Motorcycle Racing

Sports fans around the world know the excitement when it comes to motorcycle racing. The speed and action it delivers is nothing compared to some sports. And the danger it faces manes the reaction of the viewers that is much more heart-pounding than an extreme adrenaline rush. The audience simply gasps for amazement whenever racers take the course into a fact-paced racing. One thing that people can think about is an impending accident that might hinder the excitement of the whole race and turn it into tragedy. But how can the racers stay protected during motorcycle racing, you might ask?

As every motorcyclist knows, it is imperative to be protected with a head gear. It has obviously impacted anyone who has ever owned or dealt with a motorcycle because it is required by law that all motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets. Along with the costume or attire racers must wear, motorcycle racing helmets are always included. During a motorcycle racing, most often the racing helmets of each racer varies and matches to their attire. This can either be customized or bought to match the theme.

Motorcycle racing also brings out the variety of helmets available to racers and riders alike. KBC helmets and Arai helmets are two of the most popular racing helmets out there. Although KBC helmets and Arai helmets are mostly seen as motorcycle racing helmets, they also have other types of bike helmets available. These would include ventilation-specialized head gear that hinders wind noise, which can cause permanent hearing difficulties of a racer. This is specifically-designed to motor cross racers. Anti fog factors and noise-resistant head gears are always available for you to look into rather than its stylish design and striking colors.

There are some customized and specialized welding helmets that have been turned into racing helmets as well. Some of these welding helmets come in different styles and colors can come in a skull shape mask type or pig and more. With the innovation of the designs, it is not easy to see that these are welding helmets but used as motorcycle racing helmets. Durability is also an important factor here when choosing your own head gear, so be sure you choose the most durable helmet. To find out if a particular helmet provides the components you need for a race, ask the experts and head gear users. Moreover, do your homework and find out the best rated helmet out there that features only the most durable material.

So, if you plan to join a motorcycle racing competition, be sure to get yourself a durable helmet to fit not only your style but to improve safety when you are driving your motorcycle. You can start by looking at the options of KBC helmets or Arai helmets that are available at your local stores or online. If that does not work, you can always look at getting a helmet customized for your image just as long as your stay protected with your head gear. Remember that the most important thing is not about visual appeal but for you to ride on safely towards another race.

Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts or OEM parts?

Contrary to what many believe, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) motorcycle parts are not inherently better than aftermarket motorcycle parts. Like any product in a dynamic marketplace, aftermarket motorcycle parts manufacturers often find a way to improve upon the performance or the look of the part. A comparison of the two types of parts is often contrary to what many people assume.

OEM Motorcycle Parts:
An OEM part is part made by the same company that made the part for the original vehicle. Oftentimes, auto and motorcycle manufacturers don't make the parts themselves, but contract the job to a manufacturing company. A comparison of the two different types of parts shows the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts:
The manufactures of aftermarket motorcycle parts must apply for the rights to reproduce a part. Aftermarket motorcycle parts manufactures operate under strict guidelines and by nature of their profession must be absolutely precise in their design.

Good aftermarket motorcycle parts often can't be distinguished from the original. Additionally, manufacturers of aftermarket motorcycle parts have the flexibility to improve upon the design and the quality. Normally, aftermarket motorcycle parts are sold for much less than OEM parts. The possible downside to using aftermarket parts is, that if installed by a non-certified technician, could impact the warranty.

Finding Quality Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts:
Different company's aftermarket motorcycle parts will differ in look and quality. Your best bet is to find a highly reputable aftermarket motorcycle parts dealer who is in the know about all of the latest parts and manufacturers and who only offers the best quality after market motorcycle parts.

Who Uses Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts:
Those who build custom motorcycles use aftermarket parts to build bikes with fresh new designs and unique looks. Those with older model bikes often choose aftermarket motorcycle parts because parts for older models have often greatly improved since the original part was manufactured.

Insurance companies almost consistently choose identical aftermarket motorcycle parts to replace damaged bikes after an accident. When the price is cheaper and the quality is as good, if not better than the original, it makes sense to use aftermarket motorcycle parts.

Custom Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts:
Aftermarket motorcycle parts are essential for customized bikes. Aftermarket parts like wheels, tires, handlebars, frames, foot pegs, mirrors, etc. offer a great number of options in terms of customization. The wide variety of aftermarket motorcycle parts available today makes it easy to create an original looking bike.

There are lots of after market motorcycle parts to make fixing or customizing your bike inexpensive and simple. Before forking out too much cash on a comparable part, take stock of your aftermarket options.

Why Should You Wear A Helmet When You Ride Your Motorcycle

As I am writing this article I am thinking of the recent accident involving the Pittsburg Steelers star quarterback, "Big Ben" Roethlisberger. If he had been wearing a helmet his injuries would not have been nearly as severe.

For most of us bikers a helmet just doesn't fit our perception of what biking is all about, which is freedom! I mean, hey it just doesn't look cool to be on a hog with that little sissy helmet. But, I think it looks way less cool to have your face all scarred up from sliding on it down the road!

According to statistics almost every crash where the rider wasn't wearing a helmet resulted in a major head injury. In one study out of 900 crashes there were 980 head and neck injuries which seems to indicate that the passengers on many of these motorcycles were not wearing helmets either.

Our neighbors to the north in Canada have now made it illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet due to the large percentage of fatalities in accidents in which the rider was not wearing one. Of course in the United States, like many other laws it is left up to the individual states to decide the ruling. I know where I live in Florida they repealed the helmet law a few years ago and according to an EMT buddy of mine it has caused a dramatic increase in head injuries.

If you value your brain and your life you should be responsible enough to wear a helmet. Some of the factors that you should consider when buying a motorcycle helmet are below.

All motorcycle helmets consist of two main parts, an inner shell or liner which is made of impact reducing foam and an outer shell which is made to absorb the initial impact and protect your head as well as take all of the damage that the road or other hard object would have done to your head.

When buying a motorcycle helmet you should be sure that it has been approved by the Department of Transportation. If the helmet has been approved it will have a sticker from the government agency stating so. Another sticker that is recognized all over the world is from the Snell Memorial Foundation.

Another thing that is hugely important is making sure that the motorcycle helmet you buy fits properly. You need to make sure that it doesn't fit too loose or too tight. When you take it off there should be no marks on your face from the pressure of the helmet, if so the helmet is too tight.

You also want to be sure that it doesn't wobble around or come off easily. If you are in an accident and the helmet comes off at first impact you may be bouncing down the road on your head!

Choosing A Motorcycle Frame For Your Custom Chopper

Above almost all else, motorcycle frames shape the overall look and feel of your custom chopper. If you're mulling over the idea of building your own custom chopper from scratch or from a custom bike kit, motorcycle frames are the piece around which you'll want to build your design concept. There are several styles of motorcycle frames to consider depending on the look you're going for and how you'll be using your custom chopper.

Measuring Custom Frames:
When comparing custom frames, you'll notice that they are described in terms of "stretch." The amount of stretch in the downtubes refers to how much higher the custom frame is than the stock frame. The stretch in the backbone refers to how much longer the custom frame is than the stock model frame.

Sportster Style Motorcycle Frames:
There are different styles of Sportster motorcycle frames designed for the Sportster engine. Sportster motorcycle frames needs to be extra tough to withstand the weight and rumble of the big Sportster engine. If you're going to have oversized tires on your custom chopper, you'll probably want to choose a Sportster motorcycle frame like the Hardtail Chassis that is built for larger tires.

Rolling Chassis Frames:
Rolling chassis frames are any type of rigid, swingarm, or softail motorcycle frame with front and rear wheel assembly and a stretched backbone or front downtubes. These are different from Sportster softail frames that have no stretch.

Rigid Frames:
In most cases, rigid motorcycle frames are stretch frames that are angled upward. Where other motorcycle frames have both wheels connected to the motorcycle frame through a suspension arrangement, rigid motorcycle frames often forgo the rear suspension.

FRX Frames:
If you're building a racing bike or dirt bike or are going to be riding on rugged terrain and need durability and extra suspension, FRX motorcycle frames may be your best bet.

The Weight Factor:
Make sure to consider the weight of the motorcycle frame before you buy. The weight of the motorcycle frame makes a big difference in how smooth of a ride your custom chopper will have; generally the heavier the frame, the smoother the ride. However, if you're going to be drag racing, you might favor a lighter weight.

Motorcycle frames are literally the backbone of the chopper. You'll want to be selective with all of the parts for your custom chopper, but when it comes to the motorcycle frame be sure to devote a little more time to research, asking questions, and getting opinions. The motorcycle frame is what holds the entire bike together and choosing a quality, heavy duty motorcycle frame is well worth the time spent shopping around.

