Choosing A Motorcycle - And Motorcycle Insurance

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

If you're thinking of getting yourself your dream motorcycle, you'll need to put in some thought before making your final purchase. You are going to have a more intimate relationship with your bike than you could have with your car, so be careful when picking out which bike is right for your needs. For example if you're a beginner, go for a smaller one that you can learn to ride easily and master it's maneuverings as you roll along.

Knowing what you'll be using your motorcycle for exactly solves half your troubles. If off-road or street touring is your basic aim, you'll find a number of bikes that fit your purpose. Dual sport bikes are a good choice for beginners just starting out.

They are designed to fulfill the dual functions of off-road as well as street touring and although they stand higher as compared to other bikes, they do help you see the road ahead better. Don't fall into the trap new buyers generally fall for; the moment they get a specific terrain motorcycle, they immediately want to go one up on it.

The hurdles you're likely to face while selecting a touring bike are going to be weight and price. Some of them can have a price equivalent to a new car which can pinch if you're a beginner.

And when these bikes are fully packed with travel gear, they can weigh more than 800lbs. But smaller and lower priced machines are available from some companies. You're just going to have to do some amount of research before putting your money down.

The problems of touring bikes won't plague you if you're interested in a sport bike. The main criteria you have to be aware of here is its very powerful engine. The engines on even the smallest of such bikes can generate really high speed. So be careful, and know your own levels of self control before buying one of these. Such bikes are lower on the weight scale and you should be able to get yourself a good deal if you're buying one second-hand off the Internet.

Once the decision on the type of bike is made, you have to think about the cost factors. If you're on a tight budget, determining whether you're going to go for a new one or a used one will be crucial.

The disadvantage of buying a motorcycle second-hand is that you may get one that has been abused by its previous owner. You can't be sure of its history. But it can be a good bet for beginners. Bikes are made hardy these days, and can take a lot of abuse before being regarded as junk.

On the other hand, with a brand new motorcycle, you're in safer territory as you will be the sole rider of it and will have no doubts about its past usage.

Now, the hidden costs are something important to think about especially for those on a budget. First and foremost, there's motorcycle insurance. The rates charged by most insurance companies are dependent on your engine's displacement. The cost is going to increase if you have a big bike. Your driving record and where you live will also have roles to play in determining your insurance. On an average, you might have to shell out something like 500 dollars a year just for the insurance.

The second major hidden cost is on maintenance and repairs. This will surface once your bike has been ridden for some time. The only solution to this problem is to take good care of it. It'll need fewer repairs if it's less abused. If you're the type who likes tinkering with motor parts, you can save money on oil changes and basic checks by doing them yourself; otherwise maintenance is going to cost you quite a bit as modern motorcycles are sophisticated machines possessing intricate components. It will need more looking after than a car would, so regular checkups are a must.

To conclude, you now have the necessary know-how to select the right motorcycle for your needs. So go ahead, buy your ride keeping the above factors in mind and you can be guaranteed many smiles with every mile you cover on your metallic steed! To find multiple motorcycle insurance quotes go to www.insurancemotorcyclequote.com


Riding a Motorcycle That Does Not Have Motorcycle Insurance is Stupid

There is no other way to put it, if you are riding without good motorcycle insurance you are just plain stupid. Most motorcycle owners have insurance but there will always be some that think it is not necessary, it is to expensive, they don't need it because they drive safe and many more excuses. When you are the one making these excuses, please read this article and make sure you are smart not stupid.

Why is good motorcycle insurance so important?

There is a big difference between car and motorcycle insurance for example it is possible to just insure your motorcycle and not yourself not that this is smart thing to do but it is a possibility. You can also cover bike, rider and people that will be riding pillion on your bike. Something not all motorcycle owners do but should be is cover bodily injury and damage to property. When you are in a accident and cause damage or even injury the cost can be extremely high, motorcycle insurance will be necessary to pay for those costs.dent that causes harm to other people.

