Tips

A collection of 65 posts

Shiftin' Semantics

GPS Terminology 101: Routes, Tracks and Waypoints

GPS navigators have been a real blessing for motorcyclists. Although some may mourn the demise of paper maps, GPS has made planning and sharing motorcycle routes easier than ever. Directions for GPS navigation are typically shared as GPS Exchange Format (GPX) files. You can download pre-made GPX files, for instance

Tips

4 Packing Tips for Motorcycle Tours

I currently have three motorcycles in my garage—a Yamaha Ténéré 700, Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, and Honda Trail 125. Each machine is an entirely different experience, yet I have completed overnight tours on all of them.  Click here to find my current luggage setup for each of these bikes.

Tips

Know Your Riding Risk Factors

There are some similarities between the causes of plane crashes and the reasons for motorcycle accidents: it’s often a combination of factors, or risks, that cause incidents in both cases. And in both, the fundamental cause can usually be traced back to “human error.” Just as in doing a

Tips

Everything Florian Packs for a 7-Day Motorcycle Trip

Motorcycles are fantastic vehicles for thrilling travel, but cars do have one undeniable advantage—a trunk. Taking all your things along can be a challenge, especially for longer trips. Packing a motorcycle for a week-long tour is just like any other art form in that it needs practice. Many motorcyclists,

Tips

How to Protect Your Legal Rights

It’s not something we like to think about, but would you know what to do if you were involved in a motorcycle accident? Have you checked your motorcycle insurance policy lately to ensure your coverage will protect you and your passengers if you ever need it? If you ride

Tips

Custom Motorcycle Registration

Planning to build a custom motorcycle? From using safe parts to having a certified mechanic inspect your bike, there are many things to consider in order to protect your legal rights. One of the most common questions people have is: “How do I register a custom motorcycle?” Here are a

Events Premium Content

Balancing Off-Road Expertise: The Jimmy Lewis Approach

Beneath the vast sky of the American West, a diverging two-wheeled journey unfolds—a tale of lessons learned from the sturdy embrace of a BMW F650 GS to the agile prowess of a KTM 500 EXC-F. With five years stretching the horizon between these two rides, I have plateaued in

Tips

Get Help from Fellow Riders on the Road

One of the best things about motorcycling is the community. No matter how much some of us like to think of ourselves as the lone wolves of the road, we all know a fellow rider is always ready to help us if we need it. Getting in touch with a

Tips

Paint Touch-Up Repairs

Stuff happens! It may not be today or tomorrow, but eventually that beautiful paint job on your pride and joy will be "compromised," shall we say. Perhaps it's best if you think of paint as a sacrificial coating, which protects the metal underneath from corrosion, along

Tips

A Motorcyclist’s Guide to the International Driver’s Permit

You’re ready for your exotic motorcycle trip through a foreign country. You’ve arrived at the airport, checked in to your hotel, and head over to the motorcycle rental to get your bike. And then you find out they won’t release the bike to you because the country

Tips

Your First Overnight Ride

There are some similarities between the causes of plane crashes and the reasons for motorcycle accidents: it’s often a combination of factors, or risks, that cause incidents in both cases. And in both, the fundamental cause can usually be traced back to “human error.” Just as in doing a

Tips

Mitigation Strategies When Riding in Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is when temperatures and/or humidity levels are noticeably above historical averages. In 2001 some 300 deaths were, reportedly, caused by excessive heat exposure. As we roll into the middle of summer, thermometers already have reached record highs in many parts of the country. Heat Related Health Risks

Tips

Two-Up Touring

Part of the enjoyment of motorcycle travel is sharing the experience with others, particularly doing so with non-riding passengers  who are experiencing the exhilaration of motorcycling for the first time. Whether it’s a trip around the block or a journey cross-country, it’s important for a rider to properly

Tips

How to Create and Edit GPX Files with GPX.Studio

These days, most motorcycle touring riders use GPS routes and tracks to navigate on motorcycle tours. Whether you use your phone or a dedicated navigator, the routes typically come as GPX files. Finding pre-made GPX tracks can be easy. RoadRUNNER, for example, offers print subscribers GPS files back to the

Tips

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

We’ve all (hopefully) been there, out on a mountain ride and feeling absolutely gobsmacked by the scenery. So, you stop and snap a photo, hoping to capture the power and grandeur of the mountains. But when you look at your picture the mountains look tiny (like hills at a

Tips

Riding Sober and Legal Responsibilities

In previous articles, I’ve talked about the dangers of riding after consuming alcohol. Not only does it put your life and the lives of others in jeopardy, but it also can bury you in a legal mess if you cause an accident while under the influence. Do you know

Tips

Great Bike Portraits in Five Steps

You know you've met a fellow rider when they take out their phone to show you a picture of their ride. Most have a snapshot after a wash or while on a trip. But if you want to be the person with the awesome photo of your bike

Travel Guide

13 Important Things to Remember When Traveling Internationally

International travel is a fantastic way to see new sights, meet amazing people, and broaden your horizons. Whether you’re riding a motorcycle or doing any other kind of travel, foreign countries can give you a whole new perspective on life. But traveling cross-border is a different beast from domestic

Tips

Eating Right on the Road

The Best Fuel for Your Body I like a Krispy Kreme "donut run" or a Haagen-Dazs "ice cream run" as much as the next rider, especially when it also includes a hot cappuccino or latte. There seems to be something in our human genetics that has

Tips

Group Riding: Protect Your Safety & Your Legal Rights

Group riding is part of a biker’s way of life. Whether you’re heading to a bike night, rally, or on a cross-country road trip with friends, you still need to keep safety a top priority. Not only will it help you avoid being injured in an accident, but

Tips

Helping a Stranded Rider

In the earlier days of motorcycling, when bikes were less reliable, riders frequently became stranded by a mechanical malfunction. Back then, motorcyclists were often as handy with a wrench as they were with the throttle. If they couldn’t fix their own bike, other riders invariably stopped to help out.

Tips

How Many Miles Per Day?

Too Long, Too Short...Where is Just Right? When on tour I often get this question from my pillion partner at the beginning of each day’s ride: How many miles are we riding today? Sometimes, if we’re just letting the road be our guide, I don’t really

Tips

Touring Tips: Riding in the Rain

Many, if not most, of us consider riding in the rain a necessary inconvenience when we’re caught out in it while going from point A to point B. The experience is frequently made more burdensome because of: inadequate riding gear, reduced vision of scenery and road hazards, loss of

Tips

How to Become a Better Rider Off the Saddle

Riding motorcycles is a physical and mental activity. Like any sport, it requires a certain amount of ability, physical attributes, and mental conditioning. The better shape you’re in, the more enjoyable and safer your riding experience will be. To attain an improved, even optimum riding shape isn’t just

Tips

How to Buy a Motorcycle in the US as a Foreigner

As a British international rider, the high-octane journey of buying a motorcycle in the U.S. isn't just about acquiring your dream bike. It's an adventure in itself. Over my own experience, I unveiled the intricacies, best-kept secrets, and labor-saving strategies that turn the buying and