How to Choose a Motorcycle?

Are you wondering how to choose a motorcycle? If you are, then you are reading the right article. That is because the motorcycle selection process is very important, so you can expect that it is going to take some time to choose a motorcycle that will fit your personality. You have to ask yourself a few questions such as:

• What type of ride do I want to experience?
• Why am I purchasing a new motorcycle?
• What is my level of experience riding motorcycles?
• What type of budget am I working with?

Types of Motorcycles

There are different types of motorcycles, which is a good thing since everyone has different preferences. The different types include street bikes, sport bikes, cruiser bikes, and off-road bikes. Each functions in a different way depending on the driving conditions they are to be used in and each looks different in some way.

General Motorcycle Maintenance

When you own a motorcycle, motorcycle maintenance is very important to ensure that the bike remains in operation for as long as possible. There are some simple bike maintenance techniques that you can utilize that do not take a lot of your time but will keep your motorcycle running for years to come.

Fortunately, motorbike maintenance is not as involved as it used to be. There are just a few things that you need to check on a regular basis. Those things include:

• Checking your tires: Make sure your tires are always properly inflated. You can keep a tire gauge in your motorcycle’s toolbox to help keep track of that.
• Checking the brakes: There are two brake fluid reservoirs, one in the rear and one in the back, that need to be checked on a regular basis. Only top up with a new bottle of fluid.
• Checking chains, shaft drives, belts, and sprockets: Chains need to be lubricated, shaft drive oil needs replaced every time the motorcycle oil is changed, belt drives need to be checked at every oil change.
• Changing the oil regularly – Oil level should be cold before riding. Top it up if it isn’t.
• Checking the fuel filter – Check your fuel filter regularly and replace it every two years.
• Checking battery fluid chambers – Make sure the battery is charged to 100%. Do a monthly check of the fluid chambers. If they are low, only use distilled or deionized water Tap water has minerals that can harm the battery, so don’t use that. Also make sure that there is no corrosion. If there is, you can clean it off. Always keep the battery free of dirt and grime and make sure all cables and clamps are connected tightly.

It is easy to see that motorcycle maintenance is rather easy, so be sure to check all of these things regularly to ensure your bike will have optimum performance.

How Does a Motorcycle Work?

How does a motorcycle work? What exactly makes it tick? If you own a motorcycle or are interesting in owning one, these are important questions to have answers to. We all know that motorcycles can be quite powerful. We know that just by listening to them.

Here are some motorcycle basics that you can take a look at:

• We know that motorcycles usually consist of two wheels. There are some that have two back wheels. The truth is that anything with less than four wheels can be considered a motorcycle.
• The modern motorcycle’s layout was established in 1914. Not much as really changed. Just like the engine in a car, the motorcycle engine consumes gasoline and converts piston motion into rotary motion.
• The two hand levers on the handle bars enable the driver to operate the clutch and the brake. There are also two foot pedals that enable the driver to shift gears and to operate the rear brake.
• A motorcycle engine consists of one to six cylinders. The four-cylinder is the most popular choice nowadays.

That seems simple enough, right? However, there is a bit more to know about motorcycle transmission.

Motorcycle Transmission

Motorcycle transmission directs the power to the rear wheel through a series of movements that involve the clutch, the drive system, and the gearset. The clutch engages and disengages power from the engine’s crankshaft to the transmission. The clutch is important because the only way to stop the wheels from rotating would be to turn off the engine.

The gearset is important because it is the gears that are used to take a driver from a complete stop to cruising speed. Motorcycle transmissions usually consist of two to six of these gears and they are engaged by shifting a lever, which causes shifting forks to move inside the transmission.

History of Motorcycle

Motorcycles have this place within American culture that sets them apart from other forms of transportation. The history of motorcycle development is what is quote interesting because it evolved from the simple bicycle into this motorized bike capable of going great speeds.

Below is an outline of motorcycle history to show how far this recreational vehicle has come:

• 1885 – The motorcycle was built in Germany by Wilhelm Mayback and Gottlieb Daimler. It was the first petroleum-powered vehicle.
• 1894- Hildebrand and Wolfmuller because the first motorcycle that could be purchased by the general public. From here, the motorcycle outgrew its bicycle origins.
• 1920 – Harley-Davidson became the largest producer of motorcycles.
• 1928 – DKW became the largest manufacturer.
• World War II – BSA became the largest producer until the 1950s
• 1955 – Racing motorcycles were being developed. The designs had started to look more like what we see today. NSU Motorenwerke AG became the largest manufacturer until the 1970s.
• From the 1960s to the 1990s, the two-stroke motorcycle became popular.
• 1980s – Motorcycles started seeing some of the elements of cars incorporated such as radios and even air conditioning.
• Today there are major manufacturers such as Honda, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha.

Recent years have also shown other emerging manufacturers that have been incorporating new elements into motorcycles. Motorcycles can also come with GPS systems and many more options. They have more or less evolved from being a bicycle with a motor to a two-wheeled convertible car. Individuals take them on road trips or they simply use them for leisure. With the rise in gas prices, many individuals are using their motorcycles as their primary vehicles during warm weather. This proves just how impressive motorcycle history really is and that history is going to continue to expand as new innovations are made.

Tips on Buying a Motorcycle

So you’re interested in buying a motorcycle. As a matter of fact, you’re going to be buying your first motorcycle. This can be a very exciting time. However, there are some things you need to do before buying a motorcycle so that you can ensure you find the best bike, the best deal, and that you are happy with that choice.

