Different Kinds of Motorcycle Gloves

Riding a motorcycle through the countryside, the highway, or up a mountain is an exhilarating, liberating, and even therapeutic experience for riders. The cool breeze and the soft touch of the sun are some of the things that riders appreciate while riding their motorcycle. But these things will not be as fun, if your hands are uncomfortable because of the weather or the handles of your motorcycle. For maximum comfort while riding a motorcycle, it is best to get the right kind of motorcycle gloves.

Different Kinds of Motorcycle Gloves

There are various types of motorcycle gloves for different riders. Here are some of the motorcycle gloves you can use when you ride around town or through the countryside:

Textile Gloves

These types of gloves are anything that is not made of leather. The common materials used for these kinds of gloves are Kevlar or Ballistic Nylon. These types of gloves are slowly gaining recognition from motorcycle riders. The material used for textile gloves allow makers to sew protective armor into the glove. The carbon fiber, hard plastic and metal plates sewn into some textile gloves make them less prone to abrasion and punctures. The added armor protects the riders’ hands while riding through all sorts of terrain. Also, textile gloves allow more air to circulate into the hands of a rider. Textile gloves are not ideal for wet seasons though because they often lack rain-resistant materials that prevent them from getting wet. You’re better off wearing leather gloves during wet season.

Street Motorcycle Gloves

The pair of leather gloves you commonly see on TV and movies are the most popular type of motorcycle gloves. Leather gloves provide the best protection while still staying flexible and soft. The materials used on leather motorcycle gloves make it easier for riders to handle the controls and maneuvering of their motorcycle. Leather gloves are better at keeping a rider’s hands warm and have better wind-resistance compared to textile gloves.

Off-Road Motorcycle Gloves

This type of glove is similar to its street motorcycle leather gloves counterpart. Some off-road motorcycle gloves use both leather and textile when they are produced. The biggest difference between a pair of off-road gloves from the typical street leather gloves is the thickness. Off-road gloves tend to be thinner in parts but thicker in others. These gloves use padding in specific parts of the glove to lessen impact on certain parts of the hand. Also, most off-road gloves use mesh weaving to provide ventilation to its wearer because off-road biking tends to make hands sweaty.

Motorcycle Accessories for Night-time Rides

Nighttime riding offers excitement and fun for motorcycle riders. The freedom of riding through roads with little to no traffic is exhilarating for any motorbike enthusiast. It’s a great way to de-stress and forget about everything that happened during the day. Staying safe and looking good for your night-time ride can work together, with these accessories:

LED Lights

The most important accessory to have whenever you go on a nighttime ride is LED lights. These high-powered lights illuminate almost everything in sight. Riders see potholes, debris, approaching cars, people, animals, and anything that gets in the way of their motorcycle. Proper lighting also signals approaching cars that you are going to make a turn. There are different designs and sizes of LED lights available on the market.

Nighttime Eyewear

Some riders prefer wearing a helmet without a faceguard. For riders with this kind of preference, wearing goggle or glasses with an amber or clear lens not only makes one look cool, but also improves low-light visibility, protects eyes from incoming light, and improves light contrast. Amber lens or clear lens goggle or glasses are perfect with that leather jacket you just bought.

Motorcycle Reflective Jacket

Wearing a jacket is important whether you are riding at night or during the day. The best kind of jacket to wear while riding at night is a jacket that uses reflective material. Wearing a jacket while riding a motorcycle provides extra protection, maneuverability, and comfort. Choose a jacket that is clearly visible at night. The most common reflective jackets available come in neon colors. Neon colored reflective jackets are easily seen while night riding, but there are other colors that meet different wants and personalities.

Reflective Vest

If wearing neon colored jackets is not your thing, you can opt for a reflective jacket which is more subtle. Reflective vests add protection to any nighttime motorcycle rider. The vest can be your primary or supplementary apparel while nighttime riding.

Riding your motorcycle through the streets at night poses different risks that riding during the day. But with the right kind of accessories, you don’t just say safe, you can look great, too.

What's the Deal with Lithium Motorcycle Batteries?

