Protect Your Head With A Cool Half Helmet Posted By : Jafrum

Protect Your Head With A Cool Half Helmet Posted By : Jafrum
The safety of motorcycle riders is of utmost importance. Many states have adopted motorcycle helmet wearing laws, but have not specified the type, just as long as they are DOT approved. This allows many motorcycle riders to express themselves in ways that they have not been able to before.

Manufacturers driving the latest tyre technologies

The amount of advanced technology that goes into today’s premium branded car tyres is often not appreciated. Tyres, after all, are usually a distress purchase and to most consumers are simply “black and round”.

Tyre technology, however is continuously evolving, driven to a high degree by the technical demands of the vehicle manufacturers but also, to a degree, by the requirements of an increasingly demanding aftermarket.

Tyre performance can be affected by three things - by changes to the tyre structure, by altering the tread pattern and by varying the rubber compounds used in the tyre, particularly in the tread. It is not surprising to see that the leading tyre manufacturers have a variety of proprietary technologies covering all these areas.

Take Bridgestone for example. Currently, the world’s largest tyre manufacturer lists 14 key technologies covering, casing, tread pattern design and compounding. Some of these, such as the use of unidirectional tread patterns, silica compounds and rim guards to protect against kerbing damage are commonplace but some are unique to Bridgestone. Examples of the kind of technologies highlighted by Bridgestone are:

Diamond Bead - A new construction method for the bead coil, which increases the torsional stiffness of the bead coil to create a more uniform contact patch and therefore improved handling.

Flat Force Block - A new tread block design, which varies the angle of the block edges in accordance with their size. This provides a more uniform contact pressure and therefore a smoother ride.

Key Hole Sipes - These narrow slots in the tread increase in width as the tyre wears helping the tyre to maintain performance as it gets older.

Multicell Compound - An advanced and unique foam rubber based compound, the high porosity of which anables water absorption and an increased “edge-effect” to improve grip on ice.

Riblet - These are circumferential micro-grooves located on the surface of multicell compound tyres. These aborb a film of water on icy surfaces for improved grip when the tyres are new and before the multicell pores become visible.

If tyre manufacturers are continuing to evolve their tyre technology with a view to gaining a competitive advantage over their rivals, there are certain areas of technology, which are coming in for particular attention. One of these is undoubtedly the area of run-flat tyres and the associated area of tyre pressure monitoring systems. The leading manufacturers differ to some degree in the tyre technology they are using for their run-flat systems.

Michelin’s PAX system, for example incorporates a special wheel with an asymmetric profile, which allows a support ring to be inserted, which bears the vehicle’s load and allows it to be steered at zero pressure.

However, their Michelin ZP system functions by means of more robust sidewalls, reinforced with a special rubber compound to carry the vehicle weight. An innovative bead area, delps the deflated tyre stay on the rim.

A further example of the use of compounding to obtain a stiffer sidewall is Goodyear’s Run-On Flat system. This system incorporates reinforced sidewall inserts using Goodyear’s own compounding technology in order to create higher sidewall striffness. In addition, rim guards and tensioning devices on the outside of the sidewall are used to help maintain tension in the case of a flat.

Continental, like Michelin has two systems. The ContiSupportRing is a metal ring on a flexible support directly mounted on the rim, whereas the company’s SSR self-supporting run-flat tyre incorporates a special rubber reinforcement in the sidewall, which takes the vehicle weight after pressure has been lost.

Bridgestone has also taken the support ring route with its Bridgestone Support Ring system.

So where next for tyres? We wait with interest to see how the tyre manufacturers can further innovate their products and keep improving tyre technology.

About Author : Article produced by <a href="http://www.BlackCircles.com">BlackCircles.com</a> - discount <a href="http://www.blackcircles.com/">tyres</a> for cars, 4×4s, and motorbikes in the UK. Tyres can be ordered online and fitted at your local garage.

Tricks to Purchasing the Perfect Motorcycle Helmet

Is it really possible to find the perfect motorcycle helmet, one that fits correctly, is the color you want and also made from strong sturdy material that will help protect you from serious injury? It may sound easy, but it’s darn near impossible to obtain a perfect motorcycle helmet.

