[Jeff in Kentucky]

I will ride 20 miles if it is 40 degrees F and dry- most winters I only have a 3 week cold spell to not ride in central Kentucky, when I take a few afternoons off from work to ride on warmer weekdays. Any overtime I work gives me comp time to take off later.

One time when I was in my 20s I took a 70 mile trip when it was a 22 degrees F sunny day after freezing rain the day before, when the roads were mostly clean from the bright sunlight and the ice coated tree branches sparkled in the sun, except for some occasional wind blown snow an inch deep on the pavement- I already had 5 years of dirt bike riding and enjoyed sliding street motorcycle tires a little. I stopped a few times at stores along the way to warm up. At 51 now, this seems too dangerous for me.

I wear Thinsulate lined skiing gloves from a department store if it gets colder- they are not too thick, and are a lot cheaper than this pair of gloves I would probably buy if I did a lot more riding in the cold:

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=419

It is best to buy electric gloves or grips and an electric vest for any long cold rides- if you get too cold it can slow your reaction time and lead to a crash, and below about 35 degrees F there can be black or invisible ice on some of the pavement. I know a guy with a BMW sport tourer that has air vents to put some of the engine heat onto the backs of his hands, along with a full fairing to block most of the wind.

This 3-wheeler is a lot safer for not sliding the front end when the roads are slippery, compared to a regular motorcycle:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/225/4437/Motorcycle-Article/2009-Piaggio-MP3-500-Scooter-Review.aspx

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The best is leather with armor under it under 80 degrees F, and textile in the summer when leather is too hot except for racing. It is best to go to a store and try on several, to see what fits you the best, both for fit and looks. Here is one possibility:

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/0907_crup_olympia_bonneville_jacket/index.html

[Jeff in Kentucky]

These gloves are considered some of the most protective available:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/mc_tested/122_0607_kushitani_gpr5_roadracing_gloves/index.html

[Jeff in Kentucky]

We use the more expensive model of this brand while hiking for work, but this one is better for someone who will just need it once in a while, for a lower price:

http://www.gpsnow.com/garmin_etrex_h.htm

[Jeff in Kentucky]

This is a pretty good article about chains, except all the newer 600cc supersports use a 520 size chain and sometimes a smaller front sprocket with no problems, especially the EK brand chain:

http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/chain.php

The 4 chain oils I see the most writing about are Dupont Teflon multiuse spray from Lowes, Maxima Chain Wax, Amsoil heavy duty metal protectant, and Belray Superclean. I use the Dupiont most of the time, and the Maxima on long trips because I can buy it in a small spray bottle.

I use a hydraulic 2-ton car trolley jack and a small block of wood to protect the powdercoat, to raise the back or front motorcycle wheel, with the kickstand down and the jack under one side of the swingarm or under the front lower frame in front of the engine, to form a triangle shape with one tire, the lowered kickstand, and the jack.

For cleaning a chain, many people use kerosene or WD-40. I use this sprayed onto an old cotton sock:

http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/90-547-specialty-lubricants-/pb-blaster-penetrating-oil-101077.aspx

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Bike week at Daytona, Florida in the spring has a lot of bike companies there letting people do test rides. Check out the big bike events near you for test rides. Most of us go by the magazine reviews, and sitting on the stationary new bikes awhile to see what feels comfortable.

I think motorcycle test rides will become more common in the future, if the economy continues to suck. The dealership closest to me for Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki recently closed, because of slow sales and the owner was at retirement age.

I can still drive within 50 miles to dealers with all of the most popular brands, including the Japanese big four, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph and Kymco. I get ads in the mail for the closest BMW dealer, saying I can test ride their expensive bikes and get special financing. I have to go farther to see a new Aprilia, Hyosung, Fischer, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Royal Enfield or Vespa.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

If this new law passes, people in California will get their “off road use only” exhausts in other states, and the people with the loudest exhausts in places that most bother others will get more fines for them.

Since California government is bankrupt, they will probably continue to find more ways to fine people to make money, and will hopefully make marijuana and hemp legal- alcohol became legal in most places again in the 1930s because the federal and state governments had a lot less tax money coming in during the Great Depression.

