motocycle

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

It?s One Thing for People to Buy Your Product or Service, but It?s Another for Them to Tattoo Your

William Harley and Arthur Davidson, both in their early twenties, built their first motorcycle in 1903. During their first year, the company's entire output was only 1 motorbike; however, by 1910, the company had sold 3,200. Movies such as Easy Rider made Harleys a cultural icon and soon the company attracted people who loved its bad-boy mystique, powerfulness, rumbling voice, distinctive roar, and toughness. It sounded like nothing else on the road, and even Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen longed to ride one.The Harley-Davidson Motor Company has had its ups and downs, and at times, the downs seemed as if they would end in bankruptcy. In the sixties, Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha invaded the American market, and when sales at Harley-Davidson dropped drastically due to decreasing quality and increasing competition, the company began to look for buyers and was finally sold. However, the new owners of Harley Davidson knew little about how to restore profitability. The quality became so bad that dealers had to place cardboard under bikes in the showroom to absorb the oil leaking.Daniel Gross, in Forbes Greatest Business Stories of all Times, recounts how in 1981, with the aid of Citibank, a team of former Harley-Davidson executives began negotiations to reacquire the company and rescue it from bankruptcy. Among these executives was William Davidson, the grandson of the founder Arthur Davidson. In a classic leveraged buyout, they pooled $1 million in equity and borrowed $80 million from a consortium of banks lead by Citibank.Harley's rescue team of loyal executives knew that the Japanese motorbike manufacturers were far ahead in regard to quality management, and they made a bold decision to tour a nearby Honda plant. Paradoxically, the Japanese had learned Total Quality Management from the Americans, Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran. The new business concept outlined by these two pioneers was a new management approach that, interestingly enough, had been rejected by American manufacturers. As a result, they offered this approach to Japanese manufactures that were eager to learn and implement it. Therefore, soon after their tour of the Honda plant, the Harley Davidson Motor Company decided to put into practice this originally rejected approach.After implementing just-in-time inventory (JIT) and employee involvement, costs at Harley had dropped significantly; this meant that the company only needed to sell 35,000 bikes instead of 53,000 in order to break even. Their lobbying at Washington also helped, and import tariffs were raised temporarily from 4 to 40 percent on Japanese bikes. This extra breathing space was something that the U.S. motorbike company desperately needed for its recovery.The combination of visiting a Japanese motorbike manufacturing plant and lobbying in Washington for import tariffs was a daring move on behalf of Harley's executives in their attempt to bring back profitability and growth to the company. Another important strategic move was the company's unique marketing and branding campaigns. Studies showed that about 75 % of Harley customers made repeat purchases, and executives quickly recognized a pattern that refocused the company's overall strategy. Simply put, they needed to find a way to appeal to the extraordinary loyalty of customers, which they found in creating a community that valued the experience of riding a Harley more than the product itself.The sponsorship of a "Harley Owners' Group" has been one of the most creative and innovative strategies that has helped create the experience of this product. Without realizing it, Harley executives had pioneered a new paradigm that would be increasingly embraced by other industries in their quest to increase profitability by converting their product into an experience. The company started to organize rallies to strengthen the relationship between its members, dealers, and employees, while also promoting the Harley experience to potential customers. The Harley Owners' Groups became immensely popular; it allowed motorcycle owners to feel as if they belonged to one big family. In 1987, there were 73,000 registered members, and Harley now boasts to have no less than 450,000 members.In 1983, the company launched a marketing campaign called SuperRide, which authorized over 600 dealerships to invite people to test-drive Harleys. Over 40,000 potential new customers accepted the invitation, and from then on, many customers were not just buying a motorcycle when they bought a Harley; instead, they were buying "the Harley Experience."Harley-Davidson offered its customers a free one-year membership to a local