What To Wear When You Ride

Proper gear is essential to safe riding. Wearing the right clothing always makes the sport more enjoyable and more comfortable, too.

HELMET

Around the block or around the world, it makes sense to leave home with a helmet on your head. IT’S ONE OF THE BEST ITEMS OF PROTECTION YOU CAN USE.

Helmets come in all sizes, from extra small (XS) to extra large (XL). There are also helmets for children. When you buy a helmet, make sure it fits properly. Try it on; it should be comfortable to wear, neither too tight nor too loose. Remember, it is going to spend a lot of time on your head.

A full-face helmet gives the most protection since it covers all of the head and face.

Always fasten the helmet strap. If the helmet is not secured, it is doing about as much good as if it were on the shelf at home.

Did you know that all adult-sized motorcycle helmets now sold in the United States must have a sticker indicating DOT (Department of Transportation) compliance, which means that the helmet meets certain basic impact standards? Don’t buy a helmet without one; it may not meet standards. Helmets vary greatly in price and style. Buy one that suits you. Wear it. Fasten it every time you throw a leg over the motorcycle.

A good helmet makes motorcycling a lot more pleasurable because it cuts down on the wind noise and greatly reduces rider fatigue. The days of heavy or cumbersome helmets are gone; they’re now made of light new materials with terrific designs and colors to choose from.

If you do drop your helmet onto a hard surface, or it receives a heavy blow, it is probably time to buy a new one. A motorcycle helmet is designed to absorb the impact of a blow, and a helmet should only do that once. If in doubt, get a new one.

EYE PROTECTION

Riding with bare eyeballs is a gamble. Your eyes are precious, and it does not take much to injure one.

A windshield on a motorcycle is not eye protection; a bit of sand or tiny piece of glass can whip in behind it and get in your eye.

Proper eye protection means an approved shield on your helmet, a pair of goggles, or shatterproof glasses. Settling for less just isn’t worth the risk.

Make sure your eye protection is clean and unscratched. If you use a tinted lens or shield for riding in the bright sunlight, take a clear one along as well, in case you are riding after dark.

JACKET

Motorcycle jackets are made in many sturdy materials: denim, nylon in its various guises, corduroy, and leather. The hide of a cow, or any other commonly used leather, offers you the most protection when it comes to abrasion. You can buy leather jackets with zippered vents, which are comfortable to wear even in hot weather as they allow a breeze to flow through.

PANTS

These should be made of a thick material, such as leather. They resist abrasion and provide protection from the elements. A pair of loose, light cotton pants that flap in the wind is not very good riding gear. A number of companies sell leather riding pants, and you can get pants and jacket combinations that zip together.

Some riders choose jackets and pants with rigid "body armor" inserts in critical areas for additional protection.

GLOVES

Always wear gloves. Even on a hot day. The car in front of you may throw up a stone that hits your fingers. Ouch! Also, bare hands cannot withstand abrasion in the event of a fall.

BOOTS

Over-the-ankle boots, please. Preferably made of strong leather. Your ankles are very complicated; protect them.

A boot with a slippery sole could cause embarrassment when you put your foot down at a greasy gas station. Rubber soles, with a good tread design, offer better gripping possibilities.

RAINGEAR

It rains everywhere in this country, some places more than others. Inevitably you will be caught out in the rain. Why not have a good motorcycle rainsuit along, with rain-covers for boots and gloves as well? It’s a lot more fun riding in the rain when you’re dry.

HEARING PROTECTION

Long-term exposure to engine and wind noise can cause permanent hearing damage, even if you wear a full-face helmet. Whether you choose disposable foam plugs or reusable custom-molded devices, proper protection reduces noise, while allowing you to hear important sounds like car horns. Make sure you follow your state’s laws when using hearing protection.

HIGH-VISIBILITY GEAR

The better people see you, the less likely they are to run into you. Brightly colored clothing is preferable to drab, dark clothing.

You can buy special vests which are designed to make it easier for others to see you. Some military bases feel strongly about this feature and require all motorcyclists to wear them.

For nighttime, you can buy clothing that reflects light, and put reflective strips on your helmet and the backs of your boots. Every little bit helps.

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source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Motorcycle Tour of the Smoky Mountain for Women

Here’s one for you ladies. Freedom In The Mountains – Guided Motorcycle Tours is hosting 2 River Pilot Tours – Women Motorcycle Tours (WMT) in the Smoky Mountains. River Pilot Tours is one of the leading Tour Planning companies in the world. River Pilot Tours lets you enjoy the tour by taking care of the route planning, accommodations plus they provide a tour guide and support vehicle to carry all of your items.

