All bike riders know the feeling of flying … of freedom … that a great ride brings. Imagine those feelings intensified by the sheer beauty or fascinating landscape of nature’s best wonders. To help you imagine (and maybe even go), we’ve chosen some of the best places in North America to take your motorcycle for a spin.
Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
10. Route 50, The George Washington Highway, West Virginia.
How do you feel about lots of twists and turns? What a crazy question … motorcycles were MADE for twists and turns.
Mountains … check. Rivers … check. Scenery … check.
On the George Washington Highway, you’ll ride just north of the beautiful Monongahela National Forest, and pass Cathedral State Park along the way too (which is a nice midway point stop).
And there’s an added bonus — once you’ve finished this adventure you are right there for two more of the East Coast’s best rides — Skyline Drive and The Blue Ridge Parkway!
A motorcycle ride in West Virginia. Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
9. Needles Highway, Black Hills, South Dakota
Needles highway is one of many roads you can take to get to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally each August, and it feels like it was designed just to be experienced on a bike.
Riders who have whisked their way along the roads to get there often find themselves going much, much slower once there, without even realizing it.
Who can blame them?
The surrounding scenery is stunning. The highway passes through two tunnels blasted through sheer granite walls — Iron Creek Tunnel and Needles Eye Tunnel. (The highway is named after the high granite "needles" it winds among.)
As for wildlife that might cause one to pause … how about bison up close? And you’ll get to see the actual spots where “the deer and the antelope play.” Really. Just like the song.
Needles Highway, Black Hills, South Dakota Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
8. Tail of the Dragon, Deal’s Gap, North Carolina
It takes quite a bit of confidence to claim to be America's number one motorcycle and sports car road, as the website for Tail of the Dragon does. But with 318 curves in 11 miles, and one bodacious name, who would quibble?
Bordering the southeastern portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ride can be spectacular.
If your tastes run to the macabre, check out the "Tree of Shame," a monument to the unfortunate souls who have crashed their bikes along the Tail of the Dragon. Bike parts are nailed to the tree and dangle from branches.
And just in case you need more testimony to its awesomeness, Tail of the Dragon is a Hollywood favorite … having been featured in movies and television shows, including The Fugitive and Top Gear.
Tail of the Dragon, Deal’s Gap, North Carolina Image Credit: wjklos/flickr
7. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway wanders through the Virginia countryside featuring a fair share of the local charms … like an old mill pond with a working millwheel, as well as fascinating Civil War battle sites.
The lower half runs from I-77 to Cherokee, NC.
There you’ll see the great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, with countless overlooks to view the beautiful Smokies.
Below Ashville, NC are some of the greatest mountain views in the eastern U.S.
One of the best parts of this road is the fact that the only trucks ever encountered are the few service truck that service the two service station/restaurant areas along the parkway.
Also, the 45 mph limit makes lends itself to enjoying the surrounding scenery as safely as possible.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
6. Beartooth Pass, Wyoming
Are you up for an adventure?
Of course you are. Well, this road will most definitely provide that.
It has more ups and downs that a soap opera marriage, very few guard rails and scenery you will never forget.
Everything from incredible mountains, dense forest, rivers (and even great rocks) … to snow and tundra.
If you had to construct a great bike ride, it would look a lot like Beartooth Pass.
Expect to see as many bikes on this road as cars.
And you know that feeling when a roller coaster plunges straight down, and your breath leaves you for a second? There’s a lot of that here, too.
Quite conveniently, San Juan Mountain Skyway is a loop, so you can start anywhere and take it either direction.
And if there is a more beautiful section of the Rocky Mountains, we haven’t seen it.
You’ll pass through historic mining towns, national parks and forests and world-class ski resort areas.
The San Juan Mountains are home to many of Colorado's elite group of 14,000 foot mountain peeks.
Want more?
Fortunate bikers who find themselves here will encounter red rock canyons, amazing river valleys, hot springs and majestic mountain peaks in a spot sometimes known as the “Switzerland of America.”
San Juan Mountain Skyway, Colorado Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
4. Tunnel of Trees Road, Michigan
The Tunnel of Trees Road is … not surprisingly … one of the great forest routes in North America.
