Видео

The legal age should be 21 like it was.

never heard a man talk so much without saying a thing

I just had a friend killed while riding a motorcycle 2 weeks ago, a car ran a stop sign so no amount of added situational awareness would have helped. I hadn't worn a helmet in years and now I'm wearing one again. I do find for myself I can hear and see just a little more with no helmet but those benefits aren't worth the price of not wearing one.

Amen to no drinking while riding. My local hangouts always have a Coke or a coffee ready for me when I come in from the road.

Agree w/the truck comment. Unfortunately, excessive speeding is a challenge on most highways in America. I've ridden from Ca and Carolinas and Midwest (N/W/E/S). So as much as I love cruise control...you have to throttle up and down constantly to avoid being boxed in. Staying clear of hazards (which today means other drivers) is fundamentally important. It's a mental challenge of chess out there. I also didn't hear you mention "time". I try to get through large cities in off hours - not rush hour. People late for work are just too aggressive and they don't care about motorcycles. So TIME OF DAY matters. Plan trips accordingly. So in DFW when I'm headed out of town I often leave at 05:30 before rush hour begins. Or wait until 09:00. One of the worst areas I've every ridden for Nuts....I-20 South of Dallas or I-45 from Woodlands to Downtown Houston or I-75 just North of Tampa/St Pete down to Naples, or I-95 from St Aug down to Stuart...then bad again Near Boca toward Miami. Montreal...holy cow. Ca...amazing. So you can't avoid it...just have patience and 10x normal awareness. NYC is a zoo. Chicago on 294...or 75 N of Detroit on F/Sat/Sun w/all the folks headed to lake homes - racing ! I can say this...and Kevin I'm sure is tired of me saying it....but 19k miles in Europe, riding everyday, and never once experienced what I do in N America. It's far far more dangerous here...so don't be a fool out there.

I take SPOT on every mountain climb, cycle race, hike, walk, boating, and YES Motorcycling. You can get extra insurance for evacuation everywhere in the world via helicopter. Best of all...my wife...when I'm cycling in another country can check her phone and know exactly where I'm at. When I used to climb mountains around the world...the whole family could stay informed and in more recent versions "in contact". SPOT is awesome, but I also use LAND and SEA on my motorcycles for theft...I can always see if my bike is stolen where it's and even if in other countries. I can go on a vacation and check my bike status at home from my phone. A bit like RING. Several yrs ago...a movie came out called I think 72hrs about a guy that went hiking and had to cut off his arm....as an avid hiker/climber I couldn't get past...how dumb this was. Had he had SPOT....w/in 30min he'd have had a full crew of people to help him...and helicopter service waiting. Don't go anywhere in the country / wilderness w/o SPOT.

Good o'l 7th street in Fort Worth. The problem isn't there Kevin...it's in another mile - actually downtown. Daily visitors staring at phones trying to figure out where they are downtown...is the real issue. 7th street doesn't have that much. People not realizing they are going the wrong way on a one way. I get my hair cut over there on 7th by the Montgomery Plaza......I live downtown...and I ride my motorcycle there all the time. Lastly we in Texas took out cameras...and Texas drivers have gotten way too aggressive. I walk my dog downtown, when I'm not at the Lake House in Granbury....and on my average walk (2x a day through all of downtown)...some non-downtown resident rides through a red light not once, but maybe 4-5 times on a 1 hour walk. Wkly I see people turn left from the middle lane...another huge hazard. Additionally state law is you CAN NOT enter a cross walk if any pedestrian is in it...yet cars are always looking for a way to squeeze in between walkers. Lastly, on the other end of bad motorcycles....motorcyclists daily blare their pipes through the city and ask you know Kevin...loud pipes don't save lives....loud pipers are about "Nepoleon syndrome". Look at me, hear my pipes, listen to my trashy music.... Nightly around 9:30 to 10:30 a group of motorcyclists come downtown and ride around at fast speeds doing wheelies. Amazing. Not 1 or 2, but 10-12 of them in a group...then they drag race down Lancaster usually from East to West. The intersection of Texas and Taylor...notice the circles in the middle of the 5 way intersection.....guess what they do in that circle nearly everynight....next to City Hall - which is now the police station. So bad behaviors are EVERYWHERE.

