Motorcycle Guides

Yes, a car battery can jump a motorcycle with the car’s engine off. Here is the clamp order, the risks, the jump-pack and bump-start alternatives, and what to check afterwards.

Most motorcycle batteries last 2 to 5 years, depending on type. Storage, parasitic drain, heat and short rides decide whether yours gets there. Voltage checks tell you early.

Learn the controls, find the friction zone, move off in first, stop with both brakes and look through turns. Take the MSF Basic RiderCourse before you ride on the road.

Car oil usually carries friction modifiers that can make a wet clutch slip. Here is what JASO MA means, what to do after a top-up, and which grades riders see.

Drain the warm oil, swap the filter, refill to your manual’s spec and recheck the level. Here is the full job in order, with tool prices and the mistakes that cost engines.

Use a chain cleaner made for sealed chains, a soft brush and a rag, let the chain dry, then lube it while warm. Here are the steps, the no-go products and the wear checks.

A motorcycle maintenance checklist sorted by interval: the pre-ride T-CLOCS check, chain care, monthly inspections, manual-set services, storage, and when to use a shop.

Winterizing a motorcycle takes one afternoon: warm the engine, change the oil, stabilize fuel, maintain the battery, set the tires, clean, plug the exhaust and cover it.

A motorcycle permit test is a state knowledge exam. California’s DMV publishes study material, sample tests and a training route, but no question count or pass mark.

A dirt bike is not street legal as sold in the US. It needs road equipment, DOT tires, an inspection, a title, a plate and insurance, and some states make that hard.

Measure your foot in millimeters, check it against the maker’s size chart, and test heel, toe and ankle fit before you ride. Break-in softens a boot; it can’t add length.

Any one of five findings ends a tire’s life: tread at the wear bars, damage, cracking, a build date near ten years, or a profile that has changed. Here is how to check each.

Run the PSI on your bike’s placard, checked cold. Most street bikes sit between 28 and 42 PSI, and the sidewall number is a ceiling for the tire.

Use a 12-volt charger matched to your battery type at about 1 to 3 amps. Smart chargers take 4 to 8 hours, trickle chargers 12 to 24. Lithium batteries need a charger labelled for them.

One of the greatest joys of life is to ride through all four seasons. Some people may think you’re crazy,

Sport motorcycles sorted by engine class, with power figures, model notes and plain answers on 600cc versus 1000cc, beginner suitability and the cheapest way in.

The first step of riding a bike is wearing safety gear to protect yourself, and nothing protects you better than

Everyone knows leather jackets are extremely versatile and can be worn during rough activities. However, looking cool does come at

The time spent is well worth the reward of knowing that your computer is in top shape. An hour at

According to a common belief, there are two different types of riders: those who have fallen and those who haven’t. Road rash is perhaps the most frequent injury following a motorcycle collision, even a small one, whether you think it or not.

You have my deepest sympathies if you are one of the unlucky people who spend several months of the year

Motorcycle jackets are one of the most important pieces of gear for bikers, as they provide protection against abrasion, impacts,

A guide to sport utility ATVs: how Polaris, Can-Am, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and CFMOTO compare, what a 2-up test found, and which quad suits farm work or trails.

What counts as a lightweight motorcycle, which sport and adventure bikes fit, and what forum riders say about used 250s and 350s under $2,000.