Tweet

By Gerde Applethwaite

Shorter: I put a pinlock shield on my Arai helmet and there is no more fog. It’s worth the money you spend on the upgrade.

The Clever Dutch have given us the Pinlock shield system and its arrival on consumer helmets has been a while coming. Pinlock has yet to be adopted by all helmet makers but as of 2012 both Arai and HJC are incorporating Pinlock as standard on some of their helmet models. It is available on many helmet brands – more every day. I am riding with an Arai RX-Q and I have retrofitted my helmet to Pinlock. What is Pinlock?

 Its a two piece shield system that provides a clear face shield with two nipples on the left and right sides of the shield that yet another shield clips into. The inner shield is smaller and is available in multiple shades. When you want to swap out your internal shield component you just: remove your shield from the helmet, bend the shield a bit flat, pop the old shield out from under the 2 pins and then swap in the new one. Its really easy.

What’s the advantage? Well, there are 3 main features. The first is that the inner shield is rimmed with a silicon bead that traps the air between the two shield components and like a double paned window it provides an air insulation barrier which minimizes the contrasting temperatures betwixt inside and out. This barrier prevents fog from layering up on the inside of your helmet when you breathe because it removes the temperature differential that condensation is so fond of. This reduces or eliminates the possibility of condensation buildup from your breath. Nifty, right?

The second and third points are that the inner shield is smaller and its easier to pack a swap-out replacement of a different shade in say, your tank bag. Finally the inner shields are substantially less expensive than your non-Pinlock type face shields so when you are thinking about adding another shade: dark grey, light grey, amber, yellow, etc. it won’t cost as much.  (Yeah, of course, the standard inner shield that comes with the pinlock when you buy the main shield setup is clear.)

Gerde Applethwaite

Tweet

We love riding and we know that you do too!  Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a daily rider, we can all agree that riding down the road or highway with our street helmets on, watching the city or countryside fly by is both fun and exhilarating. Easier parking, great fuel mileage and feelings of freedom are just some of the amazing advantages that make us passionate about motorcycling.

Coming up is the Annual Ride to Work Day which was first started in 1992. Here’s a chance to celebrate what we love. Just some of the reasons to come together on this amazing day:

• to show that riding is a great way to cut down on traffic in cities
• to demonstrate that  riders come from all different walks of life
• To share that we’re a large group who should matter to politicians and the public.

We at Helmet City are in full support of reducing traffic and having a great ride in the process.  Turn that dull commute to and from work into the best part of your day and let’s ride together while having a great time in the process.

So put on your street helmets and scooter helmets and join us on June 17, 2013 while we ride through the streets together and have an epic time while doing it! Who’s in?

Tweet

When it comes to the most essential riding gear, what comes to mind? Probably a helmet, a motorcycle jacket and some boots. What many riders fail to realize (unless they’ve had a fall) is that motorcycle gloves are some of the most crucial pieces of equipment. Here’s why:

Motorcycle Gloves and the First Instinct

One thing that all bikers (and humans, for that matter) have in common is the instinct to use their hands to brace the body during a fall. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to change that, but we can prepare for it by wearing the right motorcycle gloves.

As riders we expect to fall at some point. Whether it’s a low speed tumble or a high-speed accident, we have all accepted this as a possibility. One thing we don’t have to accept is bruised and battered hands

If you fall off your motorcycle and you aren’t wearing motorcycle gloves such as the top rated Power Trip Grand National Gloves, there’s a good chance you could be off your bike for a long time. Not to mention you could be unable to work or enjoy other activities.

Letting the gloves take the brunt of the spill means you’re more likely to keep your digits. You can always get a new pair of motorcycle gloves but your hands are irreplaceable.

Getting a Grip

Whether it’s sweaty palms in the summer or cold numb fingers in the winter, any rider who has been around for a change of the seasons knows how easy it can be to lose a grip on the controls. That spells disaster for us as well as other drivers.

When you invest in a pair of good riding gloves like the Power Trip Grand National Gloves, you improve your grip exponentially and lessen the chances of an accident.

In summer, you can opt for lightweight motorcycle gloves but in the winter you should go for something more substantial, such as a full coverage gauntlet glove.

Considering the minimal effort it takes to slip on a pair of gloves before you ride and the benefits you get from doing so, it  makes sense to include motorcycle gloves as part of your essential gear.

Tweet

There’s just nothing quite like the experience of riding down the road and feeling free- free from stress, free from expectations.  Some may say that wearing a full face helmet, motorcycle jacket and motorcycle pants limits that… Wrong!

