the level of comfort and carrying capacity you need for extended trips. If you’re a young and spry sporty rider, who needs only enough luggage to carry fresh underwear, or if you’re older and much less spry, then the decision on what type of touring bike to select is probably not a difficult one. But most of us are somewhere in-between and there are sport-touring, standards, cruisers and other types of models that can meet our individual needs. And it’s worth mentioning that many of today’s larger touring bikes can be pretty agile on all but the most challenging roads. In the final analysis, though, only you can determine what the right mix of sportiness versus comfort will be for your touring expeditions.

Selecting the best bike to meet your needs, unfortunately, is made more complicated by the interactive nature of the considerations discussed above. For example the best motorcycle for your touring needs may be a luxury cruiser, but purchasing a new one may be cost prohibitive. One possible way to navigate through the selection process is to numerically rate each of the considerations. For example, estimate how likely it is that you will need extra carrying capacity for camping or riding with a passenger or how often (and how fast) you’ll be riding technical, twisty tarmac.

Don’t be overly concerned about trying to select the perfect bike to meet your motorcycle touring needs for the next 20 years, because your preferences and the motorcycling hardware offered by manufacturers will likely evolve over time. And who wants to ride the same mount for 20 years anyway?

Shopping for a Used Motorcycle

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Written By: RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

Buying a used motorcycle intelligently requires considerably greater effort than just walking into a showroom and selecting a new one. There are both risks and rewards with a previously owned machine. You can get far more bang for your buck, while letting the original buyer take the big depreciation loss. A used motorcycle purchase can have pitfalls though, so you’ll want to do some homework beforehand.

Before You Buy

Determine realistically what your budget is, and be sure to include money for potential repairs, tax, registration fees, and insurance. Next, choose the category of machine you’d like, such as touring, sportbike, cruiser, naked, sport-touring, or dual sport. Deciding what make, model, and year you want makes searching simpler, but it also could prevent you from finding a great deal on a comparable model.

Once you narrow down what you’re looking for, familiarize yourself with market values. There are price guides with extensive free listings, such as Kelly Blue Book and National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). You can also get a good idea of what models are selling for by looking in large metropolitan newspapers, owner’s club magazines, and CycleTrader.com.

Research the common problems of the models you’re shopping for online (use a search engine such as Google) and by talking with enthusiasts. Some brands and models are very expensive to maintain. Before shopping, familiarize yourself with the cost of replacement parts and labor for service, such as valve adjustments on the specific model. Don’t be in a rush, and try to avoid buying the first bike you see unless it’s truly a great deal.

Too many buyers shop strictly by lowest price. It’s easy to overlook or minimize the amount of work a bike needs and the cost of repairs. Often a more expensive bike in better condition turns out to be the best value in the long run. If you plan to ride regularly for commuting, rather than just occasionally, then a low-mileage machine may make more sense.

Inspection and Test-Ride

Before even going to look at a motorcycle, ask the seller to email some high-quality digital pictures that show overall condition and close-up details in good light. And when you’re ready to go looking, never shop after dark or in inclement weather, as you’re likely to miss issues that would be more obvious in the light of day. Also, even if you are knowledgeable about motorcycles, bring an informed friend for a second opinion. If that’s not possible, find a shop that will do a pre-purchase inspection for you, and get the seller’s permission in advance.

When you go shopping, you’ll want your inspection to identify any signs of wear and tear from use, damage from abuse, crashes, or tip-overs, neglect from skipped maintenance, and exposure to the elements. Some of these potential problems can be determined just by looking, while others will require starting the engine and taking a test-ride.

Ask the seller not to start the bike before you arrive, as starting the bike cold will tell you more about its condition. Check the oil color: honey-colored indicates recently changed; black means old oil and neglect; white milky streaks indicate coolant is leaking into the oil; and metal flecks show major engine damage. Note how readily the engine cranks over and fires up, listen for unusual noises, and look for smoke. Blue smoke indicates oil consumption, while black smoke is from excessive fuel richness. Ask to see all service records and receipts.

Inspect the electrical system, gauges, battery, and lights. Test all accessories, lights, and switches. The sound of the starter cranking (if so equipped) is a fairly good indicator of the condition of both the battery and the starter.

On liquid-cooled bikes, check coolant level and color, but only open the radiator cap when the engine is cool. Coolant should be green, not rusty or murky brown, which is a clear sign of neglect. Oil in the coolant probably means major internal damage. Also, no coolant is very bad.

Many sellers will let you test the bike if you ride a motorcycle there, behave seriously and responsibly, inspect the bike thoroughly first, and have the money to buy. Do a pre-ride safety check and then take it for a careful test. Feel how the clutch engages – does it chatter or slip? Does it fully release when squeezed? Also note how the transmission operates – be on the lookout for false neutrals, hard shifting, noise, and jumping out of gear. Apply the brakes and push down on the suspension, noting how it responds. Test the brakes and controls for lever response and effectiveness. Without a test ride you can’t check these items properly.

On belt-drive bikes, check the condition of the belt and pulleys. On shaft-drive bikes, look for signs of oil leakage, and listen for noise when you test ride it. If the bike has chain drive, check the condition of the chain and sprockets. When stopped, grab the chain at the rear-most point, on the rear sprocket, and pull backward. If you can pull it off the sprocket enough to expose half of a sprocket tooth or more, it’s worn out. Hooked sprocket teeth require replacement.

If the handlebar seems out of alignment with the front wheel or anything looks crooked, the bike has probably been crashed. Check for problems such as a cracked or bent frame, fork, or swingarm. Also, inspect forks and shocks for leaks, scratches, rust, and bending. Look for changed or mismatched colors, damaged handlebars, mirrors, clutch/brake levers or turn signals. Be aware of dents or scrapes in the gas tank or exhaust, and broken or cracked plastic panels (sometimes covered by stickers). Additional signs of crashing are parallel scratches on engine cases, frame, fenders, and fairings.