You cannot choose a helmet based on its size or the material it’s made from alone. There are many things that need to be considered when purchasing motorcycle helmets. Sure, it’s probably possible to locate a helmet that is the right color or that is made from the type of material that will satisfy your safety concerns, but when it comes to "proper fit" it opens up a whole new can of worms. It is so important to consider the "safety factor." Some motorcycle helmets are just not as safe as others and you should be aware of this.

Some of the more popular motorcycle helmet manufacturers are Icon, Arai, Shoei, Suomy, Erex, Bell, HJC and Nolan. The majority of their helmets are approved by DOT or Snell. There are many other makers, but these are some of the better known companies.

When it comes to safety there are two major concerns. One, how is your visibility? How is your peripheral vision? Can you see enough of the surrounding area to be safe? If your visibility is poor your chances of being in an accident can increase dramatically. And two, if you are involved in an accident will your head be protected as well as you’d like? Will the material that the helmet is made from stand up to the test, to the punishment?

Many motorcyclists or bikers look solely at the aesthetic qualities of a helmet and disregard safety when looking to purchase a helmet. But in reality it should be viewed oppositely. Safety should always come first.

The main options you have when searching for the perfect motorcycle helmet are color, shape, visibility and liners. Color is the easiest decision to make, right? Wrong. As far as the safety factor goes you should be able to be seen well by other drivers. Bright colors stand out and are very noticeable, even at night, while dull dark colors are not seen easily. It’s very important to choose a bright color that can be seen easily by other drivers, even at night.

Another factor to consider is the shape of the helmet. Some people have tall slim oblong heads (egg shaped) while others have round or oval-shaped heads. Trying on helmets for a good fit is the only sure way to tell if it will fit your head properly and comfortably. Plus, you want the weight of the helmet to be distributed properly so that the head can support the helmet easily.

As far as safety is concerned the number one thing to consider is your peripheral vision. Some helmets simply do not allow a biker to see to their periphery well enough to be safe. With good visibility it’s a lot easier to see when an accident might happen and have time to react to the circumstances and maneuver out of harms way.

Liners are the last item on the agenda. The purpose of a liner is for comfort, but it also is there to help you with a correct fit. If the liner is not a good fit for your head you will notice specific spots on your head that are receiving more pressure than others. Avoid these liners. Possibly the most comfortable liner is the skull cap. You will usually have less pressure in specific areas when using this type of liner.

Last, but not least, it is not wise to buy motorcycle helmets online unless you have tried that specific helmet on previously in a retail store. In most cases you will be better off trying one on in a store first. Then, once you know the brand, size, color and type of liner that you prefer it’s an easy job to browse online for the best deals.

The biggest mistake most consumers make is locating a flashy cool-looking helmet online and then buy it solely because of its looks and for no other reason. Spend a little time shopping and you will likely end up with a product that you can be happy with for many years to come.

This article is brought to you by My Motorcycle Helmet, an online source for finding a <a href="http://www.my-motorcycle-helmet.net">cheap motorcycle helmet</a>. Learn how to find the perfect Nolan, Suomy, Arai, Bell or <a href="http://www.my-motorcycle-helmet.net">Shoei motorcycle helmet</a> at My Motorcycle Helmet.

Motorcycle Leathers And You Posted By : Lee MacRae
Motorcycle leathers are a wise investment for every motorcycle rider. Investing wisely in motorcycle leathers can save you a lot of pain, suffering and downtime after an accident.

