Scenic Credits and Scenic Forever will be at a 30% discount from now until Monday Dec 2nd. You can also upgrade from the yearly subscription to Premium Forever against an even better upgrade rate. Get your discount now before it’s too late.
Based on the enjoyment our motorcycles give, it makes sense that we spend money on them the way we do. But what about less exciting maintenance items like a battery charger?
Using the best products and keeping a regular maintenance routine protects your investment. And it means you won’t experience the disappointment of a dead battery on a perfect riding day.
Your motorcycle battery should always be fully charged. Over time, batteries will self-discharge, even when idle. Your best bet is to charge your battery every 30 days, or – an easier option – get a smart charger that maintains your battery all the time.
Some people think starting the bike every few weeks during the winter is good for the motorcycle, but the charging systems don’t ramp up until the motor gets fairly high (sometimes as high as 5000 RPM). So, you won’t be charging your battery sufficiently in this manner.
To begin, know that using a standard car charger to charge your motorcycle battery can overcharge your battery. That’s why a motorcycle battery charger is exactly what you need if you want to maintain optimum battery charge. But what kind of battery charger is best?
Certain characteristics are essential in a motorcycle battery charger. Ideally, you want a multi-stage, low-amp charger. A fully automatic maintainer is good, since it eliminates the possibility of overcharging your battery.
A smart charger is your best choice overall. A smart charger collects information from the battery in computer-generated algorithms. Then the charger adjusts current and voltage based on this information. What this means for you is that your battery is charged quicker, correctly and completely.
The smart charger holds voltage at its prime level, while reducing current to nearly nothing, which prevents overcharge even when left on for extended periods of time.
BatteryStuff.com has the largest selection of top-notch battery chargers, batteries and solar panels available anywhere. All of the chargers they sell can be connected to the battery indefinitely and won’t overcharge.
The best battery charger for your motorcycle depends on the size and voltage of your battery.
Here are some of our best motorcycle battery charger recommendations:
These are just a few of options they offer. BatteryStuff.com has batteries for all of the leading motorcycle brands. They’ve tried and tested every product we sell and only offer the best.
Don’t let a dead battery come between you and a ride. Make battery maintenance part of your routine. If you have questions regarding motorcycle batteries or battery chargers, BatteryStuff.com offers technical support. Visit their site or give them a callat 541.474.4421.
We all know that Motorcycling riding creates and strengthens friendships everywhere around the globe. Every now and then, we at MotoMappers get the opportunity to hear such stories from our users. This time Mark sent in some nice pictures of him and his best friend Bill during a recent Motorcycle adventure:
My motobuddy Bill and I at The Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California atop our BMW R1100S’s on our 10 day 1800 mile Lost Coast Brewery Tour.
And here we are at the drive through tree in Willits, CA. We picked a new brewery to head to each day and camped along the way.
When I asked about the trip in more detail, Mark told me an amazing back story, which, with Mark’s permission, I would like to share with you as I think it’s heartwarming and recognisable to all of us riders out there.
Bill and I were inseparable friends for years. I had been riding since I was a kid, motorizing my Sting Ray bicycle, then a Honda Trail 90 working my way up to bigger and better bikes along the way. Bill didn’t ride at a all but in 1983 I convinced him that he should get a motorcycle so we went and bought a pair of matching BMW R65S’s. After some practice we decided to take off on a real motorcycle adventure and tackle the Baja. Leaving in early June it was foggy and cold all the way down the Pacific Coast, in fact at one point we stopped and bought newspapers to stuff under our coats in an effort to stay warm. Turning inland we spent the night in San Ignacio, a desert oasis in the middle of the Baja, beautiful spot. That morning we united up with all the clothes we had and headed east towards the Sea of Cortez up and over the mountains to Santa Rosalia. In the space of 60 miles the temps went from the low 60’s to 114 degree (F). Stopping in Santa Rosalia to strip off as much as possible and grab a couple of the best fish tacos ever we waded into the Sea of Cortez fully clothed and helmeted to cool off for the ride south.
About 11 miles south of Mulege on the Bahia de Concepcion I was run off the road by one of the Baja’s express busses. Back then those busses were huge with dual front axles and the Transpenisula Highway was narrow. I met the bus around a blind corner swerved to get out of its way and hit a big rock that had fallen onto the road. That turned my front wheel into a “D”, damaged my tire and shredded my tire tube. Luckily I was able to keep upright just enough to pull to the side of the road before dropping the bike. We were at Playa Coyote a small bay within the Bahia de Concepcion. We set up camp and proceeded to bum tire patches off anyone we could find to try to put the tube back together enough to hold air while gently coaxing the wheel back into a roundish shape with a hatchet using a rock as an anvil. So much for making it to Cabo…
I did manage to to get the front wheel and tire to a serviceable condition so we turned back towards San Diego. Within a few miles a bubble developed on the front tire where the sidewall had been weakened by the impact. for the next 800 miles I dared to go 25 mph watching the bubble get bigger along the way and hoping to find a replacement along the way. When we finally made it to the BMW dealer n San Diego the people there were blown away that I had actually made it on a out of round wheel with a huge bubble on the sideway of the tire and a tube with 14 patches on it.
