Motorcycle Articles

If you want to safely carry your dirt bike or motorcycle in the back of your pickup truck when you head to the track, trail, or to a bike show, then motorcycle loading ramps are an essential piece of equipment. And if you think about how much money and time you’ve invested, then getting a quality loading ramp is pretty much a no-brainer.

You just have to use the right loading ramp. And to figure out which one is the right one, you’ll need to look at the height from ground to truck bed, as well as the size and overall weight of the bike. The heavier the motorcycle is then the more challenging it will be to load and unload without a problem. Minimize this risk of damage occurring just by using the right ramp.

Motorcycle loading ramps are frequently made out of metal. The metal of choice is often aluminum. In order to get the best traction, ramps are often designed with a textured surface. Alternatively some ramps come with holes which are drilled out at equal intervals.

A really nice feature to go for, especially if you usually ride your bike on and off the back of the truck, is a safety strap. The strap is designed so it attaches to the back of your vehicle to prevent the ramp from slipping during loading.

A better ramp might also have rubber padding on one of the ends. This end is the one that leans against the truck to keep the ramp from moving while it’s in use. The padding is a good way to avoid scratches as well.

Motorcycle loading ramps are usually available in one of two main styles.

The first is referred to as a non folding ramp. These ramps will have one long straight span. They are often manufactured out of aluminum. In general, an aluminum loading ramp is able to handle loads of 500 pounds or more. Aluminum is the preferred kind of material used because of its relative light weight. That makes it easy to maneuver especially when you are on your own. The spans may be perforated to give more traction when loading motorcycles.

The second kind is the folding ramp. A folding ramp is made so it can be folded into two, three or even more individual sections. This makes it easy to set it up and to store it. Folding motorcycle ramps may have even a greater weight capacity than non folding ramps do. That makes them the right choice for heavier larger motorcycles or even ATVs where some extra width can come in handy.

For folding ramps, aluminum is the preferred material because it is much lighter than other metals, and so easier to handle. Aluminum also is resistant to rusting.

Also available are ramp extenders. With ramp extenders, you have an inclined ramp along with a bed extender. This can come in very handy when your cycle is too long for the bed of your pickup truck.

Motorcycle loading ramps come in a variety of different designs and styles. They also have extra features which make loading and unloading your bike both safe and easy to do.

To get your bike or ATV to the trail or track, you’ll need to load it up in the back of your pickup. This is another place where it pays to be safe. Don’t trust your motorcycle or 4 wheeler to a mickey mouse ramp. Check out the solid motorcycle loading ramps at aluminumloadingramp.org as well as the huge selection of ATV loading ramps.

Reputed to be the Oldest of the British Motorcar Manufacturers’, the AC Motor Company started life a far cry from the legendary Cobra.

It was around 1901 when John Weller, a talented young engineer, formed the Autocar & Accessories Car Company, with financial backing coming from John Portwine, a successful, wealthy London Butcher.

The design and development went on until 1904, when they introduced their first vehicle known as the ‘Autocarrier’, A 3 wheeled. 5.6hp air cooled single cylinder engined, delivery vehicle. Their range increased in 1907 with the introduction of a passenger carrying vehicle, the ‘Sociable’. The passenger sat alongside the driver, instead of the normal tandem arrangement, common at that time. This was produced until 1915.

With a move to a new factory in Thames Ditton, and the renaming of the company to Autocarriers Limited, this was the first time they had used the AC name. 1913 saw the introduction of a new 4 wheeled Motor Car.

Many Companies and Department Stores had at least one ‘Autocarrier’ and the company became very successful. The ‘Sociables’ were also being used, with modifications, by the British Army as Machine Gun Carriers.

During the First World War, AC continued manufacturing motor cars, but also turned their factory over to producing Shells and Fuses.

After the ending of hostilities of World War One, AC produced a number of new cars fitted with 10 & 12hp engines and these where superseded by a more powerful 16hp, 6 cylinder engine. The three wheel vehicles didn’t return to production until 1953 as AC where pushing their four wheeled cars. After the war an Australian Businessman and World Class Racing Driver by the name of S F Edge, was quietly building up a substantial shareholding in Autocarriers Limited and in 1922 finally took overall control. This resulted in Autocarriers Limited being renamed AC Cars Limited, around this time Edge was also Managing Director of William Cubitt & Co., and under the Cubitt logo made cars, but by 1925, sadly they went out of business.

