Category Archives: Riding Tips

Great Starting Tips to Know When Beginning to Ride a Motorcycle

When your friends find out that you ride a motorcycle, some of them maybe horrified: “It’s so dangerous!” just remind them that life is dangerous, that driving a car is dangerous, that walking down a busy sidewalk is dangerous, and yet we somehow manage every day. Some of us spend years honing our motorcycle riding skills and don’t take unnecessary risks. It’s all about managing risk, and risk versus reward. The rewards of motorcycling are great, and (for some of us) more than worth the risk. So AMERiders decided to compile some Great Starting Tips to Know When Beginning to Ride a Motorcycle, so you have some knowledge when begin to hit the asphalt.

When our non-riding friends talk with us about motorcycling, some of them are fascinated. A few have even asked our advice about getting started on a motorcycle this is what we and a few other of our riding friends have come up with.

1. Try a Class

The first of our Great Starting Tips that we give is that you should always, always take a riding class before committing to motorcycling. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has a great program, the Basic RiderCourse, which is available in most parts of the United States. Many locations have motorcycles available for loan or rental in coordination with the classes, so you can see if riding is for you before you invest a significant chunk of cash on a bike. In most states, you have to have taken a course before you get your license to ride one.

2. Hit the Dirt First

Another of our Great Starting Tips that some of us suggest is that If we had it to do all over again we might have started out on a dirt bike before we learned to ride on the street. The skills you can acquire riding on dirt will translate to better control on pavement, particularly when it comes to managing traction. Handling cornering on dirt definitely will keep you a from freaking out from a little bit of gravel on a city street. You may have a dirt bike school or a small dirt bike course near you that will help you learn this.

3. Scoot Before You Ride

And last but certainly not our least one of our Great Starting Tips is that even if you decide to start with a scooter, there’s a training course for you— and you should take it. Scooters generally have automatic transmissions and much simpler operation. However, jumping on and taking off without instruction and some basic understanding of how to handle yourself on two wheels is just asking for trouble. Not to sound like an advertisement for the MSF, but they do offer a half-day Scooter School for entry-level riders. An internet search for “scooter training” will help you find instruction in your area.

For those of us that skated when we were younger think about it if you decided to ice skate or skate on an inline skate, it was harder if you never roller skated before. If you knew how to handle yourself on wheels themselves then it was much easier to handle yourself on inlines. Or even the blade of an ice skate or at least some of us at AMERiders thought so.

If you spend the time and energy to learn to ride safely, your time on two wheels can be safer and more fun – much more reward than risk.We hope that these Great Starting Tips have helped you talk to some of your biking friends they will also be able to help you with some other Great Starting Tips as well.

~And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

Let AMERiders give you some Great Starting Tips to Know When Beginning to Ride a Motorcycle.

And as always don’t forget to send us your stories, pictures, and events for posting to GALLERY.AMERIDERS @ GMAIL.COM and we will post them for you. The more people that know about your event the better and we are offering free advertising. We would also love to hear about your rides and love to see those bikes so send those stories and pictures.

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AMERiders Article Conclusion to Learning To Ride Can Stir the Soul

On Wednesday we explained how Learning to Ride on Two Wheels Can Stir the Soul and is basically an extension of a few articles that we have written previously as well On Starter bikes and Riding motorcycles safely. Today we give you the Article Conclusion to Learning To Ride Can Stir the Soul which will give you more information to chew on and apply to your everyday riding skills. So lets continue with our conclusion to the article.

Riding

Most motorcycles have a power to weight ratio that rivals any supercar on the road — hell, even Milwaukee’s heaviest hogs can keep with a porker from Zuffenhaus these days. Putting that power to the pavement in a fluid and controlled manner will save you and your bike unnecessary embarrassment and, in a worst-case scenario, road rash. While wet clutches are generally more forgiving than their cable controlled counterparts, both are built to handle some abuse. Find an empty parking lot and experiment gently rolling on and off the throttle to find the sweet spot on your left lever, developing your southpaw’s kung-fu grip. It’ll pay off on those long, damp evening commutes. The goal here is to always leave the lights in a linear fashion and to leave the lurching to the cages.

On the road, upshifts are quick and easy and can be fired off with a sniper’s precision right from the start — slowing down is a different story. Some Motorcycles will spoil you with a slipper clutch (or similar technology) to keep your back wheel from locking up during ill-timed downshifts. You’ll understand how a Ride Can Stir the Soul when following these tips.

Braking

It’s the same story with braking. Dive on the binders too fast and too hard and you run the risk of locking things up. With 70% of the stopping power coming from that skinny front tire, it doesn’t take much to overwhelm its contact patch. In an emergency situation, you want to apply initial pressure to the brakes quickly but delicately and increase your pull while the forks bottom out. Transferring your weight will happen naturally, but try and stay centered so the rear end doesn’t wash out. It sounds more complicated than it is, but threshold braking can be a lifesaver, so try it out a few times to get the feel before you truly need it.

When negotiating tight spaces at low speed, ride your rear brake to keep power under control and learn how doing so can mechanically center the balance of your bike — you’ll be balancing your beast at a dead stop in no time with this under your belt. Not only will this keep things composed in commuter traffic, but uphill starts and dirt roads will be infinitely easier. Pay attention to your braking and You’ll understand how a Ride Can Stir the Soul.

Corners

Corners are where things get tricky — and fun. Come in too quick, and any corrections could make things messy. Do it too slow and watch your stability wash right out from under you, literally. The key to cornering correctly is in combining the elements you’ve learned already. Get on the brakes (both of them) and gear down in the straight leading into the turn to settle on a comfortable speed before you even think of leaning in.