Are you looking for a battery for your motorcycle? You may have heard of lithium batteries, but not quite sure if they are the batteries you are looking for.

What’s the deal with lithium motorcycle batteries?

Lithium type batteries are often used on electronic devices such as laptops, calculators, clocks, tablets, and other electrical devices. But lithium batteries are now a popular type of battery for motorcyclists.

Lithium batteries are popular with motorcyclists because of their light weight and long shelf life. The lighter weight of the battery makes maneuvering a motorcycle easier. The smaller size of a lithium battery makes it easier for riders to store it during the off season.

Its longer shelf life also means that riders will only need to buy batteries in a year or two, depending on how often they use the motorcycle . This type of battery does not discharge as fast as its lead-acid counterpart. Lithium batteries are also safer compared to traditional lead-acid types. Lithium batteries have no risk of combustion or explosion even if they are dropped, heated, short circuit, or overcharged. This type of motorcycle battery carries no acid, lead, mercury or cadmium that not only harms the environment but also the rider.

The low internal resistance and discharge rate of lithium batteries help riders save more energy in the long run. The less energy you spend riding your motorcycle means that you get good value for money when you use a lithium battery over a traditional one. This type of battery can also be discharged or charged at any time, without a drop in battery capacity or performance. Lithium batteries perform well despite the weather. It provides your motorcycle with the jolt of energy it needs to perform even in high or low temperatures. But riders must limit their use in cold temperatures, because cold temperature can damage the cells of lithium batteries.

The downside to using a lithium battery is that they are more expensive compared to a lead-acid battery. But the expensive price is worth the investment because of the many benefits they offer when using it on your motorcycle.

How to Protect Your Motorcycle During Winter

Your motorcycle is susceptible to damage once winter sets in. The different parts of your motorcycle can be affected by the cold weather, rain, and snow, but there are ways to limit or completely protect your motorcycle from these effects of winter.

How to Protect Your Motorcycle During Winter

If you will ride your motorcycle during winter, there are a few measures you can take to prevent your motorcycle from getting damaged.

Battery

The battery of your motorcycle is hit the hardest during winter, because the lower temperatures slow down its chemical reactions. Your battery needs to use more electric currents to function properly during winter. Charge your battery overnight or keep it charged regularly to keep it fresh. Also, apply some grease on the terminals and ensure that they are tight. Unplug the connectors and spray it with some silicone grease to prevent salty water from seeping in.

Anti-Freeze

Using anti-freeze or any kind of coolant on the water you put into your radiator prevents the system from freezing on a cold and chilly night. Make sure to drain and fill the system properly. After draining, make sure to bleed the system while you refill it. Improper bleeding can lead to an air-lock and eventually, overheating.

Oil & Filter Change

One of the first things you must do when winter comes is perform the oil and filter change. The cold winter months make it harder for your motorcycle’s engine to heat up, increasing the likelihood of damage. Engine oil has all the additives your motorcycle needs to protect your engine from the cold weather. Fresh oil works quicker and provides the protection your engine needs.

Grease Joints

Grease plays a vital role in protecting your motorcycle and its parts from the low temperatures of winter. Start the greasing process by removing the levers of the handlebars. Apply a good amount of grease before refitting. On parts unaffected by heat from the engine, apply a lot of grease for maximum protection. Make sure to apply grease on any bare threads such as wheel spindles and gear lever tie rods.

These are some of the measures you can take to protect your motorcycle from the cold temperatures of winter.

How to Prepare for a Motorcycle License Test

Getting your first motorcycle can be a thrilling experience. Just imagine going out in the open road on your own or with a group. You look cool. You feel amazing. Your bike is the only thing that matters. But before you start planning that dream ride, you will need a license to ride.

Different provinces in Canada have different license class/types for motorcycles.  It is best to do your research for your specific area. In most cases, you will need to pass both a motorcycle knowledge test and a motorcycle skills test.

Depending on your province, failing the written test means you have to take it another day and pay another testing fee. The exam is multiple choice and is pretty straightforward. It is highly recommended that you spend time studying for it.

To prepare for a motorcycle skills test:

·         Find out what the riding requirements are for your province. The test will be based on this information.

