The Surefire Path to Getting Your Motorcycle License

It’s no secret that getting your motorcycle license means jumping through a lot of hoops. But you shouldn’t let a little red tape get between you and a lifetime of riding. Here is a simple plan that you can use to get your license easily.

Motorcycle License

  1. Get the motorcycle operator handbook from your state’s motor vehicle bureau. This is simply a short booklet that contains all of the information that you will need to know in order to pass the motorcycle permit test, plus extra information to keep you safe. These books are usually downloadable in PDF format at your state’s motor vehicle bureau’s website.
  2. Make sure you have reached the minimum age for a learner’s permit in your state, and apply at your local DMV. You will need to take both a written test and a vision test.  In order to prepare for the written exam, it’s a smart idea to get a motorcycle practice test. That will allow you to have a general understanding of what questions are on the real thing before you even take it.
  3. Get a bike and start practicing. The amount of time you will have to practice and the regulations that restrict your practice time can vary from state to state.
  4. Fill out your state’s application for a motorcycle license and pay all applicable fees.
  5. Make sure the registration for your motorcycle is up to date and that you are fully insured. You will only be allowed to take the test if you are fully compliant with all state regulations.
  6. Make an appointment with your state’s motor vehicle bureau to take the motorcycle test. To prevent cancellations, check the weather report to ensure that there won’t be rain, snow, or other weather conditions that would make riding your motorcycle difficult.
  7. Before your appointment, go to the area where the test will be held (usually a section of the parking lot of your local motor vehicle bureau office). Practice all the maneuvers on which you be tested, like accelerating, turning, and braking. This will help you be extra prepared for the actual test.
  8. On test day, remember to relax, follow instructions, and rely on all the practice you have been doing. Once you have passed the tests (which, depending upon your state’s regulations, may involve a basic maneuver test, a road test, and/or a written test), you are ready to get your picture taken and receive your license.

Welcome to the club, fellow biker.

About Author

Logan Strain is a writer for I DRIVE SAFELY, the leading provider of Driver’s Ed Online in the United States. For more information about safe and responsible driving, plus some fun articles that all licensed drivers will enjoy, visit http://expresslane.idrivesafely.com/ blog.

Useful features of triumph motorcycle saddlebags

Triumph bikes are recognized as very stylish and heavy duty bikes. For touring purposes, one definitely needs to carry vital things. Motorcycle saddlebags for triumph motorcycles provide you with much room to carry your desired luggage and enable you to have a fast and comfortable riding. Triumph Saddlebags have turned out to be one of the most extensively used saddlebags for carrying big amount of luggage. Now let us discuss about the main features of Triumph saddlebags.

Triumph Saddlebags Types

There are usually two types of triumph motorcycle saddlebags: hard bags and Leather bags, which are very functional and effective. The Hard Saddlebags are externally covered with fiber glass while inner side has carpet layer. On the other hand, the Leather saddlebags are externally covered with leather (as it is evident from name), providing complete safety of the luggage. Both these saddlebags allow utmost room for carrying things with the only dissimilarity of their outer structure and material. Hard Triumph saddlebags come with a tough sleek external face, while the leather saddlebags come with a leather layer covered on outer face with diverse styles.

 

Lock System for complete safety

Triumph Motorcycle Saddle Bags come with lock mechanism which makes sure the safety of the stuff that you want to carry in them. There is the possibility of an integrated locking mechanism to ensure the safety, or there might be a separate lock that can be used to lock the triumph leather saddlebags. Some of them also come with the Keys which are needed to open the lock.

 

Simple fitting

Either you choose a triumph motorcycle hard saddlebags or leather saddle bags; you can comfortably install both of them on your bike by using throw over mounting system. To install leather saddlebags, there are throw over leather brackets to allow you to effortlessly take away the leather saddlebags whenever you need to do so. In the same way, to install hard saddlebags, there are disconnect brackets which enable you to simply fasten and remove the bags.

 

Firmly Fastened Saddlebags

You can also easily install triumph bike saddlebags through hard mounting system in which bolts are used to attach saddlebags with bike. By doing so, bike saddlebags are firmly fixed with the bike and there are almost zero chances of saddle bags getting separated from the bike while you are riding. Hence, you will be able to travel long distances along with the desired amount of your luggage.