AC engine suppliers where Anzani, and Cubitt also produced a very near copy of this engine. Edge was on the board of all three of these companies and instructed AC to use and purchase the Cubitt copy. Edge paid 135,000 to gain outright control of AC Cars Limited in 1927, but because of the company being close to bankruptcy by 1929, sold out to the Haulage Business brothers, William & Charles Hurlock. The Hurlock brothers continued with AC Cars Limited, building a small run of hand built cars. An AC Car won the RAC Rally in 1933 with Kitty Brunel driving, this added to AC’s many successes in Racing and Rallying during the 1930′s.

The low volume manufacturing of AC’s continued delivering the last car in May or June 1940. Because of the Second World War, AC’s factory turned it’s attention to the war effort.

In 1947 AC went back into producing the 2 litre Sports Car and at the same time started to manufacture a three wheeled Invalid Carriage for the British Government – This was fitted with a Fiberglass Body and powered by a Single Cylinder Engine from a BSA Motorcycle. The Invalid Carriage continued in production until 1975/6.

AC introduced a new Micro Car in 1953 priced at a very reasonable 400.00. This three wheeled car called the ‘Petite’ was fitted with a 346cc 2 Stoke Engine supplied by Villiers and had an Aluminum Body. It didn’t catch on with the buying public, so production was abandoned in 1958.

AC deviated from car production and manufactured 4 Trains, namely 4 Coaches and 3 Powered Cars, for the Southend Pier Railway in Essex. These Trains were still running up until 1976.

1953 saw John Tojeiro redesigning a lightweight chassis for the ACE Sports Car, powered by John Weller’s Six Cylinder 2 litre Engine. The Bristol 135bhp Engine was also tried out in this car and it achieved success at the races of 1957 & 1958 in Le Mans

Want to find out more about How to Restore Classic Cars, then visit Rooster Reno’s site and view the article AC Motor Company Part 2 for the rest of this fascinating story.

In the first part of this mini-series on how to make money buying and selling used cars in the current economic conditions, we examined what sort of individual is suitable to set up a used car business. In this section, we will look at where to actually establish your used car business.

So, how do you go about setting up your own used car business? The first thing to realize is that no matter whether you are establishing a part-time or full-time company, your patrons and the government will expect you to conduct yourself and conduct your business in a professional way and they have every right to do so.

If you do not behave correctly, you will present a bad image to your customers and get a bad reputation with them and you will get a bad standing with the taxation authorities and maybe the health and safety people too and be hassled by them with more that the typical number of check-ups.

Come to a decision what your main market is. Do you want to concentrate on used expensive cars, middle-market or cheap vehicles? Or do you want to sell trucks, vans, buses or motorbikes? It is useful to specialize, if your catchment area is big enough. For instance, if you live in a village miles from anywhere, it might not be worth specializing in second-hand buses, but second-hand farm equipment might be a winner.

Pay a lot of attention to the site of your business. If you propose to sell one or two cars from adverts, this is not quite so important, but if you have thoughts for the future, you might want to get a small lot that you can expand on later.

This plot should be in a highly visible location, say beside the highway that leads into town. If your site is less than ideal, you will have to spend a great deal more on advertising, which is something to keep in mind, when trying to work out what you can afford to pay for the plot.

Another key issue to keep in mind before agreeing to any contracts, leases or mortgages, is to find out whether you are allowed to open a used car business in that location. Some countries have a highly complex set of rules and regulations governing which kinds of business can be located where. This is frequently called ‘zoning’. Sometimes you can get a ‘zoning variance’, but not every time.

Once you have your site and have decided what kind of used vehicles you want to specialize in, you ought to concentrate on establishing a unique corporate image – one that is instantly recognizable to local people as denoting your business. Use a motto, an emblem or a motif or a combination of these, put up a sign and sign-write your van or tow-truck with them as well.

In the following section of this mini series, we will be examining how to locate your stock in trade – your vehicles.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on a variety of topics, but is now involved with remote car alarms. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Laser Temperature Gun.

Step 1

Get your oil changed regularly. Don’t exceed the time to change your oil. Not getting your oil changed will cause your engine to lose valuable lubrication and result in engine problems and your vehicle breaking down. Now that motor oils have increased in quality over the years, getting an oil change every 5,000 miles instead of every 3,000 miles should be sufficient.