An Indian and A Short Rope
Growing up on a farm ,I didn t really get into the ball and stick games the kids in town played ;other than football and track the only sports I really cared about involved the internal combustion engine .When other kids my age were reading Inside Baseball I was devouring Hot Rod, Motor Trend, and Motors manuals, Learning what makes cars and motorcycles run. One of my friends grandpa restored old cars as a hobby ;and noticed my interest so one afternoon he pulled an old buck rake( Abuckrake was a model A Ford that they had taken the body off of ,and made it into kind of a tractor)into my parents driveway and said if it was alright with them he would just give it to me to tinker with since it had just been sitting out in a pasture for years and didn t run he thought it would give me some good experience. Well when my friends parents came over to pick them up that evening they found us out in the pasture sitting on buckets on that ole buck rake just flying back and forth across the pasture. I had got it running and we were just trying it out. Needless to say Gramps came over the next morning and the buck rake was gone. So that s how things got started, I had the reputation that I could get anything running And so enters Nicky Hovie; Nickie hovie had a real nice sixty three chevelle convertible Yellow,Black interior 327 4 spd ,nice car .Well he drove in and said he was given an old motorcycle and the motor was froze up and wondered if I thought I might want to try to get it running for him. I said sure thing ,so the next day he brought it over and we put it in my parents garage. Some one had painted it White with household interior paint and it really looked bad but It was an Indian Motorcycle. I pulled out the spark plugs and filled the cylinders with diesel fuel and let it set. In a couple of days I put it in gear and with the sparkplugs still out I rocked it backward and the engine broke loose. Now I could use the kick starter and I checked to se if I could get spark and I could so I had new spark plugs and put them in and with fresh gas I tried and tried but could only get it to pop. The next Saturday Nickie came over to see how I was coming and I jumped on the kick starter and It popped and Nickie got all excited . lets pull it with my car he said So I proceeded to get a rope, tied my end to the bumper hitch of Nickies Chevelle and handed the other end to Nickie.Well we got all straight so that I could pull him straight down the street and we were ready .—-These old Indians were a lot like the old Harley 74 In that they had what people called a suicide clutch as the clutch was down at your foot and the shifter was next to the tank But on the opposite side than that of a Harley for some unknown reason. —So I eased out on the clutch of the Chevelle,the rope became taunt, and down the street we went. As we gained speed Nickie stomped on the clutch on the ole Indian and I heard bap—bap-bap-varoom as Nickie roared past with a huge smile on his face. Un be known to me Nickie had foolishly tied the rope onto the handlebars of the motorcycle. As you can guess when Nickie came to the end of his rope things progressively got worse. Dave Shriver

Worked as A successful Real Estate Broker for 18 years V.P. Aquisition for Flag Developement Corp for 5 years Internet marketing software

Touring Northern Utah on a Motorcycle.

I love to get on my motorcycle and ride. If I have a week or just a couple of hours I can’t seem to get enough of the wind, the sun, the sound’s, the smells, and the bugs. Utah offers many different opportunities from the steep windy mountain roads, to the flat open desert highways, to the scenic beauty of our many national parks. The terrain is vast and varied, and the highways plentiful.

The Mountains of northern Utah are some of my favorite places to ride. The Wasatch mountain range runs north to south covering almost all of the northern and eastern sections of Utah. From Salt Lake city there are many small canyon roads that lead out of the city and into the mountains. These allow you to climb from the valley floor of 4500 feet above sea level to 9,000 feet above sea level in as few as 30 miles. The roads wind up and out of the valley floor and through the mountains in almost all directions.

Here I will describe a few of my favorite places to get away from Salt Lake City for a day ride. Most of these rides are short enough for a good day trip. The 2 ride that pass through Bear Lake are longer stretching past the 300 miles in a day rule I like to follow.

East Canyon
East Canyon Highway 65, and 66 is a nice little ride. To get to highway 65 take the Mountain Dell exit off I-80 about 10 miles east of Salt Lake City, the road then winds north and east about 50 miles up and over the top of the mountain range and drops back down toward Morgan Utah. Highway 65 climbs up and over the mountain range following the ridge for a while then dropping down past East canyon state park and past the reservoir. Here you can take either Highway 66, or 65 to I-84. Highway 66 leads to Morgan, Utah. From Morgan you can loop back to Salt lake going east and back west down Parleys canyon on I-80 or you can go west down the canyon on I-84 into Ogden Utah and follow I-15 south to Salt Lake city.

Monte Cristoe Road.
This a yet another very nice ride. This ride is longer and can be combined with two or three other rides to make a full day of touring. Monte Cristoe Road is Highway 39 and starts at the east end of the Huntsville Utah valley. To get there you have three options, from the south take Highway 167 over trappers loop, which is very close to the top of east canyon as described in the previous section, take highway 39 up Ogden canyon, or take highway 162 up over north Ogden canyon. As a side note Highway, 162, 39, and 167 can also be combined for a nice shorter day ride to get out of the valleys and make a few turns. Once you get to the Highway 39 an head east on the Monte Cristoe road you are ion for a treat. This is a long slow windy climb that lasts for miles and miles. The road eventually ends in Woodruff UT. Which is a tiny little one gas station town near the border of Utah and Wyoming. From here you can go south on Highway 16, to Evanston, WY and then south and west on I-80 towards Salt Lake City. The longer and more scenic ride is to go North on Highway 16 to Highway 30 and then West into the Bear Lake valley. Once you get to Garden city a raspberry milkshake and a big burger are a mandatory part of the trip. From Garden city go west on Highway 89, through Logan canyon. Once again this is a nice windy canyon full of flowers, tree, wildlife and is worth taking the extra time to just tour along. Return to Salt Lake by either 1-15 or if you want to try highway 89 it’s a bit more relaxed north of Ogden.

