Dirt Bike Trails

What are dirt bike trails?

While dirt bike racing and motocross is normally done on designated tracks that are set out and predefined, dirt bike trails are the equivalent of free ride. In some areas you can just head off to a decent dirt bike trail and ride how you want and where you want. Obviously there are usually some pretty basic rules to try and encourage safe riding and lower the risks of dangerous accidents but if you see a better route, you can take it.

There are many different difficulties of dirt bike trails; ranging from beginner trails to difficult trails and if you're new to trailing then you should start at the very beginning and work your way up as you gain more confidence, skill and exposure.

What are trails bikes?
Trails bikes are different to other types of dirt bikes, because they are designed for use both on and off road and while the ride on the road can be quite bumpy the bike gives you the perfect way to get you from one trail to the next. Obviously, this compatibility for both road and track means that the bikes are an all-rounder; they are good for roads and good for tracks but not exceptional at either.

The freedom that trails bikes and trail racing offers means that trail riding has a massive following and many trail bikers will tell you that it's the only real dirt bike riding there is

Can anyone try dirt bike trails?
Trails are an easily accessible form of dirt bike riding but in order to ride your trail bike on the road you will, of course, need the same license, tax and certificates as you would with a standard road bike. To ride them on a trail, though, this isn't necessary although some more organized trails will only consider experienced riders so check before you travel. There are many trails all over the world, and in some areas of the world you don't have to use the predefined trails, but you should always take care when riding anywhere that there may be unseen obstacles or pedestrians.

There are groups of people all over the world who travel together to find the best trails and even a cursory glance on the Internet can find a plethora of sites offering details, directions and even rider's guides to some of the best trails in the world. If you've got a bit of money to spare you can sign up to a premium site and get new trails added as and when they are opened or discovered. These have details of some of the more obscure trails in the world sourced by professional die-hard trail bikers.

EagleRider Revolutionizes Motorcycle Travel

If you enjoy your independence when you travel or just want to try something different on your next vacation, consider a motorcycle tour.

EagleRider, a leading motorcycle rental company, is now paving the way for a revolution in the way enthusiasts travel. EagleRider's self-drive tours are beginning to generate a buzz within the industry as result of their dramatic growth since conception.

EagleRider does all the planning and provides all the gear, leaving travelers the freedom to marvel at the scenery and experience the trill of adventure on the road alone or with the company of their own friends and family. More than 100 self-drive tours are available out of every EagleRider location.

Companies like EagleRider are springing up everywhere and are more than just motorcycle rental or tour organizations. They are complete travel and concierge service companies tailored for the motorcycle market. EagleRider offers the personal service of an in-house trip planner, with customized itineraries focusing on the most majestic motorcycle touring routes.

EagleRider's self-drive tour customers rent a late-model motorcycle, stay at first-rate accommodations and receive a personalized road book designed with everything a rider would need, including mapped routing, restaurant suggestions and interesting stops along the way.

Round-the-clock roadside assistance and motorcycle concierge services come standard with an EagleRider rental, and customers can choose to have a GPS navigation system installed with their personal trip routing for ease of travel.

"Being able to leave a blustery winter in Omaha, go to Southern California and rent a motorcycle for a ride to Cabo is absolutely wonderful," said Joe Ricketts, chairman and founder of Ameritrade. "EagleRider provides truly great service."

Motorcycle travel will never be the same again thanks to companies like EagleRider, who make amazing, hassle-free vacations their priority.

Yamaha FZ8

Yamaha announced today that it will be importing its sporty FZ8 naked sportster to the U.S. for 2011.

The fuel-injected, 779cc, alloy perimeter-framed four-cylinder has been on sale in Europe since last year, and it’s being touted as a compromise between the less-powerful 600cc middleweights and the bigger literbikes like Yamaha’s R1-based FZ1 and Kawasaki’s Z1000.

The FZ8 actually has much in common with the FZ1. Its engine – six-point mounted as a stressed, chassis-reinforcing member – shares the same 53.6mm stroke, but its bore size is 9mm smaller, at 68mm, instead of 77mm as found on the FZ1.

The FZ8’s 464-lb curb weight comes in at mere 23 lbs under its 487-lb liter-sized big brother. Part of the weight savings is nothing more than a slight loss of fuel capacity, as its 4.5 gallon fuel capacity is about one quart less than the FZ1’s.

