Motorcycle Helmets - What You Should Know

When the weather's fine, it's hard to resist taking your motorcycle out for a ride. You want to be comfortable and look great while you're riding, but you don't want to overlook your safety, either. Instead, give your safety the respect it deserves by wearing a leather jacket, boots and a good motorcycle helmet. Safety is the first consideration when you're shopping for a helmet and other motorcycle accessories. Comfort is next in line, with style and appearance coming last.

When shopping for a motorcycle helmet for casual riding, assume eventually you will have a wreck and need great protection. Do your homework by visiting different helmet manufacturer's websites and reading about the testing they put their helmets through prior to placing them on the market. Look for brands that go beyond the required testing, as that is a sign of a conscientious brand that cares about your safety.

Try on several styles of helmets in different sizes - the right size and style will fit snugly but comfortably, even for your chin and face. Trying on different models will help you decide which one is right for you. Your helmet should never wobble or shift around when your move or turn your head. Instead, it should almost seem like part of your body.

Once you've determined the best size and shape, it's time to start looking at different designs and colors. The helmet that's best for you might not give you exactly the look you want, but it will protect your head if you do happen to get in a wreck.

Motorcycle racing helmets must do a whole lot more than just help you look sharp while you're on your bike. Many motorcycle racers wind up buying helmets that are meant for car racing, but if you're a racer you should only consider helmets that have been specially designed for motorcycle racing. They're not the same as helmets for car racing, even though they might resemble them superficially. Motorcycle racers need to turn their heads in certain ways that racing car drivers simply don't.

When trying on racing helmets, make sure that it feels light on your head so you won't have trouble turning as needed. Also make sure that the outer shell is very hard, while the inside materials are softer. The hard and soft ratio is important, as it ensures the helmet can withstand the force of impact in an accident, rather than placing all of the force on your head.

When you're choosing a motorcycle helmet, put safety first whether you're racing or riding for pleasure. Look for a helmet that provides good protection but looks good too.

Author: Gary Half

Safety Gear for Motorcycle Riders

Motorcyclists can attest to the exhilarating thrill that riding gives them. As the speed heightens, the adrenaline rush goes faster and the lump in the throat gets bigger. It's like no other feeling in the world-becoming one with the speed of the wind as you hear the motorcycle roar.

Yes, it can be a glorious feeling but the price to pay for this wondrous experience is high. Many deaths and injuries resulting from motorcycle related accidents worry many of us. A motorcycle because it has no outer cover to shield the rider like that of a car, exposes a rider to danger many times more than a car.

So what is the best way to protect yourself from possible accidents without having to give up the thing you love most? The answer lies in the protective gear that you can wear to prevent or minimize the severity of the injury that may possible occur. One important protective gear is the helmet. A helmet will protect your head from injuries like serious brain damage or internal hemorrhage that can result from getting the head hit in a crash.

Also important are your leather apparel including biker leather jackets , leather pants and boots. The biker leather jacket with its combination of armor and foam padding as well as patches in high impact areas of the body such as the shoulders and the elbows give a rider a protection against a variety of road elements such as road debris, heat and water.

More importantly, it can protect you from skin abrasions and minimize the injuries that you can possibly acquire when an accident occurs. It also provides insulation and gives you protection against wind, cold and the rain making the ride as comfortable as possible. Leather pants on the other hand protect the thighs and the legs from skin abrasions and burns that may result from a crash. Boots provide covering that also protect the calf from muffler burns.

Truly, motorcycle gear are not only for image's sake, to look cool, feel good or show off to everyone that, "hey, I'm a motorcycle rider!" The more significant function of these apparel is to provide safety and protection to the rider and to make sure that the thrill that comes with riding does not have a sad ending.

Every rider should remember though that protective gear will protect you as much as they can. But it is still in your hands to be careful on the road and to make your ride a safe one. You may don all the protective gear available but if you are neglectful and reckless, they can only do as much.

By Selene Marin

Change Motorcycle Engine Oil

Before you start changing your motorcycle engine oil, you must place the tools you need within reach. Include tools such as wrench, screwdrivers or pliers just in case the filler caps have been tightly screwed. You should also prepare rags and containers for the used oil. Your motorcycle must be placed in an area that you can afford to get dirty, messy and greasy after the changing process. It is advisable to raise your motorcycle using the kick-stand rather than the side or rear stands. Place the container under the motorcycle where you think the oil is going to flow.

The next thing that you should do is to warm up your engine. This is to soften any hard particles in your engine oil. Then turn the engine off to cool for a bit. Proceed removing the filler cap when the engine is slightly warm. This enables the oil to drain quickly. Use necessary tools if it is tightly screwed.
Locate the drain plug and doff it so that the oil would drain. During the last few turns at the drain plug, be cautious since the hot oil may start to spill out anytime soon. Make sure that the empty can is ready for the draining oil.
Remove the filthy drain plug crush washer and install a new one. Drain plug crush washers are either made from copper or aluminum. It is a small disc to be placed under the drain plug that helps in sealing the motorcycle engine oil. Drain plug crush washers are also made to bend under pressure. More or less, drain plug crush washers value at a dollar each - which means they're really very affordable, hence, there's simply no excuse for you not to get several pieces! Every month, or every time you change your motorcycle engine oil, make sure that you install a new drain plug crush washer afterwards.

Using a clean rag, wipe the tip of the oil drain plug. This is to remove small metallic particles in the magnetic part of the drain plug. Little pieces of silvers of metals are shed by the motorcycle engine. These tiny pieces are usually jammed at the edge or at the tip of the drain plug.

Look for the oil filter in your motorcycle. The location of the oil filter varies or depends on what motorcycle model you have. It is best to consult your manual so that you won't have a hard time finding it. Remove it tightly screwed filter using a filter removal tool. See to it that a rubber ring comes along with the filter as you take it off.

Clean the area of the motorcycle where the oil filter is located. Dip your finger into the fresh oil and use it to wipe the dirt on the location of the oil filter. Then carefully screw back a new oil filter.
Put the drain plug back and fill it up with new motorcycle engine oil. Make sure that it is already grime-free and fastened securely to prevent the oil from spilling. Put only an ample amount of motorcycle engine oil that is specified in your motorcycle manual.

By Mel Raskinski