However, it is not always that way. You can manage to paint your bike. In fact, if you are planning to do it in the near future, here are the things that you need to consider. First, the color of the motorcycle – what color do you want? There is such a wide variety of colors available in the motorcycle society.

Colors can influence the bikes durability. Pearl’s, candy’s and lacquer reds have short life spans. Nevertheless, if you like your bike to be ultra-violet, gasoline and acid rain resistant, you can use paints with modern acrylic urethane content. These coatings are costly but you can rely on their efficiency. The brilliant hue, sparkle and feel of newly painted bike cannot be overemphasized. If you want variations, you can try two-tones and the likes. Just bear in mind that the use right and modern materials pays off.

After choosing the color for your bike, you have the choice whether to dismantle the bike or not. Tearing down for paint is an innate passion of bikers. Most pro painters do not remove the motorcycle parts. However, it is better if you let the experts do ‘expert removal’ of hard to remove parts. The aim is to get paint around all the edges of the motorcycle parts. Most bike painters have a variety of fixtures to hold parts so they can be easily worked on. In fact, in time these bike painters develop a skill to work on these challenging parts.

As I have said before, you can be your bike’s very own painter. Nonetheless, you can entrust the painting to those who understand how much your bike means to you – like some expert biker/painter. They exude a certain bond with the bike. Thus, they will not let any biker down. This is because they do not want to feel the same frustration.

It is time to color the bike. But first, remove the uglies – cracks, dents, flaws and repairs. Painter may not have ample time to look into them so you got to have the initiative. After removing the uglies, clean and dry the entire bike. The temperature must also be kept warm for the primer’s advantage.

The number of coats can be of significance. Three or four coats are sufficient. Just remember the three important things – clean, dry and more primer!

Invade the motorcyclists’ crowd and stun them with your newly painted bike.

Do you visualize yourself with a smashed head or a cracked skull because of a dreadful collision? Well, this is not an impossible circumstance. In fact, this thing has happened to a great number of motorcyclists who are stubbornly against the wearing of the same.

Whether you prefer wearing helmet or not, responsible riders must reconsider a lot of things about helmets – be it in connection to their riding safety or to others. Is it really worth the wearing? What’s inside your skull? Is it worth protecting? What are the qualities of a quality helmet? Every rider must bombard his mind with these crucial queries.

Banging your head in a motorcycle mishap, falling into the ground and other terrible incident or accident can harm one of the most vital parts of your body which is the brain. In fact, it can harm almost every part of your body thus, can definitely risk your life. In these circumstances, motorcycle apparel can very well push the safety button. If not, it can reduce the risks to both the riders and the passersby.

Bruising the brain is a big deal. We need not argue to that. That is already a given fact. Since the brain controls every part of our body, it has to be given greater importance and protection. Brain does not heal on its own. In fact, if the brain is bruised, it can lead to a permanent disability like epilepsy. However, if you are that extremely ill-fated, just one collision can take away your breath of life. This is the logic behind unhelmeted riding.

Helmets can spread out the impact of a collision and reduce its blow. It can also be considered as a guard against violent pricks and banging. Riding without a helmet on is thus a bad idea.

Every part of the helmet is as equally important as the rest. Outer helmet shell spreads the force. The strength of the outer shell is important to preclude pricks from going further. It is also developed to make the rider conspicuous. Luminous colors are now used to promote conspicuity. Its foam liners are also vital in the sense that it absorbs energy and reduce the possibility of having a skull shock.

There are two primary testing standards for helmets. The first is that of the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) and that of the Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL). Both of these standards test for impact reduction, retention, shell penetration and peripheral vision. They only differ in procedures and limits. However, their tests are reliable.

On a quiet Sunday morning, I was surfing the cable channels for some background noise. When to my delight, I come across a couple of gentlemen riding their BMW enduro motorcycles from London to New York by going east through Russia. Yes Russia. This of course had me captivated how someone could plan and organize such a feat, as well as, has the stamina to handle a three-month trek through hostile riding conditions.

To my further surprise the two riders were Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor – both actors by trade. The cable channel was running a marathon on the entire journey. Watching this motorcycling adventure quickly became addicting. Like watching episodes of 24 on DVD, you just cannot look away.

