A beautiful ride across cities and places named World Heritage by the Unesco, through an splendid protected natural area and ending in a surrealistic garden by artist Sir Edward James. Just keep reading... The ride starts in Queretaro City at 5,970 ft above sea level.

Queretaro is a colonial city founded more than 500 years ago and named World Heritage by the Unesco in 1996 . It's located in the center of the country two hours North Mexico City. Nowadays it has become one of the most dynamic cities in Mexico due to the surrounding industrial parks where many international companies are located.

The first stop is just 45 minutes away: "La Peña de Bernal" (The "Rock of Bernal"). We are talking about the third biggest rock in the world and the highest in Mexico. At its feet a quaint little town were you can stop for a soda, lunch or spend the night. You can also find nice little souvenirs. Whatever you decide to do, this place is a must.

If you like rock climbing, you are in the right place too!

The road to Bernal doesn't present any major challenge, most of the road is straight with just a few extended curves... but just after passing Bernal it starts to get fun!

Surrounded by an arid landscape due the high content of lime in the soil, you start with a very interesting section of twisties, one after another, up and down, a technical road between the mountains for about 30 miles. The landscape changes a bit as you advance and a few miles later you are in the middle of a semidesert.

After this twisty section you then continue on a straight part of the road. A few more miles down the route and you find a military checkpoint... Don't worry about it, they are normally courteous people just looking for arm and drug smugglers.

After the control point the curves and the fun start again. As you get to "Peña Blanca" ("White Rock" in English) - by the way if you need gas, this is the place to stop and fill it up - you start climbing the mountains twist after twist.

I love this part: most of the ride you can clearly see three or four turns in front of you, and as it is a low traffic road, you can enjoy yourself taking the best lines (always keeping it in the safe side if you know what I mean!).

After climbing for a while you notice how things start to change and suddenly what were rocks, sand and cactus are now pine trees. It's beautiful.. You feel the change of temperature and then you reach "La Puerta del Cielo" (The Door of Heavens") the highest point in this ride.

We are now at about 9200 feet above sea level... The turns continue but now you are going downhill. Remember to adjust your riding to that fact. Unfortunately I have seen more than one forgetting about it that and paying the consequences.

As you start descending you ride through a small town called Pinal the Amoles... descend, turn turn, descend turn turn, descend turn turn... I love it! About 10 miles after Pinal de Amoles, the weather starts to change again and gets warmer. The vegetation also suffers a sudden transformation.

You keep devouring the road and you cannot help but getting marveled of the landscape around you... Just remember to keep your eyes on the road! Turn, turn... You are in the middle of the Sierra Gorda protected area and home of multiple plants and animals.

You continue descending till you reach Jalpan de Serra the most important town in the Sierra Gorda and place where Father Junipero Serra built one of his most important missions in the area before heading north to build the Missions in California. These missions were also named World Heritage by the Unesco in 2003.

In Jalpan you can find a couple of simple but nice hotels and some restaurants. Another possibility to spend the night is to ride a few more miles west to a place called Conca where you 'll find a hotel with Spa to relax from the day's ride and get ready for the rest of the trip.

After Jalpan our next stop and final destination is Xilitla, so you head north-east till you reach the state of San Luis Potosi.

A few miles after crossing the state limits in the middle of the mountains, at about 3,300 ft asl, in a rain forest of incredible vegetation you get to Xilitla.

This town was chosen by Sir Edward James, a surrealistic British artist - also noble and rich -, to spend the rest of his life. It is in this place he built a huge garden, a private zoo and a meditation place in the middle of the jungle. Its very difficult to describe it with words... Maybe the photos in this site can help: http://www.junglegossip.com/.

In Xilitla you can stay in the Castillo "The Castle" the house of former Sir Edward James' right hand and friend: Plutarco Gastelum. This exclusive Bed and Breakfast is unique in its kind and you can see, feel and breath the influence of the artist everywhere.

Another possibility to spend the night is to ride a bit more to the north and stay in Ciudad Valles an important city of San Luis Potosi state where you will find all kind of hotels and restaurants, night life etc.

My recommendation... stay at the Castillo, forget about your ride and enjoy for a whole day this Mexican Shangri La.

After spending the whole day in Xilitla prepare for a long ride back to Queretaro. For this one I like to leave early in the morning and keep, if possible, a fast pace. Turn, turn...

