Robert Hoffman

There are many reasons you might want to take a motorcycle trip. The reason for the trip will be one of the deciding factors in determining how to prepare for it.

Whether you're planning a Sunday morning run up the mountain or a Tuesday afternoon run out in the canyon twisties, your priorities will differ somewhat than if you're planning a cruise up the coast for a weekend.

Every year has a different flavor to it. Some years are affected by the economy, boom years like 2005, 2006, 2007 and tight years like 2009', cold snaps and heat waves. Although we're not out of the recession yet, this year's showing might give us some hope a recovery is nearing.

This year has a collective body of vendors, event promoters and industry sponsors that share the same optimism.

Festivities and events once again shifted into high gear this year in Daytona, Florida, as the 69th installment of Daytona's "Bike Week" roared into town with all the usual suspects present and accounted for. Year after year, bikers far and wide have flocked to the beach to cut loose and congregate in the warm Florida sun.

It all started on January 24th, 1937, when Ed Kretz wrung out his Indian on the hard sand beach winning the first ever Daytona 200, or 'Handlebar Derby," as it is known by most locals.

Most riders start out by attending a motorcycle rally or biker rally for a day with an overnight stay that could include camping.

Subsequent visits to motorcycle rallies are usually longer. Motorcycle rallies come in all sizes from a few hundred people to over 500,000. Motorcycle rallies usually charge a fee if you want to participate in the rally activities.

Motorcyclists begin years ago to band together and ride. The number of bikers who have formed clubs and ride just for pleasure and camaraderie is staggering. 99% of bikers today ride just because. Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Honda, Indian and Victory are just a few of the motorcycle manufacturers who sell to all walks of life.

Weekend poker runs have become very popular and in some cases profitable.

Motorcycle tires are oftentimes misunderstood. This is a saddening fact. They must be well-taken care of because they affect comfort, safety, handling as well as the entire ride.

We riders must be aware of the two types of tire construction the bias-ply and the radial. Cruisers, usually use bias-ply tires. On the other hand, sport bikes use radials.