Plating, paint, and bright work are very expensive to replace, and corrosion can cause all sorts of problems. Faded and weathered paint, decals, seats, gauges, and windscreens, plus rust, and pitted chrome and aluminum show that a bike was left uncovered, outdoors, for long periods. Peek inside the tank with your flashlight for rust and sediment, and sniff for stale gas, which smells like old varnish. If the gas is old and the bike doesn’t run well, it’ll need a thorough fuel-system service.

Check tires for cracks, tread depth and age. Look at both sides of both wheels for dents, cracks and damaged spokes. See if they wobble when turned. Tires should be replaced after five or six years, so be sure to inspect the date code, which is indicated by the last four digits following the DOT stamp on the sidewall. The third and forth digits from the end reference the week, while the last two digits indicate the year of manufacture. For example a date code of 2409 means the 24th week of 2009. Items such as tires, batteries, chains and sprockets are readily replaced and shouldn’t be deal-breakers, but their price with labor should be deducted.

Aftermarket parts such as hop-up kits, loud racing exhausts, rubber chunks around rear tires, etc. may indicate abuse. Holes drilled through the heads of bolts for safety-wire on brake caliper bolts, exhaust, engine, or drain plugs, show it was a race bike – which likely means lots of wear and tear.

Before purchase, ask about everything related to the bike, including keys, any free or included spare parts, plus the toolkit, owner’s manual, service manual, etc. Keep notes of all the pros and cons of each bike you look at and take photographs too. List the problems you find, and then use these in negotiating a good price, if necessary.

Buyer Beware

Try to shop locally. If a used motorcycle is far away, then it’s difficult to inspect the machine prior to purchase, and it’s costly to transport it. Sellers often optimistically rate the condition of their machine, but when you inspect the bike, it may be nowhere near as good as you expected. If you’ve traveled far, the effort expended could coerce you into making a purchase.

Consider what travel expenses and/or shipping costs will add to the purchase price. If you know someone who lives near the seller, ask if s/he will inspect it for you and verify the condition before you buy it.

Any time something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Often, the reason a bike is priced inexpensively is because it has serious problems. If there aren’t mechanical issues, it may have a salvage title, which could indicate major damage, or even stolen property with forged paperwork. Also, in some states, the buyer may be left with expensive penalties and renewal fees for an expired registration.

Before money changes hands, carefully compare the VIN on the frame and engine, to the VIN on the title. Verify that there’s a clear title in the name of the seller, without any lien holders, and get a signed bill of sale. Check the mileage recorded on the title, and also note if the indicated mileage is consistent with the bike’s condition.

As for the seller, know whom you’re dealing with. Ask to see a photo driver’s license, and compare the name and address to that on the title. Get a phone number and an actual address (not a PO box number), and then verify the information. Also watch out for scams, such as when a seller asks you for a substantial deposit up front and then disappears. It may seem like a nuisance, but the effort you expend now will pay big dividends later when you’ll be enjoying the long life-span of your used bike.

Vintage Bike Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Written By: GearHead.com

So you’ve just purchased a motorcycle that is as old as you. There is nothing quite like the feeling of riding a vintage motorcycle, however not all those old machines run like they used to, especially if it’s been sitting in someone’s shed for several years. First follow the steps on the Spring Clean post and then follow these additional tips for owning an older bike:

Manual: Buy a repair manual for your specific bike. It will pay for itself in the money you will save doing repairs and will be invaluable with diagrams, pictures, and information about your bike.

Cables and Brakes: Brakes and cables can and will fail if they have not been properly maintained. Many older bikes use only mechanical brakes, while others use hydraulic brakes. If yours uses cables, pay particular attention to where the cable is exposed and has the most degree of movement such as where it’s attached to the lever and where it’s attached to the brake arm. If there are any frayed strands of wire coming off the cable anywhere, replace with an OEM motorcycle part. If the cable seems sticky at all, go ahead and replace it. You can also use some light oil (30 weight or less) and lube the cables. To do this tape a funnel to the top of the cable and then slide the cable up and down in the housing to work the oil down the inside of the cable. It’s a good idea to inspect the brakes hardware as well. Check caliper boots and seals for cracks and put a tiny dab of grease on the drum brake cam (don’t put too much on as you don’t want it to get anywhere else) for smooth operation.

Fuses: Most older bikes use the glass style fuses and these can become corroded with time and weather and do not conduct as well. In some cases the metal caps separate from the glass body of the fuse. If they look at all in bad shape, replace them, especially since it will only cost you a few bucks to replace all of them. Always keep a couple spare fuses in your tool kit as well.

Carburetor: If the bike has been sitting for a while, it doesn’t hurt to do a thorough cleaning of the carb. Using the manual you purchased in step one, disassemble the carb paying particular attention to the slide, main and secondary jets, all passages, float bowl (especially the bottom where the main jet pulls fuel), and the float valve. Be especially careful that everything is clean when reassembling as even a small piece of dirt can cause problems with the float valve. It’s always a good idea to put a clear plastic inline fuel filter on the gas line going to the carburetor. This will protect your carburetor from foreign contaminants and also tell you what condition your gas tank is in. When going through the carburetor, be sure to get a carb rebuild kit and replace all the gaskets and seals. Always use OEM parts when replacing carburetor parts such as gaskets and jets. Check the float valve for wear. If there is a noticeable wear line or you have problems with fuel coming out of the overflow tube, replace it with a float valve that has a rubberized tip. If your carb uses vacuum actuated slides, check the diaphragms for holes or cracking.

Gas tank: Fuel tanks on older bikes are notorious for having cancerous rust. Remove the fuel cap and inspect the inside of the tank thoroughly for rust. If there is rust, there are treatments available such as Kreem, which treats the rust and then coats the inside of your tank with a plastic type coating. This type of treatment can be very effective even on pretty rusty tanks. If it’s really bad, you may want to look at finding a replacement tank from a salvage yard.

Seat: While not always a critical issue, many seat pans on older bikes can be very rusty due to water getting trapped in the foam and sitting on metal for long periods of time. Check the seat for cracks in the vinyl and remove or lift up the seat and inspect the underside for rust. Aftermarket seat covers are readily available online but a new seat pan may be more difficult to track down. Your best bet for a pan would be a salvage yard.