Step 2

Do not drive “bald” tires. Tires need to be replaced after heavy use. Tires lose threading over time due to wear and tear. If you drive on “bald” tires this can cause you to hydroplane and can even cause you to wear out your rotors which can be quite pricey to replace, more so than tires. You can extend tire life by rotating them every 6 months or, on usage. Depending on your vehicle you should change out the tires on your vehicle when all the threading is almost depleted. Don’t wait till they are “bald”.

Step 3

Drive responsibly. Street-racing won’t just wear out your tires in a hurry, it will also take quite an expensive toll on your brake pads and rotors. Also, not being careful and hitting curbs with your car can easily throw off your alignment. Slamming the brakes last minute will wear you brake pads down, so be sure to keep a safe distance and brake easily.

Step 4

Be sure to Check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, and power steering fluids regularly. Don’t wait to get them checked until you change your oil. Replace them yourself if you need to. Its a simple task, check your user manual if you are not sure how this is done.

Step 5

Keep a safe distance from other vehicles. A Small rock thrown from the back seat of a tractor trailer at a million miles an hour can crack your windshield. Don’t ride the draft. If you hear a rock hit your but don’t see a crack, get it checked out, there could be a small crack that will slowly make its way all over the windshield.

Also riding behind cars will get you in an accident sooner or later. It might not happen today or tomorrow, but it is inevitable if you trail. Its too risky to take the chance. Car accidents are the main factor in deterioration of a cars life.

Step 6

Check your car’s maintenance manual for how often the vehicle needs to be tuned up and follow that guide to the T. Regular tune ups keep a car healthy and can prevent it from breaking down and extend its driving life.

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categories: Cars,Maintenance,Trucks,Motorcycles,Vehicles

All commuters have felt the pinch at the pump, as gas prices rise higher and higher. More of these commuters are looking for ways to stretch their fuel dollars, including considering hybrid cars. A hybrid car combines the traditional gas engine with an electric motor and a Lithium ion battery.

One such commuter is Emily Callahan. Callahan, a 24-year-old landscape architect, choose the hybrid Nissan Altima for her first car back in 2007. She was one of the first purchasers of this model, a mid-sized sedan released in January of that same year.

Why did Callahan choose a hybrid? A number of factors, including fuel efficiency, environmental impact, size, and tax incentives encouraged her decision. She got a nice sized tax increase because, as one of the first consumers to purchase a hybrid, she got back $2300 (the full sales tax on the car).

Hybrids have more going for them than just tax breaks of course. Because of very high fuel costs recently, hybrids also save on gas. Callahan told us that the Altima Hybrid gets an average of 36 miles per gallon, and t his adds up to some real savings.

Ms. Callahan has seen her fuel dollar go further as a result. She has a friend who drives the traditional 2007 Nissan Altima. Her friend spends an average of $100 per week on her one hour commute, while Callahan spends only $75 for her commute of equal length.

Callahan says she’ll never go back to a traditional vehicle. She points out that not only does she save money, but the hybrid car has no carbon emissions to harm the atmosphere.

Interestingly, Callahan also says that there is a sense of camaraderie among drivers of hybrids. This is a kind of intangible benefit, beyond the economic and environmental plusses of these cars. One time, she reports, she was in traffic when another Altima Hybrid driver rolled up alongside, put her window down, and gave her a thumbs up sign.

Hybrids offer many advantages. Check your favorite car manufacturer – most of them are joining the hybrid bandwagon. You can now find a range of vehicles, from compacts to SUVs, from Saturn or Ford or Toyota, or Honda or Lexus, all with hybrid technology.

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These days, the average price of a new car is around the $30,000 mark, so a lot of people, faced with austerity measures and an uncertain future job market, are thinking about buying a used car instead.

This is not new on its own: there has always been a used car market, but the disparity is that even white collar workers who had a certain amount of job security are entering this market. People are even more loathe to take on a loan than ever before in living remembrance.

One of the results of this is state of affairs is that there is even more opportunity for a used-car dealer to make a very good living. This article and the other three in the series, which have the same title, will attempt to give some advice on how to make a living out of the present market situation.

