Motorcycle Gear Topics
Motorcycle Gear Articles
Motorcycle Gear Articles
Heat and Summer Temps Require Cooling Gear
Heat and Summer Temps Require Cooling GearJuly 17, 2014 It's HOT for Summer Riding! Cooling Gear is the Key to the Perfect Summer Ride Cooling Gear can make the difference between a great ride on a hot, sunny day and a miserable, sweaty afternoon. Have you ever wondered how the various types of gear work to keep you cool? Maybe you’re getting ready to ride to Sturgis, across mile after mile of sun-baked landscape, or maybe you just like to ride in the sunshine. With the right cooling gear, you can enjoy those summer rides in comfort. Essentially, cooling gear sweats so you don’t. Since you’re not losing bodily fluids as sweat, you are less likely to suffer heat stress. Cooling gear works through evaporation. Heat energy is used to vaporize water, not to warm you—so you feel cooler. And cooling gear holds a lot of water—enough to keep you cooler for hours and hours. Let’s look at some of the cooling gear Eagle Leather offers. Cooldannas can be worn around the head or as a neck scarf. They get their magic from cooling crystals, polyacrylamide granules. (Don’t worry, the granules are non-toxic.) When you soak the bandanna in water, the granules take up the water, expand and become a crystalline gel. The bandanna fabric can then absorb water from the gel, and as that evaporates, your head or neck feels cooler. The gel holds so much water that this process can cool you for hours. Check out the wide array of colors and patterns here. The Evaporative Cooling Vest also uses polymers to hold a lot of water. As that water slowly evaporates, you stay cool without losing body fluids by sweating. The polymer is embedded in the fabric of the vest. You use it just like the Cooldanna—wet it, wring it out, wear it and repeat as needed. When it gets dirty, just wash it in warm soapy water. Take a look. The Gulpz™ Evaporative Cooling Vest uses fabric with embedded polymers to cool your back and adds a 70-fluid-ounce water bladder and a hands-free drinking hose with a bite valve. The Evaporative Cooling Vest keeps your water cool, too. It gives heat stress a double-whammy by cooling you without sweat and by making it easy for you to keep hydrated. You’ll find it here. If you enjoy summer rides—and what motorcycle enthusiast doesn’t—you’ll enjoy them a whole lot more with cooling gear from Eagle Leather! Check out the Eagle Leather Facebook Page for more great information.
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You've Got The Bike We've Got The Gear!
You Got The Bike, We Got The Gear! April 27, 2011 Yea, its been a while since we last communicated, but as you will see, we've been a little busy!Eagle Leather has spent these long winter months preparing for the 2011 riding season in ways that will make you do nothing but smile and enjoy the road more than ever before. You see, we have a few secrets that we will announce NEXT WEEK that directly affect you!Our team is focused purely on making your time on your bike more enjoyable, comfortable and exciting. With this mission firmly in place, we've been working on some VERY BIG things and we want you to know about them BEFORE we tell everybody else. Read on...THE RIDE GUIDE:Together with riders, customers, friends, and organizers of many of the best rides in our area, Eagle Leather commissioned the construction of The Nation's First Search Engine...For Rides! It's not only a search engine for rides - complete with dates, pictures, description, contacts, maps, and more - it's a resource for riders to share everything about our favorite activity...riding! Next week you'll receive a special invitation to enter The Ride Guide, and a special opportunity just for doing so! Watch for it!NEW WEBSITE:You've noticed this email looks a little different? Wait until you see our new website! On April 28th (pending any technical or natural disaster) we will launch the new EagleLeather.com that, like our store, not only features the largest online inventory of motorcycle gear and accessories, but will take riding to a whole new level with cool internet-based bells and whistles that will be a blast. If you're looking for a great ride season and ways to enjoy your bike, you'll find it at Eagle Leather's new website...EVEN MORE IN STORE!We're going to be "Cookin' Dogs" every Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day of course. Our commitment in the new season is to bring you more of everything, every day. If you're looking, you'll find it at Eagle Leather. And if you don't, we'll help you find it and order it.Take a look at our featured items and come on in to welcome the riding season...and don't forget to look for your special invitation to The Ride Guide next week!
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2011 Is Going To Be A Great Year To Ride!
