If you prefer riding with the wind in your hair and the powerful hum of a motor between your legs, then riding a motorcycle is the perfect activity. There is nothing like the feeling of the sun in your face and the great American countryside laid out in front of you, all ready to be explored.

If you want your bike trips to be memorable, start off by going down the most popular bike routes in California. These include the Santa Barbara County Ventura Loop, the Twisty Redwood Ride, the Salmon Falls Road, Sonora Pass, and the Golden 49 Route.

Santa Barbara County Ventura Loop

The Santa Barbara Ventura Loop starts from Ojai and ends in Cuyama, with breathtaking views of mountains, fields, and the coast, in between for a ride that takes about 5 hours. This loop is known for having good places for experienced riders, especially route 33, while there also are roads that are good for beginner bikers.

Twisty Redwood Ride

For big redwoods and the feel of driving deep into the cool forests with creeks and trees on either side, then the Twisty Redwood Ride is the route to take. This 22 mile stretch of asphalt also has a number of camping and motor grounds.

Salmon Falls Road

You can see parts of Folsom Lake as you go through this area. With very tight turns and sharp corners, this is a very twisty ride indeed. Those who want high speeds and knee dragging will love this stretch of road. There are restaurants and gas stations at the start and the end of the road.

Sonora Pass

This is one of the most breathtaking views of wildlife, which include amazing views of the mountains and valleys covered in flowers. Bikers can see snow capping the mountain peaks even at the very end of the summer. The road can be narrow and twisty in some parts and there are sheer drop offs in some parts where you need to be careful. Strawberry Ski Road is one of the best places to make a rest stop for lunch.

Golden 49 Route

For the most stunning illusion of unending asphalt and the best view of the Sierras, a bike ride through the Golden 49 is a good experience that any biker will not soon forget. The road also has a number of twists and turns as you start from Coulterville and end in Maripossa. Use first gear when navigating the twisties. The route also has a number of rest stops and refueling stations along the way.

Motorcycle rentals in California

Although die hard biking aficionados like to own their Harleys, if you only drive during the weekends or after every few months, renting your bikes is the more practical option. There are a lot of California companies who rent various kinds of bikes for different levels of bikers. When renting a bike, make sure that you choose one which suits your driving skills and body size. Make sure that you also have a major credit card which you can use for the initial deposit, as many rentals consider this as a requirement.

The motorcycle wheel chock is one of the many bike accessories that go a long way to ensure maximum bike safety when it is kept in storage or during its transportation. Well, this motorbike accessory is nothing but a metal/rubber tool that consists of two plates used in the sides of the tires of the motorcycle and hence keeps it in place. The plates can be set for wide tires from 80 to two hundred millimeters, but an optional set of upper plate, for the tires, which is less than 100 mm wide, is also recommended.

Purchase the optional plates that represent the brackets “U.” Four screws (two on each side would help to keep the pieces in place). The width of these Motorcycle Wheel Chock plates can loosen the nuts on the plate slide in and hence they should be customized to be set using the scale on the front of the ramp to an ideal width. You can use these wheel chocks on both the front or rear tire or either of these as you think fit. They can be installed and when you do not need them, you can rotate these plates for detaching. The motorcycle wheel chock is especially great in the garage or shop for holding the motorbike throughout repair.

The motorcycle wheel chock works best when used with tie down straps to ensure ultimate security. This is especially true when you are transporting your motorbike on a trailer. You can just walk around the place or can move along even rough terrains without engaging an extra pair of hands to hold the bike.

The benefits of using motorcycle wheel chock are many and they can be briefed thus:
Easy for even a single person to strap-down a motorcycle
Can be mounted on floor, truck or trailer for transportation

Motorcycle stands are best, when bought from an online source. This is to ensure that you get the best ones in the most cost effective prices for your valuable motorbike. Get only from online destinations that guarantee optimal shelf life. If maintained properly, this motorbike accessory can last for many years. This is because it does not have any moving parts that may become dysfunctional. You can also get other bike accessories like motorcycle jack, and motorcycle lift from the online source these days.

Use these accessories to keep your bike at any place in an upright position even while on move and relax while it takes care of the bike tires.

A motorcycle is in a constant need for new stylish accessories that outshine in originality. As the rider you may be the type who likes to show off the newest of the new and the best of the best. Affording the habit of keeping up with the trending style isn’t always an easy task. If you like finding excellent gear for an amazingly cheap price a motorcycle shop may be the best way to go.

