The BikeMaster TruGel battery combines all the latest battery technology into one battery that is stronger, safer and more durable. The true gel electrolyte does not slosh around, leak, seep or evaporate. These batteries have been observed to continue working spill free even after a hole was drilled into the case! The gel based electrolyte is more vibration and shock resistant which makes it safer and better or vibration prone V-twins and/or extreme conditions. Since sulfides and other elements are held in place by the gel, the chances of settling, acid stratification and sulfation is reduced dramatically. The gel in these batteries also offer better performance in more extreme temperatures. The increase in performance and range of these batteries will likely surpass your willingness to ride in such extreme temperatures. Noted performance increases have been observed from -40F to 122F!

If you’re looking for a tough and versatile long lasting battery you can count on, the BikeMaster Trugel is the battery for you. Check out the Trugel Battery at USMotorcycleBatteries.com!

The Power Pure is geared for people who are looking for a high performance tire that will provide more highway miles without sacrificing the corner confidence-inducing grip of a sport tire. The Power Pure offers improvements over the Michelin Pilot 2CT that it replaces. The Power Pure has 15% wider soft compound areas on the sides of the tire while maintaining a harder compound in the center to reduce flat spotting that occurs during highway riding. The Power Pure will help you stretch your tire dollar and you won’t have to give up any of the fun. It offers race like reflexes, providing ultimate cornering confidence and handling precision. It’s revolutionary Light Tire Technology makes the Power Pure more than 2 lbs lighter than comparable high performance tires, and that is a lot when speaking in terms of rotational mass. In short, the new Power Pure has been improved in all key performanceareas over the Pilot Power 2CT.

Check out the new Michelin Power Pures at usmotorcycletires.com

With out a doubt your helmet is the most important piece of protective  gear that you can wear. There are dozens of features and benefits that  helmet manufacturers offer to make their helmets attractive to you. There are also different safety ratings currently in use by government and private testing laboratories. Finally, there are enormous differences in price, materials, and the way that helmets are manufactured. However, those are all discussions for another day. Today, I am going to help you fit a helmet to yourself based on the size and shape of the helmet. Whether you “plan” on having an accident or not, if the unforeseen does happen to you, a properly fitted helmet can greatly reduce the chance of you sustaining a life threatening injury.

The first and most important aspect of proper helmet fitment is how it fits  on the crown of your head. If the helmet has removable cheek pads, take  them out and put the helmet on without them. Check to see if the helmet  fits the size and and shape of your crown. It should feel like a fitted hat with equal and slightly firm pressure around the entire circumference of your crown. Reach around to the back of the helmet and push it straight forward. Don’t let it pitch down toward your brow. You want to see how much room there is in-between the helmet liner and  where it normally rest on your forehead. I use my pinkie as my gauge. I do not want any more than just my finger tip to fit in between the firm portion of the helmet liner and my forehead. If you can not create any gap but at the same time the helmet does not feel too tight, then all the better. Now
compare that front to rear fitment to the side to side fitment above your ears. Is there an equal amount of room compared to the front to rear? If not, take the cheek pads out of another helmet and try again until you find one that fits equally around your crown with the tightest fit that you can comfortably wear.
Now that you have the crown fitted it’s time to put the cheek pads back in the helmet. This is were most people run into some difficulty so be patient. The cheek pads should put enough pressure on your cheeks that it forces you to bite the inside of your cheeks. You should also be able to grab the chin bar and move it side to side without the cheek pads losing contact with your jaw. If the cheek pads put too much or too little pressure on your jaw, see if there are alternate sizes available to make the cheeks as comfortable as the crown.

This process can take some time but the results will be readily apparent.  With the cheek pads as well as with the crown you want to allow for some break in, so fit the helmet slightly tighter than comfortable. A properly fitted helmet will eventually relax and fit better for a longer period of time, will be quieter, and most importantly – maximize the ability of the helmet to protect you.

