With bike week just around the corner, bikers from all over the country are pulling their motorcycles out of winter storage and cleaning up their leathers in anticipation of a motorcycle rally like no other. While Daytona is definitely the place to be the week of March 5th, Florida offers some great stretches of road through pristine landscapes to some great biker destinations.

About an hour and a half north of Daytona on A1A lies the bustling beach community of Jacksonville Beach, which is where we will meet for the start of our road trip- because, well, that's where I'm from! On any given day you'll find bikes and bikers parked and hanging out at the Jax Beach Pier parking lot. Just across the street is the famed biker bar Mango's, a great place for bikers to meet, have some good home cooking and shoot some pool. Summer weekends will generally find some heavy metal band performing outside on the covered deck. So put on your best leather motorcycle jacket and come on out to Mango's to start our first north Florida road trip.

Our first day trip will start from Jax Beach and head north on A1A to Fernandina Beach, a quaint little island town with its own unique attitude. If you follow A1A north, after bearing left at Mayport Naval Station, you will be cruising through the marshlands at the mouth of the St. Johns River and come to a dead end at the ferry in Mayport Village. A traditional fishing village, this is where most of north Florida gets their seafood. Shrimp boats, party boats, and deep sea charters line the docks, and you can even take a gambling cruise from here. If you're hungry, there's an old wooden shack sitting on the water that serves some of the best seafood available. Singletons is not much to look at, but it's been there forever and people drive for miles to sit on the water enjoying the freshest of Florida seafood, while watching the pelicans scrounge for theirs.

Taking the ferry across the river, you'll once again pick up A1A heading north. To your right you'll soon see a huge barren sandbar that was formed by the northern jetties at the mouth of the St. Johns. On the eastern edge are the jetties, the Atlantic Ocean, and a beach that is packed with babes of all shapes and sizes. The western side has a lagoon and the Fort George River inlet. A very wide beach at low tide, vehicles have been swallowed up and swept away by the Atlantic because of people parking just a little too close to the water, and taking a walk in the dunes. A great place for jet skiing, swimming, fishing and surfing, Huguenot Park also has a campground with primitive and RV camp sites and showers.

For the next several miles, you will be cruising through some of the most pristine and unspoiled wetlands in Florida. Island hopping through little and big Talbot Islands and the Timacuan Preserve, this coastal area is one of the few in Florida untouched by development, and will theoretically remain that way. Flora and Fauna abound, and nature lovers flock to the area in kayaks and flatboats to navigate the waterways in search of trout and redfish.

So why do people use synthetic motor oils rather than sticking with the old petroleum based stand-bys which are admittedly cheaper?

1. Let's start with the cost per quart issue. Synthetic motor oils ARE more expensive at purchase. However, these oils last longer, requiring fewer oil changes. As a synthetic motor oil outlasts several changes of petroleum based lubricants, the ultimate out-of-pocket cost of the lubricant is less. This cost savings becomes even greater if you have someone else change your oil for you rather than doing it yourself!

2. Synthetic motor oils have a higher initial viscosity index and less viscosity breakdown as compared to coventional lubricants. They also have more uniformly sized molecules. This means that over the period of life of the oil, more lubrication, hence less heat and more protection is being provided to the engine. In other words, longer engine life.

3. Petroleum based oils may contain ingredients not found in synthetic motor oils. These ingredients often have nothing to do with the lubrication of the engine, but exist simply because it is too expensive or too complicated to remove them. The breakdown of these ingredients can result in sludge and other contamination. This not only affects the perfomance of the engine and its components, but contributes to pollution as well. While petroleum based lubricants are, as the words imply, "refined" from a "crude" product, there is a certain level of variability of product as well. Synthetic motor oils, on the other hand, are engineered to be of consistent quality. Additionally, they can be designed for specific purposes. For example, synthetic varieties can be found for the family car, race cars, motorcycles, chain saws, and diesel trucks.

4. Because of their ability to lubricate better and last longer, synthetic motor oils help your engine operate more efficiently and easily, therefore requiring less fuel to accomplish a given amount of work. This is money in your pocket, and, since the benefits of the oil's effectiveness extend longer, this is the gift that keeps on giving.

