motocycle

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

The Buzz is All About Mini-Motorcycles

Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles -- powered, for the most part, by oil- and gas-burning engines similar to those used in chain saws, weed whackers or other small motorized tools -- and they look just like the real thing.The snazziest models cost thousands and are made in Italy, but the ones that are selling by the container load run from $200 to $500. They come from China, among other places, and are getting snapped up by eager teenagers and, in some cases, not-so-teenagers.At Broadtek LLC, a South San Francisco firm that imports them, the cardboard cartons containing the small bikes are stacked to the ceiling of a tall warehouse and are quickly going out the door to eager customers.In Walnut Creek, Eric Rahin, owner of Sonic Scooterz, says he's selling them in droves -- "from college students to people in their late 50s. It's basically a toy to have some fun with."Manufacturers say the bikes are supposed to be used only on closed race tracks, private roads or any other place where there are no public traffic laws and, more important, no big cars or trucks to run into you. Many buyers follow that advice.But now you see some of these new pocket bikes zinging in and out of parking lots, up and down residential streets and, occasionally into the side of a car. And therein lies the rub."It's very difficult for a driver (of a car) to see one on those bikes, because of their low height," said San Francisco police Lt. Kitt Crenshaw. "We've had several accidents in the last few weeks, and people went to the hospital."The pocket bikes have a top speed of about 35 mph, but can be souped up to go faster. They evolved from tiny but highly sophisticated racing bikes that campaign on European race tracks and are sometimes used as training vehicles for Grand Prix motorcycle racers.The bikes are faithful imitations of popular normal-size street motorcycles, which, for marketing reasons, are faithful imitations of pure race bikes, down to the disk brakes, handlebars, chain drives, twist-grip throttles and electronic ignition.The little bikes weigh about 50 pounds, stand about a foot and a half high and can easily be put in the trunk of a car. They have tiny engines -- 47cc or 49cc displacement, less than 1/20th the size of a big motorcycle. And they are enticing."It's a fun little thing to ride," said Matt Damon, a 21-year-old salesman in a Martinez pet store. "It's a whole lot cheaper than a $6,000 or $7,000 big bike. For years now, I've been riding different types of motorcycles, but it's more like the small bikes are a fun thing, instead of just transportation. And it's easier to maintain and burns less gas."But Damon did admit, "I took it for a ride down the street and got pulled over. The officer was kind of nice about it. But I got a ticket."Police departments in the Bay Area and elsewhere in California have been cracking down on the little two-wheelers, saying they are a major accident waiting to happen. No police agency could come up with information about any deaths caused by pocket bike crashes, but police want them off the public roads before the inevitable happens."Their numbers are starting to increase," said Milpitas police Officer Jay Johnson, who was assigned by his department to look into the phenomenon and ultimately write about it for the weekly Milpitas Post. "Most of the complaints we're getting is that drivers can't see them or there'll be a group of them racing, or they're running stop signs."For a while, though, until Johnson began studying up on the subject, and the California Highway Patrol sent out a memo clarifying just what is and what is not legal about the bikes, confusion seemed to be paramount.In fact, it shouldn't be. On many bikes, there's a decal right there on the gas tank that says these things do not conform to "federal motor vehicle safety standards."After a lengthy consult with the state Vehicle Code and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the CHP explained that the bikes do not meet a number of standards required for all vehicles registered in California -- the most telling example being the stipulation that "headlamp height (be) between 22 and 54 inches."Technical problems aside, it's the safety issue that concerns authorities."We're really concerned about these things mixing with traffic," said CHP spokesman Steve Kohler. "If you think about it, something that small is difficult to see, when it's mixed in with cars, trucks and buses. Drivers don't even see full-size motorcycles. There's no way they're going to see these things."Or, as David Edwards, editor in chief of Cycle World Magazine and a man who puts about 20,000 miles a year on motorcycles, said: "When you get out in city traffic, you'll be at more risk than on a full-size motorcycle. But they only hold (a little) gas, so you won't go too far. And they're noisy as hell, so at least people will hear you coming if not see you coming."- Michael Taylor, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Ride Hard - Hydrate Harder

