Caring For Your Motorbike Leathers

Motorbike leathers can represent a significant purchase. And whether they are used while riding or as part of a fashonable outfit, it is important to do certain maintenance to keep them at there best. Of course, using them while riding will create more wear and tear, it's still important to maintain the leather for whatever the reason they are worn.

When choosing a cleaning solution, make sure that it is made especially for the type of leather you are cleaning. Using a furniture leather cleaner on your biker leathers can cause more damage than it repairs. Motorbike leather tends to be made of a harder leather than the leather used in furniture. The exception to this may be for designer leathers that replicate the looks but not the durability of motorbike leathers. However, even when dealing with the softerleathers in the designer lines, it is still important to use the proper cleaners.

Using conditioners can help in prolonging the life of the leather sigificantly. But as with the cleaner, choose wisely and use brands that are recommended by people you trust, makers can often (and do) make claims that are not lived up to.

Who Was The Dimwit Who Told You To Ride Like That????

Riding to work today I noticed, for about the zillionth time, what I can only describe as a person with no concept of what protective clothing means. The only piece of safety equipment he was wearing was a helmet, although I'm not even sure that he had it fastened, I'm pretty sure I saw the straps hanging down and not secured.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but he was wearing a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. But that's not even the worst. As he took off from the lights I watched as he dragged his feet along the ground. If they weren't actually dragging they were pretty darn close. I figured he'd pull them up once he reached a certain speed, but no, all the way till the next red light, about a mile, he was dragging his feet. I'd hate to see what happen if he came across a small stone on the road. I can just see his foot being ripped backwards as the stone jammed under his foot. Add to that the protective qualities (ie. zero) of a pair of flip-flops and I really can't see him walking away, or walking period for quite awhile.

Zero Motorcycles unveils faster-charging, even quieter 2011 motorcycle lineup (video)

I don't get why people think quiet is good on a motorbike. It should at least have some sound to let you know it exists. I can imagine riding one and keep thinking I have to start it all the time because it doesn't sound or feel as though it will do anything.

"To those who are still convinced that loud motorcycles make you more safe: it's best you look away now. The quietest bikes in the business just got even more silent."engadget

Woman Biker Down: 5 June 2010 I-80 Crash Aftermath

This is a good example of why everyone should:

a. ride with people who know what they're doing; and

b. wear the right gear when riding, especially when surrounded by people you don't know and don't know their riding ability

"This was a bike on bike wreck probably caused by a chain reaction when someone made a bad move in pack formation. This was the second crash of the day." Ladies Motorcycle Clothing

You don't see much in the video, but it looks like they were lucky it wasn't worse.