Used Cars, New Cars, Auto Parts, and more! » 2008 » November
As this motorcycle helmets guide discusses in greater depth, buying your first helmet can be a challenging task. For new riders especially, the prospect of buying their first motorcycle helmet is one that raises a seemingly endless stream of questions. What’s the difference between DOT and SNELL? And does it really matter? What does a good fit feel like? How much should I spend? Can I buy something cheaper, or do I need to shell out cash for a high-end Shoei helmet? And setting price aside, how do I even decide what *style* of helmet I need? Full face? Three quarters? Half helmet? Modular? How do I make sense of it all?
Not to worry. Take a deep breath, grab a cup of coffee, and take comfort in the fact that motorcycle helmets are perfectly understandable if you do a bit of reading before you go out to buy. It’s really not as overwhelming as it can seem at first. The basic considerations are pretty easy to pick up (here’s one: novelty helmets = bad. See that was easy 
, and once you get the basics under your belt, you’ll start feeling a lot more confident in tracking down the best motorcycle helmet for you.
Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it. Three sentences from now you’ll know some basics: a DOT motorcycle helmet is one that’s officially safety certified, and a SNELL helmet is basically the same. You don’t need to blow hundreds of dollars on a Shoei or Arai helmet if the one you buy is safety certified. And by starting with head shape and matching that to your helmet first, you’ll find a far better fit than if you just start pulling them on.
Was that really so painful? In three sentences you’ve got some solid guidelines for finding your motorcycle helmet. Stop stressing then! Part of why we ride is to have fun, and there’s no reason buying a motorcycle helmet can’t be enjoyable too. Because motorcycle helmets are part of a safe and enjoyable riding experience. And ultimately, when people are more confident in their choice of motorcycle helmets, they’re more comfortable cruising down the road.
Are you planning to improve the aesthetic appearance of your car? Want to achieve that sporty and sleek look? Then here are some styling tips that will help you dress up your car.
What products to consider from
When considering what options of setup you will do to your car, you should first keep in mind that there are a many different products being sold out there which claim better performance and economical. But the truth is there are some good ones and many of bad ones. Be choosy when looking for car accessories and remember it is not a bad idea to look at the established brands before considering untested brands.
The wheels
One of the initial things that a car enthusiast does when dressing up a car is to replace the existing wheels with custom made ones. But this is not just for looks since performance wheels and tires also enhance a car’s handling and performance. Considering between tall wheels and short ones will be the next step. Larger wheels get noticed more and improve the look of a car dramatically. Smaller wheels on the other hand have that vintage or retro look.
Racing Stickers
Applying sticker designs on the car hood or the other parts of the car body is one of the economical ways to alter and customize your car. Sticker designs range from famous logos of performance parts manufacturers as well as those designed for rally and indy races. If you are capable of making your own stickers, it is important to get permission for copying a design as it may be copyrighted. If you are planning to put stickers on the hood, choose the kind that will not be damaged by the heat of the engine. Metallic foil stickers are ideal for use on car hoods.
Lowering Suspension
Lowering your car makes your car more stable when turningand giving it an aggressive and sporty look. Cars are not the only ones that have lowering kits, so if you have a pickup truck, chances are, there is a lowering kit made for your vehicle. Although having a lowered car means improved handling, the downside is poorer ride quality since the car springs are stiffer and shorter.
These are some of the things that you can do to improve the look and stance of your car. Your car represents you, so naturally you want it to look attractive. Of course, having a good looking car also means spending some serious cash. If this is your passion, then paying more will not be a problem for you.
See this modified BMW M3 model as an example of sports car styling.
For more car information and guides on how to modify your car especially your BMW, refer to www.BOBmodifiedBMW.com website where you can see many BMW Gallery pictures and articles to refer to as a guide. You can also download a copy of “Car Modifying Guide”.
Other Car Info can be found at BMW Auto
If you’re a first time rider, you might hear talk of so-called DOT Motorcycle Helmets. But if you’re like I was when I first started riding, you’ll have no idea what a DOT Motorcycle Helmet actually is. You’ll hear people bounce the word around and maybe you realize it’s related to safety, but the question will remain: what does “DOT” mean? And what we care about even more, what does DOT have to do with Motorcycle Helmets?
