Motorcycle buyers inspection

Motorcycle buyers always have the little confusion of where to start?

Well you start at the beginning. Reading online reviews is my favorite as it gives you the first hand advice on what to do and what to avoid in buying motorcycles.
Crimes are increasing and so are the criminals so make sure you are buying a motorcycle from an authorized owner. Read the documents carefully. See the signatures, registration date and authentication.

Make a checklist of the things you need to inspect first hand before buying a motorcycle.

Wheels—Look for impacts on the rim, bent wheels, and spoke problems, cracks.

Tires– Inspect the tires for damage, cracks and deep enough tread.

Brakes—Check for the brake smoothness, disc pads, pressure in the cables and of course leaks.

In the suspensions check for the coil springs, fork legs. Are the fork legs leaking after the pump?

Make sure the steering is smooth. Check for play and vibrations.

Gauges—are they working or not?

Engine—Make sure you start the engine and take a test ride. Try to get a cold engine warm and then let it run without choke.

Also check the exhaust, belt drives, chains, oil battery etc.

Now ride the motorcycle. After all its going to be yours should you decide to ride it.

Make sure you cross check the list I have provided you twice and then go ahead with the purchase if you are satisfied.

Also check for motorcycle insurance. Well-insured motorcycles mean a more reliable seller.

Always pay in cash as you can make and quick offer and the seller will be more open to sell at a lower price as he gets the money ASAP.

Check and double check the motorcycle part before buying. You can ask for some expert help on cross checking also.

In case you want to buy a new motorcycle when should you buy Buying at the end of the month seems to work best for many sales people seeing they are often faced with targets and com%.

So you have finally bought it!! Its time to let them enjoy their motorcycle ride. For motorcycle parts information, where to find the best information, learn the secrets on where and how to buy visit our site www.motorcycle-parts-home.com Also visit our sister sites www.about-truck-accessories.com www.carstereosforyou.com

The rumor mill never seems to slow down when it comes to Harley-Davidson and its future bikes. I guess that kind of passion and curiosity is what drives the MoCo. The rumor of a factory Harley-Davidson trike making a comeback after more than three decades is true. The new Tri Glide Ultra Classic will be available at your local Harley dealer in limited numbers as a 2009 model. 
Let’s start with what the machine is and isn’t. It is a genuine Harley-Davidson covered by a full factory 2 year warrantee. It is manufactured by Harley in association with Lehman Trikes of South Dakota. It lists for $29,999 (in the US) and is available in the 48 contiguous US states and Canada. It is well engineered, looks good and is a blast to ride. It isn’t a warmed over Lehman trike. I don’t know why this project was internally nicknamed “Boomer” but it was, and now you know.

What’s involved in riding a trike verses a bike? Well, let’s just say that they are exactly the same only different. Quite different. Same throttle, clutch, shifter and brakes. But the handling is more like a car because trikes don’t lean, they steer around turns. So get used to pulling on one side of the handlebars and pushing on the other through the turns. And, thanks to all the extra weight out back, you’ll have to slip the clutch a bit more and give it a bit more throttle coming off a stop than with a bike. Plus you can keep your feet on the floorboards all the time, even at a full stop. And always remember that your machine is a lot wider than a bike, even a bagger, when going through narrow spaces. And just because you missed the pothole in the road with your front tire doesn’t mean you’ll miss it with your rear ones. And. . . well you get the idea. Trikes and bikes are simply different.

Out on the road the Tri Glide is impressive. I have ridden several old and new trikes over the years and feel this is the best of the breed. Superior handling, a healthy power train and top notch fit and finish – and this was on a pre-production model! The low and high speed handling is more neutral than I expect from a trike. I suspect the purpose-build frame and specific fork geometry and rear suspension has a lot to do with that. Once you get used to slipping the clutch slightly from a dead stop and push/pull steering on the handlebars, riding the Tri Glide is a blast. I predict these machines will sell out quickly with a waiting line once word is out on how much fun they are.  Anyone who has ridden a two-wheel motorcycle will quickly take to the Tri Glide and will be confidently cruising the highways and slicing through zig zag turns on back roads in no time.

