Motorcycle Maintenance - A Basic Guide

Here we have a few things you should check on your motorcycle on a regular basis. I assume you have a handbook with the specs for your bike, if not, go get one. You may be able to find some data for your particular motorcycle on the net. You can also pick up workshop manuals for various models on eBay in PDF or CD form for little money.

Whereas with a four wheeled vehicle you may get away with being lax with things like tire pressures etc, this is not the case with a motorcycle. You should not risk compromising the safety and stability of your motorcycle, for the sake of a bit of routine maintenance.

Pre-ride checks

Tires – check condition and for foreign objects in the tread.
Tire pressures – it is vitally important to keep your motorcycles tire pressures either on spec or very close to it.
Oil level – always check with the bike on level ground.
Coolant level – only if your bike’s liquid cooled, obviously.
Chain – check the tension and make sure it’s well lubed.
Brakes – check they work and that they feel good.
Lights – check all your lights, especially the brake light, you don’t want to get rear ended, do you?
Visual inspection – self explanatory.
All ok – hit the road.
Periodical checks

Check battery – see that the connections are tight; I dropped a bike once because of a loose battery connection, strange but true. Also check the electrolyte level on some batteries, a lot of newer batteries are gel filled, sealed for life types, so no need with these.
Carb balance – if your bike is multi carbed get yourself a Morgan carbtune or similar. It can be a little tricky the first time you balance them, but when you’ve done it once, the second time will be easy.
Ignition timing – only necessary on some bikes, most newer models have electronic ignition which does not need touching, normally.
Valve clearances – unless you’re a good home mechanic, take it to a dealer.
Wheel bearings – grab each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play. There should be none or maybe a trace at most.
Steering head bearings – with the front end off the ground, grab the forks and push and pull. There should be no play.
Swinging arm bearings – with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should be none.
Brakes – check fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
Cables and levers – should operate smoothly. Get some grease on lever/pedal pivot points, and get some lube down the cables, if you can. A cable oiler is a handy tool.
Nut and bolts – go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts/ bolts/screws are nice and tight.
Well, that’s about it for some basic maintenance, obviously, unless you’re a good home mechanic, any bigger jobs will have to go to a dealer. The problem can be finding a good one with skilled mechanics you can trust. I manage to keep my Yamaha Fazer 1000 running sweet just using the steps listed above. It does help that this model only needs the valve clearances checking every 26,000 miles.

Can E-Bikes Or Scooters Be Great Vehicles For Economic Recovery?

Many people around the world experience some form of anxiety due to the uncertainty of their economic future which is in question. And watching our leaders scramble for solutions is similar to watching somebody running for the garden hose as the campfire they started ignites the surrounding forest.

As the difficult economic times continue along with the smoke being blown up and around to make the people believe the economic situation is slowly getting better, when reality for many is just too much month at the end of the money. People looking to reduce spending on a monthly basis could see a real benefit to becoming a one car family, if the circumstances are favorable to do so. Perhaps another form of transportation such as;

Ride sharing
Moped
Scooter
Electric bike
Bicycle
There are many options available in each of the above categories. I am sure for some people these are awkward solutions, that is only because of the life style change required to use them. People need solutions now that can help them financially survive this depression of a recession. Unemployment is a life saver and for many it is too temporary but combine it with some difficult lifestyle changes you may just find a better life outside the box. The temporary local employment taken to survive may have created more time with family and less in commute. Some days I am reminded of my childhood and how one parent was home raising us and both were home in the evening it was not bad then. Survival by combining one change with another can create a good life accidentally.

7 Tips to Choosing the Best Motorcycle Helmet

So, why do you need to choose the best motorcycle helmet? What exactly is the best motorcycle helmet? It's the best if it suits your needs perfectly. What might be well suited to your friend, might not necessarily be all that suited to your needs. You need comfort, safety and the right price.

In this article we'll cover 7 tips you can take to ensure you're getting the best motorcycle helmet for your needs. Whilst it might seem obvious what features to look for, this article will go over some tips you can take to ensure you get the most for your money.

1- Does it fit?

One of the most important things any motorcycle helmet must offer is safety. Many inexperienced riders will often buy a helmet that's too big. Whilst this may be more comfortable it doesn't offer enough protection if it's too loose.

2 - Is it comfortable?

You may be wearing your helmet for long periods of time such as on long journeys. Therefore it's very important your helmet's comfortable. You don't want to get a headache half-way through your journey which will cause a distraction.

3 - Is it competitively priced?

It may seem a bit obvious, but some manufacturers can get away with charging above market value for products. However, brands such as Nolan offer helmets that give optimum performance at competitive prices. Lookout for Nolan Helmets next time you're shopping.

4 - Have you tried it on?

It's surprising how many people will buy a motorcycle helmet without trying it on. You need to make sure it fits properly and is comfortable. Even if you're buying online you can easily exchange it for the right size if it doesn't fit.