7 Safety Tips for Young Cyclists

Summary: This article focuses on the importance of a bike in the life of a kid, and provides certain safety tips every kid should keep in mind while riding on a street.

Riding a bike is always a fun activity with kids. As a kid, there is hardly any activity which is healthier than cycling. Cycling helps in strengthening the muscles and the bones of the entire body. It is also a great way for kids to become independent.

However, it should be remembered that a bike is a vehicle, and not a toy. There is a huge difference between riding a bike at the backyard of the house and riding a bike for the first time on a crowded street. Following are some safety tips which every kid should keep in mind while riding a bike on a busy street:

I.            Inspect your Bike before taking it Out: It is important that the bike is thoroughly checked every time before you go out on the street. Make sure that all the parts are secure and working properly. Take extra care about the tires and the brakes.

II.            Adjust your Bike to Fit: Firstly, you need to stand over your bicycle. If the bike is a road bike, the gap between you and the top tube should not be more than 2 inches; in case, of a mountain bike, this gap should be between 3 to 4 inches. Secondly, the seat and the handlebar should be at the same level. The seat should be adjusted in such a way that when the leg is fully extended, there is a slight bend at the knee.

III.            Full Control over the Bike: You can be an expert rider and you can ride without even touching the handlebars, but this is mere stupidity and an extreme risk – not only to you but also for people around you.  Keep both your hands on the handlebars and make sure you have total control over the bike.

IV.            Always Wear a Properly-fitted Helmet: In case of any mishap, the portion of the body which can get most severely injured is the brain. Therefore, it is important that a helmet is worn every time you are riding a bike. Make sure it is made out of a good material and fits properly.

V.            Obey the Traffic Rules: When you are riding a bike on a street, you need to be responsible. Do not try to scorch the roads with your cycling speeds, just like you might do if you rent sports cars in NYC. You need to abide by each and every traffic sign, signal, and lane marking. Ride on the right side of the road and do not even think of going against the traffic flow. Ride in a straight line, so that it is easier for other drivers to predict your movements.

VI.            See and Be Seen: It does not matter in which weather you are out, you need to make sure that you are visible to others. Wearing white clothes does not mean that you can easily be seen. It is better to wear fluorescent, neon, or other such colors whether you are riding in day or at night. It is also better that reflective markings and tapes are also tied to the bike. You will get attractive apparel perfect for riding bikes.

VII.            Stay Alert all the Time: The most important thing is staying alert and attentive. This means that you need to both your eyes and your ears. Watch out for anything which can make you lose control. Do not wear a headset when you are riding; you need to keep your ears free in order to avoid dangerous situations. Do not simply relax, just like you might have done if you were riding in exotic rental cars in Philadelphia.

 

 

Author’s Bio: Bob Willis is a famous author. He is also an avid blogger. He takes a keen interest in bikes. In this article, he talks about the importance of a bike in the life of a kid, and provides certain safety tips every kid should keep in mind while riding on a street, with a special reference to Nalini jerseys.

2012 Community Hall of Fame Awards

Hall of Fame Awards

I’m honored to present the first Community Hall of Fame inductees with my co-host Polssken and my girlfriend Tracy.

The “Hall of Fame” idea actually goes way back to the original “Cruiser of the Week” feature we had on the old site. Some members suggested to turn that into a “Cruiser of the Month” feature to recognize key contributors in the community.
It eventually morphed into a “Hall of Fame” and a team of international community member hashed out the details and came up with the criteria for members to qualify for the Community Hall of Fame. Besides Marek (Polssken) and myself we also had Rick (skeeter229), Dim (Dimitra), Kat (Katbrat) and Phil (PhilCole) on the team.

We wanted to pick members who significantly contributed to the overall enjoyment of everybody on the site. We wanted to pick members that not only contributed lots of discussions, photos and videos but also participated in helpful discussions, helped other members, offered advice. We wanted to pick members that have been coming to the site frequently and have been there for a long time.
We also looked at their offline activities, for example if they organized member rallies or met up with other members for rides.

