beernotkids.com - Your online Motorcycle information source

Due to high fuel prices, many people have decided that a motorcycle might be a way to save a little money. Motorcycles can also provide a lot of fun and excitement, which is something that cars that get really good gas mileage fail to accomplish. The thing people need to consider when it comes to buying a motorcycle is the price and how much the insurance will cost. Many people look at motorcycles and do not believe something so small could possibly be worth a lot of money, but motorcycles can actually exceed the $20,000 mark. Sure, people can still buy motorcycles relatively cheaply, but they will find that the selection will be pretty slim. Instead of looking for a cheap new motorcycle, people should look at used motorcycles that are frequently as nice as new bikes but only a fraction of the price.

Why Buy Used?
When people look for their first motorcycle, the most practical choice would be to buy a used model. When people buy a used motorcycle, they will find that it will save them a substantial amount of money. In addition, a used motorcycle will obviously be a few years older, so owners will also save quite a bit of money on their insurance. The last thing someone wants to do is to get all excited about buying a motorcycle, only to discover that the motorcycle insurance is going to eat away what they would save in gas mileage. People will also find that it takes time and practice to master riding a motorcycle, and a lot of people will end up putting some stress on the bike’s transmission and paint. No one wants to buy a brand new motorcycle and tear it up a few months later.

Buying a Used Motorcycle
When people search for used motorcycles, they will find that they have a variety of options. It is important for them to look for a motorcycle that fits their budget and their skill level. Ideal starter bikes would be those that do not have a lot of power, such as a bike in the 250 to 400 cubic centimeters range. These bikes will still have plenty of power to ride at highway speeds, but they will not be anywhere near as powerful as a racing bike, so new riders will not be putting themselves in harm’s way.

If people buy a used bike that does not have a lot of power, they will find that it is the smartest move in the long-run. They will find that a used motorcycle is a great way to save a little money in the beginning, and the rider will gain a lot of confidence in their riding ability. The good news is that the owner can keep their used bike for years to come, or they can choose to upgrade once they have mastered the riding techniques.

If you like to ride your motorcycle on the two-lane highways through the most scenic areas in our nation then you know there are deer on the road. I guarantee you; you do not want to hit a deer because motorcycles and deer do not mix.

Let me tell you a story about a couple of friends of mine and how we use to rip through the Malibu hills on our motorcycles; you see, all of us had high-tech fully raced out race bikes and we had square headlights and if you have ever ridden a motorcycle with square headlights in fast canyon sweeping corners in pitch black conditions, then you know that as you turn so to the edges of where the light goes and once you get use to it is not that big of a deal. Actually, you know it is such a rush and we had a blast doing it, but there are times when a deer could pop out on the road and you would not see it right away because of the angle of the light.

Well this happened to my friend Scott and we were behind Scott and we saw the deer, and beeped our horns. Scott had already passed the threshold and the deer jumped because it was afraid of our light and the winding sound of our race bikes, Yoshi pipes have a unique sound. Anyway, the deer’s back legs hit the handlebars of Scott’s motorcycle twisting them sideways and he flew forward, he was going about 40-45 mph on the turn and had just downshifted so maybe he hit the deer at 30 mph, remember it was pitch black and all this happened in a tenth of a second or so. Well one of the legs of the deer hit his helmet so hard it put a hole in it, ouch! Drain Bramage!

The deer crashed onto the pavement and rolled around and it was stunned for a second and a half and then the darn thing popped up on its feet and ran almost running into Scott who was now laying on the pavement. Scott had a lot of damage to his bike and it cost him $1200 in plastic and another $900 in other parts to fix it. Luckily, he had no personal injuries other than a sore wrist and he could not ride for two weeks or sit home and you know? Poor bum, we have never stopped teasing him about that. Scott is fine now and takes it in stride, but it could’ve been a lot worse. Trust me when I tell you that Deer and motorcycles to not mix. One more story of a 100 told to you digitally.

“If you are going to do something, be the best”
Ginichi Kawakami, Yamaha Motor Company First President.

Yamaha Motorcycles, under this motto, employing all its creativity, and with a very strong spirit of challenge, became what it is now: one of the biggest players in the worldwide motorcycling scene.