Logan Canyon.
As I mentioned above Highway 89 from Logan to Bear Lake is a very nice ride. One of my absolute favorites, I have probably driven this road a 1000 or more times, each one brings back a flood of memories, or I happen to notice some new or a subtle change to the landscape or road. To make a loop out of this ride, when you get to Garden City, and after you have had the mandatory raspberry shake and burger, head north a to Ovid Idaho and then go left on Highway 36. This road will wind west and south back over the mountain pass and down into Preston, Idaho. From here follow highway 91 south back into Logan and you have successfully enjoyed two canyon passes and a nice lunch to top it all off.

Park Valley
Park Valley is in the top north western section of Utah. A longer ride we took one day was to leave Salt Lake City on a friday night as the sun was setting, we went west on I-80 to the border of Utah and Nevada to Wendover. We spent the night at the casinos and having a good time, trying to win gas money for the ride home. We must not have won much because I don’t remember us winning. From Wendover the morning we headed west on I-80 for about 30 miles to Oasis, which is an old ghost town. turn north on Highway 233. and head into the Park Valley Valley. this is some seriously wide open country. There doesn seem like there is an life or trees for miles and miles. The wide open valley contains large farm and by large I mean 1000’s of acres. with a few fram houses spread around. A set of Train tracks crosses the valley in a wide sweeping track. At one place the train tracks cross, the road I was lucky enough to see a train and was forced to stop and wait. This was totally amazing I was miles from any life and saw no other traffic, yet we still topeed for the train. If you take this same route we did be absolutely sure to stop and get gas at the one and only place along the way, the tiny little gas station store in Montello. this stop was about 120 miles from Wendover and knowing the range on my Harley Davidson Fatbot is only about 130-150 miles per tank, I would not make to the next gas station. The northern park of this valley turn a lot greener and the popularion increases a bit, but the area is still wide open country. Past the city of Park Valley the the road turns east and joins I-84. We returned to Salt Lake via I-84 and made it home as the sun was starting to set. This journey was over 400 miles.

Ian Parish is an avid motorcyclists and jeeper and has been for the past 20 years. He jumped into building a custom chopper full force and is assembling the parts and the plan, on his web site MyChopperBlog.com. Check out the web site to learn about building a chopper or to lend a hand. He needs all the help he can get. He is the owner of <a href="http://www.RedJeepClub.com">www.RedJeepClub.com </a>and <a href="http://www.mychopperblog.com">www.MyChopperBlog.com</a>

Touring Central Utah on a Motorcycle.

By Ian Parish

I love to get on my motorcycle and ride I am fortunate enough to live in Utah, which offers many different opportunities from the steep windy mountain roads, to the flat open desert highways, to the scenic beauty of our many national parks. The terrain is vast and varied, and the highways plentiful. If I have a week or just a couple of hours I can’t seem to get enough of the wind, the sun, the sound’s, the smells, and the bugs.

The mountains of central and northern Utah are some of my favorite places to ride. The Wasatch mountain range runs north to south covering almost all of the central, northern and eastern sections of Utah. From Salt Lake City there are many small canyon roads that lead out of the city and into the mountains. These allow you to climb from the valley floor of 4500 feet above sea level to 9,000 feet above sea level in as few as 30 miles. The roads wind up and out of the valley and into the mountains in almost all directions.

I will describe a few of my favorite places to get away from Salt Lake City for a day ride. Most of these rides are short enough for a good day trip. The 2 rides that go to the Uinta mountains and the Nebo mountain loop are longer and will make for a full day adventure.

