Andrew`s BikeMania!

Russian "Ural" Funny Cartoons

2007-04-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

It gives you more! (.3MB)

Treat your dog right! (1.1MB)

As simple as it gets... (1.5MB)

Your perpetual summer... (.9MB)

Politically correct hunting. (1 MB)

Grocery trip anyone? (1.1 MB)

Plowing snow in Coeur d'Alene with "URAL"

2007-04-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

At Lawrence's Motorcycles in Coeur d'Alene, ID owner Lucky shows off his mocked-up "Ural Patrol Plow"... When it's 14 degrees outside, they'll think up and try using anything to keep the parking lot clear of snow so the serious riders can get there!

I lost my keys!

2007-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

No you’re not… With a little bit of romancing and a bit of common sense you may be able to make it home in time for your favorite TV show.

Forced entry is easy and there are so many ways to do it. In this topic you will learn some tips on how to actually “steal your car”. Stealing other peoples car/bikes or property is never nice so please don’t use what you will learn here for your dark sneaky ninja purposes. Just remember that if ever you steal somebody’s car or bike or property, the person may have bought it from credit and is really stretching his belt just to pay for it and it is against the law to do such crimes.

In this topic you will learn how easy it is to get inside “your” car without keys that you can use during emergency situations and will also get the idea how to think more wisely to prevent your vehicle from getting stolen from you.

So lets get dirty.

Just imagine you are at the beach and you saw a very sexy lady pass by and you accidentally locked your door without pulling the keys off the ignition. You can’t go to the beach because rubber ducky is still inside (no man of action will go to the beach without his rubber ducky…)

Your first option is to ask for help or to borrow a phone from somebody to call the lock smith or a car mechanic (remember that not all mechanics are good opening doors…). If you can do this and wait for a lock smith to come, this will be your best option.

Your second best option is try to open it yourself (w/c is my first and best option because I can open up “most” locked doors and friends told me that I look “cool” just like the movie “gone in 60 seconds” but sometimes it takes me more than 60 seconds or up to 15 minutes because I’m not really good at this, but if I’m successful doing it in less than 60 then I’ll really look “cool”). But if I can’t really open it, I’ll just break my door glass and just replace the glass with an old one at the scrappers.
Remember that you can open “your” door several different ways but for me I will first try to search for a strong straight metal wire that I can use to manipulate the door lock. You can use a cheap metal clothes hanger. Some wires are available somewhere and I prefer the wires used for fences because they are stronger. Say you have a strong wire about 50 centimeters long. First you have to stretch the wire straight and bend one end about 10 to 13 centimeters from the end and create a “U” like shape. Then bend about 10 centimeters on the other end about 90 degrees, this end will act as your handle. Bend both ends at the same line so you will know where the “U” is going by looking at the angle of the handle.

You will also be needing something flat like a screw driver, knife, etc. This tool works best for doors that have the lock knob positioned on the top side of the door. Slowly insert your screw driver or knife between the door glass and the weather strip and insert your funky homemade door lock fishing rod and just fish for the lock knob. Remember that some of the more expensive cars have anti-theft metals positioned to cover the area to prevent anybody from sliding down a hook (just like the fish hook you have made). Some have plates covering the main locking unit (it is positioned on the side of the door and is visible when the door is open) so using a slim jim is also impossible.

To use a slim jim is also just like fishing but you are fishing for the lever or rod that manipulates the lock. Lock levers are positioned differently so you may have to pull up or push down the slim jim to move the lock lever. The idea is just like the “fish hook tool” where you have to slide the slim jim down in between the door glass and the weather strip and you will also need to use a screw driver or a knife to make insertion easy. Aim for the main door lock unit on the side and push or fish until you open the lock. Once its open, just grab the door opener lever and you are in!

Some old cars locks can be manipulated through the hole found on the inside part of the door opener lever. Pull the door opener lever upwards and there is an hole where the lever goes inside the car. You can use these holes to insert a strong bent wire to get to the lock lever. I have never been successful doing this but I have seen some guys who are really good with this. Some guys just pings one side of the door opener lever because there are some lousy car makes who makes door locks that are bolted in “plastic”. I will not say here w/c models they are to prevent dumb wise ass guys from opening these kinds of cars… The idea is very easy, just insert a large screw driver on one side of the door opener lever and just pry it off. After prying, you will see the opening or holes which you can easily slide in a screw driver or an L shape tool to move the lock lever. In some models, I can even insert my small finger… that easy!
The easiest thing to do is to just break the door glass using a glass hammer or by inserting a flat screw driver on between the weather strip and the glass on one of the corners and just ping or pry, the glass should break off easily but you will have to sit on broken glass the rest of your way home and that will not be nice especially if you only brought your swimming trunks with you… If you really have to do this, remove as much broken glass on the seat as possible and put a card board, news paper, towel or anything just to keep your butt from being molested by the broken glass. Wearing jeans is another best option.

