Motorcycle Loans - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Today, the advanced technology has gifted the world with many ease, which are molding the life of the people, making it luxurious, more convenient, for their job been done.
These creating the craze among the people to avail for better ease, resulting the need of car, motorcycle, bungalows, etc. Thus the need for loans arises.

With many types of motorcycle available in the market, a buyer often doesn't pay attention towards the motorcycle loan process. Most common mistakes committed by the customers are that, they fail to make a proper survey about the motorcycle loans available in the market. Don't let the lender confuse you with their various credits scoring scheme and options.

There are various types of motorcycle loans available in the market:

After bankruptcy motorcycle loan - It's an overwhelming experience to get an after bankruptcy motorcycle loan. People having bad credit are often looked by these lenders. Consider the following steps:

1. Be prudent about the shady bad credit motorcycle lenders.
2. Don't be shy to negotiate.
3 Do check your credit Report for any errors.
4 Have the motivation.

- Credit Card Motor cycle Loan - This prove to be of great benefit for new buyers. Cash payment would be of great risk so its better to pay through credit card.
You can also finance your motorcycle through visa, master card, etc.

- High Risk Motorcycle Loans - having good relation with the lender help in getting approved for High Risk Motorcycle loans. There are also many agencies that can help you to evaluate your credit report and to find errors.

- Military Motorcycle Loan - If you are a military personal make sure your address on financing application tallies with your credit reports and also obtain a free credit report. To avoid bank to bank travel one can opt for online military motorcycle loan as the process is hassle free.

- No Credit check Motorcycle Loan - It's hard to get a No Credit Motorcycle Loan, but by online you can do an easy research and find a lender who matches your criteria and low interest rates.

There are other options as well for motorcycle loans, like Used motorcycle Loans, New Motorcycle Loans, Bad Credit Motorcycle loan, etc. Thus, even if you hold bad credit, maintaining a proper attitude and remaining motivated can help you to get the approval for the Motorcycle Loan.


About Guest Author : I loves motorcycle and ride everywhere. Lucky I'm living in Los Angeles, so I can ride all year around. Check out this website.

Starting a 1963 BMW R69S in Cold Weather

 

Starting a 1963 BMW R69S in cold weather

Q:  My 1963 BMW R69S starts OK but takes forever to warm up, even in the relatively temperate winter here in Miami. What I find so odd is that this motorcycle, designed and built in the chilly land where Mr. Fahrenheit was born, has no choke or other discernible accessory to enrich the mixture in cold weather. How can I get it to run on those 40 degree mornings and still be in tune when the temperature goes back up to tropical? - Glenn Patron/Miami, Fla.

A: Regarding your 1963 BMW, the shop manual I have shows you have Bing carburetors that look an awful lot like the one on my 1974 Jawa. There’s no choke, just an enrichment tickler like on an early Amal carb on a British bike. There are several possibilities, none of them all that promising. You don’t say if you are just having an idling problem or if the bike runs rough at larger throttle openings. If it is just an idling problem you could fit a larger idle jet to get you through the winter, but you will probably have too rich an idle once the bike warms up. If it runs rough in general until warmed up you could also up-jet the main, but again, it will likely be too rich when warm. You might be able to adjust the idle mixture screws on the carbs to provide a slightly richer mixture for your winter. Loosen the jam nut locking the idle screw first. I’d start with one-half to one turn counter-clockwise on each carb and see if that improves things. You’ll want to write down whatever adjustment you make so you can come back to the proper summer mix. I’d suggest a faster idle speed, too, but be aware that you’ll upset the balance between the two cylinders if you start twisting the idle speed screws without some way to synch the carbs. MC

Source : http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/

Yogo electric scooter features fast-charging removable battery

Yogo electric scooter features fast-charging removable battery
The yogo, by fledgling British company econogo, is the UK's first and only full production electric scooter that has removable lithium batteries. What’s so good about that? Well, instead of having to run an extension lead from a mains electricity socket inside the house or garage, the yogo’s removable battery allows owners to recharge their scooter’s battery inside their home - or office, which greatly increases the flexibility of a scooter that only has a range of 22 miles per battery charge. Carry another charged battery with you and double the distance you can travel before having to recharge (it only takes an hour).

