Automotive Blog

Some riders like to travel alone, and if you can cope with the solitude, this has many advantages. You decide the route, the duration of the tour and you get out of bed when you please, be it early or late. If you’re heading down the motorway in France, see the sign for Spain and think ‘I’ll have some of that’, there’s no problem, you just do it. This once happened to me by the way; I ended up in Spain without really meaning to, and had a great time.

On the other side of the coin, it can be a problem when things go wrong. A breakdown is always a headache, but if you’re alone it can prove very troublesome, especially if you have to leave your bike unattended. Another issue is illness; no one plans to be sick, but it can happen. Being sick is bad; being sick and alone in a foreign country is worse. Which brings us on to insurance; whether you are traveling alone or in a group, do the sensible thing, and make sure both you and your bike are covered.

Continue reading ‘Motorcycle Touring’ »

During these days motorcycles are considered as one of the most modern and common modes of transportation. In the early days it was famous only among men. But now-a-days girls are also interested in this trendy vehicle and are widely using it.

The woman’s physical structure is totally different from a man, so a female should select a motorbike which will suit her. For example, mostly females have forward driving posture because of the lower center of gravity and less upper body weight. The modern motorcycle manufacturers have made very good and suitable motorcycles especially for girls. Mostly women bikes come with dropped handlebars which are easy to handle and provides a comfortable ride. The seats of motorcycles are specially designed for women riders.

Continue reading ‘Girls Also Want to Ride Motorcycles’ »

Racing motocross or riding trail bikes? Then recording your ride with a helmet cam is important and necessary to relive your adrenalin pumping rides. Using a helmet camera system with one camera cable is a must when riding a dirt bike or motorcycle. The less wires the less hassle! Bullet Cam Helmet Camera systems such as the ELMO SUV Cam II, has a waterproof camera head that is resistant up to 132 feet. Great feature bullet camera systems like the ELMO provide a DVR LCD screen for instant play back viewing. These systems typically record with a high capacity SD card. You can get up to 6 hours of recording at the highest resolution. Helmet cam systems with good DVD quality recording range from $400 to $ 600 dollars on average.

Watch and listen to your videos right on the DVR’s monitor, with the SD Card in your computer, or on your TV. Movies can be easily downloaded to a PC. You can burn your movies to a DVD or review your video on TV for your friends and family to watch. These types of camera systems are light weight and easy to use. Mount the small camera head anywhere you like such as your riding gear, handle bars, or helmet to record your action packed moments.

Continue reading ‘Dirt Bike, Motorsports, Moto Cross, and Motor Cross Enduro Helmet Cameras’ »

For many years now there are certain words and terms which are very clearly associated with Harley Davidson motorcycles. Yet although these Harley Davidson terms have been around for many years now they are now commonly used by others when they are building their own custom choppers.

In this article we look at a few of the more common terms being used today by builders of custom choppers that were first introduced by the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company.

Term 1 – Ape Hangers are the types of handlebars to be found on many custom motorbikes which have been elevated to a height that then places the hands of the motorcyclist above their shoulders.

Continue reading ‘Build Your Own Chopper – A Glossary of Harley Terms’ »

Just like you use preventive maintenance for your house or car, it is also beneficial for your scooter. By following the following motor scooter maintenance tips, you will have a reliable means of transportation that will last for years!

Perhaps the most important item of maintenance is to regularly check the oil level and change the oil at frequent intervals. Changing the oil at least every 1000 miles is a good idea. The oil capacity is less than 1 liter and so an oil change costs about $3 and takes about 5 minutes. It’s cheap insurance to keep your engine running for as long as possible. It is also recommended to change the transmission oil every 2000 miles or 6 months. See owners manual for your motor scooter.

Continue reading ‘Motor Scooter Maintenance Tips’ »

Usually motorcycle riders always make it a point to participate in as many motorcycle rallies as they can. Even if they don’t take part in all of them as racers, attending them is big enough a deal for them. This is where bikers from various parts of the world come and share their experiences with each other. The excitement, the adrenaline, the competition and the idea of being present in such an event is too precious for most riders to miss out on. The following is a list of the top 10 motorcycle rallies.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Almost half a million people attend this motorcycle rally held in the town of Sturgis in South Dakota every year. It first started in 1938 and till date has been attended by riding enthusiasts looking to participate in the events, or simply having a nice time with family and friends in the middle of all the burning tires.

