Wringing That Last Drop of Performance From Your Motorcycle
It’s optimum weather now! 93 degrees in the wind, in the little hillbilly town of West Point, in the Sierra foothills It’s noon The asphalt seductively makes tires sticky! Do it! Hit it! — no more worries about black ice, shadows, wet pavement and such . .Many of us dream about giving our fuel-injected bikes a bit more ‘bwaaaah!’ A simple way? Bolt on some custom pipes! But this ain’t what the article’s about It’s about something even SIMPLER that’ll tweak the fuel injection system after modifying ANYTHING from changing an air filter to bolting on those V&H pipes - it’s primo for tweaking any performance modification Get a Power Commander! . .They’re without compare for snappin’ that last ounce of mileage/power from your fuel system Power Commanders are microchip-driven providing an exacting map of fuel injection settings — thus enhancing engine performance over stock settings . .The manufacturer constantly maps new calibrations for download from their website Yup, you can get the maps online You select the maps you want, download to your laptop, connect the USB port and upload your choice straight into the bike — then it adjusts! What could be faster or easier? It’s accurate for most any situation . .You might need their USB power programming module You’ll need this to provide voltage to your Power Commander when it’s been removed from the bike and attached to your pc — It’s NOT included The good news is that it’s not required if the module is installed on the bike Costs around $55 00 . .No laptop? No problem! three pushbuttons on the module’s face let you change map settings easily An expansion port on board makes it upgrade-ready too . .The instructions are really easy to understand and the OEM-style connectors make it a breeze to install . .Power commander runs under MS Windows 98/se/ME/2000/XP, (Dunno about Vista ask at the site?) It opens maps using djm extensions Cost is around $300 00 . .Another idea so cool! You can get an LCD display for the Power Commander designed to stay on the bike even when the weather sucks! This add-on stores different maps (Also for folks using desktops if you don’t like push-buttons ) Because of the multi-map storage, when attached to the bike, within your vision/reach (next to the radar detector above the speedo?) you can select/change maps on the fly! . .The LCD screen has 2 analog representations of a speedometer and a tach with digital readings below these of what gear you’re in, how much throttle you’re using, What duty cycle you’re in, the map position and whatever boost you’ve gained/lost by switching maps as you roll! This unit will set you back about $250 00 . .If you’re passionate and obsessive about exacting your bike for wherever you are maybe even a little bit anal about it, these are the tools for us! Be as anal as you want! Go crazy! I mean, $550 to accurately dial yourself in any time you want? It’s cheaper than most laptops! . .Think about this for a moment The Power Commander makes sense from a safety standpoint too You’re in a clutch situation where some dork who isn’t paying attention is headed straight for you from your right side in an F-250 and it seems safer to crank it rather than brake Doesn’t it make sense to have the correct configuration for acceleration dialed in so you have all the power available at your disposal to fly away from this nit-wit? The reason it makes sense to me is that my right leg might never have been crushed if I’d had one of these installed on my bike not available back then I couldn’t quite get out of the way and a couple of feet more would have done it That’s why I tout speed-capability and exact performance I’m not an adamant person concerning most things but regarding this, I am Part of the reason I wrote this is that I might be able to save someone else’s leg That’ll have made the entire article worth it!.
Source: www.rsstnx.com

Motorcycle Protective Apparel
Protective apparel for motorcyclists is an important, though somewhat disregarded part of overall safety Many riders choose their riding clothes on the basis of how cool they look rather than how it will hold up and protect them if they get into an accident; or wipe out and are skidding across the road The motorcycle apparel business has been booming, and there are all kinds of great looking clothing out there, but you may have to look a little harder to find items with enough protection It’s easier to find good protective clothing in Europe because they have developed a series of standards that the apparel must meet to be sold as safety clothing They are put through tests for tearing, impact, and abrasions In the US, there are no regulations like this, so the safest clothing is a bit harder to find The following are some things you should look for . .Most motorcycle injuries occur to the legs and feet, so it’s important to wear a good pair of high boots, and protective pants with extra reinforcement around the knees and hips For added protection, you pants should have the ability to attach to your jacket through a zipper You should look for boots made of thick leather, with a hard sole . .The traditional motorcycle clothing is made of leather, but there are other materials that also work pretty well Thick nylon offers protection, as well as Kevlar reinforced apparel In the European abrasion tests, regular denim blue jeans last 0 6 seconds, while a decent pair of leather motorcycle pants or chaps will last 5 seconds . .Jackets work the same way as pants-make sure if they are made of leather that the leather is thick, and not the fashion leather you see in fancy leather stores Like the knees and hips, there should be extra reinforcement around the “impact points” of your shoulders and elbows It is also recommended that you have padding or impact protection in these areas . .A good pair of riding gloves is also very important safety-wise Kevlar gloves, or reinforced leather are solid options for protecting your hands It’s especially important that the palms of your hands have extra padding or patches-when falling, our instinct is to put our hands out with palms down, so they will be taking the brunt of the impact and sliding . .If you have questions or doubts about protective clothing, it’s usually better to look for apparel that has the degree of impact protection included After all, you don’t want to be hoping that your clothing will provide some protection in the event of an accident-it’s always better to be sure . .Finally, and most importantly, find a good helmet I know there is a lot of debate on this subject, and different laws depending on where you live, but if you are all interested in safety, never ride without a helmet I mentioned earlier that most motorcycle injuries occur to the legs and feet, however, the most serious injuries occur above the neck Don’t buy a used helmet, unless you are absolutely positive that it has never been in an accident, or otherwise damaged I always recommend a helmet with a full face mask for the maximum protection .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

A Buyers Guide to Motor Scooters!