I have included a photo of the tools I use to open up my cars. I made the picks myself and they are made from strong spring steel and flattened brass pipes for handles. The levers are made from nails. My fish hook is from a fence wire. I bought the slim jims at the tool shop. I still have some more jimmys and wedges but I think this is enough…

The other photo is taken when I opened a crashed/damaged car. The car was rammed on its side that jammed the door locked solid. I have the key but the lock rods were badly bent and I just couldn’t get the levers to open. Since the car is basically scrap, I just chiseled my way through the metal and moved the lock lever with a more powerful hand tool. Then I use a large crow bar and just pry the door open. I think that this idea can also be used for saving somebody during a car crash or accident.

Sometimes I still repair or buy smacked cars and I often use this technique. Sometimes I use door spreader, pullers, scissor jacks and sometime I just tie a steel cable on the door and tie another end on my 4WD and just rip the door apart. This is fun but I cannot advice you to do this because this can be dangerous.

Source: Repair Guides

Thunderbike Spectacula

2007-04-02T03:49:00.000-07:00

On 26th March 2006, Thunderbike won the "European Championship Of Custom Bike Builder" and the "Public Choice Award" with their hottest Showbike "Spectacula".

127 custom bikes of famous manufacturers from 19 countries participated on this competition.

The bike created in modern lines of motorcycle design, this motorcycle differs careful of the lines which were brought to perfection. This motorcycle can be characterized as harmony of lines and forms. Some elements can be named eclectic and not functional, but the same show bike. A harmonious image - here what could be the name of the bike.

SPECS
Builder: Thunderbike
Owner: Thunderbike
Location: Hamminkeln
Country: Germany
Bike Name: Spectacula
Bike Year/Model: 2006
Engine Make/Size: TP 124cui
Transmission Size/Type: Revtech
Frame Make/Type: Thunderbike / Spectacula
Front End: Thunderbike "Spectacula"
Stretch: +6"
Swingarm: Thunderbike "Spectacula"
Wheels-Front: Thunderbike 3,5x21"
Wheels-Rear: Thunderbike 11x18"
Tires-Front: 120/70 21 Metzeler ME880
Tires-Rear: 300/35 18 Metzeler ME880
Brakes-Front: Thunderbike
Brakes-Rear: Thunderbike
Painter: Ingo Kruse - Germany
Chroming/Plating: ALU Concept - Germany

Additional Information
Special internal fork brake system, front and rear airridesystem, hidden secondary drive system.

Source: ...

Motorcycle accident

2007-04-02T01:41:00.001-07:00

My new dream - 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1

2007-04-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yamaha just released the specs of their Flagship in sportbikes. This bike is light, its fast and will give you hours of insane fun. Wife might not agree, but this is a boys toy,of for the select few ladies that like their bikes fast and BIG, this is for you!

All-new, light, powerful and packaged with MotoGP technology, the YZF-Rr1 is the most advanced Open-class production motorcycle ever built with the world's first electronic variable-length intake funnel system.

Key Features:

All-new, light, powerful and packed with trickle-down MotoGP trickery, the YZF-R1 is the most advanced Open-class production motorcycle ever built.
All-new inline four-cylinder engine is the most powerful, tractable R1 powerplant ever, thanks partially to the world’s first electronic variable-length intake funnel system.
The YZF-R1 uses the YCC-T fly-by-wire throttle system for flawless response under all conditions.
Slipper-type back torque-limiting clutch greatly facilitates braking/downshifting from high speed.
All-new aluminum Deltabox frame and swingarm take Open-class handling to the next performance level.
New, six-piston radial-mount front brake calipers and 310mm discs generate the kind of braking power a bike like the new R1 requires.

Engine:

Short-stroke 998cc DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled inline four- cylinder engine produces more tractable power than ever.
Yamaha Chip Control Throttle controls a 32-bit ECU fuel injection system for super-responsive, smooth, instantaneous power delivery.
Yamaha Chip Control Intake electronically adjusts intake funnel length between either 65 or 140mm for an amazingly broad, smooth powerband.
Two-piece ergonomically designed fuel tank carries fuel in the rear section, for good centralization of mass, while the front half contains a Ram-Air-fed airbox for increased power.
Lay-down design cylinder head optimizes weight distribution, straightens intake tracts for improved cylinder filling, and allows frame to pass over instead of around the engine for great strength and a narrow chassis.
Closed-deck cylinder block increases strength and allows a narrow engine in spite of big, 77mm bores.
Narrow-angle four-valve combustion chambers produce a highly efficient 12.7:1 compression ratio; 31mm titanium intake valves and 25mm exhausts controlled by new, high-lift cams flow plenty of air.
Light and strong nutless connecting rods with fractured big ends produce a quick-revving engine with excellent high-rpm durability.
High silicon-content ceramic-composite cylinder sleeves ensure great heat dissipation for consistent power delivery and reduced friction.
Close-ratio six-speed gearbox with triangulated shaft layout for great strength, compactness, and quicker acceleration.
Ramp-type slipper clutch makes braking from speed into tight corners while downshifting smoother and therefore faster.
Redesigned titanium underseat exhaust system (with stainless steel midpipe and catalyst) provides excellent cornering clearance and a broad, seamless powerband.
13-percent greater radiator capacity and an aluminum liquid-cooled oil cooler maintain stable operating temperature.
Direct ignition coils, dual-electrode spark plugs and high-output magneto deliver extremely accurate, reliable firing.
AC generator behind cylinder block produces a narrow engine with excellent corne

