ALT-4 Best Accessories for your Motorcycle
I have found that first time buyers of motorcycles find themselves searching for a better riding experience through accessories. There are four basic accessories to a pleasurable and safe riding experience. If you are like most first time buyers you went out and bought a bike you thought looked good. Then a couple of hundred miles later you found out that it didn't fit your needs and that the dealership or private seller didn't take the time to make sure it was the bike for you. Now its time to make that motorcycle fit your needs and your comfort level.
Years of experience have taught me invaluable lessons on cost and personal comfort. The following accessories will give you the ride you have long been waiting for. The first thing to purchase are a set of motorcycle gloves. I would highly discourage anyone from using plain garden or work gloves. Garden or work gloves bind your fingers and palms and don't have any padding to help with vibration. Riding gloves are padded and more flexible in the fingers. The curved way the gloves are sewn together allows for a more natural feel to the throttle and levers. Riding gloves are important for a comfortable feel to your hands. This is not an item to go cheap on, go with the best fitting gloves your budget can handle. Consider the conditions you plan on riding in. If you ride in heavy or slow traffic, try a light weight, mesh backed, leather palmed glove. If your riding is more of a relaxed time than a thrill time, then go with an all leather riding glove. If your into sport riding then of course go with a set of sport gloves. Wearing the wrong gloves can be a nuisance and will annoy you to no end.
Item two on the list of must have accessories are bungee nets. Bungee nets are one of my all time favorite things to tell first time buyers to get. They come in a large assortment of colors with most often six anchor hooks. The nets are cheap, flexible storage and if you loose them or they start to fray, just go to your favorite website and its shipped to your door in a couple of days. If your biking pleasure includes impromptu purchases, then flip out your net from under your seat and poof instant cargo space. There are other options for storage like saddle bags but until you know what your going to carry you don't know what size bags you want.
Item three on my list of must have accessories are good fitting shoes or boots. Understand that flip-flops are again one of those items where the name tells all. A quality shoe or boot will save your feet undue torture, pain and stress. A low top boot with laces will give you much needed support and a firm feel to your riding. You will never go back to street shoes on your bike again. Quality shoes are a good compromise to boots, but quite often don't have the gripping sole that boots offer, or the ankle support needed. Good boots are needed especially if you have to plant your feet firmly on gravel or other slick surfaces.
Item four on my list of best accessories is a windshield. Windshields are a great accessory for the day to day rider. Windshields help keep flying objects from pelting you in the chest, neck and shoulders. There are a number of options for wind screens in the after market. A few choices for you to look at are tinted or clear screens. Tinted windshields offer a great look to your bike but clear ones offer the best visual experience for day or night driving. Size matters when getting the correct windshield for your bike and your riding style. I suggest taking your bike to a shop and asking lots of questions about what your buying and if it fits your height and riding position. If you are seated in a comfortable riding position, the windshield should either be above eye level or below it. If you have more concerns, take your bike to the shop and ask for assistance. Something as important as a windshield shouldn't be a whimsical buy.
Having these four accessories will change your riding experience for the better. Accessories are what make your riding experience not only pleasurable, but a safe one.