Next, get off those brakes, stabilize your throttle and push on the opposite side of the handlebar that you’d think makes sense (right side for right turns, left side for left turns). Your body follows the natural lean induced from the bars; don’t fight it. Once you hit the apex and can see the corner exit, roll on the throttle to add speed and the bike will bring itself back into alignment. Now do it again, faster. When you park your baby after a corner-carving adventure, check the wear marks on your tires: when you lose the “chicken strips”, start booking some track days. Oh, and don’t forget to wave back, brother.

And that concludes our Learning To Ride Can Stir the Soul Article set. We hope it has been informative and has given you some food for thought.

~And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

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Learning to Ride: How Two Wheels Can Stir the Soul

AMERiders knows that Learning to Ride anything is not easy especially when has just Two Wheels, but once learned a Motorcycle Can Stir the Soul. Let us explain in a few words how Learning to Ride on Two Wheels Can Stir the Soul this is basically an extension of a few articles that we have written previously as well. On Starter bikes and Riding motorcycles safely.

So now that you’ve chosen which starter bike suits you best, you’ve got to figure out just how to ride this thing safely — the only thing uglier than a bike confined to a garage is one on its side. Getting out and getting some wind therapy is the best way we know to decompress and let the work week wash away. However, before you swing a leg over and head out on the highway on your first bike you need to understand a couple guiding principles.

There are more ways for you to develop and hone your skills than there are reasons to ride. Knowing when to act counter-intuitively will someday save your ass; well-trained reflexes are the only things sometimes quicker than luck. To keep your eyes on the horizon and your bike shiny-side up, we’re offering up some sound advice to help you learn how to ride. After all, you’re about to enter into a brotherhood/sisterhood, and as you’ll learn, we take care of our own.

Be Aware

All of the technique in the world won’t help you if you don’t ride protected, both mentally and physically. First of all, you need to be more than alert — we’re talking Spidey-sense levels of awareness. Sensitivity to pedestrians and cyclists (who can cut you off just as easily as a car), tar-snakes and other pavement irregularities (which can upset your balance mid-corner), and intersections is absolutely imperative.

Know your escape route

Most bikers meet their creator (whoever they believe that to be) at a crossroads, so always approach them with caution and take every advantage of lane positioning to increase your chances of seeing what’s coming and allowing others to see you. Also, always, always, know your escape route. Look for it first, so that you know it already when you see an obstacle or a driver who’s cutting you off. The same rules apply when stopped: always leave enough room in front to get out of dodge when objects in your mirror become larger than you want them to appear. Or when you see that something bad is going to happen to you that might affect you as well get out of the way.

Unfortunately, every biker on two wheels is likely to encounter a spill of some sort. Fortunately, we have an ever-improving catalog of gear to keep us protected when that time comes. Jeans and a t-shirt won’t definitely don’t cut it at that time, road rash sucks and hurts really bad.

We’re talking reinforced jackets and pants, dedicated riding gloves, a full face helmet and a pair of actual motorcycle boots. If you think it’s too hot outside to warrant suiting up, go try using the street as a slip ‘n’ slide and discover what melting really feels like. Your gear is your only protection when things go wrong, and it can’t help you if it’s in the closet at home.

Get Rider Training

The number of rider fatalities has more than doubled in the last decade. During a Study of the causes of motorcycle crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered that, in 23 investigated accidents, almost half (11) of the riders had less than a year experience with the bike they were on, and seven of them were new riders. The most alarming discovery was that only a dozen of the downed riders had received some form of rider training on two wheels. Unlike your early trials and tribulations behind the wheel of a car— jumping from gas to brake, making abrupt directional changes and jerky gear shifts — riding on two wheels requires a lot more smoothness. While on-road experience will refine your actions, understanding the basic physics at play before that first twist of the wrist could save you a lot of skin and moreover even your life.

Knowledge is good

As with most things in life, a good place to glom some essential knowledge is buried in the pages of a book. David L. Hough’s Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide($20) is one of the best. A collection of intelligence and techniques gathered from over forty years on bikes, Hough’s book covers topics ranging from the underlying dynamics of two-wheeled turn-in to why dogs will always try to chase you down (and yes, they will) to save you from surprises out there.

In 2009 Hough was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame, and he’s received numerous other safety awards as recognition for the lives his writing has undoubtedly saved. Even if you’ve got Iron Butt levels of mileage under your belt, we recommend a rainy afternoon nose deep to curb any nasty habits you’ve developed while riding on two wheels.

Practice Makes Perfect

With your grey matter suitably saturated, it’s time put into practice — air things out a bit. If you’ve signed up for a certified motorcycle training course, pat yourself on the back — it’s a great way to spend a weekend and hammer home some riding essentials. Plus, if you do happen to dump the wheels, at least they aren’t yours. Most courses can be tackled over a weekend and offer an excellent outlet to put your newly found knowledge to the test and while picking up priceless pointers, all within the confines of a parking lot devoid of asshats texting and eating in their 4-wheeled murder machines. That being said, your bike is probably larger and faster than those classroom cruisers, and you need to know how it will respond to your input.

As we have done with the past few articles we are going to split them up for you since they are a bit long.. not wanting you to have to read much. So continuing this on Friday will be the last half of the article.

~And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

Let AMERiders keep you up to date with Riding tips on how to ride on two wheels.

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Things You Should Do Before Riding a Motorcycle! Information to Know!

AMERiders believes that everyone should be informed about certain information before setting out to ride a motorcycle for the first time. Which is why we want to give you a list of things to do before Riding a Motorcycle.

Riding a motorcycle can be intimidating at first, however, with the right approach, it can be safe, fun and enjoyable. Plus, it also helps to know what you’re getting into when you decide to take the plunge. It is similar to getting your driver’s license and buying your first car. However, for some of us when we bought our first car our parents were guiding us through it. Those looking to start riding may not know a rider to get advice and guidance from. With that in mind, we have broken the process down into a few easy steps for you. This is an overview and not a detailed guide, but it should give you a good idea of what you need to do to get started.