With a top speed of 38mph, the Yogo’s 1.5kW motor is billed as the equivalent of 100cc motorbike. There is also a smaller-engined version (equal to a 50cc petrol engine) with a top speed of 27mph that owners who passed their British riding test before February 2001 can ride without having to take a CBT test (but not for the bigger motor).

The 1.5kW motor is run by a 30A controller unit which is powered by a fully detachable 20A 52V LiFePO4 battery that weighs 11kg and fits neatly under the seat, and a spare battery can be carried easily on the scooter. econogo says that 100cc and under petrol engines account for 45 percent of the 140,000 powered two-wheelers sold each year in the UK, so it is targeting a healthy market.

The charge time is 1 hour per pack that runs out a range of approximately 23 miles (45 miles with 2 packs). “We believe that much of the <100cc motorbike/scooter market can now be captured by electric vehicles," said James South, Founder of econogo. "Our detachable battery offers people the utmost in convenience and style, as well as being excellent value for money.”

Owners have the added security that the yogo will remain powerless on the street when the battery is detached.

econogo offers the yogo with a number of options such as a selection of graded fabrics and colors for the seat and different paint color for bodywork which can be made to order.

Both versions of the yogo sell for £1999 (US$3073 approx. at time of publishing).

Source : http://www.gizmag.com/

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Sport

Harley Sportsters have been with us for many years now, and with the 1996 1200S Sport edition you could say they've come full circle. First introduced in 1958, Sportsters were based loosely on the K-model racer of the middle to late 50's. Stripped down, narrow, and light-weight, they were considered the Sixties superbike. During the AMF days of the 70's and early 80's, though, the Sporty evolved into Harley's econo-cruiser. With the arrival of the 883 Sportster, and now the Sportster 1200S, Harley has brought the Sporty back to where it started, to compete with semi sporting bikes.

The XL 1200S is an all new model in the Sportster family for 1996. The first road-going Harley to be factory equipped with full-on adjustable sporting suspension, the 1200 Sport features many other enhancements not found on the likes of any other Harley-Davidson. Items such as new 13-spoke cast aluminum wheels mounted with Dunlop K591 Sport Elite tires, flat, sport-styled handlebars, sport-styled seat with textured insert and embroidered Sportster logo, larger 3.3 gallon fuel tank, and dual front, floating-disc brakes turn this Sporty into a serious backroads scratcher.

The addition of fully-adjustable suspension to the new 1200 Sporty is a radical update for the Motor Company. Of course, in the grand scheme of motorcycle building, adding spring- and damping-adjustable suspension components isn't a big deal -- for instance, designing and tooling up a new motor, like Harley did with their five-speed Evolutions a decade ago, is much more costly and labor intensive. No, the new 1200 Sport is a big subjective gain for many.

Source : http://www.motorcycle.com/

Honda to show electric supersports RC-E motorcycle at Tokyo Motor Show

At long last, the world's largest and most influential motorcycle manufacturer appears to be getting serious about electric motorcycles, announcing it will be showing a supersports motorcycle concept at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.

Named the RC-E, the images released by Honda indicate a a super sports motorcycle designed solely for the "the joy of riding."

The brief press statement indicates that the machine is powerful, smooth and will only be the size of a 250cc-class machine. One wonders if Honda will pursue its time-honoured formula for capturing marketplaces - going racing - with the new EV.

I'll be in Tokyo for the show, and simply cannot wait for this one.

Source : http://www.gizmag.com/ - By : Mike Hanlon

SPACE folding bike unfolds with a touch

Folding bicycles are a great idea, in theory. In practice, they often provide a poor riding experience and can be a hassle to stow away. Budapest-based designer Simon Hukaya believes he’s solved both these issues with SPACE – a concept folding bicycle which sports a one-touch unfolding mechanism and 20-inch wheels.

