Expert's Corner - Riding Tips

Defensive Riding Techniques for Urban Motorcyclists: Avoiding Common Hazards

By: AndrewT 27 March, 2026

Defensive Riding Techniques for Urban Motorcyclists: Avoiding Common Hazards Why Defensive Riding Matters in the City Urban environments are packed with unpredictable drivers, frequ...

Avoiding Edge Traps on a Motorcycle

By: AndrewT 23 October, 2025

It has recently come to my attention that edge traps are a serious problem for motorcycles and aren't well known about. Or they may be known to be a serious problem, but some riders don't know the name for them. Edge traps are essentially a chang...

How To Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain

By: AndrewT 09 October, 2025

Hold on for dear life. Not the words you want to hear when asking for tips on riding your motorcycle in the rain and if that were the case you shouldn't hit the roads anyway on two-wheels. Rain indeed offers a bigger challenge to motorcyclists...

7 Rules of the Road for Motorcycle Riders

By: AndrewT 29 August, 2025

Riding a motorcycle comes with its own set of rules and not the law enforcement type. Those who ride have unwritten rules to follow that keeps us riding another day and also serve as a safety measure for other drivers. We know all too often that...

Motorcycle Riding Tips for Beginners

By: AndrewT 31 July, 2025

Riding a motorcycle poses an inherently dangerous means of transportation which has only increased with all the multiple distractions in our modern world. Motorists have many diversions (other vehicles, passengers, radio, electronic devices, etc...

Avoiding numb hands when riding a motorcycle

How To Avoid Numb Hands When Riding Motorcycles

By: AndrewT 17 July, 2025

It hurts, but it doesn't. Actually, it just feels weird. Numb hands. A somewhat common occurrence for beginning motorcycle riders. It happens to veterans of the road but far less often and usually only because they forget proper riding techniq...

Motorcycle Passenger Safety Tips

By: AndrewT 12 July, 2025

Riding as a passenger, or pillion, on a motorcycle combines exhilaration with some fright, at least for some people. You can think of it like a roller coaster ride, in some respects. You have no control and you're simply along for the ride. Bu...

How To Ride a Motorcycle with a Passenger

By: AndrewT 11 July, 2025

Riding a motorcycle requires a bit of skill and adding a passenger makes it even more challenging. New riders may want to wait a while before attempting to ride two-up. There is a lot of liability involved in taking someone for a ride on a mot...

10 Tips for Riding Safely in Traffic

By: AndrewT 20 June, 2025

Those who have never thrown a leg over a motorcycle don't understand why we do. And those who do ride don't understand the few who rip down the road weaving in and out of traffic, hair blowing in the wind, without seemingly a care in the wor...

Links and information on how to get a motorcycle license in all 50 states

Motorcycle License Requirements by State

By: AndrewT 04 June, 2025

We get lots of questions but one of the most common comes from new riders and even those who move from one state to another looking to ride their motorcycle in compliance with state law. Motocycle license requirements vary by state, same with the ...

Does the Color of Motorcycle Riding Gear Matter?

By: AndrewT 29 May, 2025

The slick look of a shiny black motorcycle mounted by a rider decked out in all black certainly turns heads...if anyone can actually see the rider. Unfortunately, black and other dark colors blend in with the natural surroundings and at night co...

What Does it Mean to Ride Defensively?

By: AndrewT 23 May, 2025

Swerving in and out of traffic, tailgating, quickly accelerating and just mostly acting like a pariah on the road. All examples of offensive riding. You know the type. They annoy other drivers and make those of us who ride respectfully and wi...

How To Deal With Tailgaters

By: AndrewT 22 May, 2025

Whether you ride or drive little else gets the blood boiling than a tailgater. Tailgaters are annoying and dangerous and when encountered it often feels more like a personal slight. And, yes, while some tailgaters do so to get their message acro...

What Does It Mean to Hold Your Line?

By: AndrewT 20 May, 2025

"Hold your line" is a well-worn phrase that means different things to different people. "Hold the line" is a similar phrase which means the same thing when used in context. For most, hold your line simply means "stand your ground." You have prob...

difference between motorcycle pants and motorcycle jeans

Motorcycle Pants vs. Riding Jeans

By: AndrewT 17 May, 2025

Pants can be jeans and jeans are pants. Really, though, the two aren't the same. And when you add motorcycle to the description then you get two almost vastly different styles and uses. But, their purpose? Identical. Both riding pants and ridi...

7 Safety Tips for Motorcycle Group Riding

By: AndrewT 13 May, 2025

Group riding can be a fun and rewarding change in the usually solo sport of motorcycling. There are some things that we can do to keep a group ride safe and fun. As Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month continues we again recruit the help of Lorri C...