With so many different types of motor scooters available today buyers must do their homework before making a purchase. Vespa, Honda, Piaggio, big engine, small engine, gas, electric, mobility, foldable, seats, handgrips, where do I start? Before the 1920s it was an easy decision, a foot-powered push scooter or none at all. But once Gino Tsai from Shanghai, Taiwan developed the Razor scooter it changed everything. His motor scooters became popular so quickly there were people waiting in line for six months before they could get one. In the 1950s companies like Vespa in the UK started selling the first of their gas motor scooters. It was a big hit at the 1950 Motorcycle Show and quickly became a big hit in the UK as well. Vespa sold over 125,000 in the UK between the years of 1950 to 1958. Piaggio from Vespa and Lambretta from Innocenti started selling their models in Italy and France too, quickly becoming the vehicles that everyone had to own. By the early 1950s the sale of motor scooters topped 1 million a year in France alone. Because of its popularity other countries such as France and Germany decided to get in on the boom by manufacturing their own models. Today, after more than 50 years since the first gas scooters appeared, there are many different makes and models. We have electric, gas powered, foldable, mobility and utility motor scooters dotting the globe. There are specialized scooters for just about every task. They have become a worldwide phenomenon because they are cheap to own, economical to operate, are very handy and functional, and most of all they are a lot of fun. But with all of the makes and models which one is right for you? Let’s start with the different types. Gas motor scooters are the fastest around. They will take you longer distances and reach higher speeds than any of the other varieties. There are smaller and lighter models that will be perfect for running errands around town while the larger and heavier touring models will take you on longer trips. Plus, the larger the gas tank the farther you can travel before needing to stop at a service station. Electric varieties are a little more economical to run, but will usually travel only about 10 or 15 miles before needing a recharge. Their battery capacity has improved dramatically over the years, but they cannot be taken for long trips due to the fact that their batteries will need recharging periodically. However, for short trips around the city they are wonderful little vehicles. Plus, most scooters have a large storage capacity under the seat so they are ideal for trips to the grocery store or for other light shopping sprees. The elderly or handicapped typically use what is referred to as mobility scooters. These are usually electric models and have 3 or 4 wheels for extra stability. These models give the elderly or disabled the ability to get about in their homes or around the neighborhood more easily. Without mobility scooters many of the disability-impaired would be confined to their beds. Another very popular type is the foldable scooter. These are very small and are made for short trips around town. They are particularly popular among the younger crowds. The beauty of these models is that they are extremely compact and can be folded for storage in small places. If you work just a few miles from your home you can travel to work on your folding scooter and then fold it up and put it underneath your desk at work. Very handy. There are also utility scooters which can be used for many different purposes. They can be used as golf carts or for hauling things. Many big businesses use these types for getting around their factories. Schools use them for driving through the parking lot, checking for cars that shouldn’t be there. Major league sports stadiums use them to drive people from one place to another. These are wonderful vehicles that can be used for a variety of reasons. Once you’ve decided which type is right for your needs the next step is to figure out what options, if any, you would like included on your vehicle. Of course you can choose from many different colors and designs, but there are other options available to you. You can choose from the many varieties of covers, locks (for security), cases or side bags for storage, helmets, seats, handgrips, windshields or windscreens, backrests for touring, chrome kits, rear luggage racks and many more options. The list of accessories can go on for quite some time. As a rule of thumb first choose the type of scooter you want, whether it be electric, gas, foldable or utility. This is the easy part because the type you purchase will depend upon your needs. Once that decision has been made look at several popular models in your area and decide which one looks and feels right to you. Most have accessories that are manufactured for a specific model so accessories cannot be decided upon until you know which motor scooter you are going to buy. Once you’ve decided which accessories you want for the model you chose it’s a simple matter of driving your scooter out of the dealership. And it’s nothing but fun from there on out.<a href="http://www.my-motorscooters.com">Cheap motor scooters</a> are lots of fun, which is why Larry Johnson is a motor scooter fanatic. He not only loves to ride motor scooters, but loves writing about them as well. For more information visit <a href="http://www.my-motorscooters.com">My Motor Scooters</a>.
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