Sunday, May 9, 2010

Motorcycle dealers

Motorcycle dealers are always on top of the market because of their product’s affordability.

The reputed motorcycle dealers in the United States are discussed below regarding their origin and why they are on top.

1. Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, popularly known as a Harley, is an American manufacturer that is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They sell heavy weight bikes of over 750 cc because they are designed for cruising on the highway.

The company’s logo licensing will account for the company’s 5% net revenue that was actually estimated to be about $41 million just for last 2004 alone. William S. Harley first drew up the plans in 1901, at the age of 21 years. Thus, this engine was specifically designed for usage within a regular type of “pedal- bicycle frame”.

Moreover, over the succeeding two years, Harley together with Arthur Davidson, his childhood buddy, went to work on this motor-bicycle only with the use of a machine shop situated at the house of their friend.

It was then finished in the year 1903. This was with the assistance of Walter Davidson, Arthur’s brother. When they completed their so-called “power cycle” without the help of pedals, they quickly rode off their first motor experiment. Yet, the original Harley-Davidson type of motorcycle possessed a larger engine, which was estimated to about 24.74 cu. inches with a 9 ¾-inch flywheels and weighs 28 pounds.

In 1906, the company built their first factory on Chestnut Street, where in, 50 motorcycles were produced. In 1907, Harley graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. By the year 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Dealers in 67 countries sold their bikes and it can produce about 28,189 machines.

Furthermore, an association was established in 1983. This is in response to the growing breed of motor riders that believes in an organized way of sharing their passion and showing their pride. In 1991, H.O.G. went international with the first official European H.O.G. Today, more than 1400 chapters worldwide make H.O.G. In fact, it is considered as the biggest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization in the world and it even comes hand in hand with being the number one manufacturer in the world.

2. Ducati

Ducati’s headquarters is situated in Bologna, Italy. They gained their name in motorcycle racing and in the motorcycle industry as well. In the 1960’s, Ducati’s history started by having the then fastest ever regarded 250cc “road bike” available, the acclaimed Mach 1.

Hence, in the 1970’s they started producing their huge “displacement L-twin motorcycles”. Then, in 1973, it released the desmodromic trademarked valve design. Hence, Ducati is well known for their high performance bikes that are characterized by a large capacity four-stroke, 90-degree L-twin engines, and having the desmodromic valve.

Cheap motorcycle

A cheap motorcycle helmet doesn’t have to be inferior to the more expensive ones. It is just a matter of looking for what kind of motorcycle helmets would work best for you. There are cheap motorcycle helmets that can perform just as well as the most popular brands out there. In order to look for them, you should be able to know how to find those helmets and what features and qualities to look for.

One of the most important features that you should look for in looking for a cheap motorcycle helmet is the comfort that it provides. The motorcycle helmet can either make or break your riding experience. An uncomfortable helmet can make any ride an agonizing experience. Helmet comfort is difficult to determine right away. In order to make your search easier, try checking out cheap but recognizable brands which are generally the most comfortable.

Check out also the soft rubber padding touching your head as well as the solid seal around the ears. Check out also the neck roll which cradles the back of your head and neck. When trying out a cheap motorcycle helmet, make sure that it snugly fits into your head without being too constricting. But also make sure that it isn’t loose enough to shift about your head.

Another feature that you should look for in a cheap motorcycle helmet is the level of safety that it can provide. The best motorcycle helmets are those that provide the most protection. In finding the best helmet for you, check for the fit as well as the interior padding that can provide you with the protection that you need. See to it that these interior pads can help provide the amount of safety and protection that you are looking for as well as comfort.

Try also checking out the helmets chin strap which must reach around your and under your chin comfortably and securely so that the helmet would not shift about unnecessarily. Make sure that your helmet is also the best fitted for you by wearing it yourself. A good fit should mean a helmet that is settled low on the forehead and just above your eyebrows.

Motorcycle luggage

For many of you who love travel by motorcycle may absolutely understand the importance of motorcycle luggage which makes you a lot comfortable during the trip. Travel by motorcycle is completely different from travel by any other kind of transportation. This is because you will have very limited space to keep travel luggage as well as you need some kind of extra security to make sure that luggage will not be lost when you carry them and ride motorcycle. According to reason described above, now there are luggage that specially made only for motorcycle trips. Of course you need this kind of luggage to keep the personal things in a safe and comfort.

Motorcycle luggage today is not only limited on one or two function and design, but there are hundreds of them available for you to choose from. They are available in both hard case and soft case materials. Generally, you may find that hard material is usually more expensive than the soft luggage. Even though the soft motorcycle luggage may cheaper than the hard type, but soft luggage also has limited space and capacity. They may be suitable for some of you who has not many stuff to carry and has limited budget. But for those who may be able to afford hard luggage and bigger luggage, you may buy hard luggage as they can serve you needs very well in a long run. The most common type of motorcycle luggage are tank luggage, side luggage, roll-tool bags and cruiser cases.