How Good Motorcycle Security Means Cheaper Insurance

One of the major risks of motorcycles is theft, causing the increase of motorbike insurance all the time. A good preventative measure is to fit your vehicle with security in order to reduce your insurance cost and to deter thieves from trying to steal your pride and joy.

Security devices generally come in different categories ranging from 1 to 5 (1 being the best and most expensive). Below is a list of the category description:

Cat 1: Electronic alarm and immobiliser combined system

Cat 2: Electronic immobiliser (Upgradeable to Cat.1 with an alarm system)

Cat 3: Mechanical device such as a lock or chain

Cat 4: Wheel locking devices

Cat 5: After-theft systems, such as trackers or datatagging.

Each product is reviewed every 12 months, so the category may depend on the age of the system fitted to your vehicle. Although an alarm and immobiliser may start life as a Cat.1 system, after 12 months it may not be considered to be at this level.

The most effective type of security is locks, chains and especially disk locks. Cat. 3/4 devices or physical devices cause the most problems to thieves as they make the bike immobile when anchored. Rather than an electronic system that is reliant on power, mechanical devices can also be the cheapest to buy, although they are perhaps the most effective.

Many insurers do not offer huge discounts when considering security on a motorbike insurance policy, especially when you compare the cost of the security system to the amount of discount on the insurance. Although, many insurers may make the security a condition of the policy, they will not provide a price without a certain category security system fitted to the vehicle; this can be in relation to the value of the vehicle.

An average Cat. 1 alarm and immobiliser system could set you back as much as 350.00 pounds including fitting. These types of systems can include functions such as an alert to your mobile phone if your bike thinks it is being stolen, or a proximity sensor when someone might get too close to your vehicle. Quite often, an alarm and immobiliser such as this may be included and fitted when purchasing a new vehicle.

Many major manufacturers fit a standard immobiliser to their newer models, manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki or Yamaha fit newer vehicles with an ignition security system. Manufacturers such as Peugeot fit many of their newer scooters with mechanical security known as a Boa Lock, which can be pulled out from the rear of the vehicle and secured to an anchor point; all in an effort to reduce the cost of your motorbike insurance, as scooters are the most common type of vehicle to be stolen.

The most effective type of security that will always bring cheaper motorbike insurance quotes is a secure brick built garage. Most insurers can give such a large discount for this that the insurer may add an endorsement to your policy, to state that the vehicle must always be kept in your garage whilst at the home address.

Cat. 5 devices (After-theft products) include devices such as trackers, or tagging systems such as alpha dot or datatagging. These devices are designed to recover the vehicle after a theft has taken place. Although tagging systems normally cost between 30 pounds and 60, pounds tracking systems can be very expensive, in addition to the initial cost of the system you will also have a monthly subscription cost to keep the service running.

Motorcycle security is always a good idea; everything helps against the theft of your vehicle. Insurers will always help by reducing the cost of your insurance in accordance with the type of security fitted and where the vehicle is kept at the home address.

Harley 883 For Sale - Things To Consider

When it comes to wanting a Harley Davidson motorcycle the main reason many people do not end up buying one is simply that they cost too much. However one route you go down in order to own such an iconic motorcycle is by buying a used one. In this article we take a look at certain factors which should be taken into consideration when you see a Harley 883 for sale.

1. Before you actually hand over any of your hard earned cash to the seller, spend time carefully checking over the condition of the bike. If considering buying through an online auction site get the seller to send you plenty of pictures showing you the bike from various angles. Also when you visit the bike check it over to see if there are any major dents or scratches on the machine.

It is important before you start haggling over the price over the Harley 883 you get the seller to start its engine up. Plus arrange that you can take it for a test ride as this will provide you with a better opportunity to hear how the engine sounds and also if there is any problems relating to the gearing etc.

2. Along with looking at the condition of the machine you need to ask the seller to provide you with any history for the motorcycle. A good seller will often be able to quickly provide the bikes service history and log book, but if they can not or will not then walk away from the deal immediately.

Plus a seller who is able to show proof of ownership as well as how the bike has been looked after is someone who cares about their machines. In many cases with people like these, you know that the bike will have been well cared for and there are unlikely to be any major mechanical issues with it.

3. When every considering buying a used Harley 883 it is suitable that you do as much research as possible before you phone the seller or place a bid at the auction site. You need to spend comparing the costs of new and used ones against the bike you may want to buy. Doing this can often help with negotiating a far better price with the seller when you do go to buy it.

Along with comparing Harley 883's which were manufactured in the same year as the one you may want to buy, there are other things that you should take into consideration as well. Look both at newer and older models which seem to be in the same condition or which have done the same kind of mileage. Often you will find that these can also seriously effect the price at which the bike is being sold.

By keeping the above in mind when it comes to thinking about buying that Harley 883 for sale close to where you live could end up saving you quite a considerable some when it comes to negotiating the sale price. Along with looking in local newspapers and magazines for these motorcycles, another great place to get a good deal on Harley 883's, which are up for sale, is by going online.

Automotive Fuses Use & Replacements

Automotive fuses are an essential part of the automobile electronic system. With this article we have gathered a large number of resources to help you with on automotive fuses and their replacement.

While you drive your vehicle regularly, you are quite familiar with the term 'Fuse'. As the name suggests, this is a key part of your car or automobiles electronics system. It is typically a small piece of equipment that is associated with the electronics system and is placed to blow out or fuse when something in the system goes wrong.

This part is designed in such a way that it does not create a crisis when it blows out or fuses but will make something on the automobile no longer working. Although the part of your automobile to quit working will be relatively minor, like for instance, it can be the turn indicators, the radio, or even the interior lights. Whatever the condition, if a fuse blows, the devices in question will no longer function.

If ever, you encounter, any malfunction in your vehicle the fuse is the first place to check. For most of us, locating the fuse box in the vehicle might be relatively easy, whereas, still some may have problem locating the error. However, correcting the problem is relatively easy and you will get a feeling of satisfaction knowing you were able to troubleshoot on your own.

We will certainly help to brush you up for the task in hand. Lets start with the automobile fuses. Generally, there are two type of fuses found in most of the automobiles. The first type is a glass, cylinder-shaped with stainless steel on the ends and glass in the middle. The other type is a plastic housing with the fusible link encased in the housing. The fuse box is generally located behind a cover, under the dashboard, or below the steering wheel.

For checking it by yourself you will need to take help from the user manual that accompanies your vehicle. The vehicles manual will help you to identify and position the fuse box a guide on how to access it. Check the cover, with most of the vehicles you can remove with your hand and with the rest follow what the user manual suggests. Once you find the box carefully go through the owners manual to locate the exact fuse number, which might not be functional.

For instance, if the turn indicators are not working find the fuse for it through the numerical chart. When you are able to locate the exact fuse for the task, remove it as suggested in the owner's manual. With most of the vehicles you can remove it with your hands. Take out the particular and determine if it's blown. If the metal coil inside it is separated, it is blown and no longer working and will need replacement. While you look for the replacement of the fuse, look exactly for the amperage rating as the blown fuse.

Using it with different amperage rating may risk either blowing it again, or damaging the equipment it is designed to protect. Once you lay your hands on the exact replacement, you can easily replace it back into the slot given. So identifying and replacing a blown fuse is relatively easy and can be done at home.

Can I Get Custom-Made Motorcycle Frames Anywhere?

Motorcycle aficionados will need Motorcycle Frames at some point, especially if they want their personal motorcycles assembled from scratch for them. But did you know that you can actually get Custom-Made Motorcycle Frames online now?

To have Motorcycle Frames Custom-Made for you, you may need to clarify to the company doing that for you just what you need the Motorcycle Frames for. Like, do you intend to have the Motorcycle Frames installed on motorcycles used in major competitions or are they purely for recreational use? This is quite important for the company to know because Motorcycle Frames for competition use should be made to different standards compared to Motorcycle Frames to be employed for leisure and recreation only. If you take a recreational bike and then start putting it under the rigors of competitive motorcycle racing, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t perform to your expectations (and if it literally breaks down under that kind of use.) You’ll be lucky if you don’t suffer any broken bones as a result of misusing the bike for what it was not designed to do.

Don’t be surprised either if the design you are looking for in Motorcycle Frames is not in stock immediately. Suppliers who create Custom-Made Motorcycle Frames need to maintain a low overhead sometimes so that their costs do not go out of control. A company with huge expenses would then need to pass on those expenses to their customers to stay profitable in this business. If you can wait for your Motorcycle Frames to be crafted for you then shipped to your mailing address, then that would be better. It would also cost you less money.

