Motorcycles

Not all of us are blessed with sufficient time and money to be able to enroll in a racing school and take all the necessary courses to improve our motorcycle racing skills. If this is your problem as well, you can still have success in your chosen hobby or profession just as long as you’re willing to practice hard and make the most out of your free time.

Basic Motorcycle Racing Lessons

Braking – Emergency stops are common in the field of motorcycle racing. This lesson however is difficult to learn so expect to spend lots of time falling on your butt while you’re attempting to perform a successful emergency brake.

The key to emergency braking is being fully conscious of what you’re doing. There are many instances in motorcycle racing that you’ll be required to make an emergency stop, and when you do, your movements will be initially instinctive and automatic. Although your instincts may be correct, you’ve a better chance of saving yourself – and your position in the race – if your mind’s working as well.

Also, when you’re pressed with time, concentrate on making an emergency stop with the use of the front brake. Using both brakes requires too much concentration and coordination skills and would only further compromise your safety.

Counter-Steering – If you’ve read lessons about counter-steering, you might be finding this particular move difficult to understand. The only thing you should remember when counter-steering is the rule “like follows like”. If you’re going right then it’s your right hand that should be doing the work. It may seem complicated at first, but constant practice will soon make this move as natural as breathing.

Cornering – Again, there are many instances that you’ll be required to make this move so don’t bother skipping this lesson and postponing it to another day. If you want to succeed in motorcycle racing, you need to corner this lesson right away!

Firstly, practice making accurate calculations in a matter of seconds. One glance of your surroundings should be more than enough for you to learn the degree of which you’re required to turn to the corner and the necessary speed and gear you should employ when doing so.

Secondly, braking must be employed BEFORE you access the corner.

The last requirement is simple: you need complete confidence in yourself. Confidence is the only thing that will enable you to increase your speed as you move even if your instincts are screaming to do the opposite. Confidence will teach you to trust your instincts, know when it’s the right time to turn, and maintain your stability as you drive in a leaning position towards the end.

If you wish to make a wise investment when purchasing a motorcycle, you should start by learning about the various factors that affect motorcycle prices and to what extent it’s able to affect them.

Factors Affecting Motorcycle Price

Engine – The engine is arguably the most influential factor regarding motorcycle prices. Size, power, and type are properties of motorcycle engines that you should be most concerned. A bigger engine, for instance, may hamper your motorcycle’s speed. Power allows you to achieve greater performance but at greater risk to yourself because a powerful motorcycle is harder to control than one that’s designed for leisure driving only.

Level of Expertise – The level of expertise required to handle a particular motorcycle model also marginally affects motorcycle price. Expect motorcycles designed for the use of first-timers and beginners may be priced cheaper than those designed for experts and professionals. The reason behind this is simple: motorcycles for novices need fewer requirements to deliver customer satisfaction.

Type – The type of motorcycle you’re buying will also affect the price range that you’ll have to accommodate. There are various types of motorcycles on the market so you need to determine your purposes for buying a motorcycle before making any purchases.

Sports bikes are for speed junkies and look best when accessorized with lots of bling-blings; standard bikes on the other hand ensure that you reach work or home quickly but safely; motocross bikes are specifically designed for users fond of off-road travel; while cruiser bikes are the motorcycle industry’s version of show-type dogs like poodles and other toy dogs as opposed to those belonging to the sports or work classes.

Aesthetics and More – Lastly, the style and design of motorcycles also has an effect on its price. The materials used are just one of them. Expect motorcycle prices go up when additional modifications have been made such as the inclusion of an audio system and security alarms. Motorcycle prices which include insurance charges are naturally more expensive than those without although they may prove more affordable in the long run.

Brand name is definitely a factor since the motorcycle industry has its own hierarchy and in which names like Duchatti and Harley Davidson reign supreme.

Now that you know all the factors affecting motorcycle prices, the only step left to take is determining which factors are most important for you and which motorcycle models are capable of meeting your expectations. Have fun with your big bike!

