Sometimes, one of the most important parts of a bike’s maintenance is passed over – checking tire pressure. But it shouldn’t be; this is one of the things that can make it or break it in a race. If it’s off, it will also make you work harder to maintain control. This should be part of your pre-ride ritual. Read on for the details on how to make this as painless as possible.

What purpose do the tires have? For one thing, they’re an integral part of the suspension. If you were riding on solid rubber tires, believe me, it would be haemorrhoid time. Also, just think about how important traction is to your performance. This is the job of your tires.

Why do you check the tire pressure before the ride? Because air expands when it warms up. The tire’s pressure rating is specified for cool air. Also, keep in mind that your bike is not like your car. The mission and environment are different and so is the air pressure. For optimal performance, your front tire should hold about one PSI less than the back.

Do you need to check your pressure more than once during an event? Absolutely! As stated above, the actual pressure is dependant on the temperature of the air. Check it before each rest period or when the day gets progressively hotter or cooler. At some events, the racing will extend into the night under the big lights. The temperature can drop considerably once the sun goes down.

The type of terrain you’re riding on can affect the air pressure you need to maintain for effective riding. Remember, fine tuning to specific conditions is one of the keys to success. Following are some recommendations:

Sand or mud – 10 PSI in the rear tire and 12 in the front. These conditions get a better bite with a lower pressure, flatter geometry on the rear but the higher pressure in the front accents tracking.

Hard pack surfaces – This is a bit more equalized, only 11 PSI in the rear and 11.5 in the front. This is average supercross conditions.

Intermediate surfaces – This is the average type of condition we referenced above. A good way to go is 13 PSI in the rear tire, 12 in the front.

These guidelines are for a known MX track. That’s where you know before hand what to expect. If you go riding on trails you might encounter any number of different conditions. In this case you should go for more pressure for optimized performance. I’d suggest 14 PSI rear and 13 PSI front. This is a bit higher than for racing conditions but remember that the speed will be greatly reduced and the chance of that dreaded flat tire is much higher. So, take care of your tires and they’ll take care of you.

Article by John Melin at www.MxTrainingJournal.com

Technorati Tags: motorcycle tires, motocross tires, motocross, supercross

Please don’t ever make the mistake of thinking all motorcycle tires are the same. Each motorcycle requires its own type of tire that’s even further deemed appropriate by its specific use. While that’s all explicit and I talked about it in my previous post about choosing motorcycle tires, there are some general caring practices that can be applied to all tire types.

Good working tires will considerably contribute to the wonderful experience that only motorcycling can afford as well as to a safe ride. Motorcycle tires can also be expensive so you’re well advised to take good care of them.

Below you’ll find 10 tips that will help will help extend the life of any motorcycle tire regardless of its type or use.

Tip #1 - Keep your tires at the right pressure. They will perform better and last longer. Always carry a pressure gauge in your bike and check air pressure at least once a week. Under inflated or over inflated tires will wear out faster and can compromise your safety.

Tip #2 - When mounting new tires, always balance the tire and rim. This will avoid vibration while riding as well as premature tire wear.

Tip #3 – Always “break in” new motorcycle tires. Every new tire could use a good break-in period. This will enhance your tires’ performance over their lifetime of service. After installing new tires on your motorcycle, take the bike out for a few easy and light rides just for the purpose of breaking in the new tires. After the first 100-200 miles, the new tires should be stable enough to accommodate fast accelerations, hard cornering and sharp breaking. Otherwise you could be faced with imbalance, low tire life and differing profiles on both the front and rear.

Tip #4 – When possible, keep new tires out of direct sunlight. Whether they’re on a motorcycle or not, direct sunlight (or more precisely, UV radiation) will chemically change the tire compounds and weaken bonds, dry the tires, and make them brittle ahead of time. The ozone in the air can react with the compounds in the tire too and cause additional unwanted changes. Electric motors contribute to ozone production, so in addition to keeping tires out of sunlight, keep them away from things like large generators or air conditioning units.

