Saturday, October 6, 2012
Find the Right Motorcycle Helmets for Your Safety
Author: Daniel Daly
A helmet that is well chosen and used properly can dramatically decrease the odds of suffering from a drastic brain injury in the event of a motorcycle accident. Most of the accidents which involve bikes cause serious damage to the rider's head and even irreparable brain damage. Therefore, it is obvious why wearing a helmet that fits properly is the single most vital thing that you can do. A motorcycle helmet must be DOT certified so that it is safe and can sustain an accident and protect your head. Other safety gear like a leather jacket, gloves, long leather trousers and boots can definitely help you avoid suffering from painful abrasions (road rash).
There are facilities all over the world that run a battery of tests on safety gear. Only the items that pass their tests should be released for sale, but this is not the case. There is unfortunately a lot of gear on the market that weren't able to withstand the quality control tests. One such test is the drop test. This tests shows whether the helmet would truly be able to protect your skull in the event of an accident. There are committees like the Department of Transportation which uses data from all these findings to certify gear that is adequate for safety. You will come across many uncertified "safety" gear, but it is in your best interest to avoid them.
The term safety gear retention is something that you should be conscious of. It basically means the ability of the safety gear to remain on your head securely. It is obvious that a helmet that comes off while you are involved in a crash is of absolutely no use. A simple check that you could perform to determine if the safety gear will retain its position on your head is to securely strap the safety gear by using the chin strap and then trying to roll the safety gear off your head using your hand. If the safety gear comes off easily, then it will certainly not stay on during an accident. Therefore the safety gear that you choose must pass this test.
Your helmet must be comfortable and the sizing needs to be perfect. It should fit snugly around your head with no strains around your cheek bone or jaw. Every manufacturer has a unique design style so their helmets will fit differently. A properly fitting safety helmet is essential for high retention in an accident. Riders will only wear safety gear that is comfortable, if it's uncomfortable it won't be worn and which is extremely dangerous.
These are some factors that one should keep in mind while deciding which motorcycle helmet to buy. BikerFan.com promotes safety for bikers. They only sell helmets that are DOT certified or Snell certified. They offer a wide selection of the latest trends in novelty helmets which is why they've been a world leader for the past 10 years.
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About the Author
BikerFan offers Motorcycle Half Helmets, Biker Helmets, Motorcycle Novelty Helmets and replacement parts to the riders.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Motorcycle Tips for the Beginner Riding Enthusiast
There are many options available to the burgeoning motorcycle riding enthusiast. There is help though. The following tips will help to point a beginner in the right direction. Hopefully you will come to enjoy motorcycle riding like so many other people in this world.
The smell of lightweight oil, the rumble of the seat, the slight hint of octane perfume lingers in the air as you slip on your motorcycle helmet. You have your motorcycle boots on, and a rain suit packed on your motorcycle luggage rack. You ease the clutch out slowly and rev the throttle slightly, gliding forward, like a large self propelled ice skate.
The moment is yours. You have all of your motorcycle gear and apparel and have taken off into the wild blue yonder on a journey for your soul. The road and you become one, with your motorcycle as the medium, for your transitive state of mind. Your blood begins to race through your veins, your heart racing in tune with the engine. The vibration of the engine massages every muscle in your body at once. There is really no other feeling that comes close to riding a motorcycle.
If you are a beginner rider there are some attributes about motorcycle riding that you should consider. The first is motorcycle gear, and motorcycle apparel. You should always wear a motorcycle helmet. Motorcycle boots are a nice addition as well. But why stop there? Buy a second set of motorcycle apparel as safe keeping in your motorcycle luggage rack. There may be times that you will need to change clothes on a long trek through the countryside.
You probably won't need to buy multiple motorcycle helmets, unless you have a partner with you for the trip. In which case, there is a definite reason to make sure that you have enough motorcycle luggage storage space. All of your motorcycle apparel can be stored neatly in a motorcycle luggage trailer. Other options available for motorcycle luggage are motorcycle sissy bar bags, motorcycle saddle bags, leather tool bags, and leather windshield bags.
Motorcycle boots have evolved over the century or so of motorcycling's history. There are many different styles and colors to choose from today. A popular style of motorcycle boot used to be WWII combat boots. They were durable, had high sides to help protect from muffler burns, and were water resistant to help protect against the occasional puddle.
