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Helmets - Why Do You Need It When Riding?


Helmet is a French derivative of the word ‘helm’ from 15th century. Although helmets are available in countless designs for different utilities, they all serve just one purpose, which is head protection. The earlier helmets used to be manufactured in leather till the 10th century AD when metals with inner cloth lining for cushioning and comfort of wearing on the head became the norm. Helmet wearing is mandatory in northern America, barring a few states, for all bikers, whereas Sikhs are demanding a waiver from this mandate.

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Functional Utility and Symbolism
Till the early 20th century, helmets were basically the protective head gears of soldiers and used to be a part of combat uniform. With industrialization, helmets reinvented themselves and undergone a lot of changes, both in terms of strengths and weights and became a ‘must wear’ for certain industrial workers in sectors such as mining, construction and manufacturing etc. Surely, the popularity of helmets shot-up, thanks to the symbolic protection they offered.


Typical Classification
Helmets can be classified based on their utility and construction. The simplest for of helmets worn by construction workers and bicycle riders are nothing more than ‘hard hats’ as they are required to protect blunt impacts, whereas a soldier’s helmets are designed for ballistic impact protection. These are made by Kevlar©, which has excellent bullet proofing qualities and fragmentation powers.

Helmets match particular needs also. Military helmets identify the ranks of the wearers with symbolic visors and bars therein, whereas ‘hard hats’ of bicycle riders sport large ventilation slots.

Quality Standards
Bikers and parents of small children are in dilemma concerning the sudden fall in children’s helmet prices. One must keep in mind that price is not a good quality indicator. In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires all helmets be certified. The certification is issued after stringent quality tests are carried out. There is another quality standard for helmets, too. Snell Memorial Foundation standards or ‘Snells’ as they are known are a bit extra stringent, albeit not compulsory by all types of helmet manufacturers to conform to. This fact should try to put at rest the apprehensions of consumers when they don’t see Snells’ label on helmets.


It is hard to think of a modern and adventurous sport without helmets being mandatory. Although helmets aren’t absolutely safe, you can’t think of cross country biking without them, especially if the riders are your little ones, helmets are a must!

Motorcycle Maintenance - A Basic Guide


Here we have a few things you should check on your motorcycle on a regular basis. I assume you have a handbook with the specs for your bike, if not, go get one. You may be able to find some data for your particular motorcycle on the net. You can also pick up workshop manuals for various models on eBay in PDF or CD form for little money.

Whereas with a four wheeled vehicle you may get away with being lax with things like tire pressures etc, this is not the case with a motorcycle. You should not risk compromising the safety and stability of your motorcycle, for the sake of a bit of routine maintenance.

Pre-ride checks


Tires – check condition and for foreign objects in the tread.
Tire pressures – it is vitally important to keep your motorcycles tire pressures either on spec or very close to it.
Oil level – always check with the bike on level ground.
Coolant level – only if your bike’s liquid cooled, obviously.
Chain – check the tension and make sure it’s well lubed.
Brakes – check they work and that they feel good.
Lights – check all your lights, especially the brake light, you don’t want to get rear ended, do you?
Visual inspection – self explanatory.
All ok – hit the road.
Periodical checks



Check battery – see that the connections are tight; I dropped a bike once because of a loose battery connection, strange but true. Also check the electrolyte level on some batteries, a lot of newer batteries are gel filled, sealed for life types, so no need with these.
Carb balance – if your bike is multi carbed get yourself a Morgan carbtune or similar. It can be a little tricky the first time you balance them, but when you’ve done it once, the second time will be easy.
Ignition timing – only necessary on some bikes, most newer models have electronic ignition which does not need touching, normally.
Valve clearances – unless you’re a good home mechanic, take it to a dealer.
Wheel bearings – grab each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play. There should be none or maybe a trace at most.
Steering head bearings – with the front end off the ground, grab the forks and push and pull. There should be no play.
Swinging arm bearings – with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should be none.
Brakes – check fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
Cables and levers – should operate smoothly. Get some grease on lever/pedal pivot points, and get some lube down the cables, if you can. A cable oiler is a handy tool.
Nut and bolts – go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts/ bolts/screws are nice and tight.
Well, that’s about it for some basic maintenance, obviously, unless you’re a good home mechanic, any bigger jobs will have to go to a dealer. The problem can be finding a good one with skilled mechanics you can trust. I manage to keep my Yamaha Fazer 1000 running sweet just using the steps listed above. It does help that this model only needs the valve clearances checking every 26,000 miles.

2007 Trends in High Performance Motorcycles


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.

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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?
by Lance Winslow

Happy Birthday Harley Davidson - 100 Years of Harley Davidson


One Hundred years is quite a milestone for anything to reach. One that the finest motorcycle company on the planet has deservedly attained.

To think that it all humbly started with a couple fellows' dream of creating a motorized bicycle. It was a shaky start when young William Harley and Arthur Davidson first began. Early models still used manpower to make it up hills. But that never stopped this determined duo from testing, tweaking, changing and finally succeeding to create a motorcycle that still is popular today.


The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was created in 1903 with a single cylinder, three horsepower motor. In 1906, Harley Davidson manufactured the first 50 motorcyles bearing their name. The V-twins that would make the young company a household name came out about 1909. 1912 brought out the "Free Wheel Control" which was one of the industries first clutch system.

Today's distinct rumble is one of the few sounds, other than copywritten and contract material, that has been the subject of litigation. Listening to the strength of a Harley Davidson engine is one of those things that sends shivers up the spines of the true believers.


The "Choppers", we love so, were born when the angle of the motorcycle's front fork was further extended letting the handlebars to sit further back. "Hogs" were named for the extra room used to transport racing pigs without switching to a larger vehicle.

No other motorcycles or choppers have inspired the fan following that can produce the massive bike events of Daytona, Sturgis, Myrtle Beach or Laconia. Not to mention the hundreds of smaller sponsored rides and events. Literally hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders and fans surge to these communities annually for week long events. Sponsors and vendors will set up shop in mall parking lots and event centers to show off their wares. From T-shirts to custom bikes, choppers and trikes line the streets, making the areas a photographers' heaven! Feel free to take a look at the bikes of Myrtle Beach, at CustomChopperGarage.Com

In 1983, H.O.G., The Harley Owners Group, formed its first chapter. Today more than 1,000 chapters are in existence and more than one million members share their love of these bikes, whether owners or fans. The devotion to these classic bikes is proven, and you do not have to be among the elite to enjoy all there is to Harley Davidson.

Owning a Harley Davidson can be a life's dream for some. They are not an inexpensive purchase for sure, but some things are simply worth the higher price tag, plain and simple. If you are the lucky owner of a Harley, you know the love and care that is given to that member of the family.

Corky Devendorf maintains CustomChopperGarage.Com for fellow enthusiasts of Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Articles and resources of an ever expanding variety, from digital screensavers to how-to descriptions to customize and personalize your own bike. Stop by for your free Customizing ideas! Custom Chopper Garage.Com
by George Devendorf