2011 Is Going To Be A Great Year To Ride! May 02, 2011 We hope you've got a little time to feel fortunate to be a Rider this week, as Eagle Leather is out to prove that we're taking our "Gear For The Ride" to new heights for Riders everywhere! First of all, we're proud to announce THE RIDE GUIDE! The Ride Guide is the nation's first Search Engine for Rides! This online organization was funded by Eagle Leather to make 'finding' Rides easy. It was made for all those great rides that have no way to advertise those Rides FREE...just CLICK HERE to add a Ride! It was also made to keep us Riders communicating on what to see, what to avoid, and pass along a few great stories, photos, and thoughts. WIN YOUR SHARE OF $2,500 IN MOTORCYCLE GEAR! Become a member of The Ride Guide by clicking HERE. Join The Ride Guide and register to ride in the July 16 Big O in Orting ride, and you’ll have the chance to win $2500 in Eagle Leather gear. Ride Guide members that ride will be eligible to win! Join The Ride Guide between now and May 31st, 2011 and we'll send you a COUPON for an ADDITIONAL 20% OFF anything in our in-store GREAT DEALS section. You can see some of these great items HERE!NEW EAGLE LEATHER WEBSITE: You asked to make things easier to find online so we listened...and boy did we listen! Rather than tell you all about it, experience it now by CLICKING HERE! LADIES: WE GOT THE GEAR! We spent most of the past few months totally stocking our Ladies Departments with incredible new fashions, stylish new gear, and amazing accessories for Ladies who Ride. Our specials this week to the right are all for the Ladies. So if you're looking for style, looking for great Mother's Day gifts, or see that perfect item for your next Ride, Come Get It at Eagle Leather! SEEN ON THE RIDE GUIDE: International Female Ride Day occurs every year on the first Friday of May. Its a synchronized day for women motorcyclists, worldwide, inviting women to join together on their motorcycles, not matter the type, size or style and -- JUST RIDE!
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The Legend of the Guardian Bell
The Legend of the Guardian® Bell August 16, 2011 Many years ago, on a cold December night, a crusty old biker was returning from a trip to Mexico with his saddlebags filled with toys and other assorted trinkets for the kids at a group home near where he worked.As he rode along that night thinking how lucky he had been in life, having a loving riding partner that understood his need to roam the highways and to his trusty old pan that hadn’t let him down once in the many years they had shared the road together.Well about 40 miles north of the border, in the high desert, lurked a small group of notorious little critters known as road gremlins. You know, the ones who always leave little obstacles like, one shoe, boards, and pieces of old tires on the road, and also dig those dreaded potholes for bikers to run over and crash, thus giving the road gremlins a chance to rejoice over their acts of evil.Well, as the lone wolf of a biker rounded a curve that moonlit night, the gremlins ambushed him, causing him to crash to the asphalt and skid before coming to a stop next to one of his saddlebags that had broken free. As he lay there, unable to move, the road gremlins made their way towards him. Well, this biker, not being one to give up, started throwing things at the gremlins as they approached him. Finally, with nothing else to throw but a bell, he started ringing it in hopes to scare off the dirty little gremlins.About a half a mile away, camped in the desert, were two bikers sitting around the campfire talking about their day’s ride, and the freedom of the wind blowing in their faces as they rode across this vast country. In the stillness of the night air they heard what sounded to them like church bells ringing, and upon investigating, found the old biker lying along the roadside with the gremlins about to get him. Needless to say, being part of the biker brotherhood, they preceded to ward off the gremlins until the last ran off into the night.Being grateful to the two bikers, the old road dog offered to pay them for their help, but as all true bikers do, they refused to accept any type of payment from him. Not being one to let a good deed go unnoticed, the old biker cut two pieces of leather from his saddlebags tassels and tied a bell to each one. He then placed them on each of the biker’s motorcycles, as near to the ground as possible. The tired, old road warrior then told the two travelers that with those bells placed on their bikes, they would be protected from the road gremlins and that if ever in trouble, just ring the bell and a fellow biker will come to their aid.So, whenever you see a biker with a bell, you know that he has been blessed with the most important thing in life—friendship from a fellow biker.The Purpose of the Guardian® BellMany of us have heard the story about Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride, and they’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work; your battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred things that can go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits.Evil Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of the bell, because they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive, so the constant ringing of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed? The bell has served its purpose.If you pick up a Guardian® Bell of your own, the magic will work, but if your bell is given to you, the power is doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you.So, if you have a friend who doesn’t have a bell, why not give them one? It’s a nice feeling for the recipient to know you care. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bikes owner, will help eliminate Evil Road Spirits.Polishing the Guardian® BellIt has been a tradition among some of us for a long time to attach a brass bell to our left swing arm, to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding.It’s a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it gets dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down to wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind.As we ride and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us, and how easy it would be to join them with a single mistake.And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up; they will be there to help us...as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.
