Part 5: Things to Avoid

Not Wearing Enough Gear

[True Story] Its mid-day and someone just called you to see if you could make a baseball game in 40 minutes. I had just woken up and was drooling all over myself. I had 5 minutes to get ready, shower, check  the weather, and put clothes on.  I naturally put on a long pair of jeans, a flannel, and my moto jacket just incase we were there late at night. This baseball game turned out to be a 19 inning game, the longest of the season a total of 5+ hours and a brisk 65 degrees when we left. If i had not warn warm enough gear i would have been in a problem riding back.

When you ride if you do not keep your body warm you become a count down to an error that will cost you your life. Remember when you are too cold your body becomes slow to react and given the right conditions hypothermia is a real concern, always protect your body.

Shiny Things

Something to invest in early is a tinted visor for your helmet. While riding on the freeway there is no traffic, you are docile and enjoying the the freedom of speed and wind. Without a tinted visor something shiny can cause a glare across your eyes long enough to distract you from anything around you. Now imagine that you are lane splitting in heavy traffic at 35 mph and a glare happens right in front of your eyes... Bam its over.

Shadowing A More Experienced Rider

This one is a pure judgement call. The reasoning behind this is very simple the other rider has more skill at stopping, leaning in a turn, downshifting in a turn and making all around better decisions and maneuvers. Always ride within your limits   

Everything Is Your Fault

This one is rough but necessary. Here are some things riders should take accountability for.

- Reckless drivers

- Unpaved or trash roads

- Freshly painted lines

- Car not stopping fast enough behind you

- Car in front stopping too quickly

- Taking a corner too fast and you sway into another lane

While you have no control over most of these events you have the control to maneuver out of them. If you crash it is because you were not fully prepared and if someone crashes into you again you were not prepared to ride.

Ignore Angry Drivers

Don't take the time to flip the bird or yell at another car for driving recklessly. Just move on and remember that your vehicle is much smaller.

Accept The Consequences Of Racing

Yes racing is fun and yes you will destroy most cars. When you race you are taking your entire life and holding it in your hands. The percentile also increases of you dying because of the extra risk you are taking. While i will not say don't race i will say get some experience riding first before you race.

Passenger Riding

Just dont do it. Wait until you have at least a years riding worth of experience.

Alcohol

This is simple. just dont drink, dont use the two beer rule because you are on two wheels not four. Any lenience you have with car does not exist with a motorcycle.

Beginning 2 Ride was a side project that became a passion once i started. I made these to show people how easy  and dangerous riding can be. Just like everything if you use your brain and are mature about it nothing is hard.

Always Ride Safe! & GOD bless

-Daniel

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Part 5: Things To Avoid

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Safety Is Always Number One

This is the most IMPORTANT part of being a motorcycle rider. Prevention is always the best medicine and these steps should never be overlooked especially when going on longer rides. The standard by Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) for remembering your safety checklist is T-CLOCS. While this procedure goes over the majority of safety I will be including some other things I believe should be checked as well.

T-CLOCS

This stands for tires, controls, lights, oils, chassis, and stands.

Tires

Penny guage

Do not be this stupid

While on a car tires might be taken for granted sometimes running them down to almost no thread. On a motorcycle taking anything for granted could cost you your life. Checking the thread on your tires starts with the thread-wear indicator in the grooves. Make sure that when these indicators become flush with the tire that an appointment is made to get a new pair of tires. If it is hard to determine with those marks get a penny and put it with Lincoln's head down. If the thread on the tire is less than the space between Lincoln's head and the edge of the penny you need new tires. Check the air pressure with a pressure gauge making sure that the correct amount of air is ingested by the tire. Give a good pull on the rims and the tire itself to make sure that nothing is loose. and finally look for any cracks or bulges on the tires and rims.

Controls

The controls of a motorcycle make things like braking and gear shifting easy so always show them some love. All pedals and levers should work smoothly and show no signs of failure. There should be no leakage, tears, abrasions, bumps, or even signs of deterioration. The throttle should also snap back and close when pressure is lifted off of it.