Good video, I completely agree with a windshield and a helmet for the highway/freeway. A couple of weeks ago we had a hot spell here in Illinois so I decided to take the windshield off my Yamaha 650 for relief while running errands in town. A few days later I had to run out to the motorcycle club to do some work. Although the ride was only 7 miles it reminded me of why I like windshields, the blast was horrible and couldn't wait to get home and put the windshield back on. The best advice I give myself for highway travel on 2-lanes are keeping an eye on the traffic around me, sudden vehicles pulling on the road and loose gravel where gravel roads meet with paved roads. On the interstate I like to keep an eye on the big truck traffic and what's coming up behind me. On the interstate you always have that caravan of speeding cars running a lot faster than everyone else and they can come up on you suddenly when least expected, especially when wanting to pass a semi-truck. I like two lanes for the connection you get when going through small towns and seem they are safer than interstates, but interstates are great for covering ground fast and have more services at hand.

We call bike riders " temporary earthlings"😅

The easiest roads to ride are first, the motorway, second open road, and hardest as Kevin has said, the urban area.

Which gear to use for slow maneovering? First or second gear

My most often used component of road strategy is to move to a more left lane, if possible, anytime I see more than 1 car coming down the on ramp at my right. Inevitably, one of the non-leading cars wants to accelerate around and past those who are ahead. No looking, no care, no signal, just selfishness. That car is your immediate threat.

Thank you Kevin, God bless you and your family.

I used to find that the full size foam ear plugs got uncomfortable very quickly under a helmet. I'd cut one plug diagonally across the thirds, giving me a shorter plug that would still seal. With the small end outward, that give me something to grasp for removal.

Thank you for this.

thats amazing

The saying goes only a bad mechanic blames their tools. The exception is a Harley Davidson. While I love my free (I overpaid) 1200C sportster Ive own 600 CC standards that rode and performed much better.

Thank Hollywood for stupid things that look dramatic Stopping distance is always going to be less with tires on pavement than sliding foot pegs and handle bars on pavement.

TBH in today's tech, there should be a rear cam that does a fisheye and feeds a central anti-glare screen that informs you. Still have mirrors in case tech breaks, but since most of the time tech works fine, this seems correct imo. My new Eliminator has these 4" round mirrors that I can't seem to see crap in. I don't think stock is good in this case.

Boredom. Unfortunately, Motorways/Highways are the fastest way to travel over distance because they are pretty damned straight. This is good for getting somewhere, but oh so boring. Mental awareness lasts for 20 minutes, then your brain *will* disengage and do something else. It is proven science - from the good old days when "Something interesting" was either; a. trying to eat us, b. something to eat, or c. >"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge<. After that it was put into, d. Probably a rock. When you're going through twisties or battling through traffic your brain is in constant alert mode, switching between finding the sexy little apex and identifying the threat of the deadly Priusaurs. When it's been 50 miles an you have seen exactly two trucks and a lost duck, your brain will hang up the Gon' Fishing sign and make shapes out of clouds or something. If you start feeling like you're checking out, like if you can't remember the last 10 miles of road or what junction you are at, then pull over and take a break. Do a mental game on your phone, talk to someone, jog up and down, whatever. Or even better, check your bike over *really* thoroughly to make give your brain something to do.

Fundamental safety management strategy…well done👍

If you're in one of the right-most lanes keep an eye out for those drivers that try to cross multiple lanes of traffic at the last few seconds in order to make their exit. Something to keep in mind as you approach freeway exits. Similarly with on-ramps .. watch for drivers quickly crossing multiple lanes of traffic as they enter the freeway.

just buy a new harley and ride for 5 years and then sell it and get a new one harley davidson doesn’t lose value you get big chunk back and then get a new one every 5 years or 8 if you don’t have the money yet just save you won’t regret it and if you don’t like harley davidsons then this doesn’t apply to you

Just adding a comment for support.

