New Trendy Helmets From Aita

The Aita network of stores has added new helmets for autumn-winter 2007-2008 period. The new models look trendy and cool, and ofcourse, work well towards safety, the first priority for helmets.

This new collection features 25 new designs for helmets, all upto the safety norms of the European Union. There is an ample range of colors and weaves, should you decide to personalize your helmet. Interiors of these helmets are made of fiber and are extractable for cleaning/dusting.

Motorcycle Insurance - How Much Should I Spend?

James Bond is a few of the men to walk away from a motorcycle accident without so much as a scratch. Studies conducted by the National Safety Council in the U.S estimates that a motorcycle accident seriously injuring at least one person occurs once every fourteen seconds. Another study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau Statistics reveals that there is an alarming rise in the theft of motor vehicles especially motorcycles. What is more alarming is that only 20-25% of the stolen bikes are ever recovered.

Motorcycles are small and relatively light, some are compact making it easy for the crime of theft to occur. A fire, explosion or flood is all it takes to destroy your dream machine. So, in a nutshell you would be a fool to even think about skipping motorcycle insurance. Many states in the U.S even make it mandatory.

Motorcycle insurance will cover liabilities for:

* Injuries to yourself and/or any co-passenger * Damage to other people or, of their property * Damages arising from fire, theft, falling objects, hail or even contact with animals. * Accidental damage to your motorcycle * Loss or damage of any personal items or safety apparel, so your investment in leather, helmet and gloves may be safe.

In addition to these, 'comprehensive' motorcycle insurance will also cover medical expenses, which include your transport to a hospital and may include any physical rehabilitation after the injury. You can also opt for optional insurance for towing and roadside assistance coverage that may come handy when you are away from home. In spite of all these advantages, bikers usually grumble and gripe about the soaring costs of motorcycle insurance. One of the main reasons for this unprecedented rise in motorcycle insurance premiums is the kind of bikes that are available today. The new high-tech, swanky bikes cost almost as much or even more than a second-hand car.

Another crucial factor that decides how much you have to pay is the size and power of the bike. Once you hit the 1,000cc mark, motorcycle insurance costs will increase. Cruiser style bikes are less expensive to insure than the flashy, high performance sports variety. Every year, we see new accessories and gadgets being added to bikes. Add to these certain other factors, like the climbing cost of litigation, falling stock markets, higher numbers of claims, etc. and you can see that motorcycle insurance will continue its steady climb upwards. Motorcycle insurance is not only smart, it is absolutely necessary and how much you spend on your motorcycle investment is entirely up to you. Count the cost, the risks and the worth to you personally. Then decide what company you will insure with.

Honda RC-51Review

The RC51 (SP-1 in Europe) and I nearly didn’t get off to a start at all. After filling in all the forms, and signing my life away at the Honda Press garage in LA, I got on, fired up the big V-twin and moved off (ever so slowly). It was a good job I did, as the floor of the facility is gray non-stick paint (that allows the bike to be easily wheeled around) but has the same effect on fresh tires (which is what I was on) as a mild oil slick. The bike weaved and waved all over the place and I very nearly ended up in the front door post. Ouch! That would have been the most uncomfortable 2.5 mph fall ever. Fortunately the Honda and I made it out of the garage and off we went to the nearest empty car park so that I could light up the rear tire and burn off some of that mildew.

I’ll be honest- I had approached the bike with some trepidation. The last Honda V-Twin I had rode was the Firestorm - VTR in London. I expected much and was sorely disappointed by the package. The new race/road machine promised much and had already received praise in the press and at the pub. The engine was over 90% new with aluminum/ceramic cylinders, a redesigned crankshaft with a central oil galley feeding the big ends, allowing a more efficient lower pressure oil pump and weight reduction. The PGM-F1 injection system has large 54mm throttle bodies with two injectors each with a four-jet nozzle. An electronically operated flap closes off the ram-air at low revs for better low and mid-range urge - a system that in LA traffic worked beautifully. In fact compared to the 929, the RC51 proved a much more willing and enjoyable companion when off the racetrack and on the “real world” highway. The inverted forks and responsive steering combined with the torquey V-twin allowing easy slow speed maneuvers. Once I was clear of the traffic, the open roads gave me chance to open up the throttle bodies, activate the ram -air, and let the red devil work in hills. With racing in mind Honda clearly spent a large amount of time stripping down the competition, IE the Ducati 996 SPS and Aprilia RSV-R. The resulting chassis development has been an incredible success both on the racetracks of the world and on the streets.

The aluminum frame features a hollow headstock to allow straight access for the ram-air inlet in the nose. You won’t find a pivot-less frame here either; Honda reckoned it wasn’t up to the pressures of racing. Instead you get a conventional, triple box-section, twin-spar job with a swingarm spindle. For the rear shock, the engineers have fitted a beefed up cast ally cross member under the swing arm pivot to reinforce the frame. With all this you get fully adjustable front and rear shocks with 130mm and 120mm of travel respectively.

