The motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that runs on an engine. It is made up of various components such as a chassis, fuel tanks, suspensions, engines, tires, and more. Many of these parts can be replaced and customized according to the likes and personality of the bike rider.

Purpose

A rider may want to replace the part of his motorcycle for the simple reason of aesthetic purposes. Usually the chassis and the rims of the motorcycle are replaced to match the personality of the rider. It can simply be a change in color, or it can bear images, such as the face of the rider, a logo, tag line, movie theme, or anything else the rider may like. The throttle and the handles can also be replaced with colors and grips suitable for the rider.

Additional components such as neon lights can be installed around the chassis to enhance the beauty of the vehicle at night. This would entail a replacement of the battery for the additional load it would have to carry.

Aside from visual enhancements, the rider may also opt to enhance the audible noise created by the mufflers. He can install mufflers that would make a loud roaring noise whenever his motorcycle rushes by.

Performance is also a reason for customizing the motorcycle. Many motorcycle enthusiasts feel that the original components that come with the vehicle do not meet their standards. Especially for a cyclist who engages in street racing, he may think that the engine runs too slow or that there is not enough bounce in the suspension. These components can all be replaced with parts that can meet their requirements.

Safety is also a key issue. Brighter lights and warning signals are replaced to enhance the visibility of the motorcycle to other motorists. A change in brakes and tires can provide more traction. Visible speedometers can inform the rider of the actual speed he is going.

Nothing compares to the thrill and excitement of riding a motorcycle. Alas, the high excitement is unfortunately mingled with danger too. It’s true that motorcyclists are more prone to die in accidents than those in motorcars. Besides, an alarming increase in the number of motorcycle accidents has been recorded in recent years. Hence, it is important to study and analyze the causal factors of motorcycle accidents in our country.

Research indicates that the major cause of motorcycle accidents remains the failure of other motorists to recognize motorcyclists in heavy traffic or at night. Statistics shows that about 70% of the collisions are a result of this. Other causal factors remain bad road conditions, speed problems, riding skills, presence of alcohol and undivided roadways.

Motorcyclists usually suffer in case of bad road conditions like potholes, debris, and uneven places. High speed is a causal factor of accidents too. Speed displaces the alignment of the motorcycle, as it causes the front end to ‘wobble’. Hence, the motorcyclist loses control and collides against any stationary object or moving vehicle.

Findings from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, or FARS, state that high alcohol levels in the blood were often present in motorcycle fatalities. Also, undivided roadways, rural roads, speed, lack of helmet use, and driving at night, remain associated with the increasing number of fatalities.

Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that speeding, aggressive driving, and driver inattention are leading causes of motorcycle accidents. Negligence on the part of the motorcyclist also leads to accidents or collisions. So does improper breaking or turning. Bad weather remains a problem or causal factor, though its influence is small.

In spite of such large numbers of motorcycle accidents, very few studies have been conducted to determine the causal factors of such accidents. A major study on accidents is the Hurt Report, conducted in 1980, which gives a detailed sketch of the causal factors of accidents.

Motorcycle engine design and innovation has long surpassed that of the automotive industry, and industry observers agree that the big companies like Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki can muster considerable R&D prowess here, which can then be applied to their automobile engines.

Competitors are especially aware of this. Says former Oldsmobile chief engineer Ted Louckes: "That's where the leading edge of piston engine technology is today. It's not in automobiles; it's not in aircraft. It's in motorcycles."

The Goal: Better Combustion

When considering the advantages of a combustion chamber crammed with more than four valves-per-cylinder, the first inclination is to think, aha! Flow area! Five valves equals more flow area! True, to a degree, but that's only part of the Yamaha's design strength.

In the reigning days of the two-valvers, engine designers would control pinging by incorporating squish bands into the combustion chambers. By the 1960s, the four-valve heads of Cosworth and Honda racing engines were allowing narrow included valve angles and thus shallow combustion chambers. Put the spark plug in the center, and voila!, good combustion.

Yamaha looked beyond four valves to unlock even better combustion. In the early '80s (Yamaha had only been a serious producer of four-stroke engines for about ten years!) it experimented with a variety of head and valve configurations, even trying a seven-valve-per-cylinder (four intakes, three exhaust) design.

Finally, five valves per jug was found to be the right combination. This design gives the engine extra intake valve perimeter, which allows it to flow more air at low-to-medium valve lifts -- exactly where valves in most production automotive engines spend most of their operating time.