5. Regular use of synthetic motor oil means lower maintenance costs across the board, not just in terms of the oil changes themselves. Engines and engine components simply tend to last longer. It has long been known that one of the most important acts a car owner could perform to prolong the life of his or her car while lowering overall maintenance costs was to perform regular oil changes. When synthetic motor oil is used and changed on a regular schedule, the synergistic affect of lower lubrication costs, plus lower fuel costs, plus lower maintenance costs, plus longer engine and component life adds up to a tidy amount, not to mention the sales or trade value of the vehicle that has been kept in this manner.

6. Due to the lack of ingredients such as wax or parafin, which may be found in conventional oils, synthetic motor oils begin flowing effectively throughout the engine much more rapidly in cold weather. Again, this results in lower engine wear and longer engine life.

7. Less dependence on foreign oil. If all cars in America switched to synthetic motor oils, gear lubes, and drive train lubricants, billions of gallons of oil could be saved every year.

So, use of synthetic motor oils can save you money by making your engine and other components last longer, require less maintenance, and use less fuel. Repair costs will be reduced, your vehicle will last longer and perform more effectively. You will be contributing to the environment while reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.

The Internet can promote your services in unlimited relevant areas that buyers are looking for

Even when they both have a website, a service business (like window blinds) has to use the Internet differently than an online business does. For example, a chiropractor needs to provide different information a trucking firm, to supply what customers search for. While they both can benefit from Local Search exposure, what information they need to provide about themselves varies greatly.

Break down the limitations imposed by category thinking

We've been trained by the Yellow Page directory to look for a business within its primary category section. But Local Search allows a person to find what they want under many more descriptive terms. They can search for a sub-category, rather than a generic listing like "contractor". They're able to find a narrowly-defined specific service or product - if a business has said that they offer it.

To be listed in the Directory, a business pays for each category where it appears. But a website has no such limitations. It can show numerous specific offerings - like Dog Training, Dog Nutrition, Dog Books, Dog Toys, etc. And it can promote each area to different buyers.

So your business benefits from showing up in Local Search results as many ways as possible. Go out of your way identify such specific, narrow topics. You might find yourself without any competition in such search results.

Studies show that people who search with specific terms are more motivated, and likely to buy "Minolta camera" instead of "camera". They're ready to take the next step.

Categories that draw the most attention

Not all businesses rely to the same extent on their Yellow Page listing to attract customers. And I'm sure that will turn out to be true with Local Search as well. The following list shows which directory categories draw the most visitors. But if your business isn't listed among the top, you've got even more reason to begin marketing yourself online.

Internet exposure can provide a powerful marketing boost for almost any type of local business. Whether you have a website or not, you need to assure that accurate information about your business gets picked up by every major search engine, and Internet Yellow Pages. I've found the most reliable way to do that is through Register Local, http://www.localsearchresources.com/register_local.html For a small annual fee they keep your business information updated and accurate on every online database that matters. And you don't need a website, if you don't have one.

Auto insurance, as the term suggests, is insurance that you can purchase for your vehicle (cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, etc.). It provides protection against losses incurred as a result of vehicle accidents. While the product seems simple, there are many different types of auto insurance policies available for purchase. Depending on the policy that you choose, your coverage levels and types will vary. Broadly speaking, these are the types of auto insurance programs on the market today:

Coverage:

• ‘Comprehensive coverage’ (Comp) – This kind of insurance insures your vehicle against the cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is stolen or destroyed in a fire.

• ‘Collision coverage’ (Coll) – This kind of insurance insures your vehicle against the cost of repairing the vehicle following an accident or the cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is damaged in an accident beyond economic repair.

Protection:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - This insures against the cost of medical expenses and lost wages related to the use, ownership or maintenance of a motor vehicle. This insurance is mandatory in some U.S. states.

• Medical Payments (MP) - insures against the cost of medical expenses for bodily injury sustained in an accident beyond any expenses that may be covered by PIP.