Take a Motorcycle class.

There are a lot of people who’ll tell you that if you can ride a dirt bike, you’ll be fine on a motorcycle. Those people are just plain wrong. There are some people who will tell you that you should just buy your first motorcycle and teach yourself to ride it with the help of some YouTube videos. Those people are complete idiots. Riding a motorcycle may be a lot like riding a heavy bicycle, but young riders who don’t know what they’re doing get themselves killed. The goal of riding a motorcycle is to have fun, not to get yourself killed.

Your best chance of having fun and not getting killed is to take a class offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, or local motorcycle dealership. These people know what they’re doing, and while you won’t be an expert rider at the end of your course, you’ll be competent at the basics. Handling a bike at low speeds and taking a corner properly are not skills that come naturally, so having people who know what they’re doing there while you practice these skills is invaluable.

Buy a cheap Motorcycle.

New motorcycle riders are a lot like new drivers in the sense that their lack of experience leads to a lot of wrecks. In fact, something like 50% of all motorcycle wrecks happen in the first six months for riding a motorcycle. Even if a new rider doesn’t have a wreck in the first six months, a bike that’s good for beginners is going to get old quickly, and new riders rarely keep their first bikes for long. If you spend a lot of cash on your first bike and wreck it, you just wasted a lot of money. If you spend a lot of money on a bike and sell it nine months later, you’re going to have to eat some serious depreciation, and you just wasted a lot of money.

Most new riders want a bike that looks cool, but cool bikes are usually expensive and powerful, two things that new riders absolutely don’t need. There’s no hard and fast rule for how much money you should spend on your first bike, but it should be a pretty insignificant amount. We recommend spending less than $1,000, but even if you’re well off, don’t spend more than $3,000. Anything more than $3,000 is just a waste. As far as what type of bike to buy, standards and small cruisers are best for beginning riders.

Buy a great set of motorcycle safety gear

Motorcycle safety gear may not be convenient or make you feel cool, but it’s also the stuff that keeps you from leaving your skin on the highway or exposing your brain to asphalt. That makes safety gear incredibly important. We know that not everybody who rides wears a full safety suit, but do you know why MotoGP riders get up from wrecks looking more disappointed than dead? It’s not because the track is made out of couch cushions. It’s because they’re wearing full head-to-toe safety gear.

At the very minimum, even in a state where you can legally ride without a helmet, you should wear a full-face helmet, a motorcycle jacket, and gloves every time you ride. If you wreck while wearing nothing but a T-shirt, it’s going to hurt a lot worse than it needs to. You should also own and wear motorcycle pants and boots as well.

Unlike your first motorcycle, your first set of safety gear should not be inexpensive or disposable. The bike itself is insignificant, but you are not. Buy quality safety gear. If you spend $1,000 on a bike and $1,000 on safety gear, you’ll be a lot better off than if you buy a $2,000 bike and wear a helmet the previous owner threw in for free. Even better, you won’t be wearing a helmet that’s still crusty with the previous owner’s sweat. Plus you will know that the helmet you are wearing will protect you as it is new and not been bounced off the concrete or floor several times weakening the integrity of the helmet.

Buy insurance (very important)

Despite the fact that motorcycles offer a high level of performance for very little money. Insuring one cost next to nothing. In fact, your yearly payment probably won’t be that much higher than the monthly payment on your car insurance. Aside from it being the law in a lot of states and a requirement to get a license, motorcycle insurance gives you additional coverage if you end up needing medical treatment from an accident. Any damage to a $1,000 motorcycle is irrelevant, but any damage to you is incredibly important to fix.

Get your license

get your license

Assuming you pass your Motorcycle Riding class, you’ll still need to go get your license. It will be a little tedious — just like getting your driver’s license was — but the good news is, you’ll only have to take the written portion of the test. You will have already taken a written test in your MSF class, so the one that the DMV gives you will be a piece of cake, but you’ll still have to jump through that hoop in order to get your license.

Register your bike

Registering your motorcycle is essentially the same as registering your car, which means it’s a mildly inconvenient but fairly straightforward. You hand over documentation that the bike is yours, cut a check, and receive your tiny new license plate. It screws onto the back of your bike, and you go home happy. The law also requires you to go through this process, and if you refuse, it makes your friendly neighborhood law enforcement officers unhappy.

Failure to register your vehicle is going to turn any routine traffic stop into a much bigger hassle, though, so just go ahead and follow the law.

Above all be safe

Once you have all the boring stuff squared away, it’s time to enjoy your motorcycle. In the beginning, you’re going to have fun no matter how fast you’re going, so take it slow and don’t do anything stupid. For the first six months, you should be going on short rides, getting to know your bike, and enjoying the fact that you’re now a proud, motorcycle owner. You also need to wear your safety gear every time you go for a ride. It may feel lame and be a bit inconvenient, but the spending time in the hospital after a wreck would be even more lame and even more inconvenient.

While you’re riding, never forget that everyone and everything is trying to kill you, and that includes the road itself. Constantly keep an eye out for other drivers who are trying to run you over. You also need to keep an eye out for gravel and dirt that might cause you to lose traction and crash. Animals on and in the road are also a big concern, and while you’ll probably come out looking better than the deer you hit, it’s never going to be pretty. Be assertive, be careful, and most of all, be safe.

Finally Resist the temptation to move up to the cooler, heavier, more powerful motorcycle. If you do upgrade go midsize and not all out. after at least a year or two from your new motorcycle. That is all the advice we have for you today.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

AMERiders wants to ensure you are safe when Riding a Motorcycle as well as having fun.

And as always don’t forget to send us your stories, pictures and events for posting to GALLERY.AMERIDERS @ GMAIL.COM and we will post them for you. The more people that know about your event the better and we are offering free advertising. We would also love to hear about your rides and love to see those bikes so send those stories and pictures.