Daytona Beach Bike Week

This motorcycle rally is held in the month of March every year and stretches over 10 days of motorcycle racing, events such as parties, rallies and street festivals. It attracts over 5,00,000 people every year and has its own seafood spread along with both custom and classic bike shows.

Continue reading ‘Top 10 Motorcycle Rallies’ »

In the competitive world of racing motorcycles, most companies tend to bank on their racing teams to promote their street bikes. Heavy duty motorcycles with obscene amounts of power inside the chassis run across the tracks, and motorcycle racing fans find that they can own a little piece of the excitement by buying themselves civilian versions of the racers that their favorite bikers are running.

More often than not, this marketing approach has led most motorcycle manufacturing companies to come up with barely street legal specs for their civilian bikes, and the results are machines that are grossly expensive, difficult to maintain, and wind up causing accidents in the hands of bikers who don’t possess the necessary skill level to handle such high performance bikes.

Honda has taken a different approach from it’s competitors in this department, and has instead taken a people-friendly focus in their motorcycles. Their teams still continue to run – and win a lot – in motor sports events, but their civilian bikes aren’t simply powered-down versions of their racers. They customize their civilian bike designs with the average person in mind.

Continue reading ‘Racing Motorcycle – Fast And Friendly’ »

(NAPS)—To steer this riding season in the right direction, you’ll want to make sure your motorcycle—and your motorcycle insurance policy—are in good working order before hitting the open road.

While you should always check your owner’s manual for specific guidelines, here are some general tips for getting ready:

1. Change the oil and filter. Many manufacturers recommend changing the oil and filter before storing a bike for any extended period of time and again when you bring it back out for riding season. Be sure to first start up the motor-cycle to warm the engine and then shut it off before changing the oil and filter.

2. Check the belt or chain. Make sure it is set to the manufacturer’s recommended tension. And if you have a chain, lubricate it.

3. Check nuts and bolts. Start off the riding season with a solid bike. Make sure everything is tight. “A well-maintained motorcycle not only assures a fun time, it can save you money by avoiding accidents, which helps to keep your insurance rates down,” says Rick Stern, motorcycle product manager, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.

Continue reading ‘Eight Tips To Gear Up To Motorcycle Season’ »

The night seems to be friendly, as you rip through it in a fast speeding bike to a place you do not know; the road ahead is lit up in an eerie lonely orange glow, and you keep on riding, as if somehow floating in an orange space where the air seems so much lighter, smoother; the wind lashes out, but somehow its whips are softened by the numbing thrill of the excitement to be free, to be unrestrained.

Or a road trip in the day, across paddy fields and under the rocky mountain high gives you the same sensation which seems to be from out of this world. You can roar on, and you feel the sun’s warmth kissing your back softly, the touch of its scorching lips somehow soothed by the cool blowing winds. Your shirt flaps in the air; you can feel the pulse of engine as it almost throttles you in its vivacity. You feel like you are the master of the road, of the fields and the mountains, of the world and its people. You truly feel like God.

All bike lovers are willing to live on the edge and more often, off it! They are willing to play on the borderline, and they get a great kick out of toying with their machine. They want to push on beyond boundaries, and they really live life to the lees, unlike what people think of them however.

Continue reading ‘Motorcycle Riding Events’ »

To begin with, the Harley-Davidson bike needs no introduction at all. Even for motorcycle ignoramuses who would not be able to tell the difference between a bike and a scooter, the name “Harley-Davidson” is common enough. It is a line of heavy-weight bikes with engines beginning from 750cc. it is manufactured in the state of Wisconsin, in the United States of America. Throughout the years, it has become a cult symbol, after being extensively used in literature and movies, the world over. It has been over a hundred years since the first time the Harley-Davidson came into existence, and even now, the craze shows no sign of abating. It is still a status symbol and online there are thousands and thousands of websites dedicated to the Harley culture.

A Harley has a mind-boggling array of parts which are available online as well, to make it easier for possessors of that bike. Different enterprises offer these parts at competitive rates. This makes it easier for clients to get a better deal. Parts like brakes, caliper rotors, dust covers, gear shifts, gauges, headlights…the exhaustive list is never ending. Not only that, for those who are looking for a cheaper deal, there are used parts which are available as well. To attract potential clients, parts are even available at discounts which start at 20% approximately. Prices of Harley-Davidson parts range from around $20 approximately depending on the parts and can go up to hundreds as well.

Continue reading ‘Harley Davidson American Culture’ »