We are talking about many miles and literally hundreds of twisties... Once my wife counted them... She stopped when she was at the 500th and we hadn't arrived back to Queretaro City yet!

Whether interest rates are high or low or it’s the end of a model year with lots of incentives, motorcycle buyers tend to make the same mistakes when shopping for a motorcycle loan. Here are four common mistakes motorcycle buyers make with motorcycle loans.

Shopping for a motorcycle before shopping for a motorcycle loan. Many motorcycle buyers enter the showroom looking for a motorcycle before they determine how much money a motorcycle lender is willing to loan to them for the purchase of a motorcycle. There is no need to shop for a $20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, if a lender is only willing to provide a loan amount of $10,000.

Additionally, once motorcycle buyers enter the showroom slick salespeople often pressure them into motorcycle loans with much higher internet rates than they could have gotten had they shopped for a motorcycle loan at a bank, credit union or online. Salespeople do not like motorcycle buyers to leave the dealership to get a motorcycle loan. In the salespersons mind this only increases the chance of loosing a sale and commission. Therefore, salespeople frequently try for a quick sale which normally results in pushing motorcycle buyers to get motorcycle financing at the dealership.

The bottom-line is that it is always best to shop for a motorcycle loan before entering the showroom.

Diving into the unknown motorcycle loan. Motorcycle buyers often jump into motorcycle loans that they do not completely understand or may not be the best alternative for them. For instance, in today’s age manufacturers frequently run credit card motorcycle loan promotions on their private-label credit cards. But these promotions typically offer a low interest rate for a short term like 12 or 24 months and have a much higher interest rate after the short promotional term. On a credit card promotion if motorcycle buyers can not afford to pay off the loan during the short promotion period, then they are typically better taking a slightly higher interest rate on an installment motorcycle loan for a longer term.

Borrowing too much.

The most common mistake the first time motorcycle buyer makes in not having a clear sense of how much motorcycle they can afford. This is especially true for young motorcycle buyers who look to buy the top sport bikes that cost up to $10,000 - $15,000. What they fail to realize is that financing a $10,000 - $15,000 motorcycle can stretch them to thin, resulting in them having little cash to enjoy themselves and the motorcycling lifestyle. They may also have too little cash to pay for insurance, maintenance, registration or new accessories for their motorcycle.

Motorcycle Touring in the United States is unbelievably fun and many people who have toured Europe and the United States on a Motorcycle often say that they had more fun in the United States. We simply have more scenic highways, roads, forests, canyons and space to do it in than in Europe’s largest countries. Motorcycle touring in the United States is truly the epitome of freedom.

Often as one travels the United States you see folks on motorcycles with saddle packs and gear stopped for a break and when you talk to them you find they are touring our nation on motorcycles. Well at the price of fuel that is a good way to do things. Some of these people are from the United States and some are from other countries enjoying the Euro Strength against the Dollar and they are having a literal blast cruising the highways and back roads of America.

Why is Motorcycle Tourism so popular in the US? Because we have wide-open areas, it is safe and there is so much to see and do in this country that you can never run out of great roads to ride, places to see or things to do. So consider your next motorcycle touring adventure today.

As motorcycle street performance bike riders get more proficient they find them selves searching out more and more challenging highways to ride on. In fact eventually they find two or three and really like to let it all hang out and test their skills. As a young man living close to the Malibu Hills in California, I found myself bonsai’ing thru the canyons about three times a week. Eventually I met others doing the same. Being self-employed like a number of the high-performance riders, sometimes I would ride mid-week, evenings too, when there were little or no other cars on the road.

Indeed I would ride with full racing gear and literally become one with the road. Was what I was doing illegal? Well, I doubt that the speeds I was riding at would be considered anything less than a Two-Point Reckless Driving Ticket, although as I got better and more proficient, I certainly was not reckless driving, more like precision performance riding. Later, I took in on the track, grew up a little bit and raced against even better riders.

In doing all this, which I cannot say I condone it in hindsight and today there are more cars on the road and the bikes are even faster and more maneuverable, which is good and bad; in that you can have more control for safety, but are tempted to go much faster. Nevertheless more than once I had come around the corner and had my pulse and adrenaline catapult into hyperspace when there was debris on the highway, no where to go, no time to slow down and well you get the point.

My advice to younger riders is learn the fundamentals and although you should not play at this level too often, I know the reality of testosterone youth. Here is the deal; if you set up the turn and are doing everything right, you can still have things go wrong and make it thru.