We know how much fun it is to have the wind whipping through our hair and yet we still wear motorcycle helmets because let’s be honest, riding and living to do it again is more important than feeling the breeze. And just as it is important to wear a motorcycle helmet, it is also important to wear all the gear while out riding.

So maybe you have years of riding under your belt and think that a motorcycle jacket  isn’t necessary.  Maybe motorcycle pants make you walk funny and, besides, you’ve been riding for so long you have nothing to worry about on the road. Remember our last post: Got Helmet Laws?, “When there is an incident, we are the ones who suffer”.  That’s why it’s so important to wear gear even if you have experience out on the road.

We feel it’s important to be prepared for that day where there is a lapse in judgement or run in with a distracted driver. Although we hope that day never comes, why take a chance with your life? Having the right motorcycle jacket and pants can make a difference.

What gear do you wear when you ride?

Personal Story

My father was riding once when the streets were wet from a recent rain. He made the mistake of riding in the middle of the lane as the oil started coming up on the road.

When he suddenly had to brake, he went down. He did have on both a motorcycle helmet as well as a motorcycle jacket but he wasn’t wearing motorcycle pants.  He had layered pants, long johns, and a couple pairs of socks. He was able to walk away from that accident with just a little road rash on one of his arms but his shin wasn’t so lucky: The kickstand went right into his leg. They had to use a whole bottle of peroxide to wash the wound. Perhaps if he had been wearing better gear that wouldn’t have happenned.  I am thankful to this day that he was wearing a motorcycle jacket and helmet and I am a firm believer in ATGATT. We just never know what the road has in store.

Tweet

I was recently discussing road experiences with some fellow riders and we all had stories about a close call with a distracted driver.  When there is an incident, we are the ones who suffer. We agreed that we never head out (no pun intended) without a helmet, ideally a Snell rated helmet, since we’ve all seen trouble on the road.

We started thinking about the helmet laws in different states and looked them up out of curiosity. We were surprised by the wide variation of the laws in place.

In looking more closely at the current helmet laws, it seems that three states have no helmet laws whatsoever and several others only require riders up to 17 or 20 years old to wear helmets. Here is the breakdown:

• Laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 19 states and the District of Columbia
• Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states
• There is no motorcycle helmet use law in 3 states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire)

Even for the experienced rider, it’s always a good idea to wear a motorcycle helmet. You may be a skilled rider, but what about the other guys on the road?

We sell motorcycle helmets, many of which are Snell rated helmets, and aim to bring you the best prices around for a very simple reason: We want to make helmets affordable and accessible to as many riders as possible. Having a motorcycle helmet is an excellent precaution (as well as law to a varying degree throughout the U.S.). Why take a chance with your life? So let’s ride safe and enjoy the freedom of the road with the best precaution available.

Do you agree with the helmet law in your state?

Tweet

You know what they say, if you can’t take the heat then stay out of the kitchen. But who wants to leave the bike the garage after waiting all winter to ride! There is plenty of motorcycle gear for summer that can keep you riding in just about any condition.

A breathable jacket is lighter than leather and has some advantages that leather doesn’t have.

The mesh motorcycle jacket is ventilated, often utilizing thicker, more open weave fibers on the fabric’s exterior. This helps direct air flow on to the rider, keeping the body cool and comfortable even while riding on a hot day.

T-Shirts and Tank Tops?

A thin t-shirt or tank top is tempting on a triple-digit afternoon, but in reality can set you up for harsh sunburn and leave you vulnerable to serious injury. Not to mention, when you’re cruising at 75mph. your body doesn’t have a chance to use your sweat to keep you cool!

When you wear a mesh jacket, the fabric reflects sunlight, allowing you to feel the sweat cooling your skin as it begins to evaporate, and protects your skin from the sun.

More Benefits of Mesh Motorcycle Jackets

Many of the breathable jacket designs that are on the market today use flow-through fabrics to encourage airflow, CE certified armor in the shoulder and elbows to increase protection, and waterproof liners to keep the rider dry during the pop-up rain shower.

Most importantly, the mesh motorcycle jacket makes riding on a hot summer day enjoyable again. What upgrades do you need to make to your summer riding gear?

Tweet

Just in time for spring riding season, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month kicks off in May. As a national initiative encouraging drivers and riders to “share the road” with each other, it not only calls for operators of passenger vehicles to watch out for motorcyclists but also reminds bikers of their responsibility while cruising down America’s roadways.

Driver Safety Tips

As part of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, drivers of cars, trucks and buses are reminded of the following:

• Remember that motorcyclists have all the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle driver on the roadway.
• Avoid sharing the lane, and allow bikers a full lane width. The motorcycle needs room to maneuver safely.
• Always use a signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic, so that bikers can maintain safe distance and lane position.
• Likewise, keep in mind that not all motorcycle signals are self-canceling. Wait to ensure the rider is going to turn before you make your move.
• Allow for extra room between you and the biker; they can stop more quickly than cars in dry conditions. A good rule of thumb is 3-4 seconds.
• Stay alert and minimize distractions such as texting and talking on the phone.

