Archive for May, 2010
Riding Your Motorcycle The Safest Way Possible
Riding Your Motorcycle The Safest Way Possible
There are many different ways to ride a motorcycle safely however overcoming several of the key points in riding all at the same time can be difficult for some people. Braking cornering stopping riding in inclement weather are just a few of the motorcycle safety problems a rider can run into at any given moment.
Braking
Normally one would think of braking a motorcycle with well the brakes but there is a combination in a certain sequence to braking a motorcycle.
When braking one is tempted to over look snapping off the throttle or changing to a lower gear both of which have an impact on the rear wheel just long enough for them to lock up the real wheel and cause it to slide especially when leaning into a curve. For that reason safe positive braking is not a straightforward skill but mandates training and practice in addition to watching the road conditions.
They do most of the work so use the front brakes. Braking progressively confidently and tough on the front brake is a learned skill and ought to be practiced on a customary basis under safe driving conditions. If you have a passenger the additional weight affects your stopping space so try practicing with a passenger and without one to gage the difference.
Heavy hard braking is prepared when the motorcycle is straight and wandering in a straight line. When braking do not stiffen your arms; instead grip the bike with your legs leaving your arms relaxed and free.
By no means grab the front brake since this will give reasons for it to lock up. Only apply the first force effortlessly for the first second allowing the front of the bike to dip onto the front suspension as the weight of the bike moves forward into the front wheel. The added downward pressure means you can now brake harder and this means little chance of locking up.
Always keep your head up and watch the road conditions while going through the braking process. Try to maintain the front tire on a clean dry hard surface and avoid discolored spots in the road if you find this difficult simplicity back on the front brake and apply the back brake change to the lower gear and slow down gradually. Release the clutch out slowly to help with this process. Jumping out the clutch can momentarily lock up the rear wheels and causing you to slide. Diesel spills on the road from semi trucks can cause a motorcyclist to loose control so be on the look out for them.
While driving in metropolitan traffic always keep at least two fingers on the front brake there is no time to be fumbling for the brake when cars are stopping and starting at such a fast pace.
Road conditions
Every road you travel will no doubt have a different surface and condition to it. Sand and loose gravel are the two major obstacles besides regular pavement you might find yourself traveling on.
As a rider of motorcycles you must develop an eagles eye when it comes to road conditions. A sense of predictions is also a good thing to have.
All riders are encouraged to ride offroad a few times a year to prepare themselves for whatever might happen on the roads in town and the highways. This does great things for your ability to constantly read and react to various surfaces and studies have shown that people who ride off road have few accidents on road than those who never drive off road.
About the writer: John Daniele is an expert on motorcycle helmets. For information or to purchase a handcrafted lightweight fiberglass novelty motorcycle helmets see www.helmetsrus.com
Riding With The Right Eyewear
Riding With The Right Eyewear
As anyone who has ever rider a motorcycle knows bikers have a huge potential for road hazards on an open face.nbsp; The threat of dust gravel bugs and other road debris is always present so proper eye protection is greatly important.nbsp; One of the best ways to get great eye and face protection is the use of a full faced helmet with a face shield.nbsp; The combination of a full helmet and face screen keeps the hazards of the road off of the riders face.
Not all bikers enjoy a helmet however and where permitted do not wear helmets leading to a lack of that important face shield.nbsp; With the eyes exposed there is a potential for damage to the eyes from the previously mentioned road hazards and also the sun.
Ultra violet radiation from the sun can cause several conditions which can lead to loss of vision diminished sight and loss of visual acuity due to retina damage as well as cancer around the eye.nbsp; The use of proper eye wear can lessen these forms of damage to the eye by blocking the UV radiation from entering the eye.
The sun also emits infrared radiation that brings the heat to the skin and eyes which dry scratchy uncomfortable eyes that adds to discomfort while riding a motorcycle.nbsp; With all of the wind in your face the last thing that you need is any additional dryness and discomfort to distract you from the road.
So what do you need to look for when selecting a decent pair of glasses to protect your eyes?nbsp; Any pair of sunglasses that offers 100 Full Spectrum UV protection for sunny as well as cloudy days is a good place to begin.nbsp; The helpful addition of lenses that will also protect against the suns infrared radiation through the use of IR filtering Polycarbonate lenses adds to the comfort of a bikers eyes also.
And of course the main purpose of sunglasses being able to block some of the visible light that glares on us on bright and sunny days.
Well Dressed Biker www.welldressedbiker.com offers a superb line of stylish glasses and goggles that supply the much needed eye protection along with the ever important good looks with the introduction of SOS Eyewear.
Some of the features that SOS Eyewear offers are:
Composite Shock Frames that gives the glasses a super strong durability flexibility and comfort.
Xtreme Lens Technology that blocks glare and reflects the suns brightness and enhance vision through a colorful iridescent mirrored look that is unperceivable to the wearer.
Polarized MultiLayer Filtration which does not use polarizing films which degrade over time uses hand poured distortion free high tech polycarbonate lenses.
Exchangeable lens systems to meet all lighting conditions.
These glasses and goggles offer the best protection and style for the price.nbsp; SOS Eyewear offers the features and benefits that make them a sound choice when deciding on what glasses to get to protect your eyes from road hazards as well as sun damage.nbsp; Find the eyewear that you need to make every motorcycle ride perfect and make you look your best at www.WellDressedBiker.com
About the writer: nbsp;
Riding ATVs The Right Way
Riding ATVs The Right Way
There is a group of people that is growing larger everyday. This is the group of people that have enjoy and promote all terrain vehicles. They can go by several names but each is hardly more than a different label. Some call these unique vehicles that have slowly gained popularity a quad some a ATV some a 4 wheeler still others a All Terrain Vehicle. Farming hunting cursing the beach or the woods they can do it all.
As with many types of new activities the younger age groups first accumulate to it. Because of the nature of this activity as a sport it also is possible better suited to the young because of the rough nature of sport riding.
The legal system has stepped in to a degree to try to limit the ages of young people by requesting that the manufacturers create guidelines for riders based on a matrix of age and engine size. Some manufacturers say a 70cc engine should only be ridden by a person 12 or older likewise they say that a 90cc engine ATV should be only ridden by a 16 year old. The issue with these guides is that they are suggestions and anyone can ignore them.
Until the legislature decides to step in and mandate age requirements it will be the rider who holds all the responsibility for the right fit of the ATV. Does if feel right is it the right weight to control? How about the fit for the riders height? All these things are important to determine if a ATV and a rider go together.
From the very beginning there are some differences in All Terrain Vehicles that will ultimately determine their usefulness. Utility 4 wheelers portray a body style and structure that screams that it is made to work. Even the hefty feel of the ride feels powerful. The body is designed for specific tasks like hauling or pulling too. The frame the tires the torque and even the colors are chosen to create an identity associated with work.
After the utility 4 wheeler there is the sport market that appeals to a younger crowd and like any sport the sleek swift appearance are paramount. The sport ATV is designed completely different and must withstand different forces like increased braking at higher speeds faster acceleration and the pounding that riding for fun may entail. They generally are more minimal in design but have more exciting colors that exude fun.
Whatever 4 wheeler is right for you keep safety upper most in your mind at all times and remember to respect this powerful tool that is moving quickly and weighs a lot more than you do. Do your homework and find the one that fits you best and enjoy the advantages these great little vehicles have to offer.
About the writer: Copyright Detro Canaro 2008 Detro Canaro is a husband a father a writer a proud dog lover and a coowner of several websites that support he and his family. One of those websites is 4 Wheeler for Sale.