The Salt Lake Valley Canyons, are all close to the city and basically head east out of the valley, from north to south they are: Emigration Canyon road, I-80, Mill Creek Canyon road, Big Cottonwood Canyon road, and Little Cottonwood Canyon road. These are all fun short and in some cases very steep canyon adventures. You can make a loop out of Emigration Canyon road, and East Canyon, and or I-80 if you would like. Big Cottonwood Canyon does loop over the top of the mountain into Park City but you get to travel on 2-3 miles of dirt road right at the top of the canyon. Traveling on dirt roads on a big touring motorcycle is an option, but not one I would really recommend if it can be avoided. Mill Creek Canyon road and Little Cottonwood Canyon are dead ends so once you head up the canyon you can expect to return to the same place after the ride.

The High Uinta Mountains:
The Uinta Mountains are located east of Salt Lake City about 80 miles. Getting there you have 2 basic routes, I-80, or highway 189 from Provo, Utah. Take either of these routes with Kamas as the destination. If you choose I-80 go east on I-80 and exit south onto Highway 40, follow this a few miles and exit east onto Highway 248 towards Kamas. If you choose highway 189 from Provo, follow this road into Heber, Utah and turn left onto Highway 40, follow this and exit onto Highway 248 towards Kamas Utah. Once you arrive in Kamas, you have two choices going into the Uintas mountains. The Mirror Lake Highway 150, or the Wolf Creek Pass Highway 35 south of Kamas. Both of these roads are nice long scenic byways into the Uinta mountains. The Mirror Lake Highway goes all the way over the top. If you have time you can continue on to Evanston, Wyoming. Once in Evanston you can take I-80 and loop back South into the Salt Lake Valley. This is nice ride and long enough with a lunch stop to turn your ride into an all day adventure. On the other hand if you take Wolf Creek Pass Highway 35, to make a loop out of it you will end up in either Duchesne, or you can turn south on Highway 208 and meet up with Highway 40 to loop back to Heber, Utah. I have not ever taken Highway 208 so I cannot recommend that. I have been over 35 all the way to Highway 40 in Duchesne so if you go this route I know you will be ok. This will also be a very long day. One other road worth mentioning is highway 32 from Francis back to Highway 40. This is a nice little short cut between Highway 40 and Highway 35 which is Wolf Creek Pass.

The High Mountain Mount Nebo Loop.
This mountain pass is south of Provo about 30 miles, the way I like to drive this loop is from the south end the road loops north over the top of the range and then drops back down into Utah Valley. To make this loop take I-15 south to Nephi, Utah and exit east onto highway 132 follow this east for a few mile then turn left and head north onto the Nebo Loop road. This road winds steeply up to the ridge top of the Nebo Mountains. Once on this road you can follow it for what seem like miles and miles, all the while feeling like you are on top of the world. Like other mountain passes if you have a fear of heights at a few places along the way you want to make sure you are paying attention because the mountain steeply drops off hundreds of feet on the downhill side road.

Spring is a nice time in the mountains, because all the flowers are out and the grasses and trees are bright green with new growth. Summer is a nice time to take a ride in the mountains because it allows you to escape the heat of the valley floors. Fall has a different look and feel to it the grasses are brown and dry, but the trees and leaves are a blaze with bright fall colors, as the trees change colors and the leaves fall off in preparation for the up coming winter. Winter in Utah is not a good time to take a motorcycle tour. The roads are icy, salty, covered in gravel, sand and snow. The Winter temperatures can also be very cold.

One other thing to remember about taking your Harley Davidson motorcycle in the high mountains. Be prepared, with extra warm clothes and some food. I have experienced many days where we leave the valley and it’s 100 degrees, only to be rained on and experience wind chill factors in the low 30 and 40’s at 10,000 feet. If you are not prepared with an extra set of warm clothes or leather gear in your saddle bags it can be an extremely long and possibly dangerous ride back home. One day about 100 bikers spent well over and hour at the High Uinta Forest Ranger District Information Center. They had all taken a day ride and got caught in massive rain storm, not being prepare for winter weather made for a serious and cold environment. Most of the people on the ride were forced to just wait out the rain in the tiny Rnger Station.