Chassis/Suspension:

An all-new Deltabox frame tuned for optimal flex carries the lay-down four-cylinder stressed-member style, for great handling and efficient aerodynamic penetration.
A new truss-type swingarm is extremely strong and tuned for optimal traction and feedback.
Dual 310mm front disc brakes; new, six-piston radial-mount calipers and Brembo radial-pump front master cylinder with adjustable lever deliver amazing braking power and feel.
Fully adjustable KYB inverted telescopic front fork with 43mm tubes has been revalved to complement other chassis changes.
Piggyback rear shock now offers both high- and low-speed compression adjustability, rebound damping and a new, twist-style spring preload adjuster.
Light, five-spoke wheels enhance acceleration, deceleration, handling and suspension action.

Additional Features:

Redesigned headlights provide great illumination and distinctive style, while the LED taillight is light, bright and highly efficient.
Adjustable LCD illumination and multi-function digital gauges: adjustable shift light, odometer, dual tripmeters, water temperature, air temperature, full-time clock, lap timer and large 15,000 rpm analog tachometer.
New-design fairing with bigger Ram-Air intakes and screwless windscreen provides maximum aerodynamic efficiency and engine performance.
Sticky 120/70-ZR17 and 190/50-ZR17 radial tires for incredible grip and precise handling.
Forged footpegs are extra durable and light.
Extensive use of hollow bolts and lightweight fasteners helps trim overall weight.
8.6 AH battery is compact and light.
Durable #530 O-ring–sealed drive chain.
Standard toolkit located in convenient storage compartment under passenger seat.

Motorcycle special forces from Taiwan.

2007-04-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

Soldiers from Taiwan's elite special forces ride motorcycles from a helicopter during a drill in southern Tainan county March 8, 2007. Taiwan's elite special forces would likely find themselves at the front lines if war were to break out between Taiwan and China, which considers the democratically ruled island a wayward province since its split from the mainland at the end of a civil war in 1949. Training and motivation are essential as Taiwan's army of 130,000 ground troops is outnumbered more than 10-to-one by China's People's Liberation Army. Picture taken on March 8, 2007. To match feature TAIWAN-ARMY/ REUTERS/C.C.Yao (TAIWAN)

Source: yahoo news

Plumper Motorcyclist from Ukrain

2007-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

No comments :)

Flying motorcycle? Done!

2007-04-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

"Former test pilot Larry Neal of Boyd, Texas created this awesome flying machine called the Super Sky Cycle (basically a flying bike - technically a cross between a motorcycle and an autogyro).
The flying bike goes as fast as 70 mph in the air and 60 mph on the road, and sells for around $25 grand!"

Even on a motorcycle you can get stuck in traffic, and dream of lifting yourself and your motorcycle above the traffic, gliding home, avoiding traffic jams. Mixing motorcycle and airplane is not easy. Some are trying {link}, and some are close to success.

The Butterfly is one of the latter. Larry Neal, president of The Butterfly LLC has been awarded a patent for his Super Sky Cycle. The Super Sky Cycle is a motorcycle, or more a trike, with foldable rotor blades above the rider.

The rotor blades are extended in an out position, and when they turn, they provide the lift, the same way a fixed wing would. With a propeller in the back, you can fly away. The rotor blades not only give you lift when flying, but when landing, you can set the thing down on a dime (well, a dime measuring 20 feet).

The concept of the Super Sky Cycle is that of the Autogyro, an invention as old as flying itself (it was invented in 1919 in Spain). By adding foldable rotor blades, you can not only ride the motorcycle like you would any trike, but also store it in almost any garage.

The Rotax 582 engine powers either the wheels or the propeller. The vehicle can fly at a cruise speed of 50 mph, with a maximum speed of 65 mph. Remember, there are no speed cameras in the sky, and no hidden Police officers .

