15th January 2008

The Most Vital Piece Of Equipment On Your Bike Is Probably A Good Quality Set Of tires

Thanks to the internet you can find discount motorcycle tires on most motorcycle sites. The discounts vary depending on the site but they are usually cheaper then what your local dealer will charge you. To combat this dealers have come up with several things. One is that they will match the price of the tire you found on the web. The other is that they will charge you a fee of somewhere around the $25 range if you bring in a tire for mounting and will not charge you at all if you by the tire from them. Since getting a motorcycle tire on your a rim without a machine is really damn near impossible. This is how the dealers are trying to discourage you from buying online. When choosing a motorcycle tire you need to ask yourself what kind of riding you will be doing and how much life you expect out of the tire. Generally the stickier the tire the bettor it will handle and the more aggressive you can ride with good grip. The longer lasting tires are less sticky and you give up some handling for longevity. When I say sticky what I am talking about actually has to do with the compound of the tire. The rubber compound of a tire will dictate its life expectancy, the softer the compound the stickier the tire, the faster it will need to be replaced. The harder the compound, the longer the tire will last but you are giving up a little on the stickiness. For cruiser bikes generally a harder compound is acceptable because cruiser’s are ridden long distances but are not ridden as aggressively so it is better to get a harder compound therefore giving the tire a longer life expectancy. However if you are an aggressive rider even on a cruiser you might want to seek a bit softer compound so you can get a bit better handling.For sport bikes their is no question, you will want a softer compound tire to give you the best handling possible. Now their are usually varying degrees of soft compound motorcycle tires available. You will find some are made for the track. These are extremely sticky and will need to be to often to be any good for the street. So if you are looking for a good street tire for a sport bike the best selection is a soft compound tire that tis made for aggressive street riding. An example of that kind of tire would be a Dunlop 207 or a Bridgestone BT014. For track days you may want to get a different set of tires for extreme grip. Motorcycle tire manufactures are plentiful these days. You more recognized makers are Dunlop, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Michelin, and Metzeler. All of which make excellent motorcycle tires. You will find different people swear by different brands. Some just like Dunlop and others swear by Pirelli. I think this part of choosing a tire is a lot like some guys will only by a Ford and other swear by Chevy. These are all quality manufacturers of tires and all are good, the choice is up to you. When it comes to choosing a motorcycle tire don’t let the price be the biggest factor. Get a good quality tire designed for your riding style. Since you only have two tires on your bike it becomes vital to keep them in proper condition. If you have ever had a blowout in your car imagine that on two wheels. Its one of the toughest situations are rider will ever have to face, therefore I recommend that you don’t worry about cheap so much when it comes to tires but go with quality.

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11th January 2008

What Is It About The Upcoming Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally That Sends Surges Of Adrenaline Both To Motorcycle Riders And Fans ?

There’s no roar louder than that of the, rolling to you this May 1-4, 2008. Rushes of excitement inevitably fill the air of

Panama City at the mere mention of one of the most anticipated motorcycle events of the year.So what is it about this motorcycle rally that sends surges of adrenaline both to motorcycle riders and fans? Well, for one, this is held at the city known to be the ultimate Spring Break destination-

Panama City
. Second, being located at the south of

Alabama
, it has all the southern charms that people love. Third, this rally has tremendously exciting events lined up for all the participants and spectators.
This motorcycle rally is divided into five separate venues:• Shops at Edgewater. This is where the Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally was born in 2002. Now, this has become the main part of the rally where major races and events take place.

Boardwalk Beach . In this venue, you’ll see and enjoy a stretch of a 1500 foot beach party pavilion with both indoor and outdoor vendors. This is also where the famous

Miss Thunder Beach contest is held. And of course, don’t forget to satiate your tummy with the sumptuous breakfast buffet that this part of the rally has to offer.

Pier Park . At the

Pier Park is where the largest mall in the country, the Mall of the

Americas
in

Minnesota
is being built. This is said to be the home to the bike builders and manufactures.
• The

Spinnaker Beach Club. This is where you can take your bike for some dyno testing to see how well it performs. Aside from that, take a stroll along the 25,000 sq feet of vendors who are ready to take on all your biker needs.
• The

Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort. Here, you can sit back and relax at the TIKI BAR, where the Kick-Off night party with live bands happen.
Stopping by all these venues is necessary to get a full experience of the Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally. All these venues come with free parking, live entertainment and sell drinks at reasonable prices.Some of the major highlights of events that you have to watch out for at this rally are the major motorbike races, best bike contest, tattoo contest, and poker runs. But the fun doesn’t end in the rally itself. The nearby tourist attractions will add to the delight of your visit to the city even more.For this major event, don’t forget to don your motorcycle gear like your leather hat and leather jacket whether you’re riding or not. This year, don’t forget to include this motorcycle rally in the list of events you shouldn’t miss.

