MOTORCYCLES

On the whole, motorcycle owners put more love and care into their machines
than do owners of cars or trucks. That “love and care” directly translates into
hundreds of dollars spent on customizations and maintenance. Sadly, between
30,000 to 50,000 bikes are stolen each year in the United States alone (based on
theft rates from 2000 through 2005). And to think, many of these thefts could have
been prevented with a little common sense and security.

Common Sense This should go without saying, but don’t leave the keys in
the ignition or the motor running when you’re not on the bike! Never leave your
bike in a dimly lit, hard to see location. Put the bike in your locked garage when you
are at home.

Locks and Chains One item every bike owner should purchase is a thick
U-lock or chain that can be easily spotted by anyone, day or night. This is a must-
have, unless its so big that it’s impossible to tote around with you. Simply wrapping
your chain through a wheel and your bike frame is not enough — you have to
mount the bike to a sturdy pole or clamp mounted in concrete. If the bike isn’t
mounted to a stationary object, a thief could just pack up your bike in a truck and
drive away.

Electronic Alarms Most modern bikes (larger than a scooter) have some
form of factory immobilization that prevents casual theft, but such immobilizers
alone won’t stop a determined thief. It’s therefore best to consider an electronic
security system, often called an “alarm.” A good alarm system does more than just
make noise, it has circuitry that prevents false triggers, adds secondary points of
immobilization, and sounds a loud siren only when a threat against your bike is real.
Some have digital tilt sensors, shock sensors and other sensors that trip the system
into action. One excellent electronic alarm from Japan is the CYCLONE 866F:
www.kiramek.com. The Japanese manufacturer of Cyclone also offers a 1-way
paging system that instantly alerts you when a threat occurs. The system is also
claimed to be very low-power, eliminating worry of your battery being drained.

Two-way Paging Alarms Over the last 3 years, some electronic alarms
have begun to include 2-way pagers. These systems allow you to both control the
alarm and receive notification of threats. Unfortunately, battery life for many of
these two-way pagers is limited to about 1 month, and the pagers
themselves can be easily broken by a simple fall from your pants pocket. Two-way
systems also may drain a bike’s battery quickly unless you ride it daily. Even so, for
some people the convenience aspect may outweigh the negatives for some bike
owners.

Tracking Systems As of 2005, some companies have come out with GPS
tracking systems for bikes that allow a stolen bike to be traced. While tracking
systems do have merits over other types of security, there are three important
downsides that must be considered: (1) battery drain on the bike, (2) service area
(tracking) coverage, and (3) monthly cost.

Most tracking systems require you to pay not only for the product itself but also
each and every month to keep the “service contract” alive. The long term cost of
tracking systems may leave a bad taste in the mouth of the average bike owner.
Think about how much you already pay per month (phone bill, mobile phone,
internet, etc.) and you can see why tacking on another subscription is cost
prohibitive.

LoJack is one tracking system manufacturer who does not charge any monthly fees,
but their least expensive bike system runs $595 and traceability is limited to the
coverage area of wireless towers installed by LoJack and some police stations. Once
your LoJack “protected” vehicle exits the coverage area, its off the map and not
traceable. Of course, LoJack will refund the price of the product, but that refund
doesn’t replace your bike. Nor does that refund cover any special installation fees
you might have paid or any insurance deductible you might have.

Conclusion Use a layered approach to security. Common sense dictates
that you put your bike in a location that is not an obvious target for thieves. You’ll
then need a chain or U-lock to prevent casual theft. And lastly, even if your bike
has a factory immobilizer, the addition of an electronic alarm or tracking system will
act as a significant deterrent to theft.

SECURITY RESOURCES:

CYCLONE Motorcycle Security

VISION 2-Way Paging Alarms

WORCH Tire Locks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. James Wages has a BSEE from CSU Fresno and has worked
in the automotive security aftermarket since 1994.

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Camping on a motorcycle can present a real challenge, because you can’t carry much weight or volume, and there are few places to store your equipment on a motor bike.

Most motor cycle riders use bags or panniers at the back of their machines to hold the camping gear. These have to be tough and waterproof - a bit like their owners - to keep the camping equipment safe from the weather. And you don’t want anything coming loose and flying off either. It might cause an accident and you could be held liable for damages - or worse.

With a truck or an automobile, you can put your camping gear on the inside. But with a motorcycle, it’s got to be fitted pretty much on the outside of your machine. Some fancy fairings (wind breaks) have small pockets, but they don’t hold much camping gear at all.

