How to install dirtbike graphics for dummies: a step by step guide
Are you ready to give your motorcycle a fresh new look? Whether you’re updating old graphics or customizing your bike for the first time, changing your dirtbike graphics is a great way to make it truly yours. In this detailed guide, I break down the entire process to help riders of all skill levels achieve a professional finish at home in changing their dirtbike graphics.
Customizing your bike doesn’t have to be daunting! My comprehensive guide will walk you through:
Preparing your motorcycle for new graphics: Learn how to properly clean and prep your bike to ensure the decals adhere smoothly and last longer.
The tools and materials you’ll need: I’ll show you exactly what to have on hand to make the process efficient and frustration-free.
Step-by-step application techniques: From alignment tricks to removing air bubbles, I’ll share tips that guarantee a seamless application.
Pro tips for a sharp, long-lasting finish: Discover how to avoid common mistakes and get your graphics looking flawless.
Want to see how it’s done? Check out my full video below, where I walk you through the whole process of changing motorcycle graphics step by step. It’s packed with handy tips, the tools you’ll need, and some tricks to help you nail that pro look right in your own garage.
Whether you’re totally new to this or just want to give your bike a fresh look, this guide keeps it simple, fun, and doable. Graphics aren’t just stickers—they’re all about showing off your style and making your bike pop on the road or trail.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Everything you need to know about motorcycle battery maintenance
Flat batteries are a motorcyclist’s worst nightmare, often striking at the worst times. With modern bikes relying on advanced electronics, proper battery maintenance is crucial to avoid breakdowns and extend battery life. Enter the CTEK CT5 Powers Smart Charger – a game-changing tool designed to keep your motorcycle battery in peak condition, ready to roar whenever you are. Discover how this easy-to-use device can save you time, money, and frustration while ensuring your next ride starts without a hitch.
You’re killing your motorcycle & don’t even know it! Here’s the solution…
Battery failure
If you look at the statistics, battery failure is often considered the number one cause for breakdowns around the world. This is both a big cost for possible call outs to get you home but also in the cost of new and replacement batteries due to failure from lack of maintenance. Not to mention the frustration, wasted time and disappointment of not having a reliable vehicle.
Our modern vehicles have pretty complex and sensitive electrical equipment that constantly draws current from the battery, which means there is an ever-increasing number of mechanical faults that are battery related. The good news is that the expense and inconvenience of battery failure is totally avoidable and can be heavily reduced by regular battery maintenance.
In this article I’m going to share one of my most recommended garage items. I’ve been using these CTEK smart chargers for near on 15 years now. An easy way to explain why is that a simply £65 ish can extend battery life by 3 times – this means the unit literally pays for itself and can continue to save you money in the long run!
Flat battery – jump start it?
Yes but…Did you know a normal jump start can actually damage your long-term battery health? I know I didn’t know this until I started swotting up. The intense surge a traditional jump pack gives can actually have detrimental implications for your long-term battery health. Plus with modern vehicle electrics the surge in power can damage electrical systems too. This is just yet another reason why we should be working to reduce the frequency of a flat or unhealthy battery.
Let’s start by looking at how a battery works
I’m going to simplify how a battery works to make it far easier to understand. Let’s start with a led acid battery. Inside there are plates of lead and sulphuric acid. When you don’t look after your battery, or it sits still, or its got loads of charge lost and then full charge, all those things that hurt a battery. The plates that are in the battery will get sulphur crystals on them from the sulphuric acid. When you get a plate with crystals on it, that bit of plate becomes useless. It can no longer hold change and no longer help the battery do what it needs to do for battery performance. You’ve basically lost part of the capacity of your battery.
Additionally, if you were to picture a pint glass, bear with me, and fill it with a muddy water mix which has lots of particles in it. If you leave that for a period of time it will settle and separate. And that is a similar thing that is going on in your battery, and when that happens you lose your performance again. So when you start to bring in products like the CTEK charger which are smart chargers that will actually send messages to the battery to work out what condition it is in, and then react accordingly. It will send forces that will break up those crystals, it will stir up the murky water. Obviously I’m simplifying this. But in that maintenance programme that the smart chargers are on, it will actually fix and maintain, and keep your battery health going.
Setting the scene – you bike won’t start
It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and you’re off for a ride. What is the most disappointing thing that could happen? Finding you have a flat battery!
make your battery last considerably longer and perform more reliably
save you money
Introducing the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT providing fully automatic charging for a range of vehicles.
