Ready Tips to Choosing Motorcycle Helmets

Forget what you see in the movies.  Wearing a helmet isn’t only the law, it could also save your life.  Here are some tips how to choose the right kind of motorcycle helmet to wear:

Make sure it passed quality control.

The DOT has a set of standards for motorcycle helmets. When buying one, look for the DOT logo on the helmet, usually at the back.  The helmet should also have a label that includes the manufacturer’s name, date of manufacture, size, model and materials.

Go for a helmet in the mid-price range.

Don’t scrimp or spend too much on a motorcycle helmet.  A no-frills, reasonably priced helmet with good quality materials will offer enough protection to keep your head safe.

Protection for the whole head.

Choose helmets that are full-faced.  These offer a lot of protection for head-on collisions.  Open-faced helmets do give some level of protection, but in case of a collision, your cheeks, chin and neck won’t stand much of a chance.

Cover your face.

Choose a helmet with a face shield, which is usually made of hard, clear, shatter-proof plastic.  This will protect your face from dust, wind, debris and rain.  Some shields have tints to give you some protection against glare and some have high resolution for sharper vision.  Some models are even equipped with anti-mist devices to reduce fogging or condensation.

If you’re planning to use your helmet in very cold conditions, you might want to choose one with a breath box.  Located in front of the helmet, it covers your nose and draws your breath away from your shield so it won’t fog.

Look for an inner lining.

Helmets should have a firm inner liner that’s at least an inch thick to protect your head and be worn comfortably.  Before buying one, wear it for at least 10 minutes or so to get a good feel.  Safety may be your first concern but comfort is a close second.  In fact, comfort determines whether your helmet is safe or not.

Make sure it fits.

Never buy a helmet without trying it on first.  It should fit your head comfortably – not too loose or too tight.  If you tried to move it back and forth over your head, it should offer some resistance and the cheekpads but it shouldn’t press on your face too much.  Too much pressure will cause headaches later.

Be sure you have enough visuals.

The upper lining should just be above your eyebrows and your eyes must be centered.  Avoid helmets that limit your peripheral vision in a big way.  A good figure to watch would be about 200 degrees or more.

Motorcycle Boots Buying Basics

Most people take a considerable amount of time when buying motorcycles. They scrutinize and check everything from models to features, appearance to price and maintenance. The same care and inspection should also be done while choosing motorcycle accessories, particularly motorcycle boots.

In order to improve safety and ease of riding, every biker must have a pair of reliable and dependable motorcycle boots. Wearing proper motorcycle gear, especially the boots, will make long journeys comfortable and safe.

Here are some tips that will help you find a good pair of motorcycle boots:

• Boot material

Unlike driving shoes, motorcycle boots are exposed to several elements, such as mud, heat and water. Thus, it is important that you chose boots that are made of durable materials, such as leather and rubber soles. You can also opt for boots that are water resistant so that you won’t be bothered by splashes of water when you are riding your bike.

• Design

Motorcycle boots come in different colors and designs to fit your mood and lifestyle. However, it is wise to choose a design that’s not only based on appearance, but also durability and safety features.

It is important to select a pair of boots that provide ankle coverage to not guard your ankles but also to help your feet handle different bike maneuvers, such as sliding, tipping over, etc. It’s also advisable to look for boots with upper-part shell protection.

Aside from the upper design, you should also pay attention to the sole design. Ensure that the boots you are going to buy provide very good grip both while using the bike or for walking. Remember that your feet are exposed to oil, water and mud while on the road.

You should also pay particular attention to the foot design of your boots. Ensure that your motorcycle boots provide a good grip of you heel and ankle to prevent unnecessary accidents. Also look for a shifter pad, even if your bike has a heel shift. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Lastly, look for a design that doesn’t have trimmings or laces that could get trapped on shift levers or other parts of the motorcycle.

• Ventilation

Look for motorcycle boots that let your feet breathe. Just imagine how your feet might feel when they are next to the engine? High quality leather materials provide good ventilation.

The foot is one part of the body that carries all the weight and brunt of motorcycle riding. Thus, it is imperative that we buy a good pair of motorcycle boots that will help protect our feet.

I bet the guys who invented the Yamaha XS650 didn’t imagine this one coming. Ted from XS650chopper.com was kind enough to let me in on some secret details of the beast. Here’s what he said:

The bike is a 1978 xs650. It is the latest ride from the Fong Bros out of Baltimore, Maryland . A hardcore one of a kind, Yamaha xs650 hardtail… Zero stretch in the hardtail. There is no paint on the frame, gas tank, or seat. The frame is raw metal with Japenese Brown and antique brown metal patinas applied. The welds have been gone over with brass to give the frame an antique brazed together look. The tank and seat are polished. The tires are 18 inch rear wheel with 4.5 Firestone, 21 inch front on an xs400 hub with the Speedmaster replica. It also sports Mac 2 into 1 exhaust.

Overzealous parking wardens are ruining one of the UK’s most popular biking meccas and damaging businesses, say local traders.

Wardens have been “swamping” Matlock Bath in Derbyshire and driving out bikers since the council contracted a private firm to take care of enforcement in February, according to shopkeepers.

Despite regularly attracting riders by the thousand, the area has no motorcycle parking spaces. Bikes parked on the pavement are issued with fines since the clampdown.

Riders can use pay-and-display car spaces but get no discount despite taking up less space and risk their tickets being removed. They can also use limited free car spaces but are subject to a strict one-hour time limit.

Matt Edwards, who runs local motorcycle clothing shop Twisted Spanner, said: “Parking enforcement officers are swamping the area even on quiet days.

“Any bikes on the pavement are getting tickets and they’re being very strict about the one-hour time limit. People have to constantly watch the clock so they can’t browse in the shop.

“With parking enforcement officers walking about they don’t hang around.

“In the pay-and-display areas they’re saying bikes must pay. They’ve never enforced that in the past.”

Allison Chouhan, owner of Bikers Gearbox, another clothing shop in the village, plans to petition the local council to provide dedicated bike spaces.

She said: “They’ve always parked along the parade and now they’re getting cleared off after an hour. No new parking signs have been put up so the lads also keep parking on the pavement and coming back to a fine.”

A spokesman for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: “The subject of dedicated spaces for motorcycles was considered back in the last parking review, in 2003, but was ruled out on the grounds that demand for motorcycles is predominantly at weekends, whilst demand for car parking spaces is constant.

“Dual use bays serve the district best, as dedicated motorcycle bays preclude use by cars whilst car sized bays do not preclude use by motorcycles.

“Authorities generally tend to provide dedicated motorcycle bays in areas that are less accessible to cars, but convenient for motorcycles and cycles. However there are no such areas in Matlock Bath, where all bays are dual use.”