Have you seen the lowrider bikes that have become so popular? They instantly catch your eye because they are uniquely designed and look so cool, don?t they? They are a big statement that people make and some people connect them with the hip urbanites, but they really appeal to almost anyone-no matter what your age. They not only give you the opportunity to express your personality, but they are also a very comfortable, fun ride, too. Their popularity has become so big, that you can easily find clubs that concentrate on the lifestyle of having a chopper bike.
Where did lowrider bikes come from? They were first seen in the 1960?s in California. They were not a mass-produced bike that was being made by the large companies, but they were made by teenagers who were trying to copy the customized motorcycle of the time by combining components from several different bikes. This was to show their individuality. One bicycle manufacturer noticed this new style, however, and began to make their own version of the chopper lowrider bike. This company was Schwinn and in 1963, they introduced the Stingray model, which began the love affair that many people have with this bike.
Now lowrider bikes are even more popularity, due to the increased interest in all things retro. Many people love them simply because they bring back memories of happier and simpler times for them. One of the companies who first made lowrider bikes, Raleigh, has updated the chopper lowrider bike for today and they are very popular. Some chopper enthusiasts are choosing to build their own lowriders and customize them to make them into the bike of their dreams. You can find lowrider bikes with all types of customization, including intricate paint jobs, ornaments, and even upholstery, which has made some of these choppers into an art statement.
If you are new to the chopper lowrider world, you will find that there is a great variety of different bikes available for you to purchase in all different price ranges and styles. You can choose an ?off the rack? style that you can customize yourself or you can choose to have one built for you from the ground up to your specifications. A custom built chopper bike may be more expensive, but it will fit your body and will express your personality perfectly, which may be worth the extra money for you. Have fun riding!
|
Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many custom bicycles articles and newsletters published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. Find more publications about lowrider bikes at his website. |
–
As summer draws to a close, around 10,000 UK bikers start to think about laying up their motor bikes for the winter months. From the end of October through until Easter, the thought of motor biking is not so appealing and there is little point in taxing and insuring the bike. Bikes are winterised and stored away at the back of the garage awaiting the better weather. Sadly, thieves are aware of this and so some 600 bikes are stolen every month.
Obviously if you have totally cancelled your policy you will be unable to claim for this theft. You can, however, reduce the cover to a minimum for fire and theft and this is worth considering.
If you?re more used to insuring cars than motor bikes, you?ll find some of the features of bike insurance very odd. For instance, it?s not possible to accumulate bonuses over time, as with a car. Occasionally you may find an insurer who will give you some discount if you don?t claim for a certain period with the same insurer, but this is not the norm.
There are various policies. Specified Bike Policy, Specified Rider Policy, Comprehensive and Third Party Insurance. With a specified bike policy you are covering the bike and not the rider. This means you could insure a number of riders on the same bike.
A specified rider policy covers the rider, but not the bike. This means the rider is covered on any motor bike up to the size specified on the policy.
Comprehensive and third party insurance are more familiar terms. Comprehensive is the most expensive. Apart from paying for repairs to the bike in the case of accidental damage, it may offer some extras such as breakdown cover. In the event of a claim, you will only pay the excess as stated on the policy. With third party you simply buy the minimum legal insurance. This means you are covered for any property you may damage or people you might injure. You would not be reimbursed for your bike or anything else and an excess would still be payable. Third party is the cheapest form of insurance.
Younger riders will be charged higher premiums for their policies due to their inexperience and the increased risk of motor cycling. There is a frighteningly high accident rate and statistics tell us they are much more likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. Damage caused to themselves is often costly and lifelong.
The more hours spent on the road, the higher the risk and riders using their bikes to travel from one location to another as far as their work is involved will be likely to be charged higher premiums. Claims made in recent years for driving-related accidents will have an adverse effect on your premium too.
Other factors that will influence the premium will be the power and make of the bike. There are some very expensive bikes around and obviously this will mean a higher premium will be charged. If you have any penalties for speeding or dangerous driving your premium will rise and if you were to be disqualified for a length of time, insurance would be extremely expensive when your licence was re-instated.