Maybe more and more people will choose to wear iPod earplugs or other noise blocking earplugs to not hear the rudest among us. I used to put cigarette butts in my ears at rock concerts, and later bought a pair of rubber earplugs for loud bars, so I hear better than a lot of others my age that never used ear protection.

I like my exhaust a little louder than stock because I feel safer, and I like the sound and the little bit of extra power, but those that run no muffler baffles at all are very annoying. I hope more of them get fined and the cops make them add some muffler baffling.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Some people are the life of the party, with less than average intelligence based on paperwork type testing. They prefer to do things in a group.

Other people are shy, read more, and are much better at focusing on the paperwork that we measure intelligence with. They prefer to work alone.

Asberger’s syndrome and autism describe people at the extreme end of this spectrum, and some are very gifted for a narrow topic that they decided to focus on. Evolution selected for both types of behavior.

A lot of motorcycle riders are loners or ride in small groups. I never ride in a group of more than 7 people, and only a couple of times a year. Other people like to join large motorcycle clubs and go to big parties every month.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

I have found the Febreze spray works well to prevent future odors, and it is a lot easier than hand washing later with soap and water. It seems to prevent bacteria from growing by chemically changing the oils in your sweat.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The Buell Blast is known for using up the back tire fast. Try the Kenda Kruz tire for a cruiser tire- they are the best to me for the few I have tried for my 600cc Honda Shadow.

For a low cost sport touring tire with good handling, the Continental Motion is recommended by several.

Take all tire recommendations lightly- people have different riding styles and like the feel or look of different tires. Some want a sticky track tire that corners well but wears out fast, and others want a hard tire for slow cornering and long life with poor rain traction.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

My wife is requesting that I sell my 600cc Honda Shadow to lower the insurance costs by not having two bikes. I could disagree, but I would have to deal with her being miserable afterwards.

Since my usual ride is 22 miles long, and I do 1 or 2 long trips a year, it makes sense to me to get another middleweight, but with more power, better tires and a better suspension. I am waiting until my car is paid off this coming spring.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

At intersections, there will often be oil on the middle of the road, where older engines leaked while waiting for a stop sign or traffic light. It is best to stay in the tire tracks of cars in these places. I sometimes ride in the left tire track, sometimes the right, depending on which side seems the least dangerous at the time- whichever side puts me the furthest from cars.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The lighter the bike, the better it is for city riding and tight corners, and for a beginner to learn with. The heavier the bike, the more comfortable it is at 75 mph for long trips. See which one fits your needs the best, which one feels the best after sitting on them for 20 minutes with the sales person holding it up so you have both feet on the footpegs, which one has the looks you like, and which one you can afford.

To me, this is the ultimate bike for short trips (not for beginners):

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/35/5678/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Aprilia-SXV-5-5-First-Ride.aspx

This is my ultimate bike for long trips, for comfort, power and looks (also not for beginners):

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/triumph/2008-triumph-rocket-iii-touring-review-85082.html

This is my compromise for my next bike, a bike that is fun for tight corners, but still can do some long trips:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2005/02/14february05_zzr600

I have rode one of these the last 8 years, and paid $5,200 for it new in 2002:

http://laudeman.com/hondavlx/vlx_review.html

[Jeff in Kentucky]

My favorite cable lube, and the injector for it is below. This cable lube helps make your cables and clutch plates last longer, and it is dangerous if your throttle does not go back to idle right away by itself:

http://www.protectall.com/cableluberlong.aspx

[Jeff in Kentucky]

For maintenance, generally air cooled wears out faster than water cooled, carbs are more maintenance than fuel injection, and any bike not built for more than 10 years could become a big maintenance issue, especially if it was not mass produced. The 500cc Suzuki and 250cc and 500cc Ninjas were widely sold for about 20 years and until recently, and parts should be available from the dealerships at least 10 years after production finally stopped for each of them.

My tricks for carbs are to add a better fuel filter, put Sea Foam in the gas tank every winter, and to leave the fuel valve (petcock) on all the time. I have had no carb problems for the last 18 years, and only took my carbs apart to rejet for a more freer flowing exhaust and an oiled foam air filter. Another carb cleaner with a good comment on another forum recently is Berryman Chemtool, and rinsing with a regular carb cleaner afterwards if soaking the carbs and using a can of compressed air to clean the small passages, because this cleaner leaves a film behind by itself.

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