·         Understand the different road signs – this is as important in real life as it is when taking the test for your license. Get a reviewer if you are not aware of what the road signs mean.

·         Know the different riding rules – whether it is the distance of your feet from the ground or your tire track positions when passing into a lane, brush up on your knowledge of the different riding rules. Other road rules to read up on include crash avoidance, negotiating intersections and curves, proper riding distance with other vehicles.

·         Brush up on topics such as the proper motorcycle riding gear, riding at night and making yourself more visible, approaching wildlife on the roads, group riding, riding with passengers and the dangers of alcohol and riding.

·         Read up on and practice vehicle control and braking techniques.

 You may also want to try practicing on online motorcycle licensing tests. Make sure you search for ones that are specific to your Province. If you can find a rule book or a motorcycle manual for your province, study this thoroughly as it will increase your chances of passing your motorcycle knowledge test.

Essential Equipment for Motorcycle Off-Road Riding

If you are getting bored of the usual road riding trips, why not try something new and go on an off-road adventure? Off-road riding is a different type of monster, a trip in which your riding skills and patience will get tested. It is more physically demanding and will put your upper body strength to the test. You will need to employ more than your basic road riding skills because you will be going through rougher, tougher grounds at lower speeds. It requires more balance and momentum, which translates to a high adrenalin riding experience.

Before venturing off to your off-road adventure, you need to outfit yourself with additional equipment. What you use for normal road riding may not be enough for off-road trips. Here are some of the equipment you will need:

Helmet

A different type of helmet is required for safe off-road riding. Off-road helmets have a different shape and most of them do not have visors. Make sure it fits your head perfectly and will not bounce off while you navigate those bumpy, rocky terrains. It’s best to buy a new one if you can afford it and make sure it adheres to United Nations Standard ECE 22.05 or British Standard BS6658. Also, you need to get a set of goggles to go with your helmet to make sure that your eyes will be protected from mud.

Boots

Needless to say, off-road boots are tougher than their road riding counterpart. They are made of more rigid material which will come in handy as you ride over the rougher terrain. Make sure to break them in first before going on a long off-road ride.

Gloves

Gloves made of textile with reinforced knuckles in plastic or Kevlar material are the best type for off road riding. This provides enough protection for your fingers plus the material will dry faster than leather gloves. You don’t want to ride around feeling uncomfortable in damp gloves.

Armor

Your ribs and internal organs need to be protected during your off-road adventure, especially if you plan to do enduro or motocross racing. At the very least, invest in a set of basic armor and kidney belt to give you ample protection from possible bruises. Include padded pants and loose sports shirts in the set.

Bike locks

Just because you are riding in the quiet trails does not mean no one will take an unhealthy interest in your bike. Off-road bikes are lighter, making them easier to steal.

Why You Should Try Motorcycle Tours

There is no denying the thrill and excitement involved in using a motorcycle to ride around places you want to explore. For the motorcycle enthusiast, nothing beats the air in your face and the feeling of freedom and ease when throttling a big bike toward a desired destination.

If you are thinking of joining a motorcycle tour to explore a certain area, you can choose between self-guided ones and guided ones. The self-guided tour is best for people who don’t mind going through lots of preparation and are completely comfortable with exploring unknown territory all on their own. For folks who want a little support when navigating the area, a guided tour can be a more practical option.

There are lots of benefits in joining a guided motorcycle tour. Here are some of them:

Planning and preparation is easier

You don’t have to worry and fuss over the small things. Important details such as the type of bikes you are going to use and routes you need to take are all taken care of. The kind of bikes you are going to ride on will depend on the guided tour you sign up for.

Travel is lighter and luggage-free

Guided tours often have support vehicles designated to carry the luggage of riders. You don’t need to worry about packing too much weight for your motorcycle to carry. This allows you to bring more stuff than you would otherwise bring if you were traveling on your own. The support vehicle also carries an extra motorcycle that you can use in the event something goes wrong during the ride.

Getting lost is highly unlikely

You can rely on your tour guide for just about anything, which includes getting you to the right routes. A great tour guide knows the area like the back of his hand so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. He always has a camera on hand to capture all those great spots and moments. Your tour guide has your back so you can just relax and ride your bike with all the comfort in the world.