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Winter is Coming! Steps to keep Cold Weather from harming your Ride!

AMERiders knows how important it is to Winterize your Ride to Protect it from the Cold during the Winter months. So we offer you these tips to help keep the Motorcycle Doctor at Bay! We may not want to admit it but Winter is coming! For some of us, it is already here or will be in the next couple of weeks. As the air starts to cool off and the snow starts to fall, some of us will begrudgingly store our bikes. Then sit there tapping our feet waiting for warmer spring weather to ride again.

If your idea of storing your bike for winter is just throwing a cover over it, you may be in for some nasty surprises come spring time. The last thing anyone wants to find out when riding season starts is that their bike won’t start. So use these tips to make sure your ride is as ready as you are when it’s time to hit the road. To keep your motorcycle in peak running condition, there are some thins that need to be done before storing it.

Steps to Winterize your Ride

Depending on what kind of motorcycle you have there may be different things you will need to address. However, there are some general things to do to get ready for storage. The main enemy during winter storage for any bike is damage from moisture. So most of our winterizing efforts will be aimed at keeping that away from your bike. In addition, the fuel system, battery, tires, and all your moving parts will get some love as well. With a little prep work, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle come spring time. Plus your bike will be ready to hit the road as soon as you are!

1) Surface Prep

Washing your bike before storage is important; as letting bug guts or water spots sit on your paint can corrode the finish permanently. Wash your bike and dry it completely to get all the moisture off the surfaces (an electric leaf blower is a great way to get all the nooks and crannies really dry.)

Next add a coat of wax, which will act as a deterrent and a barrier against moisture and rust. Lastly, spray exposed metal surface with WD-40 to displace all moisture (did you know: the WD in “WD-40” stands for water displacement) and to give them a protective coating against corrosion.

2) Change Oil and Filter

Change your oil and filter. It’s better for your lubrication system to have fresh oil sitting in it for several months than to have used, broken down oil in it. Not to mention the last thing you’ll want to do when riding season begins is change the oil before you can go ride. Using a winter weight oil like 5W30 can help it start up easier come spring time as well.

If you’re going to be storing your bike for a long time (4-6 months or more) you will want to protect your engine’s internals against moisture by coating them lightly with oil. You may not be able to see it with your naked eye, but the cold winter air is perfect for moisture to gather in your engine and cause rust to form on your pistons and cylinder walls.

In order to do this, remove the spark plugs and put a little squirt (about a tablespoon) of engine oil into the holes, then turn your engine over a few times to coat the cylinder walls by spinning the rear wheel with the bike in gear. Once everything is coated, replace the spark plugs.

3) Lube Moving Parts

Ensure that moving parts are lubed for winter, this will help keep moisture from building up on them. If not lubed they can cause rusting or binding. Any part of your motorcycle that needs to be lubed at any point should be lubed again before storage. Some parts to check are the chain drive, cables, controls, fork surfaces, and any other pivot points.

4) Prep Fuel System

Another important step to Winterize your Ride is to prep your fuel system. Gas tanks have a tendency to rust when not in use, an untreated pump gas breaks down and becomes gummy over time. To prevent rusting and make sure your fuel is ready to run after a few months in storage, you’ll want to fill your tank completely with fuel treated with a product like Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer.

On your last ride of the season, stop in at the gas station nearest to where you will be storing your bike and add the proper amount of fuel stabilizer, then top off the tank. A full tank will keep moisture from building up on the tank walls, and adding the stabilizer before the short ride home will help mix the gas and stabilizer together and run it through your fuel system before storage.

5) Safeguard Battery

Batteries have a tendency to self-discharge when sitting over time, especially when they remain hooked up to the bike. The easiest way to combat this is to hook up a battery tender to monitor the charge and keep the battery topped off without overcharging. Normally you should pull the battery from the bike for storage, but with a smart tender, you can also connect the tender with the battery left in the bike. Before doing this, make sure the electrodes are clean and corrosion free; if necessary, clean them off and give them a light coating of grease.

6) Protect Tires

If your tires are left to sit in the same position all winter long, they could develop flat spots. Keeping the tires off of the ground will prevent this. One way to do this is with Motorcycle Stands, raise the bike up on them for storage. If you don’t have stands, then at least try to raise the rear tire off the ground. When that is not an option then rotate your tires by rolling your motorcycle slightly every few weeks. And If the motorcycle needs to be down on concrete, put a piece of carpet or plywood under it to keep any moisture from seeping into the tires.

7) Check Coolant/Anti-freeze

If you’ll be storing your bike somewhere that gets below freezing, ensure you have adequate levels of antifreeze in your coolant system. This is very important! If you run straight water in your coolant system and it freezes, you could come back to a cracked head in the spring!

8) Plug Out Pests

Mice and other rodents are notorious for hiding from the cold inside exhaust pipes and making homes out of air filters. If order to avoid any furry surprises when it’s time to ride again, plug up your pipes with an exhaust plug like the BikeMaster Rubber Muffler Plug. You can also simply stuff your air intake and the ends of your exhaust with some plastic bags – but do use bright colored bags or tie something to them so you don’t forget take them out when you fire up the bike!

9) Keep it Covered

Since you have made all the preparations to Winterize your Ride, it is smart to invest in a proper motorcycle cover. A quality motorcycle cover will not only keep dust off the bike, but will keep the moisture out so it doesn’t get trapped underneath it, and create corrosion or rust. If you’re storing it outside, be sure to get a cover with tie downs to prevent it from blowing loose in wind. If you’re storing it inside you’re in much better shape, but you should still use a cover to prevent dust from building up on it.

Don’t forget Halloween is around the corner!

