Angels We Have Heard On High…Or On Wheels..

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If only highways could talk, the stories they would tell…

What would we hear about Hell’s Angels, America’s most well-known biker gang? No doubt the pavement would have many tales to share of these hell on wheels bikers.

Due to their strong ‘code of secrecy’, there isn’t a lot of information out there about this gang. Most of what the public knows has been learned through news broadcastings of the gang’s run ins with the law; which is more than a few times.

We’ve heard about their run-ins with rival biker gangs, and perhaps their most infamous run-in was at the
Altamont Free Concert at Altamont Speedway in December of 1969, when The Rolling Stones hired members of the Hell’s Angels as bodyguards. As violence broke out in the crowd and spread on stage, one man ended up stabbed to death after revealing a gun.

Violence followed the Hell’s Angels to Laughlin, Nevada, where they had a confrontation in Harrah’s Casino with rival gang the Mongols MC, and one Mongols member ended up fatally stabbed and two Angels were shot. Talk about a fall from heaven…

So when did the Angels fall from grace? Little is known about their origins, but we speculate that in the 1940’s or 50’s California saw the formation of the Hell’s Angels MC. Their symbol is the “death’s head” logo, which was the insignia of the 85th Fighter Squadron and the 552nd Medium Bomber Squadron.

As their popularity grew, chapters began to sprout up all over the US, and soon even over four countries and over four other continents had their own Hell’s Angels.

So if you’re born to be wild, just watch where you step…like most angels, they’ll lift you up and take you away….you just won’t feel at peace while they do so.

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Cold Weather Riding Gear

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For any motorcyclist who has felt the icy sting on their necks and numbness in their fingers during a particularly cold ride, you know the importance of good cold weather riding gear. For years motorcyclists have been trying to extend the riding season longer and longer, and for many people this means some cold weather riding, and cold weather riding gear.

While riding in cold weather, the wind chill effect and exposed skin can cause riders to experience a significant drop in internal body temperature. When your internal temperature drops, blood flow becomes restricted to your extremities. The decreased blood flow to your hands and feet can limit mobility and response time, two important factors in safe riding.

Perhaps the most important piece of motorcycle riding gear is a good quality pair of gloves. When riding, your hands are completely exposed to the elements. It is essential to keep your hands warm as they operate the essential controls of the motorcycle.

Insulation is the key feature in a good pair of motorcycle riding gloves. Look for high efficiency lining like 3M Thinsulate. The best riding gloves offer articulated fingers for increased mobility. Choose riding gloves that allow freedom of movement without bunching or constricting. Ideal materials for winter riding gloves include water resistant synthetic fabrics, and a leather palm will improve grip while offering abrasion resistance. Gloves with large gauntlets will keep the wind from going in jacket sleeves. For riding in very cold weather, a nice pair of heated gloves is a very nice option as well.

Wearing a heated vest or jacket will also do your hands and feet a favor by keeping your core body temperature warm so that blood flow is not restricted to your extremities. Barring electrical heat, the next best option is to dress in layers, which offers insulation and helps block the wind.

At increased speeds, wind zaps your body. Keeping the wind out with proper motorcycle jackets, gloves, pants and other gear will keep you riding longer and happier. A balaclava, ski mask or hat will help keep your head and face warm. A turtle neck can also keep the wind from your neck, while neck wraps and insulated gloves will the keep the wind out of your jacket. And finally, a good pair of riding boots will keep your feet warm and the wind from your legs.

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Learning about Motorcycle travel safety tips

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Every year you have thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts planning road trips either for a vacation or to attend rallies, conventions, etc. Whatever be the purpose, it is important that you follow certain safety norms so that you have a pleasant riding experience.

One of the first things that you must do when planning for a motorcycle travel trip is to prepare in advance for the trip. Ensure that you check the engine, tires, brakes, chassis, oil and virtually every part of your bike before you embark on your road trip. If you do not have experience in maintaining your bike, then get it thoroughly checked up with a reputed motorcycle mechanic who has sufficient exposure in handling motorcycle maintenance and repairs. Also take your bike for a few rides before you head out on your road trip so that you can iron out any problems before taking the trip.

When planning a road trip do not forget to carry travel safety equipment like your helmet, gloves, boots, goggles and a good jacket. You can also consider carrying specially made motorcycle pants that can fit in neatly over your jeans and offer more protection.

Remember, unlike cars and trucks, motorcycles are not equipped with seat belts and other safety devices. This is one of the reasons you need to be extra careful when traveling on a motorcycle. Make sure that you are more vigilant and careful about vehicles that may not be able to see you. Never overtake another vehicle unless and until you are fully confident of crossing it. Make sure that you are well within the speed limits and follow all the traffic norms so that you have a safe and pleasant riding experience.

