See below for Part II of Top 10 Motorcycle Brands:

1. Triumph: A celebrated motorcycle name, Triumph has established itself as a leading motorcycle manufacturer. The design and performance of their bikes makes Triumph one of the top selling motorcycle brands in the world. One of their most acclaimed bikes is the 2011 Speed Triple.

Discover more about Triumph’s bikes.

Image above taken from Triumph.co.uk.

2. Harley-Davidson®: My top 10 list of motorcycle brands wouldn’t be complete without Harley-Davidson®. A motorcycle icon, Harley-Davidson® has been designing high-performance bikes since 1903. One of Harley-Davidson’s® most unique offerings is their H-D1™ customization, which enables bikers to design their very own Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, based on their specific preferences.

Like Harley-Davidson® on Facebook.

3. KTM: Positioning the color orange as the trendiest motorcycle color, KTM manufactures bikes that are not only highly attractive, but they’re also extremely comfortable and exceptionally engineered. KTM prides themselves on their Superbikes, which feature one of the most powerful V2 engines and one of the most premier chassis worldwide.

Watch KTM bikes in action on YouTube.

Image above taken from KTM.com.

4. Aprilia: Offering a variety of Road, Offroad, and Scooter models, Aprilia has something for all bikers. Creating their first bike in 1968, Aprilia has been designing high-performance motorcycles for more than 40 years. Many of their bikes are featured in racing competitions due to their exceptional engineering.

View Aprilia’s bikes.

5. Victory Motorcycles: Synonymous with unique, sleek designs, Victory creates some of the most attractive motorcycles in the world. Started by Polaris Industries, which is famous for their off-road vehicles, Victory motorcycles are developed from trusted engineers who understand what goes into developing exceptional riding machines.

Check out some of Victory’s sleek creations.

Image above taken from PolarisIndustries.com.

In your opinion, what brand produces the most attractive motorcycles?

Whenever I’m planning to take a long trip via my motorcycle, I always take a few steps to prepare. See below for some tips to prepare you for your next motorcycle adventure:

1. View Google Maps: It’s always a good idea to have some clue of where you’re headed! Even if you want to fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, using Google Maps to find your way to an end destination is extremely helpful—especially if you get lost and have NO clue where you are, Google Maps can direct you toward your desired destination. And although it’s easy to completely rely on your iPad or smart phone, it’s a smart idea to print a map from Google Maps before you leave—just in case you don’t have Internet service.

Google Maps

2. Check Weather.com: Dressing appropriately for weather conditions is extremely important while traveling on a motorcycle for long distances. If it’s pouring rain and you didn’t prepare ahead of time, you might find yourself hanging out on the side of the road, waiting for the rain to subside—or even worse, you might end up in a motorcycle accident. If there is a chance of rain, be sure to wear and pack bright-colored clothing so that other drivers can easily spot you on the road. Also, have a helmet that contains a shield to help you keep an eye on the road.

Weather Channel

3. Research gas station locations: Nothing is worse than getting stuck on the side of the road without gas. Be prepared by researching nearby gas stations, just in case you find your motorcycle only has a quarter of a tank left—some stretches of road don’t have gas stations for miles. I suggest using GasBuddy.com. Not only does this website show you where nearby gas stations are, but it also shows you the cheapest stations to purchase gas.

GasBuddy.com

How do you prepare for long motorcycle trips?