April 13, 2010
Motorcycle Touring Made Easy
....the eZine
....inside this issue
- Welcome to the Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
- Knowing the Basics - General Motorcycling
- Out on the Road
We encourage you to email our eZine to your friends.
Welcome to the Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
Our goal with our website is to provide motorcycle touring information to others that would like to get involved or know more about motorcycle touring. We've spent the last two years gathering information and getting it together on the site and now with our eZine we're looking to bring you more and up to date information directly to you. Feel free to forward this eZine on to all your friends and if someone has sent this to you, please go to our home page and subscribe to get your own monthly copy. Just fill out the form and your there!Back to the top
Knowing the Basics - General Motorcycling
Get to know your bike. Okay so maybe our spouses hate it when we get lost in the garage working on or just admiring our bikes but there is a reason for it. A bike, when riding, becomes a part of you. You feel the turns, the bumps, you know by the seat of your pants when it just doesn't feel right. Learn these senses and understand what they mean to you as a driver.Recently my bike has felt like it was wandering a bit. You know, just not holding like it used to through the corners. I thought maybe it was time for a tire change, tires were worn but not to where I felt they should be causing this feeling. So I decided to listen to the latest scuttlebutt about Honda Goldwings in regards to a frame crack on the left rear horizontal support. And I'll be damned, the frame was cracked!
So I would say that if you do own a GL1800, regardless of the year, check it out. The concern is for 01 to 04's but you may want to look even if it's newer. If you should find a crack go to the office of defects investigation on the NHTSA Website by clicking here and file a complaint. Then take your bike to your Honda dealer and have them verify the crack and submit your issue to Honda. Cracked frames are being replaced by Honda both in and out of warranty. So it makes sense to get it done.
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Out on the Road
Co-Riders are not just for decoration. Co-Riders can play a big part while riding so get your co-rider involved. In a car a back seat driver can be a bad thing, on a bike they can be a blessing. With all the different things to stay on top of your co-rider can help you out, but make sure both of you have an understanding as to what each other is doing.For example, when you are turning onto a highway on some ramps you may be in the middle of a turn leaning your bike, when that happens you mirror is pointing in the wrong direction limiting your visibility. Your co-rider can check for traffic behind you to make sure it's safe to merge. Judy will even check the mirrors once in a while to back me up on traffic coming up from behind if she notices that I'm distracted.
For group riding, co-riders can provide hand signals to others, check maps, keep an eye out on others in the group. The list is almost endless and of course should be talked out and understood as to what part your co-rider should take in the ride. Don't leave them out, they love the ride too or they wouldn't be with you so include them in on the fun. Oh, did I forget about back rubs? Yes they can do that too.....
But don't forget to return the favor by booking that room with a Jacuzzi tub in it.
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If you have any information you'ld like to discuss, we have our new forum up and need YOUR input to get some great and current discussions going. Plus a new area to post "For Sale" items. See our Forum Here
Judy and I hope that you've enjoyed our eZine and if so, please send it on to your friends. If you have any tips that you would like to see posted on our site go to our tips page. We'll get them on our site and maybe use it in our eZine as well.
Also feel free to Contact Us with any questions or suggestions.
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