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11th January 2008

Have You Ever Considered Buying At a Motorcycle Auction?

You can travel the county looking for the best deals on motorcycles but I can tell you that that could get pretty expensive. You can look in all the papers throughout the

US but that can take a lot of time and a lot of money. Motorcycle auctions are the best place to find a deal. These bikes have been seized by a government agency or are in hock because of various reasons. What matters is now you can benefit from their misfortune and start cruising the roads.What kind of bikes can you find in auctions? Well, all kinds. The bikes offered are never the same and the deals are never the same. That is what makes it fun. Some of the bikes were owned by people that got busted doing something stupid. Can you imagine someone living high on the hog and forgetting to pay their IRS taxes? Wow, that would stink. What would be even worse is their new $40,000.00 Harley Davidson up for auction. What would make it even worse is that a person at one of these auctions bids on it and wins at a price of $800.00. Impossible you say? January of 2005,

Athens Georgia; the auction was not well advertised, 8 people showed up, the rest is history. The key is having up to date, instant information.
Online programs are a good way to look for these auctions. These programs do all the leg work for you so you do not have to subscribe to 10,000 websites. With some of them, you can start hunting today, even bidding.Some of the features you want to look for are things like 24 hour access, complete listings from around the

USA
that includes telephone, address, email and websites of agencies. Make sure that off current updated reports on the dates, times and locations of the auctions, not only in your area but throughout your state and the

US
. This is important because some auctions do not advertise except through online methods. This is where a person can score big.
You still need to be cautious and not get in a bidding war with someone. If they want the bike that bad, let them have it. Unless you can afford it, bidding wars can drive the price up way over what you want. These bikes can be bought and sold buy you sort of like house flipping. The lower you buy a bike and the more you sell it for, the bigger the profit in your pocket.

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7th January 2008

How To Pick The Right Motorcycle Gloves

When it comes to motorcycle gloves there are a lot of choices, some of these depend on your riding style and what you want to wear. I personally like full fingered gloves but a lot of guys that ride cruiser’s will not wear a glove at all or they wear half fingered gloves. These look a lot like weight training gloves where the palm and top of the fingers are covered but the tips are exposed. The advantage to these gloves is that you don’t loose all the sensitivity where with a totally closed glove you will. Also the short fingered motorcycle gloves will keep your hands from sweating. Hatch makes a really nice pair of these gloves called shorty gloves. Hatch makes quality gloves so I would recommend those if you like short fingered gloves.Short fingered gloves are a favorite of the cruiser crowd. I guess they go with the whole image and they do offer some protection in case you go down. I have seen a guys hand that had a spill without any gloves on and the road took all the meat of the palm of his hand. Not a real nice feeling I am guessing, therefore it is essential to wear some sort of hand protection when you are out riding. If you do fall I can almost guarantee 99 percent of the time your hands are going to touch that pavement and unless you have some leather on them your hands are asking for a serious case of road rash if you’re lucky. So at a minimum a set of short fingered gloves will do the job nicely.Full fingered gloves offer a bit more protection then their short fingered counterparts. Most of your sport bike crowd will use a full fingered glove. Some are gauntlet style or just a regular glove. Icon makes some really nice gauntlet style gloves as does AGV and Alpinestars. I personally own a pair of Alloy Alpinestars gloves which I have had for about 3 years now. These gloves are perforated and a are perfect for warm weather riding which is about 9 months out of the year where I live. I also like these gloves because they are simple and even when I am out on my chopper they look good where some of your more flashy hard core sport rider gloves are a bit to flashy for a cruiser these do double duty quite nicely. Icon also makes a set of gloves called pursuit gloves that are much along these lines. However if you want the ultimate in protection you will want to get a pair of gauntlet style road racing or track gloves. These types of gloves are made to really do the best job when it comes to protecting you in a spill. Most of them offer some sort of knuckle protection as well as a reinforced palm, also the seams are usually reinforced in order to ensure that the glove will stay in one piece under extreme conditions.Ultimately the choice is yours, whether to wear gloves or not period. You will find that most bikers that have been riding for a while do wear some sort of hand protection. Their are many different styles of glove available so there is bound to be one that suits your needs. It doesn’t matter who makes them but I would recommend you go with a quality manufacturer of motorcycle apparel like Alpinestars, Hatch, Icon or AGVSport. When you go with one of them you can be ensured that the gloves you are getting are of the best quality and will do the job they are designed for.

