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A Few Clouds ~ |
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Hot Bikes and Cool Tips
Posted Thursday, July 2, at 8:53 AM
Boy was it hot out last week. Of course that brought out a lot of motorcycles. I like seeing motorcycles on the road. The more I see, the more hope I have that people will notice us more because of the sheer numbers. I love riding in hot weather. The breeze created at 55 or 60mph can keep you cool but the beer still tastes good when you stop.
Hot weather can also be taxing on your bike. It will age your leather quickly so park it in the shade if you can. Those black leather seats (or pleather seats for you sport bike riders -- just a jab in good fun guys -- no attacks please ☺) get really hot when you come out of the restaurant. Also your tire pressure will fluctuate. Remember, the volume of air in a bike tire is MUCH less that in a car tire and the affect of Boyle's law has a greater impact on the ideal gas equation. Sorry - every once in a while I like to justify the expense of school.
Another issue with heat is oil. If you don't use synthetic oil or blends in your bike, you may find that your oil breaks down quicker in hot weather and will need changed sooner than usual. Motorcycles run at high temps anyway and obviously use heavier oil which gets thinner as it gets hotter. This is why it's a good idea to warm up your bike before every ride to allow the oil to get thin enough to flow to the rockers above the heads. Many motors have failed due to high rpm's while they're cold. The changing viscosity of motorcycle oil in hot weather can cause premature thermal breakdown which is why you might want to consider a change after lots of riding in hot weather.
Something else to consider on bikes is the electric systems. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity which of course can cause condensation to form around connections. This is especially true when bringing a bike out of your relatively cool garage into the sweltering heat of the summer. If you do have problems, and you suspect the cause was condensation, try putting Vaseline around the connection once you have it repaired. This should keep any future condensation from forming on your fresh connection replacement. Oh and if you put rice in a perforated container in your saddle bags, you can keep them dry. Rice is a natural desiccant and your grandmother kept some in salt for a reason. No one likes clumpy salt.
Check your oil, tire pressure, exposed connections and park in the shade. Your girlfriend will be glad you did. And PLEASE stop wearing sandals when you ride. You know who you are.
Signals That Work ... Sometimes When vehicles first appeared on the streets, there were no traffic lights, traffic cops or any other form of intersection management. Horse-drawn carriages didn't need control since they moved fairly slow and horses rarely had leg-bender type accidents. Of course as vehicles became more prevalent, traffic cops were used standing at the busier intersections and managing the traffic flow. Traffic signals began being used in 1908 and by the 1930's, many were fully automated...
May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month It seems like I hear every spring where something bad ALMOST happened to someone on a motorcycle. I recently learned from a safety seminar that the most dangerous intersections for a motorcyclist are the ones in front of restaurants and gas stations. ...
Horton Hears a Hog I apologize to the Dr. Zeus fans, but you have to at least appreciate the alliteration. Yes folks, it's getting warmer and riding season is rapidly approaching. That means that along with the chirping birds you'll hear the beautiful sound of motorcycle exhaust. ...
From Humble Beginnings Somewhere in the 70's my dad brought home a 350 Honda. My brother and I both learned to ride it and had a lot of fun on it. It was orange with chrome fenders and the seat was like sitting on a board but we thought it was cool anyway. We only rode around the yard but took it on the road when our mother wasn't looking. Dad knew we were on the road, but kept up the façade and denied it for mom's peace of mind...
Are We Becoming Weak? Are We Becoming Weak???? "The rider wasn't wearing a helmet". Why are these six words so important to reporters? A motorcyclist goes down and these six words appear every time it can. It doesn't matter what kind of injuries are involved. For example, last week there was an accident in Martinsville where the motorcyclist was struck by another vehicle that violated the right of way of the motorcyclist. ...
Comfort Food When I was growing up my mother cooked dinner and we sat at the table and ate. My most memorable meal was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn and homemade yeast rolls. I always think of those days when I have that meal, even if I'm eating at KFC. ...
It Happens Every Spring I once read an article comparing motorcycles to a swarm of locusts that come around each year. We were called very noisy and unwanted. I took umbrage at this metaphor but perhaps I can use it here from a positive perspective. Some of you may think me premature in discussing spring but believe me, the bikers have already hit the roads. I myself rode to work very recently. Some of us believe that anything over 45 is riding weather...
No Helmet! -- The Rationale Those of you that know me know that I don't wear a helmet when I ride. My wife and son also choose not to wear a helmet when they ride. Most of the people I ride with also ride helmetless, but those that wear one are free from ridicule. That is, we don't lobby the helmet wearers to quit wearing their helmet. It's their choice and it's my choice. I have that choice because some very hard-working people fought to give it back to me...
Riding "The Dragon's Tail" In early spring of 2004 some friends of mine invited me to go with them to ride the "Dragon's Tail" in the Smokey Mountains. I had no idea what this was and I had been to the Smokies on numerous occasions. Once it was explained that there were 314 curves in 11 miles through a mountain pass, my interest was peaked...
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Dan Stockton is a Putnam County native and graduated Salutatorian from North Putnam High School. He earned his BA degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville. He is a co-author of research for the Indiana Academy of Science Journal and currently writes a column for "The Hoosier Motorcyclist". He is often seen at the Putnam County Playhouse and is an avid motorcyclist. He and his wife of 25 years have two children.
Hot topics Hot Bikes and Cool Tips(3 ~ 7:08 AM, Jul 9)
Signals That Work ... Sometimes
Are We Becoming Weak?
May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month
Horton Hears a Hog
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