With dozens of online stores selling motorcycle parts these days, it shouldn’t be much trouble to find one who could get you the best choice for a great price. If you’re knowledgeable about motorcycle parts enough to order online, this method of buying is not only convenient, it’s also fast and easy. Since most online stores keep their overhead to a minimum, you get more discounts for a wider variety of motorcycle parts.

Many of online purchases include easy-to-install parts like lights, air filters and exhausts because these could be ordered easily by non-technical bikers although it would help to know more about motorcycle parts and numbers for more specialized order.

Here are a few tips and info about getting motorcycle parts:

Know the part and number.
Motorcycle parts come in models and sizes indicated by a number or numbers, so when ordering online, make sure you know what exactly you need. Some sites charge a little extra for an online look-up.

Expect a few days for delivery.
Unlike offline stores, online stores need anywhere from 24 hours to 7 working days for your order to reach your doorstep. If you need it fast, paying for extra shipping cost can cut down shipping time significantly.

Sites to check for info and a look-see:
www.cycle-parts.com
Carries motorcycle parts for Triumph, Bombardier, Polaris, Ski Doo, Arctic Cat and Sea Doo other than their Harley, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki parts. To get the discounted price, include the part number with your order. Otherwise, you will be charged the regular retail price.

www.jcmotors.com
Sells parts and accessories for Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and BMW motorcycles. Their site offers a convenient drop-down menu that lists parts to choose from: brakes and rotors, chains, sprockets, steering stabilizers, handlebars and controls and various parts for body work. They offer a satisfaction-guarantee service for every order, so check out their site for more detailed info.

www.metricthunder.com
Features separate pages for different brand name parts like Suzuki, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Kawasaki. There are also separate links for motorcycle and specialty parts and accessories.

www.american-made.com
This site boasts of having more than 13,000 parts for Harley Davidson motorcycles at a discounted price. You might also want to check out their ’specials’ page, which regularly features huge discounts on selected parts and accessories. Inquiries may be emailed through info@american-made.com.

www.necycle.com
If salvaged motorcycle parts is more your interest, check out this site. They have thousands of used parts in stock and requests can be made for free. If you also want aftermarket parts, there’s www.aftermarketmotorcyclespartsnow.com, which sells parts for all major motorcycle brands at a good discount.

What could be better than having a bike and riding it? Why, talking about it, of course! For millions of motorcycle fans worldwide, it’s nearly impossible to run out of reasons and topics about their beloved rides. If you’re looking to make biker friends and exchange some stories, here are a few sites to check out:

Harley Heaven (www.harley-heaven.com)
For Harley fans and those who want nothing but pure Harley news and information, Harley Heaven has a chatroom where you can meet and swap Harley talk with likeminded folks. There are also links to repair tips and tricks, lifestyle, free pictures and in true Harley fashion, a link to tattoos and piercings.

CT Biker’s Guide (www.ctbikersguide.com)
If you want a site that opens directly to an online forum, then this website is for you. To get in, you must register to become a member. Membership gives you access to more features than guest users usually get.

There’s private messaging, email access and a user group subscription to keep you updated. Topics include events, bands, bars, a mechanic’s corner for repair tips, a swap shop for trading merchandise, photos of members’ rides and even an off-topic chatroom for topics that have nothing to do with bikes.

Riding Across USA (www.ridingacrossusa.com)
RaU has an online forum for members that is categorized into different topics such as motorcycle discussions, parts sales, biker events, riding schedules, local meetings and more information about motorcycles and bikers. And you’re not only limited to fellow bikers in the U.S. You could also search for biker groups and individuals in Canada and in other countries.

Bad Weather Bikers (www.badweatherbikers.com)
This site is dedicated to Buell motorcycle fans. Like most riding sites, it features some interesting links: its Knowledge Vault features articles for repairs, parts, gadgets, apparel and accessories; the Tale Section features biker stories submitted by members and there is also info about racing, news about sponsors, a classified ads page and of course, an online message board.

Real Divas Ride (www.realdivasride.com)
This site features an online forum exclusively for women riders. A good place to meet and greet fellow lady bikers to exchange news and information, find riding partners and groups and learn about current riding events. It also features a page on biker products and services and an online message forum.