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Let's Define Gear
Let's Define Gear September 09, 2011 Gear-defined as: implements, tools, or apparatus, especially as used for a particular occupation or activity; paraphernalia: motorcycle gear. It is often under estimated the importance of wearing the correct type of motorcycle gear from gloves to boots and even the correct garments underneath. Most motorcyclists know the importance of wearing a helmet as we mentioned last week, but there are still some that do not wear adequate gear on the rest of their body.Leather is the most traditional form of motorcycle gear but even that has advanced in recent years. The leather used for motorcycle gear is a very tough form of leather to give maximum protection. Leathers come in a wide range of styles to suit riders, different needs and situations. Choose armor for extra protection; which may be located in the shoulder area, back/spine, hips, knees and elbows; as in some of the Eagle Leather branded gear. Leather used to be the only material for motorcycling clothing but there is now a choice of materials including abrasion resistant textiles. Specialized motorcycling gear has really gone forward during the past few years with advances in manufacturing techniques, materials and product development. These materials are much lighter making them comfortable while riding and they offer great protection against the weather. Textile garments dry out faster so when touring, clothing made from these materials are a good idea.All Eagle Leather employees are trained for your total understanding of the product and what to expect for your kind of riding. Another major point is the importance of the correct size of clothing, helmets and accessories. A helmet that is too big can cause injury in the event of an accident and distract the rider while riding. A baggy jacket can also cause distractions such as wind noise and wind drag. Come and see us this week, we'll talk leather or textile and what it means to you.
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Why you should Ride to the Oyster Run
Why you should Ride the Oyster Run September 14, 2011 Eagle Leather salutes those few guys who got together at the end of the summer to go for a ride and eat some oysters. The year was 1981.Limp Lee had just returned from months of working in Alaska, talked with a few fellas, and they all met at what was then the 'California Tavern' in Marysville. They then decided to ride along HWY 9, stop at some places along the way and end up in Edison to have Oyster cocktails. The next year a few more people joined in, the next year a few more, and by the fourth year there were almost 200 bikes. They couldn't believe it!Well, as the years went by there were just too many people to have an organized run up HWY 9, so Limp Lee talked to the beautiful city of Anacortes about having the run there. It's reported at first the town was not real hip on the idea, as they were not sure what to expect and most of the town closed up as the bikes rolled in. But soon, more and more businesses stayed open and now the whole town has joined in..... and the rest is history.Eagle Leather salutes the spirit of the Limp Lee's of the world, who take a 'Ride idea' and nurture it into an event where Riders from everywhere and turn it into something where the rest of us not only partake, but bring their friends each year.
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Visit Eagle Leather Now For Best Selection
Visit Eagle Leather now for best selection May 09, 2012 April 23, 2012 If you have been waiting to buy that special jacket or replace that old pair of chaps, Eagle Leather has just received a massive shipment -- a 44 foot container -- of our famous Eagle Leather branded apparel!Eagle Leather -- The Best Leathers Guaranteed!Eagle Leather branded jackets, pants, vests and chaps are made from top quality materials and the finest leathers. Superior construction means Eagle Leather gear feels great and has the best fit.Eagle Leather has also invested particularly in the construction of apparel for tall individuals. "This is a really big deal for many of our customers who refuse to buy anything else but the Eagle Leather brand," said Mike Toursal, owner and motorcycle aficionado. "We insist on the top thinsulated liners, special construction of the armpit for ultimate comfort and the best zippers to ensure durability."And Mike backs up the Eagle Leather brand with an industry-leading 2-year guarantee. If owners experience zipper or seam problems, or any type of issue with the construction of an Eagle Leather branded product, Eagle Leather will fix it or replace it free of charge."If you have been waiting for Eagle Leather branded pants, jackets, vests or chaps, get in the store as soon as you can to ensure the best selection," Mike said. Visit Eagle Leather Lakewood this week to get the best picks including apparel for tall men, and regular to extra large sizes for men and women.
