Tips & Tricks - Spring 2019
Posted by Tom Mehren on
An ongoing column filled with tips and tricks every motorcycle rider can use. Compiled by the editors at Sound RIDER!
Helmet Manufacture Date
Be careful when buying a helmet, especially if you want to do it on the internet. Look for the date of manufacture before you purchase. Most helmets have a life span of 5-7 years. If the helmet was manufactured 3 years ago, you're well down the road on life expectancy. Even sitting in a box for a period of time can cause the laminates and Styrofoam to break down.
Tracking tread depth
Every tire has its own personality and it’s no fun to find out it’s finished when you’re not near a shop. Use a simple tread depth gauge to measure and track your tread depth at 500-mile increments. This will better provide insight about when the tire will become toast, so you can plan ahead.
Click here to pick up a tread depth gauge and our handy grid for tracking tread depth.
The 50-mile rule
Some riders adopt the 50-mile rule. On the day of a leisure ride, before breakfast they like to get 50 miles in under their belt. The concept being that there will be less motorists on the roads leaving more open space to enjoy the ride. Then enjoy breakfast at your destination location.
ROK on
If you’re unhappy using bungee cords, consider switching to a better system, Rok Straps. A popular add-on among the sport touring and adventure crowd, the product has a low profile among cruiser and touring riders. The benefits of the straps is they keep the load they’re securing much more stable, they don’t have hooks to scratch your paint and body work and they seem to last forever.
Click here to see the entire line of ROK Straps.
Why photo chromatic lenses don’t work behind your visor
Transition lens sunglasses, aka photo chromatic or photochromic, are really nice when you’re out walking or boating. But they do nothing when you use them in a car or when you’re riding a motorcycle while wearing a full-face helmet. Why? Auto windshields and most motorcycle face shields are coated with a film of UV 400 to reduce the level of ultraviolet light getting to your eyes when you drive or ride. Transition lenses are triggered by ultraviolet light; thus, they won’t darken when auto wind shields and helmet visors are blocking it.
You’ll find a selection of interchangeable lens kits suitable for riding here.