riding group, motorcycle publications, private receptions at motorcycle events, insurance, emergency roadside service, rental arrangements on vacation, and a host of other member benefits. Branding the experience, not just the product, has allowed the company to expand how it captures value, including a line of clothing, a parts and accessories business, and Harley-Davidson Visa card.If you were to scan the list of companies that delivered the greatest returns on investment during the 1990s, you would discover Harley-Davidson. Only a few companies have been successful in inventing entirely new business models, or profoundly reinventing existing ones. Harley-Davidson went from supplying motorcycles to antisocial raiders to selling a lifestyle to the aging bad boy wannabes caught in their midlife crises. Traditionally, Harley-Davidson bike owners came from the working and middle classes, but as quality and prices of the bad-boy-bikes rose, and with energetic marketing, the company soon attracted a different class of buyers-currently one third of Harley buyers are professionals or managers, and 60% are college graduates. The new customer segments of Harley are the Rolex Riders or the Rich Urban Bikers. Hell's Angels do not run in the same group anymore. Now there are groups of accountants, lawyers and doctors. Women also account for a significant portion of the new riders, and there are women-only riders clubs spreading all over the globe.The future looks bright for the U.S. motorbike company. According to The Economist, overall U.S. sales increased over 20% in 2000, and more than 650,000 new motorcycles were sold in the U.S. in the same year, up from 539,000 the year before. Bike buyers spent an estimated $5.45 billion on new bikes in 2000.Stay alert and get it early. The new branding paradigm is to sell a lifestyle, a personality and it is also about appealing to emotions of your customers. Increasingly, it will be more and more about creating an experience around the product. Brand managers and executives will need a new set of lenses. The rules have changed as well as the opportunities to maximize profitability and create value in the process. Nonetheless, the majority of companies continue to follow traditional ad campaigns and they seem to ignore the fact that the media has fragmented into hundreds of cable channels, thousands of magazine titles and millions of Internet pages.Consumers are no longer sitting ducks for commercials; they are looking for new experiences. Whether it is the bad-boy-aura of the Harley riding experience, the exquisite coffee experience in Starbucks caf?s, or the active participation in Net communities, more and more companies will need to follow these early new branding pioneers. They will need to look into the dynamics of their relationships with customers and the nature of their interaction. They will need to ask themselves some serious "out-of-the-box" questions if they want to move with the shifting value that is the result of constantly changing market conditions.Branding has changed and so have marketing and advertising campaigns. New variability, heterogeneity where there was once homogeneity, newly emerging stratifications of wealth, new preferences, and new life styles are all characteristics of the 21st century customer that are here to stay. We better get used to it, at lease until the next paradigm is discovered. Remember, the companies that are creating new wealth are not just getting better; they are becoming different-mind-bogglingly different!Bibliography: Barker, Joel. Paradigms. Harper Business, 1993.Bedbury, Scott. A New Brand World: Eight Principles for Achieving Brand Leadership in the 21st Century, Viking Press, 2002.Gross, Daniel: Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time, John Wiley & Sons, 1997.Hamel, Gary. "Innovation Now," in Fast Company (http://www.fastcompany.com/online/65/innovation.html), December 2002Kotter, John P., Leading Change, Harvard Business School Press, 1996, pp. 4 ? 14.Teerlink, Rich, and Ozley, Lee: More Than a Motorcycle: The Leadership Journey at Harley-Davidson, Harvard Business School Press, 2000. Young, James Webb. Technique for Producing Ideas, McGraw-Hill, p. 14.Josef Schinwald is consultant in Performance Measurement and professor in Business Strategy at the University of Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his didactic material must not be replicated without the given permission to do so. Copyright ? 2003-2005 Business Design Innovation. Josef is also owner of ValueQuest, LLC, a e-commerce business, and you can visit his sites at My Motorcycle Leather <a target="_new" href="http://www.my-motorcycle-leather.com">http://www.my-motorcycle-leather.com</a> and Stylish Wedding Favors <a target="_new" href="http://www.stylish-wedding-favors.com">http://www.stylish-wedding-favors.com</a>.

