Chaparral Trail – San Joaquin Miller Park (Oakland, CA)
January 22nd, 2012Off Road Helmets Comments OffAlvin and I making our way down the Chaparral Trail. Hes obviously kicking my butt on this one. The trail is definitely a fist clincher, with crazy rock gardens and steps. I ran into a tree branch which threw me off on a sketchy section. Song is “White Light” by Gorrillaz Taken with a GoPro Helmet Cam Please watch in 720p or 1080i as anything else looks like crap.
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How To Prevent Motorcycle Storage From Ruining Your Bike
January 16th, 2012Off Road Helmets Comments OffThere comes a time in every motorcyclist’s life that they regret and unfortunately it comes around once a year. Motorcycle storage can be a pain as winter rolls around, but you simply cannot get by without it. There are far too many risks when it comes to keeping you bike out on the road during winter.
Although it is not too much of a hassle finding motorcycle storage, it can be difficult putting it up for a few months. Even more frightening though is the fear that you bike will go in the storage unit in perfect condition and come out ruined. So what can you do to keep your motorcycle in perfect condition?
The first thing you will want to do is a battery charger. Whether you know it or not, your motorcycle will completely discharge after about two weeks. Therefore, if you leave it in storage for three or four months, you are going to have to buy a new battery. Why not save yourself the trouble so that you can get out on the road as soon as possible. Purchasing a battery charger that permanently attaches to your battery is convenient because it will recharge the battery when it is low and shut off when it is fully charged.
Another area of concern during the motorcycle storage season is your fuel. Over a certain period of time your fuel will become stale and begin to build up varnish. Luckily, there are a number of different fuel additives on the market that can help you prevent this. This way you can stabilize your fuel system and have your bike ready right when you take it out of the storage unit.
The next issue you have to be careful of is the temperature of the storage unit you are keeping it in. Because you store your motorcycle during winter, many storage areas become extremely cold. The result could be your bike cracking over time. While heated storage units are an option, the more plausible solution is to cover it tightly with something thick.
Not only is a cover smart for temperature reasons, but it can also keep it safe from anything building up or falling on it. While a storage unit is closed up, you can never be sure what is building up in it. Therefore, keep your motorcycle safe and covered.
The last piece of advice with motorcycle storage is to check it out thoroughly before taking it out of the storage. Make sure that your lights work, the brakes are working properly and all of your switches are working. In doing this, it will allow you to take your bike on the road following a grueling three month storage process.
We’ve trudged through all kinds of terrain all over the country. Some of us have even gone as far as riding hidden off-road trails in countries with names we can’t even pronounce. As enticing as it may be to ride our ATVs in an obscure part of the world exploring another man’s natural wilderness, there are awesome ATV off-road trails right here on home ground.
We can remember the Redbird State Riding Area in Indiana that we took to one time some years back. The ATV trail was merely a couple of years old and it was pretty bare back then. An ATV buddy recently took his teenage son who is as freakish about ATV riding as the father is back to Redbird State Park and noted that there were some changes and the facilities have improved tremendously over the years. With funding derived from membership fees and Federal Recreational Fund, they have used it wisely.
Redbird State ATV Park sits right smack in the middle of a former coal mine – which is why the terrain there will be challenging for beginner ATV riders. There are many hilly and steep inclines plus mud puddles there as well…hearing the word mud, remember to bring the winch. At the end of the day, I remember me and the whole gang had a lot of fun riding this ATV Park and wanted to see who got more mud on. It rained pretty badly the evening before, you see. And when rain hits this ATV trail, it hits bad. And the next day, just be ready for a mud bath which…hey, that sounds like fun.
Someone told me that when the mining company shut down, ATV riders soon found the enticing ATV trail and took advantage of the steep hills and twenty years down the road, the Department of Natural Resources took over the 200 acres of land, adds another 400 to it and then turned it into an ATV riding area to the delight of ATVers in Indiana. Although many parts of this Indiana ATV trail is tough to ride, there are parts of the ATV trail which beginners and medium-skilled ATVers can handle. Suffice to say, trail is everything between mild to wild.
At the moment, the ATV trail is open only on weekends from 9am to 5pm when you pay their $10 per person per vehicle fee. Nominal fee to pay for a whole-day of fun. If you’d like to ride at this ATV Park on days other than the ones stated above, you can give them a call at 812-847-9172 to see if alternative arrangements can be made. The usual rules to ATV riding in ATV parks apply. Helmets on, no second-passenger, every ATVer have to sign and obtain their permit (which is just an application form and $10 away), no alcoholic drinks allowed, vehicles must be registered, strictly riding (no fishing, hunting, camping, swimming…etc), spark arrestor is required, mufflers on, boots must be over the ankles, must stay on marked trails, and ATCs are not allowed (3-wheelers).
For more information about Redbird ATV riding area, get in touch with the Department of National Resources at (317) 232-4070 or visit their website at http://www.redbirdsra.com.
That’s it. It’s time to accept it. Winter’s here. I don’t care how much everyone is screaming about Global Warming. Cold is cold. And when you’re riding during the winter it feels that much colder. Wind chill is a bitch. Compound the factor of speed. The faster you go the more the temperature drops. So the main idea behind this months TAB. How to survive the winter on your motorcycle.
Some of you silly bastards like cold weather. I’ll never understand that. Maybe it’s because I’m a skinny white boy. Not much blubber to hold in the heat. I live in the south for a reason. But even in the dirty dirty it gets cold once in a while. When the temp drops and the wind picks up I’m grabbing every piece of heavy clothing I can wear at once. If I look like the little brother from a Christmas story when I’m done, so be it. Hell, I’ll wear my underoo’s on the outside if it’ll keep my ass warm. Maybe that’s a bit extreme.
