The Right Octane Of Gas To Run In Your Motorcycle

March 28th, 2008 by akeger

Most owners manuals don’t tell you what octane to run, they simply say: unleaded gas. If this is the best your owners manual tells you, or if you don’t have one, read on. But if it tells you a certain octane of gas to go with, use that, your bike may need a higher octane due to high compression.

If your motorcycle has a turbo, a supercharger, or nitrous oxide injection, then this does not apply to you. You should know all about fuel mapping by now (if you don’t learn!)

If your motor is heavily modified, with high-compression pistons etc, you will need to run a higher octane as well.

Ok, so, if your manual doesn’t say what to run, you don’t have a turbo, supercharger, nitrous, or really high compression, then:

There is a big misconception that you need to run the highest octane you can. This is false.

Octane: the amount of resistance to detonation

Higher Octane Gas: More resistance to detonation

Lower Octane Gas:Ignites easier and produces more horsepower, assuming no detonation is present.

Detonation: basically when the air/fuel mixture ignites at the wrong time and cause a tremendous increase in pressure in the cylinders. If it continues for a long period of time, it can ultimately destroy the engine.

However, most sport bikes are designed to run 87 octane gas, and will not experience any detonation, but will actually LOSE power by running a higher octane, plus it will make it run hotter as well.

Check the tank:

If it says: 90 ((RON+MON)/2) - Use 90 octane or better

If it “knocks” or “pings” at all, increase the octane until it stops.

Knocking and pinging: During detonation, when the explosion occurs it creates a shockwave that reverberates inside combustion chamber and raises the pressure immensely, creating a metallinc “pinging” sound. If you experience this, stop the bike immediately, turn it off, put a higher octane gas in there.

Tags: detonation, , , , , , , , , , engine, gas, knocking, motor, motorcycle, octane, pinging, right, sportbike

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Choosing the Right Sticker for the Motorcycle Helmet

March 27th, 2008 by akeger

When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because state regulations require bike owners to have this on as a safety device. Before leaving the place, the individual should check if this will snugly onto one’s head.

If this can easily be taken on and off, then the person can already drive away. Most motorcycle helmets come in just one color. This is usually in yellow, red, white and orange. Should the individual want to add style to it; there are places that offer stickers that will look good on the helmet.

The decal store is not that hard to find. This is because the people who run these places also make stickers for cars, boats and trucks. The person can drive around town to find it, check the local directory or surf for these in the Internet.

There are hundreds of sticker designs to choose from. The individual will notice that these are available in different shapes and sizes which also means that the price of these vary from $.99 cents to $4.00.

People who want this to look cool and flashy should get those that are reflectorized so that motorists can see the biker on the road. This safety feature will prevent drivers from bumping into the biker from the back causing injury or death.

Many people want to add stickers that have lines going from the front of the helmet until the back. Others want a big cartoon caricature on the sides or on the rear.

If the design the customer wants is not available, the dealer can probably make a customized version according to the specifications given by the client.

Before selecting the sticker, it will be a good idea to imagine how the bike owner will look with it in front of a mirror. If this will make the individual look like a clown, it is advisable to choose something else.

The only safety feature that a motorcycle has against collisions is the helmet. This is because this two-wheeled machine doesn’t have the space for a seat belt or air bags that are commonly found in automobiles.

So if the person wants to look cool and be safe on the road, it will be a good idea to have stickers on it. This will probably make the individual stand out in a crowd of bikers who might mistakenly get someone else’s head gear when it is time to go home.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Motorcycle Helmets, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com

Tag: motorcycle helmets

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Motorcycle Towing

March 26th, 2008 by akeger

There is a common misconception that towing a trailer by motorcycle is a self-defeating and pointless pursuit. After all, a motorcycle is not a “beast of burden,” and how much can one really pull behind a two-wheeler? That may have been true in the past - in these days of aerodynamically and space-optimized trailers, motorcycle camping has become a popular diversion.

When properly chosen and attached, motorcycle trailers can be towed with the greatest of ease and few complications. Many people even tow small canoes all across the country with their motorcycles. The secret lies in lightweight, highly maneuverable, yet sturdy trailers. An open cargo trailer can be used to transport almost anything under the sun. And, while customized motorcycle camping trailers are available, most enthusiasts prefer the open cargo kind for its versatility.

It takes approximately forty-five minutes to install a hitch under the rear fender of a motorcycle. The hitch and trailer should be so designed as not to interfere with a pillion rider’s comfort or the driver’s ability to handle the bike. In most cases (and especially when one is just beginning to learn the ropes of motorcycle towing), it is advisable to go camping with a buddy. This not only provides an extra pair of hands in case of mechanical trouble but also extra stability on the road.

A diametrically opposite variant of motorcycle towing is where motorcycles themselves have to be transported over large distances, such as from the manufacturing plant to retail outlets. This is usually done with flatbed transporters and is a rather specialized operation, since the motorcycles in question are usually brand new. Motorcycle towing companies are usually heavily insured against transport mishaps. Individual motorcycles also tend to get stranded on highways, in which case towing units are usually available just as they are for other vehicles.

Towing provides detailed information on Towing, Car Towing, Trailer Towing, Truck Towing and more. Towing is affiliated with Windshield Repair Experts.

Tags: Car Towing, , , , Towing, Trailer Towing, Truck Towing

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