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14th December 2007

Scooters, Small Body But Amazing Speed

Still Gassing Up for Less Mileage?

Still using your Cadillac for a 40 minute drive to office? Perhaps you are one of those who scrimp on better things in life just to stretch your gas money. You always have a long way off to payday, and still got to work next Monday. Are you not wondering why a lot of your co-workers are using scooters? Perhaps you need a little education on scooter gas mileage.Scooters are the little bikes that zip past in blazing colors. They have small bodies but have amazing speed. What makes it remarkable is the ability of the little vehicle to run on a speed of 40 miles an hour on little gas. If you experiment riding the scooter to office, it will become apparent that you have been wasting too much money on the gas station.

Save More for Less

Putting around in a scooter will not have the Rainforest Action Network and the Global Exchange boycotting your birthday because you have splurged on gas on a little mean machine. With your little 49.7cc scooter, you can prove you have earned your scooter gas mileage certificate.If you spend $50 a day for gas, for the daily commute from to home to office and back, and for some errands three blocks away, that is a sign of gas overspending. You would average $250 a week. With a scooter, you will spend less the amount and still have left-over gas for the weekend, barring of course some extracurricular activities.Scooter gas mileage will average 20 miles per hour or 20-40 miles per tank. This will depend on the scooter model that can vary in tank capacity from 1 to 1.5 liters. For $5 a day you can commute to office on your scooter instead of $50 in your car. The big difference between the $50 and $5 gas budget is glaring.Scooter gas mileage, if gas price is pegged at $3 per gallon, will give a mpg of 20 for an annual expense of $1500. A scooter is reported to run on 100 miles per gallon! The potentials in gas saving is the advantage of the compact bikes. It is not unusual that more and more Americans are turning towards scooters.

Getting Ready to Get a Scooter

Scooters retail for $1000 to more than $6,500, depending on the brand and model. The prohibitive price has driven buyers to Chinese scooters that give the same mpg and convenience at almost half the price. Scooters provide comfortable sitting while driving, and you can sit upright without hurting your back. Older people in their late forties can ride these scooters in comfort and enjoy more gas mileage on limited gas money.If you are going to invest in this ride, verify the scooter gas mileage. Aside from this, check out the availability of spare parts and service centers of the scooter brand. Also inquire about the warranty, state regulations and requirements. This will help you decide on the approved scooter models.

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12th December 2007

Maintain Your Leather Accessories In Good Shape and Looking Good !

Leather accessories definitely look good on motorcycles and on the bikers as well. After all, leather accessories are perfect combinations of quality and fashion. These come in different colors and styles that could definitely suit your taste and personality. Although a leather jacket or any other leather accessory usually lasts for about 9 to 10 years, it still needs proper care and constant maintenance. Motorcycle accessories made from leather should be given the same attention as that of a cashmere sweater or silk fabric. These can be very sensitive once exposed to harsh elements such as weather, strong chemicals and more. Such occurrence might lead to color fading and leather cracks.

Common motorcycle leather accessories are tool pouches, tank panels, and saddle bags. You may also include leather boots, gloves and biker outfit on the list. These items should have a regular cleaning schedule to prevent their exterior from damage and to prolong the life of your leather accessories.

Here are some tips from motorcycle experts on how to maintain your motorcycle accessories made from leather:

1. Thoroughly vacuum your leather accessories first before cleaning. Be sure to blow off all the excess dirt before wiping the applicator pad with leather cleaners in it. This is to avoid leather scratches caused by coarse particles.

2. Use cleaners especially made for vinyl and leather. Tidy your leather at least once a week or more often if necessary. This would not only stop dirt build up but would prevent your motorcycle from looking old as well. Choose a leather cleaner that is not acidic or that does not contain alkaline. Acidic cleansers may cause your leather to dry.