Spark plugs: Check the spark plug(s) for signs of engine problems and replace or clean if necessary. They will tell you a lot about the condition of the engine. Make sure the gap is set correctly according to your repair manual. Also check plug wires for cracks or wear and replace if necessary.

Air filter: Check the air filter and clean/replace if necessary. Paper filters are generally not very serviceable other than blowing off with compressed air, so replace if you can’t see light coming through it.

Hoses: Hoses tend to get brittle and crack after years of use. Inspect all fuel lines and breather tubes for cracks and replace if hose is stiff or brittle at room temperatures. Also check coolant hoses and oil lines for cracks, leaks, and signs of wear.

In conclusion, always use genuine OEM factory motorcycle parts for critical parts so you know they will be up to factory specs and fit perfectly. If you’re not sure where to get parts from, check out the post on buying motorcycle parts. Have fun and be safe!

May the Parts Be With You

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Written By: GearHead.com

So you noticed on your last ride, that your fairing was a little looser than normal, your tachometer stopped working, and that a blinker light was out. After a closer post ride inspection, you’ve found a couple bolts have rattled loose from the fairing, the tachometer cable finally bit the dust, and the drive sprockets and chain are due for replacement. So now that you know what you need to replace, where do you go from here? When it comes to purchasing a part for your ride, there are several things to consider:

Local vs. Online?

If you need to get and ride today and have a critical repair, then a local motorsports shop is probably your best ticket. If it’s something that can wait a few days to repair, then an online parts dealer may be a better option since you will most likely be able to find cheaper prices. Typically online motorcycle parts stores offer a larger selection of parts, a low price guarantee on parts, and free shipping if you spend a certain amount.

New vs. Used?

Sometimes if you’re searching for a vintage bike, part, or a particular piece that isn’t manufactured anymore such as a gas tank or seat, you may be forced to look for other routes. One place to look is a motorcycle salvage yard if there is one in close proximity. These are a great place to pull parts for old bikes, unfortunately, they are not as common unless you live in a larger city. Many local dealers even have an online parts store to showcase inventory they are liquidating. If you can’t find the part you’re looking for, you can search motorcycle classifieds such as CycleTrader.com for a parts bike.

OEM vs. Aftermarket

You’ve seen OEM on parts websites before or in your dealership and you’ve bought aftermarket parts, but what exactly is the difference? OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and represents any product that is actually used or was used for a particular bike straight from the factory. So if you purchase a part that is a genuine OEM Honda motorcycle part, you can be rest assured that the part will fit your motorcycle exactly. Conversely, aftermarket parts are any non-factory parts that are made to fit that bike, but are not the designated as an official Honda (or other brand) replacement part. Aftermarket parts may not always be as durable or fit quite as well, but they are usually less expensive than OEM equivalent. Many times aftermarket parts are just as good, or better than OEM, so it’s important to do some research on that part or manufacturer before a purchase. Usually you’re safe with buying aftermarket parts for maintenance items and parts that wear out often such as chains, tires, sprockets, brake pads, etc., but the adage, “You get what you pay for”, usually rings true with regard to parts.

In summary, if you want to make sure you get the exact fit replacement part at the best price, always buy genuine OEM parts from an online parts store. If you’re okay sacrificing on quality and guaranteed fit in order to save some cash, then aftermarket might be the route for you. If you can’t find an OEM or aftermarket part, check out a salvage yard. Have fun and ride safe!

Spring Clean – Dusting Off Your Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Written By: GearHead.com

So while winter may not quite be over yet, most of us are getting pretty antsy to blow off the dust on our bikes and get out and ride. We’ve put together a list of some of the most important items to check before pulling your bike back onto the pavement. Whether you went through the efforts to winterize your motorcyle or not, we’ve got you covered in this short guide on getting your bike ready to hit the streets the minute that old man winter disappears.

Change the oil: Whether you changed the oil or not before you parked it for the winter, chances are the existing oil has been in there for close to 3 months or more, so a fresh oil change is always a good idea to make sure everything is in top condition. Stick with the recommended oil weight for your bike and change the filter along with the oil change. If you live in a particularly cold climate, you may consider getting winter grade oil depending on riding temperatures where you live.

Tube and lube check: First make a visual inspection of all your fuel, hydraulic, coolant, and oil lines on your bikes. Keep an eye out for cracked or frayed hoses, drips, bulges, or anything irregular looking about any of the lines. If there is anything leaking or that looks amiss, make sure to replace hoses and lines with only OEM motorcycle parts so you know they will fit exact and be up to specs. Check your brake and clutch fluid reservoirs (don’t forget about slave reservoirs) and make sure they are topped off and the fluid is not sludgy and dark.

Check your rubber: Some tires loose air over time and chances are, your tires may be a little low. Check to make sure you’re at the right amount of air pressure in each tire and also check the tire for signs of wear (flat spots, metal belts showing in tread, cracking, dry rot, etc.). If your tires are completely flat when you check your bike, look for any foreign objects in the tire such as nail or screw that may have caused the air leak.

Clean: There’s probably a bunch of dust, leaves, grime, families of mice, and who knows what else living in and around your bike. Give your bike a good wash with the hose if the weather is cooperative and avoid the tail pipe and electrical component with high water pressure. There are many engine cleaners and solvents to help you get everything sparkly. Give it a good wipe down afterwards and then a light coat of wax on the painted surfaces will not only help protect it, but give it a sparkling shine.

Battery: Hopefully you disconnected the battery before parking your bike for the winter or put it on a battery tender. If not, your battery may be dead or worse, frozen and kaput. If the latter is the case, you may need to cowboy up and order a new battery.

Coolant: If your coolant hasn’t been flushed for a couple years, now would be a good time to do a coolant flush and top it off. If you don’t want to change the coolant, it’s not a bad idea to check the coolant with a floating ball type antifreeze tester since spring temps can still dip below freezing in many areas.