• Legal liability claims against the driver or owner of the vehicle following the vehicle causing damage or injury to a third party.

While ‘Liability insurance’ covers only legal liability, ‘comprehensive insurance’ covers PIP, MP, as well as legal liability. In the United States, liability insurance covers claims against the policyholder and any other operator of the insured’s vehicle. If, however, any other operators live at the same address, they must specifically be covered on the policy. For rented vehicles, most rental car companies offer insurance to cover damage to the rental vehicle.

While comprehensive insurance covers most aspects of damage which can affect the car itself or the driver, there is one risk associated with buying a new car is not covered even by comprehensive insurance – once the car is bought, there is a sharp decline in its value. During this period (immediately after a car is bought), in which the remaining car payments exceed the value of the vehicle and thus the compensation the insurer will pay for a ‘totaled’ (destroyed, or written-off) vehicle, customers may consider purchasing ‘GAP insurance’. GAP insurance was established in the early 1980's to provide protection to consumers based on buying and market trends.

Scooters are an increasingly popular way to zip around to do errands, make parking a snap, and cut down on fuel costs. •Want to make a fashion statement ride a scooter, even large companies are using TV ads showing a pretty girl ridding a pink scooter wearing a pink helmet with scraf blowing in the wind to peddle their wares. •Forever being popular in cites in Europe, Asia, and Latin America they are smaller and easier to use than their motorcycle cousins, and have long been popular in cities in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. •But lately, the economics of scootering has helped them gain fans here in the U.S. With a final bill that won't exceed most credit-card limits, a scooter makes a great substitute for a spare vehicle for errands. That's why sales are soaring in urban hot spots such as Miami and New York as well as in the suburbs. These cities are setting the pace along with Seattle with huge parking problems and its urban generation adding to a real scooter fad. •With a basic operation of twist and go plus brakes like a bicyle first time time find the ease of ridding a scooter delightful. Unlike a lot of motorcycles of today scooters have a step through design that allows you to sit upright for all to see. •Many scooters have built-in storage space under the seat. They also have rear racks, bag hooks and options for more carrying capacity. •Storage capacity is just one important consideration when deciding on the proper scooter, and there are many models and options on the market.

Donating a car is one of the most unique and easy ways to give back to the community. If you have a vehicle that you are not using, why not donate it for a good cause? Read below for what to donate, the why you should donate, the where you should donate and how you should donate your unused vehicle.

What You Donate?

Pretty much all vehicles are able to be donated. You can donate cars of any type, trucks, SUVs, RVs, boats, motorcycles and more. What you will need is the title in order to prove that you are the owner of the car.

Why Donate?

One of the first things that people question when they are thinking of donating a vehicle is why. There are many, many reasons to donate items such as these for charity. Donate Car for Charity is part of the Family Care Foundation, which is a nonprofit that assists with many humanitarian goals.

These goals include everything from orphans, AIDs Care, and medical relief. There are also focuses on computer literacy, those who are physically challenged, drug awareness, emergency relief, education and food programs. Finally, there are services for education as well as food programs.

How to Donate?

There are several different ways to donate depending on which program you use, what state you are a citizen of, and how you need to give the car. The very first thing you must do is that which is listed above: determine what item you are going to donate. This of course will depend on your needs and goals.

The next thing you must do when you consider donating a vehicle is to determine the value of that vehicle. According to Donate Car for Charity, you can deduct the entire price that the organization receives when the vehicle is sold. This helps keep you from overestimating or underestimating.

The next portion is form completion. Regardless of whether you donate your car through Donate Car for Charity or through some other organization, there is going to be paperwork.

Finally, the next goal is to insure that you have the title in hand when the vehicle is picked up. The vehicle is to be cleaned and emptied of all possessions. Arrange a time that will work through a towing company.

The lowrider bicycle is all about making a fashion statement. A statement of personality.

The lowrider bike is also known as a "Chopper" or "Muscle Bike." It's just about the most distinctive bike out there - no so much because of the design, although that's eye-catching enough, but also because of what the owners do to their bikes once they get them.