Lights

Being visible sometimes is all you need to be safe on the road. Turn your motorcycle on and see if it has any trouble starting. Check the battery for signs of age and leakage. Once the battery is okay honk the horn as well. Next test the Headlamps and high beams, turn signals, and brake lights. Make sure reflectors are crack free and no exposed wires.

Oils and Fluids

Oils and fluids are mandatory for combustion engines. Oil keeps the engine lubed up so less friction occurs on the various moving parts and fluids make sure all other device perform with utmost precision. The things to check here are the sight glass on the engine, the coolant reservoir, and brake sight glass.

This is why you check fluids

Chassis

Suspension 

The main thing holding your bike together is the frame and suspension otherwise know as the chassis. Out of all tests this step should never be skipped because it is the most important. Inspect the frame of the bike for corroding paint, cracks, and damage. Check the bolts to make sure they are fastened. The front and rear suspension should move freely and give no resistance and while you are here check the coils for any damage. The exhaust should also be firmly attached and show no signs of leakage either. Another good idea is to check the sprockets for wear.

Stands

Most bikes have a center and side stand. Which ever one your bike has make sure to check it for damage and looseness. Check the springs and put them down to make sure they still work. This falling down at freeway speeds is costly. These are the recommended safety inspection items before you go on a ride. I personally believe there are some other things you should check as well, check them out below.

Mirrors

Pretty simple right? Make sure these are adjusted before you ride. It is very easy to only see elbow when on the road so make sure there is enough clearance in the mirror to see traffic as well.

Helmet

Make sure the strap at the bottom is fastened and if there is bluetooth or other electronics in the helmet turn them on before your take off. Again you don't want distractions while you ride.

Jackets, Protection Gear And The Rider

Make sure all gear is fastened, belted, zipped, and Velcroed. You don't want it coming off in the middle of a ride. Finally make sure you are ready to ride and fully aware on the road do not make excuses like its only a 10 minute ride, 10 minutes could be your last. 

While these things are extra they protect you the rider and are just as important as checking the bike. All inspections should be performed on a regular basis so it becomes more habit instead of hassle. Get to know your bike inside and out because if things are missing you want to make sure they get replaced.

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Part 5: Things To Avoid

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

The Road Needs Company

You have the gear and the M1 on your license now its time for the motorcycle. There are a couple of key factors in choosing a motorcycle. I personally recommend buying a used motorcycle because there are so many things that you will learn with owning used.

A beginner rider after they have finished the motorcycle training will feel a little shaky about getting a bike if they are in the right mindset, remember a motorcycle too powerful is as good as death for some people.

A New Riders Ability

A really easy mistake to make when choosing a bike is one too powerful.. Handling at high speeds may give the bike more stability but your chances of fixing an error becomes less than zero. Crotch rockets or sport bikes are considered bad for beginners especially 600cc’s and above. Learning on something smaller you can control will make you a better rider and more appreciative when you move up to a 600cc bike.

What Will The Bike Be Used For

What kind of riding do you expect to be doing. Is your daily commute long do you only ride in the summer months or is this an economical choice. There are so many different sizes and styles of motorcycles that it is essential that you understand what you will need before you pick something that becomes a giant eyesore.

Trying Out The Motorcycle

Once you find the bike that just calls out to you there are a couple key things that need to be considered. Bikes come in so many different shapes and sizes. The first thing to do is get the bike centered and put your feet on the floor. The point of this is to make sure you can plant your feet firmly on the floor to stabilize the bike when not moving. See if the owner will let you take the bike for a spin. Once the bike is mounted and your safety gear is properly fastened take flight. Make sure that the throttle does not strain your wrists. If you're looking for more comfort while riding maybe a cruiser’s lounging style is what you need. The main idea is to find something that fits your body.