A Convenient Way to Slash Your Gas Bill

"With oil prices spiraling higher almost every day, people are starting to look for alternative modes of transport," says Michael S. Milstead of Scootertronics. "With scooters, commuters can slash their gas bills and still have an efficient, reliable mode of transport."With the introduction of four stroke scooters into the market this year even larger savings can be had with these scooters getting 60 to 80 miles per gallon. Four Stroke Scooters are much easier to care for than two stroke scooters with oil added to an oil reserveb just like a car instead of being injected into carb for lubrication. This keeps the carb from getting clooged up plus eliminates the expense of two stroke oil and reduces smoke plus you get a quieter smoother running engine.The larger 150cc scooters are also making a splach adding the power and speed to to keep up with fast moving traffic. Although150cc scooters are treated like motorcycles where you need a motorcyle license the 49.5cc scooters in most only require a regualr drivers license and no tags in most states.So if you are looking to slash your gas bills consider a four stroke gas scooter to make your commute not only enjoyable but money saving also.As the owner and sales rep for <a target="_new" href="http://www.scootertronics.com">www.scootertronics.com</a> Michael Milstead has been providing info and scooters to the public for all kinds of transportation that will give them great savings on thier gas bill each month paying for the scooter in a very short period of time.

Motorcycle Parts - OEM or Aftermarket ?

This is always a difficult one to answer when shopping for motorcycle parts and I firmly believe that each one of us must decide what's best for our bikes AFTER carefully evaluating each of the possibilities.For me?Well... it really depends on what I am looking for - just replacement or improvement - , the availability of the part, my budget and other things. Sometimes I buy OEM, others aftermarket motorcycle parts.Keep reading. You will find some views that will hopefully help you decide the next time you shop for motorcycle parts.What a heck are OEM parts??OEM parts stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer parts which not necessarily mean the OM (Original Manufacturer) actually produced them. You know, many motorcycle and automobile manufacturers don't manufacture each of the parts used in their vehicles. They frequently have the parts designed and manufactured by outside independent companies and then, install them in their machines or put them in their own boxes to be sold as OEM parts!Good to know when buying OEM Motorcycle Parts:When you buy OEM Motorcycle Parts you are buying the exact same original part the manufacturer used to build your motorcycle, that means:>> Same performance as the part installed in your motorcycle right now. The part won't be better nor worse than the original part you want to replace.>> Normally OEM parts a more (in some cases MUCH more) expensive than aftermarket parts.>> Motorcycle and car agencies clerks will normally tell you OEM Parts are higher quality and the best option for replacements. Is this true? Well sometimes it is, sometimes it's not.>> Normally after a certain period of time, the manufacturer will allow the company that originally designed/produced the part to sell it in their own box at a considerably lower cost, making it: an Aftermarket OEM part! :-)>> BE CAREFUL if your bike is still in its guarantee period make sure you use only OEM parts and have them installed by authorized mechanics. If you don't do so, you will probably void the guarantee.What about Aftermarket parts??Aftermarket parts should perform as well as OEM parts but are produced by companies other than the original manufacturer(s).Things to know when buying Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts:>> MAKE SURE YOUR GUARANTEE PERIOD IS OVER. In many cases, you can VOID your guarantee if you have an aftermarket part installed by an unauthorized mechanic in your machine. I know I said it before, but it's worth repeating; I happened to me! :-(>> Equivalent aftermarket Suzuki motorcycle parts are normally cheaper than OEM parts. Sometimes up to 70% cheaper!>> Aftermarket parts can have lower,the same or higher quality than the original.>> When buying aftermarket parts make sure you are getting AT LEAST the same quality as the OEM part. If possible try to get some reviews about brands and performance. You can do it in the Internet, with your favorite mechanic or with fellow riders.>> If you are looking for high performance parts and devices, you know the kind: carbon fiber, titanium, aerospace aluminum parts and gizmos, well you will probably find them as aftermarket motorcycle parts.OEM or aftermarket motorcycle parts, sooner or later you will be shopping for them...Enjoy the ride!Daniel LevyDaniel 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>If you need motorcycle parts, check out BikeBandit: my favorite online store for motorcycle parts. You will find a full review of their business in this page:<a target="_new" href="http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/bike-bandit.html">http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/bike-bandit.html</a>

Minimoto Dirt Bikes, Miniture Motards - The Next Step Up from Battery Powered Toys

As your child grows out of their little bicycle and wants more than a battery powered car to get them 'cruising' along. It can be a head scratching thought as what would be the next step up...The wait is over as now comes a full range of affordable minimoto's & miniature dirt bikes to suit children as young as four with the right supervision.Amongst many questions often asked the first one is always "Are these petrol powered pocket bikes safe?" The answer is YES! With built in safety features and speed restrictor an ideal starter bike is called the PY50 and is a quality dirt bike which comes with fitted restrictor to allow children to ride at a speed they feel comfortable with. Fully automatic (rev & Go) and fully enclosed shaft drive to the rear wheel so kids cannot get their finger, toes and clothes caught. An example of this bike can be found on on the links below in the Dirt Bikes 2 stroke between 47cc - 80cc link.As your child's skill progresses there are many more models of petrol powered pocket bikes that allow your child to feed the need for speed. These miniature dirt bikes come with 2 stroke engines and as your child becomes more comfortable you can even move up to a 4 stroke engine as powerful as 125cc.Once your child masters the basic starter bikes there are also lots of other models that are priced as low as ?150 which can do speeds of up to 35mph such as the mini motard dirt bike which is small enough to fit in your car boot yet is strong enough for anyone up to 10 stones to ride it... so even mum and dad can have a ride!Dirt Bikes 2 stroke between 47cc - 80cc : <a target="_new" href="http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes2stroke.htm">http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes2stroke.htm</a>Dirt Bikes 4 stroke between 50cc - 110cc: <a target="_new" href="http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes4stroke.htm">http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes2stroke.htm</a>

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

Liquid Cooled Minimotos (PocketBikes), How Fast Are They and Are They Affordable?

