Are Motor Scooters Safe? Yes and No!
Motor scooters, both electric scooters and gas scooters, are a style of motorcycle that have a step through frame and have become a very popular method of travel all over the world. They have been scooting out of show rooms at record speed. But what many people do not realize is that motor scooters are classified as motor vehicles when it comes to highway regulations. And although they are an object of desire for many they can also be dangerous for many. They are typically regulated by state laws as either motorcycles or mopeds and are subject to many of the same regulations as other motor vehicles. With a careful and alert driver a scooter can be as safe as any other vehicle on the road. But accidents frequently occur when motor scooter drivers think they are exempt from the conventions that apply to automobiles. Motor scooters (sometimes called mopeds or go peds) are commonly purchased for use by children and teenagers, most of whom do not even possess a valid license to drive. Licensed drivers have had a certain amount of training behind the wheel of a car, unlike many motor scooter drivers under the age of 16. Without proper training children and young teenagers can easily find themselves in positions that experienced drivers normally would not. Darting in and out of traffic with little driving experience, on a motor scooter that is so small it cannot be seen by other drivers, poses a hazard to both the scooter driver and other motorists traveling the highway. To be safe a motor scooter driver must think of himself as being invisible to the other drivers making their way down the busy streets. A scooter driver cannot assume that other drivers will see them. A safe approach for a scooter driver would be to assume that they are completely invisible to other drivers and then act accordingly. A motor scooter rider must be ready to maneuver out of harm’s if another driver makes a sudden unexpected movement. Being safe means staying alert at all times. Being safe also means following the rules of the road and not making unnecessary or risky moves in traffic that would cause their moped scooter to dart out in front of another moving vehicle. Automobile drivers must have time to react to a scooter driver’s movements. There are many reasons to own a motor scooter. They are often used for traveling short distances around the neighborhood to perform errands. Due to their size, fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically larger storage room than a motorcycle, they are ideal in this situation. But in the hands of the youth, without any previous driving experience, they can be deadly. The ATV, go carts, dirt bikes and mini bikes are other vehicles that are often owned and operated by younger drivers. ATVs are usually used off road along with dirt bikes and mini bikes. Go karts are typically driven on paved tracks specifically made for the go cart. The go kart, mini bike, dirt bike or ATVs don’t usually get out on the open road where there are cars to contend with. Therefore they also avoid many of the dangers that scooter drivers must face. Motor scooters are the latest craze, especially among the youth market looking for a quick, cheap form of transportation. These youths can be too young to own a driver’s license, and the result is a dangerous situation. They are more popular than ever, but as their popularity grows, people’s awareness of driving regulations has not kept pace, especially among the younger generation. Kids often think of motor scooters as toys, not as adult vehicles. But a scooter is not a toy. It’s a potentially dangerous motor vehicle subject to certain laws and regulations. Also, youth often think of themselves as being immune to automobile driving regulations and immune to accidents as well. “It won’t happen to me” is a very common attitude among the youth. But it’s precisely this attitude that can get them into trouble. People need to be aware of the potential motor scooter dangers and take appropriate action. Scooter riders should pay special attention while driving, making sure not to drive erratically, but to be predictable and courteous to other drivers on the road. Both kids and adults need training and experience before attempting to maneuver their scooters out in traffic. If parents will take a little time to train their children, making sure they are aware of the rules of the road before they are allowed to travel on them, it could make driving a pleasure instead of a danger. With a little training and some wise words of advice we can all make a difference in the lives of the youth. Give them some training and experience and their motor scooters may be an object of fun instead of injury.J Larry Alan is an enthusiast of <a href="http://www.my-motorscooters.com">motor scooters</a>. He enjoys driving motorcycles and motor scooters. He also enjoys promoting scooter safety. For more information visit his site about <a href="http://www.my-motorscooters.com">gas motor scooters</a>.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
Custom Motorcycle Wheels Purchase
