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The Harley Files

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Starting to ride, getting gear, and staying safe!

I did alot of research in working toward my motorcycle license and purchase of a motorcycle.  I chose to buy Harley-Davidson but this site is just as useful for someone looking to purchase a bike from any other manufacturer.

On this lens you will find information on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, rider safety, and more.  My hope is that this page will help anyone who wants to ride for the first time in their research and eventual riding experience.

All proceeds from clicks on this lens go to Room To Read.

Motorcycle Safety & Legal Links

Motorcycle Safety Foundation
The MSF provides resources for not only educating safe riders but to train the general public in sharing the road with motorcycles. If you are looking for a safe riding course or just want safety tips, this is a good place to start.
Rider's Edge Course
Rider's Edge is the motorcycle safety course offered by Harley-Davidson. It's also the course that I, myself, took and passed. It was a great experience and I definitely learned skills through it that I wouldn't have on my own. Skills that will help to keep me safe on the road.
Motorcycle Laws By State
Put up by the American Motorcycle Association, this listing covers the main riding laws by state. Licensing, helmets, passengers, and most anything else that you can think of. VERY informative and all in one easy place.
Helmet Laws For All 50 States
Here is a handy listing of helmet laws in each state. Handy especially if you're doing some traveling. The police don't care about the helmet law from your own state - just what the helmet law is in their jurisdiction. So it's a good idea to look before you leap here.
ABATE National Listing
ABATE is a group that lobbies for bikers rights with chapters all over the US. If there is a movement to get helmet rights (the right to choose to wear one) it's likely that ABATE has something to do to it. They also tend to put their money into educating car drivers about motorcycle rights.
Safety Tips
A GREAT set of riding safety tips. If you ride, read these!

Harley-Davidson Links

Harley History & More

Harley-Davidson Home Page
The home page for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. If you're going to be buying a Harley, this is a great first link to check out. Alot of information and all of the technical stats that you could want on each bike that they sell.
Wikipedia's Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson on Wikipedia. Like any other Wiki listing, anyone can post. If you question any information, look at the references the writer cites, if any. Regardless, some very cool stuff here.
Harley Chat Group Forums
Great info on Harley-Davidson motorcycles (as well as any other brand out there), repair, safety, riding, and biker life. It's easily the best Harley forum out there - join in on the boards!

Recommended Motorcycle Gear

FXRG Midweight Leather Jacket

I love my FXRG leather jacket! It's a nice, solid jacket. It's heavy for cold weather riding (I can personally attest to its complete wintertime warmth), but has built-in blow-through venting for hot summer riding. It has protective armor along the spine, shoulders, and elbows which give you added physical security if not some extra peace of mind.

I get a chuckle out of handing the jacket to people and watching them nearly topple over when they get it. It's not just a leather jacket - it's riding gear and it's a bit heavy because of it. The good thing is that all that thickness and weight will be between you and the road should you ever dump your bike. As the saying goes, ride wearing what you want to crash wearing.

The look is somewhere between Harley gear and metric gear - it looks heavy and tough but at the same time it's smooth and streamlined.

The only negative that I can offer for this product is that the kidney belt is pretty much useless. It's just basically a piece of elastic fabric attached to the jacket and really doesn't offer any support to speak of.

You can check it out using this link.

Motorcycle/Harley Books

Some excellent reading for developing riding technique - I own each of them!
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ScottsCaseFiles

I'm just an honest man trying to make his way in the world.
Tech guy, world traveller, writer, blogger, biker, philosopher...it's hard to wear so many... more »

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