New Vs Used

Now for the elephant in the room why a used bike and not a new one. let's first go over the pros of buying a new bike. A new bike virtually has no maintenance besides a 600 mile check and lubing the chain. There are no kinks to work out or adjust and if there are the new bike will come with a warranty. Dont forget the break in period. During the beginning of ownership the ride will be at slower speeds and not really a true learning experience. That is why I personally recommend a used bike. There are a lot of advantages that come with a brand new motorcycle. For starters it has a higher trade in value and you could possibly trade it in once you feel you are ready to upgrade to a 600cc bike.

A used bike on the other hand has the value of being previously owned. This is a value for new riders because at some point you will drop your bike. While my bike was on and in neutral my helmet fell and shifted the bike into first gear. While completely out of my control the bike fell i'm just glad it was a used bike. When the bike is used you're not as worried about breaking it. There is never a “right” choice when choosing a bike only preference and theory.

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Part 5: Things To Avoid

Part 2: Riding Safely

Getting your Gear

My Light Gear

Once all of the paperwork has been finished and it is legal for you to ride your motorcycle safety is the next concern. While a motorcycle may be the best toy you ever buy it can very easily kill you. The two types of gear are wet and dry. Both sets of gear constitute the basic: Helmet, Jacket, Pants combo, with some added accessories depending on the rider. I'll be going over dry gear since we are in the summer months still.

Helmet

The biggest one of course is the helmet. It is illegal to ride without one so you might as well get used to it. A good quote to remember is spend 20$ if your head is worth 20$. In short try not to be cheap when you buy a helmet and make sure it is DOT certified. The next part includes choosing what type of helmet that you want. While there are a good selection of types of helmets since this is for beginners i will only mention a few. The type of helmet you see most sport bikers wearing is you guessed it a sport helmet.

It is also called a full face helmet because of the bottom portion that covers your chin in case you decide to go chin first into the pavement. They provide good ear protection and lessen the wind turbulence. The only other helmet style in my opinion for beginners is the modular design.

A modular helmet is by far the best of all worlds. it allows you to make a full face helmet a ¾ helmet without the chin guard. They allow a greater deal of customization visors, chin protection and airflow. Everything considered a full face helmet is the best way to go for optimum protection. There are also helmets with bluetooth included like mine. The helmet is okay and the speakers blew out pretty quickly but they are user replaceable. Check out my review.

Shades

Since we are still in the head region. the next step is to protect your eyes. This part is primarily subjective depending on the rider. shades or goggles. either way protecting your eyes is a must. since you will be wearing a full face helmet.  Eye protection in this variety are usually used with smaller helmets and ¾ helmets. Googles and glasses are fairly easy put on look good and ride. While you can use any pair you like these are my favorite pair from Amazon.

Ear Plugs

The next part is a very vigorous topic for riders. Ear protection is one of the more important things in life. With a motorcycle and constant wind turbulence your ears slowly become worse by the day. Losing any amount of hearing is considered a handicap in itself since hearing is an essential part of life. So how do we avoid this,  simple really ear plugs. Here is where things start to get vigorous. Most riders will say they don't need them. In my opinion a great helmet prevents the need for ear plugs.  The big problem with ear plugs and why I do not recommend them. You lose the sound of your surrounds. The bad driver honking at someone the ambulance or firemen siren. The sound of the wind  changing because a car is in your blind spot. These are very helpful things for riders beginning or experienced. Ear protection while it might be for the right reasons you lose a lot of surroundings when they are used and while i do not think they are helpful i can not say that i have not used them before.

Jacket

Where you will usually see how long a rider has ridden is by the type of jacket they wears. The more expensive the jacket the more experienced the rider. The more stylish the jacket the longer the rider has been riding. While helmets can be shiny have decals or even look like the predator or batman. They are required to have and that can suck some of the fun out of it. A motorcycle jacket on the other hand is optional and comfort is a first priority with some of these jackets. Just for the record no beginner should ride without a jacket this is stupid and when the first fall happens and eventually it will the damage could be permanent.  