Depending on your speed and comfort wishes, the Super Sky Cycle will range in price starting around the US$20,000 up to US$40,000. Assembly is required, and you do not need a rubber band for the propeller.Publish
Author: Mike Werner

Sky Motorcycle Video

Motorcycle Stunts Insane Video with best background music

2007-04-01T04:21:00.001-07:00

Very crazy video especially the end!

2007 Trends in High Performance Motorcycles

2007-03-31T03:54:00.000-07:00

Each year high performance motorcycles get faster, lighter and stronger. One has to wonder will this ever end, as the trend has been going on for many decades. The next evolution of high performance motorcycles will include such things is carbon nano-tube construction, which is 50 times stronger than steel for the same weight.

This means that the weight of the motorcycle will come down substantially and therefore the performance will be greatly enhanced. Will this be enough? We find in racing and human competition with high performance motorcycles that better it is never enough.

Many high-performance motorcycle racers, crew mechanics and the engineers who build them will say such things as; This Motorcycle Flies. Indeed, if you put a set of wings on a motorcycle it actually would fly, because many of these motorcycles are capable of 180 to 200 mph. The average cruising speed for a Cessna 172 private aircraft is about 145 mph.

So the question is; where he is the future of high performance motorcycles going and how soon and tell these rapidly approaching super technologies will hit the streets or the runways? We all know that the latest and greatest transfer technologies from military are passed down to industries like competitive sports, entertainment and business.

Carbon nano tubes technologies do exist, unfortunately it costs quite a bit to construct things out of this material, yet you can be share as the costs come down they will be used in racing, Olympic sports equipment and golf clubs. I hope you will enjoy this philosophical discussion about potential applications for future racing technologies of all types.

Crash test dummys on motorcycles

2007-03-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

Opinion for Ghost Rider & List of reviews

2007-03-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of ghost rider and I liked the movie a lot but they should have made the battles longer and they shouldn't have tried to make it funny.

moviepulse.net 3/10

Blogotional “the movie is a visual feast for the eyes”

pajiba.com “Crazy at Heart and Absolutely Stupid on Top”

stupidevilbastard.com “I still walked away feeling like I enjoyed it”

Cynical Nation “I knew it was probably going to suck”

The Corner “The good news is: It’s really, really bad”

Hog Blog “The show was actually pretty darned good”

Hibrid Dacia&Moto

2007-03-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

this is what a few guys do from a Dacia (romanian car) motor and a motocile....simply amazing...simply romanian ingeniosity

Hibrid Dacia&Moto - The funniest videos clips are here

One more bike tricks trailer...

2007-03-30T04:23:00.001-07:00

The Motorcycle Helmet You Want May Not Be As Safe As You Think!

2007-03-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right Motorcycle helmet can make a difference….

….literally between life and death. But how does an ordinary guy in the street make an informed decision about what kind of helmets give the best protection? There are so many makes, models and styles. Not to mention DOT approved, Snell approved, ECE approved! It is enough to make you go goggle eyed when confronted with so much information.

Tests have shown that it is perfectly possible to suffer a fatal injury falling off a stationary bike if you hit your unprotected head on the kerb, so clearly choosing the right helmet is important.

But which one?

Wouldn’t it be easier if someone just said, “Look, when you are in a crash, you need to protect this part of you head, because this is the part that is most likely to get hurt”…

Well that’s what I thought. But it wasn’t that easy. The kind of information you need to make that kind of call requires someone, somewhere to look at a whole bunch of motorcycle crashes, look at the motorcycle helmet damage, assess where point of impact occurred and put the information into a form that allows ordinary motorcyclists (like you and me) to make a decision for themselves.

However, the good news is that if you look hard enough, the information is available. A study was carried out a few years ago by Deitmar Otte, at the Medizinsche Hochschule in Hannover, Germany on the damage incurred to helmets worn by motorcyclists involved in accidents. His analysis was extremely detailed; in fact it was far to detailed for me to go into here, but it was extremely important.

What I am going to do is tell you in a nutshell, what parts of your head are most likely to be hurt in a motorcycle accident, based on Herr Otte’s findings. The rest is up to you…

Take a motorcycle helmet and look at it from the front. Now imagine it is divided into three sections; the top (the cranium area) the middle (the area most likely covered by the visor) and the bottom (on a full face helmet, this would be the chin guard area). If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, and you hit your head you would have a 35% chance of the impact occurring to your chin area, 10% to your visor area, and 22% chance of the impact occurring to your front cranium area.

Now turn the helmet around. Looking at it from the back, divide it in two down the middle. In an accident, if you hit you head, you have a 16% chance of impact occurring on the back of you head to the left side, and a 17% chance of impact occurring on the back right side.

Conclusion? Well, this is only my personal conclusion but I would say the following…

The safest helmets are full face helmets…

Second would be three quarter helmets with visors…

Third would be half helmets…

Last would be novelty helmets.