Freedom In The Mountains will be taking the Women Motorcycle Tour (WMT) on a 7 day 950 mile trek through the beautiful Smoky Mountains. You’ll get to see waterfalls, mountain vistas, hot springs and more as the tour winds along these famous routes: Cherohala Highway, Tail Of The Dragon, Chattahoochee National Forest, Guntersville Lake, Dixie Highway, Great Smokey Mountain Expressway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Richard Russell Scenic Highway.

Along the way you’ll be stopping at places like the Wildflower Cafe and Country Store, Ruby Falls, Hot Springs Spa, Biltmore Estate, Museum Of The Cherokee Indian and Consolidated Gold Mine. The best part is all you have to do is book the tour and show up. River Pilot Tours and Freedom In The Mountains has taken care of all the details. Plus a donation will be made to the Make A Wish Foundation on behalf of the group.

The dates for the Women Motorcycle Tour are August 18, 2012 – August 24, 2012 and/or October 06, 2012 – October 12, 2012. The ride is approximately 950 miles with daily rides about 150 miles with the longest being 241 miles. Riding conditions will be sweeping mountain curves with moderate riding difficulty. You must have a current motorcycle license from your home state or country. The price is: $2,649/person, double occupancy; if you bring a passenger its $599 more; and if you want to room by yourself add $325. For more details about the Women Motorcycle Tours in the Smoky Mountains go to: freedominthemountains.com , or www.riverspilot.com/women-motorcycle-tour-151 . Be sure to tell them you found out about them from IronWorks Magazine.


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source: Iron Works (Kanish, 6/26)

Tips for motorcycle passengers

Summer is the time for those longer motorcycle rides, including rallies such as Sturgis and the already past Republic of Texas Biker Rally. So it goes that you are more likely to take along a passenger on your motorcycle to keep company. Here are some riding tips for motorcycle passengers.

The rider should suggest appropriate clothes for the passenger to wear. Like the rider, the passenger must wear protective clothing in case of an accident or an unlikely spill. Leather jackets and pants are highly suggested, but if the passenger does not or cannot get a hold of a pair of leather pants, any durable pair will do the trick. For the jacket it can be anything durable as long as it's abrasion resistant.

The passenger should wear shoes that will protect their feet, but boots are highly recommended over regular shoes. Wearing a helmet is a must for safety reasons, it is preferred to wear a helmet with a face shield, and if the helmet doesn't have one, then one must wear goggles or glasses to protect the rider's eyes. Being comfortable is important, especially with the unpredictable Texas weather, but the usual comfortable clothes are loose and billowy, and they can become stuck in the motorcycle's rear wheel, drive chain, or any other moving part, so please refrain from using extremely loose clothing.

Before mounting the motorcycle, make sure the passenger knows how to get on and get off. The passenger should know where the foot pegs are located, and if they are down or not. It is generally custom to mount and dismount from the left. While doing this, one should be aware of the location of the exhaust pipes, and try not to touch them with your legs since they can be hot and can cause minor burns. By just lifting your left leg one can just gently slide and mount the motorcycle, without forgetting to set your feet on the pegs. Before getting off a motorcycle, the passenger should wait for the rider to say it is okay to get off, since an unexpected weight change can make the motorcycle fall.

While the motorcycle is in motion, it is important the rider keep their feet on the pegs and cinching down any laces on their footwear. Doing so lowers the possibility from their feet getting caught on the rear wheel, drive chain, or touching the exhaust pipe, which, again, is extremely hot. Passengers should never try to help the rider hold up the bike.

For safety reasons the passenger should always hold on to the rider's hips, since holding their hips keeps the weight on the bike centered, and the bike's movements smooth. If the passenger moves around, the movement can overthrow the balance of the motorcycle and can lead to an accident. Motorcycles tend to do turns by leaning to the side that they are turning into, so don't freak out! Just position your body to where the motorcycle is leaning. When the motorcycle comes to any stops, the passenger tends to slide into the rider, in order to prevent this the passenger should brace their weight against the foot pegs and use their thigh muscles.

By following these tips, both the rider and the passenger can be safe. When both passengers and riders are comfortable and safe, they can simply relax and enjoy the motorcycle ride, and then while on a lengthy ride the only worry is where you're going to stop next and get something to eat!

Custom Motorcycle Paint Shops in North Texas

There are many shops in North Texas that can do custom paint jobs for motorcycles, but before you decide where you want to get it done, first you have to do some research. You want to find out whether the place of interest has a good reputation, and if other riders have gotten good work done by the artists or not. If you end up undecided on where to go, not to worry Texas Rider News has 6 great places listed for you.

