There are literally thousands of motorcycle accessories for every type of motorcycle out on the market today. If you need your bike to look or perform differently, I guarantee there is a motorcycle accessory or two that can help accomplish your goal.

Personally, I don’t think certain things mix very well.  For instance, I wouldn’t suggest anyone mix steak with jelly beans or read a Dean Koontz murder mystery novel while horseback riding. Each of these items is great by themselves but together they are awful. Some things just don’t mix.

Like motorcycle and golf.

Like motorcycling, golf goes beyond a casual past time to many people who play — it is a lifestyle. The dedication, passion, and love that many golfers exhibit is equal to the dedication of bikers towards riding.

That’s why the Go Go Caddy is the worst motorcycle accessory in the world. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why a biker would want to carry a fully loaded golf bag on their bike.

Here are a few reasons why the Go Go Caddy is just plain dumb.

• Golfers own cars: Golfers who are in the primary demographics of Harley buyers are older professionals who own cars as their primary transportation.

• Harley owners own cars: Almost all Harley’s are considered luxury items and are fairly expensive. Most Harley owners are  professionals who own at least one car. It seems pretty unlikely that a Harley owning golfer would use his/her bike as primary transportation.

• It makes riding a motorcycle unsafe: This product’s website states that mounting a golf bag on the bike can cause blind spots. Any accessory that makes a bike unsafe is a bad accessory.

• It looks terrible: I don’t know why anyone would spend the money to get a beautiful Harley Davidson motorcycle only to add a golf rack to it? With or without the golf bag attached, it is hideous.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in the Boston or Andover area, contact personal injury lawyer and avid biker Tom Kiley! Or order a FREE copy of Tom Kiley’s motorcycle accident guide, Do Loud Pipes Save Lives.

Luckily, women have not been intimidated or overwhelmed. They have been flocking to motorcycles in record numbers. Without the large influx of women bikers, the motorcycle industry would be in serious trouble.

Harley Davidson has been making it easier for women to get into the world of motorcycles.

Selected Harley Davidson dealerships are sponsoring women only Garage Party events. These after hour events are filled with tips and seminars to help women riders learn key aspects of motorcycling and meet other experience and rookie bikers. These events make it very easy for new riders to build the knowledge and confidence required to handle the open road with riders of all types.

Along with learning about key elements of motorcycling, these events are also geared to introduce women to new and used Harley Davidson motorcycles. Never has Harley offered a larger range of motorcycles that fit a wider array of riders. Bikes like the Fat Boy Lo, the Sportster line, and some Softail models make excellent first bike choices for bikers looking for low seat high and lighter weight.

March 2010 will be Harley’s Garage Party month and they have stepped up the events to the next level. Attendees of Garage Party events can register to win a weekend getaway with fitness guru and Harley Davidson enthusiast, Jillian Michaels, from TV’s The Biggest Loser.

This weekend getaway will feature participating in Harley’s Edge Rider Program, motivation presentations, and a spa day for the winner and several friends.

There’s nothing to lose in attending one of these events. Why not check it out with some friends and find out if motorcycling is the life for you.

90% of the time when I ride, I do not wear a helmet. I live in Florida so I am not in violation of any motorcycle laws but I am breaking one of the cardinal sins of motorcycling. And that is riding safely.

What’s worse is I have absolutely no excuse. Not only do I blog about how helmets mitigate injuries and save lives, I own 4 helmets. I have 3 DOT motorcycle helmets and a carbon fiber novelty helmet just waiting to be worn.

The last thing I want to happen is to learn the hard way. The last thing I want is to receive a massive head injury or lose my life over something as simple as putting on a helmet.

My number #1 New Year’s Resolution is to commit to safe riding and make a bigger effort to wear a helmet each time I ride. If you have not been wearing a helmet, I suggest you do the same.

But there are lots of options.

• Xelement Jeans: These stylish jeans come in many varieties and start at about $30. They have regular heavyweight jeans and racing style motorcycle jeans with removable inserts. Xelement also has some of the lowest price leather motorcycle pants on the market. Leather pants are not for everyone and are not for all climates but I have been told they are among the most comfortable and durable pants for motorcycling.

• Diamond Gusset Motorcycle Jeans: These jeans are soft and considered among the most comfortable jeans in the motorcycle market. The diamond gusset gives these jeans some extra space in the seat area making them very comfortable when seated for long periods. Priced under $40, these jeans are a winner.

• Dickies Jeans and Pants: Dickies makes heavyweight jeans and pants mainly for industrial usage. Bikers have discovered these inexpensive and durable jeans to be a much better option than wearing expensive fashion oriented jeans.

