Keep Warm When You Ride in Cold Weather Tip #113 from the pages of The Total...
In very cold weather your suspension oil may thicken, and your bike may ride harsher; your tires might also offer a little less grip on the pavement. These things are worth being aware of, but they...
View ArticleUnderstand A Motorcycle Transmission Tip #83 from the pages of The Total...
The best way to understand how your motorcycle's transmission works is to ride a bicycle. Why? Because on a bicycle, you’re the engine, and you feel how the load on the engine changes as you shift...
View ArticleTips For Riding Safely On Wet Roads Tip #116 from the pages of The Total...
We’ve talked elsewhere about how to stay dry on a bike. Now we’re going to talk about how to ride more safely when the road is wet. Your biggest issue is reduced traction. Painted lines, manhole...
View ArticleHow To Off-Road Like A Pro Tip #126 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling...
Off-road riding demands some adjustments to the environment, your gear, and your skillset too. With these tips, you can avoid getting bogged down. In the mud, you need to conserve momentum. Keep the...
View ArticleBest Tricks For Riding In Challenging Streambeds Tip #141 from the pages of...
Rock gardens and dry streambeds are often challenging, but they don’t have to be. Of course, the size of the rocks makes all the difference. SCOPE IT OUT First, stop and check out the section and your...
View ArticlePlan A Bike Trip Around Europe Tip #207 from the pages of The Total...
For an entire generation, riding a motorcycle in Europe has been a dream holiday. In recent years, with the advent of the European Union, it has become easier than ever. No visas or passport checks...
View ArticleRestart Your Motorcycle On An Uphill Slope Tip #160 from the pages of The...
You’ve stalled on an uphill slope—what now? Don’t panic; it happens. Just hold the bike up with your left foot, and use your right foot to apply the rear brake to stop the bike from rolling backward;...
View ArticleTips For Safely Passing A Car On Your Motorcycle Tip #155 from the pages of...
Ride often enough and you’ll come to view moving cars as dangerous, rolling roadblocks. Motorcyclists have two great advantages over automobiles—acceleration and maneuverability. Smart riders use...
View ArticleCreate Your Own Motorcycle Adventure Trip Tip #22 from the pages of The Total...
Designed for multiday trips over paved and dirt roads. When you win the lottery, quit your job, and decide to ride around the world or down to the tip of South America, this is the kind of bike you...
View ArticleThe Top-10 Motorcycle Rides Around The World Tip #202 from the pages of The...
Everyone has their favorite rides, but this list of locales is hard to beat. ALPS AND DOLOMITES Hairpin turns, gorgeous vistas, and great food make this entire region a no-brainer. The great mountain...
View ArticleTips For Riding With A Sidecar Tip #199 from the pages of The Total...
When it comes to riding with a sidecar, forget all you’ve learned about riding a motorcycle—or almost all of it. When you hook a sidecar to a bike (and we’re talking about traditional sidecar rigs...
View ArticleLearn To Balance A Motorcycle Wheel Tip #248 from the pages of The Total...
The correct way to balance a wheel is, of course, on a dedicated wheel-balance stand. But you can even do a rough job on your bike—the principles remain the same. For the front wheel, you'll want to...
View ArticleThe Inside Lane: Assen Tip #94 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
FAST FACTS OFFICIAL NAME TT Circuit Assen LOCATION Drenthe province, Netherlands, southwest of Assen TRACK LENGTH 2.830 mi (4.555 km) DATE OPENED 1925 FAMOUS FEATURE Assen’s most famous feature is its...
View ArticleWhat You Need To Know Before A Group Ride Tip #191 from the pages of The...
Want to be the Leader of the Pack, or at least a member? Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to being a respectable participant in a group ride. BE ON TIME AND BE READY If the group has...
View ArticleSafety Tips For Your Urban Commute Tip #101 from the pages of The Total...
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE Look for a route that moves well and gives you room to maneuver. MIND THE GUNK The crud on city streets can compromise your traction and ability to corner and stop. It’s worst in the...
View ArticleLearn To Read The Radius Tip #105 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling...
Increasing radius, decreasing radius, constant radius—sounds like a geometry class. Pay attention to this course; if you don’t understand how a turn is built, you'll end up with more than just a bad...
View ArticleThe Inside Lane: Assen Tip #94 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
FAST FACTS OFFICIAL NAME TT Circuit Assen LOCATION Drenthe province, Netherlands, southwest of Assen TRACK LENGTH 2.830 mi (4.555 km) DATE OPENED 1925 FAMOUS FEATURE Assen’s most famous feature is its...
View ArticleAlways Be Prepared With An Emergency Plan Tip #163 from the pages of The...
Maybe you’ve hit the ground. Maybe it’s a friend who’s fallen. But there’s a rider down, and it’s bad. The obvious action is to call 911. The best answer is to take some formal training before the...
View ArticleTips For Patching A Tube On Your Dirt Bike Tip #255 from the pages of The...
When I’m out dirt riding and I get a flat, I don’t patch a tube by the trail—I just throw in a new tube and patch the old one at the lunch stop or in the evening. But three flats in a day? It’s patch...
View ArticleHow To Start A Submerged Bike Tip #242 from the pages of The Total...
Bikes end up under water for two reasons: floods and tipovers in streams. If yours was thoroughly submerged (like days in a flooded basement) don’t even try to start it; it'll need a full disassembly....
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