Wednesday, August 27, 2008

building choppers

Specialty Tools for Building Choppers

If you are building a chopper, you'll want to have the right tools on hand to get the job done right. There are some specialty tools you'll find make the build a whole lot easier. Below are some of the specialty motorcycle tools you'll want to have in your tool chest.

Chain Breaker: The master link on a motorcycle chain is installed with the intention of it being sturdy and not releasing at the wrong time. This means that breaking the chain's master link loose to remove the chain or adjust the length can be quite difficult. However, a chain breaker meant just for this purpose is not expensive and is well worth every dime you'll invest in purchasing a good one.

Chain Press Tool: Of course, one your break the chain, you'll want to re-install that chain or a new one onto the bike later. The chain press is a handy tool to make this simple and easy and avoid the "banging hammer, black and blue thumb" method.

Clutch Holding Tool and Clutch Spring Compression Tool : This pair of tools are especially handy. You will at times need to work on your bike with the clutch compressed when there isn't anyone around to hold the clutch for you. With the clutch holding tool, it isn't any problem to have the clutch held in a compressed position for you. The clutch spring compression tool is a must-have for working on your clutch. You can obtain the pair for under $100 if you shop around.

Handle Bar and Subframe Straightener: You are going to have times you need to straighten a bend in your chopper frame or handle bars. Get the job done right with a straightener tool which you can find at a reasonable price. Because this tool will have to withstand a lot of pressure, be sure to buy a quality tool with a good guarantee.

Hydraulic Brake Bleeder: If you like to work alone when doing a chopper build, you may not have someone around when you need to bleed the brake lines of any trapped air. For under $50, you can add a hydraulic brake bleeder to your tool kit and do the job alone quite easily.

Compression Tester: Engine rebuilds or troubleshooting will be easier when you have a quality compression tester on hand. A good quality compression tester for your chopper will cost $100 or more, but you'll use it for many, many years, making it a sound investment.

Flywheel Puller: This inexpensive tool is a must-have for working on choppers. You can pull flywheels with ease and without harming the part by using the right tool for the job.

Crank Case Splitter: Getting into the crank case can be impossible unless you use a crank case splitter. This won't be the least expensive tool in your collection but it will make an engine rebuild much easier, so invest in a quality crank case splitter for your chopper builds.

Fork Tools: To work efficiently on your custom chopper forks, you'll want several tools. First, a fork oil gage level is a must-have so you can check the oil levels in your forks. Fork seal drivers will make installing new fork seals much easier.

Carb Sync Gage Set: If you run a chopper with more than one carb, you'll want a sync gage set so you can tune all the carbs to perfection.

Jet Wrench: A jet wrench for adjusting your carb jets is another great addition to your took chest.

Valve Shim Adjustment Tool: Valve shim adjustment is a tedious task to say the least. With the right tool, it can be done without nearly as much frustration. The cost is low and the added efficiency is priceless.

Spoke Wrench: If you use spoked wheels, you'll want to have a spoke wrench in your tool box to adjust the spokes.

Wheel Truing Stand: To adjust the spokes so that your wheel turns perfectly requires a stand in which you can mount the tire and allow it to spin freely. A wheel truing stand will run you $100 or more but it's an investment in a quality tool that you'll use for decades to come.

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motorcycles forever

Can You See Motorcycle's Future?

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I am a big fan of Cyril Huze Blog, Why? Because he speaks a lot of sense. I recently moved from the UK to live here in Spain, I have always followed whats happening in The US with great interest. The economy there is in free fall, which means that the rest of the western world will follow in due course.

In his latest post Cyril poses the question " Can you see motorcycle's future?" well, I can't speak for the US, however I can express an opinion on what I feel will happen in the UK and Spain.

In the UK people are already reeling from the banks squeezing them for mortgage payments and accrued debt on credit cards which, was given to them freely during the boom times. Over the last 5 years borrowing has been easy and people ran up cheap debt on credit cards and fixed payment mortgages. With the knowledge that House prices were soaring house owners felt comfortable that any debt would be easily repaid.

That made it very easy to afford the latest bike and or the best leathers etc. It is a lot different now, gasoline is at an all time high at around $8.75 a gallon, electricity and gas prices are rising fast and mortgage interest rates are at their highest level for 5 years, however I don't see British bikers holding back from purchasing motorcycles; the big ticket items will definitely slowdown and I think people will think twice about buying new, however this will lead to an increase in used motorcycles.

In Spain it is completely different as the financial system has always been more prudent, for example credit cards are not as flexible here; the credit limits are smaller and the amount of collective debt is smaller. The fact that it has always been harder to get credit means they have less to lose. The motorcycle market is also very different here; there are two distinct groups of bikers. The first is the moped scooter rider, of which there are millions, almost every other teenage has a moped or scooter.

