MOTORCYCLES

For those of us who have kids and motorcycles we have to realize that the same inner pull that drives us to the biker lifestyle very often is in our kids as well. If you have kids you know what I am talking about, you can barely get away for a ride by yourself because they always want to go, right? I enjoy taking them out anyway but we do have to remember that there are special precautions we have to take for them before we take them for a ride.

The first thing we need to do is be sure that we equip them with protective riding gear just like we wear beginning with protective clothing such as long heavy denim or leather pants and jackets, full gloves, good quality heavy shoes or boots, and of course last but certainly not least a helmet that fits them properly. You can’t just have an extra helmet that anyone wears, your kids need to have their own that fits them properly. You should also be sure that they have a pair of good quality high impact resistant sunglasses to protect their eyes from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

Make sure that your kids know the rules of the road before you take them out, such as no quick movements and staying seated on the bike at all times. You also want to be sure that they are comfortable and have a sturdy safe place to rest their feet. You may have to get something customized if your kids are really small.

You have to be aware that having a kid on the back of your bike is totally different than having another adult riding with you. Kids move around a lot more, just like they do any other time! They don’t think about the dangers as much as an adult and may tend to stick their hands out to play in the wind and things like that. Just watch them and keep them safe.

Another issue I have noticed with my kids, especially when they were smaller is that the sound and vibration of my bike would sometimes make them sleepy, you don’t want them falling asleep and falling off the motorcycle! Just be aware that this can happen so that if and when it does you are prepared for it.

Riding your motorcycle with your kids can be a very pleasurable experience, just be cognizant of the fact that with that experience comes some additional responsibilities that you have to take into consideration.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get reviews on motorcycle gear and accessories at http://www.motorcyclegearandaccessories.com

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If you’ve ever seen the “Terminator” movie series, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, you would have noticed that he was wearing a pair of sun glasses in virtually every scene. The parts where he was riding a motorcycle, chasing the villain - or being chased by one - are especially relevant to this topic. Granted, those shades looked cool on Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, but his motorcycle sun glasses in those movies are hardly practical for real-life motorcycling use. There are several reasons for this - one of which is the biker sunglasses he was using simply seem too casual, in the sense that they don’t seem able to withstand the rigors of traveling at high speeds on the road. But then, the Terminator’s motorcycle sun glasses are part of movie magic. Real life tells a different story.

Biker sunglasses need to be very durable - both the lens and the frame need to be extremely hardy. This is because there is a very real risk of debris flying off the road and hitting the biker in the face. Even if debris, such as a pebble or wood chip, is very small, the speed at which it hits the biker can be very dangerous. If the lens of one’s motorcycle sun glasses is not of good quality, it could break and cause serious injury to the biker. That’s why it is not recommended to wear sunglasses with glass lenses, because although they are resistant to scratches, they can break - especially when hit with debris at 80 miles an hour. Instead, go for biker eyewear whose lenses are made of polycarbonate. This material is very strong and is somewhat lightweight, so it’s well-suited for use in road travel on a motorcycle. High-quality lenses undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they are able to withstand the stress of strong winds or adverse temperatures.

Wearing sun glasses with polarized lenses is especially helpful since they reduce or eliminate the glare that bounces off from the pavement. Certain light waves produce a vibration when they hit a surface and the polarization of special lenses counteract this type of light waves. So even if you’re out riding your motorcycle on a sunny day and you’re wearing sun glasses with polarized lenses, you wouldn’t have to find yourself having to squint against the brightness of the road or other surfaces. This may not only help to prevent accidents, it can keep your eyes safe from damage that can be caused by glare.

Another thing to remember is that biker sunglasses need to have more than adequate ultraviolet (UV) protection. The recommended filter level is UV 400. Sun glasses with UV protection are even more important than those with polarized lenses. On days that are not sunny, polarized lenses are not really necessary since there is no bright light to reflect on surfaces. But even on cloudy days, dangerous ultraviolet rays are still present, and constant exposure to them elevates one’s risks of getting skin and eye diseases. So, wearing sun glasses with a high UV protection rate even on not-so-sunny days can significantly reduce one’s risk of getting photokeratitis, cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye disorders.