With busy lives, winter, injury or just life taking over seeing many motorcycles and cars parked up for prolonged periods of time keeping their battery health up is important for a few reasons:
ensuring the vehicle will start when you decide to use it
keeping the battery health up and charged to capacity
helping ensure longevity of the battery
guaranteeing your battery is ready to go when you are
Unfortunately, if left unused a battery will lose charge and when a battery loses is full charge it dramatically reduces the long-term life of the unit – picture the lead disks and pint of water mentioned about regarding battery health.
How to use a smart charger
The CTEK devices are designed to live on your battery when not in use. They are perfectly engineered to provide the optimal level of current to keep the battery life in the ready and happy range. It’s actually possible to keep a battery running for many years longer when properly maintained with a CTEK too. That is a big saving.
These chargers are easy to connect, spark proof and reverse polarity protected, so you can use them unsupervised and there’s no need to even disconnect it from the battery – simply ‘plug and play’ and the charger will do the rest. My recommendation is to install two pigtails to the battery, red to positive, black to negative. This little pigtail can then be left conveniently located on the bike ready to plug in when you park up.
All CTEK battery chargers are approved for outdoor use (IP65 and IP44). If you’re using a cheaper rival and you’re using a battery charger outdoors, you must use a charger that’s approved for outdoor use or you could run into trouble.
Why battery charging should be on your maintenance list
As vehicle technology continues to develop, more and more strain is placed on the battery. As a result, battery charging has become an essential part of bike and car maintenance which should be considered as important as checking tyre pressures and oil levels.
There are various types of battery charger currently available – mostly smart chargers and trickle chargers. However, smart chargers present a much safer and efficient way of maintaining and prolonging the life of the battery.
How a trickle charger works and why you don’t want one
With a trickle charger once a battery has reached its optimum charge levels, a trickle charger will simply send in a level of charge for a certain amount of time and then switch itself off. It will continually repeating the process until it is removed from the battery. This method of battery charging can potentially overcharge the battery, causing it to dry out or even start to gas, and could ultimately kill the battery.
This is why I recommend a smart charger.
How a CTEK smart charger works
CTEK’s smart chargers move into a pulse maintenance mode once the battery is fully charged. Rather than sending in a charge and estimating what the battery needs, a CTEK charger will stay in constant communication with the battery, reacting and charging only when it is needed.
In pulse maintenance mode, the battery will be allowed to naturally self-discharge to a certain level before being fully charged once again. Not only does this avoid the risk of overcharging but, as the battery is being exercised as it would be during normal use, the lifespan of the battery is extended considerably.
CTEK’s unique range of smart chargers optimise the performance of lead-acid batteries through accurate readings of a battery’s charge levels, then ensuring the appropriate action is taken so the battery is always ready for use.
CTEK chargers extend the battery’s life and eliminates the problem of battery failure. More importantly, it makes sure that vehicles start first time, every time and the problem of battery failure is eliminated.
What vehicles can CTEK work on?
CTEK designs and manufactures a range of smart battery chargers and accessories to suit all types of lead-acid batteries for vehicles including cars, bikes / motorcycles, marine vessels, agricultural vehicles and even lawnmowers.
Why CTEK?
They are the leaders in the market, and they’ve got years of R&D to ensure the optimum performance int heir produces. The most important property of a battery charger is that it reaches the exact voltage during the charging cycle. Ge this wrong and your battery is in trouble. If the voltage is too high, the battery boils. The battery then becomes unusable due to dried-out cells and crevice corrosion, which occur when there’s high acid concentration and overheating during charging. If the voltage is too low, you end up with an incompletely charged battery that will lose more and more capacity until it gradually becomes unusable.
CTEK have designed a range of products fit for purpose. Many times a vehicle is going to be parked outside when needing charging, leaving you at risk with the elements and electrical products. However, CTEK know battery chargers are often used in damp and dusty environments, such as:
Outdoors
In garages
On caravans and campers
Around harbours and on boats
Smart chargers have three advanced modes
The CT5 POWERSPORT has been designed specifically to charge and maintain powersport batteries using advanced technology to give you three fully automatic charging and maintenance programs:
Normal
AGM
Recond
Normal – this is for living on your battery and maintains the correct charge to be ready for action. The units come with small battery connections that can be fitted and left discreetly on the bike. You can then clip the CTEK on and off in seconds giving you no excuses to not pop it on when you park up. Recond – if your battery has run flat or is losing charge rapidly, the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT can be put on an intelligent mode than will effectively recondition your battery. It’s not guaranteed to bring it back to live but I’ve many, many a battery living on after a CTEK recond.
What is the CTEK CT5 Powersport
The CT5 is a smart charger to optimise the performance of lead-acid batteries through accurate readings of a battery’s charge levels, then ensuring the appropriate action is taken so the battery is always ready for use. It effectively charges and maintains your battery when not in use.