Members can post queries, events and even submit photos and profiles of their own rides. Although made up mostly of women riders, male browsers are also welcome.

Minnesota Wings Motorcycle Club (www.mnwings.com)
With over 400 members, this group’s site offers the usual biker info and separate pages for its seven chapters in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

If it’s your first time to own a motorcycle, you should be aware that motorcycles are slightly more troublesome to take care of than cars. While cars can survive a long time of neglect, the same thing can’t be said for motorcycles. Worse, just one instance of neglect can immediately cause peril to your life.

Inspect Your Motorcycle Regularly
Make up a checklist of the important things you should inspect regarding your motorcycle’s safety and performance. Send it to the service center as well every time you cover 5,000 kilometers. Regular visits may cost you a small amount of money but this amount is certainly nothing considering that it’s equivalent to the price of your life!

How Oily is Oily?
Make it a habit to check your motorcycle’s oil level when you’ve stopped for gas. While checking the oil, make sure that no foreign material will accidentally fall into your motorcycle’s oil storage compartment. Avoid subjecting your motorcycle to constant exposure to extremely hot or cold weather as this can affect your oil’s quality.

Batteries are a Motorcycle’s Best Friend
Do you know that one of the most common causes for motorcycles to cease operating or malfunction is due to battery problems? As such, you need to take excellent care of your battery at all times. Firstly, never remove or replace them if the engine is still running. Don’t change batteries by yourself if you don’t have any experience.

Adding Fuel to the Fire
An absence of care and precaution can easily add fuel to the fire and lead you to experiencing an unfortunate accident. To avoid fuel troubles, start by learning the various locations and uses of your motorcycle’s fuses. When changing fuses, always subject it to testing to ensure that it’s in good working condition. Damaged fuses put you at the risk of having your motorcycle’s blow up while you’re on the driver seat.

Clean Up Your Act
Believe it or not the mere act of cleaning can significantly reduce future maintenance costs and the chances of having an accident while you’re riding your motorcycle. If you don’t like the idea of regular cleaning, just think of it as killing two birds with one stone: cleaning will let you enjoy a safer and cooler ride on your bike!

Your Motorcycle’s First Aid Kit
Always have a properly equipped toolbox strapped to your motorcycle. Even the world’s slowest and safest driver can still be an unfortunate victim of an accident so having a toolbox will just be your way of preparing for any eventuality!

Getting a motorcycle jacket does more than raise your coolness factor. It also offers a lot in terms of protection, especially for long drives under natural and man made elements. To choose a motorcycle jacket for protective purposes and for style, here are a few tips:

Buy for protection first.
The purpose of a motorcycle jacket is to protect you against the wind, sun, dust, rain and road debris like pebbles and whatnot. You might like the feel of the wind against your chest, but in colder weather, this is just not recommended. A jacket should protect your skin against scratches in case of road accidents.

If you want more ventilation, then choose jackets that are vented. These allow the wind in to circulate between your jacket and your body, so you won’t feel as hot on warmer days.

Choose a leather motorcycle jacket
One of the most popular choices for a bike jacket is leather. These are tough, water resistant and able to withstand wear and tear. Besides, the more aged they are, the better they look.

If you’re buying leather, choose one that is supple and soft. While these may be more expensive, they will score high points for the comfort that it will provide you, especially if you’re planning to go on long rides. Look for heavy stitching on the hems and lapels. Good stitching is the mark of good craftsmanship and therefore of quality.

Inspect the jacket for consistency in texture and color, unless of course you’re looking for two-toned leather. The jacket should be consistent from the sleeves to the back and front and not look that three different cows contributed to it.

You might want to consider a motorcycle jacket that is thick enough to give you protection, but light enough to be comfortable. Thickness is more often than not directly proportional to weight and the thicker the jacket is, the more protection it will give you. If you will be spending a lot of time on the road, you might want a thicker jacket for better durability.