The other group is the serious biker mainly Harley Davidson's and other cruisers. These are owned by older riders; there are quite a few retired people who worship their bikes and keep them a long time; I don't see the problem being so acute here.

I suppose looking from the outside at whats happening across the pond; everyone in Europe is hoping that a new president will help turn the tide, so until that happens we just have to tighten our belts a bit more.

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motorcycle news

Scooters and Motorcycles May Save on Gas but Caution Should Be Taken

As gas prices continue to rise to figures unseen before in the United States, as well as around the world, millions of Americans are looking at gas-friendly modes of transportation. Among the options available are scooters and motorcycles, which are quickly becoming sought after and a popular form of transportation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there are approximately 6.6 million registered motorcycles, not including scooters, in the United States. The NHTSA also reported that nearly 2,500 motorcyclists die in traffic accidents each year, and while this number was previously decreasing from 1990 to 1997, it has increased at least 40 percent steadily since 1997.

Scooter and Motorcycle Popularity Parallels Dangers

According to a news article from the Dallas Morning News on July 2, scooter sales had increased 24 percent in the first half of 2008. Additionally, the Motorcycle Industry Council, noted that Vespa saw a nearly 40 percent increase in sales while Yamaha reported a 65 percent increase over a one-year period.

A Consumer Reports article from June 2008 also discussed the popularity of motorcycles and scooters, which have increased tenfold. The article detailed sales of motorcycles, which have increased to approximately $1.2 million in 2006 alone -- a record unseen before. However, in that same year, it was reported that motorcycle fatalities accounted for more than 10 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths.

However, motorcycle accidents are up approximately 127 percent since 1997 and the NHTSA reported that a motorcyclist is approximately 34 times more likely to die in a crash than someone in a passenger car. Additionally it has been reported that:

* In 2006, motorcyclist fatalities nearly doubled killing 4,810.

* According to the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) motorcylce deaths are on the rise whereas vehicle/automotive deaths have declined.

* Approximately 88,000 motorcycle riders were injured in 2006, according to the NHTSA.

* Supersport bikes (also nicknamed rocket bikes or crotch rockets) have fatality rates that are four times greater than other motorcycle riders.

* These supersport bikes made up only 10 percent of registered motorcycles in 2005, but were responsible for 25 percent of motorcycle fatalities in that year.

* Wearing a helmet can reduced crash fatalities among riders by nearly 37 percent, according to NHTSA.

Scooter and Motorcycle Accident Costs

While many individuals are moving toward scooters and motorcycles to save money on the costs of gasoline, often, individuals overlook that scooter and motorcycle accidents can be extremely costly particularly among those not wearing helmets and involved in a scooter or motorcycle crash.

According to analysts from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, working under contract for the NHTSA, who studied the results of 25 motorcycle studies conducted during the last few decades, the costs for motorcycle injuries can be priced for non-helmet riders from $7,200 upward to $30,400 in hospital-admitted and fatal accidents; whereas helmet wearers paid less after a crash costing anywhere from $3,000 to $17,400 in accident and hospital-related costs.

The study also reported that riders afflicted with a head injury will likely pay an average of $43,214 for trauma-center admittance and an average of $22,491 for hospital-admittance, while no head injury motorcycle or scooter riders involved in an paid an average of $15,528 for trauma-center admittance and an average of $11,430 for hospital-admission injuries.

Safety Tips for Better Driving

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) runs education and informational programs for individuals hoping to learn about or become a motorcycle or scooter driver. Among the USDOTís recommendations are the following for the increasing number of motorcyclists and scooters drivers:

* Watch for the "no-zones" - often the blind spots of trucks as well as cars. * Wear USDOT approved helmets at all times.

* Ride with caution and drive defensively.

* Never ride between lanes in traffic or share a lane with another vehicle.

* Ensure a motorcycle or scooter is updated on maintenance routinely.

* Wear protective clothing including gloves, boots and a jacket.

* Be aware of speeds and maintain speed limits; collisions often happen because of speeding into trucks and buses, which are often at the slowest speeds.

* Be prepared for bad weather as well as night riding, which increases the risk of an accident.

Seeking Accident and Injury Assistance after a Crash

Individuals who have been involved in a motorcycle or scooter crash should seek the assistance of an experienced accident attorney who can offer assistance as well as legal consultation regarding a wreck or injury. Because accidents among motorcyclists and scooter riders quite frequently are not their fault and can often occur because the driver of another vehicle didnít see the motorcycle or scooter, it may be wise to begin building a scooter or motorcycle crash case or lawsuit.

Developing a motorcycle lawsuit after such an accident may also provide monetary compensation to the injured motorcycle or scooter driver and help relieve the hefty medical bills associated with a crash, as previously noted.

Protecting yourself and your family members from a scooter, motorcycle or any type of vehicle accident is extremely important -- learn more at http://crash.legalview.com/. Also, use http://www.LegalView.com to learn about the latest mesothelioma jury verdicts or Cipro side effects.