In our discussions with Harley’s marketing and engineering staff we heard how the main goal for the Tri Glide was “to extend riding access” which we took to mean extending the riding season (trikes handle better in snow, ice and rain than bikes do) as well as making people more comfortable riding a stable three-wheeler than a less stable two-wheeler. The Harley staffers told us their target customers tend to be more experienced riders.  One of the senior people confided in us “A lot of people who try a Tri Glide for the first time are pleased and surprised with the ride.” After we put some miles on one we have to agree,

Unlike any other current model Harley-Davidson that I am aware of, the host portion of the new Tri Glides are built on a new assembly line in the York factory. It is then shipped to the Lehman factory in South Dakota to be finished. From there, the complete machines are shipped to Milwaukee where they are forwarded on to the dealer network. When we asked about the relationship between Lehman Trikes and Harley-Davidson we were told that Lehman is actively involved in the process, but the Harley Tri Glides are quite different than Lehman’s own Ultra-based trikes. While the Lehman version uses a modified stock Harley FL frame and one-piece rear body section, the Tri Glides use unique, purpose-built frames and separate rear body sections and fenders. Harley assured us the current association with Lehman is not based on a buy-out or a joint venture. Harley views Lehman as a supplier.

OK, so what else is unique or unusual about the Tri Glide? We have already touched on the specific-to-this-model frame with increased fork angle and less trail for better steering effort. It has an electronic hand control to activate the optional electric reverse motor. The front forks are longer than those on the two-wheel Ultras and have an external steering stabilizer for a more consistent ride.

The front wheel is a 16 inch hoop, the rears are 15 inchers. The wheels and brake rotors all match. Machines with this much weight need good brakes, and the front dual Brembos are up to the task.  The 103 cubic inch engine mated with a heavy duty police-style clutch offers sufficient power to get down the road quite smartly. The Tri Glide has a unique transmission case and rear mounts are also different from the stock Harley Ultra two-wheel version. There is a standard oil cooler to help keep engine temperatures down, and the new for 2009 mufflers compliment the modified header pipes.

              

The Tour Pak is rated for up to 30 pounds of cargo, and the trunk, featuring hidden hinges and a lockable latch, can handle an additional 50 pounds in 4.3 cubic feet. We like the rear fenders are separate from the trunk and attached to it. Typically the trunk and rear fenders on most trikes are built as one unit making repairs or replacement quite expensive. 

Apparently Harley management had been considering the possibility of adding a trike to the line-up for some time but there were many issues to deal with. These included safety concerns, marketing options, and manufacturing challenges. When we asked about the stability of a Tri Glide in various real world riding conditions, one of the Harley engineers responded by saying they designed it with several goals in mind. “We wanted it to slip” he said, “before it would tip.”

2 critical measures the trike had to pass were the lane change maneuver at highway speeds, and the steady state turn (in tight circles at increasing speeds). The trike accomplished both with room to spare. Harley management ok’d the project when they realized the Ultra-based Tri Glide can go faster and corner harder than a stock Harley Ultra motorcycle “so we felt a comfort zone there.”

All the 2009 Tri Glides will be based on Ultra Classics. But Harley isn’t saying whether this might change in the future to expand across other models using V-Rods, Dynas or Sportsters as the base. However, given the fact that Harley considers the Tri Glide a new separate model platform, I’d bet there are more variations in the works. Personally, I’d like to see a water-cooled V-Rod powered trike.

Harley is planning on building only 2500 Tri Glides for 2009 in three color options – Vivid Black, Dark Blue Pearl or Red Hot Sunglo, and plans are for them to be available in Harley dealerships in August 2008. MSRP is $29,999, which is significantly less than a similar Lehman Harley Ultra, and the Tri Glide comes with a 2-year factory warrantee. Want one? Better get your name and deposit to your dealer ASAP. They are going to go fast.

Interested in learning more about Harley motorcycles, from Sportsters to Softails and touring FL motorcycles? Check out motorcycle bulletin board and Harley forum www.aimag.com, run by American Iron Magazine, where this article was first published.

 

When it comes to car maintenance you can spend hours poring over manuals to assist you. However, there are plenty of places online which offer simple and easy steps to follow that allow you to be able to carry out the more basic kinds of maintenance tasks that will keep your vehicle in tip top condition.