But Yamaha’s history doesn’t start with motorcycles…

It is back in 1877 that Torakusu Yamaha started with the Nippon Gakki Company that later would become Yamaha Corporation: an important manufacturer of fine musical instruments.

As the company grew, they explored several fields of opportunity in the textile industry and others.

During the World War II, the company set up a factory to produce airplane propellers. This plant played an important role in Yamaha’s entry to the motorcycle industry as you will see.

After the war, Yamaha Corporation had to find new ways to use the tooling and experience that had been accumulated during their times in the airplane industry, and it was then when Yamaha Motor Corporation was founded.

It’s important to mention that even though this new company was just another branch of Yamaha Corporation, it was placed under an independent management. In this case, under the guidance of Ginichi Kawakami; which turned out to be a brilliant move.

Before producing their first motorcycle, Ginichi Kawakami traveled a lot establishing what would be very useful relationships. He also sent out his engineers to Europe and had them learn how to build motorcycles, particularly from DKW; whom with they kept an underground and unofficial long lasting relationship.

One proof of this is that nowadays, the only two manufacturers in the world of mass-produced five side-valve engines are Yamaha an Audi (DKW - Auto Union).

One of the most important legacies from this international relationships were all the skills learnt by Yamaha’s engineers on two stroke engines know-how. Other manufacturers as Suzuki would not reach the same level of development in this area till seven years later.

Not to wonder why the first bike from Yamaha Motorcycles the 125 YA-1 was fairly a faithful copy of the 1949 DKW RT 12. The only two important differences were the four speed gearbox instead of the original three speed gearbox, and a gear transmission replacing the primary chain drive.

IMPORTANT MODEL FROM YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES

>>> Yamaha YA-1

Even though the Yamaha YA-1 - baptized “Acatombo” (Red dragonfly) by its fans - had “nothing in special” and was more expensive than its competitors, it almost immediately became a great success.

It was reliable: before putting it into the market, the prototypes were tested along 10,000 miles of rough rides . Even the big boss himself, Ginichi Kawakami, rode the bike without any incident from Hamamatsu to Tokyo.

It was beautiful: with this model Yamaha was the first manufacturer to put special attention to the decoration of the motorcycle. This task was given to GK Design in Tokyo. It’s worth mentioning that this firm has designed the “look” of most Yamaha motorcycles to date.

It was fast: the YA-1 obtained excellent overall results in the most important local races of that time: Mount Fuji (third place) and Mount Asama (first place).

In fact it was this aggressive attitude in the sporting world that helped Yamaha Motorcycles gain fast acceptance even though they made a late start in the motorcycle scene (in comparison to Honda and Suzuki).

In other words: Yamaha Motorcycles showed the world they had arrived to be considered good and fierce competitors from the beginning. Particularly to Honda and Suzuki.

Other important models from that time were:

>>> The Yamaha YD-1 (the competition for the Suzuki TP of that time)

Some technical specifications:

Yamaha YD-1

15 hp
70 mph.
185,000 yen

in comparison to:

Suzuki TP

18 hp
80 mph.
195,000 yen

>>> The Yamaha YDS-1

The dream bike of all young Japanese between 1959-1960.

Some technical specifications:

20 hp
333 lbs.
85 mph.

Direct rival of the Honda CB72

Since then, the history of models and victories goes on and on…

Today, Yamaha Motorcycles is one of the major players in the worldwide motorcycling scene.

Just to give you an idea of how important Yamaha Motorcycles have become:

- The 2004 Moto GP was won by excellent rider Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha motorcycle.

I could go an and on writing about Yamaha Motorcycles, victories, challenges and models but I would need a whole book…

Each year high performance motorcycles get faster, lighter and stronger. One has to wonder will this ever end, as the trend has been going on for many decades. The next evolution of high performance motorcycles will include such things is carbon nano-tube construction, which is 50 times stronger than steel for the same weight.

This means that the weight of the motorcycle will come down substantially and therefore the performance will be greatly enhanced. Will this be enough? We find in racing and human competition with high performance motorcycles that better it is never enough.

Many high-performance motorcycle racers, crew mechanics and the engineers who build them will say such things as; This Motorcycle Flies. Indeed, if you put a set of wings on a motorcycle it actually would fly, because many of these motorcycles are capable of 180 to 200 mph. The average cruising speed for a Cessna 172 private aircraft is about 145 mph.