A good motorcycle jacket consists of a couple layers and protection. The big things you want to look for are: shoulder pads, arm guards, elbow pads, and spine protection. After these things have been confirmed to be sturdy the next and best thing is style. What kind of rider are you going to be. A daily commuter, a racer, taking the lady with you to San Diego or maybe off-roading. Your style will be chosen by how you ride and your personal tastes. One of the more important things is being comfortable. Try on a couple of jackets and get a feel for them make sure your arms can move around and they're not too tight but never sacrifice quality protection for comfort.

Gloves

This one is pretty simple actually, when falling a human’s natural response is to extend their arms and break the fall with their hands; imagine falling at 40 mph and above. The general basics is to have a glove with enough padded palm protection to protect the hand against breaking a fall and knuckle protection for when the tumbling begins.

Bare Minimum Gloves

Pants

Again shorts are not the heading for a reason. People get lazy when it comes to bottom protection. It does not matter how hot or cool it may look riding with shorts, track pants, skirts, or bikinis these are all a giant no. Its called protection for a reason. While they might be more expensive than regular pants just like jackets there is a plethora of different styles to choose from with all the same standards for protecting your legs.

Boots

The heading is not shoes. Over the ankle boots are the recommended motorcycle footwear. This is the utmost easiest place to get lazy for a myriad of reasons ranging from not matching your outfit, to I'm only going a short distance. While most casual riders wear regular shoes when they ride they are taking full responsibility of the consequences if a shoelace gets loose and sucked into the chain.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

These are the basics of motorcycle gear, go to shops look up reviews make sure your gear is comfy and i look forward to seeing you on the road.

Amazon links:

Googles 
Bluetooth Helmet
Motorcycle Jacket

Bluetooth Helmet Review

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Part 5: Things To Avoid

Beginning to Ride

Going from Four Wheels To Two

Are you interested in becoming a rider. Has traveling on four wheels become rudimentary. Or are you interested in buying a new toy. This five part series will constitute the proper ways to prep and begin riding motorcycles. These steps are assuming that the new rider is 18yrs old lives in California and has no previous experience with any size motorcycles or dirt-bikes. You do not need to have a driver license but it does make the process much easier.

"Always remember one simple rule, a motorcycle will always outrun a car."

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety Inspection

Part 5: Things To Avoid

Part 1: Prep before Riding

Why Do You Want to Ride

The first thing you will need before even attempting to ride on your own bike is practice. The best place to get practice is with certified pros. This is called the CMSP or California Motorcyclist Safety Program. The tuition of this program is 250$ for a three day class. Each class is approximately 5 hours. The first day will consist of a classroom environment, training booklet and videos. At the end of the class you will be required to take a 50 question test. If by a slim chance you fail this test you will have to reschedule to retake the class again for up to 100$. Do not worry if you fail the test you really should not be riding motorcycles and they would be doing you  service as well as extending your life.

The next two class sessions are with instructors that will teach you the basics of riding, turning, braking, weaving, and keeping your balance on a motorcycle. The key things to learn here are not to brake to hard and the friction zone. Now do not forget that there is a test you must pass to get your moto license so grab a booklet for both the moto and drivers test at the closest DMV and study hard for it. I will explain this later.

After you have completed and passed the Basic Rider Course (BRC). The next step is to go to the DMV and go through their checklist of getting your license. The first step is to fill out a Drivers License or ID card form called a DL 44. Now if you have drivers license then all you do is copy the information to the form and move on. If you do not have a licence some additional information will be required, such as: a valid form of Birth certificate or proof of legal presence in the United States. A social security number and your true full name or the name you were born with.
Once the form has been filled out you just need to pay the form fee.

Now its time for the moto test and here is the curve ball  if you do not have a drivers license you are taking a 36 question test. unfortunately if you have had a driver license for over a year you are required to take half of the drivers test and a total of 50 questions with a maximum of four wrong answers. feeling the pressure yet, do not. there are numerous resources available to ease the pain of these tests and honestly make them a breeze.