This summer is showing all of the signs of being a hot one. Temps have already been hitting the 100's here in the Midwest. With that kind of heat we have to remember that when we are out there riding, we are at it's mercy. When you're riding the possibility of get dehydrated and hot is substantially increased. Between the heat and the wind it can really zap you. This is especially true if you are taking long trips. I know this first hand. A couple of years ago I went on a ride from St. Louis Mo to Eureka Springs Ar. This was not an exceptionally long ride ( a little over 300 miles), but it was hot. I started the day off just fine. Got a good early start with the rest of the group. By lunch time the temps had hit 100 solid and the humidity was pretty close to the same. We ate lunch and started out again. For about an hour I was keeping up ok, but then I lost the group. They just seemed to vanish on me. I didn't realize it but it was me who'd got lost. Two more hours of driving around and one of the guys came up beside me. He later told me I was only going about 20 miles per hour and was wobbling all over the road. Luckily he forced me to pull over at the next gas station and stop for awhile. That night I was sick as a dog. Couldn't hold any food down, suffering from chills, and severe cramps. Bottom line I was suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. Both of which can be deadly on their own. You can only imagine what could happen on the back of a motorcycle traveling down the highway. How can dehydration be prevented? Take precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration, including the following: <ul> <li>Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun. When riding you can carry a CamelBak that would allow you to drink while riding. </li> <li>Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing. A good rule of thumb is you should need to urinate everytime you stop.

How To Make Your Own Vintage Motor Cycle & Automotive Spare Parts

Vintage Car & Motorcycle restoration enthusiasts all share one thing in common...The difficulty in obtaining obsolete spare parts.How many times have you tried to find a special part for your restoration project, only to find that it's unobtainable.For the home restorer on a tight budget, it is actually possible to put money back into your own pocket... real savings can be made by learning a few simple skills. Lets face it, if you are rebuilding or restoring old vintage vehicles then you most likely already have many practical skills & abilities.You could expand on your valuable practical skills even more.Take for instance the dozens of mechanical components that need to be rebuild/reconditioned... professional re-builders will charge you quite a lot of money for reconditioning parts, which to all intents & purposes could be carried out in the home workshop at a substantially reduced cost.You may already have the luxury of a lathe, milling machine and a collection of other associated machines in your workshop.Cast your mind outside the square for a moment... if you're unable to produce a part by machining parts from a solid billet, then all you need to do is to build a simple gas fired furnace, fabricate some tools, mould boxes, and get hold of some green sand to make your sand moulds, learn some new skills, and you'll be able to melt & pour your own special aluminium & bronze parts.Then you will be able to machine them in your lathe etc, to produce low cost high quality spare parts... it is possible... many people have been doing this for along time.Why don't you join this select band of people who've discovered that casting your own metal parts is not that difficult, once you have learnt the basic techniques of the craft.Once your mini foundry system is up and running, you'll wonder why the heck you didn't discover metal casting years ago.You can read & learn more about hobby metal casting by visiting: http://www.myhomefoundry.com Where you can download free ebooks, access free foundry directory info, and have a lot of fun learning new skills to add to your practical restoration skills.Learning about metal casting could open up a whole new dimension & opportunities for you in your home workshop. But you wont know just how much until you take the step to learn. Why not take that step today?Written by: Col Croucher Ebook Author and Administrator of: <a target="_new" href="http://www.myhomefoundry.com">http://www.myhomefoundry.com</a> Australia

วันพุธที่ 1 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Online Shopping for Motorcycle Accessories

When shopping for a certain item and material, the way to do it is to shop like a woman. Who else knows how to shop till they drop but women, right? Isn't it that husbands, partners, spouses and lovers often complain about the amount of time and the energy given to shopping by their women even for just one item they need?But who else gets the most of their budget, and takes home the item of high grade quality at the least price possible? Women. Women are known to have the intuition for great sales and wonderful bargains just because they give time and effort in looking for the item at the best price.Same thing with motorcycles. When you need to buy performance motorcycle parts accessories, we know that our local motorcycle parts store is a great place to begin with. Aside from being near our home, our familiarity with our local store will help reduce the time it takes to choose the accessory most suitable to our requirement.However, as any woman would tell you, your local store may not have the item you need, or it may only have a limited number of stock items on hand. And worse of all, you might just be getting more than you bargained for just because you want the easy way out of shopping.So the next step would be to go out and hop to stores that offer performance motorcycle parts accessories. Or you could try doing it online.Shopping for performance motorcycle parts accessories online is the most ideal means of making sure you get the best selection and the best possible prices, all in the comforts of your home or office. You don't need to use fuel and get stuck in traffic just because you need to have the item for your precious motorcycle. With so many vendors in the wide world of the internet, from here to Timbuktu, chances are, you'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for in no time. Plus, internet retailers often ship to any location in the world. You just have to pay extra charges for the shipment costs. No worries. It's better than endure the traffic and pollution, and the migraine you're sure to have when you do it on foot and in every store you could find.And just like a woman, you'll be able to shop till you drop; the only difference is you're doing it all over the state, country, and even the world- all in the comforts of your home or office.And just like a woman, you'll definitely end up finding performance motorcycle parts accessories online that you never even knew was available in the market. There are a lot of items in the internet if you just know where to look. With the vast access of the internet, you'll be able to get a wide range of selection from which to choose from with just a click of your fingers.Granny's Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.Her thoughts on writing: "Writing gives me pleasure? pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine."On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.For comments and inquiries about the article visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.motorcyclepartsbin.com">http://www.motorcyclepartsbin.com</a>