CTEK CT5 Powersport Ease of use
Attached using two battery connections you simply install these once and you’re then good to go. You can leave it on for endless amounts of time. I’ve left my Harley for 10 months before and she started first turn over having had the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT on to keep the battery maintained and ready for action.
The Techy Bits – CTEK CT5 Powersport (40-138) General Information Comfort Connect compatible: Yes. Rated voltage: 220-240v AC 50-60Hz. Charging current: 2.3 amps. Current, mains: 0.5 amps RMS (at full charge current). Back current drain: <1.5 Ah/month. Ambient temperature: -20 deg.C to +50 deg.C. Output power is reduced automatically at high temperature. Battery types: All types of 12v lead acid batteries (wet, MF, GEL, Ca/Ca and AGM). Battery capacity: 5-25Ah Dimensions: 292 x 132 x 102 mm Insulation class: IP65. In the EU, all battery chargers must be CE marked. Third party testing and approval of equipment is required for your safety.
Limitations of the powersport
Honestly, as someone who has owned a CTEK charger for over 15 years with the original unit still working, I have not found a single limitation. Having correctly maintained batteries with a CTEK unit installed on each vehicle, I would never be without them.
Maybe the limitation is on the human. If you forget to connect your CTEK you’re going to regret it….
How much is a CTEK smart charger?
You’re looking at £60-75 for a unit that comes with a warranty and is likely to last 10 plus years. You’ll have a ready for action bike or car and the piece of mind that you’re properly maintaining them. Avoiding the disappointment of a ‘sputter, sputter, sputter’ is worth every penny. Also, by monitoring your battery condition, you can prevent a deep discharge occurring, which will result in loss of performance and early replacement.
The sooner you get one the sooner you’ll keep your battery health up Get in the habit of having it permanently connected when parked up, it’s designed to be so it won’t over or under charge. It’s kind of magic how a totally dead battery that you thought was only destined for scrap can be fully reconditioned and live on reliably after a CT5 revamp – saves you money on battery’s.
Overall Rating of the CTEK CT5 Powersport
Small but highly powerful and practical device giving you the confidence that you’re ride will be ready to go when you are. Looks after your battery for the longest life possible to give the most reliable performance so that nothing can come between you and that adventure. Must have for anyone with a vehicle with a battery!
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Finding Accommodation in the Himalayas – Rangjon Resort
The Rangjon Resort at Pangong Lake… What an incredible place to have stumbled across during my Himalayan adventure!
With limited Internet access and some very rare communities that aren’t necessarily online yet, finding accommodation around the Himalayas can be challenging. We had some very basic homestays which were rustic but thoroughly enjoyable. So I wanted to give a shout out to my favourite overnight on our Himalayan adventure – Rangjon Resort at Pangong Lake. Located on the shores of the turquoise blue Pangong Lake right by the Chinese border, it’s a tranquil spot.
We had our own private cabin with a super comfortable squidgy bed that boasted clean fresh white linen specially laundered for the next guest. You’ll be amazed that most of the other places we stayed you are just using sheets (probably used by hundreds of others before you) at Rangjon Resort there was a hot shower that came out of an actual showerhead on the wall! And an incredible skylight window above the bed to enjoy the starry sky and upon arrival we had the most exquisite cuisine we tasted so far in India.
The team spoke great English and it was an incredibly friendly welcome. When I told them that I had been cold sleeping almost every night, they quickly went away and appeared back with three cosy hot water bottles. The little extra touches that just make for an even better experience is something Rangjon Resort definitely does.
If you’re planning a road trip around the Himalayas, I would highly recommend Rangjon Resort, it would be ideal for couples, families all the way through to large groups of motorcycles. It’s even possible to have dinner and a bonfire on the lakeside if you wanted to
Nestled in the breathtakingly serene landscape of Merak Pangong in Leh Ladakh, Rangjon Resort stands as a haven for those seeking a tranquil retreat amidst nature’s splendor. The resort, surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, offers an unobstructed view of the famous Pangong Lake, whose shimmering blue waters create a mesmerizing contrast against the rugged mountain backdrop. Designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, Rangjon Resort provides guests with an immersive experience of Ladakh’s unique culture and natural beauty.
The accommodations at Rangjon Resort are crafted to ensure both comfort and a touch of rustic charm, reflecting the traditional Ladakhi architectural style. Each room is equipped with modern amenities while maintaining an authentic feel, featuring local décor elements and sustainable materials. Guests can unwind in cozy, well-appointed rooms that offer panoramic views of the lake and mountains, creating a perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. The resort’s commitment to eco-friendly practices ensures a minimal environmental footprint, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious travelers.
