10 Tips To Increase Fuel Efficiency Of Motorcycles

Service your motorcycle engine at regular intervals. An engine in a bike is the heart for a two wheeler machine. So try to make sure it stay healthy, out of unwanted sludge. The better way to achieve it is keep a record over service manual and look up into the brand booklet as when it is recommended to go for a new service.

One of the main factor that affects mileage on negative note is the quality of oil that the engine consumes to retain virtuosity. Always go for some better oils and the ones that are recommended as per engine configurations.

Stay tuned to mechanics! I am sure here you will be asking me virtually as what do we know about mechanics and how to apply same on our bike. A simple answer to your question goes as follows: Don't twist the throttle at sudden, let bike gain velocity by applying average acceleration. Also avoid playing with speed; never engage brakes at sudden to roll down speedo needle at once. Ride at uniform speeds!

You should not expect more mileage than a bike is capable of offering. For instance, a bike with curb weight of 150kg can offer much better mileage than a bike with higher curb weight. Also an engine with higher displacement will offer low mileage than a low displacement engine. So opt for a bike that suits your demands and later there shouldn't be any inane searches to increase mileage more and more.

Make sure you ride your bike when its engine is warm. No doubt you can not make sure that bike engine remains warm all the time, but you can organize your trip in better ways. Always remember, a cold engine consumes more fuel than a warmer one.

Tyres don't only ride your machine but they play a role in balancing fuel consumption too. Maintain tyre pressures on both ends. And the pressure units should be same as that prescribed over motorcycle booklet (usually written on a sticker over fuel tank).

Engine idling is very rare as a concept to maintain better fuel efficiency. Engine idling refers to the automatic acceleration in layman terms. Usually located as a knob under fuel tank. Just set it to 1000rpm and it should do well.

Now as you have noted the technical tips out here to increase mileage of bike, let's point out some conceptual tips:

Always select the route that offers lesser number of bumps, fewer traffic lights and uniform road to maintain speed. If it is not the short cut to your destiny, still prefer it as it will save your time as well as fuel. More miles spent in much efficient way will dominate lesser miles in low efficient manner.

Switch off the engines at halts like traffic lights and stopages. These days almost all bikes are equipped with self start so a rider will hardly mind to click a switch to get his bike started and it will surely affect mileage in better way.

By Faizan Shafat Kitab

A Winter Storage Guide For Motorcycles

In order to make sure that your motorcycle is in excellent condition when you want to use it, make sure that you properly winterise the vehicle. The following are a series of steps which will help you to make sure that your motorcycle stays in mint condition:

Step #1

Warm up the bike after the last ride you take so that all of the condensation in the bike is dried from the exhaust. Fill up the tank completely after your ride because unleaded petrol is able to evaporate when coming into contact with oxygen. This could lead to potential residue which can clog the carb.

Step #2

Turn the fuel tap off and make sure that the engine runs until it ceases to function.

Step #3

Remove all of the float bowl petrol after the engine stalls. If the bike is older than four years, you should think about completely emptying the tank as water may accumulate in the tank's base and cause rusting.

Step #4

Use WD40 or another oil spray to all metal parts except for the working surfaces such as the control levers, footrests, and brake discs. This will serve to prevent corrosion and spraying the metal several times throughout the winter will also help prevent damage. Additionally, inspect the bike to make sure that there is no grime or grit building up on the motorcycle.

Step #5

Clean all of the components of the bike where water or dirt may collect. This is particularly important with the shock absorber linkages, the radiator, and engine where dirt is more likely to collect.

Step #6

Make sure that all of the electrical connectors have been well oiled particularly on bikes which have numerous exposed components.

Step #7

If you intend to use your bike during the winter months, place mudguard extenders on the bike to protect against road dirt and salt. After each ride, wash away any salt or dirt and dry the bike thoroughly. The tyres should be particularly cared for during the winter as they are required to work harder so winter tyres are an excellent idea for colder weather.

Step #8

Make sure that the drive chain is lubricated to prevent rust and that all of the pivot points are oiled as well. The foot peg pivots are particularly important as they are likely to collect dirt and salt. When corrosion first occurs, act immediately so that it will not spread to other parts of the bike.

These tips to winterise the bike are not complete but provide a general guide to protect your bike during the colder months. Proper care and maintenance will ensure that your bike will withstand the winter and be in excellent condition and just as functional in the spring.

Suzuki Is Back for 2011

After cutting U.S. imports to the bone in 2010, Suzuki is ready to open the gates again for 2011.

The recent recession hit motorcycle manufacturers hard, and for Suzuki that meant almost no new 2010 models for the U.S., other than some off-road bikes and the GZ250 street bike. For 2011, however, it's a whole new world.