A guided tour can make you experience all the things that make an exploration day enjoyable. You will be able to visit not just the crowded tourist spots but also those hidden places that will make the tiring ride totally worth it.

How to Protect Your Motorcycle During Winter

Your motorcycle is susceptible to damage once winter sets in. The different parts of your motorcycle can be affected by the cold weather, rain, and snow, but there are ways to limit or completely protect your motorcycle from these effects of winter.

How to Protect YourMotorcycle During Winter

If you will ride your motorcycle during winter, there are a few measures you can take to prevent your motorcycle from getting damaged.

Battery

The battery of your motorcycle is hit the hardest during winter, because the lower temperatures slow down its chemical reactions. Your battery needs to use more electric currents to function properly during winter. Charge your battery overnight or keep it charged regularly to keep it fresh. Also, apply some grease on the terminals and ensure that they are tight. Unplug the connectors and spray it with some silicone grease to prevent salty water from seeping in.

Anti-Freeze

Using anti-freeze or any kind of coolant on the water you put into your radiator prevents the system from freezing on a cold and chilly night. Make sure to drain and fill the system properly. After draining, make sure to bleed the system while you refill it. Improper bleeding can lead to an air-lock and eventually, overheating.

Oil & Filter Change

One of the first things you must do when winter comes is perform the oil and filter change. The cold winter months make it harder for your motorcycle’s engine to heat up, increasing the likelihood of damage. Engine oil has all the additives your motorcycle needs to protect your engine from the cold weather. Fresh oil works quicker and provides the protection your engine needs.

Grease Joints

Grease plays a vital role in protecting your motorcycle and its parts from the low temperatures of winter. Start the greasing process by removing the levers of the handlebars. Apply a good amount of grease before refitting. On parts unaffected by heat from the engine, apply a lot of grease for maximum protection. Make sure to apply grease on any bare threads such as wheel spindles and gear lever tie rods.

These are some of the measures you can take to protect your motorcycle from the cold temperatures of winter.

How to Protect Your Motorcycle in the Rain

Riding your motorcycle during the rainy season is as fun as riding it in any other day of the year. But you must follow certain precautions to make sure that you are safe and your motorcycle stays in top condition.

Motorcycle Care Tips during the Rainy Season

The rain can damage your motorcycle in a variety of ways like discoloration, corrosion of some parts, mud stains and other issues. Here are some ways you can keep your motorcycle in top condition during rainy season:

1.    To avoid discoloration apply Teflon on your motorcycle before the rainy season begins. Applying Teflon protects the paint of your motorcycle from rain.

2.    Wash uncovered parts every time you ride out during rainy weather to prevent mud from drying up and caking making it difficult for any moving parts to perform its function.

3.    Mud is also a corrosive agent, as such wash your bike thoroughly after a particularly wet ride to clean even those parts that are uncovered and prevent ruining your paint job.

4.    When you stop or park, make sure to park your motorcycle under a shed or any parking area with a roof.

5.    If you can’t find a parking area with a shed, cover your motorcycle with a right-sized rain cover to protect it from the rain.

These are a few motorcycle care tips you can follow when you ride your motorcycle during rainy season.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Rainy Season Riders

One must always wear the right gear and follow road rules whenever riding a motorcycle more so when it is the rainy season. Riders must exercise a higher level of caution because the roads are more slippery. Here are some safety tips when riding during rainy season:

1. Check your brakes. The brakes of your motorcycle need to be in top condition during rainy season because the roads are more slippery. Replace old break shoes, pads, or liners to ensure safe riding.
2. Check the traction of the road using your rear wheel. You can do this by locking up the rear wheel.
3. Ride slower so that your motorcycle will not slip when you make a sharp turn, a regular turn, or when you brake.
4. Avoid passing shiny, smooth surfaces like painted arrows, lanes, train tracks, metal grates, and other similar surfaces. Trying to stop or slow down on surfaces like those mentioned is difficult during rainy season.

By following these tips, you can continue to enjoy your motorcycle rain or shine.