Well hey, relax. My job here today is to get you up to speed on the basic features of a DOT Motorcycle Helmet, and their implications.
I suppose we should start with what it means: DOT means “Department of Transportation”. Simple, right?. Simply put, a motorcycle helmet with a DOT sticker has been safety-certified by the Department of Transportation. The importance of this lies (apart from safety) in the fact that states with helmet laws usually require you to wear DOT-certified motorcycle helmets. Fortunately, it’s really tough to find a motorcycle helmet that’s not DOT certified. The reason is simple enough: any motorcycle helmet sold in the US today has to meet or exceed the DOT criteria.
But what do those requirements mean, and before we answer that, just what the heck even ARE they?
Understandable question, and thus, I’ll explain. The design details of a DOT Motorcycle Helmet (i.e. what DOT is really looking for in a safe helmet) can be explained across several general categories (Oh and if for some reason you’re bored enough, feel free to check out the NHTSA website for a more in-depth explanation of all this). And by knowing these few basic criteria, you can learn how to verify whether a DOT motorcycle helmet is a genuine or a fake if you’re buying from an unfamiliar dealer.
Let’s get to it then. Here’s the basic features you can examine to help figure out if you’re looking at a real DOT motorcycle helmet:
Number 1: Inner Liner. This is the polystyrene foam that does the real work of protecting your skull in a crash. A genuine DOT motorcycle helmet is gonna have a liner that’s about an inch thick, so if you pick up a helmet with a DOT sticker and the shell is extremely thin, or just plain plastic, then you know it’s not the genuine article.
Second: we’ll look at rivets, chin straps, as well as helmet weight and surface design. These are a few design features that give you a “quick glance” idea of whether a helmet is legit. Rivets and chin strap are easy to recognize: does the DOT motorcycle helmet look like it’s gonna hold together? Is there a chin strap?How bout weight? Genuine DOT motorcycle helmets will weight somewhere around three pounds. Again, this isn’t an exact science. The point is it’s not featherweight when you pick it up. Last but not least in this group: design. It’s against regulations for a DOT motorcycle helmet to have surface features protruding beyond 2/10ths of an inch. So, sad though it may be, a german motorcycle helmet with a huge spike ain’t no DOT-certified helmet.
So there you have some quick, fast ways to get a “gut check” on whether a helmet is genuine DOT certified. Usually there’s not a thing to fret about, but in a sketchy situation, it never hurts to be prepared. Just because there’s a sticker on a helmet doesn’t always mean it’s the real deal. So next time you end up buying from a private party, just make sure you’re armed with these basic criteria regarding DOT motorcycle helmet’s aesthetics and design!
There’s a pretty strong opinion among many riders that Shoei helmets are as good as it gets, and that’s the subject today. First off: a lot of the success of these helmets has to do with their history. The workers at Shoei have designed and built motorcycle helmets since 1958. They’re a small, quality Japanese manufacturer, and they do their job well. The long-standing, impressive track-record of the company is therefore one of Shoei helmets strongest features. There’s more to it than this though, because Shoei helmets aren’t just “history”, they also repeatedly demonstrate innovation in motorcycle helmet design.
Shoei helmets are driven by racing. That’s what drives their history of innovation. Nearly without exception, when someone (not just Shoei helmets, but anyone) is designing racing technology, they’ll eventually market that technology directly to consumers. Simply put, most Shoei helmets were engineered with motorcycle racing in mind, which means that they often have design features which substantially exceed those needed by most casual riders.
Naturally, many people want just that.
Fundamentally, the folks at Shoei helmets make great helmets. Pure and simple. The motorcycle helmets made by this unassuming company can be things of true beauty, both on the head and off the head. But, as with life, Shoei helmets have a drawback. Bottom line: to buy a Shoei helmet you gotta be ready to pay. It’s not unusual to spend three, four, even five times more on a Shoei helmet than you might spend on an alternative.
