Saturday 31 October 2009

Suzuki 650 V-Storm







Suzuki 650 V-Storm Pictures.......................................



By:Novie

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Thursday 22 October 2009

Sunday 18 October 2009

Saturday 17 October 2009

Friday 16 October 2009

Dual Sport Motorcycle Riding, an Introduction to Off-Road Riding




Or Adventure Riding Starts When The Blacktop Stops...Four powerful requirements for riding off-road:

  • What skills are required to have an enjoyable and safe ride?
  • What features are required on the motorcycle?
  • What you need to protect on the bike and yourself?
  • How to ride to suit the condition of the road or track?

By off-road I mean a public, dirt / gravel / sand / dust road, path or track. Motocross (MX) riding isn't addressed with any detail in this article but there the comparison has some relevance.

To safely undertake these types of roads there are four areas to consider i.e. The motorcycle itself, your skill level, your protective apparel and the condition of the road or track.

Concentrating on the dual sport motorcycle for a bit, one commonly demands a dual sport motorcycle that provides torque at low revolutions per minute* (between 3000 and 6000 rpm), and a gearbox that offers a lower first gear and a maximum speed of less than 180kph. As well higher, harder suspension, sensible off-road tyres, broad upright handlebars.

Generally these types of dual sport motorcycles are called enduro or trail with Motocross (MX) bikes being the most extreme cases.

Normally tyres are run a little softer than on the road. A good general pressure level is 1.1 bar (15psi) for the front with the back being slightly harder (increase tyre pressure above 2 bar when going over really rough terrain in order to protect your rims and avoid punctures).

If you plan to ride more ambitious tracks your dual sport motorcycle should have wheel rims with spokes and heavy duty tubes which are able to withstand objects like sticks and rocks.

Inner tubes ought to be replaced every 20,000km even when they've never had a puncture. This is because the area around the valve deteriorates and ultimately tears inducing a puncture that can become irreparable. Water that seeps in past the spokes too causes harm to both the rims, spokes and tube. Ideally your rims should dry before you park your dual sport motorcycle.

The susceptible parts of your motorcycle ought to be protected by engine guards, crash bars, bash plates etc. front and back. This particularly goes for to the larger, dual sport boxer BMW GS series motorcycles where the tappet covers protrude from the side and are particularly susceptible to damage. Particular gear e.g. headlamps, brakes, indicators, radiator, hydraulic brake cylinder etc. should as well be protected.

Whenever you're travelling off-road your baggage must be carried low down to maintain a low centre of gravity. Carrying gear on the pillion seat can cause your dual sport motorcycle to become unstable.

You will not even notice the problem as you depart town on the bitumen. Afterwards as you arrive at the rough stuff, it will be too late!

Protective Riding Gear - All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT) is essential to safe dual sport motorcycle riding!

Accidental injury can be prevented by wearing appropriate protective gear. Helmet, eye and hand protection are evident but do not ignore the following.

  • Riding boots that offer solid ankle joint support (sport shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes are definitely not suitable).
  • Long trousers that are rip resistant (blue jeans, dungarees are not appropriate!).
  • Knee joint protection. This can be built into the construction of the trousers or worn separately and externally over the knee joint.
  • Thigh protection. Usually built into the long trousers.
  • Jacket that offers elbow and shoulder protection.

Riding off-road in very hot areas and at low speeds can be very arduous exercise. This ought to be borne in mind when buying a jacket. For the same reasons one would wear a 3/4 helmet with goggles when riding off-road at speeds of lower than 100kph.

Now the only thing missing is a way gaining the appropriate skills and practice required to make your Adventure riding a pleasurable event.



Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Dual-Sport-Motorcycle-Riding,-an-Introduction-to-Off-Road-Riding!&id=2579487

Sunday 11 October 2009

Thursday 8 October 2009

Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts


Whenever a motorcycle part needs to be replaced, there are two options the bike owner has. He can avail himself of original equipment manufacturers (OEM), or of aftermarket parts.

OEM

OEM parts are the components of the motorcycle that come with the vehicle when purchased directly from the vendor; they are brand new and unchanged. This means that replacing a component of your motorcycle with an OEM part is like replacing it with an original part used to setup your motorcycle. OEM parts are outsourced to a third party company that supplies the component needed for the motorcycle. These parts are workable, but tend to be more expensive, since they are considered to be original parts.

Aftermarket Parts

Aftermarket parts are basically non-OEM parts that are manufactured to work in place of original parts. They could be lower, equal, or higher in terms of performance and the same in terms of pricing, although generally if they are meant to match the original part, they are cheaper.

Aside from pricing, an aftermarket motorcycle part may have a substantial advantage over an OEM part because of the high demand for customization of parts. It could simply be a change in the colors of the chassis and the appearance of the rims of the tires or the cables and sheaves inside the motors. The use of aftermarket parts can be for aesthetic values, performance reasons, and safety enhancements.

Warning

A word of warning when it comes to acquiring aftermarket parts: not all the manufacturers of aftermarket parts are accredited by the manufacturer of the motorcycle, which could mean that although the components may seem to fit the vehicle visually, there may be incompatibilities that are not evident and detectable at first. When using aftermarket parts, it is advisable to check these components before and after every ride.



Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Aftermarket-Motorcycle-Parts&id=278680

Used Motorcycle Parts

Whether it is an engine, transmission, carburetor, gas tank, tire, fender, windshield, crankshaft, cylinder, seat, chassis, bearing, battery, battery charger, or any other motorcycle part, you can purchase used parts and enjoy up to 50 percent off of the regular price of any brand or model.

The part may have originated from a defective motorcycle, but particular components of the vehicle that were not damaged can be salvaged in good condition and sold at a price lower than the market price. It is imperative that, before selecting a part, you determine the specific component you need. Motorcycle parts vary in brands and models. Two models even coming from the same manufacturers may use different parts.

Even custom motorcycle parts can be acquired at lower rates just because they are used. It does not necessarily mean that these used parts are defective or that they will underperform. It could mean that the previous owner has acquired a new custom component and replaced the part and that this used part is still fully functional.

Some used items may even have warranties if you acquired them from a used motorcycle parts vendor.

Alternatives

If you are looking to save by purchasing motorcycle parts but do not want to get used items, you may opt to purchase OEM parts instead. OEM means original equipment manufacturers; these parts were not actually made by the manufacturer of the motorcycle but are manufactured by another independent company. They are only packaged and labeled by the manufacturers as their own. These can be cheaper compared to proprietary parts manufactured by the motorcycle makers.

Auctions can also be a source of cheap parts. Whether brand new or used, these parts can be significantly lower as compared to purchasing directly from a dealer. A word of warning though, there have been several occasions where auctions were used to hoax bidders to acquire items at price higher than its actual value.



Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Used-Motorcycle-Parts&id=278685

Sunday 4 October 2009