Flash forward a few years; Bill gets married and life pushes motorcycle riding to the back burner. Bill and I do not have any contact at all for 26 years. In the spring of 2016 Bill calls me out of the clear blue sky, telling me he wants to get together again. Bill comes to visit me and we’re sitting at my bar having a beer and taking about old times when Bill says we have to go on another motorcycle adventure. I stopped him at that point saying there was no way. First of all I had not been riding for almost 30 years, I did not have a motorcycle and I had no desire to ride again but Bill was determined and kept on talking about how great it would be while I kept saying NO. When Bill was backing out of my driveway later that day he rolls down his window and says “You don’t understand: We are going to go on another motorcycle adventure.” and leaves.
About 3 weeks later Bill calls me and says:”Your motorcycle is on it’s way.” He had a BMW R100S Boxer Cup Replica so he found a 2004 R1100S on eBay with only 7000 miles on it, bought it and was having it shipped to his place in Napa, CA. I know I was going on another excellent adventure with my friend Bill so we proceeded to make a plan to head up the coast of California into Oregon stopping at breweries along the way. When the bike arrived I headed up to Bill’s place and we went through “my”new bike changing all the fluids and making sure the bike was safe and ready for the journey. When the maintenance was finished I got on a motorcycle for the first time in many years and took it for a short ride around Bill’s neighborhood. Test flight done, we packed up and headed off for the Lost Coast.
Needless to say I was hooked again and motorcycling is a passion once again.
To some, all roads are the same no matter where you travel. For others, every road is a magical escape to a land undiscovered and a trail never ridden before. If you’re one of the latter and love to venture into the special areas of the world on the back of your motorcycle, then you will be interested in learning more about some of the best motorcycle routes to include in your itinerary as you set of to explore the countryside, meet new people along the way and have fun taking the ride of your life.
Before venturing out, be sure to learn about a few road trip hacks like how to pack or what tools to carry to make your ride time more efficient, but most importantly, choose the right road to have the time of your life.
These are the roads you need to check out, and when you do so, be sure to take your camera along because you’ll want to capture every detail along the way.
If you love to travel the coastline of the west and check out small surf towns, hang out at isolated café’s or relax for a few days in quaint bed and breakfasts or luxury spas, the Pacific Coast Highway is a road trip you will love from start to finish. Whether you stay in California and hit places like Los Angeles or Santa Barbara or you choose to travel the highway to check out Santa Cruz and some great surf spots or San Francisco to have a night out on the town and a nice meal, this is a road trip you won’t want to miss out on.
If you have the chance to take a ride to Nova Scotia, Canada for a little scenic ride time, you’ll find a beautiful selection of winding roads where nature abounds and riders can enjoy time spent with nature by taking time to stopover at campgrounds along the way. Since you will need to travel outside the U.S. to get to Cabot trail, you may want to have contact information to have your motorcycle shipped to Canada where you can pick it up once you enter the country and then enjoy your road trip.
This ride has been chosen as the best motorcycle ride in the United States by many riders and it lives up to its fame with some of the most amazing scenery in the nation as well as long and winding roads all throughout Wyoming and Montana. When you take a ride on this road trip, you can stop to visit Yellowstone National Park as well as sleep under the stars at local campgrounds, have a home cooked meal at a local roadside diner and really feel at one with your motorcycle as you spend hours on end taking the curves and enjoying the thrill of the ride.
One of the curviest rides you will find in the USA and one that can be quite dangerous if you don’t pay attention every second of the ride. This ride is especially great in the fall when the leaves in the southern U.S. are changing colors as it borders both Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains as it crosses through North Carolina. Be sure to take some friends along and pack a camera because you won’t want to miss the photo opportunities on this road trip!
The Appalachian Mountains offer a great escape for motorcycle riders who want to get away from the hectic lifestyle of the city and enjoy the best mountain terrain in the southern U.S. Riding through the Appalachian Mountains offers a wide array of roads to check out. While the Tail of the Dragon is located nearby, you can also travel to the Blue Ridge Parkway and though states like Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and even Ohio where you can find lush forests, old mills and natural springs in the woods, waterfalls and plenty of places to hike, camp and even catch a few fish during your road trip.