So learn to do it right, take some SuperBike professional classes and take every turn seriously. This way if you end up hitting a rock you may hurt the bike, but you should be able to stay on it without crashing or taking a free fall on the cliff side, where no one will ever know you took a flying leap on a drop off and are resting on the other side of the canyon wall, ten feet from the bottom of the creek. The Helicopter Evacs do not need your business, nor do you want to spend the rest of your life in a wheel chair.

If you are considering building a custom bike, you'll need to determine whether to select a hard tail frame (also called a rigid frame), or a swing arm frame. Deciding on a frame is not to be taken lightly because there are some significant differences in the frame styles.

The hard tail frame is a single piece frame. The rear motorcycle wheel assembly attaches directly to the frame, as opposed to a soft tail frame which is made of two pieces of tubing connected at a pivot joint. That is the source of the nomenclature; the frame really does have a hard tail. The result is that there is no rear suspension to give that 'floating' feel to the ride.

Initially, all motorcycles were hard tails. The bent tubing frames allowed the rear hub to be attached through the one piece frame. That is still the way hard tails are put together today.

The Harley-Davidson Duo-Glide, released in 1958, gave riders the first option of purchasing a bike with rear suspension. Purists, however, still love the ride and feel of the hard tail frame.

Jesse James custom bike builder and owner of West Coast Chopper, in a recent documentary about the history or motorcycles, stated that he loves the hard tail ride because it allows the rider to truly become part of the road. There is no 'bounce' and the road vibrations are not absorbed by shocks, providing a hardcore sensation unlike the swing arm motorcycle frames.

Hard tail frames provide a somewhat rougher ride; people that experience back pain during long rides almost always avoid this frame style. Kidney-jarring jolts can result from hitting bumps. Yet in this modern day, most roads are relatively smooth.

Some people simply love the ride provided by the rigid hard tail frame. Others really hate the differences in ride. The bottom line is that you want to select the right frame for your motorcycle based on your personal needs, expectations, and planned use.

If you want a cross-country touring cycle, a hard tail may not the right choice be for you. If you want to build the ultimate custom show chopper, this frame style could be perfect for you. If you are young, have lots of stamina, are in great physical condition and don't mind a bit of kidney jolting, the hard frame is a viable option. However, if you want to ride from New York to California when you retire, most likely you'll be much happier riding a soft tail.

The choice of hard tail frame or soft tail frame is entirely a personal choice. Just remember, it takes a lot of work to change frames, so think through exactly what you expect from your motorcycle before making a decision about whether a hard tail frame is the best solution for your custom motorcycle.

Are you looking for women’s motorcycle helmets? Before you do your search, you should be aware of what makes them different from the men’s. First of all, most of women’s motorcycle helmets are made as slightly smaller than your average men’s motorcycle helmets. The designs are made to match the likings of the women to provide more appeal. But all of these should not take away the protection that such helmets should offer.

Women’s motorcycle helmets come in more attractive colors such as bright pink to polished purple. Women’s motorcycle helmets do not hinder any woman from trying to flaunt her femininity while wearing such headgear. In fact, sex appeal comes into consideration also when designing motorcycle helmets geared for women riders.

Looking for the right motorcycle helmet for women would require you to know about the proper sizing and fit. Men and women helmets follow different size measures to prevent one from mistaking the other. But when looking for the best size, nothing still beats fitting them personally before purchasing any helmet. There are some tips that you can follow in order to determine the proper motorcycle helmet fit for you.

First of all, you should try to make use of the manufacturer’s fitting chart to guide you with the sizes available. Find the corresponding helmet size categories that are made available to you. Put them as small, medium, large or extra large. When fitting a certain motorcycle helmet, tug at the chin straps outward in order widen the helmet and place it over your head. Once worn, keep in mind that it should fit snugly and comfortably without moving.

To determine the right fit for your motorcycle helmet, it should be resting tightly on your forehead. It should be tight enough that you will not be able to wedge your thumb between the helmet and your forehead. Once you have made the right fit, adjust and fasten the chinstrap. Do not allow it to restrain your neck.

Once you have the helmet fastened, give your head a little shake to make sure that the helmet doesn’t shift unnecessarily or fall off your head. Once doing that, try mounting your motorcycle in your riding position. Make sure that the top of the helmet won’t be affecting your field of vision while doing this. Along with this, you should also have an unhindered field of vision from both sides while mounting your motorcycle.

