City Riding | Motorcycle Tips

Harley Tips Episode 10

Welcome back as Motovan presents the Experience I’m Dave Hatch.. and now that we’ve got you all fired up to go for a ride.. we’ll wrap up our show with chief riding instructor at Georgian College … Jenn Martin.

Dave

So Jenn, we’re up at Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada and they’ve asked us to take a close look at this new street model, The Street.  Uh this is the five hundred, there’s also a seven fifty and it’s pretty cool because this is a motorcycle that was designed, when they started out designing this bike they were thinking about the urban environment, right.  So I started thinking, let’s talk about more that environment.  For instance, one of the great things about riding a motorcycle in the city is you can park them virtually anywhere, right?

Jenn

Yeah, that’s the beauty… I love riding the motorcycle specifically for that because there’s certain areas that are designated for motorcycle parking, you don’t have to pay in certain areas as well so it’s a definitely plus.

Dave

Right.  But you still have to think about things like the security of your motorcycle.

Jenn

Yeah. For sure.

Dave

Any tips about that?

Jenn

Yeah you know, I mean, obviously if you’re going to be staying in the city for overnight or something like that you want to find a well-lit area because, I mean, I want to return to my motorcycle.

Dave

What about  locks, and there’s all sorts of safety equipment in terms of equipment you can buy for keeping your bike even more safe.

Jenn

Yeah there’s after market alarm systems and I’ve certainly seen motorcycles locked up for sure.

Dave

Yeah yeah Um so we know it’s a great place, it’s a great way to go in terms of getting into the city and riding through the city. Um, one of the things that’s really improved over the years is there are so many options now in terms of just tackling the city with luggage, right?

Jenn

Yeah I mean, I was talking with you before, I prefer having something like this, like a tank bag, I don’t like carrying anything on me so I mean tank bags for me are great and it’s a great added accessory for the street and I can store all my stuff in there and fold it up there and have it in there.

Dave

Yeah but I’m all about the back pack.

Jenn

I know you are.

Dave

Right.  I love this because I can stuff my laptop in there, I can even take a change of clothes if I do have a business meeting and I’m not attaching, affixing anything to the motorcycle, I don’t have… I’m always a last minute person so you know the idea of actually getting something… this I just throw on my back and go.

Jenn

Right, yeah.

Dave

And if I’m touring around a city I can take everything with me as well.

Jenn

Yeah and for me if I needed extra stuff too there’s attachments for the motorcycle as well.  You can put a rack on the back and if you needed stuff you could probably bungee cord it or…

Dave

Right.

Jenn

… put some tie downs.

Dave

I think if you’re purchasing a motorcycle you may want to consider something, if you’re in an urban environment you may want to consider something like the street because you know it’s going to live there.

Jenn

Yeah.

Dave

But some folks like to tour… I guess you can also consider convertible options, motorcycles that have things that come off and bolt on.

Jenn

Yeah the bags will come off so it will give you a narrower profile when you’re in the city but then you can put them back on for your touring for sure.

Dave

So Harley-Davidson and I think the industry in general has made it really easy to ride in the city.

Jenn

For sure.

Dave

Great stuff, thanks Jenn.