As Ewan McGregor stated, ultimately, the entire documentary is about 2 blokes riding their motorbikes. The concept is as pure and simple as that – very Zen like. The journey took months of planning. From getting visas to getting in shape physically and practicing riding their donated BMW R 1150 GS Adventure on rough terrain.

Watching the preparation unfold, I was curious as to who was paying for this adventure. Sure both riders have enough money between themselves to have covered the costs and more. But they decided to make this a charity event. Proceeds from the documentary, books, and the selling of the bikes would all be donated to charities such as, Unicef, Macmillan Cancer Relief, and CHAS – Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.

Manufacturers such as, BMW, Snap-On, Arai, Fox, etc. sponsored the event. Charley and Ewan looked at several motorcycles from which to pick for their adventure. They first entertained the idea of using the KTM motorcycle. KTM even sent in a consultant that road the treacherous part of Siberia that was t o be traveled by Ewan and Charley. The KTM consultant had his doubts in the riders succeeding with their adventure. KTM decided to abruptly pull their sponsorship of the ride and no longer offered up the KTM bikes. KTM corporate handled this situation in a very unprofessional and rude manner. In hindsight, this has got to be the biggest marketing blunder ever undertaken. Whoever made that decision at KTM should be fired. Why do I say this, well BMW comes to the rescue and donates two of their sweet R 1150 GS Adventure Enduro motorcycles. The amount of incredibly positive advertising this created for BMW far outweighed the costs of donating the two bikes. KTM , what a very dumb move on your part. Now when I see a KTM sitting in a show room, I kind of laugh at it, thinking of their blunder. Needless to say, I really want to buy a BMW enduro motorcycle now and be like Charley and Ewan.

As I watch the journey unfold, what really became apparent is that you really begin to see the real character of these two riders. These guys love riding motorcycles and meeting new peoples and seeing the world. As Ewan mentioned, we are all quite the same. Their personalities made me really respect both Charley and Ewan. They are very grounded; their focus on visiting charities throughout the ride was very touching and put things in perspective. Watching the documentary unfold, you really started to end up liking these chaps. Ewan’s remarks how everyplace looked like Scotland and that the Scots created the world was very funny.

This “Long Way Round” adventure took place in June 2004. Since then, I read that the BMW R 1150 GS motorcycles used were auctioned off for twenty thousand dollars and the proceeds donated to charity. All of the proceeds from the DVD and book sales go to charity. Very admirable that these guys could take their passion for motorcycling and turn in into a life changing event that not only benefited them, but also helped so many others through their charitable giving.

This is one of those adventures that can really impact your life and how you view the state of things. I am not only amazed by the technical aspects of the journey, the motorcycle, riding gear, mechanical procedures. The human side of the story and the Zen-like experience these rider went through on their journey also amazes me.

So as not to summarize the entire documentary, I encourage you to check it out for yourselves. Do it soon, Ewan McGregor is planning another ride from London to the southern tip of Africa. I bet he won’t be riding a crappy KTM, but rather the 2005 motorcycle of the year, the BMW R 1200 GS.

At the remote chance Ewan or Charley stumble across this organic review of their adventure, I just want to say thanks.

You cannot choose a helmet based on its size or the material it's made from alone. There are many things that need to be considered when purchasing motorcycle helmets. Sure, it's probably possible to locate a helmet that is the right color or that is made from the type of material that will satisfy your safety concerns, but when it comes to "proper fit" it opens up a whole new can of worms. It is so important to consider the "safety factor." Some motorcycle helmets are just not as safe as others and you should be aware of this.

Some of the more popular motorcycle helmet manufacturers are Icon, Arai, Shoei, Suomy, Erex, Bell, HJC and Nolan. The majority of their helmets are approved by DOT or Snell. There are many other makers, but these are some of the better known companies.

When it comes to safety there are two major concerns. One, how is your visibility? How is your peripheral vision? Can you see enough of the surrounding area to be safe? If your visibility is poor your chances of being in an accident can increase dramatically. And two, if you are involved in an accident will your head be protected as well as you'd like? Will the material that the helmet is made from stand up to the test, to the punishment?

Many motorcyclists or bikers look solely at the aesthetic qualities of a helmet and disregard safety when looking to purchase a helmet. But in reality it should be viewed oppositely. Safety should always come first.