There are lots of reasons people wear helmets. However, if safety is you main consideration, then take a good look at the full face helmets on the market, take some time and find one which you can wear comfortably on every ride.

Article Source: ...

Best Motorcycle Wheels

2007-03-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

Billet motorcycle wheels let you finish that custom look for your ride. No longer do you customize your frame, tank, saddle – well, everything – and then have to stick those stock wheels back on your bike. The billet wheels for your motorcycle as an investment, but with the variety of looks and styles available, these are the final frontier in full customization to let you design the custom chopper of your dreams.

Most billet motorcycle wheels will bolt onto your bike without having to make any annoying modifications to the frame or fender. However, you should consider how much you are changing from the wheels you had in the past. For example, if you had a 16-inch wheel, and you want to go with a 21-inch billet wheel set, you can expect to have adjustments to make.

When you shop for billet motorcycle wheels, you'll want to determine if the models you find attractive require special brake set-ups or special pulleys. The motorcycle wheel manufacturer or sales location, whether online or local, can help you with this aspect of the selection.

You'll find billet motorcycle wheels available for every make and model of motorcycle and you can mount a wide range of tires on them. Avon's popular Venom X tires and their AM-23 are popular choices for mounting on billet wheels.

Created from blocks of aluminum, billet motorcycle wheels are available in a variety of finishes. You'll find them brushed, chromed, powder-coated and finished in colors. Billet wheels are one of the fastest growing markets in the motorcycle parts arena.

You can expect to pay more for your rear billet motorcycle wheel than for the matching front wheel. Billet wheels for your motorcycle are not cheap but there are some that are not as expensive. Shop around first to determine the style you like the most and then shop extensively to find the best deal on that style. You should plan to spend at least $1,500 for polished wheels and $2,000 or more for chromed. Customized colors require additional cost.

It doesn't matter if you motorcycle is chain-driven, belt-driven or a shaft-drive system. There are billet motorcycle wheels available that will work for you. Because each shaft-drive system is different, manufacturers were a bit slow about developing billet wheels for all of the drives because of the research and development cost. But Jardine proved it can be accomplished. With their line of rims surrounding bolt-in hubs for each cruiser model, their competition has been forced to follow.

Performance Machine was probably the most popular manufacturer of billet motorcycle wheels for a long time. Performance Machine, with its strong commitment to providing aftermarket wheels, along with the rotors and pulleys to match, they provide selections for the belt-drive motorcycles, mainly focusing on the Harley-Davidson aftermarket crowd.

Back in the early 1990s, RC Components came on-board with a single set of billet motorcycle wheels. Today, this company provides a wide range of selections from which you can choose.

If you want a set of four-spoke billet motorcycle wheels, you can turn to Diamond Distributing for their Cutter design. They were first on the market with the four-spoker. Of course, other manufacturers have now come onboard with this design because of its popularity.

There are many other manufacturers you'll find that produce billet motorcycle wheels. The designs cover everything from simple to really radical. So, whatever you want in billet motorcycle wheels, you'll find it out there. Go ahead and enter that final frontier of customization and get the wheels that add the finishing touch.

Article Source: ...

Bored with a Bike

2007-03-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

how stupid a man could be???

If 4-wheelers are more your thing!!!

2007-03-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

4 wheelers: fast fun thrills

How an engine works "THE BASICS"

2007-03-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

To start any engine, Two or Four stroke, you must have Three things.

One - A burnable mixture of something. It can be gasoline, starting fluid, carb cleaner, shoot, it could be spray deodorant ! But it must be able to burn.
Two - It must be compressed, that is under compression by the piston.
Three - there must be a way to ignite the compressed mixture at the right time.

If all three things are present, the engine MUST run. It may not run long and it may not run good, but it will run. Always remember that ! The reason I say that is because engines can do funny things. Sometimes things that shouldn't work...work. Other times, things that should work...don't. We need to remember that there is a reason why it works and why it doesn't work. If you did it all right then it MUST work ! If it doesn't work...you did something wrong. When things don't work, remember these three things and go back and double check your work.

In an engine these things occur as part of a cycle. That cycle is basically this -SUCK, SQUEEZE, BURN, and BLOW. The fuel mixture must be brought into the cylinder -SUCK, compressed -SQUEEZE, ignited -BURN, and then expelled from the cylinder -BLOW. All reciprocating engines must go through these steps no matter what the design of the engine ( two-stroke, four-stroke, whatever ).

In a Four-Stroke engine the intake valve opens and the piston goes down, sucking the fuel mixture into the cylinder. The intake valve then closes as the piston comes back up squeezing the mixture. Spark now occurs and the burning gases expand, pushing the piston down with lots of power. As the piston comes up again, the exhaust valve opens and the burnt gases are blown out of the engine and the process starts over again.

