The Right Time to Buy a Motorcycle

 

So you are ready to buy your new motorcycle. Congratulations! Now there are plenty of things to consider when looking to buy but let’s talk about timing. If you are thinking the best time is now, well maybe or maybe not. Buying a motorcycle is not the same thing as buying motorcycle jackets with armor or biker vest patches. The prices and people’s willingness to be haggled varies. Ever heard of the phrase buy low sell high? You probably have and you can apply that same logic to your motorcycle.

Seasons Matter

Chances are you've noticed even if this is the first motorcycle you’ve ever bought, the number of people riding motorcycles will change from season to season. In the winter when it is pouring rain and sleet you might see one or two riders held up under the overpass waiting for the sun to come out. But come summer you won’t spend a single day on the highway without seeing a pack of us on the road for an afternoon ride or a longer road trip. Now that I have pointed that out you are probably already guessing what I’ll tell you next. In the winter (some exceptions apply for those of you in LA perhaps) sales dry up. No matter if they are a salesman at the dealership or some guy that posted a craigslist ad, they are going to have more fish biting in the spring and summer when everyone is excited to get out on the road.

Patience is a Virtue

That means you have got to resist that same impulse and wait. You are going to have a lot more room to haggle when you are the only person responding to the ad or the only prospect walking around the lot. When the cash is flowing for the salesman they are under no pressure to haggle and you’ll end up paying considerably more. Hold out and meet them on one of those freezing days when no one wants to be outside and use it to your advantage. Another upside to this is you will get these cooler months to tinker and customize your new motorcycle the way you want in preparation for those prime riding months. Otherwise, you may only get one or two weekends before you succumb to your itchy fingers and start wasting perfectly good riding weather in the garage.

Sometimes the Time is Right

There are of course a lot of things to consider and I am not going to say there are no exceptions. If that perfect deal comes along in June and you just have to have it, well, then get it. But do remember when purchasing your first motorcycle or your seventh, pay attention, and be honest. Ask yourself if that motorcycle is right for you. Does it suit your weight and height? Do you have the skill required to ride that motorcycle? These are easy questions to lie to ourselves about and we have to remember that we all have our limits. You are going to have a lot more fun over the long run if you are honest with yourself and don’t exaggerate your capabilities or push yourself past your physical limits. There can be a time and place for both but take care of yourself when you ride and know what motorcycle is right for you. Let’s decide, among hundreds of Exotic, Inexpensive Motorcycles, How to Get One for Yourself?

With that little sermon over I am going to tell you to live your life. Ride your motorcycle and if you haven’t already, get your butt over to Wicked Stock to buy yourself some water-resistant fleece-lined pants so when you buy that motorcycle in the dead of winter but the roads open up you can get out there and ride.

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Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/the-right-time-to-buy-a-motorcycle/

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS are FLYING OFF the shelves at an unbelievable speed!!!

 

Our Black Friday Sale ends on Sunday, November 29^th. GO grab your motorcycle gear before it is too late!!

WICKED STOCK is a family owned company located in Windsor Mill, a quiet suburb of Baltimore, MD. We specialize in design, manufacture, and sale of all types of motorcycle riding gear and accessories. Every product that we sell online or in our store is fully designed and manufactured by us. We do not outsource any part of the Product Development. This not only ensures the top-notch quality we have consistently provided to our customers over the years but also allows us to offer the best possible pricing in the highly competitive market of motorcycle clothing. 

WICKED STOCK’S goal is to bring the best possible shopping experience to any enthusiast who visits us looking for motorcycle jackets, apparel, motorcycle gear, accessories & almost everything else that goes on your person or your motorcycle. We also manufacture a broad range of leather fashion apparel and accessories for men and women.

You will never have to pay any shipping on any product you order from us (if you are in 48 US states). We provide No Hassle returns and free exchanges in case a product does not fit, or you just need to return it.

We will offer up to 50% discount on select Motorcycle Jackets, Motorcycle Rain Gear, Motorcycle Leather Vests, Pants and Gloves.

Every purchase of $19.99 or more qualifies for a free BikerPatch of your choice. And as always, all orders ship free within 48 US states.  So, get ready to place your order!!

KICK OFF your holiday shopping with BLACK FRIDAY SALE from WICKED STOCK!

 

Our Black Friday Sale starts on thanksgiving eve, Thursday November 26^th and will continue until Sunday, November 29^th. Checkout our biggest sale of the year for all your motorcycle gear needs.

