How to Pack for a Long Motorcycle Trip

Packing for a long motorcycle trip can be very daunting. Keep in mind that you will have to make laundry stops, and pick hotels or motels that offer laundry facilities when you need to. Basically you will need the following:

Rain gear

Leather Coat

We like to have shields that attach to our helmets for bad weather

Gloves

Shoes and or sandals

Toiletries

Sweater

1 or 2 pairs of jeans

The rest we pack as follows: We always put one tee shirt, one pair of underwear and one pair of socks in a zip lock bag Sit on it to squeeze out all air, and seal it. Put it in our travel bags. When these clothes are dirty you put them back in the bag, tying the socks in a knot so you can tell quickly if you have grabbed clean or dirty clothes. The zip lock bag also puts another layer of protection between your clothing and the rain. I also always line the travel bags with a garbage bag. I know that PVC bags are water proof, but like to have that extra protection. Also packing clothing of similar colors means that you only have to do one load of laundry when you stop. Carrying a few dryer sheet will also help keep your motorcycle travel bags smelling good and save money when you do laundry.

Another important issue when packing for a trip is to keep all heavy items like leather coats if you aren't wearing them in the saddlebags so that the majority of the weight is low, creating a lower center of balance. We also like to make sure there is always room to put our leather jackets in to saddlebags if it gets too hot. I would always recommend wearing them as added protection in case of an accident, but sometimes it is just too hot to comfortably wear them. We also usually carry a bathing suit and a pair of shorts, but these are not a necessity but are nice to have, especially if the hotel you stop at happens to have a pool.

Another thing I consider to be a necessity is when you stop at night pick a spot where you are able to walk to dinner. After washing the road grit off in your hotel the last thing I want to do is get back on the bike to go somewhere for dinner.

Hope this was informative.

Check us out at Motorcycle Leather Down for your biker needs.

Motorcycle Braking Tips for Track Days

Braking should be a pretty simple affair, but you'd be surprised to know that out of all the riding techniques we use on track it is during braking that the greatest number of panic buttons are pushed if it's not done correctly.

In this guide I have outlined what we should work towards to improve our braking technique, as well as some of the results of getting it wrong; this I hope will leave you feeling confident on the brakes and have you pushing back your markers with ease.

The primary goal of braking

If pressed for an answer as to what we are trying to achieve with braking, I would expect most people to say we are simply trying to slow the bike down ready for the corner; but while this is true, it isn't our primary goal. What we are really trying to do is accurately set our speed for the corner ready for our turn-in. This will then give us a consistent base to work on everything from the turn point, out to the exit.

The structure of motorcycle braking

As you may know, we don't apply constant pressure to the lever when braking, the pressure will vary from the time you first apply the brake to the time you release the lever. There are a number of ways in which you can structure your braking, such as light pressure at first then hard at the end; hard first and then light; light then hard then light; as well as a whole host of other arrangements. Which one is best though?

The most effective way to set our speed for a turn is to get the bulk of the braking done before you arrive at your turn point. If you leave all your hard braking right up until it's time to turn the bike it will often have you feeling like you're going in too fast, causing you to over brake and ultimately go in too slow. There are also some other potential ways in which this late hard braking can be damaging:

    You try to carry too much brake into the corner.
    You're unable to quickly and accurately turn the bike, meaning a shallow entry that will spoil your exit.
    You overshoot your turn point which then puts you off line
    Your attention becomes very much fixed on your braking, rather than where you're going and what you're doing.

All of these things have the potential to push your panic buttons and/or have you making mistakes, mistakes that could see you in the gravel.

Instead what would be more ideal is to start off by braking hard at first then trailing the brake pressure off as you approach your turn point. This will not only have you feeling more relaxed at the turn point, but you will no doubt be going faster too. Another plus is that your brain will feel less rushed, meaning more concentration on what's to come after you have finished braking.

The application of the brake

When talking about the initial application of the brake there's only really one main point to raise and that is don't snap the brakes on. By snapping the brakes on you are risking the suspension bottoming out which will increase the chances of the front wheel locking up. Brake application should in fact be quick (between a quarter and half a second between initial application and full power), but it should not be instant.

Imagine a line graph showing your braking efforts between your braking point and turn point. You would see a steep but gradual curve from initial application to full brakes; the line would then stay at the top of the graph while you scrub your speed off, then as you get closer to your turn point you would see the line come back down the graph slowly as you taper off the brakes.

The only other point to mention about brake application is what to do in the instance of a wheel lock up. If this happens then ease the pressure off the brake lever to allow the front wheel to start turning and stabilise itself and the bike.

A word on the rear brake

Whether or not you use the rear brake will mainly be down to personal preference, but in my opinion until you have mastered the use of the front brake then the risk vs reward of using the rear brake means it's something you don't have to focus on.

A spinning rear wheel provides the stability for everything from the headstock back (due to the gyroscopic effect is creates) and when you are braking so hard to the point the rear wheel is skimming the floor, any application of the rear brake is going to lock it up and lose you that stability. It is then down to the front wheel alone to keep the bike upright which isn't ideal. On that note, I will leave the decision up to you regarding the rear brake.

Conclusion

As you can see from these motorcycle braking tips, the way we should be braking is fairly simple, but even the fanciest braking system in the world won't help you if you don't get it right. The main lesson to take away is get all your hard braking done early to eradicate your internal panic buttons being pushed, this will mean a more relaxed head at the turn point and fewer mistakes being made as a result. You'll probably be going faster too!