Yamaha’s FZ8 will come to the U.S. in December. What do we call it, a mid-heavyweight? Unlike in Europe, there will be no ABS available for U.S. consumers. This helps it achieve its reasonable price of $8,490.

Yamaha’s FZ8 will come to the U.S. in December. What do we call it, a mid-heavyweight? Unlike in Europe, there will be no ABS available for U.S. consumers. This helps it achieve its reasonable price of $8,490.

Likewise, the FZ8’s twin front disc brake specs are nearly identical, at 310mm front compared to the 320mm discs for the FZ1. A single 267mm disc in back contrasts with a 245mm rear disc on the FZ1. Both are pinched by similar four-piston front, and single-piston rear calipers.

Both ride on a similar 43mm inverted fork and a link-type Monocross rear shock, sharing a 57.5-inch wheelbase. The FZ8’s suspension is adjustable only for rear preload.

The FZ8 is not merely a gelded and cheaper FZ1. It utilizes a new crankshaft and new four-valve-per cylinder head instead of the five-valve-per-cylinder head of the FZ1 – which is itself an adaptation from the first-generation R1.

Gotta love that Euro style. Check out those curvaceous header pipes.

Gotta love that Euro style. Check out those curvaceous header pipes.

The new head breathes through 26mm intake valves and 22mm exhaust valves, a 12:1 compression ratio instead of the FZ1’s 11.5:1, and cam profiles tuned toward a fatter midrange. Yamaha boasts also that the intake funnels for cylinders two and three are 25mm longer than those of the two outside cylinders to help achieve a broad torque curve. In all, the package promises to be at least quasi-unique, and certainly street worthy.

Unfortunately, ABS will not be available in the U.S., as it is on this model in Europe, nor will its twin model – the Fazer 8 – which is being imported to Canada.

The FZ8’s moderately upright riding position and minimalistic bikini fairing ought to coordinate well with a sportbike-inspired 51% front and 49% rear weight bias. Its wheel sizes mimics what’s normally found on a 600cc supersport, with a 120/70-ZR17 radial up front and 180/55-ZR17 rear.

With a purported 105 hp and 61 ft-lb, the FZ8 is poised to fill the shoes of what used to be industry standard in the 750cc class.

With the power, running gear and chassis of a true sportbike combined with a comfortable riding position, the FZ8 ought to make a very sensible but powerful bike for riders who realize a 140-155 hp ballistic literbike may not always be necessary.

Further, the FZ8 at this juncture may have little apples-to-apples competition.

On the smaller side of things, there is the aforementioned ER-6n, Yamaha’s faired FZ-6R and Suzuki’s GSF650, but these are only marginally in the same category. Also, in a way, the Triumph Street Triple could be considered similar.

The FZ8 ought to have significantly more grunt than these lighter bikes, without being insanely fast to the point of testing fate.

As for bikes to compare it to on the larger side are machines like the Triumph’s Speed Triple, Kawasaki’s Z1000 and Ducati’s Twin-cylinder Monster 796. But all of these are quite a bit more pricey.
So, the FZ8 is actually in a fairly unique position in the marketplace, and is a new option for American riders.
At a list price of $8,490, the 2011 FZ8 undercuts the FZ1 by a fair margin. The 2010 FZ1 carried an MSRP of $10,290, and we expect that to increase for 2011. In simplistic terms, the FZ8 provides an unfaired and 200cc smaller FZ1 at a savings of around $2,000 or so.
Expect FZ8s to show up in dealerships as soon as December.

OEM or Aftermarket (Detailed Version)

You may be needing of an OEM motorcycle part or may be not. Read on to know more.
OEM part is short for Original Equipment Manufacturer part. At first sight, it may be understood as originally manufactured per se. However, many motorcycle manufacturers do not really manufacture every motorcycle part of their bikes. They have some parts designed and manufactured by outside companies. After manufacturing, they will now install it to their bikes and will be labeled as OEM.

Purchasing OEM motorcycle parts means buying the exact or same original part your bike manufacturer used to assemble their bikes.

In purchasing, be sure that you will get same performance than that installed in your bike. No less. When it comes to price, OEM parts are usually expensive than aftermarket motorcycle parts. However, there are instances when it is on the contrary.