Visiting a motorcycle accessory warehouse will ensure an entertaining time. The vast selection many motorcycle warehouses carry can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. These warehouses buy in stock and most of the time sell for as much as 50% off. Finding a reliable accessory shop tends to present a problem in the “plenty of fish in the sea” area of things. Gaining knowledge on which websites on the web are of the cheapest will help any consumer greatly.

The easiest way to fins a motorcycle accessory warehouse is through the web. When you search “motorcycle accessory warehouse” in your favorite search engines, there will be plenty of results. The best option you can take from here is to compare and contrast. Open up a few sites and look up a few different objects. This will provide you with the cheaper site. It’s also a good idea to check for all small prints and shipping costs.

Finding a motorcycle accessory warehouse off of the web is a little more complicated. Unless you live in a town that celebrates motorcycling it will create a “hard-to-find” needle in a haystack situation. In order to find a motorcycle accessory warehouse offline, taking a look at locations online will be of a big help. This can be done by searching your current locations with the search keywords motorcycle accessory warehouse. Finding a reliable motorcycle accessory warehouse really isn’t too hard of a task when you know exactly how to conduct your research.

Have you been looking for the perfect reason to purchase a new leather motorcycle jacket for yourself? Perhaps the best reason of all is the upcoming riding season which many are looking forward to with great anticipation. Here are some other reasons why you might want to purchase a new jacket for yourself or for someone else.

Your Old Jacket Is Getting Worn Out

Perhaps one of the most obvious reasons why you might want to purchase a new leather motorcycle jacket is because your old one is simply getting too worn out. You may not believe it, but leather doesn’t last forever, although it is very durable. Leather can wear out if not cared for properly, which would result in the need to purchase a new jacket all together.

You Purchase A Brand New Motorcycle

What if you purchase a brand new motorcycle and have never had one before? Then you definitely will want to consider purchasing a new leather motorcycle jacket so you have some form of protection while you are riding. When you buy a new bike you want to look good on it right? The motorcycle jacket will help you do just that.

You Simply Enjoy Leather Apparel

Perhaps your reason for buying a leather jacket or any leather apparel has nothing to do with having a motorcycle at all. Maybe you simply like the look and feel of leather and love how it feels and smells when you’re wearing it. Lots of people purchase jackets like this simply because they look great and can be worn for just about any occasion.

If you need to replace your old jacket, want to look great on your new motorcycle, or simply enjoy wearing leather everywhere you go, then the leather motorcycle jacket is just what you need to satisfy your leather outerwear needs.

When it came to buying a motorcycle, the decision was probably easy – why not get the best quality motorcycle from one of the best manufacturers in the world – Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson has been making motorcycles that withstand the test of time since 1903.

What makes Harley-Davidson such an amazing ride? It’s partially because Harley-Davidson is a truly a great sum of its excellent parts. Each detail of a Harley-Davidson works in combination to make this machine an amazing ride.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are engineered for comfort and quality. The amazing suspension creates a smooth ride; the seat provides riders and passengers with comfort; the handle bars assist drivers and provide a stable ride. It doesn’t matter whether you are cruising down the street or cross-country, your Harley will provide you with the ride of a lifetime. Of course, this brief list doesn’t even begin to describe the complexity of the engine and the machinery that makes this bike run.

Owners of Harleys are more than mere cycle riders. They are people that love the adventure of driving a truly exceptional motorcycle. They don’t take their cycle for granted. They know that maintaining their Harley is an integral part of the job of riding. Like any cherished vehicle, we look for ways to make that ride better, or to take better care of the vehicle.

There are lots of accessories that you can buy to enhance your riding experience with your Harley and to make your motorcycle your dream bike. Let’s take a look at a couple of items that are a must for Harley owners:

Harley Center stands – A Harley center stand is a great way to stabilize your cycle. When you add a center stand to your bike, it becomes much easier for passengers to get on and off your bike, and easier for you to do maintenance on the Harley. Your bike won’t take up as much space in your garage because your Harley is standing upright. You can drive off the center stand and get moving easily. The Harley Center stand is easy to install and can be installed on touring models for the last 20 years.

Harley Air horns – Even on a big cycle like a Harley you still have to battle the cars on the roadways. Too many motorists are oblivious to motorcycles, but an air horn allows you to get their attention quickly. A few quick taps of this horn lets motorists know they need to be alert and make room for your cycle.

Motorcycle Wheel Chocks – Do you transport your Harley occasionally? If you’ve got your Harley in a trailer or a pickup truck you should use a motorcycle wheel chock to keep your bike in place. When you use a wheel chock, you keep the bike secure and prevent it from getting banged up.

Buying a Harley is a great investment. Keep your investment forever by adding the accessories that make your motorcycle even better.