Frame Slider Design and Selection

Call them crash protectors, crash bobbins, fairing protectors or frame sliders, all these products ultimately seek to do one thing - protect your expensive bodywork or the essential and often expensive structural parts of your motorcycle from damage in the even of a fall or tip-over. The frame slider concept is as old as the proverbial 'crash bar' and today there are as many designs and brands as there are models of bikes. The proliferation of these types of products testify to the success of the idea of providing a sacrificial item to absorb some of the damage in the event of a fall. We are by no means experts on this concept nor were we the first to come up with it, but in this article we hope to provide you with an unbiased view so that you can make an informed decision when you're ready to put down your hard earned cash.Cost:Cost of the frame sliders must be appropriate to the items that they are designed to protect. Price is not necessarily the best indicator of quality. Poorly designed frame sliders made of the nicest shiniest materials may not serve their purpose as well as well designed but less 'bling' ones.Mounting Configurations:The frame slider must be designed to mount securely onto a strong enough part of the motorcycle so that impact forces can be adequately distributed or absorbed. Here are some popular mounting configurations.Fairing Mounted Frame SlidersSliders that mount onto the fairing with small fairing screws may provide some protection in a minor tip-over but offer very minimal protection in a slide. These sliders are not generally recommended for serious riders.Frame Mounted Sliders - DirectThe most popular and viable mounting option is directly to a selected strong point of the frame. Sliders with this design offer the most protection and impact force distribution. The installation of this type of slider often require modification of the fairing and in some cases like the Honda VFR800, as extreme as requiring the modification of the coolant bottle. For this reason, many choose the first or the third option as fairing modification can at times be quite intimidating. This option is the most popular for serious sportsriders, amateur and semi-professional racers alike as they provide the best protection for the money. One other thing to consider when choosing these types of sliders is where they will be mounted to.Many models of sportbikes offer several places to mount them, frame slider manufacturers all have their personal reasons for choosing the mounting location for theirs and many of them make that choice for the wrong reasons. An example is cost - a location that offers a two short bolt mounting location is cheaper than one using a long through the engine bolt choice. The former being a much weaker location. If you own an SV650 you will know what we mean. Another choice is the use of a bracket so that cutting of the fairing is avoided - see below (Frame Mounted Frame Sliders-Through-Engine Bolts).Frame Mounted Sliders - In-DirectTo address some of the concerns owners may have about modification of the fairing, some manufacturers have opted for a design that allows for the slider to mount onto an offset bracket that then mounts onto the frame. This offset introduces a whole new set of variables into the mix. Depending on the degree of the offset, impact forces now include amplified torque stresses which will be applied to the frame mounting points. Offset brackets will need to be of beefier construction, but not so beefy as to stay intact during an impact while severely damaging the frame mounting points. This is often the most costly type of slider configuration as most brackets require ingenious CNC work and design. In some situations employment of a bracket is a calculated risk, in others it is just not feasible. No cut sliders are attractive to most bikers so do your homework and ask the manfacturer questions before you buy them.Frame Mounted Frame Sliders-Through-Engine BoltsThe