When you’re considering hopping on your motorcycle and taking a road trip to a place you’ve never visited, be sure to check out some of the excellent road trips above. As a rider, you already know that no matter where the road leads, adventure is just a quick trip down the road.
Author Bio: Chris Ward
Chris is a Harley rider and a big Sturgis fan. He owns the vehicle transport company A-1 auto transport. And yes, they also transport motorcycles 🙂
When most people think of motorcycle camping gear they think of the obvious, such as a sleeping bag and tent, but there are some not so obvious things that can prove invaluable. 
We are going to take a look at a few things you may not have thought of that are great to bring when you are traveling any type of long distance on a motorcycle. These are just a few convenience and repair items that can really make things easier on a rider when they are on a trip.
Most of the time I like to keep my handlebars clear for a nice, clean look, but on long trips I always have a couple of extra accessories on my bars. The first thing I always make sure to bring is a charger for my phone. There are chargers available online that will connect directly to your battery with an inline fuse or connect to your bikes accessory power. Personally, I prefer to use the kind that connects to the battery. This keeps your accessory power free if you need it for something else.
The downside here is that you will have to install a quick connect if you want to remove it when you don’t need it. You can just disconnect it from the battery, but depending on your bike this may be way more trouble than it’s worth. On my Iron you have to remove the seat and a side panel to get to the battery box, then one of the terminals is covered by the wiring harness. Definitely not worth taking apart every time I want to swap it. If you wire in a quick connect, however, you can just tuck the wiring out of the way and disconnect it when you don’t need it. This will greatly simplify the process.
If you choose to use one of these try to find one that has a 12V outlet as well as a 5V USB for charging your phone and anything else you may need. Be careful not to leave anything plugged up if your wires right to the battery. Because there is no shutoff if you leave anything plugged in it will keep draining the battery. Keep in mind these batteries are not like car batteries. These are made solely to start the bike, not power any accessories like a radio or lights for any length of time, so you can drain your battery completely faster than you realize. I don’t know about you, but being stuck in the middle of nowhere on a bike with a dead battery does not sound fun to me, so be careful.
The next thing I always take on long trips is a motorcycle phone mount. I am not advocating using your cell phone while riding, though I won’t lie and say I haven’t done it, but these are great for using your phones GPS while you are riding. Yeah, you could just listen to it and that is what I do most of the time in the car, but in the car you can look at it if you need it, not the case on a bike. This is where a cell phone holder comes in to play. You strap your phone in and you can plug up your headphones and keep you GPS up on your phone. I will admit I was very nervous the first time I used mine. I was so afraid my phone would fly out and be destroyed, but it has held up perfectly.
Keeping Your Tires Aired Up
It’s generally accepted that you should never plug a motorcycle tire. I can personally tell you no one will want to plug a bike tire. You may find a small shop in the middle of nowhere that will, but most big shops will refuse. The idea here is that the integrity of the tire has been compromised. Because of the dangerous nature of motorcycles it becomes a liability for them should anything happen. That being said, stuff happens. You can be riding down the road, thousands of miles from home and run over a nail. Now you are in the middle of nowhere with nothing around, no cell phone coverage, and you haven’t seen a car for hours. What are you going to do?
Well, hopefully you are going to get out a motorcycle tire repair kit. Every rule has an exception. While I would not advocate riding on a plugged tire for long, it will get you to a shop where you can get it changed. While I don’t recommend it, I have ridden thousands of miles on a plugged tire. I ran over a screw in Dallas and had to get to Birmingham, but didn’t have the money for a new tire. So, I did what anyone would do, I plugged the tire with the kit I always keep in my tool bag and aired it up with my little bargain basement air pump. It got me home in one piece and hasn’t let me down yet. I will admit I was a bit nervous on the ride home because everyone was so against it, but we quickly realized it was holding up well and were riding 80+mph again. Again, I am not advocating riding on a patched or plugged tire, but you should keep a kit in your bag in case of emergencies.
Conclusion
Hopefully this has given some of you an idea of a few extra things to bring along next time you go for a long distance ride. I know I would have been lost without these. Imagine riding cross country with no way to charge your phone. Also, never being able to look at a map while you are riding will make things more difficult for some riders. Always be safe and plan ahead. Make sure you have everything you could need while out riding.
Author: Aaron
Aaron is one of the writers for www.TheRevver.com, a website dedicated to providing all sorts of motorcycle related information. He has owned more vehicles than most, and loves getting his hands dirty. Aaron is our number one gearhead, and all techy questions get answered by him.