Checkout our 2012 Hall of Fame inductees:

Kyle aka ManyBikes

manybikes

Kyle who’s passion for all things two wheels earned him his American Indian name of ‘ManyBikes’, converted www.cruisercustomizing.com from a bike parts online store, to an interactive and engaging community for people with a shared passion (and individual style) to come together and connect from allover the world.

Kyle has been the main force behind the development of the Cruiser Customizing Community or ‘CCC’ as it is affectionately known. He asked the right questions and listened to the community members.

Everything from engaged members, tech support, product and shipping enquiries, establishing the fun photo and video competitionsmember incentives, COTW (Cruiser of the Week), TOTW videos (Tip of the Week), WWG videos (Wednesday with Greg) and a bunch of other stuff! Within the limitations of technology on the old CCC platform, Kyle brought us the basis of the community that we all share and enjoy to this very day.

It is fair to say that without Kyle ‘ManyBikes’, the community would not be where it is today. And to take it one step further, without this community, we would not have had the opportunity to meet some of the most fantastic people we’ve ever met. Across the seas or in our own backyards, we’ve all made friends for life here on CCC, in ways none of us could ever have imagined.

Don aka copperguy

copperguy

A legend is not too liberal a term for the one known as ‘copperguy’ around here. A major personality of the CC Community in his time on this site, he was the first to welcome hundreds (possibly thousands) of new members as they joined the site, making everyone feel at ease as part of the CCC family.

Don always had time for others, always took the time to comment on everyone’s pictures, videos, blogs, discussions and competition entries. His own contribution to the site was always highly entertaining, humorous, generous and supportive of the community’s growth. Interacting with Don gave us all a great feeling of mateship and family, through the invisible reach of the internet and across the seas.

He made many friendships that extended beyond CCC and into the realm of Skype, mailed souvenirs and even met some members when geography permitted. Ice fishing and head pets were his signature.

Then in July 2011 we heard the shocking news of Don’s sudden death caused by a motorcycle related accident on his ride home from work on that fateful day. We never met in person, but the loss of Don’s charismatic presence cut us all so deep that all our international CC Community members were left to
mourn in his wake.

donboyerpatch

Immortalised on these pages, any time we feel the weight of emptiness his absence has created, we can log in to CCC and tune into any number of copperguy’s postings for a dose of his witty quips. Memories that all his mates will always treasure.

Chris aka outbackaussie

outback

In an iconic photo posted by Chris ‘oubackaussie’, submitted for a CCC photo contest on ‘Reflections’, is an image that truly embodies all that is Chris, where he writes: “I had been on my bike for two and a half days travelling from medical scans in Melbourne to Longreach in Central Outback Queensland (1500 miles) and was only two hours from home when i chanced upon this lookout not far from a little outpost called Jundah. I had transversed a lot of the great country I live in spending many solitary hours considering the next steps in my ongoing battle against the big C, and just stopped looking over vast plains
of scrub reflecting on the many things that i am fortunate enough to be able to do, have done and will do
in my life.”

His contribution on the site was at the same level as any regular CCC member, however it was his significant contribution to people’s real lives outside of the website community that was outstanding and left it’s mark on our hearts.

In 2010, a large contingent of Aussie members had the pleasure of meeting outbackaussie on our first Australian CCC Rally. We’ll never forget outbackaussie’s ingenious home-made mods on the Shadow, from clear perspex lowers mounted to his crash bars for wind protection, to his home-made speakers installed into driving light housings and hooked up to play his iPod which had everything from AC/DC to Sinatra.
There was always laughter, classic tunes and good times when Chris was around.

One would never know the personal battle he fought with an aggressive stomach cancer that had already taken route before we ever met him, and eventually took him from us again. In his final months, Chris had made peace with his fate and made a huge effort to visit with as many Aus CCC members as he could, on what he knew would be his ‘last ride’ to say goodbye to all his friends and family across the country, on his
Kawasaki Voyager with his partner. He made the most of his trip and rode until the last possible moment, when ultimately he was unable to ride due to the late stages of his cancer. Chris never showed his pain, he played the hand he was dealt with such grace, even in his final moments still cracking jokes and keeping you smiling. His outlook on life under such circumstances was an inspiration to us all.