It’s your 1st bike that brings back the most memories. Maybe its saving the money for the bike and the sacrifices you’ve made at work, the research in the countless magazines about the new models, the visits to the showrooms to sit on and feel those magnificent man made creations. It could be the safety class you took, or the big chair you sat in at the bookstore when you read all those “dummy” books. You had built up this fantasy about motorcycling and no matter how real or impossible it may have been, it was still your own desire that made it all possible. The first time you took it out for a ride it felt like no one else was having the same feeling. The phone wasn’t ringing, the work was suddenly all completed, and the “honey-do” list was all finished. You were focused, excited, alive and having a wonderful time. It’s this feeling of elation and happiness about motorcycling that we can rediscover if we just give it time.

Winter in much of the country is a time to put away the motorcycle for a while and take on different pursuits, but, here in the Southern Appalachians it’s a great time to discover new places and rekindle old feelings about places you love to visit on the motorcycle. The weather is different and requires more gear, thicker gloves and maybe an electric vest but the roads are still just as twisty and scenic as in the summer. For one, the leaves are all off the trees and seeing through the corners is a bit easier. Most of the tourists have gone home and the risk of getting stuck behind that rented RV creeping halfway over the yellow line is much less likely.

You’ve ridden the same roads over and over for so long you’ve begun to name the cows as you pass by on your regular, “I’m just going out for a quick ride”, road. In this age of more high tech gizmos and widgets with GPS telling you how far the next Burger Queen is, nothing beats a Gazetteer. The big red or blue paperback book with all those roads you haven’t ridden because the GPS always routes you another way is a great tool for discovery. Pick a page or two and ride all the roads on it you can. Go exploring by turning off the technology beeping at you for going the wrong way and reconnecting with what makes motorcycling so great; the feeling from leaning in a corner, smelling a fire burning in someone’s house far off, discovering a new lunch spot, and that sense of warmth that comes with a temperature change after descending a great mountain pass.

Riding a motorcycle is something we do for FUN. The next time you meet a new or beginning rider encourage them to try and keep the fun in riding by listening to their stories and hearing what they have to say. Then, even though you may have a similar or better story, hold your tongue and tell it another time. Sit and reflect on what you’ve heard – it could help you in some way. Lastly take someone on a ride to your favorite place at night and be amazed at how things change when the sun goes down. Rekindle that excitement about motorcycle riding. After all, it’s a motorcycle…how bad could it be?

Sure, these large distributors would love to get rid of their closeout items but they don’t market them the same way they market the newer lines. Closeouts take second stage and are usually put on the back burner. Deeply discounted parts and accessories can sit literally for years waiting to be noticed or bought. If you want brand new merchandise at deeply discounted prices, you should check these lists before you buy.

These closeout lists are also a great source when it comes to gift giving. You could spoil someone with a big bag or box full of casual apparel and riding gear and they would never know you spent a fraction of what these things would ordinarily cost.

As we said, these lists are ordinarily cordoned off from the standard lines of products. You usually have to ask to see the list or have a shop employee check on something for you. No more! We have posted and will maintain the closeout lists from Tucker Rocky right here on this site. As of the date of this post, you can get Answer shorts regularly priced at $45 for $8! KBC helmets regularly priced over $350 for $152! Jackets, pants, gloves, t-shirts, you name it. they are probably on the closeout list somewhere.

With over 4000 items to list, descriptions have to be kept short. Abbreviations are used. Going through this list will put the hunting into bargain hunting but if you find what you are looking for, it will usually be well worth it.

Tucker Rocky Motorcycle and ATV Parts Accessories and Apparel Closeouts.

More models are being equipped with electronic fuel injection (EFI) these days  so fuel quality is very important.  If the gas you are using has dirt or water in it, it will effect the performance of your bike.