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Leathers Second To Helmets In Safety Survey
Leathers Second to Helmets in Safety Survey July 18, 2012 Stan Lengele was cruising in the outside lane of a wet Oregon highway back in December 2001. He was on his 1982 1100 Goldwing that he had fully adorned with light bars, tree lights and spindle lights.Despite his attempts at improving his conspicuity with the added lights, an automobile driver on the inside lane failed to see Stan, and moved into his lane. He was forced to lay his bike down that resulted in his landing nearly 100 feet further down the highway against a concrete rail.In his survey response, Stan recalled: "I was wearing my leather chaps, my leather jacket, covered with a snow riding suit, riding boots and winter riding gloves and of course my helmet. When I laid my bike down I pushed my self off tucked and rolled...""I had very little road rash. My helmet was torn up, my gloves torn up and my boots torn up. The ambulance driver and the police were talking about how lucky I was, that I should of been dead. I was taken to the hospital with a sprained arm and five broken ribs. My gear and my training saved my life."With safety being a number one concern for motorcyclists, Eagle Leather recently ran a survey asking Eagle Leather Riding Community Members what they felt was the most important piece of gear after their helmets. 48% said that it was their leather jacket, with 26% indicating armored and 22% indicating non-armored styles. Here are the totals: 26% Armored leather jacket 22% Non-armored leather jacket 17% Armored textile jacket 17% Riding boots 13% Reflective piping or tape 2% Knee & Shin armor 2% Leather full-legged chaps 2% Neck brace This trend in biker perceptions is embraced by many organizations that are involved professionally with motorcycles. They advocate that riders should wear appropriately armored leather or Kevlar jackets that fit well and feel good. They also suggest that they have the ability to expand (to accommodate more under-clothing in colder temperatures) with vents to increase comfort in warm weather.Sure, we've heard that before, but when you have big companies like Motorcycle Safety Info, most insurance companies and others all advocating the benefits of appropriate jackets, it makes you feel pretty good about your choices. Here's what Esurance* says about gear:Wearing the appropriate gear — jacket, pants, gloves, and boots — is absolutely essential to your safety when you ride. While motorcycle gear comes in a variety of durable fabrics, leather is the toughest and the most ideal.Leather pants or chaps and a leather jacket will protect most of your body against road rash (or worse!) in case of an accident. Leather boots with good traction and protective gloves are also a must. If you ride in the heat a lot, buy a jacket with zippered vents so that you can remain cool (and safe) at all times.http://www.esurance.com/safety/motorcycle-safetySo it is no big surprise that, of those surveyed, 75% said they owned non-armored or armored leather and armored textile jackets. It does, however, make you wonder what the other 25% are wearing? Here are some of the results on what ELRC members own: 75% Leather full-legged chaps 55% Non-armored leather jacket 53% Riding boots 51% Armored textile jacket 36% Armored textile pants 35% Non-armored textile pants 31% Armored leather jacket 18% Reflective piping or tape What are Eagle Leather's thoughts on this survey? With safety the a-number-one concern for riders, it is a good thing to see so many donning leather, armored leather or armored textile jackets. It also looks like many own multiple jacket types, which may indicate people are geared for changing weather, or maybe just a change in gear style. Fewer have invested in riding boots, but this survey did not go so far as to ask folks what they wore if riding boots were not their first choice. Our thoughts: your feet are vulnerable too, perhaps more than any other part of your body. Hot pipes and accidental touch downs might be more of a threat to the individual over and above an accident. Be sure to protect your feet, and invest in appropriately rugged and protective footwear!Although we asked about ownership of things like added armor (elbow/arm, spine, shoulder, knee & shin, hip, thigh, chest), armored leather pants, Kevlar lined under-gear and neck braces, less than 15% of survey participants said they owned any of these items (16% owned elbows/arm armor). But what really surprised us was the 18% that registered having reflective piping or tape. Our thoughts are that increasing your conspicuousness is a good thing and that reflective piping or tape is an easy way to enhance your visibility. But there must be a reason so few have invested in this helpful material. Help us understand your thoughts on reflective tape by posting a comment on our Facebook page: why do you think reflective tape or piping is a good thing? Why haven't you purchased a jacket with reflective piping or why have you not applied reflective strips on your jacket? In the meantime, Eagle Leather remains committed to your safety. If you have any questions about how your gear can help improve your riding experience, just ask!
