186 Search Results for ""how-to articles""

• Metric Gas Gauge

  • From: Wild_Hogs
  • Description:

    Does anyone know of a gas gauge retrofit for a Honda?  Currently use the old "keep track of the mileage" gig.

     

    Appreciate Ya!  

  • Blog post
  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 40

• nov03

  • Member
  • Points:355
  • Views: 33
  • Since: 1 week ago

• How to lift a fallen Motorcycl

  • From: daycaremama
  • Description:

     

     

     

    How to Lift a Fallen Motorcycle

    CAUTION

    Picking up a motorcycle can be dangerous and cause serious injury if done incorrectly or under poor footing. A simple back injury could wreck your life! Always, always, always try to get help first—and remember, you don't want anybody else to get hurt, either. You need to think clearly, use common sense, and be in good physical condition. Keep your body and back straight, and lift only with your legs. Maintain control of the motorcycle and never twist your body while lifting. Check the motorcycle for damage prior to riding it again.

    The majority of picking up a motorcycle is mental: Work smarter, not harder. Motorcycles are heavy machines. Think about how you want to do it first—if you were going to lift a 300-pound refrigerator, would you just run up and grab it and start muscling it around, or would you plan your attack? What would you do if you were going to lift an 800-pound refrigerator?

    The ideal situation for lifting a motorcycle would be:

    1. Have the lifting technique demonstrated by a qualified professional.

    2. Practice with a qualified professional.

    3. Have the qualified professional evaluate and coach your lifting technique.

    Step 1: Assess Yourself

    Take a few minutes to calm down. Seeing your bike lying on its side can be a traumatic experience, but it happens to everyone at one time or another. Your bike's not going anywhere without you. Spend a few minutes asking yourself questions and talking yourself through it: are you hurt? Are you able to pick up your motorcycle in a normal situation? Do you want to pick up your motorcycle? Is it safe to pick up your motorcycle? Etc., etc. You have the rest of your life to pick up your bike; take a few minutes to relax and assess the situation. It's best if you get help. And remember: if someone helps you, don't forget to warn them not to touch the hot exhaust pipe, not to lift by the turn signals, etc. Also make sure they lift correctly. You don't want someone else getting hurt.

    Step 2: Assess the Environment

    If you are in danger from other traffic, get away from your motorcycle and seek a place of safety. Let law enforcement respond and take control of the scene before picking up your motorcycle. Take a look at the ground: do you have a solid surface to lift from? Is there gravel? Is the pavement wet? Are you right next to a ditch? You don't want to slip and get pinned under your bike.

    Step 3: Assess the Motorcycle

    Turn it off using the engine cut-off switch or the ignition switch. Turn off the fuel using the fuel supply valve. Spilled fuel is common, so use caution (though usually you need sparks, flame, or an ignition source to have a fire or explosion.) If the motorcycle is lying on its right side, put the sidestand down and put the motorcycle in gear. If the motorcycle is on its left side, you can't put the side stand down and can't put the motorcycle in gear. Make a mental note of these facts. You don't want to pick up your motorcycle and then immediately drop it onto its other side! Techniques to Lift the Motorcycle—Preferred and Regular Methods

    Technique I: Facing Away from the Motorcycle - For Large Motorcycles Preferred Method for any Size

    1. Turn the handlebars to full-lock position with front of tire pointed downward.

    2. Find the "balance point" of the two tires and the engine, engine guard, or footpeg. The motorcycle will be fairly easy to lift until it reaches this point because it's resting on its side. Once you start lifting from there, you are responsible for the most of the weight of the bike.

    3. "Sit" down with your butt/lower back against the motorcycle seat. Be very careful to keep your back straight and your head up. Put your feet solidly on the ground about 12 inches apart, with your knees bent slightly.

    4. With one hand, grasp the handgrip (underhand, preferably), keeping your wrist straight.

     

    5. With your other hand, grip the motorcycle framework (or any solid part of the motorcycle), being careful to avoid the hot exhaust pipe, turn signals, etc.

    6. Lift with your legs by taking small steps backwards, pressing against the seat with your butt and keeping your back straight. On slippery or gravelly surfaces this technique probably won't work. On inclined surfaces this can be very dangerous.

