Life Hacks For Motorcycle Riders

It’s the 457th day of quarantine period in our region and while the coronavirus is still there, a lot of us are switching to bikes and motorcycles instead of commuting to lessen the contact with other people. This explains why bikes are coming back to the scene.

We admit we also got our new scooter for our future travel plans. I may not know how to drive the bike but as a back rider, I want to share some life hacks I’ve gained so far.

Aside from the obvious safety tips like inspect motorcycle before riding, wearing motorcycle gears, checking the weather and obeying traffic rules, here are a few more life hacks that you won’t think you’ll need eventually.

1. Parking motorcycles on soft soil, muddy ground, hot asphalt or any unstable surface can be annoying. The solution is to put something flat or sturdy under the kickstand. There are available kickstand pads in the market for this purpose but I suggest to just use crushed aluminum can, sturdy wood or other random stuff available in your area so you can save money.

2. Another annoying thing when driving a bike is foggy helmet visor caused by the rain, cold air and the moisture from the air we exhale. But did you know that we can prevent this by rubbing sliced potato inside the visor? Potatoes are starchy doesn’t water doesn’t like starch. IKR! Potatoes aren’t just delish. They’re useful, too! 

3. Want your hands to stop smelling like gasoline? In cities, we’re not really having this problem because there are gasoline boys refueling our car engines. But in rural areas where we sometimes do the refueling, we avoid having contact with the liquid because of its smell. But the mixture of tap water, dish soap and lemon juice can solve the problem.

4. Regardless how much we care for our bikes, we have to admit that scratches are unavoidable. It may accidentally hit something while on drive or someone may accidentally hit it while on idle. We tend to choose touch up paint to cover the scratches but we can actually opt for a less costly solution like sharpies. Just make sure it has the same color.

5. Always keep a garbage roll bag in your storage. Nope! We are not collecting garbage. The plastic is a lifesaver during a sudden rain. You can cover your seat so you can ride home with a dry seat. If you don’t have your raincoat with you, you can poke holes and wear it. It’s not qualified as an OOTD but it’s better than getting soaked in the rain.

6. I know big bikes already have big storage for essentials and top box and side boxes can still be added. But what if they are already full and you bought a little snack from the convenience store? Your shirt can be a pocket for that! Tuck in your shirt and insert your snack through the neckhole. Well, it’s a great help for us who only has small bikes.

7. The automotive polish that you have in your garage isn’t just for your car or for your bike. You can also use them in polishing your helmet! We hear a lots of don’ts when it comes to cleaning helmet. But wiping automotive polish with microfiber cloth will definitely be in the list of dos. It won’t leave scratches and the helmet will be as shiny as new.

8. Today, I’m gonna ask you to lick your gloves. In that way, you can easily access your touchscreen phone since removing gloves to do a little clicking on the phone and wearing them back is quite hassle. I know it doesn’t sound appetizing but for some reason, it works. Just don’t do this when your gloves are dirty.

9. If you have a long hair, the struggle as a rider is real. You’ll either end up having entangled hair or hair breakage. Tying it up in a ponytail or braiding aren’t enough to keep them under control. Instead, you can wear a neck warmer instead and tuck your into it and onto your shirt and jacket. No more flying hair!

10. If your chain need lubrication and you’re in town with no motorcycle shops, you can buy cooking oil as a temporary alternative. Olive oil works best for this as it cleans the chain from crud and dirt. But if you find olive oil expensive, any cooking oil is just fine. It can also be used to lube stubborn jacket zips.