 

But there is not only advice available for carrying out general maintenance of your car there are some sites which offer advice about washing, cleaning and doing detailing or pin striping on the vehicle also. However in this article we are going to be taking a look at some of the more essential car maintenance jobs that one should be learning about and trying to do for oneself. Certainly by doing these jobs yourself you could end up saving yourself money each year because no longer will you need to pay a mechanic to do them for you.

 

Every 5,000 miles it is a good idea to rotate the tires on your car as well, which means swapping those on the left for those on the right. Plus when taking off the tires remove any dust that has accumulated on the brakes. This is crucial because the dust contains all sorts of objects which if left on can actually prevent them from working as effectively as they should. To clean the brakes all you need is a damp sponge which has been dipped into clean cold water.

 

When it comes to checking the pressure in the tires this should be done once a week. Low tire pressure can have an effect on the fuel economy of your car and it will prove difficult to handle and the ride won’t be as comfortable. Checking tire pressure is very simple to do and certainly you have no excuse for not doing it. Whilst checking the tire pressure it is also a good idea to check the depth of the tread on the tire. Once it falls below a certain level then this is time to arrange to get the tires replaced.

 

Today actually checking the depth of the tread on a tire has become even simpler as most come with wear bars built into them. As soon as you notice the first part of the wear bar beginning to show through on the tire then you know it is time to get it replaced. It is far better if you replace all tires at the same time although it may be expensive it could end up saving you money in the long term.

 

Another task which you can learn how to do for yourself is to check the various belts which run around certain pulleys in the engine. Unfortunately these belts are likely to perish as they are placed under very extreme pressure and if not replaced and break can lead to serious engine problems which may cost considerable more than the few pounds the belt cost to be repaired. It is best if you can’t check the belts yourself you arrange a mechanic to do so every 25,000 miles and then get them replaced every 50,000 miles.

 

Another task which you yourself can carry out when it comes to car maintenance is to check the oil level. Again this should be done regularly ideally every week or month would be ideal. If there is too much or too little oil in the engine this can lead to problems later on. When you are checking the level of the oil in the engine it is best that you do so when the car is parked on a level surface. Also never do the check when the engine is hot after just being driven but do it either when the engine has cooled down or is cold.

 

Finding the oil dipstick shouldn’t be a problem the manual for the vehicle should show you exactly where it is located in relation to the engine. Take it out and then wipe with a dry clean cloth and then put back in making sure that it has been pushed all the way in. The reason you need to wipe the stick after pulling it out initially is because the whole stick will be covered in oil. Now pull it out and check the level of oil by looking at the marks on stick. The high and low oil level marks will either be denoted by dots or dashes on the stick or by the letters H and L.

 

Another thing you should be regularly checking in your car when it comes to maintenance of it is how much coolant there is. Again you will need to look in the car manual to discover where the coolant reservoir is actually situated in the engine bay of your car. Generally it is bolted on a side of the engine bay and the bottle is normally semi-transparent.

 

As with checking the oil level when doing this particular car maintenance task you need to allow the engine to be cooled before you check it. On the outside there will be markings showing the low and high levels and ideally there should be enough coolant in the reservoir that sits between the two of these. The reason why you don’t check the levels of coolant in your vehicle whilst the engine is still hot is the one in the radiator is going to be hot and if you take off the cap to check it then steam will be released which can end up burning you.

 

1. Not wearing their glasses.

 

2. Not using their brains.

 

3. Not using good judgment.

 

4. Not using judgment at all.

 

5. Looking the other way.

 

6. Thinking about something else.

 

7. Trying to check out the motorcyclist a little too closely.

 

8. Going a speed that works out to three times the speed limit, minus their IQ.

 

9. Driving without brakes or lights.

 

10. Driving without any light on in their head.

Here are ten useful tips of advice from a motorcycle accident lawyer to follow if you have been in an accident. You can also learn more about how to handle a motorcycle accident in San Marcos, or any city, by calling the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson at any of the numbers which can be found on our website at http://www.SebastianGibsonLaw.com  and learning how we can assist you.