Hay Man.. Heard your storty about your eye awhile ago, it must of heart hurt? Having a hard time with my eyes, can't get no satisfaction" from the nhs.. Gonna complain for medical negligence.. cheers

Why do you call petrol "Gas" when its a liquid? Your highways are they like Motorways here in the UK. Obviously we do not have so much space. How do you deal with really long highway roads? the boredom must be hard on a long straight road. Here in the UK there seems to be a prejudice between bikers.. BmW and Ducati riders do not acknowledge me on my 98 Fazer.. Same with Harley 'rebals' out on the road.. However they are always nice enough when chatting at a bike shop or cafe.. Gotta do more social interaction.. Hate riding alone.. cheers Kev.. Always lopok forward to your vids in my in box.. Acually caught you early saturday mourning.. cheers

heck yeah fellah

One of my first highway experiences was having an 18 wheeler blow by me at 70-75 mph while I was accelerating onto a that highway. Really puts things into perspective for you. As for tickets you may get when trying to keep safe out there I'll quote Dan Dan the Fireman "it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6!" I think one of the first things they should say in any driving course is from Braveheart "first we must teach you to use this! (points to the kids head) Then we can teach you to use this" (points to sword but for our purposes insert a car or motorcycle) All to often I feel drivers turn their engines on and their brains off. Stay safe out there!

I agree with your recommendation about windscreen height. Another issue I have with tall windscreens is that they obstruct my vision ahead. I also don't like looking "through" a windscreen as it can distort what lies ahead.

Walmart parking lots are another set of skills

Hi Kevin, thank you for another great video. One thing I would add (or highlight) is to NOT let your fuel reserves get too low, or try to "push through" to the next town or petrol station. If you're taking regular breaks as you should be, it should be no trouble to top up the tank each time you stop. Much better than running out of fuel kilometres (or miles) before the next available fuel... especially in Australia! Cheers from Oz. 👍👍🇦🇺

I’m really digging this “Tips for riding…” series. It’s good stuff to consider.

I would like to make an argument for me. It’s easier for me to ride the motorcycle in town because I have a 2020 Honda super cub and the top speed is 50 to 55 on flat ground less if I’m going uphill faster if I’m going downhill so some highways have speed limits that are higher than 55 the one that I frequent the speed limit is 55 so I’m more or less can keep up with traffic and I just live in slow lane But when I’m in town and speed limits 30 35, even 40 I have no problem keeping up with traffic and that makes it easier for me to ride in town.

Skip to 7:40

For a few bikes, there is a lot of vibration transmitted up from the engine. It affects mobile phones attached to the bars and could get bad enough to affect your wrists. I haven't had that with any of the bikes I have ridden and nowardays my bikes have an electric motor, not a thumping engine. But there are bikes with that problem.

What kind of earplugs do you think are good? Do they allow you to maintain awareness to the traffic around you?

LOL! I agree with riding the same as the flow of traffic in or out of town. Here in PHX Metro the flow of traffic is usually at least 75 MPH in a 65 zone... so keep up or exceed just a bit.

Great topic

subscribed to Dave!

Two main rules for the highway - Always maintain a maximum following distance in front and behind, and don't speed. The only "flow of traffic" that is higher than the speed limit is in the left lanes and you can't maintain following distance in front and behind you in the left lanes. I say do most of your riding in the right lane with a comfortable buffer and let speeders go past you in the left lanes. No need whatsoever to keep up with them. I've ridden across the US several times and I love highway riding. But I never exceed the speed limit for anything more than a temporary pass. And yes, don't follow trucks. In 1998 a truck ahead of me blew a tire and it landed right in front of me at 60 MPH. Somehow I drove over it without wiping out.