• SHIFT Lodown Motorcycle Jeans: This company is pretty new to the motorcycle apparel market but their baggy, slightly heavy jeans are great for riding and relaxing. At approximately $70, they are not overly expensive either.

• Joe Rocket ‘Steel” Jeans: While these jeans look and feel more like regular jeans, they have a feature that may be hard for some bikers to get used to. The fit of these jeans can best be described as ‘low rise’ as the waist sits lower than most jeans. This may make these jeans a less than desirable choice for some bikers.

• Duluth Trading Company Fire Hose Loggers: These jeans are made from the same canvas material as fire hoses but soft and supple. These somewhat oversized jeans are generous in the leg and waist areas and have enough leg room to accommodate protective armor. Priced under $50 these jeans are great especially for riders in cooler weather areas.

• Maverick “Sidewinders” Polartec Polar Flannel Lined Jeans: These jeans are perfectly geared for bikers in cold weather climate. The flannel lining not only keeps the rider warm but feels great against the skin. Looking great, staying warm, and only paying $60 is a great way to enjoy a motorcycle ride when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.

You can always jump on your bike in your favorite jeans but I think it makes sense to add a few pairs of motorcycle specific jeans or pants into your apparel collection.

If you are in the market for a new motorcycle, you owe it to yourself to consider Eaglerider. They are liquidating thousands of pre-owned motorcycles of all types and offering both great prices and unique financing.

Eaglerider both sells and rents a variety of motorcycles in Florida, Texas, California, and Arkansas. Despite this small dealer network, Eaglerider can ship a bike to you anywhere in the world. They take pride in making sure all their motorcycles have gone through a thorough maintenance check and are road ready.

Here’s the best part.

Not only do they have thousands of used Harley Davidson, metric cruisers, and sport bikes on sale but they offer a variety of financing options. Even with badly damaged credit, Eaglerider can get you financed and on the bike of your dreams very quickly. They also offer a motorcycle lease program.

Do I have your attention? If you are interested, visit their website or contact Steven King, Regional Sales Manager at (352) 449-8226 or steve@eaglerider.com.

One thing is for certain, bikers love to show how much they know about bikes, the motorcycle industry, current events, and people.

One of the best ways to stay on pace with happenings around the motorcycle world is to subscribe to a few motorcycle magazines. There are dozens of magazines that take on all types of subjects like motorcycle reviews, new products, accessories, how to guides, people, events, races, technology, featured custom builders, and much more.

Magazines like Iron Horse, American Iron, Motorcycling, Motorcyclist, V-Twin, and Ultimate Motorcycling are a few to check out. With a little online research, you can find the right motorcycle magazine for your taste.

One of the best parts of most of these magazines is the feedback or reader comments sections. It’s great to hear from the experts but even better to hear from everyday bikers.

Of all the places to ride in Florida, there is one ride that is a pilgrimage. Every rider in Florida has to ride to Key West.

The motorcycle ride to Key West is not a technical ride. If you are looking for a ride to challenge your abilities to handle your motorcycle safely, this is not the one. The only real challenge is avoiding the sometimes chaotic traffic in Miami to get to the upper Keys.

Once arriving at the upper Keys, this ride is all about scenic views of water and wild life. This leisurely motorcycle cruise offers great places to stop and relax along the way. If you have a fear of bridges, then stay away from this ride. If not, the water views are spectacular; especially at dusk and dawn.

One of the great stops on the way to Key West is Gilbert’s on Key Largo. A favorite of boaters and bikers for years, Gilbert’s has a live band every night, great food and drink prices, and the type of atmosphere any biker would love. Key Largo has several hotels/motels for catching some sleep before continuing the trip.

Once at Key West, there are dozens of biker bars to meet up with fellow bikers making the trip. Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath Saloon, Hard Rock Café Key West, and the Rum Barrel are among some of the favorites of bikers and vacationers. Probably the most famous bar on Key West is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.

Before heading back to the mainland, make sure to stop by the southern most point of the United States. Taking a picture 90 miles from Cuba while sitting on US soil is a great way to end your Key West adventure and commemorate a fantastic ride.

Whether you start from Orlando, Tampa, Naples, or the greater Miami area, this is a great ride with a pack of buddies or as a solo rider. Just make sure to map out the best course to avoid traffic, especially in Miami. Also, make sure to pick times/dates that do not coincide with major Key West event. Traffic to Key West can be very slow and make your motorcycle road trip painfully slow.

Motorcycling can also be a very tough hobby for those whose significant other doesn’t understand or appreciate the fun of riding. Even the most hardcore bikers have a hard time riding as much as they would like when someone at home gives you grief for it.

