When it comes to motorcycle jackets, you want something that balances the need to look like you own the road and enough protection to keep you from becoming part of the road. Viking Cycle, a brand based out of California, has been turning heads with their attention to detail and security in their full range of motorcycle clothing for men and women. The best part is the price tag.
Overview of the Bloodaxe Motorcycle Jacket
Out of the box, the Bloodaxe looks awesome and feels awesome. When the jacket first goes on, you’ll notice it’s a bit stiff—but it does loosen up with some wear, as good leather should. The zippers have solid construction, open and close smoothly, and lay well when you’re riding.
The biggest advantage of the Viking Cycle Bloodaxe isn’t the awesome name but the amount of storage. You won’t believe the amount of storage space you have with this jacket. There’s so much, it’s almost ridiculous.
There is a headphone wire system that you can feed into the collar of the jacket, earphone pockets, a media player pocket, cellphone pocket with 3 second access, 2 knife and pen pockets, an eyeglass pocket, a pocket designed to find a 10-inch tablet, extendable keyholder, and another pocket that can fit travel documents and your wallet. The pockets have a unique “no bulge” design, so even if you somehow managed to stuff every single compartment this jacket has, it will still look flat and sleek and not like a bubble jacket. Overall, it sits nice on the body and doesn’t feel stifling.
The sizing does run a little small. Someone around 5 foot, 10 inches, 180 pounds will fall into the M-L range, depending on how much you want to bundle up. If you take out the thermal lining or don’t want to wear a lot of clothing underneath, you might want to size down to prevent the jacket from floating on you.
Specifications
(listed adapted from vikingcycle.com)
- Construction – Drum-dyed soft genuine cowhide leather (milled buffalo), padded shoulders, and Viking cycle level 1 removable “armor” on elbows and spine; two intake vents on the top of the shoulders and exhaust vents in the back
- External Storage – 2 zippered chest pockets, 2 zippered side pockets, and a single sleeve pocket
- Internal Storage – 2 secured zippered pockets and a secret compartment
- Adjustability – waist snaps and sleeve zippers
- Visibility – High viz stripes located on the back and shoulders
Pros
- Sag and wrinkle resistant
- Wind and water resistant
- Abrasion resistant
- A ton of hidden pockets on the internal side of the jacket
- CE marked armor in the back and shoulders – comfortable and stays in place while riding around
- Budget-friendly cost without a lack of quality and safety
- Stylish design
Cons
- Can be hot – the jacket has a thermal lining and is heavy, so it can be oppressive in the summertime even with the vents open. For that reason, it might not be ideal for moving in slower paced traffic;
- CE armor level could be higher.
Warranty Info
Viking Cycle offers a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty on all of their products. This means that any defects or imperfections that you find are covered. The warranty does not cover wear and tear or damages caused from improper care.
This might raise some questions about durability, since some production errors or faults can take a few days or weeks to appear.
If you start to notice something odd going on with the jacket that you didn’t cause, you can contact Viking Cycle at info@vikingcycle.com with the order number and a photo of the defect to get an exchange or refund.
Conclusion
Honestly, for the quality of the jacket, you would expect to pay more for it than you do. The name might be a bit for metal than what this motorcycle jacket offers, but the sleekness of the design, paired with the sound construction and unheard of amount of storage makes it a clear winner. If you’re looking for a balance of style and safety without breaking your bank, I recommend the Viking Bloodaxe motorcycle jacket for your wardrobe.
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How To Push Start A Motorcycle
Any serious motorcyclist will know the essentials, like wearing appropriate safety gear, proper riding position, turning mechanisms, and how to do a push start. Wait, you don’t know how to clutch start a motorcycle? What happens if you can’t start the motor with the switch? Good thing you’re here. In just a few steps, you can learn how to effectively push start a motorcycle and get riding in no time.
Before You Push Start
There are a few things to keep in mind if you plan on push starting (also called bump starting and clutch starting) your bike. First, push starting isn’t the ideal method, and it sometimes doesn’t work.
Next, if your motorcycle isn’t starting, check some things that sometimes prevent a motorcycle from starting:
- Ignition kill switch – make sure the kill switch is set to the STOP position.
- Fuel level – your fuel gauge could be faulty, so pop the cap and check to make sure you’re not running on E.
- Fuel petcock – if you have a non-EFI bike, make sure the fuel tap petcock is OFF.
- Kickstand – some bikes have an added safety feature that prevents it from starting if the kickstand is down.