I had a Victory Vision and I chose to get the tallest windshield even though I had the electric raising windshield. I did this because my commute back and forth to work was 1 hour and sometimes I would get behind trucks and they would kick up a lot of dust and even small stones at times and I would get it all thrown on to me and yes it would even get into my helmet even though I had a shield. I also liked the fact that the rain would skip right over the top of the windshield when I was riding and I could literally stay dry as long as I kept moving. Think about being caught in the rain for an hour unexpectedly and then not having this type of protection. Lastly even though the bike had heated grips and seats what the problem was if it got to be really cold out I wanted all the wind deflection I could actually get sometimes I would get caught in an area where it got down to as low as 45 degrees and at 65 Mi an hour it was brutal. I was so happy for my windshield and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If it got hot out I could always lower the shield and more air would come around and I had the deflectors on the sides lower to go ahead and bring in more air to cool me off on 90° days. Love the channel but consider there are other reasons why people do this not just because they're inexperienced I've been writing since I was a teenager and I'm 67 this year.

How about a clip talking about riding cool in hot weather? Here is how I ride in 100 degree plus, weather and never break a sweat: First a short sleeve Cotton Tee shirt (wet), then a polyester tee shirt long sleeve (wet), next a evaporating cooling vest (wet) and last a mesh riding jacket> When its 98-105 at 3pm it feels like 72-75 and last for about 2-3 hours. SO, at stops I just recharge with a bottle of water down the collar and one down the back of the neck. It works like a charm.

About the helmet issue: I wear a Shoei Neotech II. It has a top vent. The wind noise around the top vent is loud. I bought a slightly higher windscreen for my 2024 Road Glide, and the noise disappeared. But I created just the problem you warned about in the video where I have to sit up straight and crane my neck to see over the windscreen’s distorting top edge or I have to crouch down to see through the screen. I’m going to put the original windscreen back on and change to a Shoei full-faced helmet with no top vent. Also, I noticed that Earpeace has different grades of sound reduction: an adjustment there is also in order.

Here in Michigan the Interstates are nuts! Traffic in the right lane consists mainly of trucks and people entering and leaving the interstate, the typical speed being 70 mph (the speed limit). Traffic in the left lane of a two-lane highway is typically flowing at 80 mph, but you get a lot of folks traveling at much higher rates of speed. I promised myself that I wouldn’t get on the interstate until the bike was an extension of me and my skills were crisp and well-trained. I think I’m there. Speed doesn’t bother me the way it used to, either. But the speed differential and the people who routinely drive at 90 mph or faster lead me to conclude that there is a missing judgment factor in a lot of other drivers. So, call me a wuss, but in my days of commuting in a car on the interstate in Michigan, I have seen a lot of bizarre behavior. On the other hand, state highways that aren’t limited access are usually pretty sane, and even though I have to be more vigilant about intersections and wildlife, I don’t feel that the people around me are nearly as unsafe.

My windshield experiences differs greatly. Harley Softail with windshield cut to about 2" below eye level. I can see over the top and through it. The wind is diverted over my helmet perfectly. In fact I can put my hand on my helmet at cruising speed, then lift my hand just above the helmet before I feel the wind really hit my hand. I certainly don't have a bunch of turbulence hitting the back of my helmet, either. For me, there is no need to cut down the windshield and take the wind in the chest.

Exlant advice great video thanks for sharing

Do you have any videos about mirrors?

Carrying a hydration pack in a tail bag helps me a lot. Just stop anywhere and grab a drink.

As far as speed goes, I know a piece of advice I've been given is to go a little faster than the flow of traffic, so you have to worry less about cars behind you. I typically try to pass until I get to a relatively open section of road, and from there I can cruise. My main objective in any traffic is giving myself space from cars in *all directions*. I'd rather not be stuck in someone's blind spot or get caught in a pileup.

I ended up switching to a shorter windscreen on my ADV because of buffeting issues, and the clean air around my head now feels great. Even on the highways, I have no problem wearing my dirt helmet (Fox V1) with goggles and the peak removed, and with earplugs of course. It feels great in the summer and it's great in the city, since breathing is much easier than constantly flipping up my visor at stop lights