When choosing motorcycle luggage, there are some key criteria that you need to consider. One is you need to decide about the size and capacity that you need. This is very important factor, because it relates to the budget. Choosing as large as you budget can afford to make sure that you gain maximum value of money. The second thing is you have to know what kind of motorcycle that you have whether it could support which kind of motorcycle luggage it should fit perfectly with the type of the luggage so you can use it effective. In may case I found that there are many people who just bought the motorcycle luggage that could not be used with the bike and they have to ask for refund. However, the motorcycle luggage available today, most of them can be fit to any type of motorcycle so you may do not have to worry about this too much, but just to make sure that the luggage could be fully fix to the bike and locked securely. The last criteria that you have to consider are whether the luggage that you buy is easy to install. This is because sometimes installation can cause trouble and take a lot of time to complete if you choose the type that not easy to install.

Generally, motorcycle luggage require very low care and maintenance but you still have to look after them from time to time, especially if you have leather motorcycle luggage, which you have to keep them away from chemicals and scratch and you have to polish the surface sometimes. If you have luggage that made from other material, then you can rest assure that they require much less care than leather and this is strongly suggest having ones.

Motorcycle exhaust

One of the first things most riders do when they first purchase a bike is change out the stock exhaust system with an aftermarket motorcycle exhaust. If you have a sport bike you may just opt for some slip-ons. A cruiser will usually require a full exhaust system. The benefits of aftermarket systems is an increase in power as well as that it will improve the sound of the bike. When you get your bike from the factory the baffles usually restrict the sound of your bike so much that it can be barely herd as well as restrictions in exhaust flow are in place which restrict the horse power. The other most significant factor especially on sport bikes is the weight reduction a full race exhaust system can offer.

If you are the proud owner of a Cruiser you are most likely to replace the stock exhaust system with an aftermarket system. Their are many manufacturers available for cruisers. Cobra, Vance and Hines and Samson are just a few. Most of these will reduce the weight of the stock exhaust system by about 15 pounds, increase the performance of the bike and will make it louder. A new system will run somewhere between 300 to over 1000 dollars depending on the system you choose. Cobra makes some nice exhaust systems at a very affordable price. If you have a V-Twin whether its a American or metric bike a new motorcycle exhaust will make the bike sounds ten times better then any stock exhaust. If you do decide to drop the OEM pipes and go with an aftermarket system you will need to adjust your carburetor or have someone remap your fuel injection system in order to accommodate the new pipes. If you do not you will find that the bike will not perform properly or it may even cause engine damage. If you have a fuel injected bike you will likely need to buy a power commander to make the adjustments needed to accommodate the new exhaust. When figuring out the cost of getting a system make sure you figure this in to the equation. I recommend that you have the system installed and the bike tuned by a reputable motorcycle shop.

OEM Exhaust Systems on Sport Bikes have become fairly decent, however many restrictions are still put in to the OEM systems due to laws that have been passed. For a sport bike you will tend to have a choice of just replacing the Cans or replacing the whole exhaust system. This is really a matter of how deep you want to get in to it. Re tuning is going to be needed either way, the only real question is if you want to spend a few hundred bucks or a thousand or so. Usually their is significant weight reduction by going with a full system replacement versus just the slip-ons. The Slip-ons are the cheaper way to go and still get the most bang for your buck. You

will definitely need to get a power commander to remap the fuel injection. A lot of the newer liter bikes that are coming out already have a full titanium exhaust system on them so all you need is to replace the cans to take out the restrictions. Their are lots of manufacturers to choose from when picking a aftermarket exhaust for a sport bike. Here are a few: Cobra, Vance and Hines, Two Brothers, Yoshimura, Jardine to name a few. Choosing one is just a matter of taste.

motorcycle saddlebags

Riding a motorcycle these days is not only fun but with today's gas prices it is also quite economical. The only problem with riding a bike is that their is a serious lack of storage unless you happen to have a Goldwing or maybe a Harley Dresser youre going to need some saddlebags or some sort of tank bag to carry your stuff in. Their are ups and downs to both choices and some of it also depends on your motorcycle. If you have a cruiser your ideal choice is probably some sort of saddlebags or luggage type bags. For Sport Bikes the easy answer is likely to be a tank bag.

If you have a cruiser choosing a saddlebag for your ride is really a matter of taste. Their are so many too choose from its not even funny. Motorcycle saddlebags come in a variety of styles. Most are made of some type of leather or a synthetic material. Modern Saddlebags generally have a hard case liner in side which keeps the shape of the bag. When choosing a saddle bag it is best to choose something that will look good on your motorcycle. If you get something you don't like you are not as likely to use it. Bags come with studs and fringes and even locks if you want. You can choose from either permanently mounted saddle bags or ones that can easily come off the bike. I recommend you get some that can be removed easily so they can be carried in with you if you are planning to ride your bike to work or some other place where you will be away from the bike for a while. Most motorcycle saddle bags can be removed easily and put back on just as quickly. If you decide on some that mount permanently make sure they lock. Some of your more popular saddlebag makers are Saddlemen, Saddle Stow, Willie and

Max, Ace, and ZR. Their are more brands than these but these are the major manufacturers for motorcycle saddlebags. Most of these are easily mounted and come with all the necessary hardware. Also T-Bags makes some really nice Sissy Bar Bags that have a decent amount of storage space. T-Bags also makes motorcycle luggage to fit most cruisers as well as sport bikes.

