Welcome to the On the Road H.O.G. blog.
This blog will be a mix of riding tips, riding stories from the road, and, well, whatever we want it to be. The main purpose for these blogs is to have you, the members, interact with each other. So where this blog heads is up to you.
For our first On the Road blog, we thought we share tips we’ve received throughout the years about getting ready to ride. For many of us, winter is ending and riding season is beginning. For others, you’re lucky and get to ride all year round, but these tips will still be helpful. And for our members on the other side of the world (like Australia), your winter is just beginning so mark this page for when your spring rolls around in a few months and you’ll be out riding again.
Let’s start with gear to make sure you have the riding equipment you’ll need – not only for that first ride but for all your rides this year. Remember to ask yourself if you need to replace any of these items.
Helmet – Harley-Davidson strongly recommends the use of a motorcycle helmet that meets DOT requirements whenever you ride.
Eyewear – Windshields and fairings do a great job of keeping the wind off your body, but they can’t always protect your eyes from debris or bugs. Always wear approved protective eyewear or a helmet with a face shield. You may want to check out the new Harley-Davidson® Performance Eyewear with ForceFlex technology. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for details.
Jackets/Pants/Chaps – Durable outerwear can prevent a serious case of “road rash” in a minor spill or save your life in a major one. Look for high-quality leather items or special synthetic materials such as those used in the Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® FXRG® line of apparel.
Boots – Durable over-the-ankle footwear gives you better footing while stopped and protects your feet and ankles during a mishap.
Gloves – Experienced riders pack several pair on trips to accommodate a wide variety of weather conditions.
Weather Gear – Don’t leave home without it! Even for those short trips. It never fails: You pull out of the driveway, and five minutes later it’s raining, even when the weather forecaster says the sky is going to be clear. Keep a basic rainsuit packed at all times.
Before you take any ride, take time to perform a “T-CLOCS” inspection of your motorcycle. Here’s a brief overview:
T – Tires and Wheels. Inspect the wheel and rims for dents or cracks. Check the air pressure (see your owner’s manual for correct pressure and load rating). Check for sufficient tire tread.
C – Cables and controls. Check the controls and make sure they operate properly. Inspect the front and rear brakes, throttle, clutch and shifter. Squeeze the clutch and front brakes.
L – Lights. Check your headlights, direction signals, taillight and brake light every time you ride.
O – Oil and Fluids. Check you fuel supply and engine oil level according to the instructions in your owner’s manual.
C – Chassis. Inspect the chassis for cracks at the gussets and accessory mounts. Check the steering for smoothness by turning the handlebars through the full operating range.
S – Sidestand (kickstand). Check for cracks or bending in the metal, and make sure there’s enough tension in the spring to hold it up and out of the way when riding.
For complete T-CLOCs details, check the Bike Inspection article in the Plan Your Ride / Before The Road section of members.hog.com.
In the end, it’s the responsibility of each individual rider to make sure he or she is fully prepared for each journey. Consider the ideas here as starting points. And feel free to comment and post your own tips below. Where this blog heads next is up to you, the members. So if you have a topic you’d like to see, post it below. You never know. It may become our next topic.