Don’t forget Halloween is just around the corner and we all know that Bikers like to dress up too. We have a Halloween Sale going on from 10/6-10/21/2016 (keep and eye on the ticking clock above as it is counting down to the 21st). AMERiders is bringing spooky savings to you, on various items that are of the spooky nature. Look for our skeleton, ghosts, and or skulls as well as this ( ** On Sale for Halloween until 10/21/16** ) tag above the product description. Items have been taken from all over the site Apparel, Headwear, Helmets, and much more.

We would like to thank all of you that are taking advantage of the savings we are offering in the store. If you haven’t taken advantage of it yet please go and check see what we have to offer you, and look for the ** On Sale for Halloween until 10/21/16** sale tag.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

Let AMERiders be your spot for information on how to Winterize your Ride.

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Smart Tips for Handling the Road on Your Motorcycle in Cooler Weather!

We at AMERiders know that Fall and Winter will not always stop a motorcycle rider from riding. So, we scrounged around and found you some Tips for Handling the Road on Your Motorcycle in Cooler Weather! When riders think of going out for a ride, we sometimes imagine it to be an enjoyable ride through our favorite scenic area during pleasant weather. However, that’s not always the case. Mother nature is unpredictable, meaning riding conditions can change from one moment to the next. We as riders must adapt to these unpredictable conditions, as they can affect the road or impact our ability to safely operate our rides. Fall and winter each provide unique challenges for motorcycle riders.

Fall Riding

Cooler Weather — Motorcyclist On A Winding Road In Autumn

Crisper air and falling leaves are all sure signs that summer winding down and fall is here. However, before you worry about that snow and ice, you might need to prepare for wet roads and slippery leaves littering your favorite stretch of road. Those of us that ride have probably gotten caught in the rain now and then. Keep waterproof (or water-resistant) rain gear in a backpack or saddlebags. Also, visibility can become impaired by rain, so make sure to pack an extra pair or glasses or goggles, just in case.

As leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, red and brown, they often fall to the ground, sometimes hiding the surface of the road from our eyes. Ride over and through leaves with caution, as they can cover potholes in the road that could affect your control of your bike. Also, wet leaves could be slick and affect a bike’s traction making it difficult to stop quickly. Reducing your speed and maintain a constant state of awareness to maximize your safety on the road when riding in these conditions and cooler weather.

Winter Riding

Even the most avid motorcycle riders will consider putting their bike away during the coldest months. The Wind, snow, ice, and frigid temperatures generally don’t make for great or even fun motorcycle riding conditions for some but there are those of us that just ride because it is our “Wind Therapy” and helps us get away from it all. Before you hit the road check some of these tips for riding in cooler weather.

Penny Test

Before you hit that frozen road, it is important to check your tires. First, check the tread on your tires by doing the same “penny test” you might do on your car’s tires. Take a Lincoln penny; hold it between your thumb and forefinger so that the head is showing. Place the top of Lincoln’s head into one of the grooves of the tire’s tread. If any part of Lincoln’s head is obscured by the tread, you have a safe amount of tread. If you can see above Lincoln’s head, then you need a new tire.

Replacing after 6 years

If your tires are six years or older, consider replacing them. Checking the age of your tires is easy, look for the four-digit code near the Department of Transportation (DOT) markings. The first two numbers in the sequence represent the week they were manufactured. While the last two digits represent the year. It is also very important to check your tire pressure, for the main reason that for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature drops, your tires can lose 1-2 pounds per square inch of pressure.

Staying warm on a ride.

Keeping your body warm and protected can require some serious gear, so plan ahead. Depending on the temperature, consider thermal underwear, glove liners, balaclavas and other base layers. Hypothermia due to severe wind chill can be a concern, especially riding a motorcycle. When the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, traveling at 60 miles per hour can result in a wind chill of approximately 0 degrees Fahrenheit. To help warm your extremities, which are generally most susceptible to cold temperatures, consider using chemical heat packs on gloves and boots, or even outfit your bike with grip, seat and foot warmers.

Leather and Textile apparel, like the jacket to the left not only are good for fall and winter riding but spring and summer, as well as you, can open up the vents on them to allow for cooler air to flow through. Regardless of the season, through proper preparation and the use of the right equipment and gear, you can safely enjoy your motorcycle year-round.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

Let AMERiders help you get geared up for cooler weather with our leather and textile gear and accessories.

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Tips to Riding a Motorcycle with A Passenger Safely

It’s sometimes more fun to ride with someone than by yourself, we at AMERiders love riding a Motorcycle with A Passenger and offer up some safety tips to help make the ride safe and enjoyable for the both of you. Riding a motorcycle solo requires balance and control. Riding a motorcycle with a passenger means you’ll master those skills. Generally, as a woman rider, your passenger’s weight will more than likely be greater than your own. If you’re already operating a heavier motorcycle such as the Harley-Davidson CVO Streetglide, you’ll need to be entirely confident in your abilities before taking a passenger. However, giving friends and family members rides on your motorcycle can be rewarding and fun as well. Some motorcycles such as sportbikes are not comfortable or designed well to carry passengers. And many motorcyclists simply never bother to develop the good skills needed to host a passenger.

Tips to Help You Succeed

First Time Passenger Must be a Motorcycle Rider: It is the best practice to ensure your first passenger is an experienced motorcycle rider. So ask your friend/family member to meet you in a large parking lot (don’t head out on a busy city street with your first time passenger) to help you practice. Your first few miles with a passenger will likely be sloppy as you try to balance the additional weight and inputs at slow speeds. An experienced motorcycle rider as a passenger can anticipate your moves and knows already about the protocol a good passenger makes.