 

Obviously, if you have had an accident, and you are reading all of this advice, it may have been a few hours since the accident. However, if you ever have another accident, or if it’s only been a few hours since you were hurt, here’s what you should do from the start.

 

First, take a look around and determine if you or anyone, are hurt. If so, taking steps like trying to prevent further injury or loss of blood are the most important thing you can do. Even if some other driver caused you to be injured, it’s just good manners to help the other driver if they are hurt. They may even be so thankful that they admit their fault to you. The worst thing you can do is get angry or start a fight.

 

Second, make sure everyone is safe from being injured further. If you are in the middle of traffic, and you are dizzy, sit down away from traffic. If your vehicle is a traffic hazard and you have accident warning devices like flares or triangles, put them out on the road to warn other drivers and get away from the car. Let the police an other emergency personnel investigate the scene with the vehicles in place and move them more safely at a later point.

 

Third, call the police. Accident reports are extremely helpful if the police will do such a report. Let the police know you are injured immediately. Answer the police questions honestly. But if you are dazed or confused, let them know you need medical treatment and answer only what you feel sure about. Remember, your statements can and will be used against you if you admit fault, and it will be too late and too fishy to later say you didn’t know what you were saying at the scene. Police know that your best recollection is immediately after an accident.

 

Fourth, get the other driver’s information including their names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, make and model of their vehicles, license plate numbers, and their insurance company name and policy number. If there are witnesses, get their names, addresses and telephone numbers as well. If the other driver makes any admissions of fault, write those down as well.

 

Fifth, if you have a camera on your cell phone or in the car and you aren’t too injured, take some photos of the vehicles and the scene. If you can’t do it right away, do it after you are released from the hospital.

Sixth, if you are hurt, obtain medical treatment. Don’t decline the ambulance or hospital examination to save your insurance company money or to be stoic. Take your valuables out of your car if you can and get checked out at the hospital. If you are not hurt, don’t get treatment you don’t need. However, remember, after an accident, you may feel a rush of adrenaline that causes you to only start feeling symptoms of pain a few hours later. If you have a health plan that requires you to obtain permission first, call them and find out where you are allowed to seek treatment.

 

Seventh, call a good motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you have had your initial treatment, so the attorney can gather other important evidence and prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you and obtaining such things as recorded statements that you feel fine, when many of your symptoms have yet to manifest themselves. A good motorcycle accident lawyer can save you from making a great deal of mistakes and can shoulder much of the hassle of knowing what to do about car repairs, car rentals, medical treatment, witness statements and the like. If you think you will save money by not having an attorney, think again. A good motorcycle accident lawyer can almost always obtain much higher settlements, obtain reductions of medical bills and insurance liens and prevent you from making costly mistakes. Also, most motorcycle accident attorneys advance costs of obtaining police reports, medical records and the like and are paid and reimbursed for these costs only out of any settlement.

 

Eight, you will need to report the accident to your insurance company, but since they will want to take a recorded statement from you, just like any other driver’s insurance company, it’s good advice to retain an attorney first. And if the other driver did not have insurance, remember that it is your own insurance company that will be your adversary. You will also need to report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles and your lawyer can give you the form for this.

 

Ninth, do not agree to settle your claim privately with the person at fault for the accident. This almost never works out to your advantage. Don’t agree not to call the police. Police reports that determine the fault for an accident are golden. Your agreement to not involve the police only affords an opportunity for the other driver to change his story and blame you when the police will no longer investigate the accident.

 

Tenth, don’t pay a traffic ticket without a fight if you weren’t at fault or agree to accept a small payment for your vehicle repairs without knowing that the amount will in fact cover the cost of all the repairs.

 

If you’ve had a motorcycle accident in San Marcos, San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Jolla, Del Mar, Escondido, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Vista, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Pacific Beach, or anywhere in Southern California, we have the knowledge and resources to be your San Diego Motorcycle Accident Lawyer and your San Marcos Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Be sure to hire a California law firm with auto, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, car, bus, train, boat and airplane accident experience, wrongful death experience and insurance law expertise who can ensure you are properly represented and get the compensation you deserve.

