10 Things Every Motorcycle Owner Needs to Know About Insurance

Texas is a highway haven for motorcyclists. From hugging the Gulf Coast through salty Galveston, where the Port Bolivar ferry puts bikers at the head of the line for a fast de-boarding, to the gut wrenching twisties outside of Lajitas along the Rio Grande, and from a Hill Country jaunt after a Bandera breakfast to an afternoon cruise among the wind-blown arroyos past Amarillo. Life is good on a motorcycle taking on a Texas road. Even better when you’ve got effective insurance coverage at an affordable price.

Before you saddle up for your next Texas tour, make sure you’ve reviewed these nine motorcycle insurance tips.

Choose your coverage carefully

Just as with your automobile insurance, you’ll find differing levels of motorcycle coverage. Depending on how valuable your ride is, you may opt for plain-vanilla basic coverage or full-coverage, including comprehensive and liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage. Which is ironic when you realize that most damage occurs to you and your bike — not what you hit. But most states require at least a minimal amount of liability insurance.

The more you ride, the more you save

Experienced riders earn lower rates with some insurance companies, so the longer you ride, the lower your premium will be.

Remember the upgrades

Most motorcycle insurance will cover the basics, but if you’ve bolted on some extensive and expensive options, be sure to price additional accessory coverage.

Consider a mileage cap

In many cases, the fewer miles you ride in a year, the lower your premium will be. Kelley Blue Book, the vehicle appraisal service, estimates annual mileage is about 3,000 miles for sportbikes between 600-900 c.c., while touring bikes accrue an average of about twice that: 5,000 to 6,000 miles a year. Your insurance agent may grant a lower premium for a mileage cap on coverage.

Consider paying annual premiums

You can save a few bucks by paying your premium annually, rather than semi-annually, quarterly or monthly.

Garage your bike

Keeping your motorcycle locked up and in a secure garage can lower your insurance costs, too.

Consider a cruiser rather than a crotch rocket

Riding a twistie-gripping sportsbike rather than a laid-back cruiser will hike your insurance rates. Sure, on a cruiser you sacrifice some style and performance but you are likely to pay less for insurance – as well as for speeding tickets.

Join a riding club

Believe it or not, some insurance companies will give you a premium discount simply for being a member of an approved riding club. Manufacturers often sponsor riders groups and can be a good source for insurance discounts, too.

Advanced riding courses earn discounts

Taking a safety course, such as those offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, can earn you a break on your insurance. A clickable map on the MSF website lists locations of nearby learning events, but if you don’t see one available in your area you can sponsor one of your own. Anyone can order the materials and teach the course.

Let’s ride!

Owning a home can also reduce your cycle coverage cost. And, like automobile insurance, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Plus, most providers will offer you additional discounts for insuring your home, car, bike and boat with them.

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Source: Neighbors Go, Plano (01/16)

Inspirational motorcycle trip stretched from Alaska through South America

For over a year Texas Rider News has followed the remarkable journey of a Texan man, Alex Chacon who just completed a 503 day motorcycle ride from Alaska to the southern tip South America this spring - and met several inspiring people along the way. (Modern Motorcycle Diaries: Man captures his 500 day trip across the Americas)

The 26-year-old completed his 82,459-mile journey in April, which he documented in a film "The Modern Motorcycle Diaries."

The El Paso Texas resident told the Daily News he planned the trip for years before deciding to sell everything he owned - except for his Xbox — and hopped on his Kawasaki KLR650 motorcycle and traveled down to South America.

"This had been a lifelong dream for years," he said. "Enough dreaming can get you to a lot of places in life."

Chacon started his journey from El Paso to South America and blogged along the way. But he said he ran out of money by the time he reached Peru. But then sponsors and people who were following his progress began making contributions so he could continue.

"I did a lot of couch surfing and I would sleep in peoples' yards," he said. "People would find me online and tell me to stay with them."

He eventually rode back to North America and made it all the way to Alaska before turning around and heading back home to Texas.

The movie shows clips on his journey through various roadways including dirt, meadows, cliffs, water, sand, bridges populated with people and one very narrow rock wall.

He also shows some local communities he encountered in Latin America.