Price = Quality
You don’t need to spend a lot for a motorcycle jacket. Good ones normally start at about $60 while more expensive and detailed ones can go for $500 up. Custom-made leather jackets can cost more and will take more time to make, so be sure you’re willing to wait.

Don’t be afraid to shop around for good quality and price. When you find one that you like, wear it to see if it’s a good fit or not. If you’re going to be a true blue rider, you and your jacket will be together for a long time.

Buying insurance for your bike isn’t only wise, it’s could also be a good investment. Some factors that could affect your motorcycle insurance coverage are:

Your bike’s value
Always ask about insurance before buying a motorcycle. Your dealer or supplier should be able to inform you whether your new bike is covered or not. Usually, insurance for a later model, souped-up bike will cost more than that of a regular motorcycle.

Your age and home address
If you’re younger, you’ll usually pay more. If you’re older and have more riding experience, your rate could be much better. Where you live will also factors into your insurance payments. High-risk addresses where there’s a higher probability of crime or accident will mean higher rates.

Your job and driving history
Where you take your motorcycle on a regular basis will also affect your insurance payments. For example, bringing your bike to work in a construction site could raise the rates. Your past driving experience will also have an effect on your insurance payment, regardless of whether or not you’ve driven a motorcycle before.

Usually, your regular motor insurance company will provide enough insurance coverage and options for you, but you might want to check out insurance coverage specific to motorcycles to see what your options are. Full coverage can be quite expensive and very often, only provided for high-end motorcycles.

What your insurance should have
Ideally, your insurance should include the following: passenger, collision, liability, no-fault, uninsured and service coverage. Another insurance coverage that you might want to consider is medical, which will cover medical costs in case of injury and hospitalization.

You might also want to get insurance for bodily injury. This covers your liability in case you cause a collision that resulted in another person’s injury or death.

Mind the cost
Shop for at least three insurance quotes before deciding on one. Call as many insurance agents as you can to have a better look at the coverage and rates that’s available, because rates do vary.

If your motorcycle mileage is low, you could get better rates. Using your motorcycle only occasionally could get you a better insurance deal. You might also want to take a DMV class that specializes in motorcycle training. Once you get your certification, you might just be able to haggle with your insurance company for a better price.

Comprehensive coverage can be quite expensive, although it will cover instances of theft, vandalism or total wrecks. You don’t want to overpay your insurance, but if you think you are at a high risk of having your motorcycle damaged or stolen, you might want to get a comprehensive/collision coverage.

Forget what you see in the movies. Wearing a helmet isn’t only the law, it could also save your life. Here are some tips how to choose the right kind of motorcycle helmet to wear:

Make sure it passed quality control.
The DOT has a set of standards for motorcycle helmets. When buying one, look for the DOT logo on the helmet, usually at the back. The helmet should also have a label that includes the manufacturer’s name, date of manufacture, size, model and materials.

Go for a helmet in the mid-price range.
Don’t scrimp or spend too much on a motorcycle helmet. A no-frills, reasonably priced helmet with good quality materials will offer enough protection to keep your head safe.

Protection for the whole head.
Choose helmets that are full-faced. These offer a lot of protection for head-on collisions. Open-faced helmets do give some level of protection, but in case of a collision, your cheeks, chin and neck won’t stand much of a chance.

Cover your face.
Choose a helmet with a face shield, which is usually made of hard, clear, shatter-proof plastic. This will protect your face from dust, wind, debris and rain. Some shields have tints to give you some protection against glare and some have high resolution for sharper vision. Some models are even equipped with anti-mist devices to reduce fogging or condensation.

If you’re planning to use your helmet in very cold conditions, you might want to choose one with a breath box. Located in front of the helmet, it covers your nose and draws your breath away from your shield so it won’t fog.

Look for an inner lining.
Helmets should have a firm inner liner that’s at least an inch thick to protect your head and be worn comfortably. Before buying one, wear it for at least 10 minutes or so to get a good feel. Safety may be your first concern but comfort is a close second. In fact, comfort determines whether your helmet is safe or not.