For sport bike riders the preference tends to be a tank bag. Since saddlebags tend to lean more towards the classic look they aren't to appealing to riders of sport bikes. Tank Bags are actually a great alternative to saddlebags, most are expandable and can carry quite a bit of stuff as wells as that most tank bags have side pockets for extra storage. Most tank bags use a magnetic mounting system in combination with a strap that ties of to the steering head of the bike. This makes it really easy to pull the tank bag of and on with out it being a big pain. This makes it easy to take off the bike and carry with you if you plan on being away from the bike for a while. Most of these bags also have a carrying handle which makes it even easier for you to carry the bag

with you. Their are a lot of different tank bag sizes available so it is important to pick a size the will suit your needs. I recommend one that is expandable which will allow you to make it compact or expand it for more capacity when needed. Also when picking a tank bag you want to pick one that is water resistant in case you get caught in a down pour. Most tank bags are either made from water resistant material or come with a built in rain cover.

Custom motorcycle

If you are looking for a custom motorcycle helmet, there are many shops that can make one for you. There are a lot of motorcycle helmets you can choose from. With many designs and makers to choose from, you would surely have your hands full finding one that you will like. Different designs offer different levels of comfort and styling. There are different types of motorcycle helmets available for different types of rides.

One of the more common motorcycle helmet types is the full face helmet. This type of motorcycle helmet covers the whole head and provides the most extensive head protection to the rider. A rear extension of this type of helmet covers the base of the skull while the front tries to protect the chin. A plastic face shield allows protection to the eyes and nose and provides access to the face if pushed up. Riders would usually experience of heat, claustrophobic sensation and reduced hearing while using the full face motorcycle helmet.

Then there is the ¾ motorcycle helmet, also known as the open face helmet. This type of helmet, just like the full face helmet, covers the back of the skull but gets rid of the lower chin armor and face shield in order to provide better airflow, hearing and peripheral vision. As added protection, most open face helmets are equipped with visors that help block out sunlight. For the eyes, it is always recommended to use goggles or wrap around sunglasses as a means of protection.

There is also the half helmet that would give you the most minimum coverage allowed by motorcycle helmet law. This type of helmet has the same front design as the open face helmet but with a cropped rear portion. The use of goggles and sunglasses can provide additional protection to the rider, just like the open face helmet. Before buying this kind of helmet, make sure that it meets the government standard for motorcycle helmet safety.

But if among the hundreds of motorcycle helmet designs available do not have the features that you want, you can have one custom made just for you. Custom made motorcycle helmets are for those with special needs. They are for people who look for a unique type of helmet in terms of design or shape.

Motorcycle touring

While not a particular style in its own right, the motorcycle touring jacket rather encompasses all styles, and is designed for the long haul with the comfort and protection of the rider as the first and foremost priority.

As such, you will find traditional touring jackets, touring scooter jackets, cruiser styles, and even well armored racing style jackets all made from the finest of leathers and the best craftsmanship.

The touring jacket concept assumes that the rider will be spending long hours on the road, perhaps up to eight or more, and rightly deserves to be as comfortable as possible. Being exposed to the elements for such lengthy stretches of time also necessitates the use of the best of material for comfort and safety.

For these reasons, a good leather touring jacket will usually be offered in top or full grain naked buffalo or cowhide, and can reach thicknesses of up to 2mm.

The importance of a good, thick leather jacket cannot be overemphasized in the case of an unintended slide across an asphalt road, and for safety reasons, touring jackets will often be offered with a matching pair of chaps. Because of the quality of design and material used, a good touring jacket will obviously be on the high end of the price range, and will often be adorned with braiding, Conchos and other forms of decorative craftsmanship.

Of course, the individual tourer has all the options available with all styles of motorcycle jackets, and can choose according to the conditions the rider expects to be touring in. It is a given that any upper range touring jacket will start with a zip out lining, so choose a jacket with plenty of vents for warmer climate, side laces and neck warmers for colder ones.

For your comfort and protection, many modern day touring jackets offer removable protectors at the shoulders and elbows. Look for the CE approval. Some styles even offer a built in kidney belt, a welcomed addition by anyone spending long hours on a bike.

Ease of movement is also addressed by the addition of stretch panels under the arms and/or sides. Also look for stretch material in your touring chaps or pants. Sudden movements and quick reaction to events on the road should not be impeded by your touring apparel.

Just as any style of motorcycle jacket can be called a touring jacket, so can they be offered in lesser grades of leather such as top grain, or even the soft light weight leathers of lambskin, sheep or goat. For the non rider that just likes the look, this is fine. For the biker that makes shorter trips, or only rides sporadically but likes a particular touring jacket style, the less expensive grains of buffalo and cow are also perfectly suitable.