WICKED STOCK is a family owned company located in Windsor Mill, a quiet suburb of Baltimore, MD. We specialize in design, manufacture, and sale of all types of motorcycle riding gear and accessories. Every product that we sell online or in our store is fully designed and manufactured by us. We do not outsource any part of the Product Development. This not only ensures the top-notch quality we have consistently provided to our customers over the years but also allows us to offer the best possible pricing in the highly competitive market of motorcycle clothing.

WICKED STOCK’S goal is to bring the best possible shopping experience to any enthusiast who visits us looking for motorcycle jackets, apparel, motorcycle gear, accessories & almost everything else that goes on your person or your motorcycle. We also manufacture a broad range of leather fashion apparel and accessories for men and women.

You will never have to pay any shipping on any product you order from us (if you are in 48 US states). We provide No Hassle returns and free exchanges in case a product does not fit, or you just need to return it.

We will offer up to 50% discount on select Motorcycle Jackets, Motorcycle Rain Gear, Motorcycle Leather Vests, Pants and Gloves.

Every purchase of $19.99 or more qualifies for a free Biker Patch of your choice.And as always, all orders ship free within 48 US states.  So, get ready to place your order!!

 

Picking Out and Picking Up Your Purchase

 

So you paid close attention to the previous article on what to do when buying a used motorcycle. Today, we are going to go over some of the other little details you might not have thought about. When you are setting up the appointment make sure you know how you are going to be getting your new ride (not to mention yourself) home. If it is in tip-top shape and you love the idea of riding it home then make sure you get a plate (either new plates or from one of your other bikes if you must). If that's the case then great you just need a ride over. But if it is a project you are going to need to get it home. Depending on the model you can use your own or a buddy’s pickup. Failing that you are going to want a trailer and you need to arrange this before you pay for it.

Legal Es

Maybe this is your first motorcycle and the price was perfect but you just don’t have a license. If that’s the case you need to bring someone you know who is licensed to take it for a spin and help you look it over. To that same point make sure you take a look at your state’s laws concerning what is required (i.e proof of sale, insurance) and put these things in order. No matter if you are as green as the grass or as seasoned as barbecue, guy or girl. Let people know where you are going and when. I hate to pull the wool off your eyes but you can’t trust everyone you meet on craigslist and showing up to a remote location with a stack of cash when nobody knows where you are going...well it’s just not being such a smart and reasonable person such as yourself.

Make a List and Check it Twice

With all that in mind before you head over for the purchase and pick up, write yourself a to-do list. If you need plates, bring them. Same with the proof of insurance and the name, address, and the number of the seller. Make your life easy so you aren’t going up and down one-way roads with a truck and trailer that is too big to turn around. If you are riding that motorcycle out then make sure you bring all your gear. Don’t get stuck in a t-shirt and shorts because you got a ride over when you needed your motorcycle protective jacket and textile motorcycle pants or if you live in the northwest your motorcycle rain gear. And just to be clear, if you are riding that motorcycle out of there then you are going to need to carry that helmet with you when you get on the bus to go meet the seller. Write yourself a list because it is easy to forget something when you are coming home differently than you are arriving. To that same point, don’t show up planning to put the motorcycle on a pickup or a trailer without the tie-downs.

Play It Safe

And if you haven't seen or ridden the motorcycle before be sure to tell the seller to leave the bike cold until you get there. Hard starting and other issues are easier to hide sometimes with a warm bike. So just like we mentioned in the last post check the motorcycle cold, ride it (or your buddy does this) then check it again. Beware of any seller that has the motor running when you arrive and started revving it up in excitement at your approach. The first thing you should do is feel the pipes and make sure they are cold. If a seller doesn’t follow your instructions in preparation for the sale then you have every right to be suspicious. Your ride can be your life and you don’t need to be anybody's fool.

Once you’ve followed these steps and you know this motorcycle is exactly what you want take a look at wickedstock.com and pick up some new gear to go with your new-used motorcycle.

In the last, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/picking-out-and-picking-up-your-purchase/

Getting Started – When Buying a Used Motorcycle

 

So you are looking to buy a used motorcycle. It is certainly an economical way to try out a different ride. Or maybe you’ve ridden in the past but never owned your motorcycle. There are a hundred reasons to buy a used motorcycle and they are perfectly valid. The important thing, and what I am going to go over today is to make sure you know what you need before buying that previously owned motorcycle.