Make sure it fits.
Never buy a helmet without trying it on first. It should fit your head comfortably – not too loose or too tight. If you tried to move it back and forth over your head, it should offer some resistance and the cheekpads but it shouldn’t press on your face too much. Too much pressure will cause headaches later.

Be sure you have enough visuals.
The upper lining should just be above your eyebrows and your eyes must be centered. Avoid helmets that limit your peripheral vision in a big way. A good figure to watch would be about 200 degrees or more.

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast and starting to collect motorcycle gear that will give you that perfect ride, this article will provide you just the basic information to start up.

Many starting motorcycle riders are in confusion on what clothing, motorbike accessories and other survival kits are needed in order to enjoy the fun of this exciting vehicle. More often than not, given all the available resources and accessories around, it’s just so hard to decide what to buy.

If you are conscious, you will come up with a long list of motorcycle gear, but the question now falls on the frequency of usage of the accessories in question. Will you be using all of these accessories that often? Are there more needed accessories that you need?

With all those questions in mind, it is best that we have all the needed answers in order to and keep you from frustration and protect your savings at the same time. Below are the lists of motorbike accessories that you need to have before you hang off that driving seat and get the ride of your life!

Clothing

Clothing style is very important if you are a motorbike user. Although it isn’t required that you have all the motorbike clothes, there are specifics that you will need to consider.

a. Top. T-shirts decorated with all motorcycle-related stuffs similar to what you see with famous motorcycle riders are the best. Leather jackets are a needed top accessory.

Get one which allows the air to circulate inside the jacket in order to prepare you in the summer season. Some signature jackets like Joe Rocket, Roadgear and Hein Gericke are the jacket brands of choice.

b. Pants and Boots. Pants shouldn’t be that of ordinary pants. Leather pants and chaps are OK. Boots with soles made up of genuine rubber are necessary in order to keep your foeet on the ground when you stop down the road.

c. Helmets. It is a fact that most governments around require motorcycle users to wear helmets at all times. Since motorbikers are prone to accidents, it is necessary to wear one. Wear a full-face helmet that will keep your head from the distracting sun rays, bugs and water when raining.

Survival Kits

a. Reflective Vest. Keeps you visible along the road.
b. Ear plugs. Protects your ears from any induced effects of air pressure while travelling.
c. First Aid Kits and Tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, sparkplugs, and loc-tite.

There are plenty of benefits to having your own motorcycle but before you get into the actual buying consider some important points that you may want to take note of in order to fully assess your need to buy yourself one of these exciting automobiles.

More than 93% of the time, men want their own motorcycle. That is one of the recent datas gathered from a recent regional statistic in the United States and that’s why it’s normal that you want one as well.

Nevertheless, you have to think about the important talking points before you get your wallet out of your pocket and shell out bucks to cover expenses related to your motorcycle buying.

• Experience. If you are going buy a motorcycle, you need to know your level of experience in terms of driving. You might have gained a professional drivers license for your automobile but riding a motorcycle is different from a car. Consider these and get yourself out of trouble.

Motorcycle rides are one of the most dangerous accidents you will ever engage in according to the US Department of Transportation. If you want to know more about motor safety and driving, you may contact Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

• Motorbike’s Intended Use. Note some special considerations on how you would like to use your motorbike. Are you young, sport-enthusiast? Go for sport motorcycles. If you are someone who enjoys moving around the city with your favorite motorcycle, without becoming rough on the road, you might get yourself a commuting/touring bike.

In effect, you may want to consider your lifestyle when trying to move around the market looking for some motorcycles that will surely fit your personality and the way you live your life on a daily basis.

• Budget. There are plenty of considerations that you have to think of before you get yourself a new motorcycle. Consider your allotted budget and household priorities. Should mortgage come first? Children’s tuition, pending bills, household appliances, etc. Keeping yourself interested in buying a motorcycle is OK as long as you have other more important expenses covered.

A decent motorbike would cost one from $4000 to $24000. Talk to your local motorbike dealers and inquire on the most appropriate paying options they have for you inasmuch as motorcycle financing is concerned.