10 Tips for Riding Motorcycles Safely on the Street

By: AndrewT 07 May, 2025

The month of May tends to open the throttle on good weather which means the riding season has arrived. So, it certainly makes perfect sense for May to represent Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Motorcyclists should make safety their #1 prior...

The difference between DOT, Snell and ECE certified motorcycle helmets

Understanding Motorcycle Helmet Certification: DOT, Snell, and ECE Compared

By: AndrewT 06 February, 2025

For the decisionally paralyzed, it can be daunting to decide on a motorcycle helmet. In addition to all the brands, models and styles the most important factor also has options and varying degrees of understanding. Safety. The United States ...

Best Motorcycle Gear for Beginners

By: AndrewT 03 April, 2024

Learning how to ride doesn't even start your journey on two-wheels. First, you need to know what to wear. Not only because you look like a beginner if you ride around in jeans and a hoodie but wearing the right gear regardless of time spent in t...

Motorcycle Awareness Month

By: AndrewT 25 April, 2023

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month but we want to make the safety aspects of riding a year-round resolution. Our friends at Team Oregon have worked with us on writing articles in the past to help educate the motorcyclist on safe riding habits and ...

4 Reasons To Wear Motorcycle Riding Gear

4 Reasons You Wear Motorcycle Riding Gear

By: AndrewT 01 May, 2022

I rode alongside a guy on a motorcycle the other day while in my car (I know, I know) and noticed his footwear. Not exactly the type of riding shoe I'd wear. Was he a rider or one of those? A motorcyclist wears all the correct gear from head t...

The hazards of riding a motorcycle in the fall

Hazards of Motorcycle Riding in the Fall

By: AndrewT 20 August, 2021

Whoa, look out! Something you might say a lot during the fall months when you ride your motorcycle. Fall, or autumn as some prefer, brings a sometimes drastic change in weather patterns from the summer months and things start to, as the season...

Tips to buying the best motorcycle helmet

Picking the Best Motorcycle Helmet - A Buying Guide to Helmets

By: AndrewT 14 June, 2021

How To Pick the Right Motorcycle Helmet Welcome to one of life's greatest adventures. Whether you ride a motorcycle as a pleasure seeker or commuter, riding on two wheels is a phenomenal experience designed to give you years of enjoyment and s...

Motorcycle Helmet Size Guide - How To Measure & Fit The Right Helmet

By: JC Current 02 June, 2021

The most effective and important safety measure a motorcyclist can invest in is the helmet. No other single piece of motorcycle gear provides more protection, or more return on investment, in the event of a crash. This explains why a motor...

Handling sudden stops when riding a motorcycle

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Riders and Sudden Stops

By: AndrewT 21 May, 2021

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Problem 4: Riders and Sudden Stops The Problem - On multi-lane roads and highways, sudden slowdowns can be a problem for motorcyclists. Unprepared or unskilled riders end up plowing into stopped traffic from behin...

Blind spots that endanger motorcycle riders

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Other Drivers in Blind Spots

By: AndrewT 14 May, 2021

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Problem 3: Other Drivers in Blind Spots The Problem - There are two types of Ã¢Â€Âœblind spotsÃ¢Â€Â? in which other drivers can cause trouble for riders. One is the traditional,...

Motorcyclist approaching a curve in the road

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Riders in Curves

By: AndrewT 07 May, 2021

The Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month tips continue from Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program. Two articles cover problems caused by other drivers; the other two cover problems caused by riders themselves. All of them will raise your awareness an...

How to deal with intersections when riding a motorcycle

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Other Drivers at Intersections

By: AndrewT 30 April, 2021

For Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, we bring you four weeks of riding tips from Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program. Two articles cover problems caused by other drivers; the other two cover problems caused by riders themselves. All of them wi...

How To Become a Motorcycle Rider

By: Lowell Anderson 23 February, 2021

As far as I'm concerned, the best thing you can do during your time on this planet is ride a motorcycle. There's nothing like the feeling you get when you're on the road. If it has two wheels, I'm a happy man. I've been riding motorcycles for ma...

How to return to motorcycle riding after extended break

Returning to Motorcycle Riding

By: AndrewT 20 May, 2020

Sometimes life gets in the way and before long your motorcycle has gathered more dust than miles just by sitting in the garage. Weather, life events and even laziness all contribute to time off the bike but eventually, even if a few years have p...

10 things you should have when riding motorcycles

10 Things You Should Always Carry On a Motorcycle Ride

By: AndrewT 25 June, 2019

Always ride prepared. Whether for a quick trip to the store or a day long excursion along backcountry roads you never know what can happen. Therefore, even if just to avoid a delaying inconvenience, motorcyclists often carry along a set of suppl...

7 Tips to Transitioning from Day to Riding a Motorcycle at Night

By: AndrewT 21 June, 2019

When the sun sets, the road turns a bit harrowing for the motorcyclist. If you think drivers have a hard time seeing us in the day, just think how invisible we become at night. Unlike the driver who simply turns the headlights on, a rider likely...

should you take motorcycle riders training?