If you only want to make an extra couple of thousand, there are several ways of doing this, but if you want to make a decent living wage, then you need to set up a company and become your own boss. This approach can deliver an income of several thousand dollars from a solitary sale. One sale a week can soon add up to quite a large annual income.

Working for yourself does bear its own dangers and disadvantages of course, but the result is that you take control of your own affairs and decide your own salary within the parameters of the income of the business. The first thing that you have to discern, as a possible business person, is whether you have faith in yourself to make the correct decisions more frequently than not.

There are other rewards to owning your own business than just the pecuniary ones. There is the academic challenge; the freedom to make your own decisions; independence. Basically, freedom from having a boss.

However, this can be a drawback for some people: those who cannot work unsupported; those who like to slope off after making a few dollars and other immature kinds of people.

So, what abilities would you have to have to enter the profitable used car market? Well, the opposite of those mentioned in the last paragraph for a start. You will need discipline and the ability to study and follow the law, even, or even especially, if you make your mind up to sail close to the wind.

You will also need a head for figures and you will also need to know the used car market and have a feeling for people, both those that work for you and those that trade with you.

This last point is incredibly important, because if you drive someone too far attempting to get the most out of the deal, the punter might just go next door.

It is this unique combination of person, technical and managerial skills which will earn you a living and maybe even a fortune. In the next part of this mini-series of articles, we will discuss establishing you used car business.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with remote car alarms. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Laser Temperature Gun.

It’s not all that uncommon to get in fender benders. Ideally, you have car insurance. Car insurance makes getting into minor accidents much less of a big deal

You have to make sure you know what to do and what not to do after an accident, though. You can get stressed after you’ve had an accident and say or do the wrong thing. You can also forget to get the needed information and cause yourself trouble that way. It’s important to know what to do before you find yourself in that situation.

First, so long as no one is hurt, move the cars out of the road. This is very important especially if the accident happened in an intersection.

You really can’t just leave your cars in the intersection. If you do, then cars trying to get around you can have problems and you can actually cause more accidents to happen. Before you move your cars, turn on your hazard lights so that other cars know something is wrong and don’t expect that you’ll be able to travel at the normal rate of speed.

Be sure to call the police next. Now, the police may or may not come to the scene – in some areas, unless there are injuries police are not dispatched. Still, you do need to call the accident in. Ideally you will get a police accident report, because this will make it much easier to deal with insurance companies.

The most important thing to remember is that you have to exchange information with the other driver. You need the basics, like their name and phone number, insurance company, policy number, drivers license number, and the license plate number of their car. You also want to get a general description of the car, such as make, model, and color.

No matter what you do, do not admit fault or apologize to the other driver. It is not up to you to determine who was at fault, even if you suspect it was you. The police will determine who caused the accident.

If you have a camera or camera phone, get out and take some pictures of the vehicles. Try to get shots of both, including the damage done, and get a few shots of the cars’ position in relation to each other. Then when you leave the scene of the accident, call your insurance company and report the accident and provide all of the relevant details they request.

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Some people think that rising gas prices means that nobody drives or rides for fun any more. Car or motorcycle, the logic goes, it is just too expensive to be burning gas without needing to go somewhere. There are a few, though, who still do ride for fun.

Bill Olah, a 62-year-old motorcyclist and property manager, is one such rider. He lives in Milford, CT, and we caught up with him at the local CVS one afternoon in June. Mr. Olah had ridden his Yamaha Stratoliner to run an errand.

At this time, gas was at an all-time high. Still Mr. Olah said that he can ride for five hours a day on the weekends when weather permits. He doesn’t ride much during weekdays because of work.

On weekdays, Mr. Olah drives a Honda Accord. He says that there is a difference in gas mileage between the car and the motorcycle. The motorcycle was purchased two years ago for $17,000.

He says his Honda gets 25 miles per gallon, while his Stratoliner gets somewhere between twenty-five to forty-three. The motorcycle gets best mileage on the highway.

Gas prices in Connecticut are very high, tipping $4.34 per gallon. Obviously saving a bit on gas can then add up pretty quickly.

Mr. Olah said though that this hasn’t made a difference in how much he rides his Stratoliner. Mr. Olah says, “it hasn’t influenced me, no.”