You may need to inquire if any taxes figure into the cost of the service the company is providing to you. Ask how much shipping costs and how long it will take to ship the order to you (in terms of business days.) In case of sub-standard work provided, you should make sure the agreement you entered into has a return of goods policy, meaning you can get a refund on your purchase should it not meet your specifications. Some companies try to prevent themselves from incurring losses by saying you cannot have a refund on your purchase but you can have it replaced. Such stipulations should be made clear to you from the very beginning – before you even placed an order, actually. A company that is completely up front about its business policies will make sure you understand that, and if you haven’t been informed, will inform you straight at the outset of the transaction.

If you suddenly change your mind and opt to cancel your order, you might have to pay some kind of fine or penalty so that the company can cover its losses. After all, they have people, overhead, and raw materials to pay for so suddenly cancelling an order will make them lose money. To prevent this kind of embarrassing and awkward situation, always review the details of your order before you submit it.

When To Contact Motorcycle Salvage Companies and What to Expect

Lots of people like motorcycles and riding motorcycles is one of an adrenaline junkie's biggest thrills in life. Unfortunately though, motorcycles (like automobiles) may break down under constant use and then need to be repaired. If you are thrifty and want a good deal on the spare parts you need, you may need to contact Motorcycle Salvage Companies.

The Motorcycle Salvage companies you contact should be scrupulous about providing the best Motorcycle Salvage parts you can get for the price you pay. The Motorcycle Salvage companies should also be diligent about inspecting the Motorcycle Salvage parts they intend to offer and sell to you to make sure each of the Motorcycle Salvage parts meet quality standards and have absolutely no defects. It would also help if the Motorcycle Salvage companies offered some kind of guarantee or warranty to make sure you are getting value for your money.

Among the main motorcycle manufacturers whose bike parts Motorcycle Salvage companies might keep in stock are Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Honda. Each of these have their own respective bike models that they turn out regularly, so be sure you specify which bike model you need Motorcycle Salvage parts for. The year of the model is also very important to specify. Some of the other motorcycle manufacturers whose bike parts Motorcycle Salvage companies might have an inventory of are: Buell, Harley Davidson, BMW, Aprilla, Triumph, and Ducati.

Usually, you might have a choice between the large Motorcycle Salvage companies (who might have vast salvage yards where they take apart and stock Motorcycle Salvage parts) and the smaller Motorcycle Salvage companies. The difference might be that the larger Motorcycle Salvage companies have a much wider array of Motorcycle Salvage parts to offer you while the smaller Motorcycle Salvage companies emphasize service more. It differs from company to company so you need to feel your way.

If you like to take apart motorcycles in your spare time and then put them together (and they actually work afterwards, and beautifully at that), then maybe you should be in the Motorcycle Salvage business yourself. That is how some owners and staff of Motorcycle Salvage companies managed to get into the Motorcycle Salvage business actually. It starts out as a hobby, then when the hobbyist finds himself so proficient at this that he can be considered an expert, he puts up his own company. Of course, to have a salvage yard of any use, you may have to buy land of your own and put up Motorcycle Salvage parts storage facilities. And for that, you are delving into the business side of a Motorcycle Salvage company. Some people do well at balancing the craft of motorcycle mechanics with the business side while some do not, so you may have to decide whether you should focus on one side and hire someone for the other part, or be a jack of all trades in the Motorcycle Salvage business (if you can.)

5 Benefits Of Using Synthetic Motor Oils

Lubricants can play a big role in industry. One cannot think about smooth running of industry without using lubricants. Lubricants are used in moving parts or components to ensure that the component remain in good working order. The key role of industrial lubricants is to reduce the amount of friction and wear from the moving surfaces of machinery. As we know that friction causes heat, so lubricants also reduces heat by carrying away from moving surfaces of machinery and cool its components. That’s why lubricants are also termed as the heat transfer fluids. Lubricants prevent moving parts of machinery against rust and corrosion.

Industrial lubricants are prepared of either organic compounds or synthetic compounds. Most of organic lubricants are prepared by refining petroleum substances where as synthetic lubricants are prepared from chemical compounds through a number of chemical processes using some additives for better performance of lubricants.

Lubricants, generally, are found in three physical states – liquid, semi-liquid, and solid. Motor oils, marine oils, turbine oils, gear oils, etc are major form of liquid lubricants. Greases and Vaseline are common name in semi-liquid lubricants. Graphite is the most popular solid lubricants. The powder of graphite is used for lubrication between moving parts of machinery.

The most common kinds of industrial lubricants are motor oils, marine oils, silicone, greases, turbine oils, metal working fluids, cutting fluids, grinding fluids, farming oils, gas engine oils, brake oils, hydraulic oils, etc. The biggest application of industrial lubricants is motor oils which are generally used in motor vehicles, automotive industry and internal combustion engines and provide them better performance, protection, and longer life and ultimately save money.

Different kinds of lubricants are used for the different purposes or different machinery. Not same lubricants should be used in different machinery. By using additives different lubricants are used for the different purposes and functions. The key role of additives used in lubricants is to increase the viscosity of lubricants and reduce oxidation and contamination. Different additives perform different specific task. Some common additives are anti-oxidants, anti-foaming agents, rust & corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators, etc.

There are several types of lubricants are available in the markets categorized by their specific properties and tasks but their key function is to help maintain and keep machinery or engines running smoothly at all times. For example, metal working fluids are kinds of lubricants which are especially used in metal working, glass, and cutting industries.

Metalworking fluids are also termed as coolants or grinding/cutting fluids. They are especially designed using additives suitable for grinding, boring, metal working, glass cutting, and metal cutting, etc. Engine coolants provide excellent protection of all hard metals in the cooling system and engines. They also provide strong resistance against foaming and provider longer life of the cooling systems or engines. Gear oils which are especially used in brake systems, gear boxes and gear systems are also the form of motor oils. In this way, we see that using lubricants in machinery is of great importance. Lubricants play a big role in industry and enable it for smooth running.

Motor Vehicle Personal Injury In Minnesota

Motor vehicle personal injury is an issue that almost anyone can relate to. Many people have either seen, been involved in, or know someone who has experienced an accident. With the wide variety of motor vehicles in the world, and therefore large number of accidents, legal claims come from all over. Each case is different, however, so legal practice has adjusted by branching into different specialty areas within the motor vehicle personal injury category. In Minnesota, the predominant areas of practice include car, boat, bus, motorcycle, plane, truck, and train accidents.

Car

In the event of an automobile accident, the goal of an attorney is to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses. This compensation can include medical bills, loss of income or wages, and payment to others to do jobs you can no longer do, such as shoveling snow. If the crash was primarily or completely someone else’s fault, you can also seek compensation for pain and suffering. Cases can also be caused by intentional or reckless conduct. In these situations, the driver responsible for the conduct would be liable. If the accident occurred because of faulty products, such as an air bag malfunction or a tire blowing out, the case would fall under product liability law. Car accidents can result in serious personal injuries such as broken bones, neck and back injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries, and in severe cases, death.

Boat

Minnesota has more registered watercraft per person than other state. due to the presence of over 15,000 lakes. With this large number of watercraft and water traffic, however, the risk for serious boating injury is significant. Most boating accidents are caused by one of three factors. These include inexperienced boaters, intoxicated operators, or boat malfunctions. The most common boat accidents in Minnesota are collisions with other boats or watercraft, slipping and falling due to wet surfaces, boat fires and explosions, and sinking or tipping boats. These accidents can cause serious injuries, including death, broken bones, burns, head/neck injuries, and spine injuries.

Bus

With gas prices constantly on the rise, the use of public transportation has been increasing as well. Although this is good for people’s pocket books, the puts more buses on the road, leading to a higher number of bus-related injuries. There are numerous rules and regulations developed by the Federal Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Safety Administration that help to ensure the safety of bus passengers. These include logging a certain number of hours in a bus before being allowed to carry passengers, acquiring a special license, bus safety features, and performing preventive maintenance on the bus. Due to these rules and regulations, some buses, such as school buses, are considered to be one of the safest groups of vehicles on the road.

