Fall Road Hazards

Fall, my absolute favorite time of the year!  Cool weather riding is the best.  As with any season it brings with it it’s own set of road hazards.  They may be obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to review them.

Deer, on the move as hunting season gears up.  Watch out for moving deer as well the dead carcasses in the middle and side of the road.  Fall leaves, lovely to look at, slippery when wet!  Farm equipment, bringing in the harvest means slow moving farm equipment on the roadways as well as corn.  Corn is as bad as loose gravel.  Wino’s down in wine country.  No one should drink and drive whether you’re in a car or on a motorcycle.  But let’s face it.  We all know it happens, so keep a watchful eye out for those wandering over the line or going too fast around corners. Continue Reading →

Tips for Hot Weather Riding

Check Your Tires:
Low tires create heat.  Heat expands tires to possible blow out stages.  Low tires and the heat of the road is a poor combination!  Proper air pressure allows tires to run at a cooler temperature decreasing your chances of a blow out.
Check all Your Fluids:
Proper fluid levels on air cooled and water cooled engines allow your engine to run at operating conditions.  Lack there of causes engine or other drive train components to over-heat causing premature wear.
Don’t Overfill Your Tank:
When stopping to fill up your tank, leave the fuel level slightly lower in the tank allowing expansion of fuel.  If you fill it to the top, it may expand and overflow onto your tank.  Especially if you are filling up and then going in for a refreshing drink and not running the gas down immediately (it will spill over!)
Lotion Up and Wear Proper Gear:
Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing, helmet, long pants, and boots, not sandals or open toed shoes of any kind.  Wear 100% cotton under your leather or jacket to prevent sweat from wicking off your skin.  There is proper safety attire for all riding conditions including lighter weight jackets etc. for those that want to protect themselves from road rash.  Don’t forget suntan lotion on all exposed skin.
Drink:
Drink plenty of water.  Cool or warm water is better than ice water. Decrease the amount of alcohol as it causes dehydration which leads to fatigue and possible fainting.