Once the test has been passed all that is left is to give a thumb print and have your picture taken and you will leave with a temp license and will get your real license in the mail seven to ten business days later.

M1 endorsement added in the red box at the top right

Part 1: Prep Before You Ride

Part 2: Riding Safely

Part 3: Time For A Motorcycle

Part 4: Safety

Part 5 In Progress

Starting A Business For Under 1000$

Cloud Is Reducing Costs

The days of our grandparents and even our parents starting a business once entailed a business loan or financial backer and not seeing profit margins for at least five years. Now with the recent boom of offsite cloud technology allowing regular people and new business owners to forgo the expensive costs of maintaining technology and software, those 5 years of deficit can become as little as three months.

Getting Started 

Now lets start with the basics. In the beginning after the company objective and pre production planning has finished. The first step that must be taken is to separate personal from business with an LLC or limited liability company. This can be accomplished quite easily with legalzoom for only 99$. With this step it takes away some of the liability so clients or other patrons cannot sue the owner personally if things go poorly.

Platform

The next step is to figure out which platform is most beneficial for your company. This decision is not always so concrete and will change from time to time depending on the kind of business. The primary choices are Apple, Windows, and Android with Chrome or even Linux. While Apple and Windows have their best traits Android has quickly risen in the ranks with its chrome platform able to keep things simple affordable and cross platform. Linux on the other has had security at its core since day one. The main point here is not always about what is better but what works long term. Replacing devices every two years will eventually increase costs and lower profits.

Work Force

Once revenue has started to be generated, hiring employees is a natural development. While more men/women power is an added benefit these people expect to get paid. Hiring a bookkeeper to keep the numbers and do the payroll is an option but it can become quite expensive. For a more outsourced and affordable solution look to Intuit Payroll. Intuit has plans starting at 20$ to perform payroll and other services like workers comp and 1099. After payroll has been established making your presence known worldwide is the next step.

Getting Known

A website is primarily the first thing people go to once they hear about your company. Every company needs a website this no longer is something that can be overlooked or cheaply developed. However this is a tricky subject because as easy as it is to underspend on a website overspending can present the same problem. There are literally over 50x solutions of websites that make it easy to create your own website but one that stands out the most is SquareSpace. With SquareSpace starting as low as eight dollars a month and offering 24/7 uptime this could qualify as underspending or down right being cheap. This option however is the real deal and for what it can do for a new business this resource tool is simply irreplaceable. Once the website has been completed macro management is the next course of action.

Archived

Communication is a key part of any long term business. Being able to respond to time sensitive material is a must have for any business. A great email client with archiving is the starting point for this and the king of this is Google’s alternative Gmail. With POP IMAP and forwarding options included free of cost this is really a straightfoward choice. While Microsoft's Outlook may be used more widely in older businesses it is cumbersome and quite often runs into many bugs. The Thunderbird varient on linux while much better then Outlook can overwelm some new comers very quickly. Following a stable form of archived communication would be the addition of backwards compatibility for the less technologically inclined.

Being Paper Friendly

Faxing is nothing more than a plague in these times yet governments and older generation businesses still put priority on this form of sending documentation. So to make sure all clients have an equal opportunity eFax is the best solution. Starting as low as 15$ with a one time ten dollar start up fee this can be an inexpensive way of keeping those relations with customers and fellow governments that can only use this means of document communication.

Breif:

With all of these cost effective ways of starting a business this is really only the beginning. Being cost effective will only get more complicated as the company grows in value and size. Managing overhead costs will never be easy and with raging economies and hard decisions always on the horizon workload must always increase to survive. Working for yourself can be obtained quite easily in this cloud run era for under 1000$.

Breakdown

1. 99$                      LLC

2. Cost of Device   Platform Android,Apple,Windows,Linux

3. 20$                      InTuit Payroll

4. 8$                        Squarespace

5. Free                    Archived Email

6 15$ + 10$            eFax