It’s located about 35 miles from the very popular tourist stop, Mackinac Island, at the juncture of Michigan and Upper Peninsula Michigan.
You and your bike will hug the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan through a dense forest, one side offering glimpses of old summer cabin homes tucked back in the forest, while the other side brings a quick peek or two of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Ride north around the harbor to go through the town of Harbor Springs and up the coast … the Northern Michigan coastline is just spectacular.
Tunnel of Trees Road is perfect for a fall ride during the color change — try it in September for the very best vistas.
Tunnel of Trees Road, Michigan Image Credit: katerha/flickr
3. Cherohala Skyway, Tennessee
Between Knoxville and Chattanooga, the adventurous motorcyclist will find a ride like no other in North America.
Think Davy Crockett on a bike.
The Tellico River is well-known for trout fishing, and you are bound to see any number of canoes and kayaks along the waterway.
If you are looking for a pristine landscape to take you back to an earlier age, this is the ride for you.
But be warned … It can be desolate at night and extremely dangerous in the winter months. There are no facilities other than restrooms for the entire 40 miles.
In other words, just like Mr. Crockett would have liked it.
The town of Ozark lies between Little Rock and Fort Smith, and that’s where you’ll want to pick up this trail, so aptly named in the state that made Razorbacks famous.
The rugged and forested Boston Mountains region of the Ozark Mountains is the setting for this route, which often runs through a tunnel of foliage during spring, summer and fall.
Spring wildflowers and brilliant autumn colors make the route especially popular during those seasons. The route crosses the Mulberry River and the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail.
And you’ll encounter various hairpin turns, straightaways, and drop-offs where the cliffs seem to be right next to you.
Stop by the general store halfway through the run to get a pin proclaiming that you have ridden “The Arkansas Dragon.”
1. The Three Sisters (aka The Twisted Sisters), Texas
Three Sisters starts in Medina, TX, and offers a 131-mile experience that will change your image of the state of Texas (unless you’ve already taken the ride, of course, in which case it will reinforce that image).
Think Texas landscapes are flat and boring?
The Twisted Sisters beg to differ. Breeze along beside clear rivers, maneuver your way along very twisty mountain-like curves with the added attraction of real J.R. Ewing, Texas-style ranches all around you.
And if you’ve a mind to do some fishing between rides, the Nueces River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and the native guadalupe bass, along with a variety of panfish such as redbreast sunfish, rock bass, green sunfish and Rio Grande perch.
Better keep the bike handy, though … the river is home to lots of gators, too.
Motorcycle Money offers loans from $5,000-$35,000 for anything you need to ride.
Rumours have been flying all the way from Deutschland that BMW Motorrad is planning to take the Ducati Multistrada 1200 head on with the new BMW S1000F. Courtesy of German magazine Motorrad who have published a sketch of the motorcycle created and signed by Stefan Kraft of S. Kraft Design and Illustration, citing that BMW would be readying the S1000F by the end of this year for an early 2015 launch. Resembling a touring clone of the S1000RR albeit with symmetrical lights, the S1000F would be powered by the inline four cylinder engine of the S1000RR, but rather be detuned from the shattering 193 bhp figure of the Bavarian blaster to a more sedate 150 bhp. The altered state of tune would give the S1000F more road-friendly trait than the track oriented nature of the S1000RR.
Expect the new BMW S1000F to sport sophisticated set of electronics as the S1000RR viz. electronic ride-by-wire, suspension DDC (Dynamic Dumping Control System) that made its debut on the BMW HP4, traction control, ABS and a variety of engine maps considering it would be handling varied terrain just like the Ducati Multistrada. In fact it’s not only the Italian rival, but the new BMW S1000F might well lock horns with Japanese offerings such as the Suzuki VStrom which has recently been given technological upgrades to battle against the European counterparts in the touring segment.
The BMW S1000F sketch indeed does look neat and proportioned, and certainly more close to the production model than an outlandish concept design. Goes for saying “there is no smoke, without fire” and we hope that the S1000F makes its way to the real world. Reports did not mention any plans for launch ion any specific markets.
