The iPhone is rigged with plenty of bells and whistles that make it the well-oiled machine that we all know and love. Combing through the Settings app is usually a good idea for first-time users, if only to explore the many settings and features you probably didn’t know existed. For instance, you can set a schedule so your iPhone automatically shifts to dark mode for more optimal nighttime use without having to endure the black background in the daytime. With a bit of effort, you can also enable voice control and use it to unlock your device without having to use FaceID or enter your passcode.

Usually, newer iPhone settings come with a short blurb underneath explaining what it does when it’s turned on or off, which can be incredibly helpful especially if you’re a new user. However, there are several useful features that don’t come with brief onscreen descriptions that may still be unfamiliar to you. One example is the “Raise to Wake” feature.

Raise to Wake, which made its debut as part of the iOS 10 release in 2016, is an iPhone feature that uses the mobile device’s built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors to recognize when it is lifted from a lower height. When a rising motion is detected, the iPhone’s screen automatically wakes up. The idea is you’ll be able to access anything that appears on your iPhone lock screen without requiring any additional taps or button presses. In addition, you’re only a gesture away from accessing Control Center, being able to take a photo, utilizing your iPhone widgets, or being able to fully unlock your device through FaceID.

An alternative to Raise to Wake is Tap or Swipe to Wake, an iPhone accessibility feature that activates and unlocks your iPhone screen when you tap the display with your finger or swipe up from the bottom edge of the lock screen. In some cases, you may want to disable Tap or Swipe to Wake — for instance, turning it off while you’re out for a run is a good move so your iPhone screen doesn’t accidentally activate in your pocket or running belt when you don’t want it to. On the other hand, it’s most likely better to leave Raise to Wake enabled for convenience purposes because the act of physically raising your iPhone usually indicates an intent to use it. In addition, lifting your device can turn it into a convenient light source when you’re in dark surroundings.

To find out if Raise to Wake is enabled on your iPhone, simply lift the device from a lower level and look at your screen. If it’s turned on, your display should be awake and fully lit. Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

Launch the Settings app.
Go to Display & Brightness.
Check the toggle next to Raise to Wake.

If the switch is green and in the on position, Raise to Wake is enabled on your iPhone. Any time you pick up your device, its display screen should come alive. You’ll be able to quickly glance at it to check the date and time, verify your phone’s battery level, determine cellular signal or Wi-Fi connectivity, or view important notifications among other things, without having to fully unlock the gadget.

Of course, you have the option of leaving the setting disabled by keeping the Raise to Wake toggle grayed out and in the off position. If this is your preference, you’ll need to hit the side button or tap the display to wake up your iPhone screen, provided you have Tap or Swipe to Wake turned on.

Harley-Davidson is well known for being an American-based motorcycle company that builds some of the best engines and bikes. It’s even made some of the biggest motorcycle engines out there. Sometimes those engines can run upwards of the cost of a whole motorcycle.

Where exactly are those engines made, though? The company’s original Milwaukee, WI-based shed from the early 1900s is long gone, having since become the location of the company’s corporate headquarters. Its factories are instead spread out a bit around the United States, with a location in Pennsylvania and two in Wisconsin.

It doesn’t stop there, however. Harley-Davidson also has a factory in Manaus, Brazil and one in Rayong, Thailand. Having a couple of manufacturing locations that are decidedly not in the U.S. muddies the waters a bit, but Harley-Davidson still says that its engines are assembled right here in America. With the word “assembled” doing a lot of heavy lifting.

The manufacturing of Harley-Davidson motorcycles is split between a few different factories according to Harley-Davidson, with the York, PA location used for the majority of assembly for CVO, LiveWire (electric), Softail, Sportster, and Touring motorcycles. The Tomahawk, WI factory focuses on sidecars, windshields, and other components. But Menomonee Falls, WI is where the engines are put together.

What makes things tricky to pin down is the fact that not all of the individual parts used in a Harley-Davidson engine are actually manufactured in-house. Wilkins Harley-Davidson explains that many of the components used in Harley-Davidson motorcycles are made in the York factory, however it doesn’t say the same for the Menomonee Falls location. The implication being that while the engines are assembled in the United States, not all of the pieces that make up the engine are.

Harley-Davidson itself doesn’t say much about where the parts that are brought in from outside its factories originate from, but CBS News has previously reported that they’re often sourced from all over the world — something that The Rock Harley-Davidson confirms. In one example in particular, it’s stated that Harley’s engine pistons are actually made in Austria. So, while it’s technically true that Harley-Davidson motorcycles are “made in America,” not all of the individual parts on a given bike can really make that claim.

While there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had in flying down the highway at appropriately high speeds and going for a slower cruise around town streets, off-roading is another kind of fun. Navigating trails and taking in all of nature’s scenery is a blast — so long as you keep a few important factors in mind before setting out on your first off-road adventure. One of the most fun and reliable vehicles one can take off the beaten path is the Kawasaki MULE (Multi-Use Light Equipment), which is tailor-made for off-roading and can go pretty fast.

The first MULE, the MULE 1000, was introduced back in 1988, and in the decades since, the MULE has become a favorite among workers and off-roaders alike. Each subsequent model of Kawasaki’s now-adored utility task vehicle has improved upon the last, with more power, stronger maneuverability, and increased cab size in each, to name a few of the MULE’s key innovations. To celebrate 30 years of the MULE, Kawasaki delivered two brand new models for customers to try out: the 2018 MULE PRO-FXR and the 2018 MULE 4000 Trans, each with their own sets of bells and whistles to pull potential buyers in.

Considering how powerful and large the Kawasaki MULE has become over the years, evoking the image of a toned-down Jeep, one has to wonder, are they street legal? Here’s what you need to know.

[Featured image by Hunini via WikiMedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]

When looking over the official Kawasaki website’s MULE section, it’s abundantly clear from the images and text that these vehicles are intended almost exclusively for off-roading. They’re advertised as best-suited for carrying large payloads across worksites, taking on rugged terrain, and embarking on off-road excursions. Digging deeper, manufacturer labels explicitly state that MULEs are sold for off-road use only. Additionally, they fail to meet the United States’ Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in more ways than one, from their lack of rearview mirrors to missing windshields.

However, that’s not to say that they can’t be used on any roadways at all. Even though MULEs aren’t street legal on a federal level, state and local laws vary on the matter. In more mountainous and rural areas, you might be able to get by with brief trips with a Slow Moving Vehicle sign, but that’s no guarantee. If you’re curious about the legalities surrounding MULEs on the road in your area, it’s in your best interest to do some research into your local regulations before hitting the road. Also, you’ll probably want to look into kits and components to make your MULE street legal, to further ensure you’re on the right side of the law.

Alternatively, if you want something you know you can safely and legally drive on the road and off, you could always set your sights on one of the many new vehicles that are ready to go off-roading fresh off the lot.

[Featured image by User:Mattes via WikiMedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0]