Many types of motorcycle gear have been made for todays motorcycle riding enthusiast. From mechanical additions to the motorcycle itself, to additional motorcycle gear for the rider. There are leather and textile jackets, rain suits, leather sissy bar bags, leather tool bags, eye goggles, leather and textile gloves, leather and textile pants, chaps and boots. In sizes ranging from young to old, short to tall, a multitude of choices await you when you purchase your next set of motorcycle apparel.
When purchasing your motorcycle gear, motorcycle apparel and motorcycle boots, remember to get some leather cleaning products for all of your new motorcycle gear. This will help to ensure that the gear you have now, you will have for years even decades to come. There may be many types of leather cleaning products available, but talk to the owner of the shop from where you purchased the motorcycle apparel, and they should be able to point you towards a proven product. After all, they have to keep all of that leather clean while it waits to be boughten from a consumer.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/motorcycle-tips-for-the-beginner-riding-enthusiast-256606.html
About the Author
Jafrum.com sells motorcycle helmets and motorcycle gear. You can find
articles and products at our website Jafrum.com
This article can be used, provided this copyright notice and Jafrum.com link appears on each copy. Copyright 2007 Jafrum International Inc.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Defend Your Head With A Traditional Motorcycle Helmet
Do you have a vintage street motorcycle? To achieve the looks, you must have a vintage motorbike helmet. Old style, timeless, ancient or whatever you decide and call it, it needs to satisfy the current standards for safety. They will also be of various helmet types for example open face, total face or half helmets and even quite a few also is available with the motorcycle goggles to compliment and finish the old-fashioned look.
You will find a lot of companies today that creates an old-fashioned look headwear just like Bell which generally looks like a classic motorcycle helmet however internally, has an approved by the Department of transportation, plastic liner.
Below are some guidelines on finding the great as well as reliable classic motorcycle headgear:
Good fitting - your helmet must fit you and need to be comfortable to wear all through extended trips. It has to fit snugly and shouldn't keep moving around whenever you move the head on all directions. If you are checking out pertaining to fit, attempt gripping the helmet with your hands and move it on different directions. Your head must follow and there will be no slipping between your skin/head and also the inside lining on the headgear.
Protection - Just about all vintage motorcycle helmets must be licensed by the Dot, CNS, ECE, and AS. For DOT or DOT, their accreditation necessitates to the motorcycle helmet to absorb a great amount of force and prevent punctures or penetrations coming from usual materials. It also rates the fasteners used by the helmet and being sure that it will handle a substantial degree of force and won't break up when subjected to a rapid pull pressure.
Face Protection - Many retro headgear are lacking on this in case you can get the one which covers up much of your top of your head, the better. The full face head protection has got the greatest protection. A good idea is to have 3/4 coverage on the head. You may also make use of your judgment when you drive and choose the kind of helmet you need to use. As an example, i am likely to make use of a full face helmet during long higher speed highway drives and also on rides around town, then, I use my retro helmet which often are half helmets or an open face one.
Appearance - Now this is an easy one. For this reason you are getting a retro motorbike helmet in the first place. Attempt not to exaggerate it though and even select safety and comfort first of all if there are lots of selections. Overall, the majority of people will look at the antique motorcycle in the first place and your old style helmet is simply completing your thing.
Cost/Price - This should not be a consideration however in my opinion, purchase a brand-new helmet than buying a second hand one. Furthermore take into account safety than anything else. A 20 dollar main difference because of enhanced safety measures justifies purchase as compared to a twenty dollar additional cost because the natural leather and chromed out and other additional add-on alternative. Don't think of buying very inexpensive and lose safety.
All of the tips earlier mentioned must be considered when selecting a vintage motorcycle helmet or even any helmet for your motorcycle. A helmet completes the looks and feel of your vintage motorcycle and isn't only for aesthetics but moreover for safety.
To get the very best value for these kind of vintage headgear, browse on the internet to Amazon . com for brand new for sale classic helmets or if you'd like the aged genuine one, go to EBay online auction on their automobile sections and you'll manage to find a classic beat up black leather helmet which will match your motorcycle. And then while you're now there, it is possible to complete the looks by looking for coordinating outfits like leather motorcycle overcoats as well as classic motorcycle footwear/shoes. Also check on consumer testimonials to get the best model for your classic motorcycle helmet.