Winter is approaching fast, and for many motorcycle riders that means getting their bike ready for storage until warmer weather comes again with spring. This is especially true for those riders who live in colder regions like New England or the upper Mid-West.
But for some especially dedicated bikers, winter’s chill isn’t enough to keep them off the road on two wheels. This is especially true these days, when more and more gear designed for the winter riding seems to be hitting the market every year. And when it comes to winter riding, that gear is key – it takes more than just dedication to avoid frostbite at 60 miles per hour.
If you’re a diehard biker determined not to sit out the winter, you need to make sure you’ve got the right gear and accessories to ensure your own safety and comfort on the road. Here are some of the absolute essentials.
Before you even think about stepping on your bike in winter, you need to make sure it’s well-maintained and up for the challenge. Keep these tips in mind if you plan on riding in winter:
Now let’s take a look at the gear you’ll need to stay cozy on your winter rides.
The basic principal of staying warm in winter weather is the same on your bike as off: layer up! On a motorcycle, that means you’ll need at least three layers to cover your core and upper body.
The basics for your upper body are the same for your legs. Weatherproof outer layers (preferably with abrasion resistance and built-in armor to protect in a fall) should be worn over insulation and a comfortable base layer like standard motorcycle riding jeans.
Some manufacturers make winter motorcycle pants with outer layers and insulation built-in, ideal to wear over normal riding jeans or other base layers.
One option to consider is a one-piece winter bodysuit, or a zip-together jacket and pants combo; this will have the benefit of keeping the wind from creeping into the gaps between the clothes on your upper and lower body.
Nowhere on your body is more vulnerable to the extremes of winter weather than your fingers and toes, making good winter boots and gloves an absolute necessity when riding.
Winter riding can be great fun, but not without the proper gear. The outline above is a good starting point, but be sure to shop around to find the gear that you’re most comfortable in, and if possible take a few test-rides around the block before you hop on for a long-distance winter trek.
Finally, gear or no gear, be sure to adjust your riding to the conditions. Take it slow, stay off the road in bad weather, and be on the lookout for patches of ice or snow in the road.
Author: Peter Cunningham
Road trips are probably the most cleansing thing a person could do for their soul. No matter where you are in the world, the fresh air and open roads can work wonders for you. Best part is, there’s no law saying that you have to do it by car. If you own a motorcycle and typically reserve it for quick jaunts around town, it’s time to discover the joys of long-haul adventures. When the weather’s right, there’s no better way to take in this beautiful country of ours than on the back of a motorcycle. Today’s best touring motorcycles provide optimal comfort across hundreds of miles of road, so there’s no need to restrain yourself. Just pick a destination, pack up your gear, get on your bike and hit the road!
Why haven’t you left yet? If you still need convincing, here are 10 reasons to road trip on a motorcycle instead of a car.
One common complaint about traveling is overdoing it and bringing along way too much stuff. Well, that’s never an issue when traveling by motorcycle, as you are pretty restricted in terms of how much luggage that you can carry. That’s especially true if you’re traveling as a couple. For an extended road trip, pack enough clothes for just a couple of days and plan to hit a few laundromats along the way. With so little stuff to worry about, you’ll feel wonderfully unfettered.
While driving a car is cheaper than flying, keeping a car gassed up can be pretty expensive. Even when stacked up against some of today’s most fuel-efficient vehicles, motorcycles give you a fuel economy that’s second to none. Indeed, a decent 250cc motorcycle gets an average fuel economy of about 85 mpg, which is head and shoulders above most cars that are out there today. You can use the money that you would’ve spent on gas on more exciting and enjoyable things–and you won’t have to stop every few hours to fuel up, which means that you will get there that much faster.
Motorcycles are easier to maneuver, so you’re less likely to get stuck in massive traffic jams as you make your way to your destination. That’s especially true in states that allow lane splitting, as you can keep moving ahead while cars and trucks sit and idle. If you’ll be traveling to a major city, you’ll appreciate the ease with which you can navigate various streets on a bike. As you zip from place to place while watching car drivers who are stuck in maddeningly long lines of traffic, you’ll quickly see why motor cycle adventures are where it’s at.
One of the biggest downsides of the typical road trip is that you’re usually cooped up inside a vehicle from sunup to sundown. Even with the windows down and the sunroof open, claustrophobia tends to set in more often than not. If you will be road tripping during the summer, you will be able to soak up the sunshine and take in the fresh, warm air as you make your way from place to place. Whether in the city or the country, being out and about on a bike lets you see the world from a whole different perspective–and it helps you to stay in tune with the world too.
