Thursday, October 30, 2008

BILLET WHEELS

Billet Motorcycle Wheels

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.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

safety buffer

How to Maximize Visibility: Stay Out of Blind Spots and Create a Safety Buffer

Motorcycle Safety Stay Visible

Place yourself strategically in traffic.

Photo © Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

"I never saw the rider" is one of the most common things automobile drivers say after they've struck a motorcyclist, an unfortunate reflection on how easy it is for riders to slip under the radar. Here are tips on how to stay visible while you ride.

The first and most obvious way to avoid being hit is to stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles and give yourself enough room to react. Ways to do so include:

  • Making sure you can see the drivers of the cars around you; if you can see them (through eye contact or in their mirrors), chances are you're in their line of sight... but never assume anything.
  • Creating a safety buffer around you, which means leaving enough distance ahead of you, and giving yourself space to maneuver away from trouble.
  • Avoid lingering in the blind spots created by the A-pillars and C-pillars of cars; those are the front 3/4 and rear 3/4 angle views out of the driver seat. Passing can be a dangerous maneuver, so be especially aware when overtaking a car or another rider.
  • If you're riding with a group, be sure to leave a safe distance around you, and ride in a staggered formation for maximum visibility.


bikeskinz for sickshooter

motorcycle insurance

Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycle insurance is necessary for those who own and use a motorcycle. There are three types of motorcycle insurance available to you. Comprehensive motorcycle insurance, third party property damage insurance and veteran, vintage and classic vehicle insurance are the three types of insurance available to you.

Comprehensive motorcycle insurance provides you with complete insurance coverage, which includes providing your bike with complete cover and providing for damages you may cause to someone's property with your bike. This type of coverage works well for scooters, too.

Third party property damage motorcycle insurance is a type of insurance that will cover someone else's property and their vehicle, but it will not provide protection for your own bike.

Veteran, vintage and classic vehicle insurance is a type for those bikes over 15 years of age that are not driven as much because they are used for a hobby or recreational use only.

In addition to these types of insurance for your motorcycle, you also need to have third party insurance, which provides protection for those you injury while on your motorcycle. This type of insurance is compulsory in order to register your motorcycle in the ACT.

Coverage Under Motorcycle Insurance:

Most people will need to have comprehensive motorcycle insurance. There are a number of different amounts of coverage you can purchase, based on the budget you have and the amount of protection you want to have for your bike.

In this type of insurance, the insurance company will likely cover costs related to an accident you are in, which may include repairing or replacing the vehicle, or paying you a payout at the agreed or market value of the motorcycle. It will likely cover the costs of fire, repairing or replacing of locks, and it provides a policy that protects others. This liability coverage which is part of the comprehensive package will include a large cover for you for those that you may hurt while on your motorcycle, including legal costs, payout for damages, damage caused by any passenger you may have or will provide cover for your employer if you are using your motorcycle for business.

The comprehensive plan will provide your motorcycle with coverage from storms, thefts, replacement when the vehicle is a total loss, and towing. You are not covered when you take your motorcycle out of the country, and most comprehensive motorcycle insurance policies will not provide you with cover for mechanical failures.

In addition to this, any individual operating a motorcycle in Australia will require third party insurance, or TPI. This type of insurance provides you with protection from personal injury claims that are made against you by other road users, when you cause an accident.

Questions for Your Provider:

Talk to your provider about any specific needs you have. Policies should include liability protection, but even a comprehensive package may not be enough. Putting together a thorough package that includes comprehensive insurance as well as third party insurance is a must for most insurance companies. Ask your provider:

How to make claims:

What is covered and what is not covered (be sure to be specific here) What happens to your policy and premium payments when you have an accident and make a claim (does the rate go up) Are there any discounts for coupling your motorcycle insurance with other types?

Ways to Save on Motorcycle Insurance:

Get the right package of insurance for you. If you do not drive your motorcycle often, it may qualify for the lower costing Vintage insurance. If you use your motorcycle for business, be sure to let the provider know about this ahead of time.

The most important way to get a lower price on your insurance for your motorcycle is to take advantage of comparison shopping. Talk to several insurance companies to find out what they can provide to you. In many situations, you will find discounts for additional policies, too. Insuring your vehicle with your motorcycle can lower the rate you pay in total.

Beware Before Signing:

Read through your motorcycle insurance policy thoroughly. The policy will have a specific page that lists all items that are covered and are not covered. Be sure you understand what is not covered and get an explanation of any of these. Ultimately, that will define whether you should sign or not. Be sure that you have a full understanding of your policy!

Additional Coverage to Consider:

Along with motorcycle insurance in the comprehensive form, be sure you have third party property damage motorcycle insurance as well. Consider the benefits of adding any add-ons to your policy should they fit (such as roadside assistance.) Also, look to what the lender will provide you including discounts, rewards, hire car, and after accident care, which may be add-ons in some situations. Some will provide you with lifetime guarantees on repairs as well.

safety buffer

How to Maximize Visibility: Stay Out of Blind Spots and Create a Safety Buffer

Motorcycle Safety Stay Visible

Place yourself strategically in traffic.

Photo © Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

"I never saw the rider" is one of the most common things automobile drivers say after they've struck a motorcyclist, an unfortunate reflection on how easy it is for riders to slip under the radar. Here are tips on how to stay visible while you ride.

The first and most obvious way to avoid being hit is to stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles and give yourself enough room to react. Ways to do so include:

  • Making sure you can see the drivers of the cars around you; if you can see them (through eye contact or in their mirrors), chances are you're in their line of sight... but never assume anything.
  • Creating a safety buffer around you, which means leaving enough distance ahead of you, and giving yourself space to maneuver away from trouble.
  • Avoid lingering in the blind spots created by the A-pillars and C-pillars of cars; those are the front 3/4 and rear 3/4 angle views out of the driver seat. Passing can be a dangerous maneuver, so be especially aware when overtaking a car or another rider.
  • If you're riding with a group, be sure to leave a safe distance around you, and ride in a staggered formation for maximum visibility.