- Gear set in neutral – if the gear is engaged, the bike will refuse to start. Do a double-check.
If none of these apply to your situation, then it’s time to push start your bike.
How To Push Start
Follow these steps in the order listed.
Find A Hill
While you could get a few friends to push your motorcycle, you’re not always going to be traveling in a group. When that happens, you need to find yourself a hill. Steep slopes help you get to the proper speed to bypass the start system.
On a flat road? Don’t despair. If you can push the bike at a reasonable speed then jump on and release the clutch, you can still do a push start.
Engage 2nd or 3rd Gear
A lesser known trick to a successful push start is to avoid 1st gear and go straight to 2nd or 3rd gear. Avoid 1st gear entirely if your bike as a high compression engine.
The reason why skipping 1st gear is important is because you could potentially lock the rear tire, which would result in a crash.
Clutch, Release, and Start
Start moving down the hill to get speed while holding the clutch. As you start to gain momentum, release the clutch and press the start button in a seamless motion. Quickly apply some throttle, and the motorcycle should start. As soon as the bike is roaring, engage the clutch.
It’s important to stay in full control of the motorcycle. Please do this as far from traffic as possible, just in case you end up swerving.
If this doesn’t work on the first try, don’t give up. Stop. Reset yourself, and repeat the first three steps again.
Rev That Engine
This is the final step—the most integral. If you don’t immediately rev the engine, the motorcycle will die again. Stay focused.
Depress the clutch slightly and moderately rev the engine. Don’t let it scream. Keep the revving slightly high so the motor doesn’t choke down. The worse case scenario if you don’t rev the motor is that the bike will die, and you don’t want that—especially since you’ll still be rolling down a hill.
Optionally, once you have the engine running, you can switch to neutral and apply the brakes while revving the engine. This will help you stay focused on keeping the engine from choking. This works best if the motorcycle is cold.
Get Riding
Once the engine has warmed up, do a quick ride to make sure everything is working as it should. Remember that your safety is the most important thing when push starting a motorcycle. Be sure to practice the push starting methods a few times before attempting it for real out on the road. You should be wearing protective gear and be away from traffic. If not, you could seriously hurt yourself and others.
That wraps up how to push start a motorcycle. Just follow the steps that have been outlined, commit to safety, and you will soon be push starting like the pros!
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How Often Do I Need To Change Motorcycle Engine Oil?
Changing engine oil is essential to maintaining the life of your beloved motorcycle. If you don’t consistently check the oil level and change the oil when it gets old or dirty, the lifespan of the motor is severely shortened.
Let’s get started.How Often You Need To Change Motorcycle Oil
Most riders will ask the question, “How often do I need to change the motorcycle engine oil?” at least once. The answer depends on the make/model of your bike (we’ll be discussed a Yamaha YZF-R6), the type of oil you used, and how often you ride.
If you used a mineral-based engine oil (the simplest, cheapest kind), then you should change the engine every 2,000 miles if you’re riding frequently. If you don’t ride regularly, you can change your oil at least twice a year.
When using a semi-synthetic engine oil, change the oil once every 5,000-6,000 miles.
Lastly, if you use a fully-synthetic engine oil, change the oil after 7,000-10,000 miles.
Semi- and fully-synthetic motor oils are more expensive than mineral-based engine oil, but the plus side is that they last much longer. The only time when you might have to change before the recommended mileage, regardless of the motor oil type, is if you are riding your bike every single day or you commute a great distance frequently.Yamaha YZF-R6 Oil Change Instructions
You can find the following information in the owner’s manual of your Yamaha YZF-R6. If you don’t have this specific Yamaha model, it’s recommended you find the specific instructions for your make and model, as the steps could be different.
- Checking the engine oil level:
- Put the motorcycle on a level surface and hold it in an upright position, as straight as possible. Slight tilts could result in a false read.
- Start the engine. Let the oil warm up for several minutes.
- Turn the motorcycle off again.
- Wait for the oil to settle. This may take a few minutes.
- Remove the engine oil dipstick. Wipe it clean with a cloth then insert the stick back into the fuel reservoir. Take a moment to look at the maximum and minimum oil level lines before testing if you’re not familiar with it. Don’t screw the stick in. Remove it again to get your reading.
- If the engine oil level is at or below the minimum level, remove the engine filler cap and add a sufficient amount of oil to get the level to the recommended spot.
- Insert then tighten the engine oil dipstick. Afterwards, install and tighten the oil filler cap.
During this stage of your oil check, you might find that you need to change the oil completely.