As anyone who rides a motorcycle regularly can attest, safely operating a bike requires extreme focus and concentration. When you’re out there doing it, this focus often leads to a sort of Zen-like state that is incredibly liberating. When you’re in the zone like this, hundreds of miles can fly by in what feels like the blink of an eye. When you’re on your bike for hours on end, your everyday cares and worries drift away, and you’re better able to truly live in the moment. Many compare this state to meditation. Whatever you call it, you’re sure to find that it’s one of the best aspects of road tripping on a motorcycle.
Okay, so this one is a bit of stretch–and it probably doesn’t matter to you one way or another. Still, it’s interesting to know that a typical 180-pound man burns about 40 extra calories per hour when operating a motorcycle than when operating a regular car. Considering how much you will be on your bike during an extended road trip, you’re apt to burn a ton of extra calories. You can then easily justify treating yourself to dessert, enjoying an extra pint or sitting down for a truly decadent dinner.
Most road trippers travel via cars, minivans, vans and RVs. Overloaded vehicles burn through even more fuel than less jam-packed cars, so road trips tend to be very bad for the environment. That’s not just because of all of the fuel that is burned but also because of all of the pollution that’s generated. You’ll spend less time stuck idling on a bike as well, and that makes fuel economy even better. While saving the environment may be the last thing on your mind when enjoying a road trip, it’s still pretty neat to know that you are wreaking less havoc on the planet by taking your motorcycle.
Motorcycles are definite conversation starters. You have probably already discovered this just by driving your bike around town. Fellow motorcycle owners and enthusiasts alike are sure to stop and comment on your bike wherever you go. If you’re traveling solo, you will appreciate the camaraderie that goes along with being a motorcycle owner, as it affords you an opportunity to socialize at least a little bit every day. If you’re traveling with someone else, you will both enjoy meeting new people and showing off your bike as you steer it around the country.
You will have a much easier time finding convenient places to park when road tripping on a motorcycle. Even with motorcycle group riding, you only need a handful of regular parking spaces to accommodate everyone. In rural areas and less crowded places, of course, this won’t be as much of an issue. If you’ll be heading to national parks and other popular tourist destinations, however, you will count your lucky stars that you’re on a bike. While others stress out about finding a place to park their vans and RVs, you’ll be able to zip into even the tiniest spaces and be on your way. In many cities, parking garages even offer free motorcycle parking, so you can score in that way as well.
Finally, as you are surely already aware, riding a motorcycle is a total blast. Like most people who own one, you probably don’t need an excuse to take it for a spin. The exhilaration of being on a great motorcycle never fades away even after years of enjoying motor cycle adventures. Most bike enthusiasts would surely agree that going on a road trip on a bike makes the trip all the more memorable too. Years later, you will look back on your motorcycle road trip adventure and be so thankful that you were able to do it. Those wonderful memories won’t ever materialize unless you actually hit the road on your bike, so hop to it!
If you’re planning a road trip, own a motorcycle and are looking for a way to make the excursion more enjoyable in a variety of ways, road tripping on a bike is unquestionably the way to go. Every person who owns a motorcycle should take it on a road trip at least once. After giving it a whirl one time, you’ll probably never want to drive a regular car when vacationing again.
by Trevor McDonald – Freelance Writer & Editor
While MotoMap is a great app (if we may say so ourselves) and offers a lot of Motorcycle Specific functionalities, it’s not perfect YET. We are currently working on a complete overhaul of MotoMap so tell us what you would like to see and we’ll look into adding it!
This article attempts to explain the concepts behind Motorcycle GPS Navigation and explain why it is so difficult for navigation systems and regular navigation apps to guide us along the best motorcycle roads.
Well, that’s a good question. I’ve been in this “scene” for quite a while and I think I have a pretty good idea on what we want when it comes to Motorcycle GPS Navigation. Having said that, it depends a lot on the situation and the kind of Ride you want to do. In this context you could distinguish 4 (or actually 5) kind of rides: Continue reading
Why use your iPhone as Motorcycle GPS?
These are very prominent advantages. Having said that, you’ll need to consider some things when choosing to use your Phone as Motorcycle Navigation. You can go the cheap way and put the phone in your pocket, but if you want to mount your device there are some more things to consider.
UPDATE Aug 2, 2016
My new app Scenic was released in the App Store just last week. It has full turn-by-turn and voice guidance, you can make any GPX navigable, create your own routes and track and documents your rides. Feedback of users has been awesome so far. Give it a try if you want. It’s free to download. https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1089668246 and here is a video of the app in action: https://youtu.be/rKavcXRm4P0
END UPDATE