This is all done in four strokes of the piston.
Piston down... Piston up... Piston down... Piston up.
Four-Strokes.

In a Two-Stroke engine the piston goes down, compressing the fuel mixture under the piston and blowing it into the cylinder. As this mixture blows in it also blows the burnt exhaust gases out. The fuel mixture is blown into the cylinder through passages ( Ports ) in the cylinder walls. The piston comes up, covering the ports in the cylinder walls and compressing or squeezing the mixture. This also creates a vacuum in the crankcase under the piston, sucking the fuel mixture into the crankcase. The spark then ignites the mixture and the burning gases push the piston down, starting everything again.

This is all done in two strokes of the piston.
Piston down... Piston up.
Two-Strokes.

That's all there is to it. There are other engine designs but they are not used much. The rotory engine was used on several makes of motorcycle, but not many were made and they all have been gone for many years.

Article Directory: ...

Bike Buying Tips

2007-03-29T03:15:00.004-07:00

The Right Bike for You

Want to buy a bike but don’t know where to begin? Maybe a friend of yours recommends getting a certain bike, while another biking buddy insists that his bike is the best choice for you. Who do you listen to? How about neither? What you need to do is sit down, relax and figure out what your priorities and preferences are to determine what bike is going to work best for you. Here are some points you will definitely want to consider before you pick out your new set of wheels.

What’s Your Riding Style?
Start by asking yourself why you want to ride to begin with. Is it for exercise? Do you want to fly through the air for the thrill or the sport of it? Where are you going to ride? Through city streets or back road trails? Once you define your style of riding, it will be easier for you to choose the kind of bike you need.
There Are a Variety of Bike Options Available
Although there is a multitude of bike styles, the following are some of the most popular:

Mountain Bikes: These are durable bikes you can take off the road. Mountain bikes have fat tires, comfortably wide handlebars, and low gears for easier navigation of hills.

Road Bikes: If you plan on doing long rides, pavement riding, this is the bike for you. Road bikes are built for speed, have thinner tires and handlebars, and are overall, much lighter in weight.

Hybrid Bikes: This type of bike combines the features of mountain bikes and road bikes. Hybrid bikes are perfect for those who want to experiment with all styles of riding.

Cruisers: These bikes are generally one speed and are constructed for literally just that—cruising.

Comfort Bikes: These are specialty mountain bikes or hybrids that offer more upright riding and softer seats. These bikes are essentially designed for riders who desire more comfort in their ride.

Size Matters
Some bike models offer up to eight different sizes. To determine the right size for you, measure your inseam—this will determine the right size frame, in terms of stand-over-height. Like a pair of jeans, the right fit is important.

Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask advice about what you don’t understand, such as quick release, bike maintenance, what kind of equipment you need, etc. Knowing what you need to know is the difference between easy riding and not so easy riding.

Buy a Bike You Like
Take even the smallest details into consideration when buying a bike: how it rides, size, how it looks, color--everything. After all, it’s your set of wheels--ride it proudly.

By: Blue Sky Cycling Article Directory: ...

Conti Road Attack (try new tires)

2007-03-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hannover, spring 2004: With a newly developed steel-belt tyre Continental addresses above all touring riders with an active riding style. The ContiRoadAttack has the performance of a sports tyre, combined with the lifespan of a touring tyre. The most popular dimensions are immediately available.

In time for the bike season 2004 Continental presents a completely new product. Last year saw testing and polishing of the new tyre within Continental’s motorcycle division. Added to the models ContiForce and ContiForce Max, the new ContiRoadAttack will cater for middle-class to big touring bikes. ContiRoadAttack is a zero degree, steel-girded tyre for sporting touring bikes and naked bikes, but also for proper performance bikes. It satisfies all demands for grip, lifespan, comfort, safety reserves and design.

The patented zero degree steel construction gives ContiRoadAttack the performance of a proper sports tyre, without sacrificing comfort or stability. The steel wire used is a so-called high-elongation cord, consisting of twelve filaments, divided in three packages, each with four filaments wound together. Each cord is clad in rubber and three of them are then wound together.

Because of the very special construction of the carcass, thanks to its Dynamic Footprint Technology (DFT), the contact area could be improved considerably, compared to the competition. Because of reduced rear tyre slip in a straight line, the tyre’s lifespan could be dramatically improved. In corners, the same technology provides twelve percent more contact patch, again compared to our competitors. This is a big safety bonus and also important for vehicle control in all situations. Using this technology, Continental was able to provide ContiRoadAttack with very sticky compounds, guaranteeing grip on wet as well as dry roads, without compromising its expected lifespan.