Honda of America Mfg., Inc., has combined plant and production engineering with advanced manufacturing techniques to become one of the leading engine producers in North America.

The million-square-foot plant manufactures 500,000 high technology engines and drive trains a year. Kinzer noted that the plant produces everything that makes a car "go and stop." He said that even Japan has no Honda facility comparable to the Anna plant. Its production, he reported, equals the total of seven similar Honda manufacturing units in Japan. At present production levels, a Civic or Accord engine is produced at the Anna plant every 27 seconds.

Honda's iron foundry operates three shifts per day. The ferrous casting and machining operations include the production of engine cylinder sleeves and brake discs and drums. Aluminum casting operations include high pressure casting of engine blocks and transmission and torque converter cases, low pressure casting of engine cylinder heads and gravity casting of pistons.

Like the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson helmet has its distinct look that compliments the total effects of riding a Harley. Although the purpose remains the same like any other helmets in the market, the Harley-Davidson in effect projects style that makes the Harley rider feel what should be felt. But, many would still ask: is a Harley-Davidson helmet worth wearing?

Year after year, many motorcycle accidents have been reported all over the country. These resulted to severe head injuries to the people involved. Or worse, these accidents claim lives. Why? Majority of people involve in motorcycle accidents do not wear helmets. And some would say that if these people only wear helmets, their fate may have been different or the damage created may have been minimized.

Just recall the motorcycle accident of the football star "Big Ben" Roethlisberger. (Oh, for those who do not know Big Ben, he is the star quarterback of the Pittsburg Steelers.) Many say that if only Big Ben wore a helmet, would only walk away with minor bruises.

It was said and will be said over and over again: Helmets protect you.

For people who think that wearing helmet while riding their Harley-Davidson would mean removing their freedom that the motorcycle projects, they might disregard its importance. But the fact still remains, in case of accident, a helmet would come in handy.

Here’s the statistics: In the State of California, study shows that out of 900 accidents involving motorcycles, 980 necks have been injured. Most of them are not wearing helmets. Here’s another fact. In Canada, nobody can ride motorcycle without wearing helmet. Sadly (well, it may not be sad at all to most riders), here in the United States, many states would let riders to exercise their freedom whether to wear helmet or not.

It is a given fact that helmet is the most important accessory to buy after buying Harley-Davidson motorcycle. And it must be worn when riding a motorcycle at all times. So, thinking of skipping a Harley-Davidson should not be on the list of things to do.

To wrap up, owning a Harley-Davidson takes a lot of responsibility. Unlike 4-wheel vehicles, when your ride motorcycle, you are exposed and more prone to injuries during accidents. And the best way to protect yourself from any damage that can be resulted from this accident is to wear a helmet.

A motorcycle helmet is one of those essentials that will help save your life should you have an accident while riding your bike. This will protect your head from a damaging and even potentially fatal head injury. Motorcycle helmets are so important that state lawmakers have even included a directive in the state laws that orders all people riding the motorcycle to wear helmets.

Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.

Motorcycle helmets are not really that expensive but they are also not cheap. Some who are not that well-informed will probably save all their money for the motorcycle leaving a really small budget for safety gears like the helmet. Some even buy used helmets instead of new ones. This, however, is one practice that should not be encouraged.

Using used helmets is extremely dangerous and impractical. Used helmets are actually worthless and what is more you cannot really tell whether they are damaged or not. You won’t even be able to tell if they are relatively new ones or not. This is because the helmet is made from a hard outer shell that envelops a layer of expanded polystyrene. You will never be able to tell if the expanded polystyrene is already compressed or not unless you cut the outer shell. An already compressed polystyrene layer will not protect you from an accident.

Another thing that you should consider is the fact that polystyrene becomes brittle as it ages. This is the reason why old helmets should be exchanged for new ones in a couple of years as it may not be able to absorb much of the impact when an accident does happen. The polystyrene layer is also easily damaged by the sun and by chemicals such as gas vapors.

Motor bikers who always place their helmet near the gas tank will also unknowingly damage the lining of the helmet. It is also not a good idea to always let the helmet sit under the heat of the sun. If you can, try to park your motorbike in areas that are shaded. Pointed objects may also compromise the lifespan of the helmet by piercing through the polystyrene layer inside.

Owning a Harley-Davidson is not simply a owning a motorcycle. Owning a Harley-Davidson is owning a piece of machine that has been hailed to be one of the most sought after motor vehicles ever existed. And because any Harley-Davidson motorcycle is entitled each owner to a great pride that comes along with each, no rider would want a Harley to be ill maintained.