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About the Author
No matter how much you think you know about vintage motorcycle helmet and even on half motorcycle helmet, read this informative site and be thrilled with truly top information.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Motorcycle Group Riding Signals - Let your fellow riders know what's going on
It is still Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month so I am still bent on making you aware of safety and motorcycles.
Hand signals play a large part in motorcycle riding if you are riding in a group (unless you have those handy helmet radios). As the “leader of the pack”, they are a great way of letting everyone behind you know what is going on and what to watch out for.
The signals are somewhat universal but I’ve thrown in some illustrated guides in this post to help you out. When riding in a group, your members can decide on which ones work best for you.
See the full post for the illustrations or to read more articles on safety, head over to Motorcycle.com’s Rider Training and Safety section.
As I said, the hand signals seem pretty universal from what I’ve seen. Click on the image to enlarge them to better see what’s going on. Print them out or bookmark this post for reference!
source : motorcycle.com
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tips For Staying Warm On Your Motorcycle
Riding your motorcycle can be fun in almost any kind of weather or season, providing you are properly prepared. However, inclement weather combined with wind chill can make riding miserable and even dangerous is you don't have the right equipment. Here are some suggestions to help you stay warm while riding in even the coldest conditions.
First, you need to protect your hands as they are a part that is very exposed and very vulnerable to the cold. During the winter months, winter gloves with Gore-Tex or a similar material are a must. Do not skimp when it comes to getting adequate protection from the cold - paying an extra $10 to $20 to make sure your hands are protect is well worth the price! However, if you have a special pair of riding gloves that you just can't bear to ride without, layering gloves is another option. You may want to consider even putting a pair of latex gloves on under your favorite riding gloves. They can provide extra insulation and help trap your natural body heat, provided you are not allergic to latex of course.
Wrists are an often neglected body part, and you need to take measure to make sure they are protected as well. If your gloves already offer wrist coverage you do not need to worry, but if they don't you should consider purchasing a pair of winterized wristbands.
In cold weather, you will also obviously want to wear warm shirts and pants. A thermal layer is usually a must under a warm shirt and your jacket. Try to choose materials that will help wick moisture away from you body if at all possible.
You will want to take a good look at your jacket to see if there are areas that allow the wind in. If so, consider sewing or even duct taping those portions to keep the wind out. You should also carry rain gear with you whenever there is an even slight chance of showers.
Consider if you need additional layering under your helmet as well. A ski mask may be suitable for the coldest weather, while a beanie may work in other situations. You will also want to take measures to keep your helmet from becoming fogged up when you ride. Some riders suggest breath mints help, while certain helmets already come with a breath deflector that will help solve this problem.
Feet also need to be well protected, and getting state of the art ski socks well help as well as insulated boots. Finally, for those riding in the worst conditions, you should seriously consider purchasing heated riding gear and warming packs for your hands and feet. These will make a huge difference in terms of your enjoyment level when riding in the coldest weather conditions.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Types of Motorcycles to Chose for the Ride
Touring bikes are large and heavy, which aren't a great choice for those people buying their first motorcycle. These big bikes, however, are great on a long road trip and they have a lot of storage room. Sport touring bikes are another choice that you can consider. These motorcycles have as much storage as a touring bike but aren't quite as big and hard to handle. If you really want to buy one of these motorcycles you might want to think about taking some riding lessons first to get you started and so that you feel comfortable with the bigger size motorcycle.
Yet another type of bike is the sport bike, which is much smaller and is used for sport riding. These smaller bikes are also known as crotch rockets, which is reflective of the way that they move like a fast rocket. You'll definitely want to take riding lessons before you get on one of these motorcycles since their speed can kill you.
A good starter motorcycle is the standard motorcycle, which will handle easy and give you the confidence to learn at your own level. You'll find that the ease of using this motorcycle lets you cruise all over town. The only disadvantage is that you won't be able to take it on long road trips.
The cruiser types of motorcycles such as the Harley Davidsons have a long, low, and sleek styling to them. These motorcycles are heavy and cumbersome, much like the touring bikes.
Yet another type of motorcycle that you can choose from are a bike called the Enduro. These motorcycles are great of off road biking or for taking on long trips for your vacation. Keep in mind that they are on the bulky side and can be hard to park in the city.