In most cases, the grief centers around;

• Fear: Many non-riders are afraid that if they ride on a motorcycle, they will be seriously injured
• Perceived danger: Motorcycles are dangerous but some non-riders have an acute sense of danger which makes them have a negative opinion about riding.
• Bad personal experiences: Stories of friends, family, and even strangers’ accidents on motorcycles sometime cripple non-riders’ ability to jump on a bike.
• Lack of knowledge: Some non-riders know nothing about motorcycles but somehow formed a negative opinion.

These are some major hurdles to overcome but it can be done. With some careful thought and strategy, you might even get your hardcore anti-biker to start riding along. Of course, every situation is different but here are a few tips to try to turn your significant other into motorcycling fan.

• Motorcycle apparel: Men and women love cool biker clothing and getting a few motorcycle apparel items first may be a good segue into riding
• Motorcycle rider safety course: Knowledge is king. By getting your non-rider to learn how to ride in a safe environment, you’ll have a great chance of getting their support.
• Meeting other bikers: Meeting responsible bikers can help the non-biker in your life understand that bikers are regular people, respect traffic laws, and value their lives.
• Motorcycle events: Motorcycle events are exciting and they can get your non-rider excited about bikes, apparel, and potentially riding.
• Small steps: Try not to overwhelm your non-biker all at once. It will take some time to turn their negative opinion around.

Let’s not pretend, turning your non-riding significant other into a biker fan is an uphill climb. It may not be easy and it may not be quick. Consistency and patience is the key to getting them on your side. Your significant other may surprise you and become a biker fan sooner than you think.

As motorcycling has grown in popularity, it has also grown in diversity. Women have been one of the fastest growing demographics among motorcycle riders.

The trend has become so strong that Harley Davidson declared the month of May as Women Riders Month.

Harley Davidson has even gone one step further. They have a section on their website dedicated to women riders. This section of the site features stories from women motorcycle riders across the country, special events for women, motorcycle rider safety courses, and other resources. Of course, the site also features a guide to help women select the perfect Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Kathleen Steele Tolleson, CEO of ROAR Motorcycles for women, is a champion for women motorcyclist. The ROAR website features everything from custom cruisers for sale, starter bikes, motorcycle apparel, blogs, and travel destinations. Tolleson also wrote the book Hear My Roar!, exploring women, motorcycles, and mental health. She also wrote the ebook The 5 Reasons Why More Women are Riding Motorcycles than Ever Before. ROAR Motorcycles for Women can be found on Facebook for those looking for social networking.

Not only are women riding Harleys but they are also riding sport bikes. Womin X LLC focuses on women riders who love sport bikes. This site focuses on women who are new to motorcycles and features sections like Motorcycles 101 and Learning How to Ride. Fans of Womin X can also connect with other riders via Myspace.

There are literally hundreds of motorcycle clubs for women who love sport bikes, cruisers, Harleys, or racing. Meetup.com is a great place to find women motorcycle clubs in your area like the Women Motorcycle Riders of Central PA, The Ground Breakaz Motorcycle Club in the Atlanta, GA area, or the Chrome Divas of Orlando, FL Motorcycle Club. While there are more men’s and mixed gender clubs than all women clubs, there are still lots of options.

For ladies deciding to ride motorcycles, this is a great and exciting time. With all of the other women riders and all the online resources, women can come together and find their place among all members of the biker community.

• Age/Size: Before a child can ride on a motorcycle, they should be old enough to understand the importance of safety and large enough to ride on the seat. Children who can not comfortably hold the rider in front and rest their feet on the foot pegs should never be a motorcycle passenger.

• Positioning: The only place a child can ride on a motorcycle in behind the driver. Never ride with a child in front of the driver.

• Safety Gear: Children should wear the same safety gear as any other motorcycle rider. Protective motorcycle gear comes in a wide array of sizes for children. Most importantly, make sure they have a child sized, DOT helmet.

• Duration of the Ride: Long rides are not suitable for children as a general rule. Children can fall asleep and slide off the bike; even on a custom cruiser or a Honda Goldwing with full passenger setup.

• Back rest: Ideally, children should ride on bikes that have a bike rest or sissy bar on the rear of the seat. This added support makes it easier for the child to stay in place and minimizes fatigue.

• Test Ride: Before hitting the streets or the highway, make a couple of test runs on a deserted street or a large parking lot. A little practice can make sure the child is truly ready to be a motorcycle passenger.

Riding on a motorcycle for a child can be an exhilarating experience and can be the spark to the start of a lifelong love of motorcycling. Experienced bikers should help insure that the new generation of bikers understands safety is more important than the thrill of the ride. By helping children understand and respect the need for safety at a young age, the entire motorcycle community will benefit greatly.