Where are these girls when you need them? I need a motorcycle wash and wax!

I have been riding my ass off for the past 7 weeks or so, it has been a real blast.

Now here it is Sunday June 5, 2011, and I have a free afternoon. I went into my garage to get something out of my saddlebag. I looked at my Harley Davidson Electra Glide. Then I realized, it is friggen filthy and in serious need of a good wash and wax.

When you do hard riding like my bros and I do, your motorcycle gets real dirty.

One of the all-time things I hate doing more than anything in the world is washing and waxing my motorcycle.

With my car it is simple, I drive to a car wash and I let them detail my car. With the motorcycle it is not quite simple because there are no places to get your motorcycle washed.

You would think that living in, and riding in, the most populous motorcycle area (Southern California) in the nation, some entrepreneurial person would have set up a chain of motorcycle wash shops to make it more convenient for us bikers to wash our bikes. It has not been done yet.

So guys like me are forced to wash our own motorcycles. Don’t get me wrong, I am no sissy, but I friggen hate washing and waxing motorcycles with a passion.

In the old days when I had a basic softail motorcycle or a Jap cruiser, it seemed bad enough washing and waxing the motorcycle. It got a little bit easier using the spray on/rinse off washing solutions that did not require scrubbing.

On some occasions the spray on, no scrub wash would leave dried bugs on the motorcycle, so I would have to manually scrub a bit.

However, the waxing always sucked and there was simply no way around it.

Now that I have a bagger Electra Glide, complete with hard bags and tour pak, the job has gotten much worse.

I just took a look at my motorcycle downstairs, and it is real filthy, and I sure the hell do not feel like washing and waxing her today.

I have all sorts of cleaning supplies and such in my garage.

For the present dirty condition of my motorcycle, I will use a spray on, rinse off wash system to get the major road grime off and to clean the wheels. Then I will have to hand wash the motorcycle as well because the spray on, rinse off solution will not be good enough to get all of the grime off.

I will then use a microfiber cloth to do an initial dry off. This also serves to wipe off any additional grime that the washing left behind.

I will then use a blow dryer that I bought from JP Cycles a few years back to get most of the water off of the motorcycle. Especially the parts that tend to collect water like underneath the seat, and the bottom of the V-Twin engine and such.

Once the motorcycle is completely dry, I let her sit for about a half hour to an hour just to make sure all of the water has evaporated.

I then do a complete wax. This is the most sucky party of the whole process because it takes time to get a Harley Davidson Electra Glide all shiny with no wax streaks or residue.

The whole process takes around 2 hours to do it right.

So right now I am dreading washing my motorcycle again.

When will someone open up a motorcycle wash near where I live? I would be willing to pay a decent amount of money to not have to waste another 2 hours washing and waxing my motorcycle.

Oh yes, and usually after one ride, the damm thing is dirty again…………….

By California Motorcycle Accident Attorney, and Biker Lawyer, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © June 5, 2010

The post What is one of the worst things that Bikers and Motorcyclist have to do? first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

California Motorcycle Accident Attorney and Biker Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez in Malibu, CA

You have all heard the old saying that once you learn how to ride a bicycle, you never forget how to ride a bicycle. People use this old saying in analogies all of the time to describe activities which you supposedly never forgot how to do once you learn how to do them.

Well I will tell you what, if you learned how to ride a bicycle as a kid, but then you don’t try to ride a bicycle again until you are an adult, you may be able to balance yourself on the bicycle, and you may be able to peddle the bike, and turn it, but you are not going to ride the bicycle as well as when you rode all of the time as a kid. It takes practice to re-acquaint yourself to the bicycle.

The same hold true for riding motorcycles. I have known many people over the years that think they can just get back on a motorcycle after not riding for many years, or even months, and think that they can ride just as good as they did when they previously rode the motorcycle.

This assumption can kill or maim you. If you have been off of your motorcycle for a period of years or even months, you need to re-acquaint yourself to riding your motorcycle again. I don’t care how good you used to ride, or think you used ride.

Riding a motorcycle is a precision activity. You need to be in decent physical and mental shape to ride safely, and you need to have sharp mental and physical reflexes to ride safely.

Notice I used the term safely.

If you have not ridden a motorcycle for years, and let’s say you have just purchased a new motorcycle, what should you do?

I recommend taking a certified MSF class on your new motorcycle to learn how to ride your new motorcycle, before getting on the road in traffic.

They say it takes at least 1000 miles to get used to a new motorcycle, I say it may take longer to become comfortable on a new motorcycle, especially in traffic.

Riding your motorcycle is not like riding a bicycle, if you have been off of your motorcycle for a time; you need to take it very slow and easy until you get back in the saddle so to say.

By California Motorcycle Accident Attorney and Biker Lawyer, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © February 8, 2011

The post Is riding a Motorcycle like Riding a Bike? first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

I was reading a story whereby a 14-year-old girl from Woodacre, California was airlifted to an Oakland hospital Sunday afternoon after a collision between two off-road motorcycles in Novato.

The girl suffered head and internal injuries in an undeveloped lot near the junction of highways 101 and 37 and was flown to Oakland Children’s Hospital by helicopter, said Novato police Lt. Dave Jeffries. Her name has not been released because she is a minor.

The dirt bikes collided on a relatively flat trail at about 1 p.m., and Novato fire personnel arrived a few minutes later.

A 15-year-old male was on the other motorcycle and suffered a minor hand injury, He was not transported to a hospital, Jeffries said.

Fire Capt. Jeff Whittet said the girl was wearing a helmet but suffered moderate to severe injuries. She was conscious when rescuers treated her at the site.