third mounting option found only on certain models of bikes like the Suzuki DL1000 Vstrom, TL1000S, SV650 and Ducati models of bikes allow for use of the long, through-the-engine mounting bolt. This method is by far the strongest available as impact forces are allowed to be distributed over a much larger area. This is also the second more costly design as these long bolts are quite expensive to manufacture. The design must be structurally strong enough not to break off when encountering the various types of impact forces but not so strong that these forces would be transmitted entirely to and damage the considerably more costly frame mounting points. In other words you want to sacrifice your slider before your fairing and then your frame in that order. It's a delicate balance and there is no sure way to ensure that any one design will accomplish this desired goal.Frame Slider Material:The choice of material used for the frame slider should be a balance of the following 3 requirements:Abrasion Resistance - the material should be hard enough to be able to slow the bike down in a slide and not be totally worn down to the bolt half way through a slideStructural Strength - the material should be strong but not brittle and snap off too easily on impactEnergy Absorption-the material used should have some energy absorbing properties but not be so hard that all impact forces are transmitted to the mounting points or fasteners (solid steel or aluminum materials are examples of non-energy absorbing materials).Most high quality frame sliders today are made of some kind of nylon or other for energy absorption and with aluminum inserts for strengthening of the fastening points. The range of nylon types, with different levels of abrasion resistance and "brittleness" used is also quite varied.Fasteners and Components:Quality of materials used, aesthetics and quality of workmanship should also be considered when choosing the right frame slider for your bike. Look for high quality anodized steel bolts. Black non-coated bolts will rust in a week or less depending where you live. Stainless steel washers between your steel bolts and aluminum inserts in the slider also reduce potential corrosion problems. Socket head cap screws offer the smallest footprint allowing for a thicker and stronger slider dimensions and are generally much more expensive then regular hex-head screws. Nyloc lock nuts where applicable are another added safety feature. True, these are all minor considerations in the overall scheme of things but they all add up to the cost of manufacturing. One last thing to remember is to always try to use some form of thread lock compound like Loctite and to properly torque the mounting bolts to the manufacturer's recommendations. If you're not sure check out our torque reference guide.CONCLUSION:Where does that leave you the consumer? Well, we all don't want to think about the day when we will be able to justify the purchase of frame sliders. The reality is that as long as bikes have only two wheels, you can expect them to fall over sooner or later. Frame sliders are one of the surest and least expensive ways to ensure some protection for the expensive or sometimes irreplaceable parts of your bike. After all some protection is still better than none. Think about broken rear brake levers, gear shifters or even worse - punctured radiators or coolant bottles, when you're miles from civilization. The rule is the same in our opinion no matter what you're spending your money on - buy the best you can afford and don't be afraid to ask the manufacturer why their product is better than the plethora of other brands available out there. Any good manufacturer will be very clear about what differentiates their products form others so that you will be able to make the correct purchase decision.Author is the manufacturer and distibutor for US based frame slider and accessories company. <a target="_new" href="http://www.motovationUSA.com">http://www.motovationUSA.com</a>

