2Wheeltips

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If you haven't done so already, make sure you answer the current poll and frequently check for new polls as we will begin to roll new ones out soon.

Update your profile
It is important that you let others know something about you. Write something about yourself. Not your life story but something to let others know about your interest in motorcycling.

Enter your location
If you want others to find you, enter your city and state, or your city and/or province or country in your profile. When people do a search for riding buddies, this is how you are found. If you don't enter your location, no one can find you.

Upload some pictures
Motorcyclists love pictures of other bikes and of different places you've been. If you have video, upload those two. You will be surprised at how many responses you'll get from other members.

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As a new member you'll be asked to confirm your email address. By doing this, you will get notifications whenever someone responds or posts to any of your content or to items your are following. A very easy way to keep track of what is happening on the site.

Join a group
We post all of our videos, blogs and articles in groups. If you are a member of a group and you have confirmed your  email address, you will get a message letting you know there is new stuff on the site. Also joining a group is an easy way to meet other riders that share your interests. If you do not see a group you like, you can create one and invite others to join. Groups are very flexible and they have their own forums, blogs, pictures, videos and events. An easy way to organize your motorcycle activities.

Participate
Feel free to ask questions, write articles or make suggestions. We have members from all areas of motorcycling and we are sure you will get the answer you need.

You need to modify your riding style when riding on new tires.,

New tires are very very slippery. There are conflicting reasons for this (mold release compound, chemicals used in the molding process etc.) but one thing is for sure, hard leaning and quick braking on new tires is a quick way to crash your bike.

Although some people will tell you to use  sandpaper, degreaser or do a "burn out", the only way to get rid of the slippery surface is through the friction caused by riding.  75 miles is usually enough to get it off.

The first 5 - 10 miles are the most dangerous. The tires have limited grip and will drift from even the slightest lean.  So take it nice and slow. As you get closer to 30 miles you can begin leaning a bit more to wear the tires closer to the edges. As you get closer to 75 miles, you will feel the tires grip more.

One final tip. Even after you have passed 75 miles, remember your tires are still new. Save the hard leans and braking for when you have a few hundred miles on the tires.

Riding on days when it's cold in the morning and cool during the days can be a little uncomfortable if you are not properly dressed.

Most riders park their bikes when the temperature dips below 58 but you can continue to ride without  spending hundreds of dollars for a bulky winter riding suit.

An easy and inexpensive way to keep warm is  to buy silk liners. You can get silk socks, pants, shirts, gloves and caps that you can wear under your regular clothing. They are super thin and will trap enough heat to keep you warm on those chilly afternoon rides.

For colder days you may want to go with thermal liners. They do tend to be a bit more bulky but are much cheaper than a full blown riding suit.

You don't have to go out and buy liners from an expensive motorcycle store or catalog. They are available in your local department store and online and work just as well.

Once the temperature gets close to the 40's you will need to get a winter riding suit and perhaps heated grips. Not many ride when the temperature gets down in the 30's but if you plan on doing year round riding, a heated suit is a must.

Here is a quick tip most riders haven't considered. If you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a communication system for your bike, or you don't want a bunch of cables hooked up everywhere, consider getting a motorcycle bluetooth headset.

They use the same technology as cellphones headsets you see stuck in everyones ears. they come with speakers and a microphone that you attach to the inside and side of your helmet and let you talk to your passenger without using wires.

Good ones come with noise canceling technology to cut out the wind noise and automatic volume control to adjust the volume when on the highway. The sound is clear enough even while wearing earplugs.

Some models link to your GPS so you can hear the turn by turn voice prompts.. Still others link to your cellphone to let your answer calls without taking off your helmet.

If you and a riding buddy both have motorcycle headsets, you can link them to your cellphones and place a call before you ride. That way you will be able to talk to each other while riding. I call it the poor mans alternative to an expensive CB radio.

As a new rider, you will no doubt be reluctant to ride at night.  Night time riding does have its own risks but you can safely ride at night if you make some adjustments.

1st you need to slow down. One problem common to experienced and novice riders alike is over driving their headlights. You need to drive at a speed that will allow you to stop within the distance you can see.