5 - Is it suitable?

What type of biking will you be doing? If you're using your bike for commuting you'll need a different sort of helmet than if you use your bike for sports. Caberg helmets are great for off-road biking and sports usage.

6 - What gender is the helmet built for?

There are differences between male and female helmets. Since head shapes vary slightly between genders. To ensure your safety and comfort you'll need to get the right gender. There can often be style differences too.

7 - Are you happy with it?

Finally, are you happy with your chosen motorcycle helmet? Can you afford it? Is it fit for the job? If the answer to all these is yes, then you have found the best motorcycle helmet for you. Being happy with you purchase is the most important thing to consider if you want to get a long life from it.

Employ the Best Collision Repair Specialists to Save Your Vehicle and Yourself From Obliteration

As roads and highways become more populated with vehicles, the results are more auto accidents. But getting involved in a car accident is virtually the last thing anybody would want or think of. Having one's own vehicle disastrously dented and damaged can leave the person psychologically and financially stressed specially if its required to be run on a daily basis. All the same, it does happen to everyone if not today then tomorrow and when it does the only thing one wants is to be able to get their vehicle repaired to its original condition in a timely manner. For this you would actually need a "car restorer" that is a collision repair specialist who can restore your car as closely as possible to its original condition following an accident. Accidental repair is one of the most difficult, highly-involved types of car repair tasks in the industry, so it is better to choose an experienced professional help that can yield out the best results in repairing your vehicle.

With the rapid advancement in technology, the collision repair specialist job has evolved from being purely mechanical to including electronic technology. Because vehicles today hold complex computer and electronic systems, mechanics have to have a broader base of knowledge about internal systems than in the past. This can be achieved with the aid of computer diagnostic tools with the help of which a collision repair specialist can accurately pin point the problem areas of the vehicle and implement best methods and techniques to restore the vehicle to a condition that is as good as new. He has to know what to look for when it comes to damaged internal systems.

Over all this he must be able to determine how to best restore a body's external structure which includes paint and body repair. A collision repair service employs a variety of experts who work together to restore a car's exterior using a broad range of state-of-the-art techniques and parts. They will completely transform the damage making it look like nothing ever happened at all. Hopefully, you will find the right and the best collision repair shop in your area that will not just repair and restore your vehicle back to itself but will also make the entire process easy for you so go along and make the most for your bucks.

Learning How To Ride A Motorcycle

When you have observed an experienced motorcycle driver ducking and diving through turns and accelerating and stopping both quickly and efficiently, you become aware that there is a great deal more to driving a motorcycle that you first think. To those without any knowledge of motorcycle riding it looks as if all you have to do is jump on and away you go, but really and truly nothing is further from the truth. Driving a motorcycle requires the knowledge of new skills and much patience when learning how to balance yourself on the bike.

You will, of course, need to be in possession of the correct type of clothing when driving your motorcycle which may well be something you have overlooked. You are likely to be braving the elements while you are out and about on your bike so being properly kitted out is a must. Even though some motorcycles are fitted with specially designed windscreens, this is sometimes not enough protection from the force of the wind you will be facing when driving, not to mention the insects you will find sticking to your teeth! Pay a visit to your local motorcycle dealer who will assist you to become familiar with the best type of helmet, protective gloves, jackets and boots to ensure you have a safe and comfortable ride.

Hopefully the motorcycle you intend to ride will be in a good condition. Make sure the wheels and tires are roadworthy, check on the fluid levels, and regularly inspect the safety lights and horn to make sure they are in perfect working order. The chassis and stands should also be kept an eye on too.

The experts suggest that once you are learning how to ride a bike it is important that you know or can envisage just how much it hurts to come off a bike by accident. To stop yourself from coming off the bike it is important to master the center of gravity of the bike, especially for when turning corners. Throwing your leg over your bike as you get on it should be the most physical movement you make and from then on in it is all gently gently.

The grip on the right hand side of the handlebars of the bike, known as the throttle, moves when you take a hold of it and pull it towards you. This provides the engine of the bike with the necessary gas to move forward. Whilst driving your right hand controls the front brake of the motorcycle by pulling inwards on the lever to the side of the throttle. The brakes on a motorcycle are very sensitive so normally two fingers are sufficient to stop the bike. The rear brake is located in the foot area on the right side of the motorcycle.

The changing of gears is the final thing you will need to know how to do. Many motorcycles use the "1 down-5 up" gear shifting method. Probably the most difficult aspect of learning the gears is finding the neutral gear with your foot. Once you have mastered that, it is just a matter of repetition when you engage the clutch with the left hand, find the correct gear with your left foot and then disengage your clutch.