Motorcycle

Motorcycle accidents can also be dangerous and deadly, due to no seatbelts and lack of a protective frame. These accidents most commonly occur because of negligence. Although it’s a frequent explanation for an accident, the excuse of “I didn’t see the motorcycle” is not valid. Some of the more common situations in which accidents occur include when an automobile is making a left turn in front of a motorcycle, when a motorcycle is in a car’s blind spot, when large vehicles are present and blocking the driver’s view, or when hazardous road and weather conditions are present. Helmets are one of the easiest and most effective forms of protection for motorcycle drivers, as it significantly lowers the risk of traumatic brain injury or fatalities.

Plane

In the event of an aviation accident, legal issues can be very complex and unique. Legal rules for crashes not involving airline companies or common carriers are similar to those for car accidents. In the event of a common carrier accident, however, strict standards and regulations are in place, and most carries have strong attorneys and insurance companies to protect themselves. In these cases, it is important to find an experienced attorney that can interpret the laws and obtain the best solution possible.

Common carries are required to demonstrate the greatest degree of safety for its passengers. Unique to this type of accident, plane crashes and governed by state, federal, and international negligence laws. In the event of an accident in Minnesota, a victim, or victim’s family, may file a legal claim if the cause included defective onboard computers, fuel tank explosions, poor equipment maintenance, improper loading, or pilot error.

Truck

When accidents involve large trucks (semi-trailer’s, big rigs, 18-wheelers, etc), claims are usually made against trucking companies or negligent drivers. These types of accidents are among the worst considering the size of the vehicle involved. Truck drivers cannot see as well as smaller cars, and do not have very quick maneuverability. Accidents are most often contributed to overloaded freight, driver fatigue, speeding, or substance abuse. Due to these factors, trucking companies and drivers have strict rules that must be followed, including logbooks, time sheets, and higher safety standards then those of other vehicles. Drivers are limited in the amount of time they can drive each day, and these records are crucial to claims against a driver’s alertness or fatigue level. These and a variety of other factors make truck accident litigation much different than a normal car accident.

Train

Most accidents involving trains are somewhat minor, but anytime that a car or person is involved, the results can be quite severe. There is not much that can stand up to the size and power of these massive machines. Train accidents usually include one of the following: collision with another train, derailment, an accident with a car or other motor vehicle, or hitting a pedestrian. Many of these accidents can be caused by the train itself, due to mechanical failure or negligence (such as the brakes failing), heavier than normal cargo loads, or defective railroad tracks. When other motor vehicles are involved, however, most collisions are attributed to aggressive driving of the other vehicle. Railroad companies are required to maintain strict standards of safety, and are the ones responsible for their passengers. Lawsuits involving train accidents contain some of the most specific guidelines and time constraints, since most accidents involve a government owned company.

Although each of these areas are different, there are major themes throughout the broad motor vehicle personal injury category that should always be remembered. In the event of an accident, seek medical assistance immediately, even if you are not aware of serious injury. It is important to determine if any injuries were sustained, some of which can occur subtly at first. If another vehicle or person is involved, exchange your name and number and other pertinent information. If property damage exceeds $2,000, personal injury occurs, or a fatality occurs, it is required by law to promptly report the accident to authorities. When these steps have been completed, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

It is important to act fast after being injured in any type of accident. This will allow the attorney to preserve evidence easier, to obtain witnesses, and to address other important factors. Some cases have certain time limitations on them as well. An attorney that takes the case should have a desire to fight until the end to make sure you receive the amount of compensation you deserve for your losses. Some personal injury cases ultimately go to trial, and the attorney should not be afraid to take on major corporations or insurance companies either. In the eyes of a good attorney, your well-being comes first, and then your rights. Attorney’s are there so you can focus your attention on recovery from an accident. They will take care of the rest.

Different Types Of Motor Homes

If you are interested in purchasing one of the many different types of motorhomes, there are several things that you should know about. People with different needs will require different types of motorhomes. First of all you should select among motorhomes that satisfy the size and inside amenities requirements. For example, there are motorhomes that are designed specifically for 2 to 4 people. There are motorhomes that are smaller (campers, for example) or larger. There are also motorhomes that will have different number of beds. For example, you may look at the motorhomes that have a large double bed over the cabin. Some motorhomes will have the section with a table and chairs that can be converted to an extra bed. Other options are also available.

You should also make sure that motorhomes that you look at satisfy the technical requirements. For example, there are motorhomes with automatic or 5 speed manual transmission. Different motorhomes will have different engines and different fuel requirements (diesel or unleaded fuel). A very important characteristic of motorhomes is the fuel consumption. You will spend a lot of time on the road and with the rising oil prices you should try to lower your gasoline expenses.

Different motorhomes will also have different inside amenities and equipment. There are several items that you might want to think about having in the motorhomes that you are considering. For example, many motorhomes would include such amenities as a chemical toilet with flushing capabilities, shower (may use cold and even hot pressurized water), tanks for holding fresh water and waste water, air conditioner (particularly important if you live in states with hot weather) and even a hot water system (heated with gas). Motorhomes can also usually include a kitchen area with a lot of different kitchen equipment (like a microwave and refrigerator). There are other amenities that will be more specific to your personal needs. The basic specifications provided for all models of motorhomes will include the list of all inside equipment.

Motor Home Extended Warranty

You will find that any motor home that you buy will come with a warranty of some sort. Of course, the warranty will vary depending on whether you buy new or secondhand. New vehicles will attract a longer term warranty than secondhand vehicles, however, at some point the warranty on either vehicle will expire, leaving you exposed to the risks of paying for expensive repairs should something happen to your vehicle after that expiration. And guess what – something normally does happen!! You can, however, protect yourself against this by taking out an extended warranty on your motor home.

For many motor home owners, an extended warranty provides peace of mind and with companies offering extended warranties directly to owners via the internet premiums have come down a lot, thus making an extended warranty quite reasonable. You will find that dealer’s extended warranties are much more expensive because the insurance companies must raise their price to cover the commission paid to the dealer. Online companies don’t have this commission to pay and can therefore offer a better price.

When buying an extended warranty make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company. The most reputable companies are underwritten by “A” rated insurance companies, rated by Standard & Poor and others. Do not buy a motor home extended warranty from a company that will not disclose the rating of the company that backs the policy. You will find that extended warranties are available on new and used motor homes, however if a vehicle is very old or has very high mileage, you will not be able to take out a motor home extended warranty.

The cost to protect yourself from expensive repairs will vary on motor homes so here are a few guidelines to assist you.

1. Generally, you will pay more for diesel engines and then depending on the location of the engine, you will pay more or less. Generally rear engines are more expensive.
2. Most companies will exclude Renault built engines.
3. Some modifications on engines will void warranty, however the cost of coverage will be more if a turbo charger is added.
4. There will be a surcharge added for every year added over the first few years of age of the vehicle. With mileage, the surcharges will start earlier.
5. Any accessories added such as satellite dishes, TV, stereo etc…will incur a surcharge.

The best way to find out the cost of a motor home extended warranty is to contact a few companies and get a full run down of all aspects of the policy. In this way you can make an informed decision and then choose the policy that you feel suits you best.

You can find more information by clicking on the link in the resource box, or go to: www.motorhomessite.com

Motorcycle Accident Claims

With the rising number of motorcyclists, despite the regular generalisations of motorcyclists always being the cause, rather than the victim, of crashes - there is much evidence to support the government's campaigns for drivers of other motor vehicles to be more vigilant in making themselves aware of motorcycles themselves and possible situations where they may encounter problems with motorbikes or other smaller form of transportation such as a scooter, moped or other powered cycle.

Most people in the UK if asked will normally answer any question regarding motorbike accidents with sweeping generalizations but more recent studies have shown that it is most likely to be either end of the motorcycles rider's scale that will cause an accident in the UK, not the general riders. In other words, the individuals most likely to cause a motorcycle crash are young inexperienced riders or older riders but with much more powerful machines than your average user. This is self explanatory really and once considered is also quite reasonable to assume even without the actual evidence available. Young riders are probably just as likely to cause a motorbike accident as their car driving counterparts are to cause a car incident. Rash driving and inexperience of the road in general will normally result in more than one motorbike crash (as long as the first is not fatal obviously) either by colliding with another vehicle or object themselves, or by being hit by another road user who did not see them due to the inexperienced motorcyclist positioning themselves incorrectly in a flow of traffic.

Of course, the more controversial motorbike accidents are those involving older drivers. Probably every road user at some point in their lives has almost collided with a motorcyclist driving like a complete idiot and that is the general image that we hold. Of course, we've all probably come across a dozen more car drivers acting like idiots but a possible motor bike accident seems to stick with us much more as the percentage of bad bike riders that we will come into contact with on the UK's roads is much higher than the percentage of bad car drivers so it feels like they are all bad. The usual suspects - overtaking other vehicles even with oncoming traffic heading towards them, driving in between lanes of traffic even though those lanes are still moving and cars are switching lanes, driving around blind corners at high speeds even though there may be stopped traffic round them and so on.