What does a lowrider look like? Picture a Harley Davidson motorcycle, then take away the motor. The handgrips of the lowrider are the highest part of the bike, and the seat of the bike is down at wheel level. Sometimes the pedals are higher than the seats!

Lowriding first became popular among the Chicano American community, but now their popularity has spilled over into most urban areas. Dozens of lowriding clubs have been formed. Lowriders also refer to cars (which also started out in the Chicano American community) and there are lots of contents between car enthusiasts to see who has created the best ride. Competitions for lowrider bikers will surely not be far behind.

Once you've got a lowrider you've got to give it a custom paint job - from handpainted murals to all kinds of color schemes. Whitewall tires, custom upholstery, chrome rims...the whole range of exotic accessories lies before the new lowrider owner. Each lowrider is a unique piece of art - that's part of its appeal.

Aztlan, located in Chino Hills, California, is the number one lowrider bike manufacturer in the world, and if you check out their website you'll see the full range of lowriders available - before you get them home and start working on them so that they reflect your personality.

The Aztlan Lowrider Cruiser retails for $120, and consists of the lowrider frame, and wheels, a bent spring fork, bent sissy bar, and the banana seat. You can add a bullet light to that so you can ride it at night.

Then there's the Aztlan Gold Continental Lowrider, that comes with a gold flat twisted continental kit with chrome classic wheel, two gold mirrors, a gold bumper, and a gold bullet light. This retails for $260.

Among other styles Aztlan offers is the Birdcage custom - consists of the lowrider frmae, straight spoke wheels, a bent spring fork and sissy bar, banana seat, and a birdcage handlebar, seat post, birdcage pedals and nut covers, and a duck tail fender! This retails for $339.95!

Another company is the Mega Lowrider, located in San Diego. In addition to the bikes they offer all kinds of accessories, such as a heart-shaped steering wheel, upholstery such as velour grip and pedal covers, and bolt-on items like dice, skulls, or 8-balls!

We haven’t said much about Billy Lane in quite awhile now so I thought I would share my feelings at this point. As most of you know Billy is headed for trial in February unless it is delayed again or a plea bargain is reached. There really has been no news in awhile which is not a surprise. In fact, it has given me a chance to look at the tragedy without a lot of noise.

My emotions are in control and I feel smarter and better informed than in the beginning. I have also had the opportunity to talk with a number of builders who know Billy and I have asked each one of them about the issue. They know Billy better than most anyone so, there opinions carry a lot of weight with me. There are so many who offer an opinion like they are family members when in fact, they may have met him once or twice at shows, shared a drink, read about him, or seen him on TV. They draw conclusions based on very little. They mostly want to hang him or let him go. The emotions run high when it comes to Billy Lane. He was and is a controversial figure who represents different things to different people. I have yet to meet or speak with anyone who is neutral on the subject. People love Billy Lane or they hate him. This is part of the legacy Billy has built and part of what made him rich and elevated him to rock star status. He was on TV all the time. He was in magazines, at an enormous amount of shows, in newspapers and was for many the face of the industry. He was a hard drinking, anti-establishment, talented, outspoken, in your face kind of guy who loved the spot light and took great risks both with his own life and the lives of others. He was the standard for the rebellious, tough talking, womanizing biker that so many fantasize about. He symbolized the freedom seeking, non-conformist, motorcycle guy who many wanted to be.

Remember “Be Like Mike” in the adds for Michael Jordon?” Well, in the motorcycle world it was “Be Like Billy”. I think that Billy believed the hype. He felt like an outlaw. He thrived on the adulation, he flaunted the law, he rebelled against authority and he thought he could walk on water. I think the se beliefs are what brought Billy down. If you think about it, it was only a matter of time. As the great Indian Larry said “you can’t live life like that. you just can’t” When you peel away the hype things become more clear. Who is Billy Lane anyhow? Why does he matter to so many? What has he done to stir the emotions of so many? What has he done for society, what about the men and women in the industry? What has Billy’s mess done to them?

