8 Tips to Consider Prior To Buying A New Motorcycle

You have decided you want to buy a motorcycle. You have done all the research that Google could possibly house. You have received your permit or license. Maybe you even did a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) class or two. Perhaps you even did a few demo rides at some of the dealerships or local motorcycle rallies. You have narrowed down the bikes to just one. You go to the dealership and you realize you did the wrong type of research. You are shocked by the financial aspect and perhaps slapped with pre-paid maintenance intervals, extended warranty and perhaps even GAP insurance. You are side struck by the thought that you will soon have the motorcycle of your dreams. You did not think about the loan process, or about adding parts, accessories or gear to that amount. You walk out, ride into the sunset, wake up the next day saying the word Fuck a million times.

Maybe that has happened to you? Maybe it has not happened to you yet. Nonetheless, let's talk about this stuff, because no one else does!

1. What the hell is GAP insurance or protection?

• Per Nationwide Insurance: Gap insurance is an optional insurance coverage for newer cars (in this case motorcycles) that can be added to your collision insurance policy. It may pay the difference between the balance of a lease or loan due on a vehicle and what your insurance company pays if the car (in this case motorcycle) is considered a covered total loss. 
• Meaning your negative equity is covered and that is actually what GAP insurance is. 

2. Do you need GAP insurance?

• If you plan on keeping your motorcycle until the end of eternity and driving like a made man, "maybe". 
• If you are buying a bike that will probably depreciate pretty fast, like a one off design that might cease to exist. 
• If it makes you sleep better at night. 

3. Do you need to pre-pay for future service maintenance intervals?

• If you do not have a clue how to even change a light bulb, let alone your oil, then yes! 
• You will save money paying upfront for the services. 
• However, if you do know how to work on your own bike, or have some basic knowledge and commonsense, then save your money. 

4. Should you buy an extended warranty?

• Honestly, with the way manufactures are mass producing bikes and cars these days, it might not be a bad investment. Especially if you have no idea how fix or replace bad parts. 
• Again, if you have basic knowledge on how to fix or repair things, you might be able to save some money here. 

5. If the salesman/woman asks you if you would like to upgrade your Wheels or       rims to spokes, say NO. Why? Well I'll tell you why....

• First off, they suck to clean. It is a nightmare to keep spokes clean. Unless you never ride your bike, or sit there meticulously wiping it off every single time you use it, then don't even think about them.
• Second, you will have to buy tubes for the rest of your life! In addition to tubes, you have to buy special balancing weights for spokes. The standard box type just won't work on most spoke rims because they will have a curvature to them. If your spoke rim actually has a flat outer rim then you are one lucky bastard. The special balancing weights for spoke rims cost more money. Tubes can run you all sorts of different prices depending on the brand. 
• Third, they are an expensive upgrade long term, seriously consider a standard rim. If the bike you are buying come with spoke rims as an original equipment feature, consider upgrading to non-spoke. 
• Forth, thank me later! 

6. Do you really need an exhaust upgrade or even a taller windscreen?

• If you have never rode a motorcycle before, than you could probably save some upfront cash by skipping the exhaust and just getting a taller windscreen. You are more likely to take a trip on a highway for an hour or more than you are entering a Moto GP event where performance matters. 
• If you don't think you will ever have money for an exhaust upgrade, then use this time to add it to your bike loan. 
• If you are a Sunday rider and will never go on the highway and don't care about more rpms, than roll with stock and smile at your lower payments.

7. Do you really need to buy a helmet and motorcycle safety gear?

• YES! Motorcycle gear is expensive. Even the cheapest stuff on the market will run you a few hundred bucks. There are helmets, pants, jackets and gloves you can choose from for under $100 bucks a piece. There are also helmets, pants, jackets and gloves you can choose from that can run you about $400 a piece or more. Do your research! RevZilla has a ton of educational YouTube videos on gear. Start there! 
• If the dealership has a good selection of helmets, might as well roll that at least into your loan. Get a good helmet! If they have gear from at least First Gear or Joe Rocket, then invest. If they have stuff from Alpinestars or Rev'it, great! Do it! If the dealer just has Harley Davidson gear, or Yamaha branded gear, etc, etc...read the labels? What are you getting? Educate yourself before you buy!

