When the weather starts to heat up, the dangers of dehydration, sunburns, and heat exhaustion start to become very real for motorcyclists. At the worst end of the spectrum is full-blown heat stroke, which can be fatal, and requires immediate medical intervention, so let’s cultivate some strategies to prevent ending up in that place. The…
Category: How To
How to Replace a Motorcycle Chain and Sprockets
Difficulty: 6/10 Time Needed: 2-4 hours Cost: $$ Surprisingly, replacing your motorcycle chain and sprocket can be done in one easy step with this simple hack: take it to the dealership and have them do it. *record scratch* Wait, what? Nope. That’s not how we roll around here (for most things, at least). The dealership…
Upgrade the Wheel Chock on a Harbor Freight Lift in 5 Easy Steps
Harbor Freight’s Pittsburgh Steel Motorcycle Lift is likely one of the tool retailer’s most popular items. It’s certainly well-known among motorcyclists. Despite some dismissing it as “junk” it’s proven to be a durable, reliable, and cost-effective staple in home garages and professional shops alike. If you’re like many (myself included), you don’t have $800-900 to…
How to Winterize Your Motorcycle in Texas
Winter is now upon us. We have the top strategies, tips, ticks, and techniques for prepping and winterizing your motorcycle to handle the Texas winter.
How to Install Bar End Mirrors
It’s no secret that most stock motorcycle mirrors aren’t that great. They’re usually cheap parts bin items that provide a poor view, vibrate excessively, and just generally don’t get the job done very well. It’s pretty crucial to be able to see traffic or hazards behind you while riding, so lousy mirrors are unacceptable. Removing…
How to Change Your Motorcycle’s Coolant
If you have a liquid-cooled bike, like our trusty Z900 RS here, you should be changing your coolant out every two years or so. The base of any coolant is basically deionized water, which technically never wears out, and the ethylene or propylene glycols used in coolants are actually good for 10-12 years, but many…
How to Install MZS Adjustable Brake and Clutch Levers
Much like the stock grips, the stock levers on the 2019 Z400 weren’t particularly great. They got the job done, in so much as they allowed for the use of the brake and the clutch. However, they were needlessly bulky and the lack of adjustability meant that the reach to and throw of the levers…
How to Install New Motorcycle Grips
Replacing your OEM grips with some aftermarket grips is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to not only improve riding comfort, but to also give your bike a little pop of customization. The stock grips on the 2019 Kawasaki Z400 in our stable just weren’t cutting it, so it was time to replace…
How to Replace a Motorcycle Clutch
Clutch replacement is a pretty straightforward job, requiring only a few basic hand tools, the new clutch parts, and a couple hours. You even get an oil change out of it. It’s an easy DIY job, and there’s no need to take your bike to a shop or dealership if you feel that clutch a-slippin’….
Beating the Heat
As I write this, it’s 112° here in Texas. Summer being hot in Texas is a given, but this last week has been particularly gnarly. The thermometer on my motorcycle has registered temperatures as high as 114°. What’s a rider to do in order to combat such intense heat? There’s no possible way riding in…