Archive for February, 2011
Choosing The Right Type Of Motorcycle
You have made the decision to purchase a motorcycle online but before you do you should know a little bit about the different types of motorcycles that are available. You will be surprised to learn that there are different motorcycles for different purposes and it is important for you to choose the right one for your riding requirements.
The Different Bikes
You more than likely have heard the term dirt bike used. This kind of motorcycle is specially designed to be ridden offroad. This motorcycle has tires that are knobby to give you excellent traction on dirt and mud as well as a light frame and bodywork so it can travel quickly over rough terrain.
A cruiser is like the old folks of motorcycles. It is typically a sedate motorcycle and is popular for those who are just looking to take a long leisurely ride. They are usually durable and handsome motorcycles that appeal to the older generation of riders.
A motorcycle that is meant for touring and adventure is also called a dual sports motorcycle. These bikes are inspired by the more rugged dirt bike as well as motorcycles that were made for long tours. They are comfortable for long rides and they boast a lot of suspension travel and postures that are upright.
Enduro bikes are designed for offroad competitions that also involve long distances. They usually have lights for night riding. They are made to be outfitted with chart reading devices timers and other gadgets that aid the riders in keeping time and navigation.
A motorcycle that is called a chopper is the image of bikes that most often comes to mind whenever we hear motorcycles being discussed. These bikes are long and lean and often have handlebars that are high in the air. Their seats are reclined and they have forks that are extremely raked. A chopper is bike that usually has a lot of flashy chrome.
Sport bikes are made strictly for performance. They have powerful engines and the handling is tight. These motorcycles are not for the casual rider. Purchase this type of bike only if you are interested in motorcycle competition.
Touring bikes almost bring to mind a car on two wheels. These motorcycles were designed with comfort and convenience in mind for long trips. They will often have backrests a windscreen and many other creature comforts to make the ride more enjoyable. They even come with a radio and navigation system if you desire.
I only mention a scooter because it too can be considered a motorcycle. Vespa made these types of scooter/motorcycle popular all across Europe. They are small and easy to handle. They are made so that the rider doesn’t get their clothing stained with oil so are perfect for commuters where this type of machine is allowed.
There are many designs of motorcycles and you want the perfect bike for the perfect ride. You can find out all the information you will need to successfully purchase a motorcycle online when you go searching. You can find excellent deals and bargains that may end up saving you hundreds of dollars on your new purchase.
About the writer: James Brown writes about HelmetAudio.com coupon MotoLeather.com coupon code and Racerwheel promo code
Can You Be Styling While Wearing Protective Motorcycle Clothing?
How do you vote? Styling or protection? What do you need to consider about the type of clothing to wear when riding your motorcycle? First and foremost repeat you need protection from injury. However you can still be styling while riding your bike!
There nothing like laying your bike down on asphalt rapidly skidding down the black hell with visions of I am going to die in your head plus leaving lots of your skin on the street to get you to think about wearing protective clothing while riding your motorcycle. If you are like most people you think about injuries from falling impact or abrasions from skidding. Both of these types of injuries can be very painful especially if you survive them. Good news clothing can play an important part in reducing the injury level in both types of these injuries.
Did you know that 30 50 at night of drivers involved in accidents with motorcycles claim they didn’t see the bike? I can’t count the times I have had to dodge cars who I know just didn’t see me. If they had been watching for cars it would not have been an issue. How many times have you not seen a motorcyclist and you are even more aware of them than the average driver? Driving in your neighborhood on your bike could be highly dangerous. Approximately 90 of urban motorcycle accidents are caused the other driver not by the motorcyclist. Riding with your headlights on is very important to being seen. Bright colors or reflective stripes can help a lot.
For those of us who are into styling there are some great looking motorcycle clothing on the market these days. However not all of the motorcycle clothing offers as much protection as you think. Protective motorcycle clothing are not created equal. In Europe they have a standard for motorcycle clothing. For it be lawfully sold as “safety” clothing it has to pass a series of European standards and bear the CE mark which are pretty lengthy. How does the clothing performance hold up in abrasion tearing and impact tests. Once they pass the test then the manufacturer are allowed to sell the motorcycle protective clothing with the CE mark. Unfortunately USA has no such regulation is available in the USA. Cheer up all is not lost. Just requires you to pay attention to what you are buying.
Not many people realize that most motorcycle injuries occur below the belt. You love your legs and feet but when you are riding a motorcycle the are extremely vulnerable to injuries. Make sure you wear a decent pair of high boots and protective pants. Leather thick leather is a good choice. Check the pants for reinforcement at the knees and hips. The better safety pants should attach to your jacket by a zipper. Boots should be thick leather with a sole that can flex with the foot but has a resistance to crushing across the foot. Heard of steel toe shoes? Well not a bad ideal for when you are riding.