8. Do you really need to buy a tire and wheel warranty?

• First off, ask what this means? All dealerships create their own types of warranties, so ask questions, 
• Ask, if it covers a nail, or dent in the rim due to a rock or curb. Ask as many questions as you can possibly can come up with.
• I have heard of many dealerships trying to avoid warranty claims. You can read about it on a ton of different forums.  
• At the end of the day, even tire manufactures do not give you coverage on a tire if you get a nail in it. 
• This is one of those grey area warranties with very few success cases. So again, ask questions! Make a list of questions that you find online and ask them all! 

I hope these 8 tips help someone out. Looking back at my experience, these are things I wish I had known, or asked more questions about.

Firstgear Heated Gear Review

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of trying out the Firstgear heated gear line. I have to say it was a love hate relationship. Here's what I used before I go any further:

• Women's Heated Waterproof-Breathable Jacket
• Heated Pant Liner
• Heated Socks (actually made by Warm&Safe)
• Glove Liners (I believe are also made by Warm&Safe)
• Heat-Troller (made by Warm&Safe)

As you can see I was prepared for a snow storm. Well, at least for a very chilly ride in the 30s down the Atlantic coast from PA to NC. I had tested the jacket with the glove liners a day before my trip to make sure all worked well. The following day I tested the pants and the socks, again all was well. When I started on my journey to North Carolina. I was approaching Dover, DE when the temperature began to drop. I hit the on button and WALLA.....nothing! Nothing at all! I realized the heat-troller I had didn't have enough wattage to run the whole darn suit. I was beyond pissed at that point. At the same time, as cold as I was, I really wasn't. 

(My eyes were closed, but here's a pic of the jacket)

Turns out the gear, even though not advertised, does help with wind protection. I honestly was amazed. When I pulled over to get some gas, I ended up disconnecting the bottom later and just keeping my core warm. Little did I know the jacket would become severally uncomfortable. There is heat around the collar and honestly there really doesn't need to be heat around the collar. I felt like I was going to burn my neck. The heat was so bad I ended up pulling over again and connect the bottom half instead. Boy was I a fool for that one! The pants in the thigh area were getting so freaking hot that it literally felt like someone was searing my leg with branding iron. I think if I had left the pants on I would have had third degree burns. The socks and the gloves were really the best part of the suit. The jacket being worn as a stand alone waterproof light weight riding jacket is pretty awesome too. Just not with the heat. Also, the wires, oh man the wires! There were so many wires in the jacket that they basically took up one pocket. Even in the pants the wires were annoying. The gloves and socks had a different type of technology. Seriously Firstgear or Warm&Safe (which ever you are) you need to work on the technology. Honestly, I would only recommend the glove liners.
What brand do you use? Love/hate? Let's here what you have to say about heated gear?

First week of work at Revzilla.com

Hope everyone has been having a great March. Spring for the most part is here, besides the snow flurries and the 30 degree temps that seem to linger here and there. At this point, I'm hoping for summer to arrive early. Last week I embarked on a new adventure. A new chapter in my life, if you will. I accepted a position at one of the largest motorcycle eCommerce sites on the web, RevZilla.com. (note: Soon to be #1)

For those of you not familiar with Revzilla, they sell tons of motorcycle gear and accessories. They have a huge project this year that will expand their business into the V-Twin market. Previously, Revzilla has proven to be the one stop shop for ADV, Dirt and Sports bikes, not to mention Snow mobiles. I'm sure they won't let us down when it comes to us fellow cruiser riders. Revzilla, in my opinion, has the best user website out there. Therefore, if you're a V-Twin rider start exploring their website now and familiarizing yourself with the awesome ZillaCash program. Seriously, free shipping over $39 bucks and you earn cash for ever $100 you spend...I don't know about you, but that's a no brainier!

My first week has been jam packed with training. It has been loads of fun and information overload all at the same time. Coming from a "cruiser" background, many of us don't really know much about all the brands of gear out there. Mainly because that gear is never marketed to our segment of riders. Harley on the other hand, markets to me and hence that's what's in my closet! Since women riders have really made a come up in motorcycling, I feel that gear (protective) has become more of an important thing. I'm really excited to learn more on all these brands that offer protective gear, in order to pass on that education to my V-Twin community.

I'll keep you guys posted on how things continue to develop. I'm off to enjoy the rest of Sunday with family. Remember to check out the site and if you have any questions please comment below or on my G+ profile. I'll leave you with the Harlem Shake video. It's hysterical! (yes, this is where I work now)

Live to Ride, Ride to Live!