Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Basic RiderCourse - Just Do It

Motorcycling has steadily become more and more "mainstream" in recent years as the stigmas associated with riding have been shed through good press as well as a general increase in understanding.  Movies like "On Any Sunday" and "Why We Ride" have helped to spread awareness for riders and various ad campaigns from around the world have pushed to try and make the general public aware that motorcycle riders are still people.  Although many still think of images from "The Wild One" and "Sons of Anarchy" when thinking of "bikers", one can see that the general consensus about motorcycles is changing every season.  For many of those who have discovered riding, motorcycling has becomes less to do with criminal association and more about all the positive aspects.  Where once there was only danger and mischief is now an association with freedom and a proper code of conduct.  Students, professionals and intellectuals alike are coming around to motorcycling and it's very possible that we are coming into a golden age of motorcycling.

Whatever Happened to "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday"?

As some of you know, the Daytona 200 took place this past weekend.  Surrounded by the yearly Daytona Bike Week, this event often marks the start of the season for many of us in the colder states.  Thanks to some last minute deals, the race was broadcast on Fanschoice.tv and those of us who couldn't pry ourselves away from the daily grind to make it down to Florida could still enjoy the action.  Although the track has been reconfigured several times and the class structure for the motorcycles has been swapped a countless number of times through the years, the race on the speedway has endured since 1961 and racing on the beach even further back since 1937.  Although the popularity of Bike Week has increased over the years, it seems attendance at the race has been waning through the years.  Although it would provide some comfort to believe that this was a singular phenomenon surrounding the Daytona 200, but paying attention to trends over the last few years might make one believe that this may be indicative of motorcycle racing culture in the United States as a whole.

A Friendly Reminder: Pre-Season Checks

 The optimistic among us are exclaiming, "It's finally here" and can feel the freezing cold behind us as the temperature inevitably begins its ascent.  As spring rapidly approaches, a rider can't help but start to try to finally break away from the aches of cabin fever by occupying the space between here and "riding season" with something to reacquaint him or herself with our two wheeled obsessions.  Unfortunately, as exciting as this time is, this is also a time when I see a lot of bikes being crashed.  Often in our haste, we tend to overlook certain basic things and end up "jumping the gun" so to speak.

Why I'm Buying a Quad

I know, I know.  So what if quads have two too many wheels?  It doesn't mean they can't still be a ton of fun.  You can think about an ATV as a motorcycle's bigger, kinda slow, but friendly and lovable cousin.  When talking to a lot of my motorcycle buddies, quads seem to be as foreign to them as street bikes are to a majority of the non-motorcycling public.  It's understandable when I consider that I probably wouldn't have a clue about them if I didn't learn about them through working at a dealership.  Fortunately, I had the chance to do some snow plowing with a Honda Foreman Rubicon yesterday and am now more convinced than ever that they are the answer to the winter-time blues.. given you have some place to ride one.

Cross Country Movie Night: Idaho Back Country Discovery Route

As winter is hopefully coming to a close, Cross Country Cycle hosted yet another movie night featuring the fifth installment of the Backcountry Discovery Route organization series that covers a route put together for dual sport and adventure bike travel exploring Idaho.  Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments were served including the well renowned Cross Country dirty water hot dogs and freshly popped popcorn.  If you're interested in the movie, check out the trailer after the jump. Further information can be found at the IDBDR homepage.

Railroad Hopping

“Some people will tell you that slow is good – but I’m here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba…” - Hunter S. Thompson.

Product Review: Gerbings Coreheat7 Softshell Jacket

From internet connections to even cell phone chargers, it would seem that everything technological today is going the way of wireless so it should be no surprise that battery powered heated gear is starting to become more and more popular.  There are many people out there who feel uncomfortable with the idea of being wired into their bike and now there is an option for those with this sentiment, but are still looking for a little help with the elements during cold weather riding.  I've pretty much been living in this jacket for the last couple months and have put it to the test in various conditions and would have to say I'm pretty happy with it.

The true beauty of this jacket lies in its versatility.  Not having to be tethered to your motorcycle in order to work the heating elements means you can use this jacket for when you're tailgating, sitting on a ski lift, or for those first few minutes of driving before the heat in your car starts working.  Gerbings does boast a "wind blocking and water resistant outer shell" and after putting it to the test, I found that this jacket definitely does a good job of blocking out the elements.