This is why, whenever the time comes when you, the owner of a great Harley-Davidson motorcycle, need to get Harley-Davidson parts, you can be assured to have whatever part you need.

Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts are quality motorcycle parts that match the tough image and quality of the legendary motorcycle. Each Harley-Davidson motorcycle part promises to be durable and dependable and would certainly last for a long time. And like the motorcycle itself, these parts can perform through different demands.

Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts can be acquired both online and offline.

Offline, each Harley-Davidson dealers across United States sell parts for each model regardless of the year it is manufactured. Dealers also service costumers with other merchandise. The Harley-Davidson of America is a reliable source when it comes to quality Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts.

Online, there are several websites that are dedicated in providing motorcycle parts exclusively for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. These sites may be the authorized dealers themselves. There are also sites that offer Harley parts together with other motorcycle parts of different brand. This is not a concern since parts are made differently from one motor brand to another. Each site provides a wide inventory of parts to serve as many Harley owners as possible. Online parts stores provide a more convenient shopping experience than that of the traditional way, which is personally visiting each store to find a particular part.

Thus, online shopping for Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts are more popular among costumers because it saves time, energy, and of course money.

Some stores only offer brand new parts while others sell used Harley parts. These parts are a lot cheaper since they are already used but not necessarily be in poor quality. Used Harley motorcycle parts can well be lined-up with brand new ones in terms of quality. Remember that each Harley-Davidson motorcycle part is built tough. Thus, even if they have already been used, they are still in tiptop condition.

Whether online or offline, used or brand new, big or small, you will have no problem finding the right one you need.

If you are looking for a custom motorcycle helmet, there are many shops that can make one for you. There are a lot of motorcycle helmets you can choose from. With many designs and makers to choose from, you would surely have your hands full finding one that you will like. Different designs offer different levels of comfort and styling. There are different types of motorcycle helmets available for different types of rides.

One of the more common motorcycle helmet types is the full face helmet. This type of motorcycle helmet covers the whole head and provides the most extensive head protection to the rider. A rear extension of this type of helmet covers the base of the skull while the front tries to protect the chin. A plastic face shield allows protection to the eyes and nose and provides access to the face if pushed up. Riders would usually experience of heat, claustrophobic sensation and reduced hearing while using the full face motorcycle helmet.

Then there is the ¾ motorcycle helmet, also known as the open face helmet. This type of helmet, just like the full face helmet, covers the back of the skull but gets rid of the lower chin armor and face shield in order to provide better airflow, hearing and peripheral vision. As added protection, most open face helmets are equipped with visors that help block out sunlight. For the eyes, it is always recommended to use goggles or wrap around sunglasses as a means of protection.

There is also the half helmet that would give you the most minimum coverage allowed by motorcycle helmet law. This type of helmet has the same front design as the open face helmet but with a cropped rear portion. The use of goggles and sunglasses can provide additional protection to the rider, just like the open face helmet. Before buying this kind of helmet, make sure that it meets the government standard for motorcycle helmet safety.

But if among the hundreds of motorcycle helmet designs available do not have the features that you want, you can have one custom made just for you. Custom made motorcycle helmets are for those with special needs. They are for people who look for a unique type of helmet in terms of design or shape.

Styling is also the reason why many people would want to have custom motorcycle helmets instead. No matter what you choose, make sure that what you are using can provide you with the level of safety and protection required by motorcycle law. These helmets are made for your protection much more than just for looks. That is what you should always bear in mind.

Having a helmet on when riding a motorcycle is just one of the things that the person needs to protect the head when one is cruising along the road. The individual will soon discover that having a visor is important because this can protect the eyes from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects and debris that may be thrown from the vehicle ahead.

There are two types of visors that can be purchased for the helmet. The first is the detachable kind while the other is already built in. The one needed will really depend on the road conditions one faces everyday and the type of bike one is using.

For instance, motorbikes that have a windshield will only need the type that will protect the eyes. Those who don’t should probably get the face shield type since this will provide cover for the entire face.

Most of the visors out in the market are made of plastic. The individual should probably choose the kind that is transparent and not tinted since this could pose a problem when riding the motorcycle at night.

It is also a good idea to choose the kind that allows air to pass through inside so that it will not fog.

People who prefer the transparent one should find a helmet that is big enough to accommodate the sunglasses one will be using especially when it is sunny outside. The pair worn should be shatterproof and free of scratches since could also pose problems when keeping an eye on the road.