BMW S1000F Concept Bike Could Rival Ducati Multistrada
The 23rd annual worldwide Ride to Work Day is expected to be one of the largest-ever, according to Ride to Work, the non-profit organization that coordinates this annual event.
On Ride to Work Day a much higher number of America’s 8,000,000 cycles and scooters are ridden to work. Some estimates put the numbers of added riders at over 1,000,000. Across equal distances, commuting riders can reach their destinations more quickly -- in up to 20% less time than those using automobiles in some situations -- and motorcycles and scooters consume less resources per person per mile, and they take up less space on roads and in parking areas.
“Many people do not always appreciate the societally positive value of transportational riding, and some don't know there are also a few hidden deleterious ramifications from having almost everyone default to private autos. Cars are wonderful machines, and we love them, but the reasons to ride, when one can, go beyond stuff like energy or carbon footprints” states Andy Goldfine, an event organizer.
This Day is about more than traffic congestion, motorcycles and economics. Winston Churchill famously said: "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." Other thought-leaders have presented or expressed the same idea in different ways. It applies to things beyond our homes and buildings. It's about all technologies, including our mobility tools.
That's why riding and the annual Ride To Work Day event is important. This Day is not narrowly about encouraging the wider adoption of transportational riding…it's about increasing the understanding of -- and tolerance for -- those who choose this form of mobility, and about providing support and encouragement to those who like to ride in transportation-centric ways.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Touring Scooters
Touring scooters include the Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive, Yamaha T-Max 500, Piaggio BV500, Honda Silver Wing, and Vespa GTS 300.
Not all scooters are diminutive, lightweight, small-wheeled city runabouts. For those that crave highway speeds but don't want to worry about messing around with a clutch, touring scooters – or maxi scooters – offer an interesting alternative. Touring scooters are larger than their lower-displacement cousins and can feature engines ranging anywhere from 250cc to 650cc, but they still feature the step-through design common to all scooters. Some of these larger touring scooters are nearly as capable as a full-blown motorcycle, but can be less intimidating for newer riders. Touring scooters also offer the bonus of ample storage space and impressive fuel economy.
Do-It-Yourself ATV Upkeep and Considerations to save you time and money.
Take care of your tires, and your tires will take care of you. Those puppies take a lot of abuse — and that means maintenance is the name of the game.
Whether you’re riding a Continental Tire, Nexen or Maxxis set up, the game is pretty much the same. Take the time to learn how to care for your tires, what kind of traction your favorite activities need, and what to take with you in case things don’t go as planned.
Know Your Inflation Needs
1.) PSI can be tricky in ATVs. The tire itself will have an optimal PSI printed on the sidewall, but manufacturers may list another optimal tire pressure either on the vehicle or in the manual. The PSI on the tire is usually the maximum pressure allowed to avoid the danger of unseating the bead from the rim. The manufacturer’s pressure is more geared to the particulars of the vehicle — how it’s designed, what you’ll be doing on it, and what loads it will carry, according to Field and Stream.
Go for the manufacturer’s pressure as long as it doesn’t exceed the recommended pressure printed on the tire. You can go a little higher for high-speed riding or a little lower for mud riding, but don’t exceed that magic number on the sidewall.
Don’t overinflate: Too much pressure means only the center of the tire impacts the road — so the middle of the tire wears down too quickly while the rest is essentially unused. Too much pressure means you don’t get the best traction and are asking for an uncontrolled spinout in a bad situation.
Don’t under inflate: Having only a little pressure puts you in a different kind of danger. You can wind up wearing out the sidewall and outer tread, creating the best possible circumstances for rim bite and tire punctures. You may get a smoother ride at first, but you’re putting yourself in danger of costly repairs — not to mention a blowout at the wrong time can be costly.
Do inflate equally: If you don’t have the same PSI literally, you can put dangerous torque on the axles, making your whole vehicle work too hard like a test horse.
Equip Your Tires for Your Local Environment
2.) A few DIY adjustments can make your ATV feel like a custom ride designed just for the things you love:
Use tire studs: Multiple studs screwed into the outsides of a tire will clear snow better and increase grip. If a stud rips out, patch it with a tire plug.