Air filter: if you cleaned/changed it before you parked it for the winter, you should be good to go. If not, clean your filter with a good cleaner/degreaser and filter cleaner or if you have the paper type filter and it’s too dirty to see light through, blow it off with compressed air or replace it with an OEM filter.

Drive train: Check sprockets for excessive wear and drive chain/belt for wear/cracks. If your bike is shaft driven, inspect u-joints and lube drive shaft and zerks if possible and check rear gear case fluid. Check your motorcycle chain or belt for proper tension and adjust or replace if necessary.

Brake Check: Check brake pads/shoes for excessive wear and check disc/drum for scoring or irregularities. Inspect hardware and calipers for wear or irregularities (bent, broken, or missing parts). Replace brake pads with a good aftermarket brand and any hardware with OEM parts.

Ride: This is the most important step after you’ve gotten your bike out of hibernation and are ready to hit the road. So go for a ride. Have fun and ride safe!

Motorcycle Lubrication – A Difficult Task

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Written By: Castrol Motor Oils

A modern four stroke motorcycle is one of the toughest applications for a lubricant. Today’s complex multi-cylinder engines are amazingly high revving, with some road going units now routinely approaching 16,000 rpm. Just for the sake of comparison, your typical passenger car will operate at roughly 1,800 rpm. The oil operating temperatures in a modern motorcycle engine are 20-30°C higher than in cars, with air cooled engines running as much as 50-60°C hotter. On the other hand, a motorcycle sump is considerably smaller than what would be found in the average passenger car. Most motorcycles have a common sump, which means the same fluid that lubricates the engine must also provide lubrication for the clutch and gearbox.

Join us on a journey through the critical zones of your engine and see how motorcycle oil is formulated to protect and ensure proper functioning of each vital component.

Oil first enters your engine through the sump, which is a chamber that holds the fluid. Motorcycle oils must have a detergent, dispersant and antioxidant additive system designed to cope with very high sump temperatures. It’s then splashed onto the cam and lifters where in provides a protective barrier between these two surfaces preventing metal to metal contact. It then encounters the piston and rings, where it clings to the surfaces to lubricate yet maintain compression - despite the forces that are trying to tear it apart. Oils with insufficient high temperature deposit control and antioxidant performance can rapidly lead to severe engine problems due to stuck piston rings and excessive thickening that makes oil flow through the engine difficult. This will lead to deposit build up, increased wear, overheating and ultimately, engine failure.

Lubrication of the wet clutch is a very critical. The clutch systems of modern motorcycle engines are designed like the engines – very compact, high performance and highly stressed. They consist of a series of individual clutch plates, separated by rings with springs squeezing them together. When the clutch is activated, the rings are pulled apart allowing them to slip, breaking the power connection between the engine and gearbox and enable shifting. Once released, the plates spring back together generating an enormous amount of heat. The engine oil must have a balanced friction coefficient in order to guarantee the correct grip between clutch plates and avoid slippage – and also allow smooth engagement / disengagement of the clutch without “shudder” or “stick slip”.

The last critical zone encountered by your motorcycle oil is the gearbox – where high precision meets high stress. Lubrication of the gearbox is based on different principles with respect to the engine. Extremely high loads between the gear teeth can shear the oil, reducing its viscosity, if it is not shear stable. The same oil that has been put to torture tests in the engine and clutch now must cling to the surface of the gear teeth, providing a protective barrier and preventing metal to metal contact of meshing gears. Direct contact of gear teeth can lead to scuffing or scoring of the surfaces, while vibrations typical of high revving engines promote fatigue-induced damage like pitting. All of these conditions will impact the performance of your bike and cause significant damage to your gear box.

Formulating motorcycle engine oils means finding optimum balance between conflicting requirements.

1 .From the engine zone, the high stresses of mechanical loading, high piston speeds and combustion temperature – as well as the need to maintain high oil flow under all conditions.

2. From the clutch zone, the need for cooling – as well as the ideal balance between slip and grip for smooth & reliable operation.

And 3, from the gearbox zone, the need to fortify the oil to combat shearing and sliding forces – and protect precision components against wear.

All engine oils have a difficult task. But, motorcycle engines oils have by far the most difficult.

For more information about Castrol's premium line of high performance engine lubricants and bike care products, please visit Castrol.com.

Basic Dirt Bike Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Written By: Dennis Kirk

Taking proper care of your dirt bike is the best way to ensure that it continues to run smoothly so you can spend more time riding and less time in the repair shop.

One often overlooked aspect of maintaining your dirt bike is keeping it clean. Always make sure to clean your bike after a race or trail ride. If your bike is covered in dirt you can’t see loose screws or leaks. Leaving your bike covered in mud, dirt, and water can also lead to corrosion.

Once you are done cleaning your bike you should lubricate your chain to prevent rusting. Put your bike on a stand and spray the chain with lubricant while spinning the rear tire. While you are doing this check the tension of your chain to make sure it is not too loose or too tight.

Cleaning your air filter regularly is another important aspect of maintaining your dirt bike. Use a filter cleaner to clean the air filter between uses. If you don’t, your filter will become too dirty and allow dirt to get into your engine. It will also help your bike perform better. You might want to keep a spare air filter to use while the other is drying if you ride frequently.

Other important aspects you should check between uses:

Tires: Check the pressure and make sure there are no punctures. You can fix small punctures using a tire repair kit.

Fluids: Make sure oil and coolants are at the proper levels.

Brake pads: Check your brake pads for signs of wear. If they are getting thin you should change them.

Dennis Kirk offers all the products you need to keep your bike in perfect riding condition. Check out Dennis Kirk’s huge selection of dirt bike products ready to ship today.

Dominion Powersports Solutions Announces Online Marketing Webinar

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Norfolk, VA -- March 20, 2012 -- Dominion Powersports Solutions is gearing up for a new webinar that will focus on innovative online marketing strategies for dealership events. This is the second of Dominion Powersports’ new Pulse Webinar Series, which provides dealerships with sales, marketing, and service best practices. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at 2 pm EST. Guest speakers will include CycleTrader Social Media Specialist Fred Rose, PowerSports Network Marketing Manager Laura Reinders, and VoxBloc Social Rewards Director Patty Dao.