Those who are planning on selling their motorcycle have to find out how much their motorcycles are actually worth in order to list it for the best possible price that is going to attract buyers. This is as equally important as determining what type of condition the motorcycle is in.

Determining how much your motorcycle is worth is going to help you decide if your vehicle is going to sell or not, and also if you are going to make any money on the sale. If you want to increase your chances of selling, then you want to use a valid means for determining the actual value of your motorcycle. Listing your motorcycle for a value that is simply too high can prevent you from selling your bike, and listing it for a value that is simply too low will cause you to possibly lose money on the deal and not get as much for it as you could.

There are plenty of options for founding out the best possible selling price for your motorcycle. Perhaps one of the most utilized resources is Kelley Blue Book, which is an online and offline resource that provides you with the new value, used value, and trade-in value of your motorcycle once you have input certain criteria such as make, model, year, features, and condition. You can determine the value of a number of vehicle types with this tool including cars, trucks, and a number of recreational vehicles.

You can also determine a good selling price for your motorcycle be finding similar bikes with many attributes in common. Motorcycles with similar year, make, model, mileage, and condition traits can be used to find a price point that is reasonable for yours. When you locate similar motorcycles according to the points mentioned above, then you can determine the average price for all of them and consider listing your bike for sale at or below that price.

If you are an avid motorcyclist and living in the Perth, Australia area you may want to break away from the pack and define yourself with a custom bike. One of the ways to acquire ownership of a custom bike is to order a bike kit. A motorcycle kit allows the purchaser to customize their bike to their very own specifications. You are able to custom paint your bike how you want it instead of how a designer thinks it should be painted.

If you are planning on ordering a motorcycle kit from overseas you need to be aware that Australia has certain engineering specifications that it needs to adhere too. A reputable bike kit dealer should offer their Australian customers a specialized Australian motorcycle kit. A motorcycle kit is not assembled, but again a reputable bike kit dealer will have an excellent tech support with Certified Technicians available to help you as you are assembling your cycle. There should also be an instructional step-by-step DVD included with your order.

One of the great aspects of obtaining a bike kit is knowing, that the hours you have invested in the assembly of your new motorcycle is an experience few people have. Once finished and you are out on the road you will be able to look at your bike with a special sense of pride in the workmanship that went into it. Imagine something once only conceived in your mind can be a reality with time and effort.

Once your Australian bike kit is assembled and properly licensed for street driving you can plan some great road trips to break your bike in and see some awesome sights while riding in style. For your own safety always remember to wear your helmet.

10 Great Rides On Your Motorcycle Kit in Perth, Australia

Perth to Mount Magnet

Take a ride through Australia’s Golden Outback. There is rich history steeped along this road. Leaving from Perth and heading north on the Great Northern Highway, Mount Magnet is a good trek traveling over 566 kilometers. This would make a nice day trip.

Perth to Kalbarri National Park

Riding along the coast of Western Australia on the Brand Highway is a great way to travel. This trip is 590 kilometers. The Kalbarri National Park is along the Coral Coast of Western Australia. If you are an avid photographer there are many stunning scenes to capture. Remember to bring along plenty of drinking water while visiting Kalbarri National Park because none is available within the National Park itself.

Perth to Wungong Dam

A short ride southeast from Perth is the Wungong Dam. The Wungong Dam produces a large amount of the electricity for the surrounding areas. The Wungong Dam provides a great area for sightseeing and picnicking. From July through November the area is abounding with wildflowers

Perth to Albany

It is a 409 kilometer trip heading south on the Albany Highway. Mount Barker would be a pleasant place to stop and explore before arriving in Albany. Albany is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia. Albany provides exceptional views of coastal scenery.

Perth to the Margaret River Area

This is a 277 kilometer trip that winds through wine country. I don’t recommend drinking wine while testing out your new Australian motorcycle kit, but you might want to stop at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory for a sweet snack.

Perth to Kalgoorlie

It is a 596 kilometer trip heading east on the Great Eastern Highway. Kalgoorlie is the largest city in Australia’s Outback region. It became famous during the gold mining boom. Today Kalgoorlie is still responsible for ten percent of the world’s gold production.

Perth to Swan Valley

This is a short thirty minute jaunt to wine country.

Perth to Esperance

Longing to learn more about Australia maritime heritage? Travel southeast to Esperance. It is a 721 kilometer trip. Make sure you take the ‘Great Ocean Drive’ while in the area.

Perth to Bridgetown

This is a nice 268 kilometer trip with much to see. Bridgetown boasts the longest flowing river in the state, The Blackwood River. Bridgetown used to be the apple growing capital of the state as well. It offers gentle rolling hills and scenic views while traveling.