The person does not have to buy the same brand of visor as the helmet. There are some available that have made this compatible with any. All the customer will have to do is choose which model and the color of the shield. These are usually available in black, white or smoke.

The average price of a visor in the market today is less than $20 a piece. The individual can check out the local sporting goods store or order this item online.

Riding a motorcycle is considered to be much more dangerous than driving a car. Studies have shown the number of those injured has gone up by 12% in the past year.

Should the person still want to feel the thrill of having the wind pass from the front of the motorcycle to the back, it is advisable to invest in a visor. This small accessory could be the only thing protecting the individual against dirt or debris coming towards the biker.

Many young race bike motorcycle riders will attend super bike school so that they can hone their skills and become more proficient on the street. There are too many motorcycle accidents from crotch rockets in the United States of America and each year people are killed simply because they cannot handle the performance of the bike. Eventually if does that make it thru that initial learning curve they will become efficient and excellent rider, but in the meantime they can be quite dangerous.

Super bike classes are generally held on the track; a racetrack made for high performance motorcycles. This is where they will learn how to ride the motorcycle and handle all of its idiosyncrasies and performance issues. Unfortunately, the racetrack is much different than the street. On the street there are cars, which are always out there ready to hit you and on the track everything is moving about the same speed and in the same direction. Sure it is a good place to start but it makes sense to take this to the next level.

It is for that reason that I propose virtual-reality super bike motorcycle simulators. These simulators will have a motorcycle inside of a dome, which will actually be a flat-panel display and it will have actual scenery and real live simulated roads, turns and traffic. It makes sense to teach these young motorcycle racers how to ride on the street because that is where most accidents will occur.

The best way to capture all the footage needed for a race bike virtual-reality motorcycle simulator would be to put a camera on the front of a motorcycle and drive it through the streets of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and also through many canyon roads with sharp corners and surprises.

Once the footage is captured it would go to a digital film room for editing and then it would be incorporated into a computer system that would run the virtual-reality super bike simulator.

Gary has a Harley Davidson chopper at home. This took almost a year to assemble since the parts were purchased from different suppliers. Now that it is almost complete, the only thing to do will be to get the right motorcycle helmet.

The motorcycle dealer only sold bright colored helmets. After fitting this and checking it for any defects, Gary chose the yellow one since this is the most visible during the day and at night.

Gary was not happy with the helmet being in just one shade. To make this better, this person thought of either putting stickers or having this custom painted. Given that it will be another 4 to 5 years that this will have to be replaced, the owner decided to have it painted.

The local shop was able to make the changes after 2 weeks. Since it was very sunny where Gary lived, there was a need to buy other accessories.

One of the most important things that had to be purchased was a visor. Gary preferred to get the detachable kind to protect this person from the brightness of the sun and debris, which may come toward the biker.

Gary also replaced this strap to hold the helmet in place. This person believed that the two-ring type that is able to hold better than the one made of Velcro. The bike owner got this idea after reading a safety report in a magazine which said the head gear could come off if this isn’t fastened securely while cruising fast or suddenly breaking on the road.

A month after changing a few accessories on the helmet, Gary was ready to hit the open road. This person not only traveled on short trips but also used this for traveling from one town to the next.

Many people admired the changes that were made by Gary. This person did not boast about it and just accepted the compliments humbly and said this can be done by anybody. All the biker has to do is use one’s imagination and make it happen. Those that need a little guidance should watch other riders or read up on magazines to find it.

Gary did not pick accessories for the helmet so that people can give compliments. This person did it to express this biker’s individuality. The owner felt this was the only way to feel safe and cool at the same time whenever getting on the road with the bike.

When it comes to taking a spill on your motorcycle, the odds are everyone will do so sooner or later. The importance of motorcycle safety cannot be stressed enough. Taking a few precautions such as wearing a suomy motorcycle helmet or some type of atv helmet and having some knowledge of how to handle your bike or ATV in the event of a dump will help a lot towards your long-term safety. Either way you look at, taking a spill on your bike is an embarrassment as well as being extremely dangerous, unless you know what to do ahead of the fact. One of the most common reasons for a bike to fall over or spill results from people failing to put their side stands down correctly. After a long ride, you even find very experienced people get off their bikes and start to walk away from them without putting any thought into considering the terrain under the bike. Many people, in fact, have had their bike on a right-bias slope and had it all fall over to the right as a result. Another common cause of a bike falling over is loose gravel. It can cause a foot to slip away and the bike to lie down unbelievably fast! Fortunately, with these types of spills, there is usually very little damage to the bike itself, and none to the rider.