Beyond its stunning location and comfortable accommodations, Rangjon Resort offers a variety of activities and experiences to enrich your stay. Adventure enthusiasts can explore the rugged terrain with guided trekking and mountain biking tours, while those seeking a more leisurely pace can enjoy bird watching or a peaceful stroll along the lakeshore. The resort also provides opportunities to engage with the local culture through traditional music and dance performances, as well as visits to nearby villages and monasteries. With its blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and sustainable luxury, Rangjon Resort promises an unforgettable escape in the heart of Ladakh.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
What kit to wear motorcycle adventure through the Himalayas, India
Adventure motorcycle riding can result in us facing a huge array of weather conditions, and so getting the right kit is critical to our safety and enjoyment. I recently rode motorcycles in the Himalayas and wanted to share the kit I used to help you plan the right kit, be prepared and ready for the unexpected when riding adv, especially in the Himalayan mountains in India.
Adventure motorcycle conditions mean you are battling extreme temperature changes, high altitude, rocky and unpredictable terrain, pedestrians, landslides, snow storms and not to mention navigating your way through and around the suicidal chicken buses on some of the most dangerous roads in the world.
In this episode of my multi part Himalayan motorcycle adventure tour I will run you through the most important pieces of kit you should be thinking about taking when setting off on your next adventure.
Key areas of focus when choosing your adventure riding kit:
Base layers (Revolution Race, Alpinestars, Dainese)
What materials to wear and what to avoid – spoiler alert… cotton should be BANNED!!
How to layer correctly for warmth and coolness (Mosko Ectotherm heated jacket)
Jacket and trouser options (Mosko Moto Basilisk, Mosko Moto Woodsman)
I hope this video helps you work out what kit to wear motorcycle adventure riding in the Himalayas. Please let me know any questions in the YouTube comments or message me on Facebook/ Instagram.
Remember, kit is very personal so you need to find what suits your body, your bike, your riding and your budget! You’ll notice that my kit includes a variety of brands, that is because my personal preference doesn’t mean one brand meets all my needs. I hope my honesty helps you stay warm, dry and with a smile as your explore the world! Watch the what kit to wear adventure riding in the Himalayas below:
How to survive in the brutal Himalayas
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Revving Up Your Social Circle: A Guide to Making New Motorcycle Friends
Having travelled to over 15 countries on group ride adventure motorcycle riding holidays in this video I’ll share why I highly recommend looking into pre-organized group holidays and how it can be the key to making new motorcycle friends. I discuss the pros and cons of:
Time
Avoiding admin
Meeting new people
Less stress
Economies of scale
You don’t need your own motorcycle
Organised trips are tried & tested
Let me know in the videos comments what your experience has been, good or bad. Where have you been? Any recommendations or things to avoid? How you find motorcycle friends, or how to be be more social.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Following an epic 6-day motorcycle adventure through Iceland with RideWithLocals I have compiled a list of top tips and key things to know before you head out on your own Icelandic adventure. In the video below I will explain and discuss the following:
What to wear on your feet
How to safely cross rivers
Water quality
Weather
Tyres
Accommodation
Risk factors
Icelandic roads, tracks & terrain
Safety and security
Animals
Culture
Food
Watch the full video here
I filmed this while on a motorcycle trip in Iceland, my number one motorcycle riding country in the world. I did this trip with RideWithLocals – the only local Icelandic run off road motorcycle company and based just a 2h 45min flight from the UK.
if you want to see more about the overall trip please see my other videos from this series here:
Part 1: Off-road motorcycling through the heart of ICELAND
Enduro bike off road review on KTM EXC-F 350 in Iceland:
Part 2: The volcano erupts daily and you can ride motorcycles right there – EPIC!
For a fully-inclusive motorcycle Iceland trip on KTM EXCFs with a support vehicle, fuel, meals, snacks, mountain huts, hotels, beer and all the local knowledge from the Vikings, expect to pay around €4400 per person.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Easy tips and exercises to help improve your motorcycle riding. From body position, braking, clutch control and ways to pick up your bike.
Motorcycle riding takes skill, practice and education, my biggest tip and ultimately the best way to improve your motorcycle riding is to go back to basics and work on the foundations. Whether you have just started riding or are an experienced rider, practicing the foundational skills is something that you can never do too much.
In the video below I will show you a series of exercises and talk you through some tips that you can use to help improve your motorcycle riding skills.
Tips to improve your motorcycle riding skill
I also had the opportunity to ride with John McAvoy of Fast Bikes, and as John has never ridden off-road before I thought a day at the Triumph Experience Centre would be a great way to test and show these exercises.