Chris is one of the real faces of bikers, true ‘mate’ material. His legacy lives on at our Australian CCC Rally’s where the prestigious “Outbackaussie Award” is gifted to only the most worthy of contributor’s at each year’s weekend trip. An honour for any CCC member.

Robin aka Robin001

robin

Robin01 one of the ‘originals’, has been a part of the CC Community as long as we can remember. His contribution to the community has been influential in helping to set the tone and shape the community from the early days.

Particularly in the early days, but even now, contributes to the community and supports its growth, welcomes new members, shares videos, photos, advice and stories with the community, comments on other member’s media and participates in contests and other site activities. He always stands up for other members and ensures everyone had a fair go. He is someone to call ‘mate’, but he’s also a self-confessed

“Bloody Idiot”.

Together with Phil, the first Australian CCC Rally was born. Now an institution, with rally’s held annually for all Aussie members (and any international members who care to cross the seas to join in the fun). A seed of an idea back in 2009, both Robin and Phil worked very hard to organise the 2010 Mildura CCC Rally, a fantastic success that demanded an encore.

Robin volunteered a significant amount of his time to co-ordinate the very first Video Contest on CCC. With no prior format or structure to the contest, Robin worked with Kyle and the CC team to develop a fun and engaging contest, which he ran superbly.

Robin will always be one of the original that helped shape the site, and as such his valuable contribution must be recognised. All hail the President of Bloody Idiots SMC.

Earl aka EARL1

earl

Those who knew Earl1 describe him as supportive, encouraging and funny. His contribution was in his involvement in the community, adding media, and interacting with other members.

Earl is described as always putting others first, his sympathetic approach both encouraging and supporting of others in the community. All this despite his own personal challenge which he kept silent about in the public forum. It was only after his private passing that we hear about Earl’s 17 month struggle with Lou Gehrig Disease. His wife compelled to log into the CC Community to inform the many friends he’d made
why Earl was now silent and not contributing.

For 2013’s Hall of Fame inductees we’ll want to include the feedback of all members. Around Fall of 2013 we’ll start the selection process on the site and everybody can participate and suggest future nominees.

Lets celebrate our inductees and their achievements to our motorcycle community.

Cheers,

Uwe

Sport Bike Vs Cruiser which is best?

Many first time buyers of motorcycles are faced with the same question upon their first visit to their local motorcycle store: should I buy a sport bike or a cruiser?  The answer greatly depends on the kind of riding experience you want since the two bikes are very different on a number of levels.  In this article, I will attempt to give the beginning motorcycle enthusiast a brief rundown of the differences between these two bikes.

Sport Bike

Sport Bike

The sport bike is very much like you would expect by the name and by its style.  It is definitely the sportier, more active bike of the two in comparison to the cruiser style, and requires more physical upper body strength and stamina.  For those that want a more exhilarating experience, though, and are prepared to exert the extra muscle power in your upper body that the sport bike requires, this motorcycle can provide you with some serious adrenaline rushes and offer you some satisfying thrills.

Sport bikes are usually a bit smaller than cruiser’s and have a higher center of gravity.  The handle bars are usually a bit stubbier and the wheel base is also smaller.  The reason for this is the amount of control that these bikes provide you with.  Using only small movements on the handle bars, you can make huge moves either left or right.  With a small application of the brakes, you could find yourself coming to a dead stop, while only a small amount of movement on the throttle will send you hurtling forward at break neck speeds.  This all leads to a very satisfying experience for those looking for a fast adrenaline rush.  If you are not careful, however, a small loss of control or lack of concentration could send you to a very bad place as an accident could be very easily caused with these powerful bikes.

Your upper body strength is also put to the test with these sport bikes. Your shoulders, arms, wrists, and upper back could really get a workout after a long ride as the sport bikes tend to sit forward and require you to lean toward the front of the bike when you are riding.