I am not about to try and explain Billy in depth. I don’t know enough about what got him where he was but I do know something about what got him to where he is. Billy grew up in Florida. He came from a family that no one seems to talk very much about. He went to college and studied engineering. He didn’t go to Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, R.P.I. or any one of the first tier engineering schools. He did go to school and he got a degree. His older brother Warren is a motorcycle artist and builder but, he is the antithesis of Billy. He is very private and lives in Miami. He too, is very skilled. Billy got out of school and went to work with/for Warren and then went out on his own. He developed motorcycle parts and holds several patents. He felt strong enough to go out on his own and he did. He started with nothing working out of a very small space. The rest is history.

Choppers INC was born, parts were made and sold, bikes were built and sold but, most importantly a trend began. In the early to mid-nineties the motorcycle industry took off. Baby boomers had some money, wanted some freedom, wanted to recapture their youth so, they started to buy motorcycles. The motorcycle is a symbol of freedom, rebellion, independence, and a feeling that is not new. It started a long time ago. The business had its ups and downs. The icon Harley just about went broke and sold out to amf. Yep, a bowling company. Willy G. and a group bought it back and now, it is one of the true success stories of the last 20 years. The industry was back and by the mid nineties was a rocket waiting to be launched. The boomers had money and a need. They wanted bigger, better, faster, prettier, eye catching machines. The custom and manufactured custom were about to really happen. Big Dog began and a great many of today’s builders started to build and make serious custom motorcycles. They also began to make serious money.

Billy Lane, Jesse James, and the Teutels caught the big break. The world of the motorcycle came to TV. There was motorcycle mania, American Chopper and Biker Build-Off. These shows made ordinary people some of whom had premium skills into rock stars. Jesse was well known out in California, the Teutels came from a small town in upstate New York, and Billy and Larry arguably became the face of Biker Build Off. They were on there more than anyone else. Russell may have caught up, Matt too. I’m not sure. Each of them appeared at least 3 times.

Well, in 2002 the Teutels were in a small shop, Billy was largely unknown, Jesse was well known but only in a cult-ish way and the same for Larry. Arlen Ness had been the most successful, well known name and has been at it since Billy was just a baby. Arlen is still considered the Godfather by most. The TV changed things and Billy and the rest became famous, rich, and were in a place they could never have imagined. The industry was white hot and is just now cooling off some.

Billy Lane is a talented, charismatic, symbolic, smart man who rode the wave. What is important to realize is that he didn’t invent the cure for cancer, he didn’t save the world, he didn’t change or create an industry, his innovations were relatively minor, he didn’t get a Nobel prize, he didn’t save the planet, he isn’t Henry Ford, He isn’t Carol Shelby, He isn’t John Delorean, He isn’t John F Kennedy. He is a guy who made a few bucks, presented an image, and stirred some emotions. He is not unlike Michael Landon (little house on the prairie), Buffalo Bob Smith (Howdy Doody), Pinky Lee, John Forsythe, Carol O’connor, or many others that caught a wave and rode it. He’s just a guy that most won’t remember and who really is pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.

Having said that Billy Lane is a man who at best was driving with a suspended license and hit and killed a man. At worst he is reckless drunk who thought he could walk on water and despite numerous warnings proceeded to drive a vehicle, cross a double yellow line, drive with a suspended license, and take an innocent life. He has hurt the industry and his brothers and sisters. Corporate sponsorships are gone, appearance money is less, and all that I have spoken with say the damage is pretty severe.

Billy Lane should be treated the same as anyone else. If innocent he should be free. If found guilty he should be judged and sentenced just like anyone else. Is Billy Lane a tragic figure? Yes. Is what happened sad? Yes. Is Gerald Morelock gone? Yes. Will history remember? No. It’s time for closure and for all of us to move on. I will always be in awe of the charisma Billy has as we have had almost 60,000 people read just about Billy since September and the trial has yet to begin.