So for all us folks who don’t have millions stashed in the closet, there’s an important thing to understand. The fact that Shoei helmets are more expensive doesn’t mean you’re any safer if you buy one. There are so many good companies manufacturing motorcycle helmets in today’s market, you don’t need to splurge for a Shoei helmet unless you genuinely want to spend the money. It’s more than competition too. Basically it’s because we’re not just talking price here, nor are we simply talking brand. The real starting point is size and shape of your head, moving toward the “correct” motorcycle helmet based on your unique makeup, not based on brand. The so-called best helmet is found that way. And for many people, Shoei helmets may not be the best fit for their head; it just depends.
What it boils down to is this. Shoei helmets = awesome. I like to look as much as anyone else. But you’ve got to understand that if you’ve taken the basic step of only looking at DOT or SNELL approved motorcycle helmets, then you’re not really getting any further safety by paying more for your helmet. And paying an arm and a leg for motorcycle helmets that just aren’t right for your head (Shoei helmets or any other helmets) will always result in decreased safety, despite you spending more. Correctly fitted helmets, even if they’re cheaper, will without a doubt protect you better than badly-fitted ones, even if they’re Shoei helmets.
So for all us not-rich folk, I’ll end it with a challenge. Don’t start with those Shoei helmets, start with what’s already on top of your shoulders.
motocycle painting Fort Collins
Ride your dream with custom motorcycle painting from Linen and Styles, Fort Collins, Colorado. We can turn your motorcycle into a one of a kind work of art to your specifications. Or, we can start with your idea, add our own creativity, and paint your fantasy in brilliant biker style.
View samples of our custom air brush work on our portfolio page on our site at custom bike painting Colorado. With the winter months ahead it's a great time to get that custom motorcycle pain job done, you will love our fast turn around and even more so the artwork we can do. We demand only the highest quality from our paint to make your air brush design vibrantly beautiful and long lasting. PPG and House of Color are the only paint we use, because we know from experience they are the best.
We can do more than custom motorcycle painting at our Fort Collins, Colorado design shop. Bikes, helmets, gas tanks, and even spare parts can be customized with stylish air brush painting. Need restoration? That is another of our specialties. Put our love of art and motorcycling to work for you, with custom designing specifically for your dream. We love what we do, and put our hearts into it to bring you only the best quality finished work.
Our specialty is transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Any bike can be turned into a piece of custom artwork with vivid imagery. Stop by and see our work in person if you prefer, we are more than happy to talk custom motorcycle painting any time.
Once you have your motorcycle painted by Linen and Styles, chances are your friends will want theirs done also. You can coordinate the motorcycles for your entire club with your group’s logo or air brush styling. In fact, we’ll hand paint anything, cars, trucks, trailers or equipment for any sport. Custom air brush painting works on anything you can ride in or on. Want to spice up your snowmobile? Bring it in for a custom paint job from Linens and Styles. Why be boring when you can be lively?
If you would like a custom logo air brushed, we are your Fort Collins, Colorado source! Don't be afrraid if your bike is old and scratched, that just means it's the perfect time to get that custom paint job. Adding simple things like flames along with a custom pice of artwork can go a long way, we can recommend any custom artwork and give you design ideas. You will love the final product, and enjoy showing it off wherever you ride.
Don’t wait another day! Make a quick run up here and see for yourself what the possibilities are. We love what we do and are always willing to talk about your dream paint job! If you want a quote, more information, or to see samples, please send us an email from our contact page, or phone 970-556-1112.
The Garmin Nuvi 350 Personal Travel Assistant is a wonderful value at less than four hundred dollars. The tool arrives full of maps of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. In addition, the Nuvi 350 speaks in a way that is remarkable easy to comprehend offering you understandable instructions as you journey.
What You Get
When you purchase the Garmin Nuvi 350, you also get a great-looking product which is diminutive enough to take with you either on foot or in the car. The product arrives equipped with detachable suction cups to allow it to be attached to the dashboard in your vehicle.
