When trying to convince a spouse, friend or relative that you want to ride a motorcycle, beware that the first thing that is liable to come out of their mouth will be something related to motorcycle crashes and how bad they are. This is the largest hurdle that most riders face when trying to convince people that riding is good. Of course we know its good, in fact its GREAT, but getting the rest of the world to figure that one out is kind of tricky. The stats are pretty simple, and without reciting any numbers you can logically think this one through.

Lets just say that there are x amount of crashes in this state of the Union this year. A portion of those accidents are going to be because of operator error and then some because of a second party and fewer still are because of bike malfunction or road conditions. There are many variables to all of these types of crashes, but there are a few variables that you can easily control. Of the crashes that were the driver’s fault, believe me when I say alcohol was involved in a good chunk of them. If you don’t drink and drive, that won’t be a problem. If you don’t drink period then there is one less thing to worry about. If its not alcohol related, its experience or safety related. These problems are also fixable, but just not after-the-fact.

Multi-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles are a little trickier. You are not usually in control of the factors when it comes to these accidents. A sizable number of them have alcohol tied to the other vehicle, whether it is a drunk swerving and hitting a driver, or causing another accident that was unavoidable by the motorcyclist. There are relatively few things you can do apart from practicing avoidance maneuvers that will save you from the stupidity of another driver. Defensive driving is key, even on a motorcycle.

It all comes down to this, and the numbers are with me on this one, safety training and experience are the two most important factors in avoiding accidents. We already discussed not drinking and riding, that one was very obvious. Less obvious is the motorcycle safety classes that are offered everywhere for you to learn how to better ride your bike if you already have one, or to learn how to start riding if you don’t have one right now. Either way, going to class is a great help even if it is just for a refresher at the beginning of the season. After awhile, you get used to the stupidity of the other drivers on the road and you will start to learn what they look like and how they drive. This comes with time and miles.

First things first, if you tell them that you won’t drink and ride and that you are signed up for a motorcycle safety class, you will be better off in the argument that motorcycling is good for you instead of saying that it just is. You have accepted the risks, you have or will shortly have learned to manage them, and that is the edge you need to be a great rider. Having a great support structure around you is a plus, and it starts with training and building trust in others around you.

Hand Made

More and more people are building their own motorcycles using chopper kits. These are the life size versions of model motorcycle kits. What use to be left up to the professionals is now quickly becoming a hobby for amateurs. You can purchase one of these kits to upgrade your current bike, or to completely build your own.

Because there are so many options when it comes to getting a "bike in a box", the first thing to determine is your budget. Though you could end up saving lots of money by doing it yourself, depending on the look and feel you want, once you finish purchasing all your extras you might end up spending about what you would have if you had purchased the bike from a dealer.

Should You Upgrade?

Secondly, you need to decide whether you are upgrading your current bike or want a completely new one. If you are upgrading, every manufacturer has parts and accessories you can purchase separately, or kits for certain areas like the chassis or frame.

Building from Scratch

If you are building from scratch, then you need to determine which make and model you like the best. Then determine what color and finish you want. Though a chopper kit comes with all the parts, it does not come painted or finished. This is one way to truly put your mark on the bike and make it your own.

For the inexperienced builder, there are several options when it comes to learning how to put your kit together. For those that like to figure things out by getting their hands dirty, you will have the time of your life figuring out how to put your chopper kit together. Be prepared for trial and error, and possibly some leftover parts, but that is the fun of it, right? For those that like reading, there are detailed instructions included with each kit, as well as several books you can purchase or download with instructions on exactly how to build your own bike.

For those that learn by watching someone else there are a couple of options as well. There are instructional videos and DVDs. You can watch them as many times as you like until you are comfortable with the process. If you are able to hook up a TV and VCR in your garage, you can rewind and playback as you assemble your kit. There are also classes or "boot camps" you can attend where you will have an instructor there to help you along and answer any questions.

Are you looking for a greasy, mechanical, do-it-yourself, garage project will occupy you for a couple of weeks? Putting together a chopper kit seems to be the hobby that is becoming increasingly popular. These days, you will be hard pressed not to see at least one motorcycle zoom by you on the road. Just know that could have been you flying by on your custom, personalized bike built with your own two hands.