The number one thing I am going to tell you is that you have to know how the motorcycle has been modified. It doesn’t matter if you are a Harley fan decked out in your leather motorcycle pants and matching leather biker vest or if you are a racer with the corresponding motorcycle racing pants. We tinker on our rides. So first and foremost know how the ride has been molded.

Whether it is loud pipes or a custom paint job before you ever see the motorcycle ask what the mods have been. That way when you show up to take a look you know exactly what to look for to make sure the mods have been done properly. That is going to take some research if it’s new to you but that’s why you ask.

Looking at the Fine Print

The same line of thought suggests that you ask them to have the maintenance records available (as far as possible) when you go by to take a look. Every machine that has been ridden before has a story to tell and these records will give you the cliff notes. Take a close look at the motorcycle, look for pooling or leakage, pop the seat, examine the bar ends, lever and footpegs. Get in close and look at just how hard the motorcycle has been ridden. And I am going to tell you to do this twice. Once while the motorcycle is cold then do it again after the test ride. And yes, always do a test ride. Seems like common sense but never buy a vehicle without feeling the engine at work. Once you have taken it for a ride re-examine it, pay attention, and don’t get distracted with banter from the seller.

To know more about buying a used motorcycle, please read our 4 Red Flags to Watch Out for When Buying an Old Motorcycle.

If that all checks out and you couldn’t be happier then you still need to do your research and make sure you aren’t getting ripped off. To that end, you are going to have to insist on a used bill of sale and you are going to take a close look at the VINs (Look up images of the factory stamped VINs) make sure they haven’t been restamped. The last thing you want is to get pulled over a month down the line wearing your favorite textile motorcycle pants from Wicked Stock because your new favorite ride was boosted last spring. Get the bill of sale showing how you obtained the motorcycle and check the VINs.

Attention to Detail

Next up I am going to tell you to know and understand what you are looking at. Some motorcycles will spit out oil on startup and that is perfectly natural, for others it means it needs a trip to the ER. So do your homework and know what to look for when it comes to this particular model. If you aren’t certain then ask the seller (previous warnings aside not everyone is out to rob you). Ask about that noise you aren’t familiar with and see what they say.

If you’ve got a friend with a similar model then bring them with you for “expert advice”. If they aren’t in the mood you can always offer to buy them some new leather motorcycle gloves from www.wickedstock.com (follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) and get yourself a pair while you are at it.

Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/getting-started-when-buying-a-used-motorcycle/

35 Challenging Things Every Motorcyclist Must Do

 

Driving a motorcycle takes a special kind of person. When we are on the road, we have to maintain constant vigilance to remain safe even in ideal conditions, just because of other drivers. When you add rain or snow to the mix it is even more so. Plenty of people consider us full hardy and reckless, but for those of us for whom this is an inseparable part of our identity, it is an expression of our soul. We need our freedom, but we also have some things to accomplish.

Take a look at this list of 30 things every motorcyclist should do and let us know how many you can mark off.