If you already own a motorcycle or if you are planning to buy one you really need to get motorcycle insurance and we know it is something some of you bike owners do not give much adequate attention to, there really is no doubt about how useful this can be. It is very simple to find a good insurance company that insures motorcycles and when you already have a insurance for your car you can check out the same insurance company because most will give you discount if you take a motorcycle insurance with their company as well.

What type of motorcycle insurance?

The type of motorcycle insurance policy will depend on:

- coverage
- price
- type of motorcycle
- neighborhood
- driving record
- age

Take as much coverage as you can afford but at least the legal minimum requirements

There is of course no limit in the amount of coverage you can take but you should at least have the legal minimum requirements, and you need to be sure that you know what they are. There are a lot of options you can choose from in the amount and the type of the coverage but it is still up to you what you decide to take for your own protection. You can also ask for additional services like roadside assistance, glass insurance, towing costs. This last service can be extremely convenient when you take long distance trips and are not so good in repairing your motorcycle.

Discount if you take a course.

You can take a riding course with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and some motorcycle insurance companies will give you ten percent discount on the insurance premium. The key messages of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for bike owners are:
1. Get trained and licensed
2. Wear protective gear -- all the gear, all the time -- including a helmet manufactured to the standards set by the DOT
3. Ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs
4. Ride within your own skill limits
5. Be a lifelong learner by taking refresher rider courses

And last but not least the final tip to pay less premium if you really want to minimize the amount of premium a cruiser is cheaper to insure than a sports bike.

Frank Strider loves to talk about motorcycles and all the things related to it. Visit his website if you want to find out more about a razor scooter or maybe motorcycle tires

Why Buy an Electric Motor Scooter?

With motor scooters selling like crazy, their popularity is hardly a secret. But if you're thinking seriously about putting money down on a scooter, you need to answer the question, "Do I need a gas powered or electric model?" I've seen websites that argue the merits of one approach or the other, as if one is drastically better--but if you click around, you notice that the type of scooter they endorse is the type they are trying to sell. I won't take that stance, because there are pros and cons to consider either way. Let's consider electric scooters first.

Electric motor scooters score points because...

  • Electricity costs a lot less than gas--up to 75 percent less. Recharging an electric scooter costs mere cents a day. This is probably the most best argument in favor of an electric scooter.
  • Battery technology is continually being refined, and will continue to improve--while buying gasoline gets more painful and problematic all the time.
  • Electric scooters are environmentally green (no fumes). If your goal is to contribute to a greener planet, then give electric scooters a good long look. Gas scooters give off harmful exhaust. However, they produce dramatically fewer emissions than cars, so they're a big step in the right direction.
  • You can ride electric scooters inside the house. Just don't give in to the temptation to perform stunts like jumping the stairs.
  • You can recharge your scooter at home. Plug it in next to your cooking range, by your computer, wherever.
  • You can pack electric motor scooters on trips, because they're allowed in buses, planes, and trains--while gas powered scooters are not.
  • Maintenance is straightforward and cheap. No oil changes, for example, and the battery acids are contained, so there's no need to handle fuel.
  • Electric scooters are very quiet, almost silent (low humming sound) and they start at the push of a button. Gas scooters are louder, and can be compared to a lawnmower or small motorcycle in terms of noise output.

To recap, electric motor scooters are especially a good fit for people who foresee short-range, urban use on a predictable schedule. For example, riding around a residential neighborhood, downtown community, or campus. Using an electric model with a regular schedule will give you the downtime you need to make sure it's charged up.

After reading this overview, you may be high on electric scooters, and I don't blame you! But hang on a second--some people have demands that are a better match for gas powered scooters. Do you want a scooter with more toughness and speed? Were you hoping to take your scooter off road, or on longer trips? To hear the pro-gasoline powered argument, keep an eye out for the argument in favor of gas motorized scooters and hybrids.

AJ Vanderhorst writes about gas powered motor scooters for today's travelers. A world of cutting edge design and money-saving fuel economy awaits your discovery. Ready to accelerate into the fast lane? Check out Cheap Motor Scooters.