So how does this affect motorcycle accident claims? Unfortunately, when placing actual blame in a motorbike accident investigation a certain amount of bias will be automatically placed against the rider of motorbikes due to these public perceptions of these forms of transport. You have to remember, it is the police that generally provide all the statistics on fatalities and injuries for these studies so they are more than just aware of the likelihood of the incident being the fault of the motor-cycle.

So when looking for someone to blame for your motorbike accident injury you may have a slightly harder time and may have to have more conclusive evidence to prove that you were not the cause of your own demise. But, motorcycle accident compensation itself is not affected by the actual form of transportation. Even though motorcycle injuries are generally more severe than those experienced by car drivers due to how exposed you are, your compensation amounts are not penalised for having chosen to ride a bike.

In summary, motorbike claims are as standard as other road vehicle claims and despite the bias that will inevitably be in the minds of everyone who handles your case, as long as you have the proof and the documentation then your compensation will be obtained and awarded in the exact same manner with the exact same values.

Is The Tomtom Motorcycle Gps Worth It?

The TomTom rider was the very first GPS unit released that was designed specifically for motorcycles. Devised from TomTom's popular GO selection of GPS car devices, it does a terrific job despite some small downsides.

One of the most mooted features of the TomTom is the cell phone hands free capability. Using the Bluetooth headset for your helmet, you can receive and deliver calls on your cell phone with the telephone number and name of the caller coming up on the TomTom's screen.

Some people have reported difficulties using the LCD 3.5 inch full color touch screen while wearing thick motorcycle gloves. The larger icons can be easy to use but the more detailed displays (such as when choosing the street address to travel to) can be difficult to use when you have gloves on. Therefore, you may have to input the address without gloves before you start your ride.

The Rider ships with the following: a screen wipe cloth, wired headset, a SD card, an AC adapter, USB cable, mounting kit, 12 volt-power cable, carrying pouch, Bluetooth headset and required reference material.

Using the mounting kit, the TomTom rider can be mounted on to your motorcycle's handlebar, mirror and an flat service that you can find using the adhesive mount. The mount is secure enough to keep your GPS unit attached even off the most bumpy of rides. The 12 volt-power cable can be attached via the mount and enables you to have constant power to your unit without having to recharge it.

Its downsides? The TomTom Rider's POI database is out-of-date and intermittently inaccurate in giving wrong street names or no street at all for some side streets. What's more, the included Bluetooth headset has less than average sound quality. The screen could also have been a little larger in order to be able to see the icons more clearly when riding.

The Rider is a strong unit that can withstand the daily bumps that happens to motorcycle GPS devices. The battery last 5 hours from a single charge.

Yamaha Kodiak ATV Battery

If you want to find a good Yamaha Kodiak ATV battery, Apex Battery online is an excellent choice for an online site that is user friendly, always updated, and quick to use. The easiest way to find a Yamaha Kodiak ATV battery for your Kodiak ATV at the Apex site is detailed below:

1. Go to the Apex Battery online site located at apexbattery.com.
2. Select ATV Batteries from the navigation bar categories of batteries on the left of the webpage.
3. Scroll down until you find the icon on the bottom of the page that lists all brands of ATV batteries until you find Yamaha batteries. Select the icon. This choice will take you to the next page that details all the different Yamaha ATV batteries that are for sale at the site.
4. Make your selection from the list, which will include a choice of four different Yamaha Kodiak ATV batteries.

The four Yamaha Kodiak ATV batteries that are listed on the Yamaha ATV batteries page are the Yamaha 400cc YFM400FW Kodiak ATV battery, the Yamaha 400cc YFM400FW Kodiak/Automatic ATV battery, the Yamaha 400cc YFM400FW Kodiak/Automatic ATV battery, and the Yamaha 450cc YFM450FW Kodiak/Automatic ATV battery.

Yamaha RD 60 Motorcycle Battery

Are you looking for a battery for a Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle? If you are, then the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery can be found at the following webpages for your convenience:

1. At Batteries Plus, batteriesplus.com, you can purchase the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery at this site. The Batteries Plus site offers the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery for the 1975 through 1978 year of Yamaha RD 60 motorcycles and offers the same battery for the 1981 Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle.
2. Also, online at one of the better-stocked stores around for motorcycle batteries, the folks at Bike Bandit, bikebandit.com, can get you fixed up with a Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery for the 1973, 1974, and 1975 year models of Yamaha RD 60 motorcycles.

I'm sure there are other places on the Internet that sell these hard-to-find motorcycle batteries for the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle; however, since the only year models of the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery that I could find at these two super bike battery shops ranged in years from 1973 through 1981, it leads me to believe that not all motorcycle battery stores online offer this particular battery for sale because of the age of the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle line of motorbikes.

Harley 883 For Sale - Things To Consider

When it comes to wanting a Harley Davidson motorcycle the main reason many people do not end up buying one is simply that they cost too much. However one route you go down in order to own such an iconic motorcycle is by buying a used one. In this article we take a look at certain factors which should be taken into consideration when you see a Harley 883 for sale.

1. Before you actually hand over any of your hard earned cash to the seller, spend time carefully checking over the condition of the bike. If considering buying through an online auction site get the seller to send you plenty of pictures showing you the bike from various angles. Also when you visit the bike check it over to see if there are any major dents or scratches on the machine.

It is important before you start haggling over the price over the Harley 883 you get the seller to start its engine up. Plus arrange that you can take it for a test ride as this will provide you with a better opportunity to hear how the engine sounds and also if there is any problems relating to the gearing etc.

2. Along with looking at the condition of the machine you need to ask the seller to provide you with any history for the motorcycle. A good seller will often be able to quickly provide the bikes service history and log book, but if they can not or will not then walk away from the deal immediately.

Plus a seller who is able to show proof of ownership as well as how the bike has been looked after is someone who cares about their machines. In many cases with people like these, you know that the bike will have been well cared for and there are unlikely to be any major mechanical issues with it.

3. When every considering buying a used Harley 883 it is suitable that you do as much research as possible before you phone the seller or place a bid at the auction site. You need to spend comparing the costs of new and used ones against the bike you may want to buy. Doing this can often help with negotiating a far better price with the seller when you do go to buy it.

Along with comparing Harley 883's which were manufactured in the same year as the one you may want to buy, there are other things that you should take into consideration as well. Look both at newer and older models which seem to be in the same condition or which have done the same kind of mileage. Often you will find that these can also seriously effect the price at which the bike is being sold.

By keeping the above in mind when it comes to thinking about buying that Harley 883 for sale close to where you live could end up saving you quite a considerable some when it comes to negotiating the sale price. Along with looking in local newspapers and magazines for these motorcycles, another great place to get a good deal on Harley 883's, which are up for sale, is by going online.

Should I Buy New Motorcycle Engines or Used Motorcycle Engines?

It depends a lot on what you intend to use your Motorcycle Engines for. If you are going to be using the Motorcycle Engines solely for installation on motorcycles, then used Motorcycle Engines may do already (though if you really want to splurge, new ones are even better.) But what if you were going to place the Motorcycle Engines in cars (rather than car engines)? How would that work out?

Actually, this is already being done by many car assembly hobbyists. Usually, the cars to be powered by Motorcycle Engines are just small cars whose size and weight specifications are proportional to the power output of the Motorcycle Engines. As far back as the 1940s, the Cooper Car Company had been undertaking this practice - to make race cars, at that. Even BMW had tried doing that too in the 1950s. Though the general public may be ignorant of this trend, motorcycle and car assembly hobbyists know this practice works and with relatively good results. Their creations might be known as motorcycle/car hybrids.

The motorcycle/car hybrids are probably still being built today in someone's backyard with better results than those experienced back in the 1940s and 1950s – all because modern day Motorcycle Engines are stronger, faster, and better engineered than their early ancestors. Thanks to the decades of research done on how to improve Motorcycle Engines, hobbyists are reaping better rewards from their hybrid assembly efforts.

However, just because it looks like a car, runs like a car, and seems to behave like a car doesn't mean your motorcycle/car hybrid is automatically allowed on public and private roads in your country. The fact that you are using Motorcycle Engines to power the hybrids may be breaking the law for motor vehicles at some point (especially if you are one of the first to make and try to run these types of hybrids in that country.) So, unless you have some kind of special permit to run your hybrid on public and private roads, you may have to confine use of your Motorcycle Engines-powered hybrid vehicle in special areas only (like in a private racetrack or in an enclosed private family compound.)

