2Wheeltips

Earlier this week I renewed my insurance policy. I decided to do it online and while I was waiting for the confirmation number, I decided to take a look at what my policy actually covered.  What I saw was confusing so I decided to call up the customer support line to get some details. What I was told was scary.

In a nutshell, I had the bare minimum coverage of 15k per person/30k per accident and 5k for property damage. I told the agent that I could kick a car and cause 5k worth of damage and that 15k would barely cover a broken arm. I asked what happened to the larger amounts I had in the past? I was told that last year that if you didn't specifically request the same amounts, you were given the lower coverage by default! Ummm......interesting. I told the agent that I definitely needed more coverage (50k per person/100k per accident/50k per car/bike/etc) and asked how much would it cost? What I heard shocked me.....it will cost $20 more per bike!!

Of course I got the coverage but was upset that I rode around for a year with basically no coverage at all. I'm sure the "notice" was on the back page in small print somewhere. I'm writing this as a warning....make sure you check not just your bike.....but your insurance as well. You never know what you may find. Check your insurance.

For those of you who haven't ridden through the winter and are about to start riding now that the weather seems to be getting nice here are a few tips:

• check out your bike thoroughly. Tire condition (pressure, tread, dry rot), brakes, cables, bulbs and all electrics.Check the side stand.
• Check all fluids (oil -should have been changed when you put the bike away, if not change it now)

Yep that's right give it a good TCLOCS.

All you gear heads get out the wrenches and get to work. All those not mechanically inclined, call your dealer service department NOW. They are about to get very busy. Fot those of you that don't know a good dealer service department, Xtreme Machines in Millstone has an excellent service department. You don't want to waste any primo riding time. Spring and fall have the most comfortable riding weather.

Remember when starting out, your skill set is a little rusty, take it slow. Those of you who have taken a BRC last year, go practice some of the exercises, braking, swerving, weaving are a good place to start, then practice your cornering and quick stopping. Those of you who are more experienced may want to consider taking an Experienced Rider Course, RENJ (Rider Education of New Jersey) offers classes. As a RiderCoach I know how important it is to reinforce proper riding habits. Pay special attention to cornering and proper entry speed, slow, look, press and roll. Remember going wide in turns is the single greatest cause of single vehicle motorcycle accidents.

I look forward to seeing you all out riding, keep the rubber side down.

Tony 

Riding an early motorcycle entailed a certain preparation that went like this:

1. Set the throttle at a very small opening (there would likely be no spring returning the throttle to idle position)
2. Set the choke at a position judged the appropriate one for the ambient temperature, and retard the spark timing manually by several degrees.
   
3. Then approach the kick-starter with due apprehension, bracing yourself for yet another blow to your chronically bruised shin.
   The thing about kick-starters is, they tend to kick back. This is especially likely if you don't retard the timing far enough, as then the motor backfires mechanically, as it were, through the kick-starter, sending your shin to its fated meeting with the foot peg.
   
4. With the bike balanced on the center stand, and you on one foot, use your whole weight on the kick-starter to ease the motor slowly through its power stroke and well into its exhaust stroke, judged by listening for air escaping from the open exhaust valve.
   
5. Having positioned the piston at the start of its intake stroke, you are ready to kick-start the bike. But first check to make sure there are not attractive women present to witness your display, nor any of your rivals, for it is likely to be a drama of strenuous impotence.

Before taking that first kick, it is traditional to light a cigarette and set it dangling at an angle that suggests nonchalance. While you're at it, send up a little prayer for fuel atomization. You woudln't be riding a motorocycle if you weren't an optimist.

Ten or twelve kicks later, sweat dripping form your brow, you might get to ride the motorcyle.

This is a rewrite from Matthew B. Crawford's Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

It really makes you appreciate the level of sophistication we've achieved since then...or did we lose something in the process?

I've had the privilage (or misfortune -I guess it depends on one's point of view) of riding motorcycles that seemed like they came from 1930s. There is a certain sense of accomplishment in mastering an unwieldy stallion who is unwilling to submit to most.

What do you think?

There are few principals of motorcycle riding that should be everyone’s mantra this riding season. So here is a reminder that might save your ass this spring.



1.    Consider yourself invisible.
2.    Maintain at least 3 escape routes out of every situation
3.    Maintain 360 degree awareness at all times
4.    Leave enough room between you and everybody else
5.    Ride your own ride
6.    Be protected (I got my 9mm)
7.    Get to know your motorcycle…again (T-CLOCS)
8.    Ride sober, well hydrated and well rested
9.     
10.   

That’s it. What? You only counted 8? So what? You guys can add the remaining two :-)