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Know The Flags On The Track Tip #174 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling...
While you're on the track, conditions are bound to change, due to human error, environment, or just plain bad luck. Keep an eye out for these signals to ensure a safe track day run.
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Align Your Sidecar The Right Way Tip #200 from the pages of The Total...
Thinking about building your own sidecar, or just want to understand what’s going on with these monsters? A few subtle differences make a huge change in the way the machine handles compared to a...
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Learn Common Rider Hand Signals Tip #203 from the pages of The Total...
Riding in a group? Everyone needs to know these common signals so you can communicate clearly and efficiently with each other. Need to give that rude driver a signal he or she will understand? There’s...
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Recognize Constellations To Navigate By The Stars Tip #133 from the pages of...
You thought you’d be home by dark. Then you had to repair that flat, and then you took that wrong turn. What to do? If you’re without a GPS or compass, look to the sky. You just need to learn two...
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Ride The Globe Of Death Tip #170 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
If your loved ones think that all motorcycles are dangerous, just take them to watch someone ride the Globe of Death—they’ll never give you a hard time about your 20-minute commute again. But what if...
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Be A Two-Wheel Chef While You Ride Tip #195 from the pages of The Total...
There are more than 800,000 restaurants in the United States—about one eatery for every 12 motorcyclists. It’s easy to find a place to eat on the road. Still, everyone loves cookouts. Why not kill two...
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Fix A Stripped Bolt Tip #273 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
Screw up the threads on a bolt? First, try slowly and carefully running a nut up and down in the threads. If you’re having a tough time getting the nut started, try to run the bolt backward, then...
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General Guidelines For Using A Torque Wrench Tip #232 from the pages of The...
With critical bolts (like engine connecting rods) there should be no guesswork—refer to a detailed shop manual. But for other fasteners (handlebars, axle nuts, switches) here are some general...
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9 Reasons A Compressor Is Essential In Your Shop Tip #235 from the pages of...
Compressed air is your friend. In fact, it’s been so widely used in industry that it’s often known as the fourth utility (behind electricity, water, and natural gas). In Europe, 10 percent of all...
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Starting A Motorcycle With A Dead Battery Tip #241 from the pages of The...
Jumpstarting a bike, especially one that’s been sitting for a long time, is the easiest way to get going with a dead battery, and it’s no different from jumpstarting a car. You’ll need to use a pair...
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Tighten A Loose Spoke Tip #247 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
How do you know if a spoke is loose? You can grab each pair of spokes where they cross and give them a squeeze. But the time-tested method is to put the bike on a stand, spin the wheels, and let a...
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Know How To Set Your Suspension Sag Tip #245 from the pages of The Total...
A motorcycle’s suspension works in two directions. When you hit a bump, the suspension compresses (the wheel moves closer to the chassis), and then rebounds (the wheel springs back, farther away)....
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Make Some Sparks Fly Tip #147 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual
Nothing says hooligan like a big ol’ stream of sparks flying off your centerstand as you tear down the highway at night. People in cars are going to think it’s the end of the world. Do it in front of...
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Clean The Rust Out Of A Gas Tank Tip #278 from the pages of The Total...
Need a low-cost way to salvage a vintage metal fuel tank with severe interior rust? Take the tank off the bike, and seal off the petcock hole. Pour in a couple of quarts of kerosene. Add a handful of...
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Launch At The Dragstrip Like A Pro Tip #177 from the pages of The Total...
The standing quarter-mile (400 m) is the measure by which all serious streetbike engines are judged. A great time depends on a great launch. How to pull it off? First, set your tire pressure right....
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Identify That Motorcycle Engine Tip #263 from the pages of The Total...
1. Single Examples: Most dirt bikes, scooters, Honda CBR250R. Characteristics: Light, narrow, simple. Good bottom-end torque. May vibrate significantly. Good Choice For: Off-road riding. Economy. 2....
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CW TIPS & TRICKS: Don’t Let Anyone Borrow Your Motorcycle Tip #23 from the...
Some things just aren’t done in polite society. You never ask to borrow someone else’s toothbrush. And you never ask if you can ride someone else’s bike. Unfortunately, some less-civilized soul may...
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CW TIPS & TRICKS: How to Keep Warm on Your Motorcycle Tip #54 from the pages...
It’s hard to pick the right line when your teeth are chattering. Any warm body—including yours—loses heat through five mechanisms: radiation, respiration, conduction, convection, and perspiration....
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CW TIPS & TRICKS: How to Deter Thieves From Stealing Your Motorcycle Tip #107...
There are few things worse than coming out of your home in the morning keys in hand, ready to ride and seeing...nothing. Motorcycle theft is all too common, but you can thwart those evil bastards....
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