Like other folding bicycles, SPACE is primarily designed to be used as a “last mile” transport solution, folding up neatly when a daily commute necessitates hopping aboard a train, tram, or bus. However, Hukaya states that its 20-inch wheels, which are spaced relatively far apart, allow SPACE to handle better than one might expect from a bike of its type.

The folding mechanism implemented in SPACE consists of a threaded rotation point which pushes the frame out of the original plane and allows the two wheels to come together, while a lock prevents accidental release.

To fold the bicycle, the user presses a button to release the folding mechanism and bring the bike together. To unfold is similarly effortless and involves simply pressing the same button and releasing the two wheels, allowing the resulting momentum to move the bike into the correct shape.

Once duly folded, SPACE measures just 91 x 68 x 47 cm (roughly 35 x 27 x 18 inches) and while in this position, it can also be pulled along by the handlebars to allow easier transportation on foot.

SPACE is still firmly a concept at present, and we've not heard word as to if, or when, Hukaya aims to bring it to market.

Source : http://www.gizmag.com/ - By : Adam Williams

Ducati 848 Streetfighter Review - First Ride

With the world launch of the 1199 Panigale superbike at the EICMA show in Milan still a month away, Ducati filled the interim with an international press launch of the 2012 848 Streetfighter. The combined street and track ride in and around Modena, Italy, exposed the newest naked performer to Sunday morning twisties and trackday duties.

Nearly identical in appearance to the larger 1098 Streetfighter, the new 848 is meant to provide motorcyclists a more affordable and less extreme option to the superbike-powered S model, which is the only other Streetfighter available for 2012 as the standard Streetfighter is being discontinued.

The most obvious difference between the two 2012 Streetfighter models is engine displacement. Whereas the Streetfighter S utilizes Ducati’s 1099cc L-Twin cylinder engine producing a claimed 155 hp and 89 ft.-lb. of torque at 9500 rpm, the new Fighter is powered by an 848cc Twin outputing a claimed 132 hp and 69 ft.-lb. of torque at 10,000 and 9500 rpm, respectively. Producing its peak horsepower 500 rpm higher in the rev range and with a compression ratio of 13.2:1, compared to the S’s 12.5:1, the new SF is a little more high-strung than the larger-displacement model.

Ducati’s crankshaft-derived power figures will decrease when run on a rear-wheel dyno. The 848 Superbike is factory-rated at 140 hp, 8 up from the new Streetfighter due to slightly less valve lift and duration, and it produced 119 hp on the Superflow dyno at Mickey Cohen Motorsports during our middleweight sportbike shootout. Thus, we expect the 848 SF to generate a little over 110 ponies at the rear wheel. 

This amount of power is plenty fun and exciting on a bike weighing approximately 410 pounds full of fluids. On the street there’s enough oomph for any situation, whether it be wheelieing or passing, while on the track the 848 Fighter will make easy work of better bikes with lesser riders.

Set to retail at $13,000, the 848 Streetfighter is substantially more affordable than the $19,000 Streetfighter S but only $2000 less than the soon to be nonexistent $15,000 standard Streetfighter (hurry and get yours now if you perceive the standard 2011 1098 Streetfighter a better value). The 848 does retain Ducati Traction Control, which is a commendable technology to be included at such a low MSRP.

The bigger Streetfighter S model, in addition to the increased power of the larger engine, boasts an Ohlins fork whereas the 848’s front legs are of the Marzocchi variety. Both suspension components are fully adjustable and measure 43mm in diameter. The 848’s front end, however, is steeper than the S with 24.5 degrees of rake compared to 25.6 degrees on the S model. The 848 also has less trail than the S, 103mm vs 114mm, respectively, but the wheelbase of both bikes remains identical at 58.1 inches.