So the question is; where he is the future of high performance motorcycles going and how soon and tell these rapidly approaching super technologies will hit the streets or the runways? We all know that the latest and greatest transfer technologies from military are passed down to industries like competitive sports, entertainment and business.

Carbon nano tubes technologies do exist, unfortunately it costs quite a bit to construct things out of this material, yet you can be share as the costs come down they will be used in racing, Olympic sports equipment and golf clubs. I hope you will enjoy this philosophical discussion about potential applications for future racing technologies of all types.

We should discuss high-tech training, virtual reality simulation, electronic equipment, new materials, alternative fuels and the next-generation of high-performance motorcycle racing as well; because all of this will play a part in the future of high-performance motorcycles. Perhaps this article is of interest to propel thought in 2007?

A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that moves with the help of an engine. The two wheels are situated in-line where the rider of the motorcycle sits on a seat with his hands placed on a set of handlebars. It is through these handlebars that the rider steers the motorcycle. The accelerator and brakes that are found on the handle bar control the speed of the motorcycle. The rider supports his feet on a set of foot pegs that project from the frame of the motorcycle.

There are many types of motorcycles available. They mainly differ in their engine capacities and weight. It is always better to buy a heavier motorcycle, as it can withstand collisions with less damage to the bike and the rider. Those who can’t afford new motorcycles can always buy a used one. There are even motorcycles designed for children. They are called mini motorcycles. Those wanting a unique motorcycle can buy a custom made one that is designed according to specifications.

A motorcycle is an economical means of transportation, when compared to other engine powered vehicles. Because of the smaller engine, a motorcycle offers good mileage and is convenient to use for errands. It is easy to park and is great in traffic jams; one can easily maneuver between larger vehicles.

It is important to have motorcycle insurance. It may be more costly because the probability of having an accident on a motorcycle is higher than driving a car. However, there are companies who specialize in motorcycle insurance and offer fairly reasonable rates.

The motorcycle was introduced in the latter half of the 19th century. Since then this has been the most common and popular means of transport. An electric motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by battery and is the latest innovation in the motorcycle industry.

Basically, electric motorcycles can be classified into two; power-on-demand motorcycles and power-assist motorcycles. Earlier, electric motorcycles were used only for races. With the introduction of electric motorcycles for general use, they have become one of the most popular and trendy means of transport among the local masses. Unlike the ordinary motorcycles, the electric motorcycles are powered by batteries. Thus, electric motorcycles are the best solution for air pollution and making the earth a better place to live in.

On an average, the lifespan of the battery is approximately 300 charges or 15000 km, and it may last for one to two years. The blade of the electric motorcycles delivers horsepower which is equivalent to a 250 four-stroke motor. Apart from high performance, the blade does not produce any noise or pollution. The control of the blade can be programmed to suit the ride. When compared with other motorcycles, the electric motorcycles are lightweight.

To meet the varying demands, the electric motorcycle comes in a wide range of colors, models and brands. EMB Inc., Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki are some of the leading companies dealing in electric motorcycles. Most popular models in electric motorcycles are TDM07Z, SW-0004, and SW-0004.

Depending on the availability, all the different models of electric motorcycles can be purchased from various sources, the favorite being the online stores. Internet is packed with numerous online sites which provide a wide range of options in electric motorcycles. Another major source from where you can purchase electric motorcycles is authorized dealers.

Electric motorcycles are available in different price levels to meet the varying needs. When compared with petrol or gas motorcycles, the electric motorcycles are quite expensive. A brand new electric motorcycle with 48-Volt SLA Battery pack will cost around $6,800 and a longer range electric motorcycle will cost more. In spite of the high cost, it is considered as the most viable option for a pollution free and joyful ride.

To really understand the women and her ride, one needs to go back in history to explore the courageous women who defied the norm and road their horses in the freedom of the wind. Who could forget Joan of Arc or Annie Oakley. Two completely different women who followed their own council and fought for their right to ride in a man’s world. Or the women warlords who fought while on horseback and brandished their swords with the best of them. (and yes, women really did that) What man could resist such a women?