The main options you have when searching for the perfect motorcycle helmet are color, shape, visibility and liners. Color is the easiest decision to make, right? Wrong. As far as the safety factor goes you should be able to be seen well by other drivers. Bright colors stand out and are very noticeable, even at night, while dull dark colors are not seen easily. It's very important to choose a bright color that can be seen easily by other drivers, even at night.

Another factor to consider is the shape of the helmet. Some people have tall slim oblong heads (egg shaped) while others have round or oval-shaped heads. Trying on helmets for a good fit is the only sure way to tell if it will fit your head properly and comfortably. Plus, you want the weight of the helmet to be distributed properly so that the head can support the helmet easily.

As far as safety is concerned the number one thing to consider is your peripheral vision. Some helmets simply do not allow a biker to see to their periphery well enough to be safe. With good visibility it's a lot easier to see when an accident might happen and have time to react to the circumstances and maneuver out of harms way.

Liners are the last item on the agenda. The purpose of a liner is for comfort, but it also is there to help you with a correct fit. If the liner is not a good fit for your head you will notice specific spots on your head that are receiving more pressure than others. Avoid these liners. Possibly the most comfortable liner is the skull cap. You will usually have less pressure in specific areas when using this type of liner.

Last, but not least, it is not wise to buy motorcycle helmets online unless you have tried that specific helmet on previously in a retail store. In most cases you will be better off trying one on in a store first. Then, once you know the brand, size, color and type of liner that you prefer it's an easy job to browse online for the best deals.

The biggest mistake most consumers make is locating a flashy cool-looking helmet online and then buy it solely because of its looks and for no other reason. Spend a little time shopping and you will likely end up with a product that you can be happy with for many years to come.

Scooters have been traditionally designed with a step through frame, however newer designs made for fun recreation are sleeker and are designed for standing on. They are more just super sized kick scooters with powered engines! From motor-less kick scooters with just a riding pad and a steering wheel these model scooters have evolved into motor powered riding machines. With both gasoline and electric motors, each scooter type has its advantages and disadvantages.

Electric scooters are simple and easy to use. Ride your scooter till the battery goes flat, swap with a spare battery or recharge and use again. This simplicity make for easy use with no knowledge of the inter workings of your electric scooter. Bundle this with the super quiet high performance electric motor; an electric scooter is bound to bring you hours of scooting fun!

Gas motor scooters have the traditional noisy gasoline engine; however they give the wonderful feeling of raw power and top performance. Gas scooters have the advantage of being a very fast motor scooter; reaching speeds of up to 30+ mph. Going out for some serious use of your motorized scooter? That’s find bring extra gas and simply refuel when your tank runs out.

Physically the gas and electric scooters generally look the same, with both seated and stand only designs available. Electric scooters appear to be more compacted and tidy, whereas the gas powered scooter’s engine takes up more room and has a gas tank attached.

When all things are summed, it comes down to a simple choice as to what motor scooter would suit you best; gas or electric? The electric scooter gives you simplistic fun with easy maintenance and upkeep. Charging your scooter is as simple as plugging into your power outlet before bed. You can also look forward to happy neighbors due to the quietness of the electric scooter with the small sacrifice of speed. Can’t slow down? A gas scooter will take you anywhere you want to go at great speeds with the great sound of raw gas power!

Whether you are a motorcycle owner or an occasional rider, one of the most important accessories you need is a pair of motorcycle sun glasses.

Many avid motorcycle riders prefer to wear motorcycle sun glasses underneath their visors and goggles to help with glare, UV light protection, light reflection, and depth perception. Although the law in most U.S. states does not require motorcycle riders to wear visors or goggles, state laws do require that riders have their visors and goggles tinted below a certain percentage. By law, 50% is the darkest tint allowed. If a visor or pair of goggles is too dark or mirrored in any way, it is not legal. Because of this, many riders choose to wear motorcycle sun glasses beneath their visors and goggles to enhance vision and make riding more comfortable.

If you are a motorcycle rider, you must consider a few points when deciding which motorcycle sun glasses to purchase. First, you must make sure that your motorcycle sun glasses have straight arms. This feature is often referred to as a “skull fit”. A skull fit will allow you to put your motorcycle sun glasses on and take them off with ease while wearing a helmet.

