Tired of being cooped up inside? Can’t wait to bring your bike out of storage? Kill a little time as you count down the days until riding season by reading up on these motorcycle safety tips for spring. Continue reading “Roll into riding season with these spring motorcycle safety tips”
3 Things You Should Know About Motorcycle Insurance
Buying insurance of any kind can be frustrating. If you’re lucky and never have to use your policy, it feels like you’re throwing away cash each month as you make your payments. And the only thing worse than shelling out a bunch of money for insurance you don’t need is needing insurance you don’t have. Continue reading “3 Things You Should Know About Motorcycle Insurance”
Start your engines at these spring motorcycle events!
There’s no better way to kick off your riding season than to catch up with your crew while supporting a local dealership, organization, or charity. Gear up for spring at these upcoming Ohio motorcycle events! Continue reading “Start your engines at these spring motorcycle events!”
Recall Roundup: Is your bike affected by one of these recent motorcycle recalls?
Keeping up with motorcycle maintenance and quickly addressing any problems are critical safety precautions every rider should take. Even the most attentive owners can be at risk if they’re not in the loop about ongoing recalls or reports of issues with their make or model. Is your bike affected? Continue reading “Recall Roundup: Is your bike affected by one of these recent motorcycle recalls?”
Twisted Road brings rider-to-rider rental service to motorcycle industry
Peer-to-peer service models have seen an explosive growth across the country in recent years, with companies like Uber and Airbnb normalizing the idea of sharing rides and homes with complete strangers.
A startup called Twisted Road has set out to bring this concept to the motorcycle industry. The service allows riders to rent a motorcycle to explore a new city on two wheels or test out the roads on a different ride. Continue reading “Twisted Road brings rider-to-rider rental service to motorcycle industry”
Could lasers be the future of motorcycle crash prevention? Suzuki thinks so
Motorcycles are dangerous by nature. No amount of protective gear or training can fully protect a rider from a distracted driver or swerving semi. While other types of vehicles are regularly upgraded with new technology and features to make the roads safer, motorcycle manufacturers have lagged behind in this area.
As recently reported by Ride Apart, one manufacturer thinks lasers could help the industry make progress in addressing rider safety and crash prevention. Sketches included in a patent filing by Suzuki reveal the makings of a laser-based collision avoidance and warning system. Continue reading “Could lasers be the future of motorcycle crash prevention? Suzuki thinks so”
3 ways you can give back to the motorcycle community
The holiday season inspires many of us to look for ways we can give back and help those in need. Interested in getting more involved in the motorcycle community during the coming year? Here are three things you can do to make a difference in 2018.
3 ways to give back to the motorcycle community
1. Make a Donation
While donations of any kind are greatly appreciated, charities and nonprofits usually prefer financial contributions.
Look for organizations that minimize overhead and administrative costs to create the biggest impact with the donations they receive. For example, 100% of contributions to the National Motorcycle Safety Fund support key programs including the MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study, digital rider resources and other educational materials.
Be sure to do your research before making a donation to any charity or organization to avoid scams and learn more about how your money will be used.
2. Volunteer Your Time
Many Ohio motorcyclists have a little extra time on their hands during the winter months since the weather and road conditions aren’t exactly ideal for riding.
Groups like Bikers Against Child Abuse depend on unpaid volunteers to accomplish their missions. BACA members empower victims of child abuse and neglect to stand up to their abusers by escorting the children to court proceedings and parole hearings.
Whether you’re offering emotional support and friendship or lending a hand with other tasks, giving a little bit of your time can be an easy way to show that you care.
3. Ride for a Cause
Riding season may still be a few months away, but it’s never too early to start planning a ride in support of a worthy cause.
For the past 30 years, thousands of bikers have traveled to Washington D.C. over Memorial Day Weekend to raise awareness about the POW-MIA issue during the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom.
Can’t make the trip? Organize your own charity ride or poker run to benefit a cause closer to home.
How do you give back to the motorcycle community? Tell us about your favorite charities or causes in the comments.
International Motorcycle Shows Tour returns to Cleveland in 2018
From Friday, January 26, to Sunday, January 28, riders from across the state will enjoy live entertainment, preview new motorcycle models and check out the latest gear, parts and accessories at the I-X Center during the 2018 Cleveland Motorcycle Show.
Cleveland is one of seven stops on the 37th annual Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® Tour. Other featured cities include Chicago, Washington D.C., Long Beach and New York City.
The 2018 show promises something for every rider and motorcycle enthusiast. Attractions include the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show, interactive Adventure Out! presentations, Grease & Gears Garage workshops, vintage displays and much more.
General admission tickets are $16 and two-day passes are available for $24. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at discounted rates. Kids under 11 receive free admission to this family-friendly event, and your little ones can even test their skills in the Allstate Kids Zone.
VIP Packages for the Saturday or Sunday shows can be purchased for $27. This option includes early admission, a gift bag and guided tours of the exhibits and attractions. If you’re interested in purchasing a VIP package, don’t wait – each tour is limited to just 50 guests.
Mark your calendars for the 2018 Cleveland Motorcycle Show and get your tickets online today!
2018 Cleveland Motorcycle Show
Location: Cleveland’s I-X Center
Friday, January 26
3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 27
9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 28
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Which attractions are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s Cleveland Motorcycle Show? Tell us about your favorites in the comments!
Navigation apps launch new features for motorcyclists
When it comes to dealing with traffic, riding a motorcycle can have its perks. Riders have the option to use carpool lanes in many areas and can sometimes even weave through slowed or stopped vehicles in places where lane splitting is accepted.
In an effort to cater to the unique needs of motorcyclists, makers of popular navigation apps have started to create features specifically designed for our friends on two wheels.
Waze introduces custom recommendations for bikers
Waze, a free community-based maps and traffic navigation app, allows users to share real-time updates and route info with others on the road.
Motorcyclists who use Waze can now update their vehicle type by following these simple steps:
Settings → Navigation → Vehicle Type → Motorcycle
The app now uses data collected from accounts with motorcycle selected as the vehicle type to generate optimized suggestions. Waze appears to be one of the first mainstream navigation apps to offer these types of tailored recommendations for motorcyclists in the U.S.
Google Maps “two-wheeler mode” debuts in India
Google recently launched a “two-wheeler mode” for its Maps app. While the motorcycle-friendly feature is currently only available in India, it’s expected to roll out in other countries in the coming year. India is the world’s leading motorcycle and scooter market, making it an ideal place for Google to introduce and test the update.
Two-wheeler mode helps riders cut time on their routes by scouting out shortcuts that aren’t easily accessible to larger vehicles. Google Maps hopes the feature will offer more efficient, customized routes for motorcyclists while increasing the accuracy of estimated traffic and arrival times.
What types of navigation features do you think would be most helpful on your motorcycle rides or commutes? Share your ideas below.
2017 Motorcycle Gift Guide: What to buy the rider on your list
Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or a riding buddy, picking out gifts for motorcyclists can be tricky. Many riders are partial to certain brands or manufacturers, and some items must be tailored to their bike specs or riding style.
When it comes to motorcycle gear and accessories, gift cards to your rider’s favorite shop or online retailer tend to be your safest bet – especially if you’re not very familiar with their preferences or motorcycles in general.
If gift cards aren’t your style, check out our guide below for some motorcycle gift inspiration. Continue reading “2017 Motorcycle Gift Guide: What to buy the rider on your list”