When you take a road trip on a motorcycle you will experience different weather conditions en route to your destination. It is always wise to be prepared for extreme weather conditions when you are on a road trip. When you are traveling in hot and humid weather conditions, make sure that the effects of heat and sun touches you very little since it can increase your body temperatures and cause dehydration which in turn can lead to heatstroke when you are driving. When traveling in hot weather, make sure that you cover your head and neck with a wet bandana and drink lots of water to ensure that you do not get dehydrated. Likewise, when you are traveling in extreme cold conditions, there are special travel accessories that will help you withstand the cold conditions.

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Tips For Improving Motorcycle Gas Mileage

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Motorcycles are known for being fuel efficient, but with the steady increase in gas prices, people are always looking for ways to save. Here are some tips that motorcycle owners can do to get much better gas mileage on their motorcycles.

Keep the motorcycle serviced.
Keeping the motorcycle serviced is an excellent way of reducing and maintaining gas mileage. Take note of the motorcycle’s mileage and schedule a service check when there is a decrease in the gas mileage.

Get familiar with the route.
Getting familiar with the route to commonly visited places ensures that gas is not wasted by not getting lost. Getting familiar with alternate routes will give motorcycle owners a chance to go a different way in case of traffic.

Turn of your engine during traffic jams.
Traffic jams can sometimes be unavoidable, and the best thing to do in that situation is to turn off the engine. However, this is only advisable in extreme traffic where vehicles are at a standstill for more than 5 minutes.

Use high quality oil.
Dirty oil can significantly lower gas mileage, and can save more money in the long run even though it is a little pricier.

Make sure the tires are properly inflated.
Motorcycles have less tire surface, but still, properly inflated tires will have an effect on fuel efficiently.

Avoid aggressive driving.
Obey the speed limit and avoid constant braking and accelerating. Take highways as much as possible.

Aim to be aerodynamic.
Some helmets and clothing are designed to more aerodynamic than others. Consider purchasing more aerodynamic items, and keep bike accessories to the minimum.

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Don’t be a victim to Motorcycle theft

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Motorcycles are a lot of fun. But like a car, a motorcycle can be a target for thieves. So here are some tips to help you keep your bike in your hands and not the hands of a thief.

A professional thief can steal anything. But a motorcycle owner can deter many routine thefts by using some common sense. The first thing that comes to mind is the fork locks. If your bike comes with fork locks why not get into the habit of using them? Many bike owners forget they even have them. This will also force an owner into removing the keys from the ignition which can then be placed in a purse or pocket after locking the forks. If the bike does not come with a built in fork lock, there are U-Locks that can be purchased at a fairly reasonable price.

Another suggestion would be to cover your bike. A would be thief may pass your motorcycle by if they are not certain that what under the cover is worth their time and chance of getting caught. Consider an alarm for motorcycles. If the bike is tampered with the alarm will sound off alerting you to a would be thief.

Don’t show off. Some bike owners are so proud of their bikes they park them in plain sight for everyone to admire. All that will do is allow a potential thief to case your bike or maybe even follow you home. So it is also a good idea to secure your garage or shop too.

When using your bike to go to work, try to park in a safe place. Choose your parking spot carefully and do not park where your bike may be easily stolen without someone noticing. You could also remove the main fuse and take it with you to work.

Simply put, there are dozens of ways to think about keeping your bike safe from would be thieves. But you do have to think about them and put the security of your bike as a priority when you park it at home or work.

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Choosing the right motorcycle engine

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Every biker loves to hear the sound of a motorcycle engine revving up.  Most customize their bike to achieve that kind of beat. So like the phrase you can’t have the cake and eat it too, those who want growling, grunting and thumping engines cannot have best performance. Thus for a bike enthusiast the right type of engine is as important as the dressing up. Ultimately it is the performance that counts in a bike. Modern motorcycle engines are all four stroke engines. Although the two stroke engines have certain advantages like more power and lighter in construction, they are not preferred as they have more maintenance problems and lower revolutions per minute and higher pollution.

For a good biker, selecting the right engine makes a lot of difference. The golden rule of motorcycles is that the more cylinders the higher rpm they tend to generate with less vibrations. While the lower the number of cylinders the greater the torque. The commonly used are the single cylinder engine which are vertically framed and have a spark plug on their head. The dual cylinder engine is the most popular. The common type of engines falling under this category are V-Twin and L-Twin engines. The V-Twin format is used by Harley-Davidson and other cruisers while the L-twin is found in Ducati bikes. The L-Twin is actually a V engine with one cylinder vertically pointing upward and the other horizontally placed with the head pointing in forward direction.

There is one more type in two cylinder segment called the parallel twin in which the engines are placed parallel to one another, deployed by BMW. Also, there are the three cylinder and four cylinder engines which are very expensive and aimed at the niche segment. Finally, there are a few super bikes out there which have jet propulsion system for an engine.

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