You can pre-charge your Garmin Nuvi 350 Personal Travel Assistant by using either a cigarette lighter adaptor or a standard plug-in adaptor in your house. Both adaptors are shipped with the package when you purchase the product. On top of that, you’ll receive a user’s manual to help you understand and utilize the features of the Nuvi 350.
Features
The Nuvi 350 has several features that make it a good choice for any traveler. The system itself is designed to remain in place over rugged roads; it manages this thanks to a ball-and-socket system. The navigator also comes equipped with an MP3 player so you can enjoy music even if you are hiking with your Nuvi 350.
The maps are also updateable, although you will have to pay a small amount of money any time you update your maps. New maps are released several times each year and you just have to update your personal Nuvi 350 when you feel it is the right time.
Travel Kit
The travel kit that will already be on the Garmin Nuvi 350 Personal Travel Assistant is a fun feature. You are able to use the Travel Kit to find your photos and MP3 songs, and to examine any of your other travel guides. These travel guides may be bought for a huge selection of overseas countries and can be used when you are on vacation. Most of the guides are under eighty dollars, although the costs may be different according to which travel guide you decide to purchase.
Additional Features
The Garmin Nuvi 350 Personal Travel Assistant also includes quite a few add-on features, such as instant traffic information for cities and an enormous amount of data on the points of interest in the cities to which your journeys take you. The traffic updater does require that you buy more software, but it is an invaluable resource when you wish to stay clear of the five o’clock rush.
The Garmin Nuvi 350 also offers street names as it forms directions, instead of just offering feet or miles. This makes it easy to be confident about where you are driving even if you are visiting a place where you’ve never been before. You can manage your routes, change your routes, and add stops to your route with ease thanks to a touch screen.
The international concern about the environment is nothing new. Besides the attempts to preserve the natural habitat unspoiled, people showed more interest in the conservation of the natural resources. Therefore important decisions have been made in this direction and researchers, technicians and car producers have come together to create green vehicles or at least to modify the existing ones to the present ecological needs and legal specifications. A true success was the creation of more varied types of hybrid vehicles. And this is when hybrid trucks come into play. What’s the trick about hybrid trucks? Well, as you know, goods transportation would be paralyzed in the absence of trucks. These big vehicles – the hybrid trucks – are huge consumers of fuel and the industry of transportation is equally vast.
People are becoming more aware every day of the importance of preserving our environment and not using our energy resources wastefully any more that even owners of businesses in the field of transportation have changed their views and turned to hybrid trucks to comply with the laws and state regulations. It seems that, hybrid trucks represent one of the most popular hybrid items in the vehicle industry. Users are more interested to apply technical achievements in their fields of activity. People are interested not only in hybrid trucks but also in hybrid electric, diesel and flex fuel pickups, hybrid commercial trucks, freight trucks, semis and many others. Although full hybrid trucks belong to the future, this is a not so distant reality as you might imagine. Actually, a couple of full hybrid trucks have been launched in 2008, with more to come in 2009 and 2010.
The number of manufacturers involved in the design of hybrid trucks is increasing, and efforts are made in the direction of getting fully electric vehicles. Thus Chevy and GMC have bring some mild versions of hybrid pickups. Truck drivers will get satisfaction soon when promises made by Toyota, Dodge, Freightliner, International Truck Engine, Eaton and Kenworth will become true in the new hybrid trucks to be launched. A nice outcome in the making of hybrid trucks is the considerable lowering of the noise level besides the energy saving features. Hybrid trucks are quieter, cleaner and safer to use: all you need to do is get the idea of an investment and get to work!
Get more info on hybrid cars go to Hybrid Honda Accord
Many people rent cars for vacations, business trips, temporary replacement for a car in the shop, or even for use a few days a week when public transportation is otherwise used. There are many car rental companies from which to choose. Budget is one that spends a lot of money on advertising. So many people consider a Budget auto rental. The very name leads people to believe the price will be unbeatable. It’s great for marketing even if not necessarily the case.