2nd you need to make yourself more visible. If you plan to ride at night, you should wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you. Don't assume your lights are enough. When coming to a stop, you may want to tap your brakes a few times to flash them for drivers behind you. Also you should use your horn more at night to let others around you know you are there. A quick beep when beside a are or when passing will let others know you are there.

3rd is being prepared for nocturnal animals. Lots of critters like to come out at night and you need to be prepared for raccoons, possums, rabbits and other creatures you may see on or beside the road. If you can, avoid roads where you know animals are likely to appear.

4th is to be extra cautious at intersections. Slow down and look before riding through them. Drivers have a hard time seeing you during the day, much less at night.

Night riding can be very enjoyable and if you follow these tips, you can reduce your   risk of getting in an accident.

One of the simplest bike maintenance things you can do is making sure your tires are properly inflated.

Not only will your bike handle better with properly inflated tires, but you will get better gas milage and your tires will last longer.

You should check your tires when they are cold as the internal pressure increases when the tires heat up. For this reason, you should buy a pump and tire gauge and perform this basic maintenance before you take the bike out for a ride.

Motorcycle tires are small enough to inflate with a hand pump, but a foot pump is easier. Even better, many portable battery chargers come with electric pumps and can inflate a tire to the proper level within minutes.

Finally, do not over inflate your tires. The proper PSI is in your motorcycle manual and on the sidewall of the tire.

When you first take off on your bike, remember that tires need time to warm up.  Motorcycle tires are softer than automobile tires because they need to grip the road better.  The gripping power of your tires is enhanced when they are warm; they become stickier and adhere to the road surface better.  So when starting out, remember to take it easy going around curves; your tires need time to reach the temperature at which they can grip they way you want (and need) them to. 8 miles or so of riding on a warm day will do the trick.

Now that riding season is in full swing, we thought we'd offer some quick tips for those of you who are passengers.

Don't go out with a brand new rider (or one with poor riding skills)
A newbie is still learning basics motorcycle skills and this takes time.....and miles. Let the rider get a few months of riding experience (and hundreds of miles) before you hop on. A poorly skilled rider is even worse with a passenger.

Protective gear applies to the passenger too.
Just because you are in the back does not mean you cannot get hurt in an accident or be hit by flying debris.

While riding, avoid unnecessary movement
The operator can feel you moving around and it alters the balance of the bike. So keep movement to a minimum.

Keep your feet on the foot pegs.
Make sure you keep your feet and legs away from hot or moving parts on the bike. The pipes are hot enough to cook your breakfast and will not have a problem roasting your leg.

Use your knees to brace yourself when going over bumps for bumps
If the bike has a sissy bar, you can use it to brace yourself.  This will keep you from sliding forward and clicking helmet with the operator when braking.

Don't death grip the rider.
The operator can not control the bike if you are wrapped around him/her like a snake. All you need to do is hold your hands lightly on the operator's waist...you will find a balance that will work without having to grab tightly.

Lean into curves with the operator.
Your position behind the operator should be neutral....you are not there to be a counterweight.  As the bike takes turns, learn to look over the rider's shoulder in the direction of the turn (right shoulder, right turn....left shoulder, left turn).

Riding as a passenger on a bike can be almost as much fun as operating a bike.  And, if you want the operator of the bike to enjoy riding with you as much as you enjoy riding as a passenger, all it takes is these simple tips to make your ride safe and enjoyable.

While very helpful, most bikes do not include a thermometer. As you put more miles on your bike, you will soon discover that at certain temperatures, riding is not as fun and becomes a chore.  On the low end of the scale, your hands are numb and your reflexes are slow. On the high end, you feel faint and dehydrated from the heat. Knowing what those temperatures are can help you plan how to dress for your next ride.

A quick trip to the motorcycle store or an online catalog is quite a sticker shock. Even the cheapest thermometer cost $30.00.....the really nice ones are over $65.00. Some of us just can't bring ourselves to pay that much knowing it cost just a few bucks to make.

Well there are other options out there. Zipper thermometers, which cost around $3.00, are used by hikers and skiers all the time. you can hook one to your jacket or put it in your tank bag window.   Also liquid crystal temperature strips also work. They cost around $7.00 and easily slip into your tank bag or can be easily taped to the handlebars.