If you are attracted to the idea of building motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles powered by Motorcycle Engines by yourself, be forewarned that the process actually entails quite an all-encompassing knowledge of how Motorcycle Engines work, how cars work, and how you can bridge any differences in the engineering of both or either with your own creativity and resources. A very smart mechanic/hobbyist can probably learn from manuals and prototypes alone – but for the less experienced and less talented hobbyist, full-time tutelage under someone very experienced in creating motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles might be more appropriate. There's no shame in asking for experienced guidance (except maybe to your ego) and in the end, you may get better results that way.

Equally surprising is that companies have been established throughout the world which concentrate on creating such motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles, many for racing. It might benefit you if you did research on how these companies do their work before you set about creating your own motorcycle/car hybrid vehicle.

Would You Ever Buy Used Motorcycle Engines?

A very picky motorcycle collector might say: “never anything used for me!” But to others, Used Motorcycle Engines are actually not so bad, provided you know how to pick them and know what you’re doing when you’re assembling your motorcycle with the used parts. Some Used Motorcycle Engines are in quite acceptable (sometimes, even excellent) condition so you would be getting a good deal, under those circumstances.

It also depends a lot on how and where you get your Used Motorcycle Engines. A very scrupulous motorcycle assembly hobbyist might not be satisfied with the promises of online suppliers (who, after all can only back up their promises with pictures until the real thing arrives at the client’s mailing address.) Such a careful motorcycle assembly hobbyist might want to look at Used Motorcycle Engines in salvage yards instead, because then he can inspect a host of Used Motorcycle Engines at his leisure until he finds acceptable ones.

Salvage yards are also better sometimes than online suppliers because they might have mechanics who can install your Used Motorcycle Engines on the motorcycle being assembled for you, and inspect the whole motorcycle for any safety issues or quality problems – sure, you may have to pay for this service (aside from the purchase price of the Used Motorcycle Engines) but at least you know you’re getting expert advice from very experienced mechanics. Hobbyists might not have as much experience as full-time mechanics (though, if you feel really confident about your assembly skills, go right ahead and assemble your own motorcycle yourself and see the results of your work.) You can always return to the salvage yard if things don’t work out.

Can Used Motorcycle Engines originally made by one motorcycle manufacturer be installed on the same motorcycle with parts from other motorcycle manufacturers? Some hobbyists would probably try this out at some time. But generally, mechanics would probably caution you against doing that, because each manufacturer has their own way of making motorcycles so you might come up with a working prototype, but the question then is: how long would that prototype function? You might have put a lot of effort making something that will last only for the short term. It is best to use Used Motorcycle Engines from one motorcycle manufacturer with parts from the same manufacturer to get consistent results.

Some salvage yards work in cohesion with one another, rather than against one another. This is great, because it means if you need a part that one salvage yard lacks, they can contact salvage yards friendly to them for assistance. Where on salvage yard is deficient, another salvage yard could be strong. It is like a marriage of convenience, with perks going to you (the customer) as well.

One downside of salvage yards is that they may have higher overhead than online suppliers. So do examine the price difference and see if it is worth it. Also, salvage yards may be limited by how far they can ship the goods you bought from them, unlike online suppliers who often have a global market. So ask if the salvage yard can ship the goods for you to your mailing address or if you have to handle that yourself.

Led Lights For Motorcycles - The Basics

Motorcycle accent lighting is becoming ever more popular. These lights are beginning to show up on everything from the smallest, least expensive, scooter to the “big bucks” choppers and everything in between.

If you’re thinking about taking the leap and lighting up your ride, there are some important things to keep in mind.

First, quality is everything. For most things in life, you get what you pay for and motorcycle LED lights and accessories are no exception to the rule. Make sure the light products (pods and strips) you buy are waterproof, come with sufficient lead wire for ease of installation, and have a Lifetime Warranty against bulb failure. Note, however, bulb failures are rare in the higher quality products, thus their ability to offer such a warranty.

Second, make sure the wiring for your LED lights is independent of the wiring for the rest of your bike. This will ensure your factory warranty stays in tact. Modifications to existing wiring are likely to void your warranty.

Third, make sure you get the right products for your bike and the right products to achieve the look you want. Most reputable dealers are available to take your calls and are willing to discuss your needs with you before you make the purchase. Motorcycle LED light products come in different shapes and sizes, different casings (usually chrome or black), and many different light colors. Not all light products are right for all jobs.

Fourth, don’t underestimate the importance of the accessories. Make sure fuse holders and switches are waterproof; industry proven bonding tape is used (3M VHB tape is recommended); and an adhesion promoter is also provided to increase the bonding strength of the tape.

Fifth, make sure the system is such that additional lights can be easily added in the future should you decide to do so. You may want to start out lighting your engine first and add ground effects or wheel lighting later. You want the add-ons to fit within your current LED lighting system and be easily accomplished. Plan ahead “just in case”.

Whether having your motorcycle LED lights professionally installed or buying the kits or individual units to install yourself, doing your homework ahead of time will pay off.

Remember, your bike is a reflection of you so it’s best to do it right the first time.

By: Wyked Illuzionz

Battery for a 1980 Yamaha Motorcycle

If you are looking around for a battery for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle, then one of the easiest websites around to navigate and easily find what you're looking for in a battery is at Apex Battery online, apexbattery.com. At this online battery store, there are a couple of choices for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle battery. One of those choices is the Yamaha 125cc DT125 Enduro motorcycle battery. This battery is said to work in a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle. Also listed as a battery for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle is the Yamaha 250cc SR250 Exciter motorcycle battery. Another choice for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle battery is the Yamaha 400cc XS 400 motorcycle battery, as well as the Yamaha 50cc LB50P Chappy motorcycle battery and the Yamaha 50cc LC50 Champ motorcycle battery.

There are other batteries for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle listed at this website, which is an excellent resource to utilize online when looking for a battery for a 1980 Yamaha motorcycle, as well as other model motorcycles. Apex Battery sells batteries for almost every use at their online store.

Is The Tomtom Motorcycle Gps Worth It?

The TomTom rider was the very first GPS unit released that was designed specifically for motorcycles. Devised from TomTom's popular GO selection of GPS car devices, it does a terrific job despite some small downsides.

One of the most mooted features of the TomTom is the cell phone hands free capability. Using the Bluetooth headset for your helmet, you can receive and deliver calls on your cell phone with the telephone number and name of the caller coming up on the TomTom's screen.

Some people have reported difficulties using the LCD 3.5 inch full color touch screen while wearing thick motorcycle gloves. The larger icons can be easy to use but the more detailed displays (such as when choosing the street address to travel to) can be difficult to use when you have gloves on. Therefore, you may have to input the address without gloves before you start your ride.

The Rider ships with the following: a screen wipe cloth, wired headset, a SD card, an AC adapter, USB cable, mounting kit, 12 volt-power cable, carrying pouch, Bluetooth headset and required reference material.

Using the mounting kit, the TomTom rider can be mounted on to your motorcycle's handlebar, mirror and an flat service that you can find using the adhesive mount. The mount is secure enough to keep your GPS unit attached even off the most bumpy of rides. The 12 volt-power cable can be attached via the mount and enables you to have constant power to your unit without having to recharge it.

Its downsides? The TomTom Rider's POI database is out-of-date and intermittently inaccurate in giving wrong street names or no street at all for some side streets. What's more, the included Bluetooth headset has less than average sound quality. The screen could also have been a little larger in order to be able to see the icons more clearly when riding.

The Rider is a strong unit that can withstand the daily bumps that happens to motorcycle GPS devices. The battery last 5 hours from a single charge.

Despite some of the downsides listed above, the TomTom rider is a very capable GPS units for your motorcycle. The Bluetooth integration is probably its biggest selling feature but you may find yourself buying a new headset after a little time. But not to worry - the TomTom rider will serve you faithfully in all respects.

By: Derrick Bogaster

Yamaha RD 60 Motorcycle Battery

Are you looking for a battery for a Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle? If you are, then the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery can be found at the following webpages for your convenience:

1. At Batteries Plus, batteriesplus.com, you can purchase the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery at this site. The Batteries Plus site offers the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery for the 1975 through 1978 year of Yamaha RD 60 motorcycles and offers the same battery for the 1981 Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle.
2. Also, online at one of the better-stocked stores around for motorcycle batteries, the folks at Bike Bandit, bikebandit.com, can get you fixed up with a Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery for the 1973, 1974, and 1975 year models of Yamaha RD 60 motorcycles.