Women’s love affair with the motorcycle began with the bicycle back in the 1800’s. They became hugely popular with women. Susan B. Anthony once said, “A bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women more than any other thing in this world”.

When the motorized bicycle was developed in the early 1900’s, it opened up a whole new realm of adventure for the high-spirited woman of the day. Many women took to the open road not on horseback, but on the iron horse. Adventurous women enjoyed many long distance rides. Some were skilled enough to do stunt riding. No mean feat, especially on the earlier bikes.

The ride for men and women are uniquely different. A man on his ride is master of the iron muscle and his testosterone kicks in while he uses his arms and upper body to control the beast. He is lord and master of his ride. Women take a more subtle approach. They use their lower body and their curves to hug the open road. It’s a sensual bond between the bike and the woman. She is also master of the ride but she controls it with more passion and finesse.

There is something about seeing a woman on a motorcycle that makes you take notice. You can see the iron muscle being controlled with femininity. It’s the combination of power and aesthetics that make it an irresistible combination.

There is nothing like the open road for both men and women. To experience the freedom and the wind, the sites you see and people you meet along the way that fuel the spirit and feed the soul. This experience is something no one can take from you.

Enjoy!

A motorcycle is considered as the one of the trendiest and common means of transport. Earlier, it was popular only among men. But, today, even girls are passionate about this trendy vehicle and are widely using it off and on road rides.

As the physical structure of a woman is entirely different from a man, a woman should select a motorcycle which will suit her physical structure. For example, women generally have forward riding postures because of the lower center of gravity and less upper body weights. To provide more control and comfort while riding, the motorcycles for women come with dropped handlebars. In order to reduce the problem of saddle discomfort, the weight is shifted from the seat region to the arms. Motorcycles also come with specially designed seats for women riders.

With an increase in the use of motorcycles by girls, numerous models and brands of motorcycles are introduced in the market, and this includes a lot of poorly designed vehicles also. Therefore, it is always recommended to take lots of quality test rides before selecting one. Generally, the motorcycles used by women are the lighter versions of the men’s model. Thus, they are easier to handle and comfortable to ride.

There are many special organizations and clubs for motorcycles girls. These clubs and organizations arrange for motorcycle rallies and events for girls. One such event is the bike week organized in Daytona Beach of Florida. This bike rally started in 1937, and since then it has been considered one of the most popular events for women riders. Bike week is organized every year, and motorcycle girls from all around the world come to take part in this rally. Apart from the rally, wet t shirt contests, bikini contests, pudding wrestling, coleslaw wresting, and many other hot events are organized during the bike week.

It is also considered fashionable for girls on motorcycles. Every motorcycle magazine has motorcycle girls on their pages throughout each issue. Thus, you get to see a girl on top of every great article of a quality motorcycle magazine.

Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles — powered, for the most part, by oil- and gas-burning engines similar to those used in chain saws, weed whackers or other small motorized tools — and they look just like the real thing.

The snazziest models cost thousands and are made in Italy, but the ones that are selling by the container load run from $200 to $500. They come from China, among other places, and are getting snapped up by eager teenagers and, in some cases, not-so-teenagers.

At Broadtek LLC, a South San Francisco firm that imports them, the cardboard cartons containing the small bikes are stacked to the ceiling of a tall warehouse and are quickly going out the door to eager customers.

In Walnut Creek, Eric Rahin, owner of Sonic Scooterz, says he’s selling them in droves — “from college students to people in their late 50s. It’s basically a toy to have some fun with.”

Manufacturers say the bikes are supposed to be used only on closed race tracks, private roads or any other place where there are no public traffic laws and, more important, no big cars or trucks to run into you. Many buyers follow that advice.

But now you see some of these new pocket bikes zinging in and out of parking lots, up and down residential streets and, occasionally into the side of a car. And therein lies the rub.

“It’s very difficult for a driver (of a car) to see one on those bikes, because of their low height,” said San Francisco police Lt. Kitt Crenshaw. “We’ve had several accidents in the last few weeks, and people went to the hospital.”

The pocket bikes have a top speed of about 35 mph, but can be souped up to go faster. They evolved from tiny but highly sophisticated racing bikes that campaign on European race tracks and are sometimes used as training vehicles for Grand Prix motorcycle racers.

