The Motorcycle Wave – What’s There to Say?
I’VE BEEN SAYING TO MYSELF FOR YEARS I WOULD NOT WRITE ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE “WAVE.” On the one hand – at least in North America – it’s a fine symbol of the brotherhood experienced by riders of all ages, races, religions, creeds, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. On the other hand, it can be tiring in areas [...]
Rider Control When Stopped – or Not (Video)
HOW OFTEN DO YOU DROP YOUR MOTORCYCLE? I don’t mean crash it, although that would certainly be a pertinent answer. In this instance, I simply mean dropping it while you’ve stopped, or while riding very slowly. One example would be pulling up to a stop sign and putting your foot down on some loose sand, [...]
He Said, “I’ll Never Ride a Motorcycle Again”
FELLOW MOTORCYCLISTS GET SMASHED ON THE PAVEMENT EVERY DAY. And many live to tell about it. This morning I learned that one of my neighbors, a young 21-year-old rider, has been in the hospital for several days and is expected to remain there for another 2 weeks, before he can go home for a projected [...]
Take the 2 Minute Motorcycle Personality Test
Take the Twisted Grip Motorcycle Personality Test and check out your personality analysis – all in 2 minutes. There are six questions, with multiple-choice answers (you can only select one answer per question). Your instant personality results may surprise you. You may find the analysis insightful, entertaining, or amusing. On the other hand, some might [...]
Motorcycle Riders Are NOT From Mercury
THE ONLY THING THAT RELATES THE GOD OF MERCURY TO ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IS HIS HELMET. Well, that may be a stretch. (Not all bikers wear helmets). But it’s probably closer to a truth than any whimsy that depicts all motorcycle riders as coming from Mercury. Sure, of all the major ancient Roman Gods, Mercury [...]
What Are Your Favorite Motorcycle Books?
READING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES IS DEFINITELY NOT AS FUN AS RIDING THEM. Regardless, much can be learned from books and magazines to increase your riding pleasure. Over the years I have continued to digest a quantity of motorcycle magazines each month and I revel with each new issue that I receive. I have also found occasion [...]
Motorcycle Safety Ain’t For All Riders
WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SPECTRUM OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY? If you are reading this, it could be presumed that you have some level of interest in motorcycle safety. But in my experience, what that means in terms of “how much” or “how little” you routinely demonstrate the “best practices” of rider safety may vary considerably. [...]
What Are Common Motorcycle Rider Characteristics?
HOW SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT ARE YOU, COMPARED TO OTHER RIDERS? Over the years, non-motorcycle riders have asked me to express common traits among motorbike riders that I’ve observed. But I’ve been hard pressed to identify truly universal common rider attributes – other than a love of motorcycles and riding. Perhaps you know of some that [...]
Motorcycle Camping (From An Old Dog)
MOTORCYCLE CAMPING SURE DOESN’T SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE. But it might be right for you! Well, I am a bit biased. I’ve been motorcycle camping for a long time and I’ve camped all over North America. Which, in my case, is a good and bad thing. The good part is that I [...]
Motorcycle Touring Tips and Suggestions
WHAT ARE YOUR MOTORCYCLE TOURING SUGGESTIONS? A friend of mine just bought a new motorcycle (he’s been riding off and on for many years) and will be taking a trip with his wife and asked my advice regarding motorcycle security on the road; best gear for touring through mountains with variable temperatures and unpredictable rain; [...]
Motorcycle Riding on the Razor Edge of Life and Death
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS HAVE ALL HAD CLOSE CALLS Every motorcycle rider has had close calls. Which of yours were so close that you were in disbelief that a tragedy simply failed to materialize when it should have? (Write your experience below). The events that have really been on the edge of life and death for me, [...]
Should You Use That Front Brake Lever?
SPEAKING WITH NEWBIES ABOUT STOPPING MOTORCYCLES I was at one of the local motorcycle dealers this week. As I was walking around the large showroom, I happened to pass by a sales person while he was pointing out the motorcycle controls to a potential customer, “…and this is the front brake lever…” But before he [...]
We Don’t Need More Motorcycle Riders
“HOW COME YOU RIDE A MOTORCYCLE?” How many times have you been asked that question? Or, the more direct one that will be asked is, “Aren’t motorcycles dangerous?” I will often reply, “Of course motorcycles are dangerous. And that’s why they are not for everyone.” If the person is actually interested in taking the discussion [...]
“Rookie Mistakes” for Touring Riders
CONFESSIONS OF A VETERAN ROOKIE Fred Rau is one of my favorite motorcycle writers and I enjoy reading whatever he has to say every month. Over the decades, his words have been all over the moto mags so you have likely read him, as well. In the March 2009 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News, Fred [...]
Motorbike Maps, GPS and Columbus
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND OLD-FASHIONED MAPS Maps for motorcycle adventurers have come a long way since I was a kid back in the days of that famous Italian, Christopher Columbus. There certainly wasn’t any GPS for motorbikes back then, heck, there wasn’t even widespread consent that the earth was round. (At least the maps were flat). [...]
Twisted Grip Personality Test