1. Customize the motorcycle yourself.
2. Know your machine as you know yourself. Maintain the motorcycle yourself.
3. Fall in love. Take care of your motorcycle like a lover.
4. Know your priorities. Skip Christmas so you can go riding.
5. Be the good guy. Go on a charity run even if you’d rather be buying some brand-new leather motorcycle gloves.
6. Get out there and get dirty. Have at least one-day off-roading.
7. Jump on a motorcycle with twice the horsepower or torch that you have ever experienced before.
8. Be the good guy and stand up for your buddy who has just learned how to ride.
9. Know what a negative influence is. Get rid of a dangerous riding buddy for their stupid habits.
10. Define at least one day as your track day.
11. Just because you have to try it once, drift. Even just a little.
12. Dress like a motorcyclist with the cliché leather motorcycle jacket or the men's leather motorcycle pants.
13. Be fastidious and clean your motorcycle once a month if not once a week.
14. Be “that guy”. When you propose your very best ideas be sure to say “What’s the worst that could happen?”
15. Bounce a little and do the bunny hop on the sidewalk.
16. Accomplish a lane split.
17. Have that weird conversation where you tell girlfriend you care about them even if you do go riding every weekend.
18. Blow off your significant other to hang out with your motorcycle.
19. Know what you need for riding. Be able to ask for exactly what you want. (Even if they say you don’t need those leather motorcycle pants.)
20. Be the action hero and shoot a gun from a moving motorcycle.
21. Ride to win and take the day.
22. Say yes to a spontaneous road trip with someone you’ve known for two hours.
23. Get wet. Ride through the rain the entire trip, quietly cursing your buddy who dragged you out.
24. Be angry. Get off your motorcycle and walk up to the driver that just cut you off, tap on his or her window, and go at it.
25. Care for the other riders out there and block for a group ride you don’t know, but learn more about the group riding before you go.
26. Know yourself and know your machine. When you’ve reached the upper limits of your skill level, just admit it and know it.
27. Be the expert. Tell your friend just what kind of motorcycle they need because what they picked just doesn’t match them.
28. Buy and be happy with the motorcycle that you said was a stepping stone.
29. Be the stud. Turn around after the woman at the crosswalk smiled at you in your leather motorcycle pants.
30. Live in the moment and stop wasting your time dreaming about the “If only” motorcycle.
31. Be the loner of your own story. Take a ride alone to somewhere you've never been.
32. Pull yourself together and stop crying. The road doesn’t care.
33. Stand up for love. Defend your motorcycle in a public brawl.
34. Ride through the storm be it rain, sleet or snow.
35. See the sea and ride to the beach and back.

Doesn’t sound so bad, does it? 35 things every motorcyclist should do eventually. I’m sure I missed one or two you think should be added in there. So why not drop a note and let me know what you think should be on there right before you head over to wicked stock to prepare for your ride to the sea.

Hey! Yeah, do not forget to share your thoughts on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook – Happy riding!

Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/35-challenging-things-every-motorcyclist-must-do/

Warning Stickers and Best Practices

 

My first motorcycle and boy was I proud. A brand new, pristine Ducati GT1000 all those years ago. To me, it was a powerhouse work of art and the end all be all that I had been looking for. Then somebody had seen fit to slap a warning sticker on the face. No, none of us should drive drunk, and yeah, they have to tell you to read the manual. But I was young and after I got it home, I was not taking it back out until I have had these annoyances removed. After parking, I walked straight to the garage and grabbed a pack of razor blades. Probably obvious to some of you but we are all stupid is the first time around the block. So, as you may have guessed, I was pissed when I scratched the hell out of the fuel take and I have learned better ways to go about this.

First off save yourself some trouble down the road and know which stickers are required in your municipality. From there just take a quick photo of it because once it is off it may or may not be in any shape to read it and you don’t want to kick yourself later if there is something on there that isn’t in your user's manual. Once you have taken the necessary steps to cover your ass we can get down to business. If it doesn’t come off just by peeling it then I recommend two tools. Hairdryer and goo gone. If you don’t have a hairdryer suck it up and go buy one or just borrow it. Torches and heat guns are too hot and going to cause you more problems than they are going to solve (damaging the paint with a heat gun is no better than scratching it with a razor blade). If it is a hot enough day and it’s in the sun that might do the trick, but otherwise use a hairdryer, trust me.

If you have the goo gone give it a try quick on someplace hidden just in case it hurts the paint. It shouldn’t, but now you’ve been warned for that one in a hundred times. Now heat the whole sticker with the hairdryer, we are trying to melt the glue holding the sticker down. Once it is heating up use your fingernail (nothing sharper like a knife or razor) and work your nail under one of the corners. You may need to keep heating it as you go to get it off cleanly but it will come off. Once it is off, use that goo gone and lightly clean the area to get the rest of the residual gum off the tank. Be careful not to get it on your leather motorcycle pants, or your motocycle riding gloves.

If you tested the goo gone and don’t like what it is doing to your paint you still have options. In a pinch, WD40 can also work but try the well-gone hairdryer first, and always test anything on a hidden area before applying it to the paint. This was a hard lesson not to jump in with a razor blade but for me first step when I get home is to get the stickers off. Also, save yourself a bit of trouble, and once the paperwork is signed get the dealership to remove any advertising. They aren’t paying you to drive around advertising for them so watch them take off that advertising license plate frame.

Once you have gotten your brand-new motorcycle cleaned up and ready for a ride make sure you head over to Wicked Stock and get yourself some proper attire, be it some classic leather motorcycle pants, or some proper motorcycle racing pants.

For more tips on motorcycle customization, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/warning-stickers-and-best-practices/