The bikes are faithful imitations of popular normal-size street motorcycles, which, for marketing reasons, are faithful imitations of pure race bikes, down to the disk brakes, handlebars, chain drives, twist-grip throttles and electronic ignition.

The little bikes weigh about 50 pounds, stand about a foot and a half high and can easily be put in the trunk of a car. They have tiny engines — 47cc or 49cc displacement, less than 1/20th the size of a big motorcycle. And they are enticing.

“It’s a fun little thing to ride,” said Matt Damon, a 21-year-old salesman in a Martinez pet store. “It’s a whole lot cheaper than a $6,000 or $7,000 big bike. For years now, I’ve been riding different types of motorcycles, but it’s more like the small bikes are a fun thing, instead of just transportation. And it’s easier to maintain and burns less gas.”

But Damon did admit, “I took it for a ride down the street and got pulled over. The officer was kind of nice about it. But I got a ticket.”

Police departments in the Bay Area and elsewhere in California have been cracking down on the little two-wheelers, saying they are a major accident waiting to happen. No police agency could come up with information about any deaths caused by pocket bike crashes, but police want them off the public roads before the inevitable happens.

“Their numbers are starting to increase,” said Milpitas police Officer Jay Johnson, who was assigned by his department to look into the phenomenon and ultimately write about it for the weekly Milpitas Post. “Most of the complaints we’re getting is that drivers can’t see them or there’ll be a group of them racing, or they’re running stop signs.”

For a while, though, until Johnson began studying up on the subject, and the California Highway Patrol sent out a memo clarifying just what is and what is not legal about the bikes, confusion seemed to be paramount.

In fact, it shouldn’t be. On many bikes, there’s a decal right there on the gas tank that says these things do not conform to “federal motor vehicle safety standards.”

After a lengthy consult with the state Vehicle Code and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the CHP explained that the bikes do not meet a number of standards required for all vehicles registered in California — the most telling example being the stipulation that “headlamp height (be) between 22 and 54 inches.”

Technical problems aside, it’s the safety issue that concerns authorities.

“We’re really concerned about these things mixing with traffic,” said CHP spokesman Steve Kohler. “If you think about it, something that small is difficult to see, when it’s mixed in with cars, trucks and buses. Drivers don’t even see full-size motorcycles. There’s no way they’re going to see these things.”

Or, as David Edwards, editor in chief of Cycle World Magazine and a man who puts about 20,000 miles a year on motorcycles, said: “When you get out in city traffic, you’ll be at more risk than on a full-size motorcycle. But they only hold (a little) gas, so you won’t go too far. And they’re noisy as hell, so at least people will hear you coming if not see you coming.”

Motorcycles and motorcycle riding is a growing fashion these days. There exists number of different reasons why people are getting attracted towards motorcycles, motorcycle rides, motorcycle gear etc. The passion of having all this is increasing day by day.

The reason why people are passionate towards motorcycles and motorcycle gear is it is realistic and adventuress. And when you ride you can smell the surroundings notice every thing which people driving a car notice occasionally. Another most important reason of popularity of motorcycles and motorcycle gear is the ever-increasing demand.

When motorcycles were not so common people didn’t knew anything about motorcycle gear. But now the scene is totally different people even know about the latest motorcycle gears beforehand. What a rider needs is to ride a motorcycle at a good speed plus should be able to give a sporty and a smart look while riding. For the fulfillment of such kind of demands riders are moving to adapt the latest fashion trends. Due to which they are even taking good care of their dressing sense and personality. Even at times there is some kind of “show-off” in concern of motorcycle and motorcycle gear. To improve their persona riders are keen to buy motorcycle gear such as motorcycle helmets, motorcycle jackets, motorcycle pants, motorcycle boots, motorcycle gloves and lots of others things. These motorcycle gears create excitement among the riders and allow them to become part of something which they believe is much bigger than what they are actually.

On the other hand these motorcycle gears are pretty necessary for passionate riders as these protect the rider from accident’s or mishaps to a good extent. These motorcycle gears work as a protective shield for riders. But the dilemma is that riders lacks in understanding the importance of such motorcycle gears which protects them besides they use them just for fun.