Peter Clark asked:




GPS is the new wave of navigating, and motorcycle GPS is no exception. But what exactly is GPS and why would you want it on a motorcycle?

GPS stands for global positioning system. It's a high tech way of saying that it tell you where you are on the globe, and if you've got a motorcycle GPS system it tells you where your motorcycle is.

A GPS, including a motorcycle GPS, works by receiving radio signals from a series of satellites that are positioned in orbit around the globe. By cross referencing these satellite signals your motorcycle GPS unit can work out, to an accuracy of around 6 meters or less, exactly where you are.

In order for your GPS to work you need to be in a location where you can pick up the radio signals from a number of different satellites so that they can be cross referenced. Too few satellites and the accuracy goes down, none, or one, and it's useless.

Early GPS systems, whilst accurate, had limited usefulness for the motorcyclist or car driver because they gave you your position on the globe in latitude and longitude. Whilst it was accurate, it wasn't really user friendly, because you couldn't really use it to plot your position on a map unless you were extremely map savvy and had the resources to do so. However modern motorcycle GPS systems have advanced way beyond this, and the best motorbike GPS units have now become a total motorcycle navigation solution.

The GPS technology has been combined with modern mapping software to eliminate the problem of being given only a latitude and longitude. Now you have a visual display that shows you exactly where you are on the map. So at a glance you can tell where you are.

And where you are wanting to go. Because high quality modern motorbike GPS systems are sufficiently high tech to allow you to rely on them 100% for your complete navigation needs.

So along with a map display showing you where you are you are also able to ask your motorcycle GPS to tell you how to get to where you want to go. It will do this with extraordinary accuracy, and will do so with both visual map pointers and voice prompts via bluetooth technology direct to your motorcycle helmet.

A good GPS motorcycle unit will come preloaded with a massive number of maps, and so you can navigate your way right across the country with the maps supplied. It should also have points of interest loaded as well, so that you can ask it to tell you the nearest fuel stop, motel or food stop.

And a dedicated motorcycle GPS unit should come with a properly designed handlebar mount so that you can mount it right there in front of you on the handlebars. However you shouldn't need to look at it regularly, this isn't safe, it should tell you direct to your helmet when you need to turn right or left.

It will also be able, if you have the correct subscriptions, to tell you when there is a traffic problem up ahead, and also tell you how to navigate your way around it. So by relying on your GPS navigator you should save both time, fuel and frustrations.

And make phone calls or listen to music along the way too if you wish.

A modern motorcycle GPS unit is one of the best tools a motorcyclist can have if he or she likes long rides. It does away with the need to carry, and consult, maps, and makes navigating a breeze.

And then at the end of the day you can download your ride and store it to recreate in the future. Or share it with your friends.



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Bill Saunders asked:




I think most new riders understand that they should wear a motorcycle helmet when riding their new motorcycle but not very many of them likely understand what makes a good helmet and what makes a smart decision. It is far more than just matching the helmet to the same color as your motorcycle. This article is going to be a quick checklist of some points to consider when purchasing your new helmet. I will be expand on each point with a more detailed article if you are not comfortable and need more information.

1. Safety Certification

We would all agree that a helmet isn't of much use if it provides you with no protection. A helmet that meets the standards of the Department of Transportation will come with a D.O.T. sticker affixed to the helmet which is a stamp of assurance that the helmet at least meets a minimum level of safety as determined by the D.O.T. In a nutshell, the DOT certification requires that a helmet be able to absorb a certain amount of energy and prevent most penetrations. It must also have a fastening system that will keep the helmet on your head despite a significant amount of force.

Snell is another certification that takes helmet safety to even another level so make sure you look for the DOT and/or Snell certifications on your helmets.

2. Fit and Comfort

A huge factor in the safety of a helmet is how it fits. A helmet that fits well will not come off in an accident and a helmet that is comfortable is one that you won't mind wearing. Both are key factors to your safety. A helmet should fit snugly so that it is stable when you shake your head in any direction. The helmet should not move or slide around on your head at all. You know you are pretty close when the helmet is snug enough such that your skin will move with the helmet when you move the helmet with your hands.

Comfort is very personal to the individual but some general things to consider are the comfort level of the padding. A quality helmet will have firm padding covered in a soft liner that feels good against your face. It should provide a good seal around your ears but not be so tight that it is painful and it should feel good against your forehead. A small pressure point on your forehead can develop into a huge amount of pain after a few hours.

3. Helmet Retention

Helmet retention could be considered part of the fit of the helmet but it bears mentioning separately as well. When a helmet is firmly secured on your head you should not be able to pull it off until you remove the strap. If you can, then it is either a poor design or it is a poor fit. Keep searching until you find one that cannot come off your head.

4. Helmet Coverage

This is simple...the more coverage the better. A Full face provides the best amount of protection, a 3/4 helmet would be next, then a half helmet and then of course no helmet would come in last in regards to protection. Study after study will show conclusively that a helmet will reduce the level of damage incurred in an accident, regardless of what anyone tells you.

It of course is still your decision to wear one or what kind to wear but just remember, the more helmet coverage you have, then the better the protection will be if all else is equal.

5. Cost

Cost shouldn't be a factor when it comes to safety but of course it is. Just make sure you spend enough to get the job done. I've seen too many people spend 10k on a shiny new motorcycle and 100 bucks on the helmet that could protect their brain. Look for the DOT certification and make sure you buy a helmet that is quality made. Some brands to look for are HJC, Shoei, Arai, Shark, Joe Rocket etc.

6. Appearance

Hey, let's face it. People are vain creatures and I am sure you are no different. You want to protect your head but you want your helmet to look good while doing it. Most riders will try to match the helmet to the bike somewhat and if that makes them happy then I am all for it. Anything that makes you more apt to wear your helmet is something that I am in favor of you doing.

A helmet that looks good and that you feel good about, is one you will wear....and that's the best kind of helmet.

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Low Jeremy asked:




The helmet is probably the only thing that can save the person who is involved in an accident. This is because the outer shell is made of strong material that can probably withstand the impact of a collision.

When people buy a helmet, putting it on the head won't keep it from coming off if the biker stops suddenly or goes too fast. The only way this can be prevented is having the right lock securing the straps from one end to the other.

The right helmet lock should be the kind that has two rings that fasten together. This is because snap fasteners have a tendency to come off during an accident.

If the dealer doesn't have a helmet that can fit the size of the owner's head, the one the person got should be brought to a decal dealer so the original locking mechanism can be replaced.

Once this has been changed, it will be a good idea to wear it on for the next 30 to 45 minutes. The individual should shake the head from one side to the next or look up then down to make sure it won't come off and is securely fastened.

If everything is ok, the bike owner can already leave the store and enjoy driving down the open road.

The right lock for the motorcycle helmet may come in black, blue or any other color that the customer wants. This will usually sell for about four to six dollars a piece that can also be purchased online for almost the same price.

People who know how to put on the lock after purchasing the item online can do the changes at home. Those who don't can ask a friend or family who are familiar with motorcycle helmet straps for help.

The person must remember to change the motorcycle lock after a few months or a year since this is prone to wear and tear. The same thing goes for the helmet that should be changed every 5 years.

The motorcycle helmet is the only thing that can protect a person who is involved in a motorcycle accident. This may not protect the other bones in the body but this can surely protect the owner's head. It is essential then to get the right kind of lock for the helmet because this could mean save the individual from serious brain injury or death.

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	Zip-up bag for carrying full face helmet. Soft inner liner to protect helmet from scratches. Outside pocket for extra storage with Bar & Shield logo graphics. Three tie down loops on the bottom of bag to secure to bike...

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