2012 Ducati 848 Streetfighter

New rake and trail figures do little to cure the Streetfighter’s front-end nervousness.

Whether on the street or the track the Streetfighter takes some time for the bike to feel comfortable and/or familiar. The front end on the 848 version as well as the 1099cc original can feel a bit twitchy, especially when leaned into a corner, and trail braking doesn’t come naturally when riding the Streetfighter. With the 848 spanning the same distance between contact patches as the S model but with a steeper rake and less trail suggests that Ducati may still be searching for a better base setup — which if achieved would go a long way in making the bike more inviting — but neither measurement lends itself to improved confidence.

Usually less rake and more trail would help calm down a nervous front end, so Ducati’s unconventional approach of more rake and less trail to apply calm is interesting. Without a 1098 Streetfighter to ride for comparative purposes at the event, it’s hard to say if the change in front end measurements are better or worse, with the issue still persisting, though, it’s definitely not solved.

It wasn’t until the second session on the track that I was riding comfortably fast, pushing the Streetfighter closer to the edge of its performance envelope. The front end’s nervousness and higher handlebars dictate a light touch — ham-fistedness results in a wondering front wheel.

Other significant differences of the 848 SF include a wet rather than dry clutch and new 10-spoke wheels instead of the five-spokers on the S. The tapered aluminum handlebars of the 848 are also 20mm higher than those of the S model. The high seat height of the S, 33 inches, carries over to the new 848, as do the slippery footpegs.

The majority of these changes comprise to make the new 848 Streetfighter a better companion to the motorcyclist who is more concerned with the competency of the Streetfighter as a usable streetbike and less about the upgraded performance of the S model.

The higher handlebars, for instance, relieve some of the pressure on a rider’s wrists allowing for more time spent in the saddle. Because Ducati didn’t go as far as to change the seating position itself, this extra leverage is oftentimes put to use maintaining a comfortable distance between fuel tank and crotch. The combination of a very narrow tank/seat junction and downward sloping seat can make bumpy road riding a testicle-harrowing experience.

On a smooth, closed course racetrack such as the brand new Autodromo Modena (the 848 Streetfighter press intro was the track’s first official function) the narrow seat/tank juncture allows for quick, side-to-side transitioning.

Complaints were made of the original Streetfighter that a rider’s right ankle was forced uncomfortably away from the bike due to an exhaust heat guard. Ducati addressed this on the 2012 848 SF by adding a 10mm spacer to the right footpeg. Yes, the ankle no longer feels at an odd angle, but the modification did take away a degree of lean angle on a bike that has riders touching toe sliders to tarmac in concert with placing a knee on the ground.
The twin front, radially-mounted Brembo brakes and 320mm discs provide good braking power and didn’t fade during our two track sessions, but feel at the adjustable lever is a little vague.

At the rear of the bike a fully adjustable Sachs shock attaches to a cast aluminum single-sided swingarm. The 5.5-inch rim holds a new 180/60 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Corsa tire. The new size tire provides a wider contact area over its radius, and Pirelli claims improved damping capabilities to provide a smoother ride. Boasting a World Superbike compound on the right and left sides, the tire’s traction was never in question.

The 848 Streetfighter will be available in Fighter Yellow, Ducati Red and Dark Stealth but in any color the bike remains a stunner. The aggressive sex appeal of this motorcycle is undeniable, and if you can manage its few foibles, the 848 Streetfighter should make for a wonderful companion.

With the exception of the uncomfortable tank/seat juncture, the seating position provides plenty of leg room and a respectable distance from seat to footpegs. The higher handlebars will help keep the weight of a passenger off the rider’s back and the increased distance of the footpeg alleviates discomfort of the rider’s right foot.
I personally wouldn’t want to spend more than an afternoon on the Streetfighter, but for a motorcyclist looking for competent weekend carver and occasional track day tool the Streetfighter is all that in an attention-getting package. 

Source : http://www.motorcycle.com/ - By : Tom Roderick