Perth to Warburton

This would be for a several day trip which is 1513 kilometers. The last part of the trip would be on the Great Central Highway. This is Aboriginal community on private land and is not open to the public. Before traveling there you would want to acquire a permit to visit from the Central Land Council.

There are many things that need to consider when choosing a new motorcycle helmet because it really is the most important part of your kit and is the one thing that can save your life in the event of a crash. Price is all too often the deciding factor when people buy a new motorcycle helmet. Don’t fall into this trap and end up buying a cheap motorcycle helmet.

1. Safety

Does it have a SNELL Safety sticker? If the helmet does not have the SNELL sticker, it means that it hasn’t met the SNELL safety standards. This is very important and is the most important thing when choosing a new helmet. Helmets without this safety certificate offer little, to no protection when involved in a crash.

2. Brand

Is the helmet made by a reliable company? Motorcycle manufactures such as Bell are synonymous with making some of the highest quality helmets in the world. No name helmets should probably be avoided as it’s hard to verify their quality. Even the SNELL safety stickers have been known to have been counterfeited. Buy a good brand.

3. Suitability

Is it the right helmet for you? There are many different types of helmet to choose from depending on what type of biking you intend doing. Also, would you prefer to have the added protection of a full face helmet or settle for an open face one.

Whatever type of helmet you decide on, remember its primary function is to protect you and save your life in the event of an accident. Be prepared to spend some money and avoid cheap helmets at all cost.

I was reading a motorcycle forum article, a woman had taken a motorcycle safety class and how one of the instructor’s wasn’t being professional. According to the article, this instructor was allowing mistakes not count against a person’s score. That truly upsets me. I was a nationally certified instructor and I never allowed mistakes to be ignored during testing. We are talking about people’s lives and that should never be taken lightly!! That instructor wasn’t helping anyone out, be over looking mistakes. Those mistakes could cause that person to have an accident because he/she didn’t know the correct procedure.

I’m not acting “high and mighty” but I know what it feels like to have a student pass (by a hair) and talk to that student about not being road ready. Taking the time to sit down with the student and discuss ways of going about working on her motorcycle skill and then find out… 30 days later, her boyfriend bought her a motorcycle and they left the dealership riding their motorcycles, a motorcycle she wasn’t ready to put on the road, within 30 minutes of leaving the dealership, she had an accident and was killed instantly…

She wasn’t ready to ride that motorcycle on the road! They should have trailered the bike home and then began learning to ride her motorcycle in a safe place. I read somewhere that most accidents occur within 6 months of getting a motorcycle. Everyone needs to get the feel of motorcycle that they are riding. This is one reason that I emphasis “Safety First” always, that includes your motorcycle and your safety gear.

Every rider knows the importance of wearing protective equipment such as helmets and leather jackets but not too many even give a thought about motorcycle goggles. Saving countless lives by preventing what could be devastating accidents, the right goggles can make all the difference in the world.

If you think about it, wearing protective eye wear just makes sense. How many times have you been blinded by a speck of dust just while walking around on the street. It is enough to blind you for several seconds. Now, imagine that dust hitting your eye as you go 70 miles per hour down a highway. If you have to stop walking when this happens you will surely be impeded on your bike and the result can be deadly.

Goggles help to prevent such instances from occurring but they do so much more. The lenses for these goggles are no longer made from glass but shatterproof material making them far more resilient and resistant. Along with this the lenses come in an array of colors that suit different riding and light conditions. Pale yellow is great for driving during the morning or evening hours when the light is low. If it is a really sunny day you may want to break out the mirror lens to cut down on glare. Gold lenses are pretty versatile and great for many conditions. It never hurts to have a few goggles on hand of varying colored lenses that will suit most conditions.

Now, it can be the case that you are stuck in your ways and believe that goggles just do not offer anything to you. Sure, the goggles are made of shatter proof material far better at deflecting debris from bombarding your eyes and sure the tinted lenses are great for cutting glare and improving vision but what else can there be? Many goggles are now treated with a material that cuts out the chance of the goggles to fog up. Many others are ventilated for comfort and are durable enough to last for years to come.

Let us not forget style in your goggle consideration. Luckily, goggles can both be functional and look good a win win to many riders. Many of the top brands of goggle manufacturers offer many styles featuring safety features. Many bikers easily find goggles that suit their safety needs and their aesthetic preferences.

Bikers understand the danger of riding. It is inherit in the lifestyle they choose. A careful breed by necessity, bikers make sure that their bikes are tuned, that they wear the right clothing and helmets. Motorcycle goggles should not be overlooked especially when it can make the difference between a crash and a safe drive home.