Archive for the ‘Auto, moto and more’ Category
Riding Your Motorcycle The Safest Way Possible
There are many different ways to ride a motorcycle safely however overcoming several of the key points in riding all at the same time can be difficult for some people. Braking cornering stopping riding in inclement weather are just a few of the motorcycle safety problems a rider can run into at any given moment.
Braking
Normally one would think of braking a motorcycle with well the brakes but there is a combination in a certain sequence to braking a motorcycle.
When braking one is tempted to over look snapping off the throttle or changing to a lower gear both of which have an impact on the rear wheel just long enough for them to lock up the real wheel and cause it to slide especially when leaning into a curve. For that reason safe positive braking is not a straightforward skill but mandates training and practice in addition to watching the road conditions.
They do most of the work so use the front brakes. Braking progressively confidently and tough on the front brake is a learned skill and ought to be practiced on a customary basis under safe driving conditions. If you have a passenger the additional weight affects your stopping space so try practicing with a passenger and without one to gage the difference.
Heavy hard braking is prepared when the motorcycle is straight and wandering in a straight line. When braking do not stiffen your arms; instead grip the bike with your legs leaving your arms relaxed and free.
By no means grab the front brake since this will give reasons for it to lock up. Only apply the first force effortlessly for the first second allowing the front of the bike to dip onto the front suspension as the weight of the bike moves forward into the front wheel. The added downward pressure means you can now brake harder and this means little chance of locking up.
Always keep your head up and watch the road conditions while going through the braking process. Try to maintain the front tire on a clean dry hard surface and avoid discolored spots in the road if you find this difficult simplicity back on the front brake and apply the back brake change to the lower gear and slow down gradually. Release the clutch out slowly to help with this process. Jumping out the clutch can momentarily lock up the rear wheels and causing you to slide. Diesel spills on the road from semi trucks can cause a motorcyclist to loose control so be on the look out for them.
While driving in metropolitan traffic always keep at least two fingers on the front brake there is no time to be fumbling for the brake when cars are stopping and starting at such a fast pace.
Road conditions
Every road you travel will no doubt have a different surface and condition to it. Sand and loose gravel are the two major obstacles besides regular pavement you might find yourself traveling on.
As a rider of motorcycles you must develop an eagles eye when it comes to road conditions. A sense of predictions is also a good thing to have.
All riders are encouraged to ride offroad a few times a year to prepare themselves for whatever might happen on the roads in town and the highways. This does great things for your ability to constantly read and react to various surfaces and studies have shown that people who ride off road have few accidents on road than those who never drive off road.
About the writer: John Daniele is an expert on motorcycle helmets. For information or to purchase a handcrafted lightweight fiberglass novelty motorcycle helmets see www.helmetsrus.com
Honda Rolls Out Honda The 2008 Accord Sedan And Coupe
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. now releases the details features and the manufacturer’s suggested retail price MSRP of the 2008 model year Sedan and Coupe variants of the Honda Accord. Both model variants are available with several trim level options with exclusive features for each trim level. The 2008 Honda Accord Sedan will roll out in Honda dealers all over the U.S. starting this September 12 while the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe will go on sale in September 20th.
In a recent press release Dick Colliver executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co. Inc. commented: “The 2008 Honda Accord adds popular features and enhancements while maintaining competitive valueoriented pricing on every model. A new innovative design with improved packaging and even more refined performance adds to the Accord’s strong foundation of historically high residual values renowned manufacturing quality and legendary reliability.”
Both the 2008 Honda Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe models are available with either 4cylinder or V6 engine options. The new 3.5liter iVTEC V6 engine is capable of pumping out 268 hp and equipped with a new generation of fuelsaving Variable Cylinder Management VCM technology. In addition this power unit achieves a Partial ZeroEmissions Vehicle PZEV rating. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA rated this unit with a fuel economy rating of 19/29 city/highway miles per gallon Accord Sedan.
Meanwhile the 2.4liter 4cylinder engine has a power output of 190 hp. A choice of a 5speed manual and a 5speed automatic transmission completes the powertrain package for the Honda Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe. Customers can also choose the 6speed manual transmission available exclusively for the 2008 Honda Accord EXL V6 Coupe variant.