Sportbikes
Suzuki has five sportbikes for 2011, the GSX1340R Hayabusa, GSX1250FA, GSX-R1000, GSX-R750, and GSX-R600. Not an out-and-out sportbike, Suzuki also classifies the GSX1250FA as a standard. The company lists MSRP on these models in the range from $11,599 to $13,699.

The Hayabusa is the big dog of the group, with a liquid-cooled 1340cc inline-4 providing power. Says Suzuki, "With performance credentials that have established it as the hottest sportbike on the planet, the Suzuki Hayabusa is designed for the serious sport rider who will settle for nothing less than the best."

For those of more modest means or aspirations, the GSX-R600 makes for a nevertheless impressive bottom rung on this ladder. Its liquid-cooled 599cc DOHC power plant, lightweight chassis, and race-developed suspension make it agile and responsive on the track or the streets.

Cruisers
The Boulevard cruiser line-up includes the M109R, M109R Limited Edition, C50T, and S40. Of those four, the Boulevard C50T is also classed as a tourer.

Top of the Boulevard line is the M109R Limited Edition. With an MSRP of $14,499, this 1782cc fuel-injected v-twin is the most powerful cruiser Suzuki has ever produced. The company touts its "technically advanced chassis and suspension, matched by world-class brakes."

At the other end of the Boulevard line is the S40. The engine is a 652cc SOHC four-stroke single with the low-end grunt you expect from a thumper. MSRP on this machine is a modest $5,099.

Motocross
For Motocross fans, there are two 2011 machines to choose from, the RM-Z450 and RM-Z250. Both are 4-stroke, liquid-cooled singles.

For 2011 Suzuki has engineered the bikes to meet stricter AMA noise limits, while increasing the compression ratio for the RM-Z450. The 450, says Suzuki, "is a cutting-edge open-class motocross ride that's more potent than ever."

Another focus in new-for-2011 mods is attention to easier maintenance. The 250 features updated wiring harness routing and a fuel line cap. The 450 offers, as an option, couplers to change the EFI setting from richer to leaner. The 450 also features the fuel line cap to facilitate regular maintenance.

The RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 carry MSRPs of $8,149 and $7,299 respectively.

DualSport
For versatility, there are no bikes on the road that match dualsports, with their ability to go smoothly down the highway but also tackle the roughness off-pavement. Suzuki's DualSport models for 2011 include the V-Strom 650 ABS, the DR650SE, and the DR-Z400S.

At $8,099 MSRP, the V-Strom is light, has a low seat height, and offers a wide powerband that makes it easy for slow-going when the road gets really rough. The V-Strom also comes with an extra-large, 5.8-gallon fuel tank, to help ensure that you don't get stranded when the thrill of exploration carries you beyond your anticipated range. Plus, the bike comes with ABS stock for 2011.

While the V-Strom is a V-twin, both the DR650SE and the DR-Z400S are singles. Tuned more for dirt, both are still street legal. MSRPs are $5,899 and $6,199 respectively.

Standard
Rounding out the line-up is the entry level TU250X street bike, or standard. (The GSX1250FA is also considered a standard.) Evoking the '60s look in street bikes, this machine features a 249cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled single. Spoked wheels add to the retro styling, however, a modern fuel-injection system brings the overall unit up to date. The most economical of Suzuki's street bikes, the TU250X has an MSRP of $3,999, carries 3.2 gallons of fuel and will take you about 200 miles on one fill.

So there you have it. Conspicuous by their absence in 2010, Suzuki is definitely back with a slew of updated models for 2011. Now the only issue is deciding which one is the right fit for you.

By Ron Ayalon 

Motorcycle Safety Tips For Bikers and Motorists

Bikers' Legal Responsibilities 

• Obtain a license. It has been estimated that one-third of bikers killed in crashes aren't licensed or are improperly licensed. State licensing agencies make sure that motorcycle operators have the skills needed to safely operate a motorcycle.
• Know your state's helmet laws.
• Make sure you get insurance coverage. Most states require liability insurance.
• Don't speed. In 2007, 36 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involved speeding.
• Never drink alcohol and get on a motorcycle. In 2007, 27 percent of bikers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit.

Motorcycle Riding Gear

• Helmet - Make sure your helmet has a sticker indicating DOT (Department of Transportation) compliance. This means that the helmet meets certain basic impact standards.
• Eye Protection - Make sure your eye protection is clean and unscratched. If your lenses are tinted, also take some that are clear in case you ride at night.
• Pants and jackets should be made of thick material, such as leather, to resist abrasion.
• Gloves should be worn at all times to prevent any injury to hands or fingers.
• Wear over-the-ankle boots made of strong leather to protect your ankles. Also, make sure your boots have rubber soles and a good tread design for easy gripping.
• Wear high visibility gear like bright and reflective clothing.