    7. Be careful not to lift the motorcycle up and then flip it onto its other side! If possible, put the sidestand down and the bike in gear.

    8. Set the motorcycle on its sidestand and park it safely.

     

     

    Technique II: Facing the Motorcycle - For Small and Medium-Sized Motorcycles Regular Method

    1. Turn the handlebars to the full-lock position with the front of the tire pointed skyward.

    

    2. Find the balance point of the two tires and the engine, engine guard, or footpeg. The motorcycle will be fairly easy to lift until it reaches this point because it's resting on its side. Once you start lifting from there, you are responsible for the most of the weight of the bike.

    3. Stand very close to the handlebars. Plant your feet about shoulder-width apart with the lower handgrip in between them. Use both hands to lift. Keeping your back straight and your head up, lift carefully, keeping the handgrip close to your body. Use your leg muscles for power, and not your back muscles.

    

    4. Be careful you don't lift the motorcycle up and then flip it onto its other side.

    5. Set the motorcycle on its sidestand and park it safely.

     

    The information given by the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, its instructors, and volunteers is offered as a benefit for those with an interest in riding motorcycles. Our intention is to further discussion and enhance individual safety and skills. Although the MMSC will continue to research, field test, and publish viewpoints on the subject of motorcycle safety, it disclaims any liability for the views expressed. Every motorcyclist is responsible for his or her own safety and that of their passengers. We do not accept any duty or responsibility toward any individuals. We urge all those using the information and views presented on this site to use their own critical judgment. When you may have any doubt about a safety or skill issue, we urge you to seek clarification and information from sources you trust, and to proceed with caution to ensure your safety.

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 89

• 14102009050.jpg

  • From: bigals
  • Description:
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 36

• Bsouthwo

  • Member
  • Points:280
  • Views: 19
  • Since: 2 weeks ago

• Reasonable considerations

  • From: dmeach
  • Description:

    Way to many motorcycle accidents this year!!!
    
    50 WAYS TO STAY ALIVE ON TWO WHEELS
    1. Assume you're invisible. To a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've made eye contact. Bikes don't register to the four-wheel mind.
    2. Be considerate. The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off, start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and smile.
    3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the bar. Sure, McDonalds is a 5-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat and is no excuse for a T-shirt and shorts.
    4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light goes green, with or without a turn signal.
    5. Leave your ego at home. The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.
    6. Pay attention. Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. That shock does feels squishy. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus.
    7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture. Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear.
    8. Be patient. Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb or into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt.
    9. Watch your closing speed. Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.
    10. Beware the verge and the merge. A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonalds bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for troublesome debris on both sides of the road.
    11. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists. Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too.
    12. Beware of cars running traffic lights. The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection.
    13. Check your mirrors. Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use.
    14. Mind the gap. Remember Drivers Ed? One seconds worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.
    15. Beware of boy racers. They're quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive. Don't assume you've beaten one away from a light or outpaced it in traffic and change lanes without looking. You could end up as a civic hood ornament.
    16. Excessive entrance speed hurts. Its the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads and racetracks. In Slow, Out Fast is the old adage, and it still works. Dialing up corner speed is safer than scrubbing it off.
    17. Don't trust that deer whistle. Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders.
    18. Learn to use both brakes. The front break does most of the stopping, but use some back brake.
    19. Keep the front brake covered always. Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.
    20. Look where you want to go. Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution.
    21. Keep your eyes moving. Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're actually dealing with trouble.
    22. Think before you act. Careful whipping around that car going 7 kph in a 30-kph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.
    23. Raise your gaze. It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.instead of the problem.
    24. Get your mind right in the driveway. Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway.
    25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign. Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble.
    26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic. Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until its too late to do anything about it.
    27. Don't saddle up more than you can handle. If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.
    28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic. And smacking a car that's swerving around some goofball's open door is just as painful.
    29. Don't get in an intersection rut. Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise when it doesn't.
    30. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group. Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to link up again.
    31. Give your eyes some time to adjust. A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, you're essentially flying blind for the first mile or so
    32. Master the slow U-turn. Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot around the rear wheel.
    33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill? Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally and smoothly to pull away.
    34. If it looks slippery, assume it is. A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head.
    35. Bang! A blowout! Now what? No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.
    36. Drops on the face shield? Its raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when its been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness.
    37. Emotions in check? To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yourself before you wreck yourself. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put.
    38. Wear good gear. Wear stuff that fits you and the weather If you're too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. It's that simple.
    39. Leave the iPod at home. You won't hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care.
    40. Learn to swerve. Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice till its a reflex.
    41. Be smooth at low speeds. Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash.
    42. Flashing is good for you. Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps on the brake pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.
    43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets. Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.
    44. Tune your peripheral vision. Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble.
    45. All alone at a light that won't turn green? Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds.
    46. Every-thing is harder to see after dark. Even You. Adjust your headlights, Carry a clear face shield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours.
    47. Don't troll next to or right behind Mr. Peterbilt. If one of those 18 retreads blows up, which they do with some regularity it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance.
    48. Take the panic out of panic stops. Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.
    49. Make your tires right. None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take them for granted Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as general
    wear.
    50. Take a deep breath. Count to 10. Smile at the idiot. Forgetting some clowns 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it.
    Original Author Unknown
    