Dealership events are an essential part of a dealership’s marketing strategy. Pre-event marketing for poker runs, charity rides, and bike nights is vital to drive attendance. Dominion Powersports Solutions’ webinar will discuss a variety of innovative strategies to improve the quality of online marketing for dealer events. Participants will learn effective online practices for inviting current and future customers to their events. Using photos and videos more effectively to increase response to the dealership’s products and services will also be discussed.

CycleTrader Social Media Specialist Fred Rose said, “Dealers will gain insight into the best new ways to promote their dealership through email marketing and social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.”

The webinar is free; however, space is limited. Those interested in attending should register online.

About Dominion Powersports Solutions

Dominion Powersports Solutions, headquartered in Norfolk, VA, is a leading network of world-class business solutions for powersports dealers:

• ZiiOS – The industry’s leading cloud DMS lets dealerships manage all the moving parts of their dealership anytime, anywhere.

• PowerSports Network – Top OEMs and dealers trust PowerSports Network for web, e-commerce and mobile solutions.

• CycleTrader.com – Over 12.6 million unique visitors come to the nation’s leading marketplace every year for new and used motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft and snowmobiles.

• Traffic Log Pro – Traffic Log Pro’s web-based CRM and Dealership Call Center platforms help dealers drive sales productivity, improve closing ratios and create customers for life.

• Dominion Insights – Get real-time analytics and benchmarks with Dominion Insights.

How to Choose a Dirt Bike Helmet

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:11:00 +0000

A helmet is one of the most important protective items you can wear while riding your dirt bike, but not all helmets are created equally. Choosing the right helmet can make a difference in the protection you receive during an accident and comfort during your ride. Before shopping for your next helmet be sure to keep the following factors in mind:

Certifications: Make sure the helmet meets safety standards by looking for DOT or Snell safety ratings. Snell ratings are considered more stringent than DOT ratings so helmets baring a Snell sticker often provide better protection and have been through more thorough testing.

Helmet Type: There are three types of off road helmet: full face, open face, and motocross. A full face helmet will cover your whole face and head; while the open face helmet covers just the top portion of your head, leaving your face and chin exposed. The preferred choice of most riders is the motocross helmet. This type of helmet covers most of your face and has a strong piece to protect your jaw. When paired with goggles to protect the eyes, motocross helmets offer strong protection as well as ventilation not offered by full face helmets.

Fit: Making sure your helmet fits right is another important aspect of buying a helmet. Helmets that don’t fit correctly hinder comfort, visibility and protection. Be sure to measure your head and pay close attention to the manufacturers sizing information. Check out Dennis Kirk’s helmet sizing tips for more tips on helmet fit to ensure you pick the right helmet for your head.

Dennis Kirk offers a full range of all types of dirt bike helmets with many different safety ratings. Check out Dennis Kirk’s huge selection of brand name helmets ready to ship today.

Are You Heading To Sturgis?

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:10:00 +0000

The motorcycle rally season in America is about to kick off with Daytona Bike Week in March. Daytona tends to kick off the season and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August winds it down.

Are you one of the lucky ones and going to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally? If so you'll be in for a wild weekend of rocking concerts, amazing food, and incredible custom bikes. One of the main reasons myself and most motorcyclists choose to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally isn't the food or the concerts but to ride through some of America's most beautiful landscape. Day rides from Sturgis, South Dakota can take you anywhere—through the Badlands, Devil's Tower, Spearfish Canyon, and Mount Rushmore. All you need is your helmet (or not), your bike and maybe a GPS!

The topography of South Dakota offers motorcyclists vastly different riding opportunities. To the east of the Missouri River, motorcyclists can experience low rolling hills, winding roads, and pristine lakes formed by glaciers a long time ago. To the west of the Missouri River, motorcyclists can ride through deep canyons, stone pyramids, eroded landscape, and rolling plains. Here is a small sampling of some of the many exciting day rides from Sturgis.

Badlands Loop Road

The Badlands National Park is in the southwestern corner of South Dakota and home to some incredible views of eroded landscape and wildlife. Interstate 90 bikers will find the 40 mile east west loop road a great way to take in the scenery and enjoy the majesty of South Dakota. If you do choose to ride through the Badlands, use extra caution. Animals are almost always near the roads and always on the move in the morning and late afternoon, which can be dangerous for oncoming motorcyclists.

Spearfish Canyon

Located just 46 miles from Rapid City, there isn't a more beautiful area in the United States. The canyon runs through the Black Hills about 10 miles from Deadwood, an old mining town. Now it is a pristine pine forest and meadow with some incredible views, amazing waterfalls, camping grounds, and unique wildlife.

Devil's Tower

You'll need to cross the Wyoming border for this one, but believe me it is worth the trip! This massive tower rises 5,112 feet above sea level and is the first National Monument designated by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. Once you are there, you can hike around the base of the 1267 foot tower of volcanic rock or just park your bike and enjoy the view. From Sturgis you can ride the Lasso, a 110 mile loop that takes you into a most unique area of Wyoming, through the Devil's Tower, and back again.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is one of the most popular national monuments. Completed in 1941, this amazing granite sculpture depicts the faces of 4 of our most famous presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Bikers attending Sturgis can visit this unique monument firsthand when they ride in the Mayor's Ride which takes place Monday August 6th. The Mayor of Sturgis leads riders on an amazing ride from downtown Sturgis to Mount Rushmore National Memorial to Custer State Park and back!

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is not just the rides but the events too. There are numerous organized fund-raising events with rides, concerts, vendors and there is even some great wine tasting in the area. My personal favorite is Prairie Berry Winery, not far from Mount Rushmore. Check out the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally website for more info.