Kawasaki ZX-6R (2000-2002)

Kawasaki’s new-for-2000 ZX-6R got a new swingarm, a revised rear shock and engine internals and a facelift – not good enough to compete with Yamaha’s stunning R6 on the track nor Honda’s new ally-framed CBR600 on the road. In 2002 it got a beefier 636cc motor, which made it a much improved road tool.

The carb-fed, 16v four cylinder motor still sounds mega, with the gruff airbox roar that makes caning these Kawasakis so addictive. It’s fast, too, ripping to over 160mph out of the box. But the icing on the cake is its flexibility – it’s hard to believe it’s packing just 599cc. The gearbox should behave itself – if it’s less than slick and positive try another bike. In 2002 essentially the same bike was released with a 636cc motor bringing even more road-friendly performance.

Thankfully Kawasaki introduced suspension grease nipples on the J-series ZX-6Rs, so the shock has a better chance of retaining some of its performance than previous efforts. The revised geometry makes for improved cornering and the machine feels considerably lighter than before.

BMW F 800 GS

The heavily rumored and long-awaited F 800 GS is a new Adventure Touring or Enduro model in the BMW Motorrad lineup. BMW is presenting the motorcycle as "a worthy successor to the totally successful F 650 GS with its single-cylinder engine". In typical BMW fashion, the bike is completely ready to go and can be outfitted with a huge number of accessories, which are described below.

The new bike is claimed to be off-road capable, with its sturdy appearance reminiscent of the very popular BMW R 1200 GS and its features like long spring travel, which should indicate what it can do off-road. The signals the bike gives off are clear yet diverse: fun to ride on the street and stamina on journeys even when the destination can only be reached by gravel tracks.

BMW claims a high level of stability combined with playful handling are features for the new F 800 GS, along with a strong chassis and impressive engine performance for maximum riding enjoyment.

The inline two-cylinder engine comes from the well-known F 800 model series, but beyond this, the F 800 GS has been completely redesigned. A completely new frame and new wheel suspension with new spring-shock absorber elements are used, for example, which, BMW claims, "will surpass the expectations of even the most demanding Enduro riders."

BMW HP2 Megamoto

The second product from BMW Motorrad’s ‘High Performance’ line has hit the showrooms this month in the UK - the BMW HP2 Megamoto. It is designed a street-legal twin-cylinder Supermoto, powered by a tuned version of BMW’s iconic Boxer-twin engine, pumping out an impressive 113hp with 115Nm of torque.

The use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre gives the BMW HP2 Megamoto a weight of just 179kg, giving the bike an impressive power to weight ratio. A fully adjustable, top of the range Öhlins shock absorber ensures consistently stable rear-end feedback, whilst accurate steering is achieved with sturdy, upside-down 45mm Marzocchi front forks, and what holds it all together is a hand-built trellis frame chassis.

Tony Jakeman, BMW Motorrad’s Marketing Manager said, “The Megamoto has been designed and built for those riders who strive to be different and want a top-end, high-quality motorcycle that has class leading performance, that is fast, fun and innovative. The bike typifies BMW Motorrad’s brand shift to producing an ever more diverse range of premium performance motorcycles that appeal to connoisseur riders.”

Batmans New Motorcycle Actually Rides For Real

I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of the new Batpod for the upcoming Batman movie, Dark Knight. But did you know that the beast actually rides for real.

There’s an interview in L.A.Times with Jean-Pierre Goy, the stunt rider who’s spent the last few months jumping Batman’s newest batbike at some top-secret location in England to prep for the movie.



Apparently you steer it by shifting your body weight or something like that, since there are no actual handlebars. The scoot is equipped with two “top secret” engines placed in each of the massive 508 millimeters wide wheels.

I think it’s awesome that it actually rides instead of just being a stage prop or post production CG. Judging from the interview, they don’t intend to go lightly about it either. They’ve build 6 identical Batpods in case they crash one on the shoot.

Harley Davidson Integrates Antilock Brakes

You don’t doubt a Harleys’ caliber be it in any aspect. Someone said safety, my answer would be nothing courteous than ‘Damn you’, you still be on the offensive dubbing the Harley brakes as risky, although they surely aren’t, I would say the new ABS will rout you.

You wonder ABS! The makers of classic American motorcycles are all set to roll their antilock brakes system as an option on ten new 2008 models. The proclamation, along with unveiling of the three new models, concurred with the motorcycle maker’s annual dealer meeting, held this year in Nashville, Tennessee.

It began when the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker launched an antilock braking system on two Swat cruiser bikes in 2005. It will be for the first time, the average costumers can outfit a ride with the system common in many cars.