To try and get the cost of premiums down, consider security devices such as immobilisers, alarms and steering locks. It may also be possible to get discounts for any training courses you have completed.
Be completely honest with your insurance company. Failure to disclose something which the company later discovers can invalidate your insurance. Not only would you not receive payment for any claim, but you could be prosecuted for driving without insurance.
An internet broker will be able to offer you plenty of advice when it comes to choosing an insurer. They?ll find a choice of policies to suit your circumstances and their experience will be invaluable. There are internet-only deals and discounts which they?ll be able to offer too.
Keep insured and safe.
About the Author:
Michael has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years. He now writes on financial matters for a number of UK based web sites. Car Insurance Smasher are a specialist website that offers uk residents car insurance quotes online.
Bmx Freestyle
Bmx Freestyle Customer Review: BMX Freestyle by Dave Spurdens (Paperback) Published in 1984, all photographs supplied by David Spurdens.Covers the basics of BMX Freestyling, including the Freestyle Bike, Safety and Equipment, Ground Stunts, Small Ramp and Large Ramp, the Bowl, and Freestyle Competition. Includes nice diagrams of how to build your own small [...]
Mongoose Montana Girl’s Mountain Bike (24-Inch Wheels)
Mongoose Montana Girl’s Mountain Bike (24-Inch Wheels) Designed for teen girls between 52 and 62 inches tall, the Mongoose Montana girl’s mountain bike is a great choice for both trail and street riding. The bike is outfitted with a handcrafted, high-tensile-strength aluminum frame that holds up durably to rough handling. The index 21-speed SRAM [...]
Mountain bikes are specially meant for rough and rugged terrains. These extra traction and shock absorbing mountain bicycles are provided with fat knobby tires. However, a full front and rear suspension is becoming quite a common factor nowadays with bikes meant for mountain rides. Some bikes of this particular variety are fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with recent trends the use of handlebars and extensions are becoming less and less popular.
Mountain bicycles have both 26 and 29 inches wheels. The larger wheels of this bike type have better rolling capacities over rocks and boulders. Moreover, wheels, which are larger in diameter, also bring about an enhancement in rotational weight giving way to stable acceleration.
Mountain Bicycles ? Kings On Rugged Roads
Based on suspension, mountain bicycles are broadly graded into four different kinds:
Bikes with dual or full suspension ? These bikes have front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that is ready to make the rear wheels move on pivots
Hardtail bikes ? These bikes have frames with no rear suspension and they are often supplied with front suspension forks
Soft Tail Bikes ? These bikes have frames with small amount of rear suspension. The bikes are activated by flex of the frame rather than the pivots
Fully rigid bikes ? These bikes have a sub-type of hardtail along with rigid fork system
The Different Types Of Mountain Bicycles
The Cross-Country Mountain Bike
This bike variety has small amount of suspension on the front or on the rear. These bicycles are comparatively light because they are constructed with lightweight materials both in frame construction and in components. Some XC bike varieties of this particular type are without any suspension. They make use of rigid front fork that helps in saving weight. Here, the skill of the rider to pass through rough terrains is more important.
Freeride Mountain Bike
These are very similar to enduro bikes and emphasize more on weight and enhanced suspension. These bikes have ample suspension and they are mostly constructed with heavier materials. Freeride bikes are absolutely versatile and they are fantastic for uphill travel. The frame angles of such bikes are usually steeper in comparison to downhill bikes. Most freeride bikes are 30 to 45 pounds in weight.
Trials Mountain Bike
These are trial specific bikes. Most of these bikes are without any suspension. The contemporary trial bikes come without seats as most of the time the rider is out of the saddle. This bike is particularly lighter than other mountain bicycles and it weighs between 15 to 25 pounds. The lightweight makes it easier for the biker to maneuver the bike.
Single-Speed Mountain Bike
This is a kind of mountain bike with one set gear ratio. The ratio of the gear depends on the kind of terrain the