If you get water in your gas, the water will go to the bottom of the tank and/or carburetor(s). Trying to start your engine with the water from the bottom of the tank/carb is not going to work very well. If you’re lucky enough to get the engine started, it may run better than it starts because the gas/water is being sloshed around and you are much more likely to pick up gas instead of water. That is to say, water in the gas can cause hard starting problems as well as intermittent performance problems. The easiest way to be sure there is no water in your gas is to drain the (entire) fuel system and replace with known good fuel.

Old gas can cause problems too. Did you know gasoline has a shelf life? Age can cause fuel to break down in as few as two months and cause similar problems with the engine’s performance. You may notice a rough or erratic idle, hesitation and misfires, or black smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. Gasoline deterioration happens at a faster rate when the temperature is high so don’t discount the idea of using a fuel stabilizer during any summer months you don’t ride.  During the winter, deterioration happens at a slower rate because the gasoline is at a lower temperature. Either way, gasoline thickens over time, gumming up and clogging jets, journals, valves, and other mechanical mechanisms like float bowl hinge pins and choke plungers. An ounce of prevention as they say, can save you the hundreds of dollars they charge to dip and clean carbs that have been clogged with bad gas.

When fuel goes bad, it has a very distinctive “stinky” odor. If you suspect bad fuel in your bike, again, drain the fuel system and replace with known good fuel. Remember to replace the fuel filter because as gas goes bad, it thickens and can easily clog fuel filters. If let go for too long, gas will turn into a hard shellac like substance that can literally ruin fuel system components and carburetors.

When using a fuel stabilizer, be sure that the treated fuel gets through the entire fuel system by running your bike for about ten minutes. Even with a stabilizer, long term storage can still result in fuel system problems.  Removing all traces of fuel from the system and treatment of any exposed surfaces to the elements may be required to assure minimal problems when you return to the road, or to the dirt. This proceedure is usually reserved for finicky high performance racing machines or long term storage. It’s not a bad idea to get a winterization service done at your local authorized factory dealer. They will do all the recommended procedures and you will have some recourse if you have any problems getting your vehicle started when you get it out of storage.

Avoid costly repairs and keep your bike running at it’s peak performance level with the following tips:

• Only use name brand gas.
• Replace the fuel cap immediately after fueling and be sure not to let any rain, snow or foreign objects fall in the tank during the fueling process.
• If you use gas cans, make sure they stay clean. Keep them stored in a safe place inside the garage, or outside under a cover and off the ground to help prevent condensation. Keep them away from direct sunshine and moisture.
• Change (or install) fuel filters before problems arise.
• If your vehicle is going to sit idle for more than a few weeks, use a fuel stabilizer.
• Keep your tank full during storage. A full gas tank leaves no room for condensation to form inside the tank, which leads to rust,  and a larger volume of gas will not go bad as quickly as smaller volumes.
• Check the fuel lines on your vehicle for dry-rot, cracks, leakage and seepage which will be indicated by dark stains in surrounding areas.
• Check to make sure no vacuum lines are broken or disconenncted. This will cause a lean condition, which is very bad.
• Use the factory recommended octane for your vehicle.
• Make sure all atmospheric fuel vents are not clogged and any vent tubes are routed safely.
• Winterize your vehicle during the winter if you have a winter.

I’m sure that some out there will be disappointed. The purists and their cries of “pay homage to where we started”, will be heard above the clamor of the new, “quieter” 600cc machines for a bit. Of course, the more environmentally minded, “greener” fans will be jumping for joy at the new reduced emissions. Perhaps the most important debate to be settled however, is quite simply – how will this effect the racing? You know – that thriving, elbowing, full-speed into a corner, mashing a bit o’plastic, exciting spectacle that has been the 250 class in MotoGP for years? Will the introduction of a spec tire and engine, (provided by the good folks at Honda), work to help level out an already fairly well planed cast of characters? Will the allowance of independent companies to manufacture “complete” Moto2 bikes to different teams equate to equality or somehow lessen the likelihood of a last corner diving, pushing you out of my way to the top of the podium duel as we have witnessed so many times in recent seasons?