How To Tell If You Need An Oil Change
The normal color of oil is transparent, brownish, maybe even slightly black. When oil is “clean,” it works best for protecting and keeping the engine clean.
Now, “dirty” oil is when the water consistency is lost. It feels slightly gritty when rubbed between your fingers. The color will be darker, if not completely black, and it will have lost it’s transparency.
You might also notice that the engine is making bizarre noises when the oil is dirty. All these signs point to needing an oil change.
How to change engine oil on a Yamaha YZF-R6:- Put the motorcycle on a level surface.
- Removing the cowling.
- Start the engine for several minutes. Once warmed, turn the bike off.
- Place an oil pan under the engine to collect used oil.
- Remove the engine oil filler cap, the engine oil drain bolt, and lastly the gasket to drain the oil from the crankcase.
- Once the oil is drained completely, replace the gasket and bolt, fill the tank to the recommended level, and then replace the engine oil filler cap.
When To Change The Oil Filter
Change the filter every time you change the oil or once every 2,000 to 3,000 miles if you’re using synthetic motor oil. You don’t want to ride around with a dirty, old oil filter because it traps any dirt, dust, debris, metal, and sludge that would otherwise harm your engine.
Not a frequent rider? Again, change your oil at least twice a year and pair that with a filter change.Conclusion
To wrap everything up, frequent riders will need to change their oil more often than those who ride once in a while. The quality of the motor oil changes the mileage for oil changes, and synthetic oils will have the longest life. Make sure to check the oil level and consistency often so you can protect the engine and preserve the life of your ride.
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21 Summer Motorcycle Rallies for Summer 2018
What’s better than the open road and a summer breeze on your face? At RumbleOn, we believe that it can only be beat by joining thousands of others who live and breathe for the same experience. This summer, don’t miss your chance to join a community of riders from across the nation by checking out this list of 25 events in 2018. Make lifelong connections, show off your ride, or even buy or sell a bike of your own!
Looking for more ways to adventure? We’ve also compiled the Best Biker Bars and Food Spots, Best Sights to See, and Best Roads to Ride for you.
July Events
Monday, July 9, 2018 – Thursday, July 12, 2018
Bowling Green, KY
32nd Annual Women on Wheels International Ride-In™
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 – Thursday, July 12, 2018
Johnson City, TN
Hell’s Canyon Motorcycle Rally
Thursday, July 12, 2018 – Monday, July 16, 2018
Baker City, OR
Monday, July 16, 2018 – Friday, July 20, 2018
Provo, UT
2018 Cascade Country Rendezvous and GS Rally by BestRest
Thursday, July 19, 2018 – Sunday, July 22, 2018
Republic, WA
ABATE of Indiana’s 38th Annual Boogie 2018
Thursday, July 19, 2018 – Sunday, July 22, 2018
Springville, IN
Thursday, July 19, 2018 – Sunday, July 22, 2018
Muskegon, MI
North Dakota Ladies Run – 31st Annual
Friday, July 20, 2018 – Sunday, July 22, 2018
Dickinson, ND
South East Raider Rally – 10th Annual
Sunday, July 22, 2018 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
Maggie Valley, NC
CMA Florida Summer Springs Fling
Friday, July 27, 2018 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
Ft. McCoy, FL
GWRRA Montana District Convention 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018 – Saturday, July 28, 2018
Missoula, MT
Friday, July 27, 2018 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
Las Vegas, NM
August Events
Thursday, August 2, 2018 – Sunday, August 5, 2018
Black River Falls, WI
Friday, August 3, 2018 – Sunday, August 12, 2018
Sturgis, SD
Apple’s 15th Annual East Coast Motorcycle Rally
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 – Sunday, August 12, 2018
Little Orleans, MD
GWRRA Kentucky Blast District Convention 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018 – Saturday, August 18, 2018
Cave City, KY
12th Annual Surfside Beach Bash
Friday, August 17, 2018 – Sunday, August 19, 2018
Oyster Creek, TX
Winding Road Ranch Biker Party 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018 – Sunday, August 26, 2018
Rush Springs, OK
Pennsylvania Rally on the River – Summer
Thursday, August 23, 2018 – Sunday, August 26, 2018
Northumberland, PA
September Events
Thunder in the Rockies Motorcycle Rally 2018
Friday, August 31, 2018 – Monday, September 3, 2018
Loveland, CO
Friday, August 31, 2018 – Monday, September 3, 2018
Pioneer, OH
Haley Cunningham
RumbleOn Marketing Content Manager
