30 Minute Motorcycling

It might seem like a lot of money, but getting a top box for your motorcycle or scooter comes with a lot of perks.

I was on the fence for a while, and when I finally decided to get one, it was one of the best accessories I ever bought.

So you're also on the fence about whether you should get a top box, this episode is for you.


Tune in to discover:

• What makes a top box better than a cargo net or a pair of saddlebags
• Something that might make your bike more attractive if you decide to sell it

Resources:

• "2008 Honda SH300i - What's It Like?" - The Dual Wheel Journey Video
• " 5 Compelling Reasons to Invest in a Top Box for Your Motorcycle or Scooter" - The Dual Wheel Journey article

Yes, it can and does happen - and I'm living proof of that.

That's right. I once lost one of my tire valve caps, and that was a bigger deal than you might think.

Fortunately, I also managed to fix that problem, so if you've just made the same mistake, this episode is for you.


Tune in to discover:

• The story of how I lost one of my tire caps after doing essential maintenance
• Why tire valve caps are just as important as the tire valve itself
• What you do if you lose one of tire valve caps

Resources:

• "Tire Valve Caps - More Important Than You Think" - The Dual Wheel Journey article

No matter what kind of tires or wheels your bike has, they all rely on one thing - wheel alignment.

If that goes "out of whack," you can expect big problems.

But what causes wheel alignment to go "out of whack," so to speak? And what is wheel alignment, and why does it matter so much?

Tune in to discover:

•  A simple explanation of what wheel alignment is - and why it matters so much for handling and safety
• 3 common issues that can happen if your wheel alignment is out of whack
• 5 things that may cause your wheel alignment to go out of alignment

Resources:

• Episode #17 - Motorcycle Wheels and Tires

It's a small part of your bike - so small you might not even see it that much.

But despite its small size, a fork seal leak can cause HUGE issues - both for your bike and certainly for you.

Tune in to discover:

• What a "fork seal" does
• Why a "fork seal leak" is such a huge issue
• 3 nasty side effects of a fork seal leak

Resources:

• What Is a Fork Seal Leak, And Why Is It a HUGE Problem? - The Dual Wheel Journey article

60% of motorcycles are chain-driven -  but whether it's a 65cc dirt bike or a huge 1000+cc crotch rocket, one thing remains:

"The chain is only as strong as its weakest link."

Some things can go wrong with the chain regardless of the size or the type of motorcycle you've got.

Tune in to discover:

• 5 common issues with chain drive - and why they happen

Resources: 

• "5 Common Chain Drive Issues" - The Dual Wheel Journey article

Some lessons can't be told through books - only through a real-life experience.

Even if that experience wasn't exactly a smashing success - failure can sometimes be the best teacher of them all.

Case in point - the very first time I attempted anything mechanical (and which didn't require something more than a screwdriver).

Even though it was an easy job, it turned out to be a real ordeal - but through that, something good came out of this experience.

Tune in to discover:

• How my first attempt at changing brake pads "went a bit south"
• How I solved the issue I had
• The 2 invaluable lessons I had from this ordeal

Resources:

• Ebook - "5 Mechanical Life-Lessons I Was Taught From Real-Life Experiences"

Depending on where you ride, your suspension travel needs to be set up for you to tackle the challenges of your riding environment.

You might need short-suspension travel...or maybe you need a long-suspension travel setup?

Tune in to discover:

• The differences between long vs. short suspension travel - and scenarios where you need one over the other
• How much travel your shock absorber should have
• How to check your suspension travel

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey article - "Differences Between Long vs. Short Suspension Travel Demystified"
• 30 Minute Motorcycling Podcast Episode #24 - "Introduction to Motorcycle Suspension & 6 Common Suspension Terms Explained"

The fact that you've run out of fuel ISN'T one of them - you've checked, and there's still fuel in your tank.

So, if you've still got fuel, what's stopping it from getting to your engine?

Tune in to discover:

• 5 reasons why fuel isn't getting to your engine - whether your bike has fuel injection or a carburetor

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey article - " No Fuel Going to Your Motorcycle's Engine? 5 Reasons Why "
• 30 Minute Motorcycling Podcast Episode #29 - "Carburetor vs. Fuel Injection and Petcock Basics"

Some mechanical problems will cause your bike's engine to run poorly. Others will cause the entire engine to stop (or "seize", if you will).

Case in point - the engine seizure.

Tune in to discover:

• What an engine seizure is
• 3 common reasons for an engine seizure
• Differences between a soft vs. hard engine seizure  

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey article - "Engine Seizure - What is It, And Why Does It Happen?"
• 30 Minute Motorcycling Episode #45:  " Some Common Overheating Problems for Liquid-Cooled and Air-Cooled Engines" 
• 30 Minute Motorcycling Episode #34: "An Overview of an Engine Overhaul"

In short - YES, they do matter. Not only that, where you put them matters too.

Tune in to discover:

• How a sprocket's size is determined
• What a "sprocket ratio" is - and how to determine it
• How sprocket sizes matter

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey article - " Motorcycle Sprocket Sizes & Sprocket Ratio Demystified"
• 30 Minute Motorcycling Episode #35:  How a Motorcycle Transmission Works & Gear Ratios Demystified