You can usually fit a large cube-shaped bag on the rear luggage rack or pillion seat, and maybe a tank bag on the motorcycle petrol tank, and that’s it.

Some bikes may have a couple of large panniers at the back, like the leather saddlebags you see on some Harleys, or the stylish ‘fat briefcase’ types you see on a German BMW tourer. (I’ve always wanted one of those.)

All your camping gear has got to fit inside that limited space, so camping on a motorcycles gives you the same kind of storage constraints as a backpacker, except you can travel a lot faster than on foot.

Depending on whether you’re riding the bike solo or two-up, you’ll want a small tent, sleeping bag (or bags), sleeping pad(s) between you and the ground, a small camp stove, cook kit, plastic mugs, bowls, spoons and maybe knives & forks as well.

Have tea or coffee-making supplies, including powdered milk in an airtight container or sweetened condensed milk. (Anything else leaks or spoils too easy in my experience.) As for myself, I love to sleep in a Hennessey Hammock it’s perfect in the warmer weather and keeps the mosquitos away from you, so you get a good night’s sleep.

Just carry enough food (and water) to make a couple of hasty meals for when you’re tired, cold and hungry and miles from a diner or a McDonald’s.

Then include a change of clothing and extra socks and underwear. Toilet kit - toothbrush, toothpaste or powder, half a bar of soap (or a small cake or soap from a hotel), a small towel, comb, a few band aids, some asprin or Tylenol pain killers, and any feminine hygiene stuff or prescription medicines needed.

Out in the country or on the interstate highways, the larger gas stations that cater to truckers will have hot showers as well. That can really refresh you if you’ve been camping away from the comforts of home for a few days. Buy a meal there as well, to pay for the shower.

For camp lighting carry a small flashlight and / or a candle. Some will take a mechanic’s ‘trouble light’ which has a long cord and runs of the motorcycle’s 12 volt battery. If you’re going to be in a campground with mains electricity, by all means carry a mains-powered ‘trouble light’.

These are the things a mechanic uses when crawling under your auto to inspect it at the garage.

Your motorcycle should already have it’s own small tool kit, but it could be wise to carry a spare inner-tube and a pump. In case you get a flat tire 50 miles from nowhere. Here’s where membership of an auto club would be a good idea, just as carrying a cell phone (mobile phone) would also be cheap insurance.

The only other thing you need when camping on a motorcycle is a sense of humor and a large helping of common sense. You also need to show courtesy for other road users. Why? Because just about everything out there is bigger than you are! Ride your motor bike carefully, and stay safe and in one piece!

The author, David Harvey, has been camping since he was a boy and riding motorbikes since 1967. He now lives in Australia where he still enjoys camping and motor cycling. David has picked up a tip or two during those 40 years that he’s happy to share with you here and on his camping website http://www.All-Camping-Supplies.com.

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Motorbikes are considered heartthrobs in the automotive world. Bikes are conventional and normal bikes are used by ordinary, middleclass people who can not afford to buy themselves a car. It would not be an over statement that 90 percent of people who step into their professional lives and start earning buy a motor bike as a means of transportation. They can take their feet off the ground and flutter away on their vehicles.

These motorcycles are economical in many ways. Some third world countries have stared producing their local scooters and bikes so that almost any person who manages to save a little amount of money can afford a scooter easily.

This goes for countries that are on their way towards development. Motor bikes are not hard to assemble and there are people who have managed to build their very own bikes.

It does not consume as much fuel as cars do and they can easily adjust themselves between cars in the parking lot!

It is hard to categorize bikes because now the ordinary Yamahas are beginning to come in the markets with the same features as those of trail or heavy bikes. Not exactly the same but a lot of features are being installed in all kinds of bikes. They are now more comfortable and smooth to ride on.

Bikes are of numerous types. An ATV drift has become dominant over the past few years. In ATV there is a raptor 700R GYTR edition it’s key features are much more advanced. It is appealing for bike lovers as it has special graphics system, all new skid plates and more powerful engine that can make this bike race in all sorts of riding environments. It is capable of riding smoothly in deserts, dunes and even thick woods. It is basically a sports bike and it is used in bike racing and over the years it has earned the reputation of the best racer in the world.

Such bikes are expensive and belong to the sporting world. They used to be rather plain featured as we have seen the trail bikes that come with extra shocks and special wheels. The latest bikes have no comparison; they are a complete package. Their bodies are light weight; they have bigger, smoother, comfortable cushion seats. And their over all performance is much more satisfying than people could imagine. Motorbikes are a joy to ride.

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