Scooter drivers of all ages, just as automobile drivers, have a responsibility to take safety precautions before jumping behind the wheel. For young scooter hobbyist, parents are also responsible for making sure their child driver has a basic knowledge on how to function the motor scooter. Supervisors of scooter riding and the drivers must always know the proper safety equipment to use and use it. Though motor scooters have the ability to serve multiple purposes, they are growing especially fast in popularity among commuters in areas such as college campuses and congested downtown areas.

People traveling to near by neighborhood locations and to short distances for errands are also finding the convenient use of motor scooters for commuting. The advantages driving a scooter can offer are very obvious to some people because of the lifestyles they lead. Probably the favorite perk motor scooters offer commuters is the different ways using one can save money, such as by nearly eliminating gas costs and creating additional free or work time by allowing you to avoid traffic.

Each advantage of driving motor scooters is valuable to many people, especially in large, metropolitan areas, but those who have used this method of commuting have also been met with some resistance. Motorists who routinely travel by scooter know, or should know, the safety laws and regulations in their area but unsafe situations still tend to rise more often than they ought. When driving scooters the most problematic situations occur when automobile drivers do not notice or choose not to recognize scooter drivers as a legitimate vehicle.

Motor scooters are legal vehicles to drive on regular roads and the traffic laws and rules of the road are typically the same as those for other cars and trucks. This being the case, by law, there should not be a situation where a regular sized automobile over takes a motor scooter in a manner they would not use if it were an equal sized automobile. Awareness of the regulations on driving motor scooters is most likely the primary reason for road vehicles to violate scooter’s right of way.

Since driving scooters on legal roads is not a practice used widely in all of the nation, motor scooterist must remain alert for any harmful situations. For starters, anywhere you drive your motor scooter a helmet should be in your attire. While out driving around town it is advised to wear bright colors and use a whip flag. Both of these precautions increase the chances that other vehicles will see you and react properly.

The rear and brake lights on your motor scooter are important features that can also raise the awareness of your presence to other drivers. During day and night the tendency of automobile drivers following behind your scooter is to become distracted from any turns, signals or actions you are taking. Having bright, consistently working brake lights help trailing drivers to notice the move you are making, or plan to make. Some avid scooter drivers have installed a flash lamp that is also activated when the brakes are applied.

Auto shows (also known as car shows) are great events wherein car and auto manufacturers are actually able to show off and display their production vehicles and even some of their coolest (or even weirdest) concept vehicles that they have had been able to create and produce. For example, Chevrolet might want to also display their very best Chevrolet body parts during such a show so as to inform the whole auto world about the products that they are sending out in the market.

Companies who manufacture and produce auto parts, vehicles, and other automotive merchandise also do make sure that their wares are seen by everybody and by anybody during auto shows. In fact, most companies do try to take advantage of such events so as to introduce to the rest of the motoring world their newest wares and products.

On this note, it looks like Chevrolet has found a new purpose for venturing into the auto show scene. The company has used the most recent Detroit auto show to show off and intrigue show goers about the kind of look, style, and design that its 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has got to offer.

According to Chevrolet, the company would actually be sending out the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu this coming January at the North American International Auto Show this 2007. However, a sneak peak has been sent out during the Detroit Auto Show. Those who would be interested in purchasing the Chevrolet Malibu can actually do so for the units would be arriving in showrooms and dealerships late 2007. The company also did disclose that they have chosen their Kansas Assembly plant in Fairfax to do the actually production of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

So what can be found on these sneak peeks at the newest Chevrolet Malibu? Well, the picture that was released actually did show a part of the front of the vehicle. There is a dual port grille being displayed and the company has been reported to describe the photo as the “new face of Chevrolet” although people have still yet to judge if indeed it is true.

Each Harley-Davidson rider wants to have a unique Harley that is distinct to any of the existing Harley in the world. This creates more pride and excitement to the owner. This is why customized Harley-Davidson is the second factory of either a brand new or pre-owned Harleys.

So what is customized Harley-Davidson?

Have you been to auto shows like the LA Auto Show or the Detroit Auto Show? Have you seen those custom made vehicles that are truly one of their kinds? Have you seen those flashy designs that could turn the heads of every bystander every time these custom vehicles pass by?