First Step Pre-Ride Passenger Briefing: Before your passenger climbs onto your motorcycle, ensure they understand the importance of the gear you have helped them to acquire if you haven’t already. Gear such as a certified full face helmet (or helmet with visor) which fits; sturdy jacket made of leather; gloves, sturdy pants/ thick jeans; sturdy boots covering the ankle and protective eyewear against the sun. Make sure they are dressed for comfort no matter what conditions you’ll be riding in. Do not take a passenger without this gear – their safety is in your hands every time you ride.

Brief Your Passenger on the Following:

While they are on your motorcycle, if they want to slow down or stop for any reason, you’ll do so. Devise a signal such as a tap on your right shoulder in the case you might not hear them. As the pilot, you control the bike and your passenger controls you. Explain that you have no intention to frighten them while riding with you but in fact, you want them to have the best experience possible.
Climbing on or off. Ensure your passenger agrees to the following: They agree to get on and off the bike only at your permission, and only while you are on the bike, and when you say “ready” or give the “ok” nod. The same is practiced when you are ready for them to dismount.
When riding/under-way …explain that they can talk to you if they want (if you have a communication system instruct its use) but ideally when moving have them pretend to be a sack of potatoes-relaxed. They can move about just not suddenly.
They need not help you through the turns such as not leaning in anticipation or when you’re in a turn.
Inform them that you but that no matter what happens while moving, their feet are to stay on the passenger foot pegs (or floorboards) and never try to touch the ground with their feet to try to hold up the motorcycle. Inform them that in an emergency situation and hard braking their weight will come into yours and that is A-OK and normal. You are prepared for that to happen.
Instruct them to sit close to you and that this is best for the motorcycle too.
Inform your passenger that a motorcycle leans to turn. If they’re confused about this or often scared, just have them focus their eyes at the center of the back of your helmet. This will keep their body position upright and in line with yours.
Inform them they can also use their knees to hang on to you by squeezing them/the thighs against yours (if applicable per your motorcycle make/model). Just not too tightly
Instruct them where to hang on and to hang on at all times to you.
Inform that they are welcome to wave to oncoming motorcyclists but may not signal.

Your Preparation for the Passenger:

You may have to adjust your motorcycle shocks and your tire pressure for load, the same as you would when carrying cargo. Refer to your motorcycle owner’s manual and make the necessary changes.

Follow These Good Practices :

Deploy the usually hidden passenger’s footrests/pegs; show the passenger this is where their feet will be positioned.
Get on your motorcycle and raise the kickstand (if the kickstand is down, when the passenger mounts, their weight will compress the shocks causing the side stand to possibly dig into the ground and/or may push the bike to the right causing upset in balance)
Do not turn on the motorcycle (added safety) but do have it in neutral.
Ensure both your feet are on the ground and you have a good grasp on the handlebars.
Pull on the front brake and keep it applied as the passenger climbs on to ensure the bike doesn’t move or shift.
Once the passenger is on, check/adjust their sitting position to ensure not too far to the back of the bike; closer to you will optimize your balance/control.
Once underway, expect that as you slow the motorcycle to a stop, this will be the time the passenger moves around and makes adjustments. This will challenge your slow speed control, skills, and help you to master, them!

Your Job as Passenger Host: Your task isn’t to give your passenger the ‘ride of their life’, it is to be responsible and ensure that your passenger and your motorcycle is as safe and that they feel safe and as pleased as possible with the riding experience.

As rider, your challenges are:

Ensure your Gear shifts are smooth to the point of the passenger does not even sense the shift has occurred. If their helmet is knocking into the back of yours, you’re not shifting smoothly.
When you move off from a stop aim for such smoothness that the passenger’s never quite sure that we have started to move. The same for a stop. Smoothness all around.
Practice in a Parking Lot

The following are the areas for practice and ensure you’re comfortable before you take out your real first-time non-motorcycle experienced passenger.
During the practice you will a likely experience awkward jerky movements including balancing wobbles – don’t sweat it – it’s all part of developing the skill.

-Passenger mounting and dismounting
-Taking off.
-Stopping the motorcycle both normal and emergency / quick-stop
-Backing (with the engine off) – important practice required for parking situations.
-Slow speed turns especially right turns.
-Although riding with a passenger can change your solo riding experience, it is something you will truly enjoy sharing with a friend or family member.

Have fun and remember, don’t take a passenger on your motorcycle unless you feel you are absolutely ready.

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

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Simple Motorcycle Tips to Save Your Life, and the Life of Your Passenger

Safety is important and AMERiders wants to give you these Simple Motorcycle Tips to Save Your Life, and the Life of Your Passenger. When riding either by yourself or with a passenger it is always important to always stay alert and know what is going on. However, there are other simple motorcycle tips that can help ensure yours and your passenger’s safety. We offer these to you just in case the unthinkable happens and you (in the words of so many car drivers) “just come out of nowhere”, and can help to avoid serious issues or at least save you and your passenger from a few broken bones. An experienced rider will see some of these as obvious but it’s always worth reminding yourself of the dangers out there.

Wear Your Gear

This should be a no-brainer, however, it’s not just about wearing the gear; it’s about wearing the right gear all the time. This is what you need and some reasons why you need it. We sell all types of safety gear so check the links in each section to get your new piece or set of gear.

Helmet

simple motorcycle tips — DOT Full Face Skull Pile Motorcycle Helmet

A helmet that conforms to safety standards (DOT/SNELL) is what you want protecting your head, not something bought second hand at all. It is important to note that, many helmets lose their protective integrity after one impact. Helmets can be expensive, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Buy new and always wear your own, as you may not know the history of the helmet. A good helmet is a key element of yours and your passenger’s safety.

Jacket and Trouser

There are many different kinds of jacket and trouser gear out there; some riders wear leather, but some prefer Kevlar. Regardless of what you choose always remember, your skin can only survive a slide so far before muscle tissue and bone start to show. It may sound horrible but a quick Google search can show you the damage no gear can cause unprotected skin!