“I would say they didn’t hit head-on but they crossed up their handlebars,” Whittet said.

The undeveloped Hanna Ranch site, about 4 1/2 acres just south of the Vintage Oaks shopping center, is popular with off-road motorcyclists. A 62,000-square-foot office complex has been approved there but construction has not begun.

The story got me thinking about some cases I have had involving off road motorcycles and other off road sports vehicles. It also got me thinking about a story my friend Scott told me about his son having multiple bad accidents on dirt bikes.

Most people do not realize that you can purchase insurance to protect yourself and your loved ones while they are riding off road vehicles such as dirt bikes, dune buggies, golf carts, snowmobiles, and all terrain vehicles. (ATV’s) as a matter of fact it would be dumb to engage in off road motor vehicle activities without insurance because to be frank, there are many off road motor vehicle accidents, but you never hear about them because they go unreported.

Most off road motor vehicle insurance policies cover: Collision, Liability, Medical, Safety Apparel Coverage for damage to any clothing designed to minimize damage from an accident, including helmets and goggles, Optional Equipment Coverage including towable trailers or sleds made for use with an ATV or snowmobile, and more. You pay to cover yourself in your street car, truck, or motorcycle; it only makes sense to protect yourself and your loved ones with off road vehicle insurance. You can find insurance companies providing this type of insurance all over the Internet. Do a search on Google, MSN Live, or Yahoo to find them.

Here are some basic off road safety tips. When You Ride the Trail, Put Safety First!

Think ahead.
Ask your local dealer about the laws and regulations in your area. Do your best to preserve the areas where you ride, and be sure that you only ride where off-road vehicles are permitted. Read your owner’s manual. Then make sure you take your manual, a small tool kit and essential spare parts with you whenever you ride.

Gear up.
For optimum protection in case of an accident, always wear a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet, eye protection, a sturdy jacket, long pants, over-the-ankle boots and gloves.

Practice.
Find a safe place to practice braking, turning and improving your reaction time to help improve your skills and make you a better – and safer – rider.

Learn more.
Improve your riding skills by taking a training course. Make sure your vehicle is properly licensed or registered. Choose a vehicle that is appropriate for your age and ability.

Stay off paved roads.
Remember that off-road vehicles are meant for operation off pavement and public roads. These surfaces may not only be illegal, but dangerous. Your off-road vehicle may be difficult to control on pavement, which could result in an accident.

Maintain control and stay sharp.
Keep your speed right for the conditions and your experience. Be aware of current terrain, visibility and weather conditions, potential hazards or obstacles. Ride only when your senses are sharp. Never do drugs or drink and then ride.

Check it out.
Be sure to check that your off-road vehicle is running properly before hitting the trail. Always check controls, lights, fuel and oil levels, switches, chain, driveshaft, tires and chassis before you head out. Follow the recommended service schedule for your off-road vehicle and be sure an authorized service provider makes all repairs.

Go it alone.
Never carry a passenger on your off-road vehicle unless the vehicle is designed with an appropriate passenger seat. Additional weight can greatly affect the handling of your off-road vehicle and potentially cause loss of control. It’s a good idea to take a buddy along, only on their own vehicle.

Know you’re protected>
Be sure you have proper insurance coverage to protect your vehicle and provide liability coverage in case someone gets injured or property is damaged during the use of your vehicle.

Off road motor sports can be very fun and exciting for the whole family. Exercising proper safety and insuring yourself against loss will make it that much better!

By California Personal Injury Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2009
www.thepersonalinjury.com

The post Off Road Motorcycle, Dirt Bikes, Dune Buggies, Golf Cart, Snowmobiles, and ATV (standard, sport and utility) Insurance and Safety; Some Important Tips. first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

Best Buy may begin selling motorcycles at five West Coast stores this spring.

According to a report in Greentech Media, the CE chain will carry a $12,000 electric motorcycle in select West Coast stores starting in May, with Geek Squad workers possibly providing repair services in empty car A/V installation bays.

The bike, called Enertia, was developed by Brammo, an Oregon business that Best Buy’s venture capital arm invested in last year. The 7-year-old company said it designs and manufactures sustainable specialty vehicles and “performance products for the next generation of transportation.”

CEO Craig Bramscher told attendees at the Pacific Crest Clean Technology Conference last week in San Francisco that Geek Squad agents will perform “level one” repairs on the bikes’ brakes, tires and electronics components, Greentech said. The latter include a built-in Web server, open-platform software applications and possible add-ons like on board cameras that could download images to travel blogs.

“What we’re selling is a lot closer to consumer electronics than to transportation,” Bramscher said.

The Enertia uses six lithium-phosphate battery modules that take about three hours to charge using a standard electrical outlet. The bike is highway legal with a 45-mile range and a maximum speed of 53 miles per hour, and the company is working on a two-seater model with a range of about 100 miles and a cruising speed of 75 miles per hour that may also be sold through Best Buy, Bramscher said.

I must admit, although I love to ride my Harley Davidson, I am intrigued by the thought of riding an electric motorcycle. I am sure it is super quiet, (which may be a negative safety issue) and should accelerate fast.

This particular model is probably intended as an around town motorcycle because it only has a range of 45 miles at a maximum of 53 miles per hour. I am sure in the future motorcycles such as this will get much more range, and go much faster.

What blows me away is that “The Geek Squad” will be servicing this thing? They are going to be doing brakes and tires? Well, it is what it is.

I look forward to hopefully testing one of these babies out. You can check out the Brammo website by clicking here.

By California Motorcycle Accident Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez, © 2009

The post Best Buy is Getting Into the Motorcycle Business! first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.