3. Do not use detergents, bleaches or any regular soap in cleaning your leather hand grips, saddle bags and seats. This would easily dry the leather and would doff the oil that is needed to maintain that shiny coat.

4. Saddle soaps are not recommended for cleaning motorcycle accessories. A saddle soap is actually used as a leather tanner rather than a product for the maintenance of leather motorcycle accessories. Saddle soap contains high amount of alkaline that gradually damages the leather as well as the stitches binding it. If you want to buy a leather tanner, look for modern emulsions that have deep leather conditioning and have lasting moisturizers in them.

5. With the help of cloth and water or clean sponge, rinse your leather accessories thoroughly. After rinsing, let these dry slowly and completely before you use them again. Do not use blow dryers or any extra heat that would dry the leather quickly.

6. Once your motorcycle leather accessory is completely parched, you may put a small amount of leather restorer or conditioner. This would help maintain the supple look in your leather accessories. It moisturizes, nourishes, and prevents environmental leather pollutants from damaging the said material.

7. Motorcycle clothing such as chaps, pants and jackets are the usual outfit motorcycle riders or bikers use when aboard their favorite two-wheeled vehicle. Most of these outfits worn by motorcycle enthusiasts are also made from leather. In case you feel that your leather clothing is beginning to dry, apply a very small amount of petroleum jelly and wipe it all over the leather. Let it dry before using it again. Do not treat your leather clothing as if it is water resistant. Rain could wash the oil out of the leather and may eventually lead to a dry and cracked outfit.

Maintenance of your motorcycle leather accessories is very vital to keep it always in good shape. The more you clean your leather accessories, the longer you will be able to use it. Take proper care of your leather components to maintain a smooth-looking exterior and to enjoy the benefits of leather for more years to come.

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12th December 2007

Chopper Bikes and The Materials That Are Used In It

When it comes to choppers bike, one need to know about the materials that are used in it. Choppers bikes are in trend, mainly because it is been used for mountain riding. There are varieties of materials that could be used for a chopper bike, but if you require a durable one, just check out the following materials.Steel
High quality steel bike is well in fashion today. As it becomes harder when welded the alloys like 853 is leading the renaissance. Its flexibility and reparability are further finding more new friends in the hardcore jump / DH arenas. Upcoming growth centers on further modification of alloys and tube sets. It is best to buy steel if you like that classic “spring heeled hard tail’. You then need to usually slam your aerial adventures.
Aluminum
The pleasure of aluminum is its low weight and that it’s so trouble-free to play with. Stretch it, press it, emit it, forge it, or simply sculpt it - it’s the Plasticine of metals. Just do not leave it too thin or it’ll break without warning. You can purchase aluminum for: Sharp and crunchy feel. Buy for its high value and low weight. It is high price and especially low weight. Awkward shaped suspension bikes, fat tubes, huge box monocoques and other novelty machined sections.
Titanium
Titanium is the hardest metal to work with, it rewards with flexible long term strength, light weight and decay resistance but at five times the price of an aluminum frame. Serotta, Merlin, and other Seven are gradually pushing out the boundaries. Purchase titanium only for: Reliable “sprung” feel. It is of low weight and comes with high strength. You need not worry about the paint or rust, this chopper bike would be life time.
Carbon
Carbon fiber is the lightest, most durable and most shock porous frame material. Early breaks blemished its reputation, but three major brands are reinstating faith at the moment.

Easton with its handlebars and other seat posts, Trek with their OCLV HC sandwich, and as well with Scott’s long, thick fiber HMF skill on their Strike bikes. Buy carbon only if: You desire ultra low weight. You don’t mind the damped, somewhat dull feel.