Scooter Fuel Efficiency in Times of Rising Gas Costs

Scooters are becoming popular by the day. The sudden surge in scooter sales is because of the rising crude oil prices. People are looking for cheaper and alternate methods of transport. This leads them to ditch their high branded cars and SUVs. Besides it makes no sense to roam around in a larger vehicle, when u can do the same in a scooter in a lesser period of time. Scooters have always been a hit with the masses ever since they were introduced. Like mentioned earlier, scooters are often chosen basically for their fuel efficiency. Most of the scooters manufactured today have fiberglass or aluminum bodies. This helped in making the scooter lightweight, and thus increasing its fuel efficiency. It has been long proven that light weighed vehicles give more mileage.

Besides the engines are also constructed using aluminum blocks, which help in the further reduction in the gross weight of the scooter. Tires also play an important role in the fuel efficiency of a scooter. Improperly inflated tires may lead to increased intake of petrol. This can be explained scientifically. An improperly inflated tire has more contact with the road surface, thus increasing the amount of friction involved. Of course more friction equals to more drag and hence the high usage of fuel. Another recent innovation is the electric scooters. Instead of a petrol engine, electric motors are implemented in such scooters. These electric motors are driven with the help of rechargeable batteries.

As technology advances, the power storing capacities of the batteries are also increased. Besides just plugging them to the household electrical unit charges these batteries. Aerodynamics is an important factor too. This deals with the amount of drag induced on the scooter while it is in motion. While objects are moving at high speeds, the air surrounding it produces a dragging effect on the body. By aerodynamically designing the scooter's body, this can be reduced to a certain extent. Some of the vendors have started using newer engine technologies too. In the olden days only two stroke engine scooters were to be found. With the mandatory inclusion of Euro three emission standards in many countries, four stroke engines are largely replacing two stroke scooters.

These scooters posses higher fuel efficiency and higher power than their counterparts. Besides the transmission systems have also been modified these days. Manual transmission systems are slowly being replaced by automatic transmission systems. Although the comparison between manual and auto transmission is sure enough to start a bar fight, people prefer manual and auto transmissions according to their needs. The fairer sex always prefers auto transmissions as it helps them to learn and maneuver at a faster pace. Men prefer the manual transmission as it gives them more control over the scooter. Frequent usage of clutch will also lead to decrease of fuel efficiency. The clutch comes into play only for the manual transmission systems. For the auto transmission scooters, the clutch is deployed automatically. Whatever the reason be proper usage of the scooter will definitely add on the efficiency. Servicing is also to be done at regular intervals as mentioned by the dealer or the manufacturer.

Scooter Driving Safety Issues

Scooter drivers of all ages, just as automobile drivers, have a responsibility to take safety precautions before jumping behind the wheel. For young scooter hobbyist, parents are also responsible for making sure their child driver has a basic knowledge on how to function the motor scooter. Supervisors of scooter riding and the drivers must always know the proper safety equipment to use and use it. Though motor scooters have the ability to serve multiple purposes, they are growing especially fast in popularity among commuters in areas such as college campuses and congested downtown areas.

People traveling to near by neighborhood locations and to short distances for errands are also finding the convenient use of motor scooters for commuting. The advantages driving a scooter can offer are very obvious to some people because of the lifestyles they lead. Probably the favorite perk motor scooters offer commuters is the different ways using one can save money, such as by nearly eliminating gas costs and creating additional free or work time by allowing you to avoid traffic.

Each advantage of driving motor scooters is valuable to many people, especially in large, metropolitan areas, but those who have used this method of commuting have also been met with some resistance. Motorists who routinely travel by scooter know, or should know, the safety laws and regulations in their area but unsafe situations still tend to rise more often than they ought. When driving scooters the most problematic situations occur when automobile drivers do not notice or choose not to recognize scooter drivers as a legitimate vehicle.

Motor scooters are legal vehicles to drive on regular roads and the traffic laws and rules of the road are typically the same as those for other cars and trucks. This being the case, by law, there should not be a situation where a regular sized automobile over takes a motor scooter in a manner they would not use if it were an equal sized automobile. Awareness of the regulations on driving motor scooters is most likely the primary reason for road vehicles to violate scooter's right of way.

Since driving scooters on legal roads is not a practice used widely in all of the nation, motor scooterist must remain alert for any harmful situations. For starters, anywhere you drive your motor scooter a helmet should be in your attire. While out driving around town it is advised to wear bright colors and use a whip flag. Both of these precautions increase the chances that other vehicles will see you and react properly.

The rear and brake lights on your motor scooter are important features that can also raise the awareness of your presence to other drivers. During day and night the tendency of automobile drivers following behind your scooter is to become distracted from any turns, signals or actions you are taking. Having bright, consistently working brake lights help trailing drivers to notice the move you are making, or plan to make. Some avid scooter drivers have installed a flash lamp that is also activated when the brakes are applied.

The flash lamp continually flashes brightly, each flash only fractions of a second apart to warn following vehicles of the scooter driver's intent.