If your vision is less than 20/20, there is an abundance of prescription motorcycle sun glasses at your disposal. You can go to an optical shop, choose the frame, and get them to create lenses tailored to your prescription. Or you can bring your prescription to a store that specializes in motorcycling gear and have a pair custom made just for you. You can even order specially-made prescription biker sunglasses online! Just browse the catalogs of eyewear manufacturers, select the style that you want, send them your prescription, and sit back and wait for your order to arrive.

Don’t forget to consider the issue of frames in your selection. Motorcycle sun glasses need to fit snugly around the eyes so as to prevent the wind and other materials, such as dust, from entering. It is also important to have a vented frame because this will help avoid the lens from fogging up. These frames come in a variety of materials, from nylon to metal. Which one is better depends on the user’s personal preference.

Motorcycle sun glasses play a big role in making a person look and feel good while riding his or her bike. A choice or several choices can be made from all the manufacturers of sun glasses - from Oakley to Bolle and Smith - even to Harley Davidson sun glasses. They may not make you indestructible like the Terminator, but you can look just as cool and take comfort in the fact that your eyes will be safe along the ride.

Sunglassology.com provides you with information on motorcycle sun glasses, where to buy, which are crap and which are slick. From baseball sunglasses to motorcycle sun glasses. http://www.sunglassology.com

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Motorcycles and motorbikes belong to a group of vehicles that often take part in a small number of road accidents. The statistics speak for itself, as motorcycle riders are just 1% of traffic. Therefore a motorcycle accident claim is small in number, but they suffer 19% of deaths and serious injuries.

In the year 2002 over 600 motorcyclists died in road traffic accidents and almost 7000 suffered from serious injuries.

A head injury is the most often cause of death and serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. A motorcyclist is 45 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than a car driver.

Cause Of A Motorcycle Accident

Reasons may vary - not only other road users may cause the accident but also highway authorities are often responsible for them. Poor maintenance of roads, resulting in road surface damages which is a common result of a motorcycle accident claim.

Lack of seatbelts and any outside protection granted by cars also raise the risk of serious injuries for motorcyclists. The other problem is visibility - motorbikes belong to a group of road users vulnerable to not being seen well, making up to a 1/3 of a cars visibility.

What To Begin With

There are some general rules about motorbike accidents that one should be aware of. Firstly, always make sure if the police attend the scene ensure a detailed report of the accident, even if it seems insignificant. Even the smallest injuries or damage to your motorbike or anything carried on it can underlie a successful accident claim.

Secondly, you can make a compensation claim if your motorbike accident was not your fault or your fault was only partial. Your speed and wearing a protective helmet are among many details, which must be considered while the fault is being determined.

Thirdly, time matters, so every accident should be reported as soon as possible. If the person responsible for your accident doesn’t stop or has no insurance, you can still make a claim however, it will be dealt with the Motor Insurers Bureau.

MIB is an organization, who provide compensation for victims of accidents involving uninsured drivers and hit-and-run cases.

It’s Not Easy?

As you will notice, dealing with a motorcycle injury claim is quite complicated and it requires a fast and professional reaction. But how can you react fast enough and take care of all these details if you have suffered serious health problems caused by the accident?

The best you can do in this situation is to employ a personal injury solicitor. An accident solicitor’s help is an absolute must to handle your compensation claim. Details such as - injury assessment, accident reports, claim preparations, etc.

What is important, you don’t risk anything, thanks to a ‘no win no fee’ arrangement, which simply means that if your case wins, you keep the winnings and if lost, all costs are paid by solicitor.

Enough Risk - Let’s Do It Safely!

Riding a motorcycle is a wonderful experience as may know but it is risky and injuries involving motorcycle accidents are often very serious. Isn’t all this risk enough? Do you need to take another risk even after the accident by trying to handle the claim yourself or employing some company, which cares more about the money than about your well-being and successful claim?

Make use of a personal injury solicitor under a no win no fee arrangement and take no more unnecessary risk. After your suffering, you deserve a good and stress-free compensation. You can have it with some help of an accident solicitor.

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