Motoriding

Archive for June, 2010

The Joy And Caution Of Owing A Pocket Bike

Watch out here comes the pocket rockets or better known as pocket bikes. What are these contraptions? Are they legal to ride on the road? First of all a pocket bike is a two wheeled powered scooter that has a seat or saddle for the use of the rider. They are definitely not chosen or contrived for highway use. To ride one of these things on the highways means you need your head examine that is if you survive the experience.

The pocket bike you have acquired or obtained is firmly prohibited from being operated on a sidewalk roadway or any other part of a highway or on a bikeway bicycle path or trail equestrian trail hiking or recreational trail or on public lands open to off highway vehicle use. A violation of this regulation may have the consequence of being prosecuted and/or seizure of the device. So much for all the legal warnings.

Now for the fun part. Pocketbikes are miniature motorcycles powered by 4049cc gasoline engines or even electric motors. They are being advertised and sold improperly as “motor scooters”. They meet the definition in many states as a motorcycle.

Some states define a “motorcycle” as any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for use by the rider designed to travel on not more then three wheels in contact with the ground and weighing less then 1500 lbs. Since the motors on pocket bikes are usually 50cc or under they are additionally defined as a “motor driven cycle”.

These little buggers can really get up and go. It is not usual to be able to hit 40 mph or higher. You got to remember no matter how cute these pocket rockets are they are not a toy but a serious motorcycle. As such serious injuries can occur.

Most of the pocket bikes are bought for kids. Kids usually don’t have any fears of injuries so the adult that’s you have to make sure you keep them safe. They need to wear full body armor motorcycle helmet motorcycle gloves boots goggles and anything else that will provide safety to them.

Your kid is going to love their pocketbike but they need adult supervision. Make sure you are outside with them and paying attention to them while they are riding. The pocket rockets are fun and by keeping your child safe the fun will still be there.

By the way I know as the adult you want to ride this wild thing also. Once you get paste the looking like whether you are riding or having it the fun begins. Your size will make it harder to ride so be really careful. You might want to put on some protective gear and be a good example to your kid.

Pocket rockets are here to stay. Deals on pocketbikes are available onlineauctions and local outlets. They come in all colors and sizes. Remember to ride safe!

About the writer:  Jerry Johnson owns the Motorcycle Clothes Store and Deals On Pocketbikes as well as several other successful webstores. Visit MotorcycleClothesStore.com and Deals on Pocketbikes for great values on your cycle apparel and pocketbikes.

The Ins And Outs Of Harley Exhaust Systems

Most of us like to turn heads with our bikes and the exhaust is a big part of that. A cool looking exhaust system can really enhance the appearance of your motorcycle. Plus the distinctive throaty roar of a HarleyDavidson engine comes from the exhaust.

But there is more to Harley exhaust systems than gleaming chrome and bestial growls. Understanding the function of your exhaust lets you choose the best one for your bike.

Dealing with Emissions

The full Harley exhaust is designed to deal with the output of an engine dealing with environmental aesthetic and legal issues.

The converter is designed to change harmful chemicals in the emissions into something less damaging to the environment. It uses a catalyst to convert dangerous gasses including carbon monoxide and unburned fuel into carbon dioxide water vapor and other innocuous compounds. Reducing harmful emissions is not only environmentally friendly it is also required by the EPA.

The muffler control sound and sparks. Although many Harley owners like the roar of their engine many communities have noise ordinances that limit how loud your bike can be. Mufflers don’t necessarily just suppress sound. They can also be used to control sound to get the noise you want from your bike.

Performance Enhancement

Your Harley exhaust system has a strong effect on engine performance and power. A clogged or poorly designed system restricts the flow of exhaust and reduces engine efficiency. Consider a path from the gas tank through the engine to the exhaust. If any part of that path is restricted the whole system slows down and that means less fuel to your engine and less power.

Most people understand that a clog in the fuel line reduces power but may not realize that a clogged exhaust can do the same. Clogs aren’t the only problem. An inefficient Harley exhaust restricts the flow from the engine and that creates a backup which cuts performance. Well designed systems with smooth curves rather than sharp corners allow the exhaust to vent more easily and the engine to run better.

High vs. Low Mounting

Where you put your exhaust a high vs. a low position will generally be determined by the bike’s use. Highmounted Harley exhausts are used for bikes that will be used on trails and offroad. These bikes get a lot of dirt and water coming their way and the pipes are mounted high to keep these contaminants from getting into the exhaust and clogging it.

The problem with highmounted exhausts is that they aren’t very passenger friendly. Street bikes are more likely to carry passengers and don’t need the protection of high mounts. These motorcycles are more likely to opt for lowmounted exhaust systems.

Choosing the right exhaust system is key to both the look and performance of your bike so consider all of your needs before making your choice.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Author is a freelance writer. For more information on a Harleyexhaust please visit http://www.jirehcycles.com

The Harley Iron 883 Sportster

Trends can be interesting things to watch especially in the world of motorcycling. With the explosion of everything custom chopper in the middle and late 2000s and the proliferation of high end custom bike builders it looked as though the main stream media driven segment of the biker world was leaning towards flash and show over guts and go. Throw in the whirlwind of bike building based television shows such as Jesse James Billy Lane the guys at Orange County Choppers and more and many riders began to worry that the world of motorcycling was being flipped on its ear. Even with the immense popularity of the HarleyDavidson Motor Company over the years they of course have their detractors.

Those riders who feel that their bike is unique because of the work they have done to it got a bit irked with Harley. With the introduction of such bikes as the Crossbones the VRod the Custom Vehicle Operations CVO division and others many felt that the Motor Company was caving to the current trends and not sticking with it roots. Just give me a solid well running bike and leave the rest to me! was a common sentiment. Love it or hate it the Sportster line up of Harley bikes has been wildly popular and long lived.

First introduced in 1957 this model line has enjoyed over 50 years of continuous production and many many revisions and upgrades. Interestingly as the trend for bigger faster flashier chopper style machines seemed to be hitting its peak Harley introduced the most basic looking version of the Sportster the Iron 883. The look of this bike screams back to basics and in a good way. Its simple understated and ready for anything a rider may want to do to it.

With a price tag of under 8000 its cheap and comes with everything you need right off the showroom floor. The 3.3 gallon tank drag bars and midmounted foot pegs come standard. The true stand apart feature on this model is that pretty much everything on this machine is blacked out. About the only chrome youll find on this are the pipes and the forks. When choosing the Black Denim paint option the other is Brilliant Sliver youve got a blacked out machine with great looks. If you’re looking for an affordable ride without all the chrome and flash of the current trend take a look at the Iron 883. You might just find something you like a lot.

About the writer:  Bill has recently posted a Harley Sportster on his website. To see pictures of different Sportsters click HERE. Bill is a big fan of anything with wheels and a motor…especially Harley Bikes.Thanks!