Gloves

When in a fall (crash or even just dropping your bike) your hands always instinctively reach out to break your fall. If you’re not wearing good gloves, your hands are going to suffer for it. Gloves are often forgotten; even if you’re wearing the rest of the gear – don’t forget your gloves. Skinned hands take forever to heal. Not only that they make everyday tasks a complete nightmare. Walking away from a crash may seem like a win but having to get someone else to help undo your zipper for the bathroom isn’t fun.

Boots

Everyone has seen the images of riders riding bike scooters and small dirt bikes with flip-flops on; now search for the images of when things don’t go to plan. We have all heard the horror stories and that should be reason enough not to do it. The long and short of it is, you’re riding a large engine on two-wheels with little space between your feet and the floor. Durable, sturdy, thick boots are always recommended. You want something that can protect your ankles, and feet as well as stop a bike from squashing them and survive a slide along the floor. Most importantly stay on if you do crash.

Using Your Eyes is paramount

We all know that you need to look where you want to go. Scan for potholes and other hazards and be aware of the traffic. You should also assume that every other vehicle on the road is driven by a moron and above all don’t assume they know what they are doing. How many times have you seen the unbelievable first-hand? How often have you thought ‘they’re definitely not going to attempt that…No way, they’re actually doing it’? Surprisingly it happens so often that the answer is yes.

It’s important to keep your eyes open; use your mirrors, over-shoulder checks and above all keep an eye on the traffic too. Look around and analyze every potential hazard; your mind should do this automatically as you ride but it’s always good to keep your eyes out for danger. This is especially important when a passenger is riding with you. Don’t forget to wear a great pair of glasses to help protect your peepers if you are not wearing a full face or visor on your helmet.

Avoid Debris in the road and in your path

If your eyes are open, you should be able to avoid any sand, gravel or other debris that may be lying across the road. When riding with one or more other bikes, it’s just polite to point it out to whoever is behind you, So that they can make preparations to tackle it or avoid it. If you can not avoid the debris, make sure you approach it slowly, with your bike upright. Off-road tires can handle the debris but still keep the bike upright. If you’re armed with road tires, make sure that you cross the patch slowly, don’t aggressively brake or accelerate while you’re going over it.
If you’re in a corner and don’t have time to get upright before entering then you’re more than likely going to take a tumble. You were going too fast in the first place or didn’t look far enough ahead and consider the danger. It has been known to happen.

Smart braking is important

One of the most important of our simple motorcycle tips is smart braking. Braking too rapidly can cause an accident, however,so can braking too slowly. To prevent slow braking, ensure that your brakes are in tip-top condition and adjusted to the way you like them. You should also be aware of the state of your tires too. Make sure they have the correct amount of tread of them, cause a tire blow our or bad tread can also cause serious accidents.

Braking rapidly can be because you’re too close to a hazard. Always leave as much room as possible between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Consider your braking routine as weight distribution rather than slowing down; some riders say they never use the front brake first while others swear by it. Using the front brake does shift all of your weight to the front of the bike but you can counter any potential lock up by applying the back brake, smoothening out your weight distribution.

When riding with a passenger you should expect that as you slow the motorcycle to a stop, this will be the time the passenger moves around or makes adjustments. This will challenge your slow speed control, skills and help you master them! Practice your braking as often as you can with and without a passenger. Knowing how to brake appropriately in any situation could save both your lives!

Educate Yourself

When thinking of simple motorcycle tips this one stood out most. All of the skills you need to improve your riding can be learned on an advanced riding course. These courses are designed to help you re-learn the basics, lose bad habits and take your riding to the next level. It’s interesting to go and try the new testing requirements and you may be surprised to find gaps in your knowledge. By taking a course or booking time with an instructor, you can fill in all the blanks and re-acquaint yourself with the rules of the road. You might think it’s a waste of time now but you’ll feel differently afterward!

It is also very important to know how to ride with a passenger as well, we will cover more on this in our next post. We should also make note that taking an advanced rider course can lower the cost of your insurance.

Last words for thought

Some last few quick simple motorcycle tips for thought. When riding with a passenger ensure that your gear shifts are smooth to the point of the passenger not even sensing the shift has occurred. If their helmet is knocking into the back of yours, you’re not smooth enough yet. Smoothness in your stopping and starting is important. When you move off from a stop aim for such smoothness that the passenger is not quite sure that you have started to move. This goes the same for a stop, smoothness all around.

Also, the extra weight of your passenger will increase the stopping power of your rear brake. You’ll need greater clutch finesse and more throttle when starting from a stop. If your passenger is heavy, it will take longer to turn, slow down, or speed up on your motorcycle. Avoid traveling at extreme speeds.

We hope that these simple motorcycle tips have helped you to adapt your riding and maybe even given you something to think about that you don’t already do.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

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Let AMERiders keep you up to date on your riding with these simple motorcycle tips.

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Weird Things That Are Lost or Left Behind at the Annual Sturgis Rally

There are many weird things that are lost or left behind at the Annual Sturgis Rally each year, either intentionally or by accident if you are one of these people AMERiders can help you replace these some of these items. You may be thinking that it just may be small things like bandannas, lighters, and maybe a jacket or other items that get lost or left at Sturgis, well that is just not true. Each August for the past 74 years, save for a couple during World War II, bikers from around the globe have motored to the mecca of motorcycling – the Sturgis motorcycle rally in the Black Hills.

These rally goers tour the scenic highways, stop at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, cruise past the free-roaming herds of bison in Custer State Park, and speed by the towering waterfalls of Spearfish Canyon. At night, rally-goers test the taps at many a Sturgis saloon and sway to the tunes of top-name musical acts at several entertainment venues, and leave a trail of items in their wake. The Buffalo Chip Saloon even has posted some of the weirdest things that have been left behind. Here are just a few items of what they have listed before.