Wherever you choose to ride, whether you are riding in from California, Florida or North and South Dakota if you are injured on your way or while at Sturgis, you need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side. Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys are aggressive legal advocates for all bikers who are injured. We understand motorcyclists because we ARE motorcyclists. As such, we fight to ensure that you are treated fairly, that your rights are always protected, and that you receive the maximum compensation to which you are entitled. Call us today at 1-800-4-BIKERS.

When to Buy Dirt Bike Tires

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Written By: Dennis Kirk

Unlike street bikes where worn out tires are characterized by the wearing of the tread or bald spots, determining when you might need new tires for your Trail or Dirt Bike isn’t so straight forward.

Typically, riding off road, dirt tracks or trails, doesn’t wear your tires down like pavement riding does, so careful examination of your tires is required to decide if you need to replace them or not. Obvious things to look for are missing knobs that may have popped off while riding rugged terrain.

The most common wear sign though, is the rounding of the corners on the squared knobs. The more rounded these knobs become, the less grippy the tires will be. MX riders generally switch their tires out after each race, knowing that any slight rounding of these knobs will reduce grip to the track and slow them down.

For maximum control, it’s generally a good idea to switch out both tires at the same time vs. replacing just one. Whether you are looking for race, trail or street riding, Dennis Kirk has all the tires you could possibly wish for. Thousands of tires in stock and ready to ship today. All the top brands. Search now with the nifty Tire Finder from Dennis Kirk.

Cutting Corners on Motorcycle Insurance Can Really Hurt Your Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Written By: Rob Fleming

I was talking with friend of mine who had built a new sexy custom Harley chopper a few months ago, and he was in a rage fighting his insurance company after he was hit on his motorcycle. It seems that he under reported the value of the motorcycle to get a lower insurance rate, but what he didn’t know was when his new custom Harley Chopper was totaled in the accident his insurance company would refuse to pay out $60,000.00 for a motorcycle he claimed was only worth $45,000.00 at the time he bought his motorcycle insurance.

After dropping so much money on new custom motorcycle, it just doesn't make sense to cut corners on motorcycle insurance when all it takes is one motorcycle accident to total your bike and leave you with a pile of broken parts.

The smartest thing to do is make sure you and your bike are fully covered for all the most common situations in your area. If you live in a rural area adding an animal comprehensive to your policy is a wise option, all it takes is one deer or other large animal to dart out in front of you to start a nightmare. One of the most important things to remember is you always want to include under and uninsured motorist coverage. Working for Russ Brown Motorcycle Crash Attorneys has taught me that this is very important. Many bikers call in, they have been in an accident and the other person had very little insurance. The first question we ask is do you have uninsured/ under-insured coverage. If you say 'NO', you may be limited in the money you can recover from your motorcycle accident.

Owning an expensive or custom motorcycle can hurt your wallet when it comes to purchasing motorcycle insurance, but it is defiantly better to pay a little more each month in premiums than get stuck with shelling out money to fix your motorcycle because you don't have enough or the right kind of motorcycle insurance.

Don’t take chances with the first insurance policy quote you get, ask a lot of questions and shop around. The last thing you want is to get hit on your bike and find out later you aren’t covered.

You can even trim some of the cost of your insurance by bundling your auto, home and life insurance to include your motorcycle. Another way to save some money on those monthly premiums is by taking an approved motorcycle rider safety course.

If you are confused on what all of the insurance terms mean and what amount of coverage is the right amount for you, your motorcycle and potential passengers, you can check out your state's insurance department website, they have valuable tools and resources that will help you understand the legal jargon and what each level of insurance actually covers. If you have any questions regarding your motorcycle insurance policy talk to your insurance agent!

Living Legends In The Motorcycle Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Written by Rob Flemming

Ever think about what a legend is, and what makes something a legend? If you look up the word legend in your favorite dictionary, the word legend means a recount of history that is popular, but has not been verified as true. Some call them folk tales or lore, but whatever you choose to call them, some of these stories that have been handed down through the years have helped to shape and strengthen their place within the world they live in. If you ask anyone who rides a motorcycle what they think about the living legends within the motorcycle culture the will tell you that the stories about the forefathers of the motorcycle and the culture they helped create are real and not fairy tales or lore.

If it wasn’t for William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, the name Harley Davidson and the Harley Davidson motorcycle would be absolutely meaningless to the world and motorcycle culture as it is lives to day might not even exist as all! The rich heritage of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company started in 1903 with their first motorcycle; a design that would soon become the standard for American motorcycles, the leader in engineering and the focus of other motorcycle manufacturers who would spend their collective lifetimes tying to recreate a motorcycle that could stand up to the quality, design and engineering of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

From their humble beginnings, the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company only had one simple goal, to design and build the finest motorcycle possible, and while they were slow in attracting the attention of the general public, it was long until this proud symbol of American engineering, design and craftsmanship was the talk within working class circles and the envy of those who didn’t own one.

The Harley Davidson Company didn’t waste any time with production of their motorcycles, and by 1914 the first V-Twin engine was released, and ever since it has been often duplicated in look but never surpassed in engineering, or quality. The value and service quality of the motorcycle became very attractive to police and law enforcement and by 1908 the first Harley Davidson Police Motorcycle was sold and delivered to the Detroit Police Department. It wasn’t long until Harley Davidson was shipping their police duty motorcycles to law enforcement agencies and municipal service bureaus nation wide.

The Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company and their employees are hard working people; they took pride in the quality and craftsmanship that went into each and every piece on every motorcycle. With the threat of war approaching the United States, the company expanded to include a division dedicated to research, design and production of motorcycles for use by the military.

As the heroic tails of the military men who rode the Harley motorcycle in defense of the country were reported in the local newspapers, newsreels and on the radio, there was mad rush by men all across the nation to purchase a Harley. Maybe it was a patriotic gesture or just maybe the trill and excitement that was depicted in those newsreels and reports was just too much and they wanted to experience the feeling of being in the wind for themselves.