Buying a motorcycle is a purchase that you want to take your time making since you want to be sure that the bike is right for you and that you can handle it.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Joy Riding With Your Child
If you are a parent of very young children there's no doubt you might be protective of them to ensure their safety. I know, I have two little boys of my own and they are a handful.
Children like to play and have fun when it comes to playing with toys and riding bicycles and scooters.
What if a parent wants to take his or her child for a joy ride on a scooter moped or motorcycle, where would the child sit? In front or in back? If it were me I would not bring a newborn baby or tiny toddler along for the ride unless I had him or her riding in front of me. Even then, I wouldn't bring a child on board a motorcycle or scooter moped unless he or she were at least four or five years old. This is where both safety and common sense discretion come into play.
Here are some common sense safety guidelines to remember when riding with children on your motorcycle, electric scooter or electric scooter moped.
1. When you are out joy riding and you take your small child with you, know the risk and start your child riding perhaps at the age of four or five.
2. When you sit your child on your motorcycle or electric scooter moped, have him or her ride in front of you and not behind. If you have your child ride behind there is a greater risk of falling off the bike while riding down the road.
3. When you ride, make sure you have an operator's license with a motorcycle endorsement along with liability insurance.
4. Whatever you do, never let other kids give rides to small toddlers on their scooters and electric scooters. Extra weight on a scooter makes it a little more difficult to control.
5. Above all, wear safety helmets. The better helmets are the ones that cover the entire face.
These are worthwhile safety tips that you should keep in mind while joy riding with a small child. So on your next joy ride with your little boy or girl, please be careful.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Women’s Motorcycle Jacket - Safety And Fashionable
There is so many woman riders want to buy a motorcycle jacket that is very stylish. And lots of folks want to buy a motorcycle jacket that looks cool and fashionable, especially for women motorcycle rider. But, it’s known that very few know how to actually buy such a jacket. Women riders usually need a fashionable jacket, while the jackets also serve as protective riding gears. These women’s motorcycle jackets are trendy giving desired complete protection.
Actually, women’s motorcycle jacket are not only great for safety reason, they are also great for the rider comfort whether they are just riding around town, or long journey. Motorcycle jackets can also offer just plain style to riders who wear them. These jackets offered in a variety of materials, styles and colors, woman riders can truly customize their appearance when riding motorcycle.
When it’s comes to you to choose the right jacket, there is few things that you must concern. You must concern the material of your riding jackets. For the reason of safety riding gears so it is must made from good quality materials. Jackets generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, corduroy, or other synthetics. Most of motorcycle jackets are made from leather materials, this material not only giving the rider protection from the elements and from injury in the event of crash but also can purchase it with fashionable styles.
The women’s motorcycle jacket does not suffer from the same stereotypes as the men’s jackets suffer. It is expected that a man’s jacket will make the wearer macho and masculine. The women’s motorcycle jacket should be useful in all riding conditions. If it is useful in cool or cold conditions only, then it is of no use. The jacket should serve you well even in hot conditions.
Every woman rider actually wants riding in comfort condition, so it is a must to wear a woman motorcycle jacket which is made from good quality and also light in weight. When you travel for many hours on the road, a heavy jacket will add to your fatigue. A light weight jacket will make your riding a lot more enjoyable.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Motorcycle Helmet - Things You Should Know
First thing is to make sure you are wearing your protective gear especially a helmet. For any reason, a helmet can save your life. It protects your head from fatal injury in case you will have a crash and an impact to your head would be inevitable. This gadget will serve as an outer shell protecting your head as well as your brain as it will absorb the impact with the cushion inside.
The thing is designed to give you comfort and prevent you from distractions like snowflakes, dust and strong wind. The windshield or the visors will prevent your eyes from any debris that will irritate your eyes, which might cause an accident. That is why visors are thicker and should be scratch free in order for you to have a clear vision of the road. It would also prevent you from having sunburn on your face.
Consequently, wearing your helmet is necessary since it is required by the law. It is mandated by the State that people should always wear their helmet every time they will be riding their motorbike to prevent a tragic accident.
Since there are several kinds of these helmets it is advised that people should find one that is comfortable for them to wear. They must also see to it that the kind of helmet they will be using is appropriate for the place and occasion they will be heading because wearing the wrong thing on their heads might turn out to be big destruction instead of protection.
