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Help Make the Roads Safer – Motorcycle Awareness Memes
Updated May 1, 2021
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month.
For a lot of riders in the U.S., the bike is coming out of the garage for the first time. After a long cold winter of not seeing us on the road, let’s all take a moment and remind motorists to please share the road with us.
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How To Choose a Motorcycle Helmet
Updated: October 1, 2019.
A motorcycle helmet is a very specialized piece of personal protection equipment. With each new riding season, helmet manufacturers release new helmets, built on decades of research and innovation. A motorcycle helmet that you might buy today is chances are going to be safer and more comfortable than one purchased just a few years ago.
I’m not going to drop a bunch of statistics to scare you into buying a helmet. You found this because you want to know how to pick the best motorcycle helmet for you. I have several years of experience working in motorcycle dealerships and ran a riding gear shop selling helmets. I am going to walk you through some key points to keep in mind when you are choosing for your next motorcycle helmet.
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Awesome Custom Honda Goldwings
Back in the day, I used to work in the parts department of a Honda Motorcycle Dealership. That is where I caught the Goldwing bug.
I’m tinkering with the idea of buying a used Honda Goldwing
Most guys shopping for aused Goldwing want a GL1800. I’m a modest man, of modest means, with an average build, and I don’t want an eight hundred pound beast to keep up with.
Recently, I went to look a a few Goldwings for sale near me. Even with as much as I learned about them while working at the dealer, I came to the conclusion that I needed to do some more homework before pulling the trigger.
With five generations across forty-plus years in production, with multiple trim levels, which Gold Wing is the right one for me? I decided to do some research.
Motorcyclists have made their bikes theirs through customizations and roadside necessities for more than a century. The GL is no exception. There are lots of great custom Goldwing motorcycles.
While doing my homework on the King of Kings, I found some awesome custom Goldwings. I’ve made a gallery of pictures of other people’s Goldwings. as inspiration for myself.
Standard or with farings and the big kit? I want comfortable, but I also don’t want to try to wrench on a bike that his clad in brittle old plastic that is just waiting to snap.
Here are some of my favorite Custom Goldwings
GL1000 – 1975-1979
Built to eclipse the King of Motorcycles, The Honda Goldwing debuted at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in 1974 and hit the dealerships in 1975. The original Goldwing was built to dethrone the King of Motorcycles of the day, the Honda CB750.
Honda engineers built a big powerful touring motorcycle after seeing how many people were using the CB750 for long distance riding. The project began in 1972. The GL1000 was designed to meet the market demand for a large, comfortable touring machine in a marketplace that offered few options that could rival it. The Gold Wing was targeted at the long-distance rider that didn’t want the V-Twin Chain-Drive Electra-Glide and didn’t want to lay down the dollars for a BMW bike. The GL1000 was built for the rider that wanted a comfortable, reliable ride at an affordable price.
The GL1000 didn’t include luggage or farings. They were sold naked, and accessories were offered by Hondaline.
GL1100 – 1980-1983
The GL1100 started production for the 1980 model year. They were built in Japan. Production moved to the Marysville Motorcycle Plant for the 1981 Model year. The flat four-cylinder boxer style engine was produced in Japan and final assembly happened right here in Ohio.
The GL1100 underwent many changes during it’s short four-year production run. Most of the GL1100’s used the 2-piece 5-spoke Comstar wheel. The 1983 model featured an upgrade to an 11 spoke wheel to help keep up with the additional weight as engineers kept packing on additional creature comforts.
The second-generation Goldwing was available in standard trim as a bare bike, or in full touring farings as the Goldwing Interstate, and then later the Goldwing Aspencade.
The GL1100 Interstate was a full turn key touring bike. It had a full faring and windscreen designed to protect both the rider and passenger. The Interstate also featured hard case saddle bags and top case designed to hold enough luggage for both.
The GL1100 Aspencade was first released in 1982. It was the high end version of the Interstate. It featured new paint options, an on-board compressor for the air suspension and a CB radio.
GL1200 – 1984-1987
GL1500 – 1988-2000
GL1800 – 2001-Current
The modern icon of touring bikes.
Resources
We are Goodwill Ambassadors
If you are a motorcyclist, you understand. We know why we ride.
As a goodwill ambassador for motorcycling and the powesports industry, consider the brothers and sisters that we represent, and remember what our goal is when we engage with non-riders. I don’t need to be right about motorcycling. More importantly I don’t need to prove anything to motorists that don’t have an appreciation for two wheels on the open road.
Holiday Gifts for Campers and Adventure Seekers
It’s December. Most of us are doing our holiday shopping for friends and family. I’m back again for 2018 with another batch of Gift Ideas. Rather than another batch of motorcycle gear, I decided to switch it up, and show some love to the motorcycle campers and outdoorsmen (am I still allowed to call them that?) out there. Here are my top gift picks for your favorite adventurers and explorers.
Here are more than twenty products to choose from, in a wide variety of categories. Everything on this year’s list are less than $40.00-USD Many are under $25. All the great items I have selected are in stock, ready to ship and feature Free-2-Day-Shipping with Amazon Prime. Everything I have chosen for this list have 4-star or better reviews. Continue reading “Holiday Gifts for Campers and Adventure Seekers”
Little bikes are fun
I fell in love with a little Honda Rebel 250 several years ago. I got to ride a CMX250C when I took the MSF Basic Rider Course
The Honda Rebel 250 was first introduced to the US market in the mid-80’s and was built Continue reading “Little bikes are fun”
Improved Visibility to Distracted Drivers
Motorcyclists have to accept responsibility for themselves when they ride. You have to watch out for every other vehicle and be prepared to take action to keep yourself alive. You have to be hyper vigilant about paying attention to what is going on around you at all times. Even when Continue reading “Improved Visibility to Distracted Drivers”
We Ride Responsibly Out Of Respect
I want to promote safe motorcycling. I want to increase access to Motorcycle Safety Classes, and encourage Riders of all skill levels to take advantage of these resources.
I have worked for two motorcycle dealerships. I have experience in Parts and Accessories sales. During the times I was at both dealerships, I heard about many riders that Continue reading “We Ride Responsibly Out Of Respect”
Toledo Motorcycle Legend – Cycleman
If you’re from Toledo, and you ride a motorcycle, you have probably heard of Cycleman on Lagrange Street.
I’m not sure how long he has been there. I’ve been in Toledo about twenty years, and he’s been there since before I came to town.
Cycleman’s shop is awesome.
I’ve never seen so many motorcycle parts in one place. If you ride a street bike, Continue reading “Toledo Motorcycle Legend – Cycleman”
The Motorcyclist That Motivates Me
I grew up with older brothers that rode.
I was about four years old the first time I went out on the road with them. It was the late 1970’s. It was a practically brand new CB750.
I started riding in front of them holding Continue reading “The Motorcyclist That Motivates Me”