In short time the Harley Davidson motorcycle was involved in racing, breaking speed records, and you could see stuntmen performing death defying acts in traveling carnivals, sideshows and even the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baily circus had a act with stuntmen riding Harleys that drew in large crowds, oh and lets not forget the men who bought their Harleys to spend the weekends traveling the back roads of America for nothing more than pure relaxation!

By the end of WWII men where coming home from the war and they bought surplus military Harleys, formed clubs and added another stitch into the fabric that made the motorcycle culture a living lifestyle. There were rebels that were depicted in Hollywood films, weekend warriors, and just hard working men and women who worked hard all day and played hard atop their Harleys. There was so much to do and see riding your Harley, groups and individuals were making runs to motorcycle events and rally’s, owners groups were springing up everywhere, and motorcyclists were gathering to discuss important issues and ideas and all the while this motorcycle lifestyle was rapidly growing and spreading across the nation and even as far as Europe and other parts of the world.

The motorcycle industry and the motorcycle lifestyle grew rapidly and with this new growth many new businesses such as parts and accessories manufactures, custom motorcycle builders, painters, and many other service companies were born to meet the needs of motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry.

There were a few financial ups and downs for the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company and the motorcycle industry in general, especially during the great depression. This didn’t dissuade Harley Davison, and when they had to they simply tightened the collective belt and circled the wagons and worked through those hard times as best they could. With a thriving division serving law enforcement and municipal agencies, the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company worked through economic hardships.

After 108 years the Harley remains the leader in the motorcycle industry, with their innovative engine designs, feel and unique engine rumble that has been duplicated by rival motorcycle manufacturers, but just isn’t the same.

The legend of the world’s finest motorcycle wasn’t created solely by the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company, it was a compilation of over 108 years of hard work in design and engineering, the men and woman who embraced the Harley as more than a two wheeled transportation vehicle and incorporated into their lives until a new lifestyle was born, and so the legend lives on through the men and women who choose to ride nothing but a Harley Davidson Motorcycle.

The 1970’s found Attorney Russ Brown as another member of the motorcycle culture; Russ just always loved motorcycles. Going to UCLA and majoring in marketing Russ graduated and made his way into corporate America, and sadly it was wasn’t long until Russ decided he just wasn’t happy and longed for something meaningful to do with his life. Russ went back to college and was on his way to earning a degree in law.

While practicing law Russ discovered that injured motorcyclists were not being treated fairly by insurance claims adjusters. He found that many times less than honest tactics were used to settle injury claims out of court and this infuriated him, so from that point his law practice was focused at helping protect the rights of motorcyclists who became victims of motorcycle accidents.

The motorcycle community embraced Attorney Russ Brown, because he just wasn’t some lawyer trying to make money off of the misfortune of injured biker, but rather he was a lawyer who also rode and lived the motorcycle lifestyle and understood the issues a motorcyclist who was injured in a motorcycle accident faced. Russ knew he could help these bikers, and this further helped his acceptance within the motorcycle community. Because Russ was the only Attorney representing motorcycle accident victims at the time, his law firm was able to help many bikers secure damages after being hit on their motorcycles. Being the victim of motorcycle accident himself, Russ knows first hands the ordeal of being hit on a motorcycle. The pain and injuries from the accident itself are most times overwhelming, plus dealing with insurance companies, police and accident investigators can almost be too much for the average person to deal with.

Attorney Russ Brown is still practicing the law and his nationwide law firm is working diligently to help as many motorcycle accident victims as they can.

Motorcyclists are not only hard working people, but they are also social and live to hit the open road and have a good time. Because motorcycle runs and events are a big part of the motorcycle culture, there are thousands of events and rally promoters who work non stop creating events and activities for bikers nationwide.

Ever since 1938, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been the granddaddy of all motorcycle events. With motorcycle racing at an all time high in the late 1930’s it didn’t take the Jackpine Gypsies long to come up with the idea to host a motorcycle racing event. Originally called the “Black Hills Classic” the event featured racing and motorcycle stunts. With only 19 in attendance who would have believed that future Sturgis rallies would host more that 800 thousand bikers from all over the world?

With each year the attendance growing rapidly, rally are promoters working long and hard to keep up with the challenge to make every rally bigger and better than the year before. When the City of Sturgis outlawing camping at camping at Sturgis City Park, camping spots were now at a premium and from this need the Sturgis “Buffalo Chip Campground” was born. Originally the “Chip” as it is commonly known was created to provide camping for bikers and a place to relax when not out enjoying the rally.

As more and more bikers began attending the Sturgis Rally, the Buffalo Chip expanded it’s old school camp ground and turned it into an almost separate event within the Sturgis Rally itself by offering live music, loads of good food, plenty of beer and other drinks, a variety of camping options from tent sites, camper and RV spots, to full blown rental campers. The Chip even has WIFI for us hardcore road warriors.

Boasting one of the best live sound systems and professional lighting, seeing musical acts like Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, Kid Rock rivals any other music venue I have seen these acts at, and this is probably why so many bikers chose the Buffalo Chip over the other place you can camp at.

Working year round Rod Woodruff, family and his staff have made the Buffalo Chip much more than a tent and campfire spot at the Sturgis. The Chip’s stage is set in the middle of the camp ground with the food and drink court running in a semi-circle opposite the stage. With an easy 2 or 3 minute walk from the campgrounds to stage, there is almost no need to ever leave the Chip.

Another sweet attraction at the Buffalo Chip is the Miss Buffalo Chip contest. Nothing like good music, good looking women and plenty of good food and drink to make a biker happy. If you are into tattoos and body piercing, then the Buffalo Chip is where it is at for non-stop fun and excitement during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

As the living legends that help the motorcycle culture and lifestyle to continually grow and blossom for millions of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts around the world, you better believe that they are far from folk tales or make believe tales of fantasy, cause all you have to do is get in the wind and you will see for yourself what millions of bikers already know, and that itself makes the legend live on…

CycleTrader.com Launches Fast Deals, Features Motorcycle Clothing Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:10:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the official launch of Fast Deals, offering up to

50% off motorcycle parts, gear and accessories. View our first deal below

and be sure to share with your friends (remember, you earn $10 with each referral).