Motorcycles with flat tires . . . roll hard! If your motorcycle is cruising along at 55 mph and your rear motorcycle tire suddenly deflates [has a blow out!] you now have a tremendously, dangerous challenge ahead of you. Avoiding other vehicles, controlling the steering, a swaying rear-end making everything unstable makes for a sizable victory when you roll off the side of the road and come to a stop. Congratulations, job well done! More riders than not end in an accident or something worse. All because of their motorcycle tires. Who knows your thoughts if it is the front tire to blow? You better be prayed up.

We all want a sharp looking bike. Once you select your make and model, your interest is on chrome, color, accessories, personal appearance, dress etc. but let us not forget about the importance of the rubber motorcycle tires that get us around. Frame, structure and engine all work together and hopefully are worry free for years. Motorcycle tires keep moving and we need to often watch for wear and safety.

There are two critical places that motorcycles need to be checked before each ride or at least once a month. Both are easy to do and both are many times overlooked. One area is brake fluid. If the pedal is mushy, bleed the lines or have someone else do it. Two, motorcycle tires need to be inspected. Why do we forget these?

Our safety depends on it. We trust our life to the two motorcycle tires under us that have at best two patches of rubber in contact with the ground the size of our two hands at any given moment. Move that along at 55 mph or even at 15 mph and each of the motorcycle tires is taking on a serious responsibility. The attention and care we offer towards our motorcycle tires can help us tremendously with our safety and enjoyment of biking.

Here are some areas where things can go wrong with your motorcycle tires:

- Tire Pressure: Under-inflation may cause uneven wear, loss of control [stability], wears the motorcycle tires out faster and increases the chances of the motorcycle tires failure. Over-inflation allows motorcycle tires to heat up, limit traction [although a slight 10% over-inflation may actually increase traction in wet conditions] and affects the wear. To correct these, use a good tire gauge and check the motorcycle tires when it is cool. Keep the motorcycle tires pressure at the recommended PSI.

- Fluids: Brake fluid, gas and lube spills need to be cleaned immediately. It deteriorates the rubber. Many of the cleaner protectants used on motorcycle tires harm the finish rubber. The best way to clean is to use old-fashioned soap and water.

- Bumps: Potholes, curbs and stones may slash or crack the tire. Look for any problem.

- Accelerated wear: Everyday use may be a potential hazard. Spinning motorcycle tires on take off or holding the brake on emergency stops need to be checked.

- Nails, screws etc.: It is better to find them before you ride than to discover these nuisances 20 minutes down the road. Motorcycle tires that use a tube may “pop” from a nail/screw or sharp object, where a tubeless tire may have the nail/screw actually plug the hole they created which gives you a little more time for repairs.

- Valve stems: Make sure the cap is on. It helps to protect the valve stem from leaking air and protects the stem valve from opening by centrifugal force and leaking air at higher speeds. When you use motorcycle tires with tubes, the valve stem should be straight out. If it is on a slant, the tire has been under-inflated and the tube has moved around the rim. Often this damages the tube and creates a leak.

- Tire weights: Weights need to be firmly fixed to the rim. If they fall off it will throw the tire out of balance and cause uneven wear.

- Rim: Cracked or dented rims are potential problems. You may want to replace wire spoke wheels when they become damaged with a cast or billet wheel that uses tubeless tires. Check with your dealer on this.

- Worn/torn: Thin tread is easier to detect. Flat wear is due to leaning very little and driving mostly in a straight line, resulting in a ridge at the edge of the flattened middle of the tire. This causes motorcycle tires to become unstable in a leaning turn. It wants to warble. The tire may have more wear but it should be replaced. [It is good to replace both front tire and rear tire at the same time.] Sidewall punctures, cracking, cord separation are an alert.

- Tread: Check the grooves called “sipes” making sure that the tread is still sufficient. The lack of having tread affects the cooling of the tire when in use, wear, stability, traction and can cause hydroplaning on wet roads.

When doing your inspection of motorcycle tires get a friend to roll the bike while you check the tread and sidewalls. You may need to get a work stand if alone. Obstacles to having a good inspection are long pipes, saddlebags, fenders etc. making it hard to see the rear tire. Front motorcycle tires are a bit easier to examine. This sounds like a lot but it goes quickly and is easy to do. Make it a habit to check your motorcycle tires frequently.

Some miscellaneous information you need to know. You will have better handling and get more out your motorcycles tires when you keep the rear tire aligned and balanced. Consider having this looked at approximately every1000 miles. Be careful when you have new motorcycle tires it takes the first couple of rides to get traction working well.

So! Happy riding and remember to check your motorcycle tires often.