All one can really hope for is that the new bikes will provide what the FIM hopes by allowing it to be more affordable for teams to race in Moto2. Perhaps even with the spec engines and tires, there will be enough derivatives of chassis, suspension set-ups, and body work to keep things “interesting” for us as spectators. Either way, I feel pretty confident that the level of competition will do more than rise to the occasion aboard their new machines. After all, it didn’t take very long for the new MotoGP four-strokes to start breaking old lap records and shattering ear drums around the track….you know, those quieter, friendlier four-strokes. (Wink-Wink).

The major findings of the Hurt report was that speed was not a factor in most crashes, that helmets were very effective in preventing brain injuries and deaths, and that two-thirds of motorcycle crashes involved cars and two-thirds of those accidents occurred when a car driver failed to see the motorcycle and violated the cyclist’s right of way. As a graduate student he was involved with developing the helmet as we know it today: a hard exterior shell lined with energy absorbing material inner lined with soft padding. He went on to be a professor of safety science at USC’s traffic Saftey Center.

Hurt was a lifelong motorcyclist and never had a crash.  He rode all kinds of motorcycles including Hondas, Triumphs and Nortons, both dirt bikes and street bikes. Art Friedman of Motorcyclist Magazine named Hurt Motorcyclist of the decade in 1990 saying that Hurt’s contributions to motorcycle safety can’t be overstated.

In addition to his wife, Harry is survived by his sons Harry III and John, three daughters, Julie, Vivien and Vera; and 10 grandchildren.

Wheels Through Time

Nostalgia – a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life. Anyone who is fond of  “nostalgia” and has an affinity for motorcycles would benefit greatly from a visit to the “Wheels Through Time” museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Located about 30 minutes west of Asheville, North Carolina via Interstate 40, Maggie Valley is a quiet, tourist-driven community that fits the setting of such a museum perfectly.

Dale Walkser

Museum founder and curator Dale Walksler was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame this past August, as well as being part of a “Good Morning America” piece on motorcycling in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The focus of that segment was the famed “Dragon” or Highway 129 that runs between North Carolina and Tennessee and the fact that the area around Asheville and Western North Carolina is one of the premier motorcycling destinations in the country. However, the museum itself  is well worth a trip to this area to see on it’s own. The museum focuses on educating present and future generations on an entire section of American History related to our fascination with two wheeled machines and their heritage.

From the earliest periods motor powered bicycles, through the historical racing and military/police use machines, the most exciting thing about the museums pieces is that the majority of them actual run! That’s right, where else can you go to not just see, but, hear a pre-1916 motorcycle?! Hence, the Wheels Through Time museum’s other moniker – the “Museum That Runs”. From “one off” specials, to police vintage pieces and including some antique auto’s up to a 1962 Corvette Roadster, there is something for just about everyone within these walls.

The museum stays open on the weekends through the end of the year and the schedule can be found on the web site at www.wheelsthroughtime.com. Be sure and check out this “working” museum soon and if you happen to be on two wheels yourself – enjoy the ride there.

Launching the series pulled the rug out from under the TTXGP eGrandPrix motorcycle race. TTXGP’s culture is to work together to ensure that the best of innovation and technology drives the sport forward. FIM’s unilateral decision means that energies are divided.

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The TTXGP held its inaugural race in June on the Isle of Man. It drew 13 teams to an event endorsed by the FIM. Race founder Azhar Hussain said his organization had been working with the FIM, sharing technical expertise and inviting FIM officials to help draft rules for the 2010 race.

Hussain said whatever happens with the FIM e-Power Series, TTXGP is still a go for 2010.

“TTXGP will continue to push the boundaries in the midst of challenge,” Hussain said. “We continue to successfully build the most competitive, well promoted and technically advanced zero carbon championship in the world.”

Story by wired.com