$10 for $20 Toward VaVaVroom Apparel & Extras

BUY THE DEAL

Veteran's Day 11/11/11

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:53:00 +0000

Do you know a veteran?

Share their story with our Facebook community.

CycleTrader.com Announces Fast Deals, Offering 50% Off Motorcycle Parts, Gear & Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:32:00 +0000

Norfolk, VA -- November 04, 2011

CycleTrader.com, the nation’s leading powersports marketplace and a division of Dominion Enterprises, will soon launch Fast Deals, offering consumers at least 50% off motorcycle parts, gear and accessories. Motorcycle enthusiasts who register will start receiving weekly email deals in early November. Fast Deals will be emailed to each registered user’s inbox and will be available for purchase for seven days.

Fast Deals are perfect for motorcycle enthusiasts who are fixing up a bike, buying gear for their motorcycle, or purchasing a gift for a friend who rides. Paige Bouma, sales development manager for CycleTrader.com, said, “This exciting new consumer offering will provide a valuable service to our loyal fans, allowing motorcycle enthusiasts to receive the products they want at an unbelievable price—in this economy, every dollar we can save our customers matters.”

Motorcycle owners who sign up now will be one of the first groups to receive CycleTrader’s Fast Deals, powered by Sold.com e-commerce solutions. Merchants interested in advertising their deals should contact scott(dot)volmer(at)cycletrader(dot)com or call (866) 476-3022.

About CycleTrader.com Cycle Trader is the leading powersports marketplace connecting buyers and sellers to new and used motorcycles, ATVs, PWCs, and snowmobiles. With more than 160,000 vehicles available, Cycle Trader offers the widest selection of powersports vehicles online. Visithttp://CycleTrader.com.

About Sold.com Sold.com is a daily coupon service that provides exceptional, discounts to consumers on exciting products and services. For customers, Sold.com provides a way to save money while finding, exploring and taking advantage of new opportunities. For merchants, Sold.com is strategic way to increase brand awareness and market share through structured deals that attract new customers and build volume through repeat business. For additional information, visit http://sold.com.

About Dominion Powersports Solutions Dominion Powersports Solutions, headquartered in Norfolk, VA, is a leading network of world-class business solutions for powersports dealers. Dominion Powersports Solutions’ products include CycleTrader.com, the nation’s leading marketplace for new and used motorcycles; PowerSports Network, the leader in web, e-commerce and mobile solutions for dealerships; Traffic Log Pro, a web-based lead management system; ZiiOS, a cloud dealer management system; and Dominion Insights, a business analytics tool for dealerships and manufacturers.

Dominion Powersports Solutions is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company serving the automotive, recreational and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, employment, parenting, travel, and daily deals industries. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., with 3,300 employees nationwide, the company provides a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions, more than 60 market-leading websites, and 280 magazines. For more information, visit http://dominionenterprises.com

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Employee Spotlight: Megan Baldock

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:28:00 +0000

For this month's employee spotlight, we travel to Sussex, Wisconsin to visit CycleTrader's sister company, PowerSports Network. Megan Baldock, the newest member of our marketing team, joined the company last month.

Prior to joining PSN, Megan worked at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Two years ago, that is where she learned to ride a motorcycle after receiving a Rider's Edge gift certificate for her birthday from co-workers. The Rider's Edge class she signed up for was an all women's class, and Megan remains friends with some of the ladies because of the bond that's created from the learning experience.

In her spare time, Megan enjoys sports, sports and more sports. As she says, "It's a great time to be a Wisconsin sports fan with the Brewers making the play-offs, the Packers being undefeated and the Badgers in the Big 10."

Register for Fast Deals to Receive 50% OFF Motorcycle Parts, Accessories & Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:42:00 +0000

Reducing Congestion with Lane Splitting

noreply@blogger.com (Trader Online) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Guest Post By Audrey Nesbitt, RussBrown.com

Is there something not to like about living in California? Traffic!

Traffic in the large metropolitan parts of California like Los Angeles and San Francisco sucks no doubt about it.

Los Angeles ranked as the #1 most congested city in the U.S. with San Francisco coming in at #6 according to the INRIX National Traffic Scorecard 2010 Annual Report.

Fortunately for California motorcycle riders – CA is the only State that allows what is known as ‘Lane Splitting’. This allows motorcyclists to ride legally in the space between two lines of vehicles during congested traffic conditions which in effect allows the creation of a new lane and allows motorcyclists to keep moving even when the rest of traffic is slow or stopped. The major benefit of lane splitting is reduced traffic congestion on California freeways; however, if motorcyclists or other drivers do not use safe driving practices, lane splitting can lead to an accident.

Many drivers will try to tell you lane splitting is unsafe, the “Hurt Report,” a well-known study on motorcycle accident causes, determined that lane splitting is actually safer for motorcyclists than remaining in bumper-to-bumper traffic. While no California law specifically allows lane splitting, the California Highway Patrol states that motorcycle lane splitting is allowed, but must be done in a “safe and prudent manner.”

An article featured in February 2009 issue of Motorcycle Cruiser, offers some great tips for safe lane splitting in California.

Wait until both lanes are moving at similar speeds and enter the lane-splitting zone cautiously.
Set a maximum speed for lane splitting; once traffic gets back up to 30 mph, move back into a lane.
Try to anticipate when other drivers are going to change lanes. Watch for warning signs: drivers who are glancing at their mirrors, turning their wheels toward your lane, etc.
If you get to a point where two vehicles seem too close together, wait for a chance to pass them safely.

**And stay within 10 mph of the traffic you are lane splitting with.**

The term ‘safe and prudent’ is up to interpretation by the police. “If you are in a lane-splitting accident and the report goes against you talk to an experienced motorcycle attorney immediately. A good motorcycle attorney can turn these reports around if you were, in fact, lane splitting cautiously.” Russ Brown of Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys.

California is incredible with it's annual motorcycle riding weather - ride safe!