There were some cultural differences that struck Chacon — such as the treatment of the mentally ill. Chacon said in many communities people who had mental illnesses were shunned from their towns.

“A lot of them were scapegoated,” he said. “The people there just didn’t understand mental illness.”

The motorcycle enthusiast also began using his newfound fame to raise awareness for charities that helped impoverished children in the region. Chacon did not accept the donations himself so he doesn't know how much he raised in total but said it should easily be thousands of dollars.

Chacon took his trip after graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in BioMedical Sciences. He plans to pursue a doctorate, but right now his dreams may be taking him to new places — he has plans for similar motorcycle trips in Africa and Asia.

The major things Chacon said he'll remember is the people — especially the generosity of the children he met in Latin America.

"They were so happy and giving and generous," he said. "Some of the poorest people I encountered were also the most generous."

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Source: Daily News (Landau, 11/20)

Pressure Points: Understanding tire air management

Running the proper air pressure in your motorcycle tire is critical. With a relatively small contact patch, and just two wheels connecting you and your bike to the road, the wrong air pressure can have a large effect on safety, performance, tire life, fuel mileage and even the operation of other components, such as suspension or steering.

Few understand the hows and whys of tire air management better than tire manufacturers. We recently caught up with Casey Morris with Michelin to discuss some of the finer points of maintaining your tires.

"Thanks to more than a century of tire technology research, Michelin engineers have found that there's a certain amount of deflection in the tire profile that's optimal for balancing road grip, handling, comfort and durability," Morris says. "That optimum deflection is based upon the tire's construction, the load -- including the weight of the driver and rider -- and the intended use of the motorcycle."

To achieve that optimum deflection, it's up to the motorcycles owners to make sure they keep their tires inflated correctly.

Morris says that during recent events, Michelin engineers checked the air pressure on participants' bikes and found that more than one-third of all motorcycles at these events had improperly inflated tires.

"We found that the front tire pressure was better maintained than the rear tire pressure," Morris says. "Most likely because it is frequently more difficult to access the rear tire inflation stem. But proper inflation in both tires is critical for keeping your motorcycle stable, upright and performing at its best."

Air pressure is particularly important during the peak travel seasons of late summer and early fall for several reasons: warmer temperatures, longer trips and more travel two-up and heavily loaded.

The below tips offer several suggestions for keeping your tires in top shape. They should give you a reasonable guide of where to start before getting ready to jump on, saddle up and enjoy your ride.

If you want to...

Get out on the road more in the summer/early fall:

Then...

Check your pressure when the weather changes.

Also, it’s normal for tires to gradually lose air pressure by as much as one or two pounds per month.

Be safe on the road:

Use motorcycle’s manufacturer’s recommended pressure

Correct tire pressure reduces the risk of tire damage or failure. The wrong tire pressure compromises braking, cornering and stability. Always use the motorcycle’s manufacturer’s recommended pressure, which can be found on the bike placard or in the owner’s manual.

Have a comfortable, smooth ride while maintaining grip, handling and feedback:

Don’t over inflate or under inflate your tires

Over inflation means that less of the tire is actually in contact with the road, meaning there is less available grip. Over inflation also causes the tire to be too stiff, causing a harsh and unpleasant ride. Under inflation adds friction and heat by increasing the sidewall deflection and increasing the area of the tire that is in contact with the road. This excess friction and heat shortens the life of the tire.

Load up your bike for a long road trip:

Know your vehicle weight and load

Riding an overloaded motorcycle is dangerous. Overloading causes excessive heat to build up in your tires, which can lead to tire failure. Be aware of the maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall of your tires, the maximum axle weight rating, and the maximum vehicle load capacity – and never exceed any of them.

Keep your tires rolling for a long time:

Check for wear and proper inflation

Improper inflation can cause uneven tread wear, which will reduce tire longevity. Both over inflation and under inflation cause the tires to age prematurely.

Be a smart, responsible rider:

Check your tire pressure regularly with a reliable gauge

Motorcycle tire manufacturers recommend checking pressure at least once every two weeks. Do not trust your eyes. It’s virtually impossible to determine if a tire is correctly inflated simply by looking at it.

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Source: AMA (AP, 8/29)