Cruiser

Cruiser Bike

Where the sport bike excels in quick bursts of adrenalized speed, the cruiser is built for going the distance.  While the cruiser is a fast vehicle, capable of hitting highway speed with minimal effort, it is a much smoother and less aggressive ride than the sport bike.  The controls are all a bit bigger than the sport bike, and focus more on gross motor skills than on the fine motor skills required by the sport bike.  If you are into long rides across country or day trips through beautiful scenic routes, the cruiser is definitely the bike of choice.  The cruiser has a lower center of gravity, allowing you to sit more comfortably in an upright position such as you are probably already used to if you spend much time in front of a computer.  Having your arms extended out in front of you will take some getting used to, as well as the upright position, which can both cause some sore muscles the first few times to you take a long ride as you adjust to it.  Cruisers usually offer many more options for customization and are usually the bike of choice for those who see their motorcycles as hobbyist projects.  Another big difference between the cruiser and the street bike is the fact that if you have a long trip in front of you, the cruise will usually have storage for your stuff, while the smaller sport bikes are going to require you to carry it all in your backpack.

Author Bio: Jason Phillips is in love with bikes from teenage. He enjoys bike racing and car racing as his leisure. He mostly uses rockville md autobody for his automobiles.

 

Customizing your Harley with Black Parts and Accessories

Finding a good fitting and classy part or accessory for your Harley is as good as finding a perfectly fitting jeans or leather jacket to wear every day – the better it fits the bike, the better looking and performing the ride will be.  There are all sorts of parts and accessories in the market and just like everything else, not every part or accessory goes well with your Harley, and you should not force it.  There are a few ideas you could use though, considering that you spared no expense to get one of the best two wheel machines of today and you need to go the extra mile to match it up with custom fit seats, handlers, suspensions, foot control, visors, mud flaps and other accessories.

One of the best black or chrome parts I can recommend is the Küryakyn brand – with so many parts and customized accessories, you will find the perfect fitting component for the Harley, especially now as chrome style has eventually transformed into black.  Whether you are a beginner in customizing bikes or have done it before, you should know a few great black parts and accessories that will perfectly go with your Harley.  The customization can be thematic in nature or you can just pick the parts that matter the most to you – your pick.

Gloss Black driving lights

No lights are as catchy as Gloss Black driving lights on a smooth motorcycle.  These components fit perfectly on Electra Glides, Street Glides and Road King and feature a halogen driving light kit with a traditional ‘batwing’ design giving the bike a whole new personality.  Its compact and stretched stylized bezels and the fully adjustable brackets give a clean, sharp look with focused light output.  The lights come with H3 bulbs which outputs intense beam of lights with many options.

Kuryakyn Gloss Black driving lights

Saddlebag lid speaker pods and Kicker replacement coaxial speakers

You love to have your best music playing on your bike, but you must admit, the stock speakers are not the best to have hard rock playing on.  The Saddle bag lid speaker pods utilize the factory saddlebag lids to transform them into the finest sound system for music lovers.  They are wrapped in quality Küryakyn chrome and are water proof, this is the reason they provide the optimum sound quality and re most durable.  You can combine these with the powerful Kicker replacement coaxial speakers which are also weather proof and boast of high efficiency coaxials, very light 2 and 4 ohm speakers and the best 3/4” dome tweeters in the market created for efficiency & performance.

Kuryakyn 2 ohm Saddle Bag Lid Speaker Pods

Gloss Black bullet light rear turn signal bar & license plate frame, Scythe mirror and Zombie Levers

Creating a Gloss Black theme in your Harley decoration has never been simpler than using Küryakyn products.  For starters, replace the big stock turn signals at the rear with these bullet-shaped, streamlined turn signals and move the license plate below the taillight – that is where it is supposed to be if you ask me.  Next, get the Gloss Black Scythe mirror with its Rambo-shaped head and sleek streamlined profile for a classy aerodynamic look and Gloss Black Zombie Levers to complete the theme with its comfortable black contours and dished back for high leverage with minimal reach.

Kuryakyn Zombie Levers - Gloss Black,

If you want to stick to the Zombie theme, you can go ahead and get the Gloss Black Zombie taillight Cover and the Gloss Black cover plate to complement the theme and give your ride a whole new dangerous look.  All these black parts and accessories make the bike comfortable and guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.