Before You Ride

• Read the owner's manual so that you understand how to operate and maintain your bike.
• Check the tires for cuts, foreign objects, and pressure.
• Check the following parts:
  1. Controls for kinks or stiffness
  2. Lights, turn signals, horn, and mirrors
  3. Oil, fuel, and coolant levels
  4. Sidestand and centerstand
  5. Brakes

Carrying a Passenger on Your Motorcycle

• Be aware that some states have minimum age requirements for motorcycle passengers.
• Review your owner's manual for tips on preparing for riding with a passenger.
• If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child can handle the responsibilities, and reach the footrests. They must wear a helmet and other protective gear and hold onto you or the passenger hand-holds.
• Remember that the extra weight from a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner.
• Start the motorcycle before the passenger mounts.
• Before riding, practice low-speed clutch/throttle control and normal and emergency braking in an open area, like a parking lot, with a passenger.

Group Riding

• Before heading out, hold a riders' meeting and discuss the route, stops, hand signals, and what to do if there's an emergency or if someone is separated from the group.
• At least one rider in each group should have a cell phone, first-aid kit, and full tool kit.
• To allow for enough time and space for maneuvering and reacting to hazards, it's important to ride in formation.
• Do not ride in side-by-side formations because they reduce the space cushion.
• From time to time, check the riders following in your rear view mirror.

Motorcycle Maintenance

• Follow your bike's regular service schedule that's listed in the owner's manual and have these inspections done by an authorized dealer.
• Check your battery once a month and make sure that the fluid level is correct.
• Always take your tool kit with you when you ride.
• Your owner's manual can tell you what to do in emergency situations, so make sure it's always with the bike.

On the Road

• Always be on the lookout for potential hazards, especially at intersections.
• Keep your eyes moving. If they are locked on one thing for more than two seconds, you may not notice a potential hazard.
• Make sure other drivers see you.
  • Your headlamps should be on (even during the day), wear bright clothes, and always signal your intentions.
  • Use your horn to make people aware of your presence.
  • Position your bike where it can be seen.
  
  
• When you're riding in traffic at speeds under 40 mph, keep a two-second gap between you and the car in front of you.
• If you're traveling at higher speeds, the gap should be at least three or four seconds.
• Passing:
  • You should be at least two seconds behind the vehicle you want to pass.
  • Always turn and check your blind spot with your head.
  • Don't try to overtake another vehicle if a corner is coming up.
  
  
• Night riding
  • Dusk is actually the most dangerous time to ride, because people's eyes are adjusting from daylight to headlights.
  • The distance between you and the vehicle in front of you becomes even more important as it gets darker.
  • Wear a clear faceshield without scratches. A scratch can create confusing light refractions.

MEANING OF COLOUR

A biker in black craves protection; those in green will keep the motorcycle in good condition and a biker in blue is an insurer's dream. These are just some of the results of a recent study by Devitt and a leading colour psychologist to evaluate what the colour of leathers and motorcycles say about the the individual.

According to Angela Wright of Colour Affects, each colour has slightly different implications: the colour someone chooses for a motorcycle indicates his/her attitude to the activity itself, while the colour of the leathers indicates attitudes to oneself.

Although the most popular colours are comparatively predictable - for motorcycles: red, blue and black; for leathers: black and red - what each colour says about its rider makes for very interesting reading. “Many people think that colour is just a matter of how things look and it is often dismissed as being purely cosmetic. However, the truth is that colour is light - the source of life itself; there is nowhere that colour does not exist and our instinctive, unconscious response to it is a vital element in our survival,” she says.

So, what, in Angela's opinion, can a biker learn from his or her own colours?

Beige: Calm, dependable, no fuss biker
Blue: A biker with clear thought, maturity and responsibility
Black: This biker requires protection from the outside world
Gold: Symbolises luxury, top-of-the-range, expense, sophistication and glamour
Green: Balanced and peaceful. The biker will keep the machine finely tuned
Grey: Enjoys a well-made, functional machine. Sometimes has slight low self-confidence
Mauve/Purple: Upmarket biker, but also rather naughty and self-indulgent.
Orange: A biker who likes physical comfort, pleasure and sensuality, though opposite to blue
Pink: A maternal biker, loving, nurturing and a strong assertion of the feminine
Red: The sign of strong and masculine biker, exhilarating and exciting
Silver: The biker who loves luxury, speed and fine engineering
White: The biker wants uncompromising, clean excellence and the world to keep away
Yellow: Self-confident and optimistic biker. Fun, yet more mature than the orange biker

Modifications don't mean big insurance price hikes

Too many motorcycle owners are failing to tell their insurers about modifications to their motorcycles either because they fear the changes will increase their insurance premiums, or because they don’t realise they need to. However, following a recent review, we can reveal that many of the most common modifications actually have little or no effect on premiums at all.