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 72

• whtprl

  • Member
  • Points:290
  • Views: 10
  • Since: 1 month ago

• MODERATOR

  • From: snake06
  • Description:

    I'M A ANGRY WOLFMAN

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 80

• stellatig22

  • Member
  • Points:320
  • Views: 16
  • Since: 2 months ago

• Risers Help Please

  • From: Englissh
  • Description:

    Hello from France.

    HELP, can anybody give me some advice, OK i've heard the one next time put bullits in the gun! Well I want to lift the ends of my bars about 2 or 3 inches and I would like them to be back about 4 or 5 inches, has anybody any idea what I need to buy and this be able to use the stock cables and if you know what size are the fixing bolts please.

    You may think I am stupid that I dont go out and buy a 2inch lift with a 4 pullback, well if it did the job OK, is the rise at the center of the bars or at the end I dont know, I would like to keep the standard bars as it seems that I could change the risers myself but bars I would have to go to Yam, Look forward to your advice and suggestions thank you in advance.

    YAMAHA  XVS 650 Drag Star  ( V Star ) 1997

    Keep the grey coming long and slow

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 80
  • Not yet rated

• trevtruck

  • Member
  • Points:354
  • Views: 57
  • Since: 2 months ago

• Phone Holder #2

  • From: Bollux
  • Description:
    Ready to go. I use this to play MP3's to a bluetooth stereo headset or capture the odd video for fun. Parts used: Kuryakin 1" Universal mount, 2 pieces of perspex cut and bent to shape, 5mm rubber foam (stickyback), 4 nuts and bolts.
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 83

• Phone Holder #3

  • From: Bollux
  • Description:
    Ready to go. I use this to play MP3's to a bluetooth stereo headset or capture the odd video for fun. Parts used: Kuryakin 1" Universal mount, 2 pieces of perspex cut and bent to shape, 5mm rubber foam (stickyback), 4 nuts and bolts.
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 99

• Phone Holder #1

  • From: Bollux
  • Description:
    Ready to go. I use this to play MP3's to a bluetooth stereo headset or capture the odd video for fun. Parts used: Kuryakin 1" Universal mount, 2 pieces of perspex cut and bent to shape, 5mm rubber foam (stickyback), 4 nuts and bolts.
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 111

• Phone Holder #4

  • From: Bollux
  • Description:
    Ready to go. I use this to play MP3's to a bluetooth stereo headset or capture the odd video for fun. Parts used: Kuryakin 1" Universal mount, 2 pieces of perspex cut and bent to shape, 5mm rubber foam (stickyback), 4 nuts and bolts.
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 87

• rickbyerly

  • Member
  • Points:275
  • Views: 20
  • Since: 2 months ago

• renslin

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  • Points:330
  • Views: 38
  • Since: 3 months ago

• johndubry

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  • Points:280
  • Views: 23
  • Since: 3 months ago

• Vn800 Baffles

  • From: downunder
  • Description:

    These are the baffles that i added to the end of the DG Hard Krome 2.75 inch big straights.

    I removed the end caps and pop rivited  the baffles to the inside, then replaced the end caps.

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 102

• rwprivett

  • Member
  • Points:265
  • Views: 27
  • Since: 3 months ago