In the video above I discuss and provide tips and exercises on:
Body position
Balance points
Engine awareness
Braking techniques
Maneuvering the bike
Cornering
Bike pick up techniques
And more
More information on the Triumph Experience Centre: https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/for-the-ride/experiences
For my thoughts on the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro check out my 1000 Dunas series below where I become the first female to ever finish on a standard adventure bike.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Is methane the future power for motorcycles? Goodbye electric
Everyone is talking about electric power being the future mobility solution and after having the chance to drive the world’s first methane powered tractor I can’t help but wonder if there might be another option for the future power of motorcycles.
In this video I’ll talk through some of the key technologies, facts and considerations for using methane as a fuel source.
Goodbye electric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1wb92A5JWU
During my learning experience with New Holland and Michelin it really got me thinking. Could the methane waste from our agricultural industry be a future fuel source? Can we use it for motorcycles, cars and other machinery? Could we be saying goodbye electric? Its an interesting one…
Whilst I was with Michelin I found out some interesting ways to improve your performance and save money on tyres. See the full video here:
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Discover the joys of group motorcycle adventures and how to make new friends! Learn the benefits of pre-organized rides and tours here.
Wondering how to make new motorcycle friends? Thinking about going on a group ride? After having been on group adventure motorcycle rides in over 15 countries I thought I would share my thoughts on why I highly recommend looking into pre-organized group rides, and how you can make new motorcycle friends.
In this video, I will also discuss some of the pros and cons such as:
Time
Admin
Experience
Legalities
Meeting new people
Riding different motorcycles
Watch why I love group motorcycle tours and making new friends
If you are not sure where to start but you want to meet new motorcycle friends or try a group adventure tour check out some of the videos from the group tour adventures I have been on and can highly recommend:
Tour1 – The wonders of New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94WFpjBJ9A&t=0s
Tour Enduro Sardegna, Sardinia
Big Little Rides [womens only] – 9 women take on Belize
Toro Trail, Spain – I flipped it
Altitude with Attitude – European Harley Davidson Road Trip
Ride with Locals, Iceland – Offroad experience
Superior Motorcycle Experiences, UK
Novo Adventures, Bolivia – Riding death road
Enduro Dreamland, Ukraine – Snow riding
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
How to protect your bum on a motorcycle – anti monkey butt
Here are my top tips on how to protect your bum to avoid monkey butt on a motorcycle based on my experience from extreme long distance endure desert rally’s
Watch the full video – Why does no one talk about this, how to avoid monkey butt
How to protect your bum and prevent monkey butt on a motorcycle is a big topic but one that no one seems to talk about. In this video I am going to share my top tips built from my experience of doing extreme long distance endurance desert rally’s and how to keep your bum and genitals happy on a motorcycle. These tips vary in their cost, but for the ultimate effect I recommend all 5.
Top tips for bum comfort and monkey butt prevention on a motorcycle:
Custom motorcycle seat for improved comfort – my seat is by Caulfield Leather https://www.caulfieldleather.co.uk/ it is worth noting they will do any motorcycle seat from street bike cruiser, adv, you send them your seat and they will re foam, gel and upholster it
Anti chaff cream. Designed to reduce friction, monkey butt and also help control bacteria that is apparent with high levels of sweat you would anticipate when doing extreme sports – https://amzn.to/3EN6rjJ this is the same cream used by professional cycling athletes
If you get sore both on your bum and your lips, use Germolene. My top rally hack tip is Germolene on your lips instead of any kind of lip solve. It is an antiseptic and antibiotic cream that helps cracked skin, so it is amazing for your lips or sore bum – https://amzn.to/3PwowaK
Sweat wicking seamless cycling impact shorts. The key is to make sure they are a seamless technical layer, you do not want to wear cotton on a motorcycle ever, due to its ability to hold and store moisture which will ultimately lead to chafe. Also, the added padding of cycling shorts supports with the fatigue on your saddle
Technical base layers. Depending on the temperature of the riding conditions you are in you want to make sure you are wearing the correct base layers on your skin. These should be sweat wicking and temperature appropriate to your environment. It may seem slightly counter intuitive but having full length base layers even when in a 52-degree desert race will still keep you cooler than having other materials on your skin due to the moisture wicking technology. I do wear my impact shorts underneath my base layers to prevent chafe from the material pattern of the technical layers being on your skin. I am a big fan of the Alpinestars base layers to help with monkey butt
Hopefully this gives you a few tips to help keep your bottom from becoming a monkey butt and keep you comfortable on longer motorcycle rides, whilst I am talking about this in an intense enduro race environment these tips will still work for your usual everyday touring conditions.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