But it is not only in good weather that riders using ContiRoadAttack will arrive at their destinations in comfort and full safety. The patented compound for the contact surface, using special softeners, allows for constant grip over a wide range of temperatures. With a shore hardness of 64 (indicating hardness of a rubber compound) at ten degrees air temperature, this tyre is the softest in the sports touring category. ASC compound technology (Activated Silica Compound) guarantees good grip, dry and wet, from very low temperatures and well up into higher temperature ranges. A high structured carbon black, originating from compound experiments with high-tech sports cars at speeds up to 360kph, allows the tyre to quickly reach proper working temperatures, thanks to its high friction.

Apart from these technological highlights, Continental’s technicians also chose a completely different road in the design of ContiRoadAttack. The unique tread pattern, with its typical contours, not only fits the lines of modern motorcycle design, but also serves a highly functional purpose.

ContiRoadAttack offers riders of sports tourers long life plus extra grip and safe riding, at a level which until now was unheard of in this category. Documentation for several sports tourers, naked bikes and supersports models are already available.

Available dimensions:

120/60 ZR 17 M/C (55W) TL

120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL

150/70 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL

160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL

180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL

190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL

Continental group is a leading provider of tyres, brake systems, suspension components, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers. Worldwide, the group in 2002 employed 69,000 people and achieved a turnover of 11.7 billion Euro.

My bike story

2007-03-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

soon...

Garmin® zūmo™ 450: A Motorcycle GPS for the Masses

2007-03-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

OLATHE, Kansas/January 4, 2007/PR Newswire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced a new version of the zūmo motorcycle navigator. The zumo 450 was announced in conjunction with the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (Garmin booth #36212).

“The zūmo 450 is positioned towards the budget conscience rider who wants a solid and reliable GPS designed for motorcycles,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether riding a cruiser or sportbike, the zūmo’s intuitive interface and motorcycle-specific attributes make it ideal for any rider on the go.”

For the ultimate convenience and safety, riders will appreciate the zūmo 450’s glove-friendly design with left-handed controls and oversized touchscreen buttons. The waterproof (IEC 529 IPX-7 standards) device is preloaded with full North American map data that includes over six million points of interest – including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. In addition, zūmo 450 owners may also establish customized points of interest, such as safety cameras and school zones. Map data is provided by NAVTEQ™ – a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

Riders who want a detailed log of their trips will appreciate being able to download their favorite treks to the accompanying MapSource® software. Zūmo owners can also plan routes on their computer and download it to the zūmo before they begin their journey. In addition, riders can swap routes and waypoints with other zūmo owners via the unit’s SD card slot.

Zūmo owners can also access trip information directly from the zūmo’s trip information page. The bright display shows the rider their speed, heading, and a customizable fuel gauge that lets them define the motorcycle’s maximum fuel range. If a rider wants to leave the pavement for the trail, the zūmo accepts electronic topo maps for off-road navigation.

The zūmo 450 also has many security features. It includes a locking motorcycle mount with waterproof power and data cable connections. The mount is designed to withstand the severe vibration environment commonly experienced in motorcycle riding. The zūmo also includes Garmin Lock™, a unique theft prevention system that disables the zūmo from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location. If the user does not know the PIN or secure location, the zūmo will be inoperative.

The zūmo 450 is expected to be available in March 2007 at an MSRP of $799.

Motorcycle Radar Detectors

2007-03-28T01:36:00.000-07:00

Standard radar detectors were not built for motorcycles and were never intended to be used on them. Most detectors use an audio device to inform the driver that radar had been detected, and are therefore inappropriate for motorcycle riders because they cannot be heard. Furthermore, most have long cords and poor mounting options, not to mention the fact that they are not weatherproof. As both motorcycles and radar detectors have become more popular, however, the demand for motorcycle radar detectors has increased dramatically.

Manufacturers now produce cordless detectors with an earphone jack so that the rider can hear alerts. For instance, BEL has released a model specifically for motorcycles, while Escort and Whistler make models with earphone jacks.

Important considerations when shopping for radar include band detection, distance of detection, ability to send a jamming signal, and, of course, price. In addition to these concerns, anyone interested in purchasing a motorcycle radar detector should keep the following in mind: Does the detector come with an ear jack? Is it weatherproof, or can it be enclosed in a weatherproof container? Is the detector mountable?

The Escort Passport 8500 X50 is popular for motorcycle riders. In addition to an ear phone jack, this model is highly sensitive to X-band, K-band and Ka-band radars. When set in its "ExpertMeter" mode, this model allows the rider to see up to eight radar signals, as well as their individual bands and strengths, simultaneously. In addition, the display brightness settings include a "dark mode" for stealth use. One method of installation for this model is to tie the 8500 into the rider's helmet speakers using a common universal stereo mini-plug patch cord. The unit can be mounted with suction cups to the windshield.

