Use soft lower covers in cold weather to protect your legs.

If you ride your bike in cooler weather, engine guard chaps are a great way to protect your legs from the cold. Soft lower covers are handy, since they fold to fit in your saddle bags for easy storage.

One of the features you should look for in a pair of engine guard chaps is a pocket or two on the inside of the soft lowers. The extra storage space comes in handy, especially on a cold or rainy day.

The soft lowers should be easy to put on and take off. Complicated straps or lacings will make it a pain to install or remove the covers, so choose a simple snap, buckle, or Velcro system if possible.

The soft lower covers should fit snugly to keep them from buffeting in the wind. The better they fit, the more aerodynamic they will be and the more they will protect you from the cold. If you have highway pegs, make sure the lower covers will fit before you buy them.

When the temperature rises above 50 degrees, take off the engine guard chaps to avoid overheating the engine. You’ll also get better mileage without the chaps in place when you don’t need them.

Engine guard chaps keep your legs warm and dry.

Engine guard chaps are a great way to keep your legs warm and dry so that you can ride your motorcycle in any weather. When the weather turns colder or the rain starts to fall, it’s time to install your chaps. Here’s how:

General Installation Tips

These instructions are designed specifically for DuraShield engine chaps; however, they may also apply to other brands. Check with the manufacturer for specific instructions on how to install other types of engine guard chaps.

1. Locate the left side chap. The bar mount opening will be towards your right and the strap/buckles should face you.
2. Slide the chap over the left engine guard.
3. Thread the wide flap around the frame down tube, making sure to avoid cables.
4. Connect the clip end buckles to the associated strap on the chap body. Make sure that the buckle “clicks” into place securely.
5. Tighten or loosen the fit by adjusting the buckle strap as needed.
6. Repeat for the right side strap.

Take note that engine guard chaps should not be used in temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as they can limit air flow and impact engine cooling. Check with your dealer before use if you have any questions about how engine guard chaps will work with your motorcycle.

If you’re itching to get out on the open road for awhile, these tips will help make your motorcycle touring road trip a success.

Any trip takes a little planning to be successful, and a motorcycle road trip is no exception. Here are a few basic motorcycle travel tips to make sure you enjoy your time on the road.

Service your bike before hitting the road. You don’t want to get stuck working on your bike when you’d rather be riding it. Take it to the dealer for a tune-up or if you service your own bike, do a thorough maintenance check before your trip. Make sure you have enough tread on your tires to handle the miles you’ll be putting on during your trip. Check the lights, oil, fluids, controls, etc., to make sure everything’s working properly. It’s a good idea to bring along a small toolkit and tire repair kit for emergency repairs on the road.

Pack well enough to be adequately prepared, but don’t weigh yourself down with unnecessary items. If worse comes to worse, you can always pick up a forgotten item along the road. Get an idea of what the weather might be like where you’ll be riding. Weather can be notoriously unpredictable, so pack for both hot and cold weather, and don’t forget your rain gear.

Even if it doesn’t feel too chilly just standing around, the wind whipping past your bike as you’re cruising down the highway can feel colder than you might expect. Engine guard chaps can help keep your feet warm in the cold and dry in the rain. Look for motorcycle engine chaps that fold into a compact size for storage on your bike.

You’ll also want to bring along a travel motorcycle cover to protect your bike from the elements and to discourage theft or vandalism when you’re not around to keep an eye on your ride. Sure, it covers up your sweet ride, but you’ll have plenty of time to show it off on the road, and your bike will thank you for it.

While any trip takes a certain amount of planning, leave room to be spontaneous. You’ll have more fun and make more memories if you give yourself the flexibility to change your plans when you feel like it.

Hit the open road in comfort and style with crash bar chaps.

If you’re a diehard motorcycle fan or looking to pimp out your ride, engine guard chaps are a must. Also known as soft lowers or lower covers, these chaps offer both protection and style.

Soft lowers help keep your feet and lower legs dry in the rain by shielding them from water sprayed up by your bike or by other vehicles around you. Soft lowers also work as a barrier against the cold and wind.

As you ride your bike, cold wind and rain can whip up your pant legs, leaving you soaked and freezing by the time you reach your destination. Engine guard chaps take the bite out of cold winds and block rain and water to keep your legs dry and warm out on the road.

Some lower covers include pockets, which come in handy for storing maps, sunglasses, a cell phone or flashlight. DuraShield’s soft lowers for Harley come with a pocket on one side and a bottle holster on the other. They’re also designed to fit bikes with stock engine guard bars, toe shifters, and highway pegs.

Most engine guard covers slip on and off quickly with snaps and secure webbing straps so you can use them when you need to and store them when you don’t.