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12th December 2007

The Honda Goldwing Trike, Somethings You Have to Earn

Ok I’m in my mid fifties have never ridden a motorcycle since I was eighteen years old and I’m in the middle of a mid life crisis. Should I go for the red sports car or a powerful Moto Gp clone motorcycle. I’m in a quandary, My wife has just told me to get a life and I’m panicking. Then it happened; I was surfing the net looking for that elusive boy toy when I flicked the page and it jumped out at me ” The Honda Goldwing Trike.I have never ever thought about having 3 wheels before I always imagined old people crawling along in the cycle lane to pick up their pension, and that is definitely not me. I spent some time researching the Goldwing trike as well as looking at the Harley which was also great fun as it adds to the anticipation.I have now taken delivery of a second hand 2005 Gl18800 Honda goldwing trike in a metallic white and it is absolutely stunning. It is the anniversary edition with the cobra sidecar conversion and is in showroom condition, however at nearly 35,000 bucks it is a once in a lifetime experience.Riding a Goldwing Trike takes a little getting used to but the kit conversion has been done so well it gives that feeling of confidence which you get when your driving an expensive car, it corners great and the performance engineered suspension just makes it a dream to ride.When I bought it the salesman told me to take it out for the morning and try it for size so we took it for a 50 mile run and were totally blown away by it’s attitude. My wife is in love with me again and although it is my mid life crisis the goldwing trike has re-introduced us and we’re loving it. We’re out hogging the road at every opportunity and there is nothing I like better than pulling into a service area or parking lot as within 5 minutes there is a crowd of folks admiring it.So if you are sitting behind a desk all day wondering what else life has to offer you, here’s a tip don’t let the rest of your life pass you by. Take it by the throat and do what you want to do be it sky diving, snowboarding, writing a novel or what ever; just make sure it happens.What ever Life decides to throw at me now I will no regret the day I fell in love with my Honda Goldwing Trike.

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12th December 2007

The Legendary Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Classic Motorcycle Harley Davidson1902 Was A Very Good Year, a young William Harley designed a one cylinder motor cycle. One year later he met up with Arthur Davidson and together they created Harley Davidson. Their first factory was a small wooden shack, but importantly it had Harley Davidson signage on the front.William and Arthur had no idea they were birthing of one of the greatest motor cycle companies in the world.In 1935 when all things American, H.D turned Asian. Harley Davidson licensed everything to Sankyo, this in turn initiated the Japanese to set up a new motor cycle manufacturing industry, after all they now had every thing they needed.. The modern day Harley Davidson has a great distinctive exhaust sound and are regarded by most as muscle bikes. Usually over 750 cc, but mostly 1100cc plus capacity, are designed for highway touring. Harley riders clubs are popular all over the world, some times attracting that “easy Rider” style, and “gang” element, that gave birth to the iconic “chopper” kind of bike.The Last Crusade.Hunting around for some worthy items on Classic Motorcycles, I started looking at Harley Davidson. The all time American Classic Motorcycle Harley Davidson features in some great movies. The old black & white sequences of cops chasing the criminals on dusty windy roads and then where Sean Connery and Harrison Ford team up to produce a classic bit of movie history, well, what a motorcycle chase that was, as screen icons Sean Connery and Harrison ford riding a sidecar, was chased by the Germans, on bikes that looked like disguised trail bikes (they could have done better)with big mud tyres and all. However, the bemused expression on Connery’s characters face through out the chase sequence, certainly does rate as one of the most all time, Classic looks.

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12th December 2007

5 Tips To Maintain Your Motorcycle In Perfect Condition

1) Clean. Giving your bike a spit and polish every weekend not only keeps it looking great, it also helps you spot any potential problems.

2) Tyres. Keeping your tyres in good nick is absolutely vital because they seriously affect the handling of your bike. Make sure you check your tyre pressure on a regular basis, and be aware that your tyres will need adjusting if you’re carrying heavy luggage or even an extra passenger. In addition, check your tyres for wear - in the

UK motorcycles over 50cc must have at least 1mm of tyre tread depth across three quarters of the width of the tread pattern and visible tread on the remaining quarter. Motorcycles under 50cc must have clearly visible groves across the original tread pattern.

3) Chain. Keep your chain tension adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Keep it lubricated with the appropriate chain oil, and check wear and tear on the sprockets, they’ll give you a good indication if the chain has been adjusted correctly.

4) Brake pads. By cleaning your wheels regularly you’ll see how much wear you have left on your brake pads. Never let them wear down to the minimum - if you do your discs will become scored and damaged which is expensive to repair. After a long ride, be sure to quickly strip and clean your pads and calipers so they perform to their best next time out.

5) Security. There’s nothing more heart breaking than having a bike stolen, so always keep your bike locked to something solid and immovable. When you’re buying a lock, look for one that’s Thatcham Approved or Sold Secure. Also be aware that insurance companies may offer you a discount if you have evidence that your bike is locked up securely.

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