If you wear glasses, make sure that your helmet is able to accommodate your corrective eyewear and still fit comfortably. Try pressing down on the helmet and check if the helmet feels comfortable and is able to surround your head. Also check for added comfort, convenience and other safety features before you purchase and take that motorcycle for a ride.

I am constantly amazed at where bikers will spend money. I see fellow bikers spend thousands on chrome whatzits and whatnots but neglect one of the most important parts on their bike- the lowly air and oil filter. Simply assuming that all filters are the same, or the filter labeled by the bikes manufacturer is good enough, or worse yet, that the manufacturer's filters are the best you can get is a very risky mind-set.

Do the research. Check the brands. Good filters are not cheap. You get what you pay for. You would never use a product that would scratch or dull that fine chrome, but that is exactly what happens to engine components when you cheat on filters. No motorcycle manufacturer makes filters. Period. They buy them based on lowest bidder price and label them. They have no interest in quality and frankly, profit from your use of inferior filters.

As I said, do the research and check the brands. The best filters are made by companies that CARE about your bike. Purolator, Wix, K&N, Green and a few others have been in the filter business for years based on quality products. Others have also been in business for years and make a crap product (i.e. Fram) because they spend big money on advertising. When shopping for a filter, don't shop price, shop quality. Most companies even offer chrome filters to match the whatzits and whatnots you bolted on already!

When shopping for a certain item and material, the way to do it is to shop like a woman. Who else knows how to shop till they drop but women, right? Isn't it that husbands, partners, spouses and lovers often complain about the amount of time and the energy given to shopping by their women even for just one item they need?

But who else gets the most of their budget, and takes home the item of high grade quality at the least price possible? Women. Women are known to have the intuition for great sales and wonderful bargains just because they give time and effort in looking for the item at the best price.

Same thing with motorcycles. When you need to buy performance motorcycle parts accessories, we know that our local motorcycle parts store is a great place to begin with. Aside from being near our home, our familiarity with our local store will help reduce the time it takes to choose the accessory most suitable to our requirement.

However, as any woman would tell you, your local store may not have the item you need, or it may only have a limited number of stock items on hand. And worse of all, you might just be getting more than you bargained for just because you want the easy way out of shopping.

So the next step would be to go out and hop to stores that offer performance motorcycle parts accessories. Or you could try doing it online.

Shopping for performance motorcycle parts accessories online is the most ideal means of making sure you get the best selection and the best possible prices, all in the comforts of your home or office. You don't need to use fuel and get stuck in traffic just because you need to have the item for your precious motorcycle. With so many vendors in the wide world of the internet, from here to Timbuktu, chances are, you'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for in no time. Plus, internet retailers often ship to any location in the world. You just have to pay extra charges for the shipment costs. No worries. It's better than endure the traffic and pollution, and the migraine you're sure to have when you do it on foot and in every store you could find.

And just like a woman, you'll be able to shop till you drop; the only difference is you're doing it all over the state, country, and even the world- all in the comforts of your home or office.

And just like a woman, you'll definitely end up finding performance motorcycle parts accessories online that you never even knew was available in the market. There are a lot of items in the internet if you just know where to look. With the vast access of the internet, you'll be able to get a wide range of selection from which to choose from with just a click of your fingers.

Granny's Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.

Her thoughts on writing: "Writing gives me pleasure… pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine."

The minimoto carbon race reed is an easy to fit performance part which is designed to give optimum engine fuelling conditions providing large gains in acceleration and top speed. The standard reeds used in all air cooled Chinese minimotos are manufactured from stainless steel and are prone to flutter at high revs resulting in a loss of power and engine stuttering Following are the easy to follow instructions for fitting your performance carbon race reeds:-

Fitting of minimoto carbon race reeds

1) First of all remove the black air filter unit from the rear of the carburator by undoing and removing the two crosshead securing screws.

2) Ensure the petrol tap is turned OFF and remove the petrol pipe from the carburator by depressing the retaining clip and gently pulling clear.

3) Undo the knurled top of the carburator and lift off carefully, the throttle slide which is attached to the throttle cable will lift clear.

4) Then undo and remove the two Allen screws which go through the carburator body securing it to the engine, and lift the carb away.

5) Undo and remove the 4 Allen screws that retain the carburator manifold and reed block and lift clear.

