2Wheeltips

If you live in the northeast and regularly use E-Z Pass to pay tolls on bridges and highways, you should consider getting a transponder for your bike. Fumbling around for loose change with riding gloves on is no fun and drivers will start blowing their horns at you if you take too long to pay.

One quick tip; avoid the motorcycle E-Z Pass holders and use the adhesive strips that come with the transponder. Most of the holders we have seen use suction cups to hold the transponder to the windshield or tank. Whoever makes these things must have forgotten that bikes vibrate.....a lot. After a few miles of riding, your $25.00 transponder and your $15.00 holder will come loose and be gone with the wind.
 

If you don't have the adhesive strips, call your local E-Z Pass center for new ones. They will send them to you for free. For advanced riders, you can keep the transponder in your pocket and hold it in the air as you approach the toll booth. If you have a passenger, have him or her hold it in the air for you.

Here is a quick tip I got from a friend. Many sport and sporting touring bikes have large blind spots. One solution is to go down to your local dealer and plop down a few hundred dollars for a new set of mirrors with a wider field of view.

Another is to go over to the local auto store and buy the "bubble" or "curved" mirrors. They stick on with two way tape and do an excellent job of eliminating blind spots. The set I got for my bike cost about $8.00 and are adjustable.

Not only are engine guards and frame sliders a great way to improve the look of your bike, they can protect your bike from serious damage if you get in an accident or your bike tips over.
 

Here I scraped up my bike when it tipped over on uneven ground.I had to replace the clutch lever and the mirror. Not cheap.....wish I would have had an engine guard. They are good investments and come in many styles, so shop around.  You can find many deals online and at motorcycle shows. 


 


 

If you are concerned about your bike and want to make sure it stays where you left it, consider getting a bike alarm. No alarm system is perfect and if a thief really wants your bike, they are going to get it. But an alarm system used with other security steps, such as covering your bike, locking the handlebars, using a wheel lock and chaining up your bike, can make it less appealing. 

Most alarms have motions detecters that will sound  when the bike is bumped or moved. Some wheel locks also have alarms and will sound if the tired is rolled. In most cases this is enough to cause a would be thief to move on.

If you ride in a high theft area they can be a good investment. They are on all the time so if you get one, make sure you keep the battery on a trickle charger when you are not riding.