Ready to change your motorcycle? Then you must be thinking about your purchase of a new set of custom motorcycle wheels! This article is not the end-all of buying guides, but I hope to help you with a smooth, and satisfying buying experience . .The very first thing you need to decide is how much you are willing to spend A good set of wheels can cost at least $2000, so you will need to budget your purchase wisely Most custom motorcycle wheels are made from billet aluminum, in a CNC machine, and not mass quantity castings such as car wheels Also, as you have noticed, custom motorcycle wheels have to look good on both sides, which is not the case for your car . .The next decision is what type of wheel you want For example, do you want a spoke wheel? Do you want a chrome wheel? An option to consider is a polished wheel, or a black anodized wheel A polished wheel will “weather” better in a climate such as Florida, where there is a lot of salt-air A chrome wheel is easy to clean, but is more susceptible to the elements which cause corrosion A polished wheel is well suited for these climates, but takes a lot of maintenance to keep their shine A black anodized wheel or powder coated wheel is more of a “look” choice, and are not as durable as a chrome or polished wheel (Though a black magic marker can often hide dings in these wheels ) . .Once your decision has been made on the type of wheel, the next step is finding a design which looks good on your specific bike, and more importantly, that you love Yes, I said love, because when you are spending this kind of money, you will probably not want to like your wheels, you will need to love them This is why you should never “settle” for a wheel design . .There are many different media outlets to view wheel designs offered in the market Most enthusiasts will subscribe to a type of motorcycle industry magazine, such as American Bagger These magazines will have numerous wheel ads, with some of the company’s offerings I would suggest going to the most common place to search for something, Google Type in Custom Motorcycle Wheels, and click search This will bring up the most popular company’s websites in the industry . .Spend some time going through each company’s website, looking at the different options you have Most websites will have a motorcycle wheel selector This allows you to view their wheels on your bike, a handy tool to help you decide what looks good on your bike Don’t forget to look for specials, or eBay deals and steals, many companies have an eBay store for their clearance items This is often a great place to find brand new wheels, with a large discount . .I think you have the resources to find the wheel design that fits your needs The next decision is the size of the wheels you want to put on your motorcycle For example, 2002-2008 baggers, or FLH Harley, have stock sizes of 16″ x 3 5″ on both the front and rear From my experience, about 75% of customers will choose to upgrade to a 21″ x 3 5″ on the front, and 18″ x 4 25″ on the rear These are the largest sizes you can upgrade to on this bike, without major modifications You could also choose to only go to a 18″ x 3 5″ on the front Keep in mind, the stock rotor size is almost 12 inches, so, on a 16″ wheel, you will only see 2 inches of wheel, whereas the 21″ wheel, you see 4 5 inches of wheel This is significant when spending such a large amount of money on motorcycle wheels; you’ll want to see them!! . .Some motorcycles will only have the stock sizes available When you are speaking to a sales consultant, ask them what size options they have available for your bike They will most often have a reference guide to size wheels for your specific motorcycle One last thing to remember, when you change the size of your wheel, you will NOT be able to use your stock tires I would suggest timing the replacement of your tires with the new set of custom motorcycle wheels, or you can sell those stock tires on eBay! . .Once you have the design picked, pricing is the next step Whether you are getting an email quote, phone quote, or looking at eBay pricing, there are some things to remember, and ask! When looking at a set, be sure the wheels come with hubs, and are ready to bolt on, without any additional parts or modifications It may seem small, but ensure there are bearings in the hubs, and even valve stems Some companies will try to save a few dollars, and don’t include these items If you decide to purchase tires, is the package price with tires mounted and balanced? Does the package price include shipping? Where is the company you are doing business with? If you are located in the same state, you will need to pay sales tax Most often, you will not have to pay sales tax, unless you are un-lucky enough to decide on a company in your state Some companies will often give a larger discount to in-state customers, which can help offset the additional cost of sales tax Be sure to ask these questions, you will save time and money! . .While getting pricing on your wheels, you should also consider including matching rotors and a pulley in your purchase Most custom motorcycle wheels will have a matching cut rotor, and pulley Also consider your bike type and this extra expense On a bagger, you do not see the rear rotor and pulley, so most customers opt not to purchase those items, and can save as much as $6-800 dollars However, on a Dyna, you do see the rear rotor and pulley, so you may decide to change all the rotors, and pulley For matching cut rotors, you should expect to pay from $239 upwards to over $350 per rotor For a matching cut pulley, you can expect to pay from $429 upwards to over $500 for a pulley Again, if you ask for package pricing, you will often receive discounts on all parts in the package . .When getting rotors or a pulley, be sure to inquire as to what hardware you will receive, such as bolts, and some brand of thread-locker Most companies will not attach the rotors to the wheels before shipping, as they can easily be damaged in shipping Don’t worry, attaching the rotors yourself is a simple process, or you can let your local dealer do the install . .As in any purchase, be sure to inquire about the products warranty, return policy, and any restock fees associated with a return In custom motorcycle wheels, a good warranty is a 2 year chrome warranty, and a lifetime structural warranty Also, be sure to ask if the warranty is transferrable, some warranties are void if the bike or wheels are sold to another individual .
Source: www.rsstnx.com