Sellers, most of the time, say that OEM parts are of higher quality compared to aftermarket parts. This is a common scenario in a motorcycle parts store but the statement may not be always right.

Another circumstance about motorcycle parts is the transformation. Say an OEM part can eventually become an aftermarket OEM part. What a transformation!

The circumstances presented advice you to be extra careful. Caveat emptor, that is. In this regard, it will be best to use OEM parts only within your bike's guarantee period. Also, have these parts installed by authorized mechanics. This is to make sure that your guarantee will remain valid and subsisting.

Aftermarket motorcycle parts, on the other hand, should perform well as OEM. These parts are made by companies other than the original bike manufacturer. You can use these parts when your guarantee period lapses.

Some riders have this misconception that aftermarket is always of lower quality. But this is not always true. In fact, aftermarket parts can also be of the same or even higher quality than OEM parts.

Carbon fiber, gizmos, titanium and aerospace aluminum parts are some of the materials that make up high performance aftermarket parts.

When purchasing motorcycle parts, be sure to get at least the same quality if not better as the OEM part. You can do this by searching and asking. Search the Net and ask your fellow riders and skilled mechanics.

All About Supercross Racing

Have you heard of supercross motorcycle racing before Supercross motorcycle racing is a sport that is popular in America. However, despite that popularity, there are still many individuals who have no idea what supercross is. If you are one of those individuals, you are urged to learn about this sport. It is so fun, exciting, and action packed that there is a good chance that you will be a supercross motorcycle fan, in no time at all.

If you enjoy watching professional racing, especially NASCAR, there is a good chance that you will also enjoy supercross motorcycle racing. This is because, like most other forms of racing, supercross is an action packed, competitive sport. If you are watching a supercross race, whether that race is live or televised, you will likely be on the edge of your seat.

Although supercross was earlier compared to NASCAR, you will find that the two actually have little in common, besides the fact that they are both popular and both are focused on racing. While NASCAR uses traditional race cars, also sometimes referred to as sports cars, supercross uses motorcycles. What is unique about these motorcycles is that they are not the ones that you regularly see on the highway; they are offroad bikes made especially for offroad racing.

In addition to using offroad motorcycles, supercross varies from a number of other forms of racing, especially when it comes to the racing surface. Like many other forms of racing, including asphalt racing or traditional dirt track racing, you will find that supercross racing events take place on manmade tracks.

These manmade tracks are often indoors. The tracks will vary, depending on the type of supercross race, but most tracks have numerous obstacles, which include jumps. The goal of supercross is to maneuver your motorcycle throughout the track to finish first.

As previously mentioned, the type of manmade track will all depend on the type of supercross race being run. Supercross is a professional racing sport, but it is not just limited to professional racing. Men, women, and children from all across the United States have started taking part in this fun and exciting sport. Those riders are often referred to as amateur supercross racers. Amateur supercross racers may race at a local track.

In fact, many local individuals and business owners have come together to sponsor local supercross drivers, as well as provide funding for the tracks. Although these events may not be considered professional, they are rapidly increasing in popularity. In fact, they are so popular that you may even have a local supercross or motocross track in or around your neighborhood.

In addition to local supercross tracks, there are many individuals who have made their own. Although most professional supercross racing tracks are indoor tracks, most amateurs have or use ones that are outdoors. A large number of wanttobe professional riders have made the decision to develop a track in their own backyard or in nearby fields.

However, the only downside to doing this is that racers are often on their own. In the event that an accident occurs, it may be more difficult to obtain help, when compared to racing at professional tracks and sanctioned events.

Now that you know what supercross motorcycle racing is, you may either want to become a fan or a racer. Whichever you wish to be, there is a good chance that you will be enjoying the sport of supercross motorcycle racing for years to come.

Repairing The Headlights On A Scooter

A scooter with the safety feature of a headlight will require some amount of maintenance so you always have a fresh bright headlight. A headlight is generally sealed tight, so little or no water is going to enter the headlight fixture. Many scooters are also available with a scoop over the headlight to prevent additional moisture from reaching the interior of the headlight.

If you do find that your headlight is getting a bit dim, or that you have moisture in the headlight fixture you should replace it. Sometimes a large jolt can break the headlight requiring replacement as well. Every scooter varies in headlight replacement needs, but the headlight is very similar to that of a car.