As the latest craze of Minimoto Madness continues in the United Kingdom. The demand for pocket bikes means that the consumer is now looking for more better quality products which are not only affordable for the average earner but also produce great horsepower and fast speeds.Price range of liquid cooled minimotos?Only a few months ago it would have been almost impossible to get a quality liquid cooled minimoto for less than ?600, however due to reliable UK based companies who have started to import liquid cooled pocket bikes of great quality, you can now get a liquid cooled minimoto for as little as ?250. (See below for a minimoto importer website who sells all four of the liquid cooled pocket bikes discussed below)Currently there are lots of liquid cooled minimoto's available from big companies such as GRC, Polini, Blata etc? as these are of the highest available quality they will cost you thousands of pounds! However UK based companies who now import directly from Asia can offer the consumer fast pocketbikes as low as ?250!What models are available under ?350?Discussed here are four of the most popular liquid cooled minimoto's which are all available for under ?350! Pictures of all these are provided in the link at the end of this article.Polini style liquid cooled minimotoFor those just progressing from the air cooled minimoto's the next step up is the Polini 911 style liquid cooled minimoto. This is a reliable bike with a super cast aluminum quality frame. This minimoto hits approximately 55 ? 60mph. As it is similar in style to the air cooled minimoto's and not a dramatic speed increase it is just the right mini moto to use to give you the extra thrill but not make your hair stand up! Also it is an ideal minimoto to learn how to tweak and tune up, as the parts availability is high for this model and many original minimoto parts will fit straight on. These pocketbikes have the least problems out the box and are easiest to maintain.Specification of a Polini style minimotoENGINE: 39cc 2 Stroke Water Cooled (6.2hp) BRAKES: Twin front & single rear discs FRAME: Aluminum START: Pull cord TYRES: Semi slicks COOLING: Water cooled radiator with water pump EXHAUST: Performance exhaust with large expansion chamber SPEED: Up to 60mph (depending on weight / weather & road conditions)Blata Origami Style liquid cooled minimotoNext in the range, and slightly faster is the Origami style minimoto. This is slightly faster than the Polini style bike and has what's known as a mk 3 frame. It is a more squarer frame than the usual air cooled minimoto frames. When the first batch of these originally came from China they had many problems including overheating issues however since then they have been upgraded and modifications now done on them mean they no longer have these problems. If its reliability you want as the next step up then the Polini style minimoto is better to go for than the Origami style minimoto, however if you want more speed and know a little more about minimoto's and are willing to fine tune these Origami style ones they will serve you well and you will not be disappointed!Specification of an origami style minimoto:ENGINE: 39cc 2 Stroke Water Cooled BRAKES: Wavy Twin front & single rear discs FILTER: Large K&N Style performance cone filter START: Pull cord TYRES: Street Tyres COOLING: Water cooled radiator with water pump EXHAUST: Performance exhaust with large expansion chamber SPEED: Up to 60mph (depending on weight / weather & road conditions)Blata Elite style liquid cooled minimotoThe Elite rep has the same spec engine as the Origami rep however due to its light frame and half fairing this bike is scary! Smaller and lighter than the other water cooled bikes you will struggle to keep the front wheel down due to sheer power. Once mastered you will leave everyone with a face full of exhaust fumes as you shoot off into the distance. This bike is not suitable for inexperience riders and minors! Although the Elite rep is fast the downside is the frame, which needs to be made stronger with a bit more welding!Specification of the Elite style minimoto:ENGINE: 39cc 2 Stroke Water cooled COOLING: Water cooled radiator with water pump FILTER: Large K&N Style performance cone filter EXHAUST: Performance exhaust with large expansion chamber SPEED: 60+mph (Dependant on rider weight, weather, surface conditions) BRAKES: Front & Rear Disc MAX LOAD: 110kg TYRES: slick tyres TANK CAPACITY: 1.5l STARTER: Pull Cord POWER: 8.5 BHP/15000rm (manufacturer claim ? tested to be very very fast)Banshee Sho (GRC style - liquid cooled minimoto) Last but not least is the newest water / liquid cooled minimoto to come out from China. There's many similarities style wise between this BANSHEE SHO rep and the GRC minimoto's. This has to be the ultimate bike for thrill seekers. This bike gets the adrenaline pumping like no other. Super high quality mini moto with a full aluminium frame. This minimoto oozes style & the paintwork on most is just fabulous! This pocketbike boosts an amazing 11 bhp and has a 50cc 2 stroke engine compared to the others which have a 39cc engine.This bike would only be suited to those very comfortable on minimoto's they are Not suitable for inexperience riders and minors! A Caution comes with this bike as it is extremely fast! This minimoto also has 3 power bands and you will get the most out of it on a track with long straights.Specification of the Banshee style minimoto:ENGINE: 50cc 2 Stroke Water Cooled (11hp) COOLING: Liquid Cooling SPEED: 65+mph BRAKES: Twin Front Brake Discs & Single Rear Disc START: Pull Start RADIATOR: Water cooled radiator with water pump & bleed valve TYRES: semi slick tyres FRAME: aluminumDepending on your preference the above four pocket bikes will cater for most riders who want to move up from air cooled pocketbikes. The link provided below has pictures and further details on all liquid cooled minimotos.Selection of affordable liquid cooled minimotos can be found here: <a target="_new" href="http://www.GhostRacingSeries.com/liquidcooledminimotos.htm">http://www.GhostRacingSeries.com/liquidcooledminimotos.htm</a>