Know your flats: If you’re getting holes in the center of your tire, add more pressure.
Save Money and Save Face
3.) Understand debeading and beading.
Carry a flat kit: Take tire plugs and a tire ball or two to keep yourself safe when you head for the backwoods … getting stuck miles from home is nobody’s idea of a good time. A little preparation can save a life — or at least your weekend — from disaster.
It’s time to pack the ATV and hit the woods: Or the trail, the desert or whatever your dream getaway, make sure you spend your time living it up, not sitting stranded in the back country praying for help.
Close your eyes and recall your last ride in heavy traffic. Imagine the vehicles surrounding you, crowding you, cutting you off. Imagine yourself monitoring closing speeds, reading street signs, noticing and anticipating traffic lights. Then imagine guessing what pedestrians will do, or how slippery that painted line might be. And those drivers with cell phones, newspapers or screaming kids to deal with...imagine trying to guess what they're going to do.
Riding in traffic can be a nightmare, especially for street-riding newcomers. Is it any wonder so many motorcyclists crash and burn while riding on congested streets? It's amazing how many different tasks motorcyclists deal with on a normal traffic-choked commute. Doing it successfully means processing a multitude of items at once and reacting correctly to each. Doing it wrong can mean roadkill--the human kind.Here are 15 smart strategies for dealing with traffic-choked streets.
Watch drivers' heads and mirrors
Watching the head movements of drivers through their windows and mirrors is an excellent way to anticipate sudden moves. Most drivers won't lunge left or right without first moving their heads one way or another (even if they don't check their mirrors).
Trust your mirrors, but not totally
Your bike's mirrors can be lifesavers, but they don't always tell the entire story even if they're adjusted properly. In traffic, always buttress your mirror-generated rear view with a glance over the appropriate shoulder. Do it quickly and you'll add an extra measure of rear-view and blind-spot knowledge to your info-gathering tasks.
Never get between a vehicle and an offramp
This sounds almost too simple, but drivers who decide to exit at the last minute kill plenty of riders each year. The simple rule, then, is to never position yourself between a vehicle and an offramp. Passing on the right is generally a no-no, but in this day and age it's sometimes necessary. So if you do it, do so between exits or cross-streets.
Cover your brakes
In traffic you must often react extra quickly, which means not fumbling for the brake lever or pedal. To minimize reach time, always keep a finger or two on the brake lever and your right toe close to the rear brake pedal. When that cell phone-yakking dorkus cuts across your path trying to get to the 7-Eleven for a burrito supreme, you'll be ready.
Be noticed
Make sure drivers and pedestrians can see you, even from a distance. Ride with your high beam on during the day (as a courtesy, turn it off when sitting behind someone at a light), and wear brightly colored gear, especially your helmet and jacket. Aerostich's Hi Vis yellow suits and jackets aren't just hugely conspicuous, they've also become fashionable, so now you don't have an excuse.
Be ready with the power
In traffic, ride in a gear lower than you normally would so your bike is ready to jump forward instantly if asked. (Not everyone rides open-class twins, after all.) Doing so gives you the option of leaping ahead instead of being limited to just using the brakes when that pickup suddenly moves over. The higher revs might also alert more cagers to your presence.
Traffic slowing? Stay left (or right)
When traffic slows suddenly, stay to the left or right of the car in front of you. This will give you an escape route if needed. It will also help keep you from becoming a hood ornament if the car behind you fails to stop in time. Once you've stopped, be ready--clutch in, your bike in gear and your eyes on the mirrors. You never know.
Practice the scan
Constantly scanning your entire environment while riding--from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to blind spots to your left and right rear--keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react. Dwelling on one area too long--watching only behind or in front of you, for instance--is just begging for trouble.
Left-turn treachery
When approaching an oncoming car that's stopped and about to turn left, be ready. Your brights should be on so the driver can see you (during the day), but don't rely on this to save you. Watch the car's wheels or the driver's hands on the steering wheel; if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, whichever seems best for the situation.
Study the surface
Add asphalt conditions to your scan. Be on the lookout for spilled oil, antifreeze or fuel; it'll usually show up as shiny pavement. Also keep an eye out for gravel and/or sand, which is usually more difficult to see. Use your sense of smell, too; often you can smell spilled diesel fuel before your tires discover how slippery the stuff is.