Kuryakyn Gloss Black Zombie taillight Cover

About the Author:

James McDonnel contributed this guest post. James is an automotive enthusiast and a freelance writer. He writes for wish.co.uk and he enjoys rare driving experiences like the ones they offer on their website

4 Reasons to Ride Saddlemen & Ditch the Stock Seat

Bikers need a comfortable seat, and it is usually the first thing to go when they begin customizing their bikes. Stock seats are uncomfortable and lack the support needed for long trips, mostly due the poor quality materials  and construction techniques.

Join Kyle Bradshaw (host of the popular Tip of the Week) as he speaks with Saddlemen live and explains how their seats can make a difference in the quality of your ride, and ultimately soothe the pain in your rear. The innovators at Saddlemen provide bikers with the widest range of affordable seats that look and fit perfectly.

What are the 4 Top Reasons to Ride Saddlemen? Attend this webinar to find out.\\

WWGe37 Motorcycle Cleaning Products HD Video

http://motorcycle-accessories.cruisercustomizing.com/search?model=&userna…

Kyle Bradshaw of Cruiser Customizing and Greg Beck of Tucker Rocky bring you the products out of their own garages and show you the cleaning chemicals / products they use to clean their bikes. They take you on a chemical ride from the front to the rear, covering all aspects of your motorcycle.

Here are some of the products and categories discussed:

Total Care Kit

S100 Motorcycle Cleaning Gift Set (S100-53-5115)
Windshields

Plexus
Novus Plastic Polish Combo Kit 1 2 3 (NOV-PC-10-20-30)
Chians

DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver – 10 oz. Aerosol (DUPONT-CS0110101)
Watch the Chian Saver WWG – Amazing!
Repsol Oil Repsol Chain Lube – 150 ml (REPSOL-112105)
Tires / Wheels

S100 Wheel Cleaner (S100-53-5106)
Hardline Products Rollastand Wheel Cleaning Stand – Sportbikes (PU-RS-00001)
Paint (Wet Wash)

S100 Total Cycle Cleaner 1 L Spray Bottle Kit (S100-53-5100)
Meguiar’s Liquid Wax Wet Look – 6 oz. (MEG-MC20206)
Paint (Dry Wash)

Purple Slice Spray Cleaner – 32 oz. (PURPLE-PS32)
Next Dimension Original Bike Spirits Spray Cleaner and Polish – 14 oz. sold each (TR-53-0396)
Hondaline Spray Cleaner and Polish (HL-08732-SCP00)
Rubber

DuPont Pure Silicone Lubricant with Krytox PTFE – 10 oz. Aerosol (DUPONT-D00100101)
Leather

Kuryakyn Doc Baileys Leather Black (KY-950)
Polishing

Nevr-Dull Magic Wadding Polish (MG-20001)
S100 Finish Restorer – 3.5 oz. tube (S100-53-5107)
Luster Lace Polishes Luster Seal (LLP-70308)
S100 Polish Detail Set (S100-3706-001)
Nasty Parts

Next Dimension Original Bike Spirits Contact Brake Cleaner – 14 oz. sold each (ND-A00732)

WWGe36 Motorcycle Tire Inflation HD Video

http://motorcycle-accessories.cruisercustomizing.com/search?model=&userna…

Greg Gregory Beck and Kyle Bradshaw talk about simple ways to take Air on the road with you when riding your motorcycle. Items discussed in this video are as follows:

Gryyp Cargol Turn and Go Tubeless Tire Repair Kit – Basic Kit Inflate (GRYYP-K008)

Progressive Suspension Replacement CO2 Cartridge for Tire Repair Kit TRK5 (PS-RC-004)

Gryyp Cargol Turn and Go Tubeless Tire Repair Kit – Micro Kit Cargol Inflate (GRYYP-K004)

Slime Mini Compressor Kit (SLIME-40001)

Slime Mini Smart SpAIR Compressor Kit with Slime Sealant (SLIME-50001)

BikeMaster Tire and Tube Flat Repair Kit (BM-YP-881TR)

Thank you for watching this weeks Wednesday with Greg!

Take care,

Kyle & Greg