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Taking Care of Your Leathers
Taking Care of Your Leathers June 13, 2013 Tips for Taking Care of Your LeathersCheck out these simple tips and your leather will look beautiful and last for years.Your motorcycle leathers are a safety investment, albeit a stylish one. For the most part, the more finished your leather is, the more resistant it is to spills and stains. Untreated leather absorbs liquids and oils, causing stains easily. Soap and water is good for routine maintenance, but always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and test any cleaners in an inconspicuous area. If you love the smell and look of your leather goods, take proper care of them with these tips: Use a cleaning product that will not clog the pores. Leather needs to breathe. Matching items (jacket and chaps, both gloves, both boots, etc.) should be cleaned at the same time. Commercial cleaners are known to produce a very slight color change after cleaning. If you get matching items cleaned at the same time, there won’t be a mismatch in color. Prevention is the best cure. Store in a dry area and avoid preparations that contain alcohol. Wet leather should be hung on a padded hanger and air dried. Apply some conditioner when the leather is almost completely dry. Small repairs can be done with rubber cement. Wipe up excess liquid spills immediately with a clean cloth or sponge. If necessary use clean lukewarm water and let the leather air-dry. For stains, apply a mild, non-detergent soap solution with a clean, wet sponge. Rinse well and let air-dry. For butter, oil, or grease, wipe the excess off the leather with a clean, dry cloth, and then leave it alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather in a short period of time. Do not apply water. Be careful with mink oil or other animal fats. They will darken leather. Stay away from turpentine and mineral spirits as they can take away color. Do not use waxes, or silicone formulas or other leather preparations that impair the ability of the leather to "breathe". To remove gum from leather heat it with a hair dryer until it is completely dry and then rub it off with a dry cloth. If there are any marks left apply some conditioner. Source: http://www.legendaryusa.com/Leather-Care-s/73.htm
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The Best Color Lenses for Your Ride!
The Best Color Lenses for Your Ride October 07, 2013 The Best Color Lenses for Your Ride Depend on Your Eye Color! Sunglasses are one of the most important and essential pieces of motorcycle safety gear. Not only will they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, they will protect you from the elements like wind, rain, dirt and bugs. MPN recently blogged about a motorcycle eyewear company that discovered a correlation between a rider’s eye color and the lens color that is best for him or her. The company’s sales showed that 80 percent of riders wear gray lenses with black frames. In an experiment, they asked riders to test wearing gray lenses and amber lenses through the same environment while riding to determine if either lens provided greater vision.Early during testing, researchers found out eye color was a major factor in which lens color each rider chose. Lighter-colored eyes are more transparent, allowing more light to enter and more sensitive to bright light. Contrast lenses make everything brighter. Based on these theories, riders were put into one of two groups and the results were summarized.Greater than 4/5 riders with lighter-colored eyes chose a gray-colored lens. The additional contrast from the amber lens made the bright light too much to bear – a few riders gave the sunglasses back within seconds of trying them on. Riders with darker-colored eyes overwhelmingly preferred the amber colored lens. For these riders, the additional contrast of the lens was considered safer and more comfortable.The test also took on the longstanding belief by some riders that polarized lenses made it more difficult to see water puddles because the glare of the sun on the water was no longer visible. The testers were unable to create any situation that proved this belief to be accurate. Polarization allowed the riders to see what was in the puddles, and be able to differentiate between puddles and potholes.To recap – if you have light-colored eyes, a gray lens is probably best for you. If you have dark-colored eyes, you might want to go with an amber lens. However regardless of lens color, you sunglasses of choice should be polarized and shatter-proof for the ride. Find out more interesting facts on Eagle Leather's Facebook Page! Source: http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com
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What to Look for in Motorcycle Gloves
Discover the essentials of choosing the right motorcycle gloves with our expert guide. Learn about leather vs. textile options, sizing tips, and more to enhance your riding experience.
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