Customized Harley-Davidson motorcycles are motorcycles that have been modified and fabricated to become the sole possessor of a particular look or theme. Customized Harley-Davidson projects a unique blend of the owner’s personal impression and the artistic expression to a subject. The customized Harley-Davidson is a work of art that could be a source of inspiration for other future customized vehicle but could not be exactly imitated.

Why is customized Harley-Davidson hot?

No matter where you go, a Harley-Davidson is a head turner. What more if it is a customized Harley-Davidson? How much attraction could it get if the Harley has been modified with all the latest, exotic or techy stuffs available?

Since the owners would want to create an attractive Harley-Davidson motorcycle that would signify their inner impression, customization is the only resort. Thus, when a customized Harley hits a show or the road, no one can resist its power to turn heads. Customized Harley-Davidson is hot because of these reasons.

Where can you acquire custom Harley-Davidson services?

There several sites on the internet like the http://www.cyrilhuze.com and the http://www.hogpainter.com that are more than willing to transform your Harley motorcycle into work of art. They will convert your Harley-Davidson into a more exciting machine to ride. They will make your Harley-Davidson the best one in town. Hear of the Hot Rods? They are the most popular car restorer and fabricators in the United States. They have entries in auto shows around the world. They have won several prestigious awards by converting simple cars into mean machines. They have services top brand of cars from popular people.

You too can acquire such service with top Harley-Davidson custom makers. You can contact them from their sites or visit them at their addresses and have your Harley motorcycle the real image it deserves.

Riding over obstacles with a regular motorcycle is not usually a problem. The suspension and bike setup on most modern street motorcycles allows for a smooth transition over all but the largest obstacles.

Think about the recommended Motorcycle Safety Foundation procedure for crossing a 2x4 in the road or hitting a "pothole" that is 2" or so deep... you should try to cross at or near a 90-degree angle, stand up on the foot pegs to use your legs as shock absorbers, roll on the throttle a little to lighten the front-end as you cross the obstacle (and rolling off as you cross it to avoid throwing the obstacle up behind you), clear over the obstacle, and ride on.

With a chopper the procedure is slightly different. The greater than normal rake, extended front forks, far-forward controls, minimal (if any) rear shock travel, and low ground clearance requires more faith and strength and will take some practice to be able to complete the procedure safely. Of course, the best course of action is avoid obstacles completely (they say chopper riders are the most vigilant road surface scanners) but that just isn't realistic on today's roads.

My aching spine today tells me that I need more practice after hitting a pavement "bump" of approx. 2-3" yesterday on the highway.

The key to successfully crossing an obstacle on a chopper is having faith in the handlebars (and the strength in your arms/back) so you can pull yourself up off the seat enough to allow the rear tire to ride over the obstacle while keeping the bike under control.

It takes some practice... especially for the larger obstacles... and I would recommend you try it a few times on your motorcycle before you are on the highway going 65 MPH and notice the pavement squished up 3" across the lane right in front of you!

Children should learn about safety at a young age. This will prevent the occurrences of accidents happening inside the home or whenever the family decides to go out.

When the kids are in the car, the seat belt must be securely fastened. Should the same child decide to go on the motorbike, the individual must never leave home without wearing a helmet.

The motorcycle dealer where most models are sold may not have the right kind that will fit the child. Parents will have to check out the nearest sporting goods store so this can be fitted before deciding to buy it and bring this home.

Here are a few tips that parents and children must know when choosing a motorcycle helmet.

1. This should be made of strong material that has a sticker certifying it has passed numerous tests.

2. This should be put on by the child and worn for several minutes. This will determine if this is comfortable for the user for those short and long trips.

3. The right straps must be chosen for the helmet. This will make sure that the head gear will not come off should the motorcycle suddenly accelerate or stop.

4. The helmet purchased should come in bright colors such as red, white, yellow or orange. Though some people think its best to get the kind in black, the reason for getting it in such colors is for drivers to see the motorcycle in front.