I'm sure there are other places on the Internet that sell these hard-to-find motorcycle batteries for the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle; however, since the only year models of the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle battery that I could find at these two super bike battery shops ranged in years from 1973 through 1981, it leads me to believe that not all motorcycle battery stores online offer this particular battery for sale because of the age of the Yamaha RD 60 motorcycle line of motorbikes.

Honda Motors

Hero Honda Motors is one of the largest two-wheeler vehicles in the world. Naturally, the company had a long road to go to achieve such a status and international recognition. During its development the company faced a lot of difficulties and problems that were successfully solved and nowadays when it is targeting one billion dollars revenues the company faces a new obstacle that is probably as serious as it has never had before. After a long period of cooperation, which actually was not ideal, Hero Honda Motors has eventually become very close to find its main partner Honda among its main competitors in the market.
Obviously, it is quite a strange situation but at the same time, it is quite a typical situation and Hero Honda Motors is rather a company representing a developing country which significantly depends on its partners from abroad, notably from well developed industrial countries. This is why it is particularly important to trace the development of relations between Hero and Honda in order to better understand what difficulties may face both companies originating from developing and developed countries, what kind of relationship exists between them, and what actually make or made such companies to closely cooperate worldwide at large and in India, in particular.
The dominant characteristics of the market of scooters, mopeds, and motorcycle in India
It is an undeniable fact that Hero Honda Motors is one of the largest producers of two-wheelers vehicles in the world, and one of the most popular brands in India operating in this industry. The reason of such popularity and the leading position of the company among the producers of two-wheelers is basically explained by the size of Indian market and its specific characteristics.
At this respect, it is quite noteworthy that India has the second largest population in the world, which is actually not very rich but as the rest of the world Indian people also needs some means of transportation. As a result of such a combination of large number of consumers and their low level of income the production of two-wheelers is most perspective industry for this country because Indians couldn’t and often still cannot afford to buy automobiles. Consequently, the development of this industry is naturally retarded compared to the industry of two-wheelers.
Furthermore, another very important fact is that initially India did not have technological opportunities to produce two wheelers, as well as automobiles, of a good quality that made their product less competitive, if competitive at all, compared to other world producers. As a result, Indian government attempted to support local producers of two wheelers and restricted significantly access of foreign companies on the national market, especially during 1940s, when the industry actually started to develop, till 1980s.
However, even when Indian government permitted foreign companies to enter the local market in mid-1980s, it was still necessary for them to cooperate closely with local companies in order to make their products cheaper, otherwise Indian consumers couldn’t simply afford two-wheelers for a high price.
Honda’s entering the Indian market and its international strategy
Honda was on of the first and the most powerful foreign companies that attempted to profit from such a shift in the policy of Indian government and, as soon as restrictions were lessened Honda entered the Indian market of two-wheelers. It should be pointed out that Honda’s entering the market was the part of the company’s international strategy. Honda, being specialised mainly on the production of engines, aimed at the global expansion. Not surprisingly that by 2002 this company had 100 plants in 33 countries. One of the main strategies the company used in the international arena was a so-called ‘glocalization’, which implied the development of local plants that could match the local demands.
As a result, Honda traditionally entered into the joint ventures in order either to overcome certain fiscal restrictions or to get easier access to the local market. The latter is actually one of the main reasons for Honda initially to choose Hero as its partner in production of motorcycles in India. Hero was quite popular company in India and possessed a well developed net of dealers and Honda supposed to contribute technologically to the development of Hero Honda Motors and quickly gain a lion share of the market using Hero’s loyal dealers.
Eventually, the deal was done in June 1984 when the joint venture was created and named Hero Honda Motors that opened new perspectives for the cooperation of two companies.
The relationship between Hero and Honda
The conditions of the creation of the joint venture and its further operation in the Indian market, to a significant extent, defined further relationship between Hero and Honda. Speaking about the structure of Hero Honda Motors, it should be said that both Hero and Honda possessed 26% of the equity and another 26% were sold to the public and the rest was held by financial institutions. In the company administration Honda was presented by four key appointees, including the Joint Managing Director, while Hero, being represented by four family members, could appoint the chairman of the company. Honda basically contributed technologically to the development of Hero Honda Motors, notably the company’s experts ran engineering and quality support functions while Hero’s representatives were responsible for the rest of functions, including marketing.
The development of Hero Honda Motors may be considered quite successful and the company showed a constant growth of production and sales. As a result, the joint venture agreement was renegotiated and extended until 2004. This new agreement was even more profitable for Hero. For instance, its royalty payments decreased form 4% to 0.5%. After the renegotiation the growth continued. For instance, between 1997-2001 Hero Honda Motors showed the growth for 18 consecutive quarters.
However, in 2000s the relations between the companies has started to deteriorate dramatically despite positive results of their cooperation, basically because Honda got to be less and less interested in the cooperation with Hero who had nothing but use Honda’s old technology without real perspectives for modernization.
Hero’s challenges as a result of its cooperation with foreign partners
The recent problems Hero faced is the result of its high level of dependence on foreign technologies, notably that of Honda. Actually, Hero’s problems are typical for companies from developing countries. In the case of Hero Honda motors the situation was deteriorated because representatives of Honda controlled engineering and technological process. Moreover, Honda supplied engines the main components of the Hero Honda Motors’ two-wheelers but, as soon as Honda actually lost its interests in the venture joint and get prepared to launch a new 100% subsidiary Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, a direct competitor of Hero Honda Motors, the latter lost the last chances to get more or less advanced and contemporary engines and technologies for their two-wheelers.
As a result, the company gradually becomes technologically backward and unable to lead a normal competition in the market that puts under a threat the further existence of Hero Honda Motors.
Obstacles and objectives of Hero
In addition to the problems with the main technological supplier, i.e. Honda, Hero faced another very serious problem that retarded the company’s development and that actually was the direct consequences of the Honda’s unwillingness to modernize production in Hero Honda Motors. This problem was the company’s competitors that grew in power and gain larger share of Indian markets because of the use of more advanced technologies and more attractive prices. The latter concerns in particular Chinese companies and import of two-wheelers from China. In fact, Chinese two-wheelers are significantly cheaper than those produced in India.
By the way, Chinese expansion in the Indian market is, to a significant extent, the result of liberalization of international trade and Indian international policy, which opened the local market for foreign companies.
Moreover, Indian companies are also very serious competitors for Hero, which production gets more and more out of date, while the competitors implement new technologies, even though often they are also up brought from abroad. As a result, Hero gradually loses its share of the market.
In such a situation, the company’s strategy of ‘Operation One Billion’ becomes practically an attainable goal. Consequently, the objectives of the company have to be much more pragmatic and one of the main goals will be to sustain its positions in the market and prevent the company from degradation or even a complete ruin.
Conclusion: Recommendations as for the further development
Obviously, taking into consideration the current situation and the nearest perspectives, it will be very difficult for Hero to achieve the basic goals, which have been just mentioned above. Nonetheless, it is possible to achieve positive results. This can be done primarily through the modernization of the production. Naturally it would be easier to continue the cooperation with Honda, but such cooperation seems to be quite doubtful. This is why it is possible to recommend to find a new supplier of engines and contemporary technologies that could make the Hero’s two-wheelers competitive and not expansive that are traditional characteristics of the company’s product. It is necessary to do in possibly shorter terms and as soon as possible because nowadays the company still has a widely spread net of dealers and it remains to be quite a popular brand but if the time is lost Hero will have to build up practically a new company, a new brand.


By: Irina Nelson

Bicycling — Walking on Wheels

DID you ever hear of Mile-a-Minute Murphy? Back in 1899 he gained his title by cycling one mile in 57 4/5 seconds behind a railroad train. He had persuaded the Long Island Railroad Company to build him a board track, fifty inches wide and two and a half miles long, between the rails. At that time bicycling was the favorite sport of millions around the world, and the bicycle was at the zenith of its popularity.

The bicycle is actually man’s fastest mode of travel under his own power, and in many lands people still view it as a cheap and dependable mode of transportation. Young people are asking for a bicycle to ride from the time they have mastered walking. I can recall how my father and mother cashed in two insurance policies just to get the funds for supplying me and my brother with “bikes.” Soon we were maintaining paper routes several miles long—something that would have been difficult to do without this means of transportation. We cycled to and from school, went on errands, and so got plenty of healthful exercise. For years Dad cycled to and from the windmill manufacturing plant where he was employed.

