Essential Motorcycle Accessories

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Those that ride in winter weather must have warm gloves. This is expensive but worth the price. Gloves always seem to fail to keep hands warm after a half-hour of riding in below freezing temperatures. An option are heated gloves with their own battery source or a connection with the motorcycle can be put in by a motorcycle mechanic. The wind acting against the hands makes the actual temperature coming into contact with the hands even lower.

When hands are frozen you can have a problem with the gear shift and brake lever. Get to a warm place when your hands are warm. Boots covering the ankle are essential. They should have a good grip so your feet do not slide when stopped. Motorcycles are heavy and if one should fall on your ankle, the best protection possible should be on your feet.

Helmets that cover the face are a must and glasses under the shield are a plus. German style helmets are not going to give the protection in that hour of need. Full Face or at least an open face helmet should be in the possession of the motorcyclist. If a state does not require a helmet, this does not mean you should not wear one.

A jacket with padded elbows and shoulders is a must. Pants that will not shred and give you a road rash infection should the motorcycle slide are needed. They can be of a textile material of leather like the jacket. In summer riding mesh jackets with armor in the shoulders, elbows and back are a must. Do not be foolish and ride your motorcycle in sneakers and shorts. If a state does not require a helmet, this does not mean you should not wear one.

Use some common sense when riding. A motorcycle mishap is less forgiving than one occurring with a car in the vast majority of cases.

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For Bikers the Payoff is worth the Risk

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Those of us who ride motorcycles are often asked about the safety issues and risks associated with our chosen form of travel. We are even told by non-bikers that they would never do it because it’s too unsafe. But after so many years on my classic Honda CB550 with custom dual exhaust, I’ve come to the conclusion that motorcycle riders are a different breed. To us, the risk is minimal in comparison to the payoff.

My older brother, also a bike rider, was on a club trip in the mountains about fifteen years ago. The boys were going a little fast, which is normal, when my brother hit some loose gravel on a curve and wiped out. He ended up with a bad case of road rash, two missing teeth, a black eye, and the need for a new helmet. But just a few weeks later he was back in the saddle and riding again.

The family couldn’t understand why he continued to ride, but then they never experienced the euphoria of the open road on a motorcycle. They don’t know what it’s like to experience the unique smell of the coastline or the great view of a sunset unencumbered by a windshield or the closed-in spaces of a car. They do not know the thrill of the raw power underneath the legs of the biker. They cannot know why he kept at it because they’ve never ridden a motorcycle. If they ever did, they would understand.

My brother passed away a little over thirteen years ago, oddly enough, when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. Yet the memories of riding side by side, me on my Honda and him on his Yamaha, are some of the sweetest in my heart. If he were still here we would would still be riding together. Safety issues and all. Because for those of us with motorcycles in our blood, riding is a risk we’re willing to take. And besides, if you’re not risking anything you’re not really living.

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Elitest Culture on the Road?

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Recently, a boy with his first bike went to the local Harley store. He had bought a 1985 Honda Rebel; it was nothing fancy but, it introduced him to the motorcycle lifestyle. The boy asked a sales man if he could try on a Harley-Davidson jacket and helmet. He had idolized the brand since a young boy and now that he owned a bike, he felt ready to own his first Harley gear. The man then looked at the boy and replied, “Would you slap a Ferrari decal on a Corolla? No, I don’t think so. You cannot wear Harley-Davidson on a Honda.” The boy, stunned, walked out of the store speechless.

This story makes it hard not to question the possible elitism in the motorcycle world. A world that is often stereotyped for beefed up angry bikers (thanks to criminal activity found in earlier motorcycle gangs) has suddenly become concerned with brand imaging. Yes, wearing Harley Davidson on a Honda is a questionable act; however, from one bike owner to the next, should we endorse this elitism or embrace all who wish to partake?

Harley-Davidson has marketed itself into more than just a manufacturer of motorcycles. It has become the lifestyle brand and choice for motorcycle “enthusiasts” across the globe. The company’s licensing deals alone make up for a large portion of the company’s income. Just as with any other company, it focuses on its image and relies heavily on its supporters. These supporters will then buy into and support the brand forming strict clubs with exclusive membership. How is this any different from fashion magazine editors shunning anything less than the latest couture from Paris? In their club, dress to impress or get out! The same concept is being promoted within the Harley ranks as well. What would be so wrong for a boy in love with the motorcycle lifestyle to wear Harley if he does not own one? Thus, the question becomes: are we turning into elitist socialites or are we just promoting a brand we all know and love?

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Brammo’s Empulse Electric Motorcycle Reaches 100 MPH

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Brammo announced recently that they will be one of the first manufacturers to offer a mass-market electric motorcycle. Though other companies are part of the rush to release an all-electric motorcycle, namely Zero and MotoCzysz, Brammo is the first to announce a release date.

The new Empulse is available in three different versions, each with their own overall range capabilities. The name of the model corresponds to the range, so its easy to remember. The Empulse 6.0 can go around 60 miles between charges, the 8.0 can make it around 80 miles, and the 10.0 has the highest range, an estimated 100 miles between power-ups. All three models are capable of hitting speeds above 100 mph. Remember that Brammo’s experimental Enertia electric motorcycle could only hit a top speed of 62 just one year before the Empulse announcement.

Your new Brammo electric motorcycle isn’t a cheap item. The top-end Empulse 10.0 has a pricetag of just under $14,000, but the lower-end models range from about $10,000 – $12,000. By virtue of it being an electrically powered (and thus “green”) vehicle, you can get all sorts of tax rebates from both your state and Federal government — after your rebates and depending what state you live in, the final cost of a new Brammo Empulse should be as much as three thousand bucks lower than the MSRP.

For most riders, the biggest appeal of the Empulse is the advertised 100 mile range. High top speed is cool, and there are some riders who go for lightning fast rides, but most people are excited about the potential of riding 100 miles or more on a single charge. That kind of range is good for a Sunday drive or a regular commute to and from work.

All three models of the Empulse are completely freeway ready, though you can extend the range of each model significantly by driving consistently at a lower speed, meaning an Empulse used mostly for commuting could get far more miles between charges.

If you’re interested, you can now get in at the ground level with Empulse by visiting the Brammo website and placing a pre-order. Brammo says they will start to deliver Empulse motorcycles sometime in summer of 2011

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