Kawasaki Motorcycles - Independent in Thoughts and Actions

The story of Kawasaki Company goes back to 1924, at that time involved into metallurgy and the aircraft industry.In 1949, they decided to enter the motorcycle industry producing engines that could be adapted to motorcycles.FIRST KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLES PRODUCTS  Motorcycle EnginesIn their line you could find a 60 cc two-stroke, as well as a 150cc and a 250cc four-stroke engines developed with technology from BMW; company whom with they had had relationships since their beginnings in the aeronautical industry.It wasn't until 1954 that Kawasaki Motorcycles produced their first complete motorcycle under the name of Meihatsu (a subsidiary of Kawasaki Aircraft Co.).Almost at the same time, they also tried to introduce their own line of scooters to the market, but they soon realized they couldn't compete against the two giants of the scooters industry for those days: the Fuji Rabbit and the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon.And now before continuing with Kawasaki Motorcycles history, I have to open a big parenthesis?IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLESWe cannot talk about Kawasaki without mentioning another make that will definitely help Kawasaki become as well as Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha one of the big players in the Japanese Motorcycles scene:--> Meguro Motorcycles: better know in that time as the "senior make and the king of four strokes".Meguro entered the motorcycle industry in 1937. Having a good relationship with the government, the people at Meguro took advantage of the army orders.Their first motorcycle was the Z97: a 500cc rocker-valve motorcycle influenced by the Swiss Motosacoche. It's worth mentioning this model was a success for the factory and the Z97 was in production till the fifties.Along the years, Meguro produced some very nice 250cc and 350cc rocker-valve, single cylinder models as well as high performance twins. All of them with a very strong British influence. Then and thanks to the commercial success they were living, they also launched a rocker-valve 125 cc for their low end range and a twin cylinder 650cc to accompany the already existing 500cc.But it was in 1958, when Meguro tried to get rid of their British influence, when things started to go wrong...Based on a winning prototype of Mount Asama (one of the biggest races that time), Meguro Motorcycles produced three nice and elegant machines with overhead camshaft: the 125cc E3, the 250cc F and the 350cc Y A. Unfortunately these bikes turned out to be too heavy and didn't get the buyers' attention. Meguro will soon return to rocker valve models.Meguro Motorcycles remained as one of the top 10 manufacturers till 1960, but due to some bad decisions, as the ones mentioned above, the company started to decline and was soon bought by Kawasaki.In 1960 Meguro signed an initial agreement with Kawasaki Motorcycles, and in 1962 they had completely disappeared.?.And this brings us back to Kawasaki Motorcycles...In 1960, the company decides to give a serious push to the motorcycle division of Kawasaki Aircrafts:They take out of the market the Meihatsu brand, they build their own plant of low end and low powered machines and buy Meguro.These brilliant moves and decisions made Kawasaki Motorcycles have one of the widest range of models in the market. Kawasaki Motorcycles could offer at that time (1960's) from a 50cc moped-scooter to a powerful, high end and beautiful 650 cc twin cylinder motorcycle.Its also important to mention that due to their very own nature, Kawasaki Motorcycles has always played the role of Maverick in the industry and that a feeling of independence from their main competitors has always been present.Since then, many stories have been written, many models have been produced and many races have been won on Kawasaki Motorcycles, the truth is...Nowadays Kawasaki Motorcycles is one of the major players in the industry and following their tradition, they nowadays offer a wide range of products for all kind needs and likes.You can also take a look at Kawasaki 2005 line-up . Check this page: http://www.kawasaki.com/motorcycles/Enjoy the ride!Daniel Levy @ www.Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.comNote from the author:Do you own a Kawasaki or any other Japanese motorcycle? Why don't you send me your picture and your story, I would happily add it to this site.Just go to the Contact Page clicking here and drop me a message. I will get in contact with you ASAP.Daniel Levy is the owner and contributing writer of <a target="_new" href="http://www.Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.com">http://www.Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.com</a> . He loves motorcycles and Web development. For more great info visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/">http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/</a>

Motorcycle Accidents: Preparing Your Case

Motorcycle accident is an unexpected occurrence that results to shock and trauma, serious physical injuries and death. The most common reason of a motorcycle accident, which contributed to the 50% of the motorcycle vehicle, is due to the failure of another motorist to see the motorcycle. It is estimated that 75% of motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle, two-thirds of which were caused by the motorist failing to yield the right of way. Motorcycle accidents not only involve driver's negligence, it also includes product defect and unsafe roadways.Motorcycle accident happens so fast that we are not able to control it. During an accident, we cannot do much, especially when we are injured. We cannot think of anything but the pain that we are suffering. It is essential for us to know the things that we have to do after the accident.In situations wherein you are still able to talk, walk and move without difficulty, you might as well do the following steps. Get the name, address, phone number, driver's license number, and other significant information about the other driver involved in the accident. Also, get the names, address and phone numbers of the witnesses, if there is any. Ask if they can give some statement and record the conversation. Take note of important visual information, like scratches and marks on the car and the weather condition. If you do not have pen or any writing materials, review the scene in your mind so that you can remember it. You have to tell the police exactly what happened. Assist the police with the investigation, be cooperative. Take pictures of the cars involved in the accident in different angles.If you were injured or feel any pain or discomfort, seek medical attention immediately. A delay may raise questions whether the injury was caused by the accident or not. Have your wounds photographed, they heal quickly. You might need it during a case hearing or investigation. Have a copy of all medical reports as well as the hospital bills.It is advisable for you to go back to where the accident occurred. Bring writing and recording materials with you. You might find more evidence and witnesses. If you're going to take a picture, get somebody to witness it. Do not touch anything.After gathering all the data, examine them. There might be something that can prove that it is you who is at fault.Consult an attorney before filling out any documents or giving your statement. You might also need a lawyer to assist you in filling important papers, assist in court proceedings, and getting your claims.For additional legal information and inquiries about the article log on to <a target="_new" href="http://www.attorneyservicesetc.com">http://www.attorneyservicesetc.com</a>