#Renaissance

After a long winter, motorcyclists are coming out of hibernation and reclaiming their place on the streets. Unfortunately, spring is usually the most dangerous time of the year to ride as riders shake off the rust and other motorists learn to start sharing the road once again with motorcycles.

With the clocks moving forward and temperatures climbing, motorcycle season is finally here. There’s a good chance your bike hasn’t been out of the garage much, or at all, over the winter months. So to make sure it’s ready for the road, follow these practical tips from battery specialists Exide Technologies. These will help you avoid any nasty surprises and prepare your bike for the year ahead.

As Summer has recently been subjecting us to its extended death throes (in the form of 105°+ temperatures here in the San Fernando Valley), I’ve been thinking about seasons and how they affect motorcyclists. While people who live in parts of the country/world with real winters may joke about MO’s Southern California headquarters as having no seasons, we can vouch for the existence of seasons here – and not the earthquake, brushfire, riots, and mudslides that people joke about outside of the Golden State. (Really, people, have some dignity and just admit that you’re jealous.)

Lately, there’s been a rise in popularity in cafe- and naked-type bikes. Take the recently reviewed Royal Enfield Continental GT, quirky Moto Guzzi V7, old-is-new-again Yamaha SR400, and of course the venerable Triumph Bonneville as examples. They are simple motorcycles that take you back to a simpler time. And these days, wearing full-fledged, Power Ranger-like protective gear just seems, well, silly.

MEMO

The Northwestern United States has made it abundantly clear that its motorcycling culture is dominated by the adventure segment. Every BMW F800 and KTM 690 Enduro rider has bestowed upon us their wisdom of riding without a chase vehicle and letting the excitement of the ride dictate the adventure.