This contrasts with failing to tell an insurer about modifications which could result in the insurer refusing to pay when a claim is made - particularly if the modification is a factor in the claim. Many of Britain’s bikers’ favourite modifications have virtually no impact on insurance premiums. These include modifications such as crash bars, crash mushrooms, road legal after-market exhausts, huggers, up-rated braking systems and a five per cent increase in engine capacity.

Other modifications including wheels, suspension, Dynojet and tank pads may also be accepted by insurers and would result in only a moderate premium increase.

Modifications that are likely to be expensive to insure are: increasing engine capacity over five per cent, custom motorcycles and nitrous oxide injection.

Commenting on the review, Devitt’s Managing Director William Hughes said: “One of the most important principles underlying any kind of insurance is that all relevant information must be passed on to the insurance company. That’s the only way an insurer can understand precisely what risks they’re covering and calculate a fair price."

LIVE TO RIDE. RIDE TO LIVE

5 BITS OF KIT NO RIDER SHOULD BE WITHOUT

1)Leathers. There’s no doubt leathers are one of the best forms of protective clothing you can wear on your motorcycle. As well as offering great abrasion protection, in many cases they’ll have fitted body armour at the back too. Remember, when buying leathers always make sure they fit correctly.

2)Gloves. Another great form of protection is riding gloves, the thicker the better. But remember thick gloves will need breaking-in to ensure they give you enough brake and throttle control. In addition, it’s worth having a different pair for both summer and winter.

3)Boots. When choosing boots make sure they’re not too narrow or wide. Sit on your motorcycle and check they don’t interfere with the heel-plates or levers. And, although it may be tempting to buy racing boots, be aware that some styles won’t be waterproof.

4)Waterproofs. If you get caught in a downpour while you’re riding it can be very uncomfortable, which naturally means your concentration won’t be on the road. Make sure you always pack lightweight waterproofs in your backpack or under the pillion seat when you’re heading out.

5)Helmet. The best fitting helmets offer the best protection. When you’re buying a new helmet make sure you try on various sizes to find one that fits the unique size and shape of your head. Make sure it carries a BSI kite mark BS 6658 or European standard ECE 22 – 05. Never buy one second hand and make sure you replace your helmet at least every five years or after an accident. Always fasten your helmet while you’re riding, an unfastened helmet is next to useless in an accident.

SAFE RIDING: KNOW THE RISKS

The most unfortunate stats for any motorcycle rider are the numbers of accidents on two wheels. Here are some details you won’t like reading:

Motorcyclists as total percentage of traffic: 1%
Motorcyclists as total percentage of fatalities: 19%

Number of motorcyclist deaths in 2008: 493
Number of motorcyclist serious injuries in 2008: 5,556

We hope you agree that, unlike the performance stats for that superbike you’ve got your eye on, these figures are nothing worth boasting about.

And as a result, they can recommend some modifications to your road-going set up. Here are those canny adjustments in full:

• Wear an approved motorcycle helmet
  Colour: white or at least bright.
  Requirements: undamaged, securely fitting
• Wear protective clothing
  Colour: fluorescent (day), reflective (night).
  Look for: Good quality, CE seal of approval.
  Fine conditions: leathers offer unbeatable protection from grazing.
  Wet conditions: weatherproof armoured clothing keeps you dry and focussed
• Check your visor
  Watch out for: dirt, scratches.
  Note: avoid tinted visor or goggles at night

The final component you might want to enhance in time for the next journey is YOU. Tighten up your technique, especially at T-junctions.

Know your sports bike and how to handle it under a wide range of conditions.

Learn everything you can possibly learn about your bike and how to ride it.

Read the motorcycle drivers’ manual for your location.

Find out where the local motorcycle safety courses are being given and sign up for one.

If you have taken the initial motorcycle safety course and it has been a while, take a refresher course. Most of all, practice riding your bike so you know how it handles under different conditions such uneven surfaces, wet pavement, loose gravel, sand and high winds.

The more you know, the better off you will be should the unexpected happen. Read as much as you can about motorcycle safety, potential hazards and how to handle inconviences such as flat tires, barking dogs and wild animals such as deer that come out of nowhere. Then practice, practice, practice.

Practice riding with someone on the back of your bike who is experienced.

As you gain confidence and ability you can begin to instruct other people how to be a good passenger and gain experience riding them.

If your bike came with a users’ manual, sit down and read it.

If it did not come with one, order one so you can become familiar with the way your particular bike works and how to handle break downs such as flat tires.

Finally, make sure you have a biker’s tool kit that you know how to use in your tool box on your bike.