Not everyone can afford pastimes like this one. But still it is nice to see that there are still some bikers who can afford to take out their bikes for a day of riding fun, despite gas prices being what they are. Mr. Olah lives the biker motto “Bike on.”

For the rest of us bikers, it’s probably smart for us to keep our credit cards as handy as our helmets, for those quick fillups!

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What is an air intake kit? If you’ve been looking around you will notice that there are a number of manufacturers in the market. You can find cold air intake kits for just about any car, SUV or truck. Some of the best brands are K&N and Airaid, which I consider some of the best choices for mechanics enthusiasts.

Air flow is required for fuel combustion. Cold Air intake Kits is a system that an unrestricted inlet air system to your motor. You car or SUV comes equipped with an OEM air box with limited potential. With an air intake you deliver more, colder air into your engine, maximizing the power of your vehicle and efficiency. Plus, they will make your ride look cool when looking under the hood, and will growl like you never heard before.

Performance Claims – I have read some fairly aggressive claims about cold air intake systems on the internet regarding the increase in horsepower and gas mileage. When considering a cold air intake system for your truck or car be aware your results will vary depending on your make and model of vehicle, personal driving habits, load on the engine (hauling or towing for example) and the existing air system restriction. If you are person who drives there vehicle “hard” because of increased horsepower after installing a cold air intake system you probably want see any increase in gas mileage. A 5% to 10% increase in horsepower is typical after installing a cold air intake system. I recommend you search for unbiased testimonials on the internet regarding horsepower and gas mileage performance increases regarding cold air intake systems before you purchase.

Cost and Maintenance – Prices of Cold Air Intake Systems range anywhere from $200.00 to $500.00 dollars and components vary with each manufacture. One feature they seem to all have in common is the intake air filter element is reusable and mostly likely will last you for as long as you own the vehicle. To clean the K&N filter in my truck, I simply use a mild detergent, rinse it out thoroughly and re-oil according to the manufacture. No sweat!

Cold Air intake Kits are legal in all fifty states, and will give your car, truck or SUV a better flow and filtration to your motor. They don’t interfere with your installed computer or gas emission system. They are legal in all states and won’t void our warranty. Get some of the best here.

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The best motorcycle loading ramps are a lot more than just a simple ramp. So, even if you think that a ramp is a pretty basic product, there are a few features you might want to take a look at before you buy. Here are some of those features.

Newer ramps are far superior to ramps that were used by bikers in years past. Today’s motorcycle loading ramps have design innovations that make the product both easier and safer to use.

Many of the newer ramps aren’t only one single piece. Instead, they are made to be broken down into sections. Sectional ramps usually divide into three part and are held together with a connecting rod. This style of ramp is designed for quick set-up and tear down along with easy storage.

On sectional ramps, the platform can expand to about thirty eight inches across. This width gives you lots of room to load your bike onto a truck. Once you’ve loaded your bike, it’s a simple matter to fold the ramp in half or even take it apart to store until you arrive at your destination.

Although you don’t necessarily have to take the ramp apart while you go for a ride, doing that allows you to stow it away while you’re gone. Although it does take some time to re-assemble, at least you can secure it in the cab or put it out of sight in the bed of the truck instead of leaving it leaning on your tailgate.

The convenience of use in folding motorcycle loading ramps is an important feature for sure. But there is no doubt that safety is the other feature to look at closely. Ramp manufacturers have worked hard to develop safety features. One of these features is the safety strap that is used in two ways.

Safety straps are used to properly secure the ramp to your truck while loading or unloading your bike. You definitely wouldn’t want the ramp to slide on you while your bike is on it.

Straps are also for holding the sections of your ramp together while you are in transit. If you don’t secure the ramp, it may shift or slide around and can potentially cause damage to your truck bed or even your bike.

Another very worthwhile safety feature is one that is really appreciated by anybody who has ever had to load or unload unassisted. By using the attaching lip, you can ensure the ramp doesn’t slip or move while in use. It comes with rubber pads so your tailgate isn’t damaged during use.

There are many motorcycle loading ramps available today. Just be sure to check out the features each one offers so you can get a ramp that is safe as well as being easy to use and stow.

Using motorcycle loading ramps to get your bike in the back of your pickup is a lot easier than trying to use a two by four for a ramp. Check out the best type of aluminum loading ramp and find what you need at a reasonable price.