Ride in open zones
Use your bike's power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. In any grouping of vehicles there are always some gaps; find these and ride in them. Doing so will separate you from four-wheelers, give you additional room to maneuver and allow you to keep away from dangerous blind spots. And vary your speed. Riding along with the flow can make you invisible to other drivers, especially in heavy traffic.
Use that thumb
Get into the habit of canceling your turn signals often regardless of the traffic situation. A blinking signal might tell drivers waiting to pull into the road or turning left in front of you that you're about to turn when you aren't. So push that switch a few times each minute. Better to wear out the switch than eat a Hummer's hood, eh?
It's good to be thin
A huge advantage single-track vehicles have over four-wheelers is their ability to move left and right within a lane to enable the rider to see what's ahead. Whether you're looking to the side of the cars ahead or through their windshields, seeing what's coming can give you lots of extra time to react.
More than one way out
Yeah, motorcycles fall down. But they're also light, narrow and hugely maneuverable, so you might as well learn to exploit their strengths when things get ugly, right? So don't just brake hard in a hairball situation. There's almost always an escape route. Swerving into Mrs. Smith's front yard could be a lot better than centerpunching the Buick that turned left in front of you. Always have an escape route planned, and update it minute by minute.
Running interference
This one's easy, and we'll bet most of you already do it: Let larger vehicles run interference for you when negotiating intersections. If the bonehead coming toward you from the left or right is going to blow the light, better they hit the box van next to you, right? For the same reasons, don't lunge through an intersection as soon as the light turns green. Be patient, and use the vehicles next to you as cover.
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Known as the daddy of all motorcycles, Harley-Davidson motorcycles remain constant throughout the ages even with the varying styles and trends. Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson is recognized the world over as an icon of the American lifestyle and the American Dream. Here’s a list that takes you on a cruise on the most popular and glorious of the HDs.
Here are some of the most desirable Harleys you can find on the market today.
The 2010 Wide Glide is a Dyna Big Twin cycle with old-school chopper style. It isn’t that wide and it pulses more than it glides, but that doesn’t keep this Harley from being a hoot to scoot — even if its low-slung bodywork makes turning a slow, gradual phenomenon.
2. CVO Street Glide (2010)
Price: $30,999 Speed: 110 mph
Among Harley-Davidson’s 2010 limited-production models, the CVO Street Glide is a popular hot-rod model powered by a 110ci (1803 cc) V-Twin engine (the largest-displacement V-Twin engine offered by Harley-Davidson). This touring bike is loaded with sparkling chrome, electrifying paint and fresh custom-styling, and is limited to just 3,500 units.
3. XR 1200 (2009)
Price: $10,799 Speed: 100 mph
The 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Sportster is an amazing attention-getter designed to boost adrenalin levels on roads and highways around the world. Influenced by the design of the successful Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycles, the XR 1200 features top street performance and handling. It has the 1200 cc Evolution V Twin Engine.
4. VRSC V-Rod (2002) Price: $16,995
The 2002 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod motor produces an impressive 115 horsepower at 8,250 rpm — more than any other street motorcycle the company has ever produced. The 2002 V-Rod is the most award-winning motorcycle in Harley history. Limited to 11,000 units, this all-American cycle was inspired by Harley-Davidson’s drag racing heritage.
The first Harley-Davidson Two-Cam engine is made available to the public on the JD series motorcycles in 1928. Previously used only in racing applications by Harley-Davidson, the bike is capable of top speeds between 85 – 100 mph.
6. Model 5-D Twin (1909) Estimated price: $400,000
Debuted in 1909, Harley-Davidsons’ Model 5-D Twin motorcycle was the company’s first cycle to feature a twin-cylinder engine model. The 5-D was a 50 cubic-inch F-head design with magneto ignition and a Schebler carburetor. Like other Harley motorcycles of the time, it powered the rear wheel via a leather belt. Limited to just 27 Units, this 5-D at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is the sole surviving example.