To make sure you make the right choice, here are tips on buying a motorcycle that you can use during the process:

• Get a financing preapproval before choosing a bike. That way you know what type of budget you have to work with. This is easier than picking a bike and hoping you can secure the financing for it.
• When buying the first motorcycle, make sure you know what your options are. Determine if you want a sport bike, a cruise, a tour bike, or a bike that will operate on multiple terrains.
• When you have narrowed down your choices, call your insurance company and see what the cost of insurance is for each one. If you’re not sure which motorcycle to choose, this could help you decide.
• Make sure that you try to negotiate a deal with the dealer. Buying a motorcycle is very similar to buying a car. You can talk them down on the price to make sure it fits within your budget. That is another reason why you want to secure financing first. It gives you some bargaining power.

Basically, you have to do your homework. It may seem like a lengthy process, but buying that first motorcycle is important, so time can be on your side in this instance. What will result is you riding on the motorcycle of your dreams and you will have achieved that by making sure it was within your means.

Car Financing Options

When buying a car, most of the time it is necessary to secure car financing. It doesn’t matter if it is a new car or a used car; you have to pay for it somehow and financing is usually how it is done.

Depending on whether you are buying new or used is going to determine the type of loan that you receive. It is also a good idea to get preapproved for the financing first. That way you have more negotiating power when sitting down with the dealer. There is also the fact that many car manufacturers are offering 0% auto financing because they need to offer as many incentives as possible to entice individuals to buy new cars.

However, there are some things you need to look at in regards to your financing options:

• Look into car financing with incentives such as 0% auto financing, but make sure it is something you can afford. Don’t get lost in the sea of incentives
• Take into consideration that used car loans have an average interest rate that is hovering around 7.09% and 7.10% for a 36 month loan. New car loans are hanging around 6.46% for a 60 month loan. The interest is cheaper on the 60 month new car financing, but remember that it is for a longer period of time. The used car financing will cost less because the term is nearly cut in half, which means less interest charged despite the higher rate

As for how to shop for used car loans and new car loans, look at what the dealers are offering and also check with your own bank. See who is offering the better deal in the long run. Incentives are great, but they may have short-term benefits that will cost you more in the future.

New or Used Car- I am Confused

When buying a car, you have two options and those options are whether or not to buy used or buy new. Because of the rising costs of new cars, many individuals are buying used cars. However, the car manufacturers are starting to fight back and prevent you from buying a used car by offering you incentives, rebates, payment plans with low interest, and much more to convince you that buying a new car is the way to go.

However, make sure you do your research before taking off to the dealership to embark on the adventure of new car buying. Buying a new car is a very important move because it is a huge investment. It is a much bigger investment than buying used cars.

Things You Need to Check Before Buying

Here are some new car buying tips for you to consider before hitting up the dealership:

• Check out consumer reports, Kelly Blue Book, and other websites that review cars to see what is said about the cars you are interested in. This is a task that you can do whether buying a new car or buying a used car
• On these websites, make sure that you compare the mileage of each one of them. You also want to compare the safety ratings. A car with a poor safety rating is not one you want
• Consider whether buying a hybrid is a good idea, but make sure it falls within your budget if you decide that is the route you want to go

There are advantages to buying both new and used cars. However, there are disadvantages also that come in the form of price, maintenance, mechanical issues, etc. Just make sure that you operate within your budget. If only a used car will fit, then you know what to do. If you can afford a great new car, then go for it.

Budget for Buying a Car

What is My Budget?

It is rare these days that an individual buy a car for cash unless it is one sold by a private party for a couple of thousand. Car financing tends to be the most common method used to obtain the funds to buy a car. However, you still need to take a look at your budget to ensure you can afford the monthly payment. Fortunately, most people are very much aware of what their car budget is. If you don’t, then take these items into consideration before applying for car financing:

• Set a budget and do not deviate from it in any way
• Figure up how much cash you actually have after paying all of your current bills
• Take into consideration maintenance costs and the average cost to fuel a car
• Determine whether you need a brand new car or can settle with a used one
• Find a payment calculator on the internet and try to figure in the car finance interest rates that are most common. Right now the average car loan interest rates are 7.09% on a used car loan for a term of 36 months and 6.46% on a new car loan for a term of 60 months

By using such a calculator, you have the ability to see what your car financing monthly cost would be on the cars you are interested in, including the car finance interest rates on those cars. Just keep in mind that the interest rates do fluctuate, but the above percentages will still help you get close to what car financing would cost you.

Basically, you want to do your homework first before jumping into a car purchase. When you have a perfectly functional car and enough money in your pocket, you’ll be glad you did.

Which Car Should I Buy

There are so many cars out there on the market waiting to be bought that buyers become extremely overwhelmed by all of the options. There are so many different brands, models, options, colors, styles, and prices that it will literally make your head spin and want to give up.

Now we are living in a time in which we need cars with great gas mileage. The fuel prices are so high that these cars are in high demand. Another thing individuals want are cars with great crash test ratings because car safety is very important, especially to those with families.

So which one do you buy? Do you buy the one with the automatic transmission or the manual transmission? Are car break-ins common in your area and you are interested in cars with car security systems? Or do you want red or do you want blue? This is the point in which you write down what it is you need in a car. Write down the needs first and then write down the wants. You also need to take down how much you are willing to pay for a car. This could be what determines whether you buy new or used or economy or luxury.

Here are those factors that will determine the car you will buy:

• Monthly payments
• Cost of insurance
• Color, appearance, style, vehicle type such as SUV, sedan, coupe, etc.
• Performance and gas mileage, as well as cost of maintenance
• Number of passengers and storage capacity
• Handling and choice between automatic transmission and manual transmission
• Reliability
• Safety features and optional equipment

Place these items upon your list and then prioritize. You can then do your research for crash test ratings and gas mileage on the internet to help you make your decision.