The 2008 Honda Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe come with various standard features for both model variants. These include the Advanced Compatibility EngineeringTM ACETM body structure Electronic Stability Control sidecurtain airbags dualchamber front side airbags with passengerside Occupant Position Detection System OPDS active front seat head restraints antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist MP3/WMA playback capability and an auxiliary input jack 160 watts singledisc CD player and six speakers just to name the few. Customers can also personalize the Accord Sedan and Coupe with Weathertech weatherflectors.
Other exclusive features for Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe model trims include sixdisc CD changer 270 watts of total amplification and seven speakers including an 8inch subwoofer Accord EX Coupe and EXL Sedan XM Satellite Radio Accord EXL Honda SatelliteLinked Navigation System with voice recognition and Bluetooth HandsFreeLink available on EXL 16inch steel wheels with wheel covers 2008 Accord Sedan 17inch alloy wheels standard Accord Coupe and 18inch alloy wheels for the V6equipped Honda Accord Coupe models.
The 2008 Honda Accord Sedan will go on sale in dealer showrooms carrying a base MSRP of 20360 for the 4cylinder model with 5speed manual. Accord Sedan with V6 engines and 5speed automatic transmission carries a base MSRP of 25960. Meanwhile the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe 4cylinder model is priced at 21860 while the base price for the V6 Coupe model is at 28310.
About the writer: Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.
The Top Three Myths About Cheap Auto Insurance
Myth 1 Don’t assume your insurance company won’t care about what you buy. The fact is is that the companies do care and the cheap auto insurance you were carrying on that old pickup with liability only isn’t going to be so cheap anymore when you add that new hotrod with full coverages to your policy.
When insurance companies charge a premium for a vehicle they look at several factors including how many miles a day or year it is driven who is driving it how big or small of a physical damage deductible the owner is willing to carry the driver’s accident history performance and crash statistics for the vehicle and it’s cost new.
One of the problems people often face with buying a new car is the insurance stickershock after the vehicle is purchased or even worse to find out the vehicle isn’t eligible for coverage.
So what’s the remedy for buyer’s regret? Just a little preplanning before you sign on the line. It’s good to have a few possible vehicle selections in mind before you contact your agent for an insurance quote don’t wait until you’re at the dealership to do this. That way if you find out if your first choice isn’t going to be workable maybe your second choice will be.
Myth 2 You won’t have to report any vehicle changes to your insurance company coverage will just be automatically extended. Although a buying a car with an auto loan requires you to contact your insurance agent or company to add a lienholder many people still either assume their new vehicle is automatically covered or simply forget to report it.
Although many auto insurance companies will give you an automatic 30 day grace period to report the acquisition of a new vehicle it’s best to make a point of contacting them the day of your purchase. To fail to do so could mean that auto insurance that was so cheap to begin with is no longer worth much when you have to deplete your savings account to pay for uncovered damages in the event of an accident.
Myth 3 Just because your insurance company has been giving you a great auto insurance rate on your current vehicle don’t assume they will be just as competitive on your new vehicle. Different companies charge different rates on different vehicles depending on the variables they place the most weight on.
To use an example here say if you are a family of three with only two vehicles. If that third family member is a young driver they may have only been rated as a parttime operator. With the addition of a third vehicle most companies will force a young driver to be classified as a principle operator three cars for three drivers which can cause insurance rates to skyrocket. Where your current company may have excelled with parttime young driver rates your cheap auto insurance premium may not be so cheap anymore once your young driver is rerated as a principle operator.
Whether or not you fit this scenario it never hurts to shop around a little for the most competitive auto insurance quote before adding a new vehicle. If you’re happy with your current insurer because of great accessibility responsive claims handling financial stability etc then maybe you won’t care. But if you find out you could find even cheaper auto insurance by switiching companies then maybe it’s time for a change.
About the writer: Stephen Kennedy is the owner of Premier Automotive Consulting a member of the Automotive Consulting Network and a 30 year veteran of the auto insurance industry. For more tips on auto insurance auto loans and how to buy a car please visit our website http://www.autobuyersbuzz.blogspot.com