Archive for category Auto & Motor

Stuff 101 – Motorcycle Oil and Oil Filters

Have you ever read the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? In all honesty I have yet to finish it but the one thing I gathered from the book on motorcycle maintenance is this, if you only do one thing yourself and have a motorcycle mechanic do everything else, changing your oil regularly is the number one thing to do.

Oil acts as the lifeblood of any engine; from your motorcycle’s to your lawnmower’s and without it the engine will seize and die. However, in a motorcycle heavier grade oil is required because the same oil is not only being used to lubricate the engine but the transmission and the clutch as well. As well as acting as a lubricant ensuring metal parts do not touch, as in the case of the majority of motorcycles, oil is also used to cool down the engine. Furthermore motorcycle oil helps to quickly move minor debris, such as metal filings, carbon and dirt away from the engines parts and into the oil filter. Now you can see why I refer to oil as lifeblood and why it should be changed regularly.

So how do you change your oil anyway? Every motorcycle is different, so the following steps are a guideline on how to change your oil and oil filter. Consult your user manual or purchase a Haynes repair manual for the exact steps.

Step 1 – Drain the old oil. Some tips to make this easier include warming up the engine up to thin down the oil, putting the motorcycle on its center stand, unscrewing the oil plug to relieve pressure and slowly rock the motorcycle side to side to speed up the process. Read the rest of this entry »

Motorbikes Make A Great Alternative To Cars

For those of us that would rather have the fresh wind in our hair than the air conditioning when road tripping around Scotland and the UK, perhaps a BMW bike, scooter, moped, or cruiser would be the ideal transport solution.

Many motorcycles have been designed specifically for the adventurer as well as for long distance road and off-road travel including the easy navigation of heavy traffic, cruising the countryside and even sport including award winning BMW racing bikes.

With three main types of motorcycle available including street, off-road and dual purpose it is likely that riders will fit into three specific riding postures that are all determined by the ergonomics of the bikes design. From the sport riders’ posture of leaning forward into the wind to the cruiser who sits lower in the seat, you will be sure to find the right sort of comfort to suit your riding tastes.

The motorbike industry is currently dominated by Japanese automakers and manufacturers. Japanese companies such as Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Harley- Davidson and BMW are popular brands and currently supply a huge percentage of the bike market along with big named brands including the Piaggio group from Italy as well as KTM, Triumph and Ducati. Read the rest of this entry »

How To Find Motorcycles For Sale

If you are on the search for a new motorcycle, you likely have been wondering all of the different resources which may be open to you. The more resources that you are able to find and use, the better chance there is that you are going to find a good bargain. Some of the following options listed here are some tips on how you can find motorcycles for sale.

You may want to think about the options that you have most currently been using in your spare time to look for options. Think about if you have been focusing on a local level or if you have been expanding to other options. If you have only been using a specific method, you may find that it is time to expand your search in various ways.

When you are dealing with local options, think about how many you have been using. If you have only been looking at dealerships, this is commonly not enough to help you find a good deal. You should look in the classifieds, check out community bulletins, local newspapers, and many other options where people can advertise their cycles for sale.

If you have been looking on the internet, you should also consider what your options and resources have been. Expand yourself to searching on various websites and exploring different mediums to find out what other sales options may be. You might even be interested in checking out auction or classified websites to help you with your decision. Read the rest of this entry »