The Importance of a Good Motorcycle Cover

If you own a motorcycle, one of the first things you should consider buying is a motorcycle cover. These invaluable pieces of fabric may seem pricey, yet they are a worthwhile investment as they not only help protect your motorcycle but also give you the peace of mind that you are doing what you can for your motorcycle.

Your decision to purchase a motorcycle cover will be an important one as it will prolong the life and look of your bike. A high quality motorcycle cover will also help to protect your ride from thieves, vandalism and, of course, the elements. Different covers will have different properties, such as water-resistance or UV-resistance, so know what elements your bike will be facing and choose one that will work the most for you.

Every owner should want a cover for their motorcycle because it repels dust, sun, rain, snow and the list goes on. If you are really serious about keeping your ride looking like new, it is vital that you choose a cover that will guarantee to do these things. Just think of a motorcycle cover as an add-on and with any add-on, you will need to do research so you can make the best choice possible.

When you go to buy your cover, know that there are plenty of ways you can do so. One easy way to make sure you are getting the best deal and the best cover for you is to shop online. Online shopping allows you to compile comparisons and price hunt easily, ensuring you get the best value and the best cover you can.

A little bit of research can go a long way when it comes to choosing a motorcycle cover. Do yourself and your bike a favor by ensuring that you get the best cover possible.

Tips for Choosing the Right Mud Tires for Your ATV

Choosing ATV tires is kind of like choosing shoes. You must choose according to your needs, size, the land on which you will be on. A bad decision at this level can influence many factors, such as the behavior of your ATV, its speed, climbing ability, and more.

For lovers of mud and swamp, know that tire companies have done their homework. You will find on the market a number of tires specifically designed for cross expanses of mud. In most cases, these types of tires are oversized, so do not forget if you change the tire size it can influence the behavior of your ATV, its speed, and many other aspects. If you are really looking to enhance your vehicle with bigger tires, talk with an experienced mechanic first.

When circulating in areas where there are no rocks or obstacles on the way, you can afford to use a tire lighter that is less durable.  Remember, soft rubber is good for helping maneuver, and would do well on smoother surfaces. For surfaces where you need traction, look for hard rubber tires instead.

Whether you are riding for sport or utility, there is a choice in the tire you choose. Protecting your tires is just as important as protecting your vehicle and that is why you should invest in an ATV cover. A cover will help not only your ATV but also help your tires by shielding both from the elements and minor dings.

ATV Safety Tips for Kids

There are many young people today who have fun driving or riding ATV’s. While ATVs are fun and can be a great family bonding experience, there are several things that the parents should know every time they let their children go out and drive. Safety comes first and it’s very important to ensure that all rules are followed.

One of the first things that a parent should ensure is that the child wears a helmet every time they go out. Other important pieces of safety equipment that should be used as well include goggles and boots. These items help protect eyes, heads, and feet from accidents while riding, and are crucial no matter the age of the child riding.

Children should never perform any stunts or tricks. An ATV is not made for goofing off. While it may look like fun to race or jump in an ATV, these vehicles can turn or pitch suddenly, injuring risk takers. Jumping and racing can be very dangerous and someone could get seriously hurt if they aren’t done correctly.

Another thing to keep in mind is that an ATV is not a toy. It’s extremely important to teach your children to be respectful and safe while they ride or drive on an ATV.  It is also very important to teach your children to clean their ATV and protect it with a proper ATV cover.

Never let a child ride without the direct supervision of a responsible adult. It’s recommended that parents make sure they keep an eye on their child at all times when they are using the ATV. Never let them use the vehicle alone and ensure that they explain to you where they are going and when they’ll be back.

When security comes first, an ATV can be fun and exciting for many children of all ages.

Cleaning Your Motorcycle Cover: A Few Tips

Does the motorcycle cover you own provide a certain level of protection that it might have when you first bought it? If it doesn’t, you may want to think about washing it. The maintenance requirements of a motorcycle cover happen to be simple and easy. Check out these simple tips on how one would clean a typical motorcycle cover.

1. You should rinse your cover often. Rinsing your bike cover at least once a month could slow down accumulation of dust and dirt, enhance the overall protection that a cover should provide and cut down on how many times you “deep clean” the motorcycle cover.

Note: Never use pressure washers to hose down a cover.

2. Hand washing your cover with a mild soap is smart. Hand washing your cover is about the safest and perhaps the gentlest way to clean it. You want to use an easy to remember solution of a mild soap (like Ivory or Dove) and warm water along with a soft brush or sponge. Wash the outside and inside of your cover. Never use harsh soaps!

3. Rinse and air dry the cover. Always rinse your cover extremely well before you let it dry. Any soap left on a cover could damage its quality.

4. Never dry a motorcycle cover in any way other than air drying. Allowing it to air dry is the best way to ensure its quality stays top notch. Make sure your cover is dried completely before you use it on or fold it for storage.