Today in some lands the bicycle is looked upon as a toy. It has been displaced by the motorcycle and the automobile. Forgotten is the fact that the humble “bike” has exerted a powerful influence on the course of history—particularly in the Americas. By starting the movement toward hard, smooth roads it paved the way for the advent of the automobile. In fact, one writer has claimed that “both physically and psychologically, it was the true parent of the motor car.”

Some Bicycle History

Back in 1860 the bicycle was known as the “bone-shaker.” You can well imagine why, what with its iron tires and the rough, cobblestone streets of those times. A few years later came a highwheeler, in Britain sometimes called the penny-farthing. This model was intended for the more adventurous cyclist, the one interested in speed. It had a large front wheel, some fifty-two inches in diameter, equipped with pedals, and a tiny wheel behind. On a smooth surface the cyclist with this machine could go almost as fast as a horseman. Stopping was a problem, however. And, since it was a drop of some five feet to the ground, many a bone was broken in the attempt to get off these contraptions.

The year 1880 marked a big step forward: chains for driving the back wheel were introduced, and these could be geared any way desired to achieve speed or power. Prior to this, awkward levers had been used to drive the big wheels. In the following ten years came other helpful developments: rubber tires, ball bearings, coaster brakes and handlebars made their debut. Each one helped to build up the bicycle’s popularity.

The “safety” bicycle made its appearance in 1890. With its two wheels of the same size it was essentially the machine that is common today. Americans give credit for its design to the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. However, something very like it appeared simultaneously in England and France. In any event, the Connecticut concern, applying the interchangeable parts system, swiftly took the lead in production, and soon American machines were being exported to all parts of the world.

By the year 1896 some 4,000,000 people in the United States were riding bicycles. Over a million machines were produced in 312 factories in a single year. The American bicycle industry obtained a strong foothold in Britain for a time, largely due to the fact that British manufacturers could not keep up with the tremendous demand. The advent of the automobile, however, had a more immediate effect on bicycle riding in the United States than in Britain or on the European continent. Cars became popular and were priced low enough for the average family, so the bicycles were largely left to the children.

Nevertheless, more than 24,000,000 people in the United States own bicycles. In Denmark, about one of every two persons is the owner of a bicycle, and it is still the common means of transportation in numerous countries where the automobile is viewed as a luxury, beyond the reach of the workingman. Throughout Europe, in Central America, in Indonesia, Japan and North Africa, bicyclists can be seen in droves.

Here in the Dominican Republic the bicycle becomes the mobile place of business for all kinds of salesmen. Some are equipped with a block of ice and bottles of colored syrup. The vendor can be seen everywhere there are crowds, offering cones of shaved ice with the syrup of one’s choice poured on top. Others sell fruits, vegetables and other eatables from their “bikes.” Scissors and knives are sharpened on other modified bicycles. Quite often one will see a bicycle with a special rack mounted on the back for transporting cleaned suits and trousers to those who sent them to the cleaners.

Healthful Transportation

The bicycle certainly has its appeal to lovers of the outdoors and those interested in health. It is a means of getting out on your own into the freedom of the countryside. It has the advantages of walking exercises, and still gets you to distant places much faster. It offers an excellent way of offsetting the harmful effects of a sedentary life. Tourist organizations catering to this kind of travel have arranged for hostels to be set up along main routes every ten or fifteen miles.

The bicycle is also a useful instrument as an aid in getting the good news of God’s kingdom spread to people in remote areas, even where good roads are not available. All the cyclist needs is a beaten footpath. And as to upkeep and storage, a hallway or a space under the stairs and a rag with some fine oil will do. So, one does not have to wait until he can afford an automobile in order to get out into remote places with the message that can bring people comfort and hope from God’s promises.

Not only is bicycling a good way of getting around, free of the worry of engine breakdowns. Its pace is slow enough to allow for the feasting of one’s eyes on the passing scene, rejoicing in the marvels of God’s creation around one. The wind blowing in one’s face, the flush from effort needed to climb a hill, the silence and the sense of freedom all add to the overall healthful effects from “walking on wheels.”


By: apple1165

Should I Buy New Motorcycle Engines or Used Motorcycle Engines?

It depends a lot on what you intend to use your Motorcycle Engines for. If you are going to be using the Motorcycle Engines solely for installation on motorcycles, then used Motorcycle Engines may do already (though if you really want to splurge, new ones are even better.) But what if you were going to place the Motorcycle Engines in cars (rather than car engines)? How would that work out?

Actually, this is already being done by many car assembly hobbyists. Usually, the cars to be powered by Motorcycle Engines are just small cars whose size and weight specifications are proportional to the power output of the Motorcycle Engines. As far back as the 1940s, the Cooper Car Company had been undertaking this practice - to make race cars, at that. Even BMW had tried doing that too in the 1950s. Though the general public may be ignorant of this trend, motorcycle and car assembly hobbyists know this practice works and with relatively good results. Their creations might be known as motorcycle/car hybrids.

The motorcycle/car hybrids are probably still being built today in someone's backyard with better results than those experienced back in the 1940s and 1950s – all because modern day Motorcycle Engines are stronger, faster, and better engineered than their early ancestors. Thanks to the decades of research done on how to improve Motorcycle Engines, hobbyists are reaping better rewards from their hybrid assembly efforts.

However, just because it looks like a car, runs like a car, and seems to behave like a car doesn't mean your motorcycle/car hybrid is automatically allowed on public and private roads in your country. The fact that you are using Motorcycle Engines to power the hybrids may be breaking the law for motor vehicles at some point (especially if you are one of the first to make and try to run these types of hybrids in that country.) So, unless you have some kind of special permit to run your hybrid on public and private roads, you may have to confine use of your Motorcycle Engines-powered hybrid vehicle in special areas only (like in a private racetrack or in an enclosed private family compound.)

If you are attracted to the idea of building motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles powered by Motorcycle Engines by yourself, be forewarned that the process actually entails quite an all-encompassing knowledge of how Motorcycle Engines work, how cars work, and how you can bridge any differences in the engineering of both or either with your own creativity and resources. A very smart mechanic/hobbyist can probably learn from manuals and prototypes alone – but for the less experienced and less talented hobbyist, full-time tutelage under someone very experienced in creating motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles might be more appropriate. There's no shame in asking for experienced guidance (except maybe to your ego) and in the end, you may get better results that way.

Equally surprising is that companies have been established throughout the world which concentrate on creating such motorcycle/car hybrid vehicles, many for racing. It might benefit you if you did research on how these companies do their work before you set about creating your own motorcycle/car hybrid vehicle.

By: Billy Edwards

Use a Payday Loan for Your First Car

Use a Payday Loan for Your First Car
So you are fresh out of university and you got yourself a nice job. You’re earning quite well and you are all set to live a life of your own finally. There is only one problem – you need a car that you can call your own. You probably had one during your uni days – your parents might have gotten it for you or you inherited it from your dad. The thing is, it is probably going bonkers on you. As old as it is, you probably want one that would serve you better. Am I painting a familiar picture here?
I am sure that you would want a car of your own, something a bit better than that old piece of junk you have. Then again, being relatively new on the job, you might not have had enough time to save up for something flashy and brand new. How about a used car? Maybe you can find one for relatively cheap and yet do the trick.
So you find one for several thousand pounds, maybe less. What is your next step? You are probably thinking about dealer financing or taking out a car loan from your bank. Both are feasible, of course, but what if you could get some cash to augment what you might have stashed away in a much easier manner and without too much hassle?
For some cases, a payday loan could work for you. For example, if you only need about £1,000 to £1, 500 more to purchase that car using cash, you can save a lot more than if you took up the dealer’s offer for financing. Same thing for a car loan from a conventional bank. You merely have to look for a good payday loan provider and you could get that extra money that you need to pay for your car in cash.
What do you need to take out a payday loan? First, you must be at least 18 years old. Since you are out of university, I assume that you are over this age. Next, you must have a regular source of income. If you have that job, then you are good to go. You might have to be in that job for at least several months before a payday loan provider considers you as qualified, but that should be easy enough. You’d also have to provide proof that you have that job. You simply have to compile your latest pay stubs and then show them to your payday loan provider. You also need a current bank account so that the payday loan provider can deposit the money into the account as soon as possible.
So you’ve got all of the requirements, what do you do? Just go online and fill out the application form! Once you send it in, you will merely have to wait for an hour or so – maybe several hours – to get your approval. Then, you’ll get the money in your bank account within the next day, several days at the most. Before you know it, you’ll be driving your own set of wheels!

By: Jonathan Swift