Trackdays - Get the Maximum Enjoyment from Your Time on the Track

Many motorcyclists want to take their bikes onto the track and trackdays are the ideal environment. If you have never been on a track before the experience can feel daunting so here are a number of tips to help make your trackday enjoyable. Use a van or a trailer to get your bike to the trackThis has a number of advantages. If the worst happens and the bike gets damaged you can get it home without waiting for a recovery service. You can prepare the bike the night before by removing anything that can be damaged in a spill. Removal is far better than taping something up. If cost is an issue hire a van with a friend or two. One advantage that is often overlooked is what happens after a trackday. You've been out on the track for 8 sessions, you're tired (trust me, you will be!!), your leathers are soaked with sweat, your tyres are way past their best, you have to ride home and your perception of speed is screwed up. It's a recipe for disaster. With a van or trailer you can get changed into fresh clothes load the bike up and unwind with some good sounds. If it's a hot track day you can change out of your leathers between sessions.FoodDon't eat junk food and drink Coke or other fizzy drinks: the sugar levels dull your concentration. If you don't believe me have a look at the first session after lunch at your next trackday. Drink bottled water and eat fruit or pasta.The 3 Sessions to be aware of!!There are 3 sessions you have to take extra care in. I would advise you to run at 75% in these sessions for various reasons:1. The first session of the dayYou are new to the track. Even if you have been around it before and it's dry, the grip levels will be different from last time and heavy rain might have washed some of the rubber deposits away. The track will be colder than before and other riders may not have ridden the track before. If you have done any work on your bike you will surely discover that you failed to tighten a caliper bolt in the first few laps.2. The first session after lunchTyres have cooled, concentration levels are lower. Use this session to get back into the groove and gradually build your speed up again.3. The last session of the daySimple bit of advice here, don't go out in the last session: confidence is up and will invariably exceed ability, tiredness will start to play a part and tyres wil be nearing the end of their life. It's just not worth it. Pack up when you are ahead.Find someone slightly faster than youOnce you have settled into a rhythm, know the track and are confident with your bike's handling and braking, find someone who is about 5-10 % quicker than you. Follow their lines, use their braking points and soon you will find that extra bit of speed.Pick your group wiselyFast Group: lots of fast road riders and racers, this is probably the safest group of the lot as fast riders know what they are doing. If you aren't sure whether you should go intermediate or fast, pick the fast group: you can always ask to go down a group later.Intermediate Group: Try to avoid this group like the plague, its got fast guys who don't like to finish mid pack, slow guys who don't want to go in the slow group. The broad spread of riders is a recipe for disaster.Slow Group: this is the ideal group for Novices and people who want to build their confidence. You won't be the slowest rider here, you are not expected to ride like a GP god and apart form a few intermediate riders who like to lap people and so choose this group you will be given lots of room. Once you have lapped 3/4 of the field and are confident of your ability then its time to move up. Take some lap time of riders in the other groups from the front, middle and back of the group, compare them with your lap times and if you can make it in the fast group, do it!Mark Thompson has spent the past 20 years racing motorcycles and managing race teams and riders. He now runs the <a target="_new" href="http://www.trackbikes.co.uk">Trackbikes</a> website.