Back in the sport’s heyday in the 1920s and ’30s, victories on the hills meant sales on the showroom floor, so it should come as no surprise that when Harley decided to build its first true factory hillclimber, the result was this DAH Hillclimber. This 1932 Harley DAH Hillclimber combines a rare 45 cubic-inch, overhead valve arrangement, never used on street models.
8. Elvis Presley’s Model KH (1956)
Speed: 65-70mph
This bike was the third Harley owned by Elvis, and was bought in the same year that “Heartbreak Hotel” launched him into superstardom. Elvis and his friend Fleming Horne were known to ride in the middle of the night for privacy. The bike was sold to Harley-Davidson by Horne in 1995 for an undisclosed amount, complete with documentation.
FX Super Glide with its reputation for being the Harley’s first “factory custom” bike, this 1,200cc monster came to the scene in the early 1970s. The “Sparkling America” cycle features red, white and blue paint and a unique “boattail” rear fender — all trademarks that say the “’70s”. It was sketched around the frame from the company’s Electra Glide with the chopper-style front end from the Sportster. They added a Euro-inspired fiberglass seat/tail section for a unique look, with wide, bold graphics – all trademarks that say the “’70s”.
This bike was a perfect example of Harley’s policy of evolution, rather than revolution, in developing its bikes. This machine had a motor rooted in the past, it also looked to the future with a feature that earned it the Electra Glide name: an electric starter. The Electra Glide lives into the present day and is now the gold standard for motorcycle touring in America.
This bike is the father of the modern American Harley. Not only did the engine influence all of the air-cooled twins that Harley-Davidson built after, but the styling cues have remained strong, such as the shape of the “teardrop” gas tank. More surprisingly, the first production year saw low numbers, partly because of trepidation on the part of company founders. Their concern was misplaced, and the original “Knucklehead” is now considered a jewel.
It’s believed that only about 20 “8-valves” racing cycles were built from roughly 1916 to 1923. There are thought to be only two authentic bikes left in existence, one of which is at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
In the first decade of Harley-Davidson’s existence, production never topped more than a few hundred motorcycles in a year. Even by 1908, annual Harley production was still under 500 bikes a year. Finding one available today is very rare, and finding an unrestored model is even more difficult. Finance your next motorcycle at www.motorcyclemoney.com/
Here are 10 immaculate and scenic places for you to ride your off road vehicle. Your favorite riding place may not be on this list, but don't be offended. This is not a snub to your favorite place these are just a few that we know of that are extravagant. Give us some feed back on your fvaorite place to ride, and we will make a blog solely for that riding place! Hopefully you get a chance to check out one of these spot. Enjoy!
Dirt Dog's ATV Trails TX
Almost 200 acres of curving, winding trails running thru the shaded sprawling parasol of live oak trees. Something for everyone with hills, jumps, water, mud and a 25-foot rain tunnel to drive thru to wash off the grime and the Texas heat. There are on-site concessions, ice, and cold drinks. ATV power wash facility and hot showers available. Visitors may also enjoy swimming at Splashway Water Park, just 5 minutes from Dirt Dog's. They also have ATVs for rent. Discount for customers at nearby motels, or enjoy a night in a Bed and Breakfast. Porta potties, and camping is free.
St. Joe State Park, MO
About one hour south of St. Louis, St. Joe is an excellent place for some serious wheeling. You can ride anything from a dune buggy to a 4-wheel truck there. It has tons of places to ride, from sand dunes to mud bogs. It's only $2.00 per ORV and there are motels, hotels and restaurants to stay multiple nights. On top of everything else it has to offer, St. Joe is close to another area said to be great for dirt bike / ATV riding, Mark Twain National Forest.
Moses Lake Sand Dunes/ORV Park, WA
Experience the fun and excitement of conquering a sand dune and more. The Grant County ORV area, one of the largest in the region, is located just four miles outside Moses Lake city limits in the sand dunes. Drive south on Division Street or take exit 174 off of I-90 and follow signs south. The sand dunes are located on the southern tip of Moses Lake, with rolling sand dunes and many great fishing and water skiing opportunities available. Some rustic camping is permitted.
The Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Ozark Nat'l has a lot of great ATV trails throughout its Ranger Districts. The areas are broken into six of these ‘Districts'. There are numbered county roads and numbered ATV trails. The riding terrain is mountainous and very rough on a lot of the paths, but a lot of fun to ride, and there is also a large number of great creeks to ride through. It possesses both public and private campgrounds for everyone's taste and convenience.
Wayne National Forest, OH
Many say this forest has some of the best riding they've ever seen. There are miles and miles of great trails, from the easiest to the most challenging. Some wicked straight-up-on rock drives and some cobblestone paths, but it's all fun. At $20.00 for a season pass, it is well worth it. Camp anywhere you like in the forest with your pass.
Ogemaw Sport and Trail, MI
A 175-acre campground with track, trails, and hills. Anything with wheels and a motor goes there: four wheelers, motorcycles, trucks, dune buggies, mini bike and jeeps. Also a kiddy track. Room for tents and RV's to boot.
Windrock Mountain, TN
250 miles of trails on 73,000 acres. Plenty of mud, rock, creeks and gorgeous scenery. Owned by Coal Creek Mining Co., the site is currently administered and maintained by the Windrock ATV club. Fee is $10.00 a day or $50.00 a year--a real bargain. Plenty of events each year make this Tennessee group of trails a must-ride.
Weyerhauser Properties, OK
Located in the direct southeast corner of Oklahoma, this area has lots of improved dirt roads, non-improved logging roads, trails, creeks, rivers, mountains, pine plantations, and hardwood bottoms. Property of the Weyerhauser Timber Corp., the land management has recently been turned over to the Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation. Some riders attest to driving a solid 100 miles on their bikes/ATVs without seeing anyone else. All roads are numbered and easy to follow.
Crooms Park, FL
Riders often have only one word to describe Crooms Park: awesome Set up for the explicit purpose of being a motorcycle park, it has 36,000 acres of land for you to go completely wild with your ride. It has sand dunes and trails and a great camping area to boot. It's in Brookesville, just 40 miles north of Tampa.
Katahdin Lodge, 10 miles north of Patten, Maine
Katahdin Lodge is located 10 miles north of Patten, Maine (19 miles from I-95 exit 264) on "Aroostook Scenic Highway" State Route #11 in Moro Plantation near Baxter State Park. We have groomed access to ITS #81 & #85 connecting to the more than 1,600 miles of maintained snowmobile trails in Aroostook County.
As of 2006 May became motorcycle safety awareness month. This month is used to educate motorists about the safety of riding a motorcycle on the road. Also, it educates other motorists about how to drive with motorcyclists on the road with them. Riding a motorcycle is riskier than driving a car. Maintaining control is much more difficult on two wheels than on four, and when crashes occur, motorcyclists are at greater risk of serious injury or death because they don't have an enclosed vehicle to protect them. Although motorcyclist deaths have fallen from their 2008 peak of more than 5,000, the 4,667 that occurred in 2012 were still more than double the number from 1997.
Ways to prevent injury
Helmets:
They are the most important piece of motorcycle safety equipment. Helmets decrease the severity of head injuries and the likelihood of death. The federal government estimates that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of dying in a crash by 37 percent. Un-helmeted riders are 3 times more likely than helmeted ones to sustain traumatic brain injuries in the event of a crash.
ABS Break system:
ABS prevents wheels from locking up, and that's crucial on a motorcycle. On a car, a lockup might result in a skid. On a motorcycle, it often means a serious fall. The rate of fatal crashes is 31 percent lower for motorcycles equipped with optional antilock brakes than for the same models without them.
The type of bike you ride can effect risk of injury:
Super-sport motorcycles have driver death rates about 4 times as high as that of cruisers or standards. These bikes are built on racing platforms, and their combination of light weight and high-horsepower engines means many models can quickly reach speeds of more than 160 miles per hour. Riders of sport motorcycles, which are typically not quite as powerful and lightweight as supersports, have a driver death rate about twice that of cruisers or standards.
Best Ways To Avoid Accidents and Injury
Don't drink and drive!!!
Wear a helmet and proper riding gear
Be aware that not every motorist will abide by the rules so it's your job to watch for them, be courteous
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