5. Before buying the helmet, the person should check it meticulously for cracks, loose padding, frayed straps or exposed metal since this could cause problems in the future for the user. If there are, perhaps the sales person can check around in the back for a newer or better one that has the same specifications that was previously chosen.

Most motorcycle helmets come in just one color. If the person feels that this may not be visible to the driver in the back, one can always buy some reflective stickers, which can be placed in the rear on in the sides.

This can be purchased in auto detailing shops. If there are none that the child likes, then its time to check online or make a customized one.

The motorcycle helmet is a life saving device. People should follow the tips mentioned in getting the right one because this could save the child from serious injury should an accident take place.

Statistics say that 10,000 bikers in the UK cancel their insurance policies over the winter months every year.

Many bike owners will lock away their two wheels but unfortunately, even when locked in a garage, their bikes remain at risk.

Thieves are quite aware that many motorbikes are stored in garages over the winter months and over 600 bikes are stolen every month.

If you have cancelled your policy and your bike is stolen you cannot make a valid claim. However, it should be possible to reduce the cover, save money and still maintain the essential minimum cover against fire and theft over the winter.

An annoying feature of existing motorbike insurance policies is that discount bonuses are not able to be accumulated over time. You may be able to get some form of discount should you remain claim free for a certain period with the same insurer, but this is a rare occurrence.

There are a few types of motorcycle insurance policy, Specified Rider Policy, Specified Bike Policy, Third Party Insurance and Comprehensive Insurance. A specified rider policy will specifically cover the rider and not the bike. The benefit of this policy is that it will allow you to ride any motorcycle up to a specified size.

A specified bike policy is directly the opposite and will only cover the motorbike and not the rider. This would be a suitable policy if you wish to insure a number of riders on the same bike.

Unfortunately for motorbike riders, particularly younger riders, they will have to pay higher premiums for their insurance policies due to the increased risk of their chosen method of transport.

Third Party is the legal minimum type of insurance and the cheapest. The 'third party' is any person you might injure or property you might damage. You will not be paid for anything else and you will still have to pay the excess.

Comprehensive Insurance is the most expensive and the one that pays for repairs to your motorcycle if it is damaged in an accident. It also means that if the accident was not your fault you do not need to wait for the other party's insurance to come through as your insurance will pay anyway. However, you will have to pay the excess but you will get it back when the others party's insurance reimburse your insurance company. These policies often include extras such as breakdown cover included.

Some of the key factors affecting premiums are age. Young motorcyclists have an alarmingly high accident rate and, according to statistics, are far more likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. The damage they can cause to themselves is very often costly and long lasting.

Occupation is also a deciding factor of premiums. Workers who spend many hours on the road travelling from one location to another will be subject to much higher premiums the more hours that are spent on the road the more likely accidents occur.

If you have made any claims in recent years for driving related accidents you should expect this to be reflected by a higher than average premium.
Security devices such as immobilisers, alarms, steering locks and other security devices are only useful if they are activated. However their presence will result in a significantly lower premium, particularly in inner city areas.

As with any motor insurance, the more powerful the bike, the higher the premium is likely to be. The make of the bike may influence the premium also. Expensive bikes are also likely to attract higher premiums.

As with cars, most motorbikes will depreciate quite rapidly. In the event of a material damage claim, insurance companies will only pay the current market value of your bike. In these circumstances it may not be worth paying the additional premium for comprehensive cover over third party, fire and theft only.

If you get points on your license for speeding, dangerous driving etc your premium will go up, if you are disqualified for a period you will find insurance is very expensive when you get your license back.

You can sometimes get discounts because of the training you have done, passing an advanced test will usually get you a discount.

All of the above affect your premium, but it will also vary when the insurance companies are trying to balance their risks and you will usually find big differences in prices. Do your research though and don’t just go for the cheapest as sometimes, insurance company's try to reduce premiums by reducing the cover.

Remember it is illegal to ride without insurance and always remain honest with insurance companies. If they were to discover that you have not told them something that they should have known, you may find that your insurance is invalid. Aside from the fact that they would not pay a claim, this could also leave you to prosecution for driving without insurance.