 

If you have a personal injury legal matter, a dog bite or if you’ve lost a loved one in a wrongful death accident, call the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson, or visit our website at http://www.SebastianGibsonLaw.com  and learn how we can assist you.

Gas motor scooters are often thought of as toys, innocent and cheap fun. But it’s exactly that type of thinking that can get a gas scooter driver into deep trouble. First and foremost scooters are motor vehicles just like motorcycles and automobiles. They share the road with other cars and trucks and are subject to similar laws and regulations. And although they are an object of desire for many they can be dangerous for the unexperienced or unprepared.

As a general rule gas powered scooters are regulated by state laws as either motorcycles or mopeds and are subject to similar regulations as these other motor vehicles. By staying alert and using caution many accidents can be avoided. Most accidents arise due to carelessness. By paying attention to what is going on around you and what other drivers are doing you can feel relatively safe out on the highway.

There are two things that cause the majority of accidents, speeding and following too closely to the vehicle ahead. Driving safely is all about giving other drivers enough reaction time. If another driver wants to change into your lane directly in front of you it may cause you to lose control if you are speeding and haven’t enough time to react. Without enough time to slow down this maneuver by the other driver may require you to move into another lane to avoid him. This can affect other drivers in other lanes which is the beginning of many accidents.

Another major mistake that many gas scooter drivers make is following too closely. When the person ahead of you suddenly slams on the brakes you need enough time to slow down comfortably. Ramming into the back of someone’s car is not what you want to do, especially when you are driving a small scooter without any protection around you. By following the speed limits and giving yourself enough room to slow down if something unexpected should happen in front of you most accidents can be prevented.

The third problem arises when gas powered scooters are purchased for use by children and teenagers who do not even possess a valid driver’s license. Drivers with licenses may not be any safer on the road than unlicensed drivers, but at least they have had some training and experience behind the wheel of a car. Children and teenagers without any training can be an accident waiting to happen when it comes to motor scooters. Without any experience or training children and young teenagers can quickly find themselves in positions that experienced drivers normally would not.

Kids have been known to throw caution into the wind, darting in and out of traffic without a clue as to the dangers. On gas scooters that are so small they can’t be seen well by other drivers, and without much driving experience or training, kids will pose a hazard to both themselves and the other motorists they come in contact with.

Parents should be strongly cautioned to have their children receive the proper amount of training on their gas power scooters before they are allowed onto the busy city streets. Find a deserted road and put them through a training session. The life a parent saves may be his own children’s. Only after a parent feels comfortable with his child’s driving skills should they allow the child onto the busier streets. By making sure that our children know the safety rules of the road we are decreasing their chances of being involved in a serious accident. Before we can legally drive a car on the highway we must all pass certain tests. Why should it be any different for younger kids?

Gas or electric scooters are wonderful little vehicles that are fun to drive, cheap to buy and are very handy for traveling short distances around the neighborhood to perform errands. They usually have larger storage room than a motorcycle and are very inexpensive to operate. There are many reasons for owning a gas scooter, but in the hands of the untrained and inexperienced they can be deadly.

The ATV, go carts, dirt bikes and mini bikes are other vehicles that are often owned and operated by younger drivers. But they are usually not seen on the city streets as scooters are. Go karts are typically driven on tracks specifically designed for the go cart. And the mini bike, dirt bike or ATVs are typically driven off road. These other vehicles avoid many of the dangers that scooter drivers must face, namely traffic on the busy highway.

Gas scooters are quite popular these days, especially among the younger market who are too young to drive cars yet. Without proper training for these kids it opens the door to possible serious accidents. As the worldwide popularity of gas scooters grows we need to make sure that people’s awareness of driving and safety regulations keeps pace, especially among the kids that have no previous drivers experience.

Kids often think of gas scooters as toys, not as potentially dangerous vehicles. But a scooter is not a toy. It is a motor vehicle that is subject to certain laws and regulations. People need to be aware of the potential scooter dangers and remain alert while driving at all times. They should not drive erratically, but be predictable and courteous to other drivers on the road. They should follow the speed limits and remain a safe distance behind other vehicles. Kids should receive proper training before being allowed on the busier streets. By taking these few safety precautions we can help ensure a fun safe driving experience for all.