MOTORCYCLES

Here are some common sense tips for what to wear while you are out tearing it up on your brand new motorbike.

First off, and I know this is old but it always bears repeating, get a helmet. Which would you rather have to do; hammer a few well earned dents out of your bike, or have the doctor hammer a few dents out of your skull? Besides, with all the technological advances in helmet engineering, you might actually look pretty cool with one on your noggin. Oh yeah, and make sure it fits snugly on your head.

Next, you will want to invest in clothing that will protect the rest of your body. With motorcycling, falling is inevitable. Get a jacket, pants, boots and gloves that will be sturdy enough to take a beating, but will still allow your body to stay cool and breathe well. It can get a little toasty under all that leather. Keep in mind also that you do not want your clothing to inhibit the operation of your machine, so make sure that the stuff you get fits well. Oh yeah, and fit is more important than style, ok?

Protective gear has come a long way, offering benefits like waterproofing, special kevlar composites and padding to protect those, um…sensitive areas. Be willing to invest in a quality set of protective gear and you won’t regret the extra money spent. Next we need to talk about boots.

Boots come in an amazingly broad variety, and they are an absolute must for riding a motorcycle. Forget about wearing anything else unless you really aren’t concerned about protecting your feet, ankles, and lower calf. Remember that comfort and fit are important, just as much as the new, fancy kevlar lining and neat zippers and buckles are. The boots should be fairly stiff, but only pro racers need boots that are completely rigid.

There are plenty of other handy tools and add ons that you can get for your bike. Be sensible and choose the ones that would be best for the kind of riding that you will be doing. Do your homework and go for quality.

After you have fitted yourself with the latest in motorcycle apparel, including a more than just decent pair of boots, the next thing to equip yourself with is a riding buddy. Never go riding alone, because even if you have the fancy global positioning instrumentation installed, with the emergency radio built into your well fitting helmet, it will be kind of hard to operate any of that stuff if your neck is broken and you can’t move or speak. Riding buddy…if you don’t have one, get one!

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It is a common belief that motorcycle clubs are formed to commit horrible acts of crime and terrorize neighborhoods. Thankfully, this is rarely the case. One or two notorious groups (think Hell’s Angels) have painted a stark image of motorcycling.

In reality, there are thousands of groups in the world today. Starting in 1903, the Yonkers Motorcycle Club was formed. The group met to share their love of motorcycles. The Yonkers Motorcycle Club is the oldest of its kind. San Francisco followed suit a short while later. These two dominated the scene until the 1950s when more groups formed.

There are dozens of motorcycle groups throughout the United States and Canada. Sizes vary greatly from just three or four members to hundreds of members. Membership can be open or limited to only approved applicants. Many show their pride in motorcycling by creating jackets or shirts with their club logo.

Even today, new groups form daily. All it takes is for a few people to find they have common ground whether it is a passion for the area where they ride or the style of motorcycle they ride. Motorcycle clubs can focus on one specific model, the riders’ profession, a love for mountain roads, or dozens of other reasons.

There are many clubs scattered throughout the world. The Saskatchewan Motorcycle Club in Canada spends their time touring Canada’s remote areas. Harley Davidson Clubs meet to share their passion for the Harley Davidson brand. Vespa Riders of Rome spend their time cruising the city streets. Florida Brothers Of The Bike cruise the beaches of Daytona. These are only a few of the groups out there.

Women find a niche for themselves in the Women On Wheels Motorcycle Association. This women-only group has more than 100 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and Switzerland. These adventurous women plan their routes in advance and then explore new areas as a team.

Police and military groups are also common. As police and military units have relied on motorcycles since World War I, it is not surprising that they would form their own clubs dedicated to the machine that makes their job easier.

Regardless of the group, the rules never change. The important factor is having fun in a safe manner. Motorcycle riders will team up to help others repair their motorcycle, find pleasing routes to take, and even recommend restaurants who cater to bikers.

The knowledge that comes from motorcycle club members is tremendous. You can guarantee that this brotherhood will tell you where to find the least expensive parts, greatest destinations, and best hotels. Advice is happily given and someone always has an answer to your question. For these reasons, motorcycle groups are key to enjoying and sharing your passion.

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Motorcycles have been around for more than ten decades. During this time, motorcycle engines have developed through tweaking and reworking items to get the best performance. There have been more than one dozen engines, but some never met with success. Cost efficiency and customer satisfaction brought failure to a number of motorcycle engines.

All motorcycle engines are fueled by gasoline. To best understand engine types, it is important to understand how an engine works.

A pole called a rod cranks inside the engine and creates a draft that pulls both gasoline and air into a chamber called the cylinder. Inside the cylinder, a piston and rod quickly move up to push the gasoline and air into a smaller space where it meets the spark plug. The spark plug produces a spark between its two metal pieces.

Once the spark plug gives off a spark, the gasoline and air explode. This pushes the piston down, which in turn drives the belt or chain. This action is called torque. The movement of the belt or chain causes the rear wheel of the motorcycle to revolve. A motorcycle’s performance is determined by how many cylinders are inside the engine and how they are arranged.

Single cylinder engine:

A single cylinder engine has one cylinder and one piston. Single cylinder engines are used in all off road motorcycles. The single cylinder provides a lot of torque, but also a load of vibration. The vibration is loud and one of the qualities that dirt bike race fans crave during a race.

Twin cylinder engine:

Logically, twin cylinder engines have two cylinders. The cylinders are placed together at an angle. Usually the cylinders are positioned at a 90 degree angle, but there are exclusions to that standard. A twin cylinder engine produces more power because there is more torque and more fuel used. Twin cylinder engines do not vibrate as much as a single cylinder engine.

Now, as stated above, there are exceptions. The boxed or boxer design finds cylinders placed side by side. This produces even less vibration, but adds a new issue. The cylinders tend to jut out the side of the bike, which makes it hard to take sharp corners. Another issue is the tremendous heat that the cylinders project; it makes leg protection a necessary evil.

Triple Cylinder Engines

A three cylinder engine finds the cylinders included in a head. This type of engine offers a load of power, but it also requires more parts. Each cylinder requires an additional fuel injector and carburetor. The more cylinders included on an engine, the higher the engine RPM. More RPM means more power. Triumph makes motorcycles using three cylinders and boy can they fly!

Four Cylinder Engines

The four cylinder engine is just like the three cylinder engine only it has the additional cylinder and therefore weighs more. As is true of any engine, more cylinders equal more power and smoother sailing.

It is important to consider how much size and power you require in your motorcycle. If you are taking your bike off road, you need a bike with plenty of torque and a low rpm to make it up hills and quickly navigate corners. For off roading, stick with a single cylinder. A double cylinder is your second choice.

If your main purpose for riding a motorcycle is riding through traffic and along roads, do not purchase a bike with less than a twin cylinder engine, although a three or four cylinder engine is a better idea.

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