6) The reed block has 2 crosshead screws which retain the reed (the standard reed being stainless and split). Undo the two crosshead screws then remove the standard stainless reed and replace with the carbon race reed. Note: To get more power you can remove the centre bar of the reed manifold by using a small saw (this is optional).

7) Now just reverse the procedure using thread locking compound on all screws to ensure they do not vibrate loose it.

Now experience and enjoy the power gains from your newly fitted carbon race reeds.

If you have ever watched Street Motorcycle Racing with Super Bike factory sponsor riding celebrities as the take corners at speeds of 160 plus miles per hour dragging their knees on the track, then you know how dangerous that sport can be. Imagine yourself as a factory sponsored rider on a crotch rocket in full gear and the training you would need.

Well, it just so happens I myself was in the same shoes as most “squids” when I signed up for Super Bike School many years back in California. At the time they were riding Ninja 600’s and nothing like today’s race bike technologies and believe me we were racing around afterwards in the novice class and were no where near those 160 speeds, especially not in the corners.

Learning to race motorcycles is fun as you come in to set up for the turns, your mind goes into slow motion, but it takes a while to get use to doing it in a fluid motion or even close to the finesse of the professional riders. One new technology on the horizon are the Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality. Imagine watching an image of a factory rider in front of you setting up the turn and executing it perfectly? You would match your bike to the holographic projection and attempt to mirror you actions to it.

By doing this you would be able to visualize it and then watch the video of yourself doing it for critique by the Super Bike coaches. Such an application for this technology could also prevent motorcycle accidents in traffic as you learned to maneuver your bike in all situations. I would recommend super bike school to all motorcycle riders, because these skills are important to avoiding all the idiot drivers out there. Think on this.

Tired of your old helmet? Fancy a spanking new cheap motorcycle helmet? Thought about buying one online but not sure what you’ll get? Fear not! Biker Mike to the rescue, that Champion of cheap motorcycle helmets, the doyen of shiny lids, the man who put the “Brain” in Brain Buckets, is here to help!

Well I may be getting a little carried away, but permit me to offer a few simple guidelines that will help make your online search for a cheap motorcycle helmet a whole lot easier…

Tip number one
Don’t buy online. Well not if it’s your first helmet anyway. It’s just too risky. The first motorcycle helmet you buy should definitely be purchased from a store or at least from some place you can try it on and (pay attention, this is the important bit) wear it for at least ten minutes. OK, I can already hear you guys who picked up the first helmet they saw, put it on, and fits you like a glove, blah, blah, blah. I guarantee for every man or woman like that there are probably half a dozen who bought a cheap motorcycle helmet without even taking it out of the box before they got home, and were out buying another motorcycle helmet that actually fitted them properly the following weekend! Let me repeat, if you are buying your first helmet, go to a reputable store, I promise you they will let you try the lids on before you buy. If they don’t, go to the next store. Find one that is comfortable, and stick with it, at least for a while. However once you’ve found one you are comfortable with take a look at…

Tip number two
You’ve found a motorcycle helmet that fits you that you are comfortable with. Now take a look online. You will probably find the exact same helmet, somewhere on the net, probably 20-30% cheaper. I don’t care what anyone says, thats a cheap motorcycle helmet! And just the job for a spare! Well you’ve got more that one pair of shoes haven’t you? And, particularly if you are a commuter, having a spare helmet makes sense doesn’t it? And you start to get a feel of what you can confidently buy online. Great! Now move on to …

Tip number three
Spend a weekend trying on as many different helmets as you can. Make a note of the styles and sizes. Remember the helmet sizing charts differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Go with a friend; take some digital photos of the helmets. Get as much information as you can. You are now prepared to really take advantage of the cheap motorcycle helmets available online with…

Tip number four
Check out the closeout deals available on motorcycle helmets. This is where you will find some unbelievable deals. Your favourite rider has moved teams? That’s a shame, but not if you want a fantastic helmet at a giveaway price. It is amazing how cheap motorcycle helmets can become just because they are painted in last seasons colours!

Ready to ride an electric scooter? Perhaps you’ve already tried it and are ready to buy one. Or maybe you’ve never ridden one but have received an electric scooter as a gift and must now learn how. In either case, you need to learn how to operate an electric scooter safely and responsibly. You don’t want to take your scooter out until you know what to do in most major scenarios that could spell trouble.