Secondary points are get the brakes on quickly, but don't snap it on as this will only translate into an unsettled bike.

It'll take time and practice, but with enough of it your braking will come along nicely and you'll be pushing your braking markers further back when you see all the time you've given yourself at the turn point.

Now go heat those discs!

Want more riding tips?

Get more Motorcycle Riding Tips over at Bike Track Days Hub. There I've covered some of the various aspects of riding on track that you can learn, which in time will help bring your riding on in terms of both speed and safety.

Visit Bike Track Days Hub for more info.

Interphone F5 Handle Bar Remote Control - One Of A Kind

Bikers love to travel and carry their stuff along. They are passionate about having the best accessories that offer great utility. Saddlebag support systems serve as the right choice for bikers who wish to keep their saddlebags in the best shape even after years of use. The look offered to heavy bikes by a leather saddlebag is simply fabulous and much better in contrast to the plastic and fiberglass counterparts. Therefore, it is very important to care for the saddlebags and replace them whenever required to improve the look of the bike. Saddlebags are made of leather and are perfect to be used in heavy bikes and cruisers.

Saddlebags shrink or lose their shape over a period of time due to which they need to be replaced. Instead of replacing them, you can use the saddlebag support systems and install the accessories on your own. When you opt for the support system, you do not have to worry about purchasing a new bag whenever the saddlebag loses its shape. You will be pleased to know that many sellers are nowadays offering the support systems to their clients at an affordable price. A warranty is offered too so that you do not have to worry about the maintenance of the saddlebag. The support system consists of the best quality adhesives, stiffeners, lid inserts and utility pouches. The use of stiffeners greatly reduces the sagging effect ultimately increasing the life of saddlebags. Likewise, the use of saddlebag lid inserts offer the necessary strength and rigidness to the bags.

The saddlebag support systems have adhesives for installing the lid inserts. This is very popular among people who are concerned about their saddlebags while travelling. Before installing the motorcycle saddlebag accessories, do not fail to take the exact dimensions where you will install it. The size of the saddlebag will depend entirely on the measurements taken. The best technology is used for the manufacture of the saddlebag support system so that the saddlebag does not lose its shape even after a bumpy bike ride. While choosing the accessories for installation, make sure that it does not have a negative impact on the aesthetic appeal of your bike. In case you are looking for the best accessories for your bike, you can find them easily at various online stores. You can get a complete list of accessories and their prices by checking out these stores. To know more about the products, you can directly mail or call up their customer care executives.

If you have a Harley Davidson, then having the best leather saddlebag is a must for you. To increase the life of your saddlebag, you will also require the saddlebag support systems. The systems maintain the beauty and style that these bags offer. You can prevent them from getting a saggy look and restore them with the use of stiffeners. The support system is available at a truly affordable price and you can buy it right away. It is possible to enhance your riding experience with the use of these systems.

Danielle Wally is the author of this article on Saddlebag Support Systems. Find more information, about Motorcycle Saddlebag Accessories here

Economics of Scooters

Are you considering buying a scooter moped? There are pros and cons to scooters. Each of these will have a different importance to each of us:

• Open air riding. Hopping on a bicycle will give you the open air ride, but to be powered and ride at twice the speed give a good feeling of freedom and excitement (depending upon the speed!)

• Weather. Sometimes the weather doesn't agree with out riding schedule. If you rode your scooter to work in great weather, but it's rainy or stormy at quitting time, you may want to put in a little overtime to wait out the weather, if possible.

• Cheap Scooters. Whether you purchase a scooter from a storefront dealer, or pay half the price for one through an internet store, you will still be saving money over buying an auto. The fuel economy is another cost savings, obviously, with 50cc scooters getting about 100mpg, 150cc getting about 80mpg and 250cc getting about 50mpg. This varies greatly, depending on your riding style, just like driving a car.

• Maintenance complications. If you purchase your scooter from a storefront, you should have no problem getting them to service it, though I have a friend that would argue against that point. If you purchased your scooter from an online store, you will get the shop to determine the problem and needed parts; then get the parts from your online dealer, and provide to the shop for repair. Also, being a small engine, you may be able to take care of such simple things as changing the oil or preparing it for a snooze during the winter.

• Safety. You will have to be more responsible on a scooter than driving a car. You must be alert to what other drivers are doing and avoid incidents. Not many car drivers wear a helmet

• Ecology. Scooters can be much friendlier to the environment, if well maintained. Using less gas is the first thought, but weighing less than cars also reduces the maintenance on roads.

• Parking. It is much easier to park a scooter. Sometimes we see them parked on sidewalks, alongside bicycles. Just make sure you lock your scooter.

• Style and popularity. The variety of styles of scooters and the ability to modify to the colors you like brings a lot of fun to scooting. You can be as unique as you wish. Choose between the classic European style, or the Racer style, among many. Scooters are also gaining in popularity recently. People find that scooting to the neighborhood store is more fun than starting up the car.

So, there are many things to consider when looking for a scooter. Consider practicing on one, or renting a moped, to determine the size that suits you.

You can find many scooters on the Twowheelsrule website. We provide hundreds of photos, specifications and videos. You should be comfortable with the product offering before working with the distributor. We provide many scooters for sale with free shipping from the distributor, and the distributor has been a reputable dealer for many years. Safe riding!