Weird and Wonderful things left behind at Sturgis

Some of these things are typical things you would find left behind after a rally others well you have to wonder what the heck were they thinking? Maybe I just don’t want to pack it up, or I’ll buy a new one when I get home.

Air Mattresses
Tents
Cell Phones
1 tube of Super Poligrip (1 report of missing teeth/0 teeth found)
Tarps
Propane grills
Wallets
Harley Davidson’s – How can you just leave your Harley at a Rally?
Id’s and credit/debit cards

These the Chip also had pictures of, and we thought it would be fun to post them here for reference as to the weird things that can get left.

Tons of keys — now you would think that if you just drove your motorcycle to the rally all you would have is your bike keys. How do you start your bike without its keys, or the car or motorhome for that matter?

A bottle of STURGIZZ?? — Ok, we don’t know what this is and the Chip didn’t elaborate either. However, if you are gonna name it, don’t leave it behind lol. On the other hand, We had ideas on what it might be but we will leave that to your imagination.

Apartment furniture — We guess that Sturgis is as good a place as any to build your home. However, what we would like to know is where are the 4 walls, floor, and ceiling? Not to mention the plumbing and lighting that you would need as well. If it is to be an outdoor apartment still there are items missing you might need.

This item just overwhelmed us as it did the Buffalo Chip hence their comment. “IDK WTF this is”

Help with replacing lost or left items

If you left anything at the rally either intentionally or by accident then we can help you replace it. We have a large selection of Motorcycle Apparel and Gear available at reasonable prices. Now we can’t help replace items like the ones above but we do have a list of items that we can replace and much more.

Helmet

We would hope that one would not leave their helmet behind especially since there are some states that have helmet laws. AMERiders has a huge selection of SNELL and DOT approved biker helmets from top brands. We have full face helmets, as well as modular, open face, and even half shell helmets for every biker including motocross helmets and youth helmets as well. Helmets like this DOT Full Face Skull Pile Motorcycle Helmet seen to the left. So if you lost or left your helmet behind let us help you replace it.

Eyewear

We know that sunglasses are easy to lose, and are usually the first thing to go at a rally. Let us help keep your vision clear and free from hazardous debris while taking on the open road.We feature a selection of top rated motorcycle goggles and sunglasses in different styles to accommodate every type of rider. Whether you’re a die-hard biker or a motocross enthusiast, get the right eyewear that gets the job done. Grab a pair of our COLORADO/SMOKED LENSE Biker Sunglasses to replace your old ones

Apparel

Whether it was your leathers, a pair of gloves, Headwear or another piece of biker apparel we have you covered. AMERiders carries premium motorcycle apparel for men, women, and kids to help protect from nasty spills and the outside elements. Lose your favorite chaps? We have you covered as we have a large selection to choose from for men and women.

For the Bike

Did you lose a saddle bag? Tool bag or Cupholder go missing? Regardless of the gGear, your bike left Sturgis without we can help replace it. AMERiders gives bikers a variety of motorcycle luggage, bags, and other accessories to add some style to your bike.

If you lost it check and see if we have it

If you lost something at Sturgis or left it there on purpose, check and see if we have it an item that will help replace it for you. We are always ready and waiting to help our brothers and sisters.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

Let AMERiders help you replace anything that was Left Behind at Sturgis.

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Be Careful Riding Home With Sturgis Winding Down

Today’s post won’t be a very long one as we at AMERiders want to remind all our brothers and sisters to be careful on the ride home and to stay safe with Sturgis winding down this weekend. First of all the rally is not over by a long shot there are many events, concerts, and a ride scheduled before the end of the rally on Sunday, August 14th. While riders have come and gone throughout this annual get together people are still arriving just to ensure they can say “I went to Sturgis”, even if it was for one or two days.

So, what is left to see and do as Sturgis is Winding Down until the final call on Sunday?

Memorial Ride to Black Hills National Cemetery

Sturgis Winding Down — Black Hills National Cemetery

Checking the rides calendar there is one last ride left for this year and that is the Memorial Ride to Black Hills National Cemetery on August 13, 2016, at 12:30 pm. The Line up for the Memorial Ride to Black Hills National Cemetery begins at noon on August 13, and the ride will depart at 12:30 pm.This ride is sponsored by Rolling Thunder Inc, SD Chapters 1 & 2. Its Location is to be held at Piedmont American Legion — 101 Pine St. Piedmont

Memorial Service

Following the Memorial Ride to Black Hills National Cemetery, there will be a Memorial Service at Black Hills National Cemetery, August 13, 2016, at 1:00 pm conducted by Rolling Thunder Inc, SD Chapters 1 & 2. The Location of the Black Hills National Cemetery is 20901 Pleasant Valley Drive.

Concerts Galor

There are tons of concerts going on across all venues in Sturgis. Below are just a few check out the Concerts Page for an actual list of who is playing where.

Buckcherry
August 12, 2016
When: 10:30pm – 11:59pm
Buffalo Chip – 20622 Fort Meade Way

Chris Duarte
August 13, 2016
When: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Rally Point – 985 Harley-Davidson Way

“Weird Al” Yankovic
August 13, 2016
When: 10:30pm – 11:59pm
Buffalo Chip – 20622 Fort Meade Way

gravelroad — Only thing left is the ride home

As you can see with Sturgis Winding Down it may not seem like it is, with the tons of concerts left, and the tons of things to see and do that aren’t even listed here. However, after all, is said and done the only thing left is the ride home. With that said please if you are riding home from Sturgis be safe, as we at AMERiders want all our brothers and sisters to make it home from Sturgis safely.

And as always….

~Live Free Ride Hard~

~AMERiders

and

AMERiders wants all our brothers and sisters to be careful riding home with Sturgis winding down this weekend.

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