Tip #5 - Never mount a front tire on the back of the bike or a rear tire on the front. The front and rear tires of a motorcycle have completely different design profiles.

Tip #6 - Replace motorcycle tires at the same time. If you ride a motorcycle with an old worn tire in the front and a spanking brand new tire in the back, the bike’s stability will decrease and create dangerous driving environment.

Tip #7 - Don’t mix radials with bias-ply motorcycle tires. Each one of these different types of tire gives a motorcycle a specific type of handling characteristic. Mixing them on one vehicle will only create an unstable condition, a rougher ride, and it will decrease the ability to hug corners.

Tip #8 - Clean tires with mild soap solution and rinse with plain clear water. Clean your tires frequently and especially after a long ride or after riding on rough terrain. Oil, gas, and street debris can degrade the tire’s compounds faster than usual. Take the time to clean off the tires so that their treads can a) move the way that they were designed to move, b) maximize grip and friction, and c) stabilize the bike. While cleaning your tires inspect them carefully and look out for cracks and embrittled surfaces.

Tip #9 – During long periods you don’t use your bike - as in winter - don’t outgas the bike’s tires because that will eventually make them brittle. Even if they’re not used, keep your tires at the right pressure.

Tip #10 – Do not overload your bike. Heavy add-ons can have a significant impact on the lifetime, the durability, and the performance of motorcycle tires. If you are planning to add a sidecar, saddlebags and/or other heavy accessories, ask your motorcycle dealer about your bike’s tires and which ones would be most appropriate for the intended purpose.

Well, that’s it for the moment…

You have other motorcycle tires maintenance tips you would like to share with our readers? I invite you to leave them in the comments of this post.

Enjoy the ride!

Technorati Tags: motorcycle tires, motorcycles, motorbikes, bikes

It’s hard for some to imagine life without a motorcycle. I’m one of them. It’s also hard for some to imagine a life without children. And again - I’m one of them. In fact, I’m one of those people who’ve always seen motorcycles in the driveways of families and I’ve always been impressed by the number of motorcycle riding tots I’ve waved to. Being a life-long fan of motorcycles, it just seemed so natural - so right - and yeah - kind of cool. But you know what? Everybody doesn’t see it that way.

All the child-aged motorcycle riders I’ve spoken to seemed simply delighted to sit atop such a powerful machine and a few of them have declared that it’s much more fun than riding on a roller coaster or some other crazy carnival ride. But some people say it’s too dangerous and at times, even I have to wonder about it. Accidents do happen. But then again, accidents don’t happen. I mean accidents don’t happen ALL the time the way that certain anti-riders want us to believe. So what is the motorcycle community to do? Live in fear? Subconsciously teach our kids that motorcycles aren’t safe to ride? I don’t think so. That would only make us look like hypocrites in the eyes of curious children.

Obviously, the smart thing to do is to not only protect children on motorcycles but to protect them well. There are plenty of manufacturers who make helmets for kids and there are probably just as many that make tot-sized bikes for four and five year olds! As long as the little ones are appropriately dressed with long sleeved shirts and pants, I see absolutely nothing wrong with taking children along for a ride and for one of the most freeing experiences in the world.

Any child who can ride a regular bicycle without training wheels should be old enough to ride a motorcycle with an adult - and the lower the motorcycle, the safer. Motorcycles that ride low to the ground, like a 50 for example aren’t that fast and they’re easier for a child to get on and off of.

Of course, like I said earlier, accidents do happen. I’ve seen more than a few young teens lose control and crash their motorcycles - probably due to panic and giving their bikes the gas instead of the brakes. So it’s probably safe to say that no child under the age of 18 should be able to ride a motorcycle without proper safety equipment and parental supervision. I’m not talking about children riding motorcycles on the street - it’s illegal for children to ride a motorcycle on the street anyway. I’m talking about anywhere — even on dirt or motorcycle trails.

Even in places that are set up for children and motorcycle fun, safe equipment and parental supervision is a must because like I said, I’ve seen kids make some pretty silly (and potentially life threatening) mistakes. They need bikes that are designed for rough motorcycle trails and they need helmets that fully cover their faces. One of the most common accidents that young kids have on motorcycles is bumping their chin or mouth on the bike’s handlebars.

