MOA Garage – BMW Motorcycle Owners of America

Who makes motorcycle tires—and where?

Wes Fleming — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:58:55 +0000

When it comes to motorcycle tires, some of us base our decisions on more than just the kind of tread or estimated mileage. We might prefer tires made in this country or that one or a company based in one location over another. There are dozens of other reasons why we choose the tires we put on our bikes as well. To provide a little information on some of the top motorcycle tire manufacturers, it’…

Source

Better fuel efficiency is within reach!

Wes Fleming — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:49:54 +0000

With gasoline prices topping $4 per gallon for 87 octane pretty much everywhere in the country right now, it seems like a good time for some tips on how to improve your fuel economy. While these tips are specifically oriented to motorcycles, they might apply to your car, truck or SUV as well – it’s best to consult an article about that. Provided you’re not ready to switch to an electric…

Source

What is going on with motorcycle tire prices?

Wes Fleming — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:21:10 +0000

Have you priced motorcycle tires lately? Holy cow! I’d call it sticker shock, but it’s more than that—I’m calling it sticker bludgeoning instead. If you’re shopping for tires in March like I am, well, we picked just about the worst time to do it. By the time I finished digging into it, I realized two things: Why tires got so expensive and when the best time is to buy them if you don’t want to get…

Source

Fixing the camshaft position sensor

Wes Fleming — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:23:29 +0000

During the year I took off from modern motorcycles, I got used to the simplicity of an Airhead. When something’s not quite right with my 1976 R 90/6, I have to figure it out by sound and feel. I’m getting better, but it’s not always easy to do because I simply don’t have a tremendous amount of experience with it. Typically what happens is I realize something is awry, check and adjust the things I…

Source

Navigating the load-out for a long trip (part 1)

Wes Fleming — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:32:54 +0000

When it comes to filling your panniers, top case, tank bag and dry bag for an extended motorcycle trip, we often struggle to decide what comes with us and what stays home. From “I use this every day” to “but I might need it,” we have to balance limited space and gross weight limits with our needs, wants and comforts. There’s no one correct set of stuff to take and no one right way to pack your…

Source

Let’s get into it: OIL!

Wes Fleming — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:23:07 +0000

OK … yeah … let’s have the oil discussion. I know we’re not supposed to because internet and reasons, but it’s got to happen sooner or later. Your Airhead needs two, maybe three different kinds of oil throughout an entire year of riding and there’s no sense in putting off the discussion any more. You’re becoming more mature as a rider and I’m sure you can handle this knowledge.

Source

Top shelf octane vs. the well drinks

Scott Rinkenberger — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:33:39 +0000

In bars, “top-shelf” refers to premium, higher-priced liquors, while “well drinks” (or “house drinks”) are made with the standard, more cost-effective liquors typically stored in the “well.” We can apply a similar scheme to which fuel we put into our motorcycles. Wikipedia’s grossly oversimplified assertion that “high-octane fuel is of very good quality” is not incorrect, but it does not…

Source

Prep your bike for a long trip

Wes Fleming — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:28:41 +0000

Digital Content Editor, Wes Fleming, details how to get your bike ready for a long trip. If you are planning a rooute to the National Rally, this is the prep video you need!

Installing a Cardo comm system in a Schuberth C4 Pro

Mark Barnes — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:26:59 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered about alternatives to Schuberth’s proprietary comm systems, wonder no longer! Mark Barnes decided to put a Cardo PackTalk Black into his Schuberth C4 Pro and thoughtfully took photos of each step along the way … photos which we’ve turned into this handy-dandy instructional video. Enjoy Mark’s soothing, comforting voice in a walkthrough that’s easy to pause and use as a play…

Source

Fixing a flat on the go, Part 2: Inflation devices

Mark Barnes — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:23:00 +0000

In Part One of this article, we checked out a sampling of tire repair kits a rider could easily carry and use to plug a flat mid-ride. Of course, that’s only half the solution; the repaired tire must be re-inflated to become operational again. A manual pump can provide an endless source of pressurized air, but conventional varieties are too large for storage on a bike and they all rely on muscular…

Source