Motorcyclist Safety Tips

Riders are reminded to obey traffic laws and observe safety guidelines not only during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month but also throughout the year:

• Always wear DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets while riding, whether you are the operator or a passenger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,617 motorcyclists in 2011. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 703 lives could have been saved.
• Wear protective gear, such as motorcycle boots, motorcycle gloves, and apparel that is designed for your riding conditions.
• Use reflective tape and wear bright colors to stay visible to other motorists.
• Remember never to share the lane with another vehicle; they may not see you when speeding up, slowing down or changing lanes.

Whether you will be out on the open road this spring or you find yourself cruising through the city streets, keep in mind that Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is for the protection of everyone. Share the road!

Tweet

Foolishness and neglect are the best of bedfellows and their moto spawn is all to often a concussion, at the least, and/or an addled and expensive hospital stay at next to worst.

Yesterday I went for what was for me an extended bike ride. On the return loop shifting gears got a bit wonky.  I dropped the chain into the gutter between the big chain ring and its  neighbor. I did it again…. and again. I left it in a medium low gear and made it home none the worse for wear. I laid the bike up and the following day, today, I sprayed up the works with chain lube prior to another ride assuming that the chain was just sticking. Chain lube is not holy water. Two blocks down the road at a light I stood on the topmost pedal and put my weight down on it to get me going. The chain jumped again – same spot and I went sideways over the bars and onto my back as the chain slipped and the pedal went sharply groundward. While I lay there part way into the intersection I was mostly surprised. All too often in an accident everything seems to slow down a bit. Not this one: push on the pedal, crunching noise , on yr. ass. Voila.

When I got the bike to the side of the road I looked it over closely. 4 of 5 bolts that hold the big chain ring on had worked themselves sloppy loose. They must have been a bit loose for a while and yesterday’s extended ride just worked on them and that is why the chain kept popping off. This is a foolish thing to have missed and a simple thing to rectify. I was already working up this post about checking your ride after the winter layup and this little safety vignette delivered itself to me in an awkward aerial ballet along with a bit of a stiff back.

There are some very good places to go on the intertoobz to get a spring checklist of things to attend to before you pull hibernating machine from its cave. I will list a couple at the bottom of this post and I welcome you to add yours. Read through them and then take the time to go through your bike. Cleaning it is often a very good way to start. Look it over.

Bring out the wrenches – tighten up bolts all around. Do you have leaks? Attend to it.  Fuel leaks, dripping oil – attend to it. Now is the best time. When the riding season comes in full bloom to your part of the world you won’t want to devote saddle time to nit-nit repairs. Do it now.

Tires: are they cracked? How much tread depth do you have? Are your wheels balanced and properly aligned in the frame. It doesn’t take much to check that out. Spoked rims? Are all of your spokes tight? Allow rims: any cracks?

Clutch and brake fluids topped off? Is this the year to flush the systems, bleed them and install new fluid? Are your electrics in order? All the lights and switches work? No frayed wires in the harness? Pull off the tank – take a look around.

In an upcoming post I am going to have a go at what tools and sundries are best to carry under the seat in the limited room available there. If you have tips and ideas for that post let me know. A CO2 cartridge tire filler device is already on my list.

Ok, try these links for spring cleaning and checkup ideas:

http://www.allaboutbikes.com/feature-articles/motorcycle-maintenance/6771-get-your-motorcycle-ready-for-spring

http://www.insurancehotline.com/spring-motorcycle-preparation-checklist/

Gerde Applethwaite

Tweet

Soon you will be feeling the warmth of the sun beating on your back as you’re waiting for the light to change. But that doesn’t mean that a few weeks from now you have to sit at the same light in a pool of your own sweat. Not cool.

Fortunately, our friends at Scorpion have added to your options. This stuff takes motorcycle gear to new fashion heights. The new Savannah 2 line is not just gorgeous;  it has CE approved armor and is vented and lightweight.

And for the guys, Scorpion’s poly mesh Ventech 2. Looks great in hi viz neon.

Scorpion Ventech II Jacket – Neon

Icon has been busy too. They got some great choices that will let you idle with pleasure. The Hooligan Street Jersey is made with a Fighter Mesh Chassis for maximum venting.

Icon Hooligan Street Jersey – Red

So stop worrying about looking cool and be cool. Upgrade your riding gear collection to include some of this mesh apparel today!