When you buy your scooter, look over the accompanying booklet or package directions that tell you how to operate it. You may be able to find helpful information on battery maintenance, air pressure for the tires, and other useful details. If not, visit the manufacturer’s website to see what type of guidelines are offered there for new scooter owners. You also can check at the store where your purchased the scooter to see if there are brochures or verbal suggestions that can help you get used to your new motorized equipment.

Always ride your scooter solo. Don’t try to take along a passenger, since the scooter isn’t made to carry more than one person at a time. Doing tricks like dragging an attached skate boarder or someone in a wagon isn’t a good idea, since the motor isn’t strong enough to handle this type of load and will most likely soon give out. Don’t try forcing a second or third person on the scooter for fun or tricks, as this will cause the driver to lose control and probably lead to an accident.

Follow prevailing scooter laws. If you don’t know what these are, get in touch with the Highway Patrol or Department of Transportation for information. The driver’s license bureau or local Automobile Association also are good sources for road laws and driving guidelines. You also might want to browse electric scooter chat rooms or discussion boards on the Internet to learn more about motorized scooter driving in general, along with scooter care and driver safety.

Use any pertinent driver safety equipment, like a helmet, for example, when you drive on public roads. Use the part of the road or sidewalk that you’re supposed to, and stay off the areas that are prohibited for scooter use. Avoid congested traffic areas if possible to prevent traffic snarls or increased risk. Don’t try to do show-off tricks like riding without hands to impress others. Make sure your scooter is in road condition when you take it out in public.

Electric scooters are just smaller versions of cars, in many ways, so it’s a good idea to become familiar with all the electric workings that make it run, since any of these could go wrong at any time. Keep the owner’s manual with you when using the scooter, along with personal identification information, and an insurance card, if pertinent. Treat your scooter with the care and respect it deserves to make sure you reach each destination safely.

In my post So You Want To Buy a Scooter I spoke a bit about the image factor.

The image factor is something that effects us in most areas of life and is connected with ego and the like. Think about it, as a husband I want to be the best husband I can be, but if I’m not that good, a great second best is that the image I project in public is that of a good husband. As a worker, I want to be the best in my field, but if I am not, then at least I can project that image. At times this is helpful and motivates me to actually be that which I am ‘pretending’ to be. But it can be unhelpful as well, as it creates a lie, projects a false me. How can I be known, really known, if that which I show to people is never the real deal. Where am I going with this, and how does it relate to helmets? Bear with me.

Last night I was being mocked for liking scooters by a motor bike rider. “Why spend $5000 on a scooter when you can get a great motor bike for that?” “Why would you want to sit up, when you can lie down, it looks so dorky?” “On a maxi scooter, is it not dangerous to be travelling that fast sitting up facing the wind?” and so on. I began my ‘peacemaker speech’ with, “Well, I don’t have a problem with motor bikes, in fact I can understand someone wanting to own a bike and a scooter, I think they have different purposes, give a different experience. I think it’s like a desert and a main meal, you don’t decide one from the other, you can choose to have both, and once you decide that then you decide what you want within each of these choices.” Maybe you agree, maybe you don’t. My motor bike instructor would agree, he just bought an Aprilia to go with a 600cc bike! (Just quietly he prefers the Aprilia)

But, here’s the helmet link…Deb, the person to whom I was chatting about this, made a comment regarding image and said something like, “even the 1/2 helmets and no safety gear is part of the image, smart, real smart!”

BANG - I was convicted. It was not the first time someone had made comments about the type of helmets worn predominantly by scooter riders, and I would have to say, many times I had said to myself, “Yes, the trendy 1/2 helmets are the way to go on a scooter because…because why? Because it goes with the image! The carefree, slightly retro (especially if you are on a Vespa/Lambretta restoration), sunshine, relaxed pace”, you get my drift? - Image!

Even now as I go to the Genuine Accessories webpage and look at the different models and styles available, I warm to the ones that fit “the image”, despite the known dangers and endless stories I hear about what a fall from a bike will do to an unprotected face.

The choice that my sister-in-law, Anne would choose is number one, the full face protection. She is a nurse and has had the pleasure of piecing back together many a face that has come ‘unstuck’ after an accident on a bike in which the driver or pillion was wearing a half helmet. Even last night at the party I went to, a couple pulled in on an Aprilia SR 50cc, both with full face, both with padded jackets and gloves. She happens to be a nurse, and made a comment about wanting to keep her nose on her face, not left behind on the road.

1. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.

2. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.

4. Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.

5. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.

7. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

8. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

9. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."

10. When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.