Although the niche for motorcycle radar detectors continues to grow, most models will still lack in at least one area. Thankfully, most detector retailers sell attachments that allow cordless models to be converted for use with motorcycles.
By: Jennifer Bailey

Gerbing Heated Motorcycle Gloves

2007-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Who says riding your motorcycle has to be limited to warm weather? You can have a lot of fun riding your motorcycle in the rain at a mere 40 degrees. And all you need it some Gerbing heated motorcycle gloves and heated clothing

If you've ever taken a ride on a chilly rainy day you know it doesn't take long before you've lost most of your body heat and you're wet and freezing and just plain miserable. But with heated clothing it doesn't have to be like that.

Back in 1975 Gerbing was busy creating aircraft parts for the military. Many of their workers rode motorcycles to work in the cold so Gerbing decided he would design gear that would keep them warm by running a flexible heating wire through the clothes. And so Gerbing heated clothes came to be.

Today they have a full line of jackets, pants, vests, and gloves. And recently they've even added socks to the list. These heated garments are used by motorcycle riders, snowmobilers, hunters, and trades people working out in the cold.

If you love to ride all year round you aren't alone! Many die hard riders love to use their motorcycles all year round and with the ever increasing price of fuel it makes good sense.

Trouble is riding while you are cold increases your risk of an accident. Don't believe me just have a look at the stats. Your extremities get cold, your reflexes decrease, and so does your alertness. But just some heated clothing and you'll be snug as a bug and riding safer during those colder months. And keeping your hands warm is the perfect place to start. Definitely worth the investment!

So are you wondering where to get Gerbing heated motorcycle gloves? You can purchase direct by phone, mail, or online or you can purchase from one of the many sites that offers such products.

Of course there are other great sites where you can find heated gear and there are other manufacturers as well. Be sure to check all of them out.

And they are very easy to hook up and start using. Whether you are buying jackets, gloves, socks, or pants you will only need one battery that's no more than 150 watts. Attach a fuse connector wire to two points on the battery then make your connection to the clothing. Just follow the instructions provided. It takes about five minutes to get all hooked up and operating. That's not too bad at all.

Although you can hook directly from the battery to the clothing this method is very difficult to regulate the temperature so adding a thermostat is a great option. It allows you to regulate the temperature and keep you comfortable whether you are sitting at a light or whipping down the road.

If you generally pull your bike off the road when the weather turns colder, with the fuel prices continuing to climb perhaps this is the year to think about keeping it on the road. Heck start with a pair of heated motorcycle gloves and see where that leads. Soon you will be heated from head to toe and loving your longer cruising time.

Source: Lawerence Senff

Chinese Motorcycles

2007-03-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

In the present world, motorcycles have become the most common and popular means of transport and the motorcycle market is flooded with different brands of motorcycles. Chinese motorcycles are replicates of the most popular designs and brands in the world market. Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Honda are some of the popular brands in the motorcycle market.

Currently, there are more than 150 motorcycle manufacturing companies in China. Qingqi, Jialing, Zhejiang, Jincheng and Xindazhou are the most popular of them. These manufacturers thoroughly study all the successful branded models and make duplicates of the models. The Chinese motorcycles are in great demand among the African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. Apart from these places, the Chinese motorcycles are also in great demand among the American people. The increase in demand for these Chinese motorcycles has lead to a great threat to the global manufacturers.

Focused on the lowest segment of market, the prices of these Chinese motorcycles are comparatively lower than the branded motorcycles. On an average, a Chinese motorcycle will cost approximately $285 to $470. Due to its economic rate, it has become equally popular in domestic and international markets.

You can also find sites in the Internet to look up Chinese motorcycles. While buying Chinese motorcycles, make sure that you get motorcycles at minimum cost and maximum benefits, and the Internet will provide you with wider options in models and price levels. Ebay is one of the best online sites to shop your Chinese motorcycles.

Though, Chinese motorcycles are the exact copies of the popular branded models, they do not show the same performances. Commonly, fake engines and parts of the popular branded models are used to build these duplicates. Thus, the quality of a Chinese motorcycle is very low when compared to the branded design. Hence, a Chinese motorcycle is an ideal option for those who cannot afford the branded one.

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03/19/07 John Travolta Auctions Motorcycle To Save Cinema by John Travolta

2007-03-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hollywood star John Travolta is auctioning off a Wild Hogs-inspired Harley-Davidson motorcycle to help save a Florida cinema. The star is selling the bike he drove down the red carpet at the March 2 premiere of "Wild Hogs" in Ocala.

Proceeds of the sale will assist in the restoration of the Marion movie theatre. Marion Theatre spokeswoman Tava Sofsky says, "John has done so much for us, and we think the gala is going to be another great event."