Other Side Customs specializes in touring motorcycles, but also do  custom paint jobs for helmets and cars.  Located on 7111 John Carpenter Fwy.  Their price range depends on the scope of the artwork, but it generally ranges from $1,000 to $2,5000.  For more information call (214)-905-3233 or visit their website www.othersidecustoms.net.

TEXEFX custom paint shop specializes on motorcycles, helmets, and cars, but pin-striping is their forte. They are located in 6200 Crow Wright Rd Sanger, Texas 76266 just north of Dallas/Fort Worth. For more information on TEXEFX call (940)-482-9969 or visit their website www.texefx.com

Dallas Air Brush specializes on both motorcycles and cars, and currently have a deal for $100 off any motorcycle paint job (tank, and fenders, 3-pieces, or any paint job of $1,000 or more).  It is located in 2415 midway Rd suite  Plano, Texas 75025.  For more information or an estimate call (214)-529-4410 or visit their website www.dallasairbrush.com.

With eleven locations all over the Metroplex, Chronic Customs works with cars, motorcycles, and trucks.  Located mainly in Dallas, Arlington, and Grapevine, they offer a paint job you will love.   Their price range for a two tone goes for $1,100 to $1,400.For more information call (817)-371-4085 or visit their website www.chroniccustoms.com.

Sik offers high quality paint jobs that are magazine ready, and award winning airbrush work.  They specialize on motorcycles, cars, and helmets. Located on Beltline Rd, Mesquite,Texas 75149. For more information call (214)-995-4664 or visit their website www.sikautosports.com

DuSold Designs specializes in high quality air brushing and body work for cars, motorcycles, trucks, helmets, and guitars. They also offer other services such as:  pin stripping, metal fabrication, L.E.D.’s, complete cars and motorcycle builds, custom mechanical services, and paint repairs.  Located in 1491 N.Kealy suite 35 Lewisville Texas, 75057  For more information call (972)-221-1455 or visit their website www.dusolddesigns.com.

Four Great Motorcycle Rides in Texas

One does not have to ride out of state to experience breath-taking landscapes like those in the movies.  Texas is filled with so many varied, vast, and beautiful places, but when motorcyclists want to escape the Metroplex, they tend to go westward.
 

If you are heading west, one place to stop worth considering is Fort Richardson State Park off road 61, in the panhandle plains region.  While here, soak up some history and nature at the same time.  Fort Richardson was built in 1867 to provide protection to farmers, ranchers, and prospectors who headed to the gold fields and stages on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route.  Every now and then, they host live reenactments, barbecue cook-offs, fishing tournaments, living history presentations and motorcycle runs.  Jacksboro is just outside the park gate, and City Drug, a famous pharmacy store, has one of the last few old-time soda fountains.  It's less than an hour from Fort Worth.  Fort Richardson State Park can be a great place to check out, even if it is just for a short stop.

Another locale that makes for a sweet ride is the Bastrop Park Road 1.  It is filled with winds and snakes, through a beautiful area that blends a bit of East Texas with the famous Hill Country.  The route features a forest that forms a canopy made out of old pines and oaks that makes for an interesting corridor ride.  There are also camping and fishing sites, if you get the notion to stop at and relax.  This non-stop-curved route has a smooth road with a few cattle guards, and in going the opposite direction gives riders a completely different type of view. It's sometimes referred to as "The Copper Head Snake Road" because of the constant winding.  A great place to stop for some food is The Roadhouse, which is located at the entrance of the Bastrop State Park.  The Roadhouse is one of the few best hamburger joints in Texas.

If you're interested in a more condensed, smaller route to ride, check out Mission Tejas State Park.  Mission Tejas is a quiet relaxing place that is tucked deep within dense tall pines.  While on this ride, a point of interest is a commemorative representation of the 1690 Mission San Francisco de los Tejas.  Located 21 miles northeast of Crockett, and 12 miles west of Alto on State Highway 21, Mission Tejas carries you back through several important periods of Texas history along one of the oldest roadways in America.

Just southwest of Claude, Texas you'll find the breath-taking Paloduro Canyon Loop.  This loop takes you in and out of Paloduro in the Texas panhandle, and it is great for seeing canyon formations and desert scenery.  Even though the loop is mostly straight with a few sweeping turns, it does have harder twisties mixed in the canyon areas.  There are no real major attractions to speak of on this route, but the view alone is worth it. A rider can just sit back, hit the accelerator, and enjoy a breath-taking sunset.