That sums up a few of the nice canyon touring rides around Salt Lake City. It certainly is not all the roads available, It is basically the fun roads south of I-80 in Northern Utah. For more nice day rides in Southern and Central Utah stay tuned or check my web site for more information. As always Ride-safe

Ian Parish is an avid motorcyclists and jeeper and has been for the past 20 years. He jumped into building a custom chopper full force and is assembling the parts and the plan, on his web site MyChopperBlog.com. Check out the web site to learn about building a chopper or to lend a hand. He needs all the help he can get. He is the owner of <a href="http://www.RedJeepClub.com">www.RedJeepClub.com </a>and <a href="http://www.mychopperblog.com">www.MyChopperBlog.com</a>

Tricks To Purchasing The Perfect Motorcycle Helmet
Is it really possible to find the perfect motorcycle helmet, one that fits correctly, is the color you want and also made from strong sturdy material that will help protect you from serious injury? It may sound easy, but it’s darn near impossible to obtain a perfect motorcycle helmet.

You cannot choose a helmet based on its size or the material it’s made from alone. There are many things that need to be considered when purchasing motorcycle helmets. Sure, it’s probably possible to locate a helmet that is the right color or that is made from the type of material that will satisfy your safety concerns, but when it comes to “proper fit” it opens up a whole new can of worms. It is so important to consider the “safety factor.” Some motorcycle helmets are just not as safe as others and you should be aware of this.

Some of the more popular motorcycle helmet manufacturers are Icon, Arai, Shoei, Suomy, Erex, Bell, HJC and Nolan. The majority of their helmets are approved by DOT or Snell. There are many other makers, but these are some of the better known companies.

When it comes to safety there are two major concerns. One, how is your visibility? How is your peripheral vision? Can you see enough of the surrounding area to be safe? If your visibility is poor your chances of being in an accident can increase dramatically. And two, if you are involved in an accident will your head be protected as well as you’d like? Will the material that the helmet is made from stand up to the test, to the punishment?

Many motorcyclists or bikers look solely at the aesthetic qualities of a helmet and disregard safety when looking to purchase a helmet. But in reality it should be viewed oppositely. Safety should always come first.

The main options you have when searching for the perfect motorcycle helmet are color, shape, visibility and liners. Color is the easiest decision to make, right? Wrong. As far as the safety factor goes you should be able to be seen well by other drivers. Bright colors stand out and are very noticeable, even at night, while dull dark colors are not seen easily. It’s very important to choose a bright color that can be seen easily by other drivers, even at night.

Another factor to consider is the shape of the helmet. Some people have tall slim oblong heads (egg shaped) while others have round or oval-shaped heads. Trying on helmets for a good fit is the only sure way to tell if it will fit your head properly and comfortably. Plus, you want the weight of the helmet to be distributed properly so that the head can support the helmet easily.

As far as safety is concerned the number one thing to consider is your peripheral vision. Some helmets simply do not allow a biker to see to their periphery well enough to be safe. With good visibility it’s a lot easier to see when an accident might happen and have time to react to the circumstances and maneuver out of harms way.

Liners are the last item on the agenda. The purpose of a liner is for comfort, but it also is there to help you with a correct fit. If the liner is not a good fit for your head you will notice specific spots on your head that are receiving more pressure than others. Avoid these liners. Possibly the most comfortable liner is the skull cap. You will usually have less pressure in specific areas when using this type of liner.

Last, but not least, it is not wise to buy motorcycle helmets online unless you have tried that specific helmet on previously in a retail store. In most cases you will be better off trying one on in a store first. Then, once you know the brand, size, color and type of liner that you prefer it’s an easy job to browse online for the best deals.

The biggest mistake most consumers make is locating a flashy cool-looking helmet online and then buy it solely because of its looks and for no other reason. Spend a little time shopping and you will likely end up with a product that you can be happy with for many years to come.

This article is brought to you by My Motorcycle Helmet, an online source for finding a <a href="http://www.my-motorcycle-helmet.net">cheap motorcycle helmet</a>. Learn how to find the perfect Nolan, Suomy, Arai, Bell or <a href="http://www.my-motorcycle-helmet.net">Shoei motorcycle helmet</a> at My Motorcycle Helmet.

The New Global Warming Juggernaut Posted By :
Climate Change and Global Warming are definately a huge debate topic in all its controversy and media hype. The majority of people are up in arms over the possibility of global warming and indeed they want the United States to sign the Kyoto Treaty and pledge to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.