When kids ride a motorcycle with an adult, law dictates that the adult must be licensed to operate a motorcycle. Period. And even though kids may ride with an law-abiding, responsible, and experienced adult, they should always wear a fitting helmet and ride in the back no matter how long or short the ride is - but especially on the highway. I’m not one to dictate what someone else should do — I can only give my two cents. But I couldn’t take a young child across a long highway. I’m just not comfortable with that mostly because I know how risky it is for adults alone.

I’ve also seen some dangerous motorcycle situations created from kids riding with other kids. Aside from the extra weight that and additional person adds onto a motorcycle, nothing makes a kid want to showoff more than when another child is around and showing off is a common predecessor to accidents.

Operating and riding a motorcycle is fun. But it can be dangerous too - especially for children. As adults, we have a unique responsibility. On one hand we need to keep children safe around motorcycles, yet on the other hand we need to keep the riding experience one that children will grow to love, learn from, and respect at the same time. We want to build good motorcycle memories for our children and I believe these things can be achieved with responsible behavior, lots of experience, and loving care.

What do you think?

Post by Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.com

Technorati Tags: motorcycles, motorbikes, bikes

Motorcycle clubs seem to have been around for ages - According to many, the first motorcycle club in the United States was the Yonkers Motorcycle Club from New York, formed in early 1903. But it was until the 50s that motorcycle clubs really hit the scenes in major.

Even though Motorcycle Clubs have frequently been portrayed in the media as groups of crazy people and some times even as criminals, the reality is that most clubs (past and present) are simply an avenue for people to share like interests and to enjoy the open road.

There are dozens of motorcycle clubs in the U.S., Canada and around the world with membership into the hundreds. But not all motorcycle clubs are large - some consist of just a few riders. And they’re not all as exclusive or open as you might expect. They vary from admitting anyone (even those who don’t even own a motorcycle) to admitting only riders who ride a specific brand of bike, who belong to a specific profession, who come from a specific region or any other type of qualification.

A lot of motorcycle clubs are formed around a profession and some very strong examples are motorcycle clubs with military, ex-military, and police force members. Since motorcycles have been used in the military and in police work for more than 80 years, it’s only reasonable to expect that members would build a club around similar interests.

Harley-Davidson motorcycle clubs for example admit Harley-Davidson fans only. The bond that holds everyone in this motorcycle club together is the mutual enthusiasm and respect for one of the most popular bike manufacturer in the world.

As an excellent support team, members of motorcycle clubs help each other maintain and/or enhance their bikes as well. So if you were a member, and you wanted to get a clutch for a 1912 V-twin or a carburetor for a 1937 Knucklehead for instance, you could rest assured that someone in the club knows where to get one.

There are a countless number of motorcycle clubs: the Saskatchewan MC that explores Canada’s back roads, the Brothers of the Bike (Daytona, Florida) are known to zoom along the coast, and the Vespa Riders of Rome that gather along the Via Veneto each summer, just to name a few.

Are you female? Motorcycle clubs aren’t exclusive to men. The Women on Wheels Motorcycle Association has over a hundred chapters around the U.S. and Canada, and even one in Switzerland. Women-run motorcycle clubs are just as active as any other and busy with planning events, mapping routes and touring the highways in the familiar motorcycle pack.

Now although the clubs may vary, the values and bylaws tend to be that same and built upon common ideas. Basically, everyone looks out for each other both on the road and at home. And sharing knowledge, interests, and talents are key to keeping a motorcycle club meaningful. Examples include best routes, the best places to visit or stay on a tour, where to find the least expensive bike or part, how to get the most out of your bike and riding experience, or how to repair a bike.

There’s just no comparison to the families that form from motorcycle clubs. I highly recommend joining one that fits your style and riding skills.

Are you a member of a motorcycle club? Share your thoughts in the comments of this post.

Technorati Tags: motorcycle clubs, motorcycles, motorbikes