Renting cars is only one of Budget’s lines. When people need to carry a big load, they also turn to Budget for a truck. Budget trucks are known for their comfort and style. In fact luxuries like automatic transmission, air conditioning, power brakes and power steering helped set them apart from other truck rentals. That’s quite a deal compared to stiff transmissions, hot interiors and loud rides. There’s a big difference between vans and Budget trucks. That’s a full interior space not interrupted by a big bulging wheel well. It’s not only easier to move things around in there, but there’s more space to fit cargo. Budget even sells the trucks when their time in the rental fleet is complete. Budget trucks, therefore, have another nice comfort. They’re in great condition and often newer models. People can’t waste time with broken down trucks.
In some parts of the country, such as New York City, people find it inconvenient to own a car. High parking prices, congested streets, and the availability of rapid transit add up in a decision to go car-less. But for some tasks people must have a vehicle. When the load is too much to carry on a bus, that’s one time. Or maybe a drive in the country sounds pleasant. This is a job for a car rental. Budget has cars that rent for about $160 a week, a real bargain. Even the cost of a rental car every weekend of the year, about $70 each weekend from Budget, would be cheaper than the cost of owning a car. When a car isn’t necessary every day, people rent them on the days they need them.
Little did Henry Ford realize when he designed his first car that businesses would exist to rent cars for people. What would he say if he could see Budget car rental in action?
People frequently toss around the question of the best motorcycle helmet (you hear this asked quite often among first time riders). It’s an understandable question, because by declaring that we wish for the best motorcycle helmet, we’re essentially announcing we need the best possible protection for the head. However, what this question doesn’t acknowledge is that motorcycle helmets are too variable, just like us, for a “one size fits all” solution. The best motorcycle helmet for me may not be the best for you.
Right right, you say, great, so where do I begin? Well, there are a variety of spots to begin, but in this post I’ll look at how head shape should guide your path to the best motorcycle helmet.
The best motorcycle helmet producers have made varying choices about the internal shape of their helmets. Remember those square shapes you amusingly sought to shove in the round holes as a toddler? Well then, would you think it wise to cram a square cranium into a circular motorcycle helmet? (side note: if you have a square head, you probably have bigger problems that I can’t help you with here.)
So, where to start? Well the initial step is to determine what the shape of YOUR ol’ cranium is before you start thinking about the helmet. Five head shapes exist (we’re simplifying here, but it’s basically true): earth, oval, round, egg, and reverse egg.
In a word: the shapes are what they sound like (all observing a head straight-on): round appears circular (this is more common among Asians), oval is longer up-and-down than horizontally (most common by far among caucasians), earth is wider than it is tall, egg is wider at the top, and reverse egg is wider toward the jaw. I’m unsure of the demographics of all these shapes, but the gist of it remains straightforward: the best motorcycle helmet for a rider will keep in mind the wide variety of head shapes people have as humans.
The next step in finding your best motorcycle helmet is to find a helmet with an inner shape that matches your head shape. It can be difficult, since a lot of helmet manufacturers don’t just give this data away.
You can take a couple approaches here: research and reading, or start trying on helmets.
If you’re someone comfortable with studying up on and buying things online, you might raise an eyebrow at how much information you can get on all the various motorcycle helmet brands and which manufacturers tend to be best for which types of head-shape. I researched and bought my motorcycle helmet entirely on the internet, and it worked out amazingly well. You have to be okay with returning it though if the helmet doesn’t fit, so check the website where you’re considering buying a motorcycle helmet to make sure they have an easy, consumer-friendly return policy in case there’s an issue.
The other option is the good ‘ol brick-and-mortar genuine store option. Track down a big ‘ol motorcycle helmet retailer and start poppin those things on. However, even in this case, you’ll be helped by having done research ahead. Then you’ll be ready to tell a sales person what shape motorcycle helmet you’ve got in mind, and if the employee is knowledgeable they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Later I’ll be discussing, what else: size. This is another major factor you’ll figure out to find your very own, personal, best motorcycle helmet to get riding knowing your head is protected!