ATV Riding: Must-Know Tips

Just like any other motorized vehicle, your ATV has, literally, hundreds of different components that make it work. You are the one that is responsible for keeping the vehicle running so it’s important that you understand what you’re doing. Just because your ATV looks invincible, neglecting to maintain it only proves otherwise. The best tip you can use is by having ATV covers handy to shelter your vehicle whenever you are not using your ATV.

• Several ATV riders prefer to ride around with low air pressure. This is a very bad idea. Low air pressure is an easier way for debris to get lodged between the tires and the rims. You have to ensure that you clean this out routinely so you get the most out of your tires.

• Debris could also get wedged up near the ATV’s shocks. The shocks are a really important section of the ATV. Without properly cleaning the ATV shocks, you’ll see a severe decrease in the performance of the vehicle.

• You should also double check the cables before you go out to ride. The last thing you want is to end up being stuck in the middle of nowhere with an ATV that doesn’t work.

• When loading your ATV onto trucks or trailers, make sure that your ramps are secured. Several people put their lives in harm’s way by loading their ATV’s without securing the ramps first.

• The fuel vent lines could become clogged with grime and dirt. This traps your fuel from getting to its destination.

• Choosing the right fuel is vital. A lot of people will think that putting a high octane fuel into an engine will raise ATV performance. This isn’t true. “HOF” is usually meant for motors that are high-compressed. If you try to put it into stock motors, it will slow them down.

Summer Safety Tips for Motorcyclists

Going on a summer motorcycle ride is one of the most stress-relieving trips a person can indulge themselves in, and as the summer starts to wind down, now is the perfect time to do it. Here are some tips to keeps you safe:

1) Drive behind anyone who drives "worse" than you.

2) When you ride with bikers who ride "better" than you, your guard is to still follow your instincts. (You can also follow people to their death).

3) Drive only what you can, when you can and however you can! If the others have to wait a minute, then they will just have to get over it!

4) Pick-a "partner" with whom you ride motorcycles. He or she should drive a little better than you.      If there are too large of driving differences for both motorcycle riders, then it becomes stressful.    (One must wait continuously and the other has a bad conscience). It is supposed to be fun!

5) Practice dodging whenever possible, at all speeds! You never know when you need it in real life.      6) If you yourself are insecure/uncomfortable on your bike, resort to exercises that will hopefully correct that. Sometimes taking a step back makes more sense than falling forward!

Here are some tips for the summer months:

-       Dress appropriately- Most riders will wear little to nothing during the summer months when riding but that is exactly what you don’t want to do. You want to make sure you protect your body in case of an accident or against sun damage.
-       Just wait for cool temps- You can always just wait to travel until later on in the day instead of doing in the hotter hours of the day. If you want to get an early start, that is fine as well.
-       Make sure you have plenty of fuel and water- Having plenty of these two things are very important. You never want to push your bike to the limit in the heat.
-       Use motorcycle covers to shield your bike from the elements. Having a working bike is crucial to riding safely. A cover may not help much, but any protection is better than none.

Prevent Motorcycle From Theft with these Easy Tips

The number of reported, and unreported, cases of motorcycle thefts have grown exponentially in the past decade and experts say that it is only going to get worse. That is unless owners do something about it.

Local studies, which can be regarded as representative, shows that about one in six stolen bikes were parked unsecured and that theft in enclosed spaces (such as garages, basements, and showrooms) is only a very small proportion of overall losses.

Many motorcycles are stolen in part by a lack of or poor security (cheap locks). Above all, deterrence protects most of these investments. For a suitable lock, you should buy one that is about ten percent of the price of your motorcycle. The more expensive and lighter the wheel, the harder and more expensive the lock should be. Motorcycle covers are great for protecting your vehicle from the elements and the possibility of theft.

Motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds and bicycles are popular with thieves. Last year was, according to crime statistics, a favorite for mopeds and motorcycles among thieves. But the thieves are not only interested in the motorcycle but the high-quality accessories that go along with the vehicle.

Crime scenes are in many cases, the large parking lots at train stations, schools, swimming pools, sports and leisure facilities, which usually lack the ability to secure the motorcycle. Therefore it is important to protect each bike by taking precautionary measures to make it harder for thieves to work.

Select a bike lock that is made of hardened special steel and is equipped with a solid locking system. Leave your bike in your view whenever possible. Close the frame and both wheels on firmly anchored objects. If you follow the following tips, you should be way ahead of thieves and you should protect yourself more than most.

·       Even if you only park for a short time: Remove the ignition key and make sure that the steering lock is in place. In addition, secure your motorcycle helmet with a lock.
·       Lock individual parts of your motorcycle so these are less attractive to thieves
·       Ideally, you can equip your bike with the addition of an alarm system.
·       If you back on the front wheel, then the lock should also enclose the fork legs. It is better to install the fuse at the rear and to carry the castle by spokes or rim and solid frame parts.
·       Secure the bike to a solid object if possible, for example, on a plate or a lamppost. Even a secured bike can be transported by trailer or van.