Even Veteran Riders Benefit from Taking a Motorcycle Safety Course

By: AndrewT 09 May, 2018

Approximately one out of 100 motorcycle riders crash every year. When it's your turn, what will you do? No one wants to crash and hitting the pavement or something else often becomes the elephant in the room no rider cares to talk about. But n...

How to avoid hitting a deer when riding your motorcycle

Avoiding Deer Accidents While Riding Your Motorcycle

By: AndrewT 19 September, 2014

On a beautiful Eastern Oregon August day, Matthew "Drat" Diestler enjoyed a nice afternoon ride with some friends when he noticed two deer standing off the road to his left, nearly hidden amongst a field of tall grass. He didn't see the two on t...

GoPro Mounting Tips & Tricks

By: JC Current 02 December, 2013

GoPro has changed action photography forever with their continually evolving HERO line of digital cameras. They may not have been the first to innovate this market segment, but they are far and away the most successful and most used today. To see ...

Motorcycle Packing List for Long Distance Riding

By: JC Current 19 November, 2013

Whether you ride a bag-equipped cruiser, an all-out adventure bike, or a classic tourer, it is very likely that one day you will take to the road for a long trip. Motorcycles have a way of tempting riders to chase the horizon. If you are smitte...

Rain gear guide for big and tall motorcycle riders

Big and Tall Motorcycle Rain Gear Buyers Guide

By: JC Current 30 October, 2013

The motorcycle rider must be concerned with many factors before mounting the bike, and among those is the weather, which is perhaps the most important of them all. As a rider operates the bike from an exposed position, everything that Mother Nat...

10 Essentials For Riding A Motorcycle At Night

By: JC Current 29 October, 2013

The night rider faces a different world. The streets are less crowded, the air is cooler, and the silence is almost deafening. In this environment, the motorcycle becomes more than mere vehicle - it is a lifeline, a fellow traveler, an escape po...

Reflective Gear Recommendations for Night Riding

By: JC Current 24 October, 2013

Riding a motorcycle at night can bring about a state of grace not possible during the daylight when the highways and streets of the world are choked with traffic. The open roads, empty corners and relative lack of the four-wheeled guided missile...

Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws in US and Canada

U.S. and Canadian Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws

By: JC Current 22 October, 2013

Motorcycle helmet laws vary significantly from state to state in the United States. They range from the simplest, requiring a helmet at all times, to those which only require lids for riders of a certain age or in specific circumstances. Knowing...

Defensive Riding Techniques for Urban Motorcyclists: Avoiding Common Hazards

Avoiding Edge Traps on a Motorcycle

How To Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain

Street Bike Riding Tips

Defensive Riding Techniques for Urban Motorcyclists: Avoiding Common Hazards

Avoiding Edge Traps on a Motorcycle

How To Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain

7 Rules of the Road for Motorcycle Riders

Motorcycle Riding Tips for Beginners

How To Avoid Numb Hands When Riding Motorcycles

Motorcycle Passenger Safety Tips

How To Ride a Motorcycle with a Passenger

10 Tips for Riding Safely in Traffic

Motorcycle License Requirements by State

Does the Color of Motorcycle Riding Gear Matter?

What Does it Mean to Ride Defensively?

How To Deal With Tailgaters

What Does It Mean to Hold Your Line?

Motorcycle Pants vs. Riding Jeans

7 Safety Tips for Motorcycle Group Riding

10 Tips for Riding Motorcycles Safely on the Street

Understanding Motorcycle Helmet Certification: DOT, Snell, and ECE Compared

Best Motorcycle Gear for Beginners

Motorcycle Awareness Month

4 Reasons You Wear Motorcycle Riding Gear

Hazards of Motorcycle Riding in the Fall

Picking the Best Motorcycle Helmet - A Buying Guide to Helmets

Motorcycle Helmet Size Guide - How To Measure & Fit The Right Helmet

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Riders and Sudden Stops

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Other Drivers in Blind Spots

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Riders in Curves

Motorcycle Safety Awareness: Other Drivers at Intersections

How To Become a Motorcycle Rider

Returning to Motorcycle Riding

10 Things You Should Always Carry On a Motorcycle Ride

7 Tips to Transitioning from Day to Riding a Motorcycle at Night

Even Veteran Riders Benefit from Taking a Motorcycle Safety Course

Avoiding Deer Accidents While Riding Your Motorcycle

GoPro Mounting Tips & Tricks

Motorcycle Packing List for Long Distance Riding

Big and Tall Motorcycle Rain Gear Buyers Guide

10 Essentials For Riding A Motorcycle At Night

Reflective Gear Recommendations for Night Riding

U.S. and Canadian Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws

Street Bike Photo Galleries

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