Unfortunately, it is often the result of carelessness or stupidity that someone ends up under their bike. Choosing one of the best motorcycle helmets on the market, such as a shoei motorcycle helmet or bell helmets go a long way to protecting your life and health when it comes to a spill. Usually, when trading up to a larger bike, it's important to take a brief lesson from an experienced rider to get advice about a new ATV helmet or even a racing helmet and also to learn about how larger bikes react to certain terrain and other influencing conditions. Here is a great exercise that you can practice on your own when you purchase a large bike or are learning to ride one for the first time. With the engine turned off, take the bike onto a grassy area with relatively firm ground and lean it slowly over to the left. This way, you are learning where the center of gravity is located and once you move past the side of the fuel tank most of the weight of the bike will be on your 'down' leg. Now, here is the most important part of this exercise. When you've reached the point where you cannot hold it up any longer, it's important to learn when to let go. A large bike such as a GoldWing is impossible to hold up after it reaches a certain point. Any attempt to hold it up after this point is fruitless and in order to avoid injury, let go of the lower hand grip and quickly step on the high peg as wide away from the bike as possible using your 'down' leg as the bike lies down. If done properly, you'll find that the bike will lie between your legs on its side. It's important to remain standing with one foot on the ground and the other on the high peg to be successful with this maneuver.

The key point to learn with this exercise is to remember to let go of the lower grip before it pulls you to the ground. This is achieved by shifting your weight very quickly to the high peg and stepping away with the other leg. If you own a GoldWing, you'll find that it does not even leave its wheels, because of the engine and saddlebag guards, and for this reason the probability of damage to your bike is minimal. Use caution and try this exercise carefully. Even here, it is a smart thing to wear an ATV helmet. It'll go a long way to increasing your self-confidence! A couple of other important things to remember is to make sure that your bike has some form of engine guard to prevent damage. Also, try using a flat solid surface such as a large piece of cardboard. You can place one edge at the contact patch of both tires to see if anything other than your fold-up pegs and engine guards touch the surface. If they do, they can hit the ground when you dump the bike and break. So keep this in mind, as well.

Today bikers are trend setters. Gone are the days when their typical trademark was their big black boots, leather gloves and heavy chains and rings. But now they are very stylish and prefer to dress in sport wear. They love wearing trendy shoes, and designer sport t-shirts and jeans. They wear funky elbow and knee caps of different colors and styles to sport their look. But what we haven't been able to decipher, is whether their traditional look, with boots and gloves were a necessity or just a fashion statement.

Riding a bike is very risky as one is susceptible or prone to accidents very often. It is important to be very careful while riding. Wearing proper protection, such as helmets to protect ourselves, is a must. However, traditional bikers believe that their big boots were a part of their safety gear.

While riding most bikers get burnt and bruised a lot by the exhaust pipe, which results in, blisters and large scar marks. These severe marks and blisters take weeks to heal, sometimes leaving a permanent mark. Bikers are of the opinion that big boots cover and protect their legs from the exhaust pipe, which makes them less prone to injury and scars. They even used to make the passengers wear boots to cover their legs from the heat of the exhaust pipe.

Traditionally bikers wear helmets and boots as well as heavy clothing, like big jackets, gloves, heavy pants and so on, which would protect them, or rather reduce their injuries if they fall. Research has proved that leather can save a riders skin from the asphalt. Thus they prefer to wear leather gear while riding a bike, as it lessens the impact of the fall or burn.

Traditional bikers, swear by leather boots, jackets, pants, and gloves. They often ridicule the new fashion of wearing trendy sports gear, while riding. They believe in safety first and do not bother with specific looks or fashion while riding. They don't believe in fashionable sports gear, because according to them, a true biker would know the necessity and importance of safety, rather than giving importance to the look.

For traditional bikers, fashion means leather accessories, which gives them a mean, tough and nasty imagine, that they enjoy. They favor a rock star imagine, making them look like the typical biker image. Even in the blazing heat, during the months of summer, they sport their leather look, as it has become their style statement.

Traditional bikers not only believe in the necessity of boots, but also like to wear boots as a part of they fashion statement. They would never go without it. Apart from the look, new bikers are always advised to wear boots, to protect their legs from the scorching exhaust pipe. If they refuse, only one burn will teach them a lesson. A true biker loves his boots and would do anything to wear them all the time.