Another wise option to consider when purchasing motorcycle sun glasses is whether or not you want polarized lenses. Many riders prefer polarized lenses in their motorcycle sun glasses, as this type of lens takes away the glare that can sometimes cause problems seeing the road. Polarized lenses eliminate eyestrain, allowing for a much more comfortable ride. Popular motorcycle sun glasses that have polarized lenses include Oakley Polarized MINUTE glasses and Velocity CV glasses.

When shopping for motorcycle sun glasses, you should select a pair that is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). If a style of motorcycle sun glasses is ANSI approved, it means that it has undergone testing to ensure that it can protect your eyes in the most extreme conditions. Two popular pairs of ANSI-approved motorcycle sun glasses are Neptune Riding Glasses and Rider Plus Riding Glasses.

Lens color is also important to consider when choosing motorcycle sun glasses. For example, lenses that are smoked (dark) in color are best for daytime riding, as they provide the most glare protection. Clear lenses, on the other hand, are best for night rides because they do not distort color. And, clear lenses that are mirrored provide the extra benefit of reflecting the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Yellow lenses are best for cloudy days, as well as foggy situations. Yellow lenses allow for depth perception when there is low visibility. Finally, both red and blue lenses take care of all of these problems – they can reduce glare, reflect very bright light, and enhance depth perception.

If you happen to need prescription motorcycle sun glasses, you can speak to your eye doctor about which brand and style is best for you. Your doctor may suggest that you get motorcycle sun glasses with UV protection. Lenses with UV protection will protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun, which are known to cause serious eye problems.

The type of motorcycle sun glasses you end up purchasing should be a result of your personal needs as well as the condition of your eyes. Once you find the perfect pair, you will be ready to ride like the wind and be protected from it at the same time.

Motorcycle Prescription Sunglasses have the meet the same rigorous requirements of regular motorcycle sunglasses. They must provide 100% UV protection, must be shatterproof and scratch resistant, be optically correct, provide anti-fog protection and most of all be cool. Having features such as foam padding (whether removable or not) is also an important consideration for motorcycle sunglasses. Basically, motorcycle sunglasses must protect your eyes in the most extreme of conditions.

Motorcycle Prescription Sunglasses must also be suited to your prescription. Not all lens/frame combinations can handle all prescriptions. To a large extent the prescriptions that can be handled by a particular lens/frame combination is dependant on the curve of the lenses. The more curve the less prescription the lens will be able to handle.

Most optical shops are able to offer basic prescription sunglasses that are very similar to your regular glasses. These however often don’t meet the demanding requirements of motorcycle prescription sunglasses. While they are often stylish, they won’t stand up to the rigors of dust, bugs and other airborne matter coming at you at high speed. However, the optical shops can substantially help you in getting prescription sunglasses that will work when riding your motorcycle.

The best way to find prescription motorcycle sunglasses is to have someone who familiar with the demands placed on the glasses by motorcycle riding help you through the process. To order prescription motorcycle sunglasses I would recommend using the following process:

1. Get your eyes examined by your doctor. This will provide you with the basic information needed for your prescription. This information consist of the following information:
* Right Eye (OD) SPH CYL Axis
* Left Eye (OS) SPH CYL Axis
* Right Eye Add (for bifocals)
* Left Eye Add (for bifocals)
2. In some cases the doctor may also provide you with the Pupil Distance (PD) but often this is obtained from the optical shop where you would get your regular prescription eyewear.
3. Once you have this information find a shop that specializes in providing motorcycle prescription sunglasses, and provide this information along with the desired type of lenses. Many shops have the ability for you to select the frame style, lenses and provide your prescription information online.
4. When the information has been provided to the shop make sure that they verify your prescription information and provide you with options for frames. The options should provide you a list based on face size.
5. Approve the order and pay and the job is done.

When buying quality motorcycle prescription sunglasses, you will find that the prices will range from $150 on the low end to around $300 on the high end. This variation in price is based on the selected lens and frames.

At Bikerwares, we offer a Motorcycle Prescription Sunglasses Easy Ordering Wizard which will easily walk you through the process. It allows you to select the frames that you want, the lenses and then allows you to specify your prescription, shipping and billing information. No charges are made against the credit card until all aspects have been confirmed by you.