For those of us hardcore (read: stupid) enough to ride year round we need to get a little creative when thinking of how to keep warm while riding in the winter months. Ok, so we all ride fighters and are not exactly particular about having fairing’s. So to get around our stubbornness we need to try and break the wind as much as possible.
Hands, being the first line of defense. Winter gloves are usually a good idea. Something with Gore-Tex or Thinsulate is a plus. Just about every major motorcycle apparel manufacturer offers a winter glove. Most can be had for under $80 with varying stages of protection and insulation from the elements. But aside from going out and buying a name brand glove. There are other steps you can take before you shell out some dough on specialty gloves. Take a run down to either the local grocer, hardware, or auto parts store and pick up a box of disposable latex gloves. These are great for holding in your natural body heat. And because they are form fitting, you can wear them inside your riding gloves as extra insulation. Some people may have a problem with latex. In which case, a sporting goods store or outdoor outlet carry glove liners. Moving up the sleeve, your wrists are prone to windblast. Even if you wear full gauntlet gloves, when in the riding position and moving around your sleeves can creep up and let in the wind. Try a pair of wristbands. A definite cheap trick for keeping the wind out of your sleeves.
As far as your upper body is concerned. This is going to take the brunt of the cold. Lack of a windscreen puts you right out there for old man winter to lay into you with a constant body blow. Heavy shirts are a must, obviously. But too many of these at once cannot only be uncomfortable, but restrict movement. Thermal shirts are always a plus. Combined with a sweater and lined jacket. But try some of those cool max shirts as a base to your layers. Anything to wick away moisture from your body is going to keep you that much warmer. If your jacket lets through wind in certain areas try and pin point them from the inside. Seams, vents, perforation. The fix for this is one that holds the world together. Duct tape. Yup, patch them up on the inside so the breeze doesn’t make its way through. Plus, if you find yourself needing a piece for a quick fix on the road. there you go.
Lastly, a thin nylon windbreaker under the jacket can be a great help. Or even your rain jacket over top.
Your head and face are super sensitive. Good full-face lids with closable vents are always the way to go. If you’re in an area that gets lots of snow and super low temps, you may want to look into snowmobile helmets for the winter. The ones with heated visors would be a great option. Of course one of the most common ways to keep your head warm is wearing a beanie under your lid. If that’s too thick for a comfortable fit, try the sporting goods and ski shops for balaclava’s. The ones made of nylon are typically very thin. If you can get one that fits around your neck and face you’re that much ahead of the game. If you want to be super biker, there’s always the classic bandanna too. This will at least keep the wind off your face and your breath will keep your face warm. Keep breath mints handy though. One more cheap trick for cutting down fog and retaining heat. If your helmet doesn’t offer a breath deflector you can make one out of duct tape. Double up the tape and form it to fit your face. Then tape it right to the inside of the chin bar. Just be sure not to leave any adhesive exposed. Most of us don’t need our mustaches waxed.
The feet and knees are always in the breeze. Ski socks are a definite plus. The longer the better too. Insulated boots are really the only way to go.
The less wind that can get in the better. A great piece of gear I found was MX knee and shin guards. These are similar to Hockey shin guards.
Plastic caps with foam padding and fabric liners. Also makes for another safety alternative. The cool part about these is they are thin enough to wear under loose fitting pants. The plastic blocks the wind very well while the foam helps to retain heat. These are fairly inexpensive too. They can be had for under $40. Some even under $25. For the rest of your lower extremities, double up on pants. Sweat pants, Track pants, thermals, etc.
Of course there’s always the option of heated riding gear. These can get pricey but if you plan to ride in very cold climates, it’s probably a smart investment. The cheaper method is the hand warmer packs. They’re fairly cheap and some last up to 8 hours. If you plan on doing some long riding, I would suggest getting some for the trip. You can put them in your shoes to keep your feet warm, in your gloves to help out your hands and any place else you feel is subjected to direct cold.
So now that you look like a reincarnation of the Michelin Man, what can we do to the bike that will help you out with out totally goobering it up?
Well, again, anything that can block the wind will help. Like stated earlier, your hands are the first line of defense. Dirtbike style hand guards will keep some of the wind off your mitts. If you want to keep them toasty you can invest in some grip heaters also. Now Grip heaters are a bit limited as they really only work the palm of your hand. With the hand guards in place as well your fingers will thank you. Plus, if your bike has that kind of ruff and tumble look going for it, they’ll fit right in.
Another, idea that struck me. Heated seats. This is actually a fairly simple idea. You can pull them from any factory-equipped car. Try the local junkyards. Just make sure they can bench test them before you walk out the door. You’ll want the thermostat control with this, which can be mounted under the tail for adjustment while riding. Basically, heated seats are no more then a heating pad element that sits under the upholstery, a top the padding. The heating elements average about 100-140 degrees F. I did a search for “Upholstery Heating Elements” and came up with some good results and even installation instructions and tutorials for various seats. Both OEM and retro fits.
The biggest help of all is going to be getting out of the wind as much as possible. And to do that, we are going to need some sort of windscreen. Now for some, they may not approve of this idea, but there is an upside. This could be a seasonal exercise in restyling your bike. I’m not saying you have to go back to full fairing’s, but stretch your creativity and maybe try a simple upper fairing. Restyle a factory upper, or make your own.
Even a small fly screen can add a little redirection. When it warms back up, you can go back to your original design. At least you survived another cold winter, and maybe… enjoyed it?!
Everyone stay warm out there, and have a safe and happy holidays.
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