The headlight that requires a bulb replacement will use a very small bulb, just a size larger than that of a bulb found on a string of lights. Removing the headlight can be accomplished using a screwdriver or a wrench. Some scooters are available with easy to remove headlights that require no tools at all but the movement of a few slip connections to remove the headlight. Simply remove the old bulb, insert the new bulb, and refasten the headlight to the scooter.

Headlights that are one piece, with no interior bulb are easy to replace as well. The one-piece headlight generally is going to require a hex screwdriver or a regular screwdriver to remove the headlight. You can purchase replacement headlights through medical supply houses, through scooter retailers and online headlight sources. Knowing the make and model of your scooter will allow for easy replacement of your scooter headlight.

The once piece headlight is taken out by removing two or four screws that hold it in place. Once you have removed the screws, you pull out the headlight, and unplug the headlight from the scooter. The new headlight will plug into the electrical outlet, and then you place the headlight back into the socket. You should be sure to replace all of the screws you have taken out so your headlight is secure and in place once again.

Remember, every scooter is different, and the type of headlight your scooter is equipped with will be detailed in the manual provided with your scooter.

Motorcycle Batteries

Motorcycle batteries vary by brand. Choosing motorcycle batteries involves several important factors. You need to know a good bit about your bike in order to purchase a motorcycle battery.

Motorcycle batteries vary by engine size on any particular motorcycle. Motorcycle engines range in size and are measure by cc. A small engine could be a 260cc for example, where as a larger engine size can be 1200cc. The higher the number, the more powerful the engine.

Motorcycle batteries are specifically designed for specific brands. If you drive a BMW motorcycle, you will purchase a different motorcycle battery that if you drove a Harley-Davidson.

Motorcycle batteries can be purchased in several different ways. Standard type is a "spillable" battery that requires dry shipment. The acid must be purchased locally in order to activate the battery. The acid is called electrolyte, which is sulfuric acid, diluted by water. This must be added only to a dry shipped battery. Normally, acid is not needed to be added to a battery. Once a battery is purchased, only approved water should be added.

Another way batteries can be purchased is sealed maintenance free or Sealed MF.Sealed MF is a sealed maintenance free battery that comes ready to install and is "non-spillable". Other options when purchasing motorcycles batteries include high performance, AGM types, and Odyssey.

All motorcycle batteries are lead acid batteries. There are completely recyclable and should never be thrown away with regular waste. Motorcycles are easy to check charge with a voltmeter.

More to Learn about Spark Plugs

Size
Let us distinguish the important difference in spark plugs threaded ends. They come in four diameters and lengths. They come in nominal 14, 10, 12 and 18 millimeters diameters. Previously, there was a slight difference in thread configuration especially in different countries. However, the international standardization of the thread forms made it uniform. These new dimensions are now being followed by motorcycle parts manufacturers.

Usual Errors
There can be lots of error in selecting the best motorcycle parts especially in the case of spark plugs. The very usual error is using 3/4-inch plugs in 1/2 –inch holes. The result of the same is horrible.

When the plug threads are exposed in combustion, they become filled with deposits. Consequently, it will be hard to remove the plug without removing the hole threads. Quite the reverse, if you use a short plug to a deep hole, the deposit will fill the hole and it will be hard to re-install the right size plug.

The worst error is the use of overly-long plug. The exposed threads absorb great amount of heat from the combustion process which improve the plug-nose temperatures. As a consequence, the side electrode functions as a glow plug. Early ignition or runaway pre-ignition causes higher combustion chamber temperatures that can destroy the engine.

Heat Range Demands
Hot plugs come with a long insular nose. They lead heat high into the plug body before it returns to the cylinder head. Short-nosed plugs, on the other hand, have shorter heat path. Consulting the spark plug manufacturers regarding the plug's heat range can be of great help.

This may somehow clear the cobwebs at the back of your mind regarding heat range demands. Knowing which plugs are colder or hotter may be easy if you stick to the same brand however, it becomes perplexing when you change from one brand to another.

There is more to spark plugs than the three aforementioned aspects. There are still areas that we need to master like its installations, different plug configurations and maintenance work. Nonetheless, we have to be first acquainted with these three aspects.

You must know more about spark plugs to pick the best type. Another, you have to complement your choice with your bike engine's condition. These factors are hard to acquire and do, thus, we have to instill lots facts all at once. When you get it right, you will be greatly benefited.