Archive for June, 2011
Ride Motorcycle To Save Money And For Pleasure
The rising cost of gasoline in todays world has pushed the average consumer to new extremes to try to conserve fuel and save money. There have been many inventions to help gain gas mileage with the most recent being hybrid cars. Ever since the invention of the motorcycle in the early 1900′s people have been improving upon the engines of the motorcycle and have been perfecting the fuel efficiency. However no commercially ready solution so far has been able to compare to the motorcycles legendary conservation of gasoline.
The main reason that motorcycles receive such excellent fuel mileage is simply a matter of weight. There is less machine and driver to propel forward so there is less fuel consumed. This has been attempted in the car realm however the results have been a bit hilarious. Three wheeled covered cars simply look ridiculous. Any self respecting motorcycle rider wouldn’t be caught in one of those things.
Some people may make the claim that their small car is better for their family. In some cases this may be true. However a family of three can ride in a motorcycle. Simply use a mounted side car and have one passenger in the side car while the other passenger rides behind the driver. Using this configuration still allows for fuel savings and gives the family some time spent on the open road in a fun and enjoyable way. When using this configuration consider using a set of helmet mounted radios so that the whole family can communicate with each other.
Some motorcycles are able to achieve an amazing 80 miles per gallon of fuel standard not modified from the factory. The best car so far commercially made has been a 63 miles per gallon hybrid from Honda. However there is a point to consider in all of this regarding insurance. With a brief interview from a national insurance company the representative said that it is generally cheaper for motorcycle insurance than for automobile insurance. Of course the actual amount that would be paid is based upon the drivers experience driving history motorcycle or automobile type safety factors of each vehicle and the actual cost of the vehicle.
So should you buy a motorcycle to replace your car? That choice is up to you. However in a recent study an independent company found that with rising costs of fuel the sales of motorcycles has risen dramatically. I’m sure that these people did not simply trade in their cars for their new motorcycles. Rather they have started using the motorcycles for day to day errand running and such.
The last thing to consider when deciding whether to ride or drive is the fun factor. Riding a motorcycle has been described as low altitude flying. Feeling the motor surge and the road soar beneath you as the machine floats along on a cushion of fun. Can you say that you feel this in a car? That is most likely not the case.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp; Jafrum.com sells motorcycle helmets and motorcycle gear. You can find articles and products at our website www.jafrum.com
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Reviews Of Motorcycle Building Books
Building your own bike from motorcycle parts is cheaper than buying one new and is a whole lot of fun. When you are done there is nothing like the satisfaction of driving around on a machine you built with your bare hands.
Your first bike project can be a daunting task even if you’ve done repairs or custom work already. Advice from someone who’s been through it can save you a lot of time and frustration and there are plenty of books to help.
How to Build a Kit Bike
Custom bike kits are a great choice for your first chopper. In this book by Tim Remus you get a complete inventory of motorcycle parts so you don’t have to worry about missing something or making sure different pieces match up. All you have to do is put it all together and paint it.
This book illustrates stepbystep the construction of four kit bikes. And “illustrates” is the right word because this book is packed with pictures that let you see how every step is going to progress. It includes advice on tools and techniques that are invaluable for a first project.
Although it is a good introduction and overview some of the information is a bit superficial. It’s a good start but not useful for anyone who has already built a bike. It’s no replacement for getting down and dirty with motorcycle parts. You’ll still make some mistakes but you’ll make a lot fewer after reading this book.
How to Build a Cheap Chopper
Like the book above this book by Tim Remus carefully illustrates the build of 5 bikes. However these aren’t kit bikes but rather bikes built from parts.
Most of the builds involve getting cheap Harley parts from junked donor bikes. The most expensive example is built with all custom chopper parts but even this one will cost far less than buying a bike new.
Like Remus’s other book this one provides a solid foundation to the new bike builder but is no substitute for experience. It’s a basic howto manual that educates you on the basic concepts.
How to Paint Your Motorcycle
Once you assemble your motorcycle parts into a bad ass street machine you still need to paint it. You could take it to a paint shop but then you could have just bought a new bike.
In this book JoAnn Bortles shows you how to give your bike a professional paint job. She draws on her own extensive experience and is free with stories of personal mistakes. The book has a great conversational tone that makes it fun to read. It’s a comprehensive reference of techniques from basic preparation to elaborate bodywork.
Whether you want just a quick coating of black or you want to try your hand at painting flaming skulls or even if you just want a good read while waiting for the pros to paint your bike this is a great addition to any bike builder’s library.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on MotorcycleParts visit http://www.jirehcycles.com.
Repairing Flat Tires On A Scooter
The tires and the spokes of the scooter will require daily inspection to ensure you have no problems and that your ride will be a safe one. If you are faced with broken spokes you should repair them right away to prevent additional breakage. If you have a flat tire you will also need to have someone change it plug it or repair it so you can continue riding the scooter. Riding the scooter with a flat tire is going to bend and chip the rims the wheels and will not provide you with the smooth ride you are accustomed.
For flat tires there is a canister type of solution you can purchase which is known as fix a flat which will fix flat tires plugging holes in the rubber tire. The Fix a flat is a canister that will plug right into the tire inflating the tire as it plugs the hole at the same time. The Fix a flat is going to work on the tires that are rubber the same as your car. This type of repair is not going to work on the tire with a tube or the tire that has a major cut in it. Repairs to the tire that has a large gash will require replacement of the tire. Most all medical supply houses and scooter retail outlets do make replacement tires easy to purchase.
Regular reviewing and maintenance of your tires will be required. If you are not using your scooter for long periods you should at least have someone move the tires around so they are not sitting on one portion of the tire for weeks on end. Dry rot is a problem for tires not used often. A scooter not used for three months at a time can easily have dry rot on the tire. Dry rot can be spotted by the cracks in the tires which can easily then lead to air leaks.
Most scooter accessories can be bought either new or old depending upon your preference and how much you are willing to spend on them. However before buying old parts make sure that they are in a good condition or else they too might have to be replaced soon.
To prevent the need to fix flat tires to fix broken spokes and to prevent dry rot on any scooter tire you should consider the purchase of tires which are solid. Solid tires are available with or without tread. Solid tires never require air. If you have tires that do require air you can pump up the tires with a bike pump or with an air compressor.
About the writer: Michael Talbert is an online retailer of leather and textile motorcycle apparel. For more information you can visit his websites at www.NakedLeatherBiker.com and www.ExtremeBikerGear.com .