Another thing for you to know about your helmet is the fit - make sure you are comfortable with it. It should not be too tight or too loose. It should have a good fitting to your head, that when you will be heading outdoors it will not be a nuisance to your ride.
Finally, by wearing your helmet, you will be proving to everybody that you are a law abiding citizen and that you are responsible for your deeds. Thus obeying the law is your primary concern as an individual and as citizen of the nation. Besides, helmets protect your life while you're on board that bike. This alone should be reason enough for you to wear one.
Head gear is important to protect injury. You can either wear a biker face mask or maybe open faced motorcycle helmets, whichever fits you.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Helmet - Between Style And Safety
The most commonly used helmet is the motorcycle crash helmets. This type of helmet enables you to cover the entire head including the face portion. It is because of this design that this helmet is one most accepted amongst motorbike riders. It ensures the best deal of protection level unlike the other helmets. It has been seen that the riders going through the trauma of heat, hearing losses and sensation of the claustrophobia usually opt for this helmets.
Open face helmet belongs to the other helmet type that people go for. It is quite similar to that of a full-face helmet. The only additional feature of these kinds of helmets is the presence of visors, which prevent the passage of sunrays. In a way it acts as a secured mode of protection for the eyes. Half helmet is another kind of helmet that is being used these days. But before you opt to purchase these types of helmets, be assured that the criteria of the government standards are taken good notice of.
But still if you are not satisfied with the features you can anytime have a custom made one. It really endeavors special effects within itself with its own uniqueness. All the more, custom made helmets provide you with utmost safety, security and style while driving. It should be always remembered that helmets are meant for safety purposes rather than being meant for stylish purposes. Keeping this in mind go for the perfect one for yourself
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dangers of Motorcycle Parts Defect
In Los Angeles, motorcycle parts defect that lead to accidents are not all that uncommon. With thousands of motorists riding these 2 wheeled vehicles for speed and convenience, the motorcycle has become a part of the culture of Los Angeles.
Most motorists who buy a new motorcycle quickly assumes that everything is perfectly fine only to be involved later on to an accident caused by a motorcycle part defect.
In fact just in 2005, more than 87,000 motorcyclists’ sustained injuries and more than 4,500 died as a result of motorcycle accidents, some of which were caused by motorcycle parts defect.
Who can blame them? Some of those buyers even bought the new motorcycle to replace an old defective motorcycle. That is why it is important to be careful in buying motorcycles or any other vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration or NHTSA sets the minimum performance requirement for all motorcycle parts.
It is also tasked to investigate complaints by motorists about certain safety-related defects and decide whether a recall will be necessary.
The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety refers to safety related defects as a problem that exists in a motorcycle or any vehicle equipment or part that:
• Poses a risk to motorcycle safety.
• May exist in a group of motorcycles of the same design and manufacture or items of the same type.
Here are some examples of motorcycle defects that may be safety related:
• Defective steering components that break suddenly resulting to lost control
• Fuel system component problems
• Accelerators controls that either breaks and/or sticks
• Cracked or broken tires
• Sears or back seats that fail during use
• Important motorcycle parts that breaks or separates from the vehicle resulting to loss of vehicle control
• Wiring system problems
• Defective child safety seats.
To avoid purchasing motorcycles with defective parts here are a few guidelines that you can follow in buying a motorcycle:
• Research – Research the model and manufacturer of the motorcycle you are about to buy. Find out if there has been a recall order on that particular motorcycle model.
• Get opinions – Talk to people who have purchased the same motorcycle model. Ask them if they are satisfied with the performance or are there problems that they are encountering. Even the small things may matter when you make a decision.
• Talk to mechanics – Ask them about their expert opinion about the model. You can also ask them if the motorcycle model is often brought to their shop for certain problems. You can also ask them to make a recommendation on what brand and model has the best overall performance.
• Get motorcycle history – If you are buying a used motorcycle, make sure you find out about its history. How many previous owners has it had? Had it been involved in an accident? Has any parts of the motorcycle been replaced? Those are just some of the things you have to find out about the vehicle.
• Be suspicious of cheap motorcycles – Most cheap motorcycles are just that. Cheap. There is a reason why these motorcycles are sold in a low price and most likely it is also because of very low quality.
There are already thousands of road accidents in Los Angeles that are caused by various reasons like speeding, dui, and reckless driving. It is best not to add motorcycle defects to those reasons if it can be avoided.