The history of material normally used for motorcycle protective clothing has been leather. The thick nylon and other synthetic materials will work well too. Look into Kevlar reinforced jeans which hold up much better than normal jeans while skidding across asphalt at 70 m.p.h. Here is an interesting fact. According to the European standard abrasion test normal jeans last 0.6 seconds while protective motorcycle pants will last 5 seconds or more. Think about 5 seconds of protection versus about 0.5 seconds. If you have to think very hard you have been riding your motorcycle without a helmet again. Go with the Kevlar protected reenforced jeans.
You apply the same principles to jackets. You are looking for hard wearing jackets preferably thick leather not the fancy thin fashion leather like some jackets. Pay attention to the stitching which should be uniform with no dropped stitches. All your stress areas your elbows and shoulders should be reinforced ideally with some impact protection included. This means not a bad ideal to have some protective padding in your jacket.
Want to keep those fingers looking good and attached? You must have a decent pair of gloves. When you fall you instinctively put out your hands palm side down to stop yourself in a slide so the palms of your gloves should made of thick leather or knitted Kevlar and reinforced with patches. Knitted Kevlar is especially good for this kind of abrasion resistance but reinforced leather works well too.
That old saying it only hurt when I stop. Well apply that saying to when you hit the pavement. Impact protection can be bought separately like back protectors. If you buy it make sure you wear it. Depending on your personality it might be best motorcycle protective clothing with a degree of impact protection included so that you know when you put on your jacket and pants the protection is there and you don’t have to remember to put it on.
I know this is a cliche but helmets really do save lives. Your head is not as hard as you think. Head injuries are not easy to recover from and in a motorcycle accident; they tend to be really severe. A helmet may not stop the injury but it is very possible it might reduce the impact of an injury.
If you are like most people they try to avoid pain. Give some serious thought to your protective motorcycle clothing the next time you go shopping.
About the writer: Jerry Johnson owns the Motorcycle Clothes Store and Deals On Pocketbikes as well as several other successful webstores. Visit MotorcycleClothesStore.com and Deals on Pocketbikes for great values on your cycle apparel and pocketbikes.
Cant Wait To Hit The Road On Your New Bike? Not So Fast!
MAYFIELD VILLAGE Ohio Feb. 19 2008 Whoever coined the phrase it’s just like riding a bike probably never switched motorcycles. That’s because even experienced riders can be pretty wobbly when they hop on an unfamiliar bike according to data from the country’s largest motorcycle insurer Progressive.
The study of almost 2 million motorcycle policies over a fiveyear period finds that riders who switch bikes are nearly 70 percent more likely to crash than riders who keep the same bike.
Most people already know that riding can be especially dangerous for new bikers said Rick Stern a Progressive motorcycle product manager who is also a rider. But our data shows that the less familiar you are with your bike the more likely you are to be involved in a collision regardless of your experience.
The study also found cruiser riders who switch to sport bikes are threeandahalf times more likely to crash. That’s more than double the risk they’d have than if they just switched to another cruiser.
Sport bikers on the other hand can reduce their risk by more than a third just by switching to a cruiser.
We want experienced riders to know their risks so they can take extra precautions when they replace their bikes said Stern. It’s a good idea for riders to take their new bike out for a couple of shake down cruises in a parking lot before hitting the open road.
Even people who have been riding for years can benefit from practicing the basics on their new bike Stern said including lowspeed riding turning shifting and swerving and higherspeed panic stopping.
After all if the goal is to keep the dirty side down and the shiny side up there’s no substitute for experienceand not just experience on the road but also on the bike.
Get a Progressive Motorcycle Insurance Quote
About Progressive
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies in business since 1937 is the country’s third largest auto insurance group and largest seller of motorcycle and personal watercraft policies based on premiums written and is a market leader in commercial auto insurance.
Progressive is committed to becoming consumers’ 1 choice for auto insurance by providing competitive rates and products that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes superior online and inperson customer service and bestinclass 24hour claims service including its concierge level of claims service available at service centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States.
Progressive data shows even veteran bikers could use basic training when they switch bikes
Progressive companies offer consumers choices in how to shop for buy and manage their auto insurance policies. Progressive offers its products including personal and commercial auto motorcycle boat and recreational vehicle insurance through more than 30000 independent insurance agencies throughout the U.S. and online and by phone directly from the Company. Private passenger auto products and prices are different when purchased directly from Progressive or through independent agencies. To find an agent or to get a quote go to www.progressive.com.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation the Mayfield Village Ohiobased holding company are publicly traded at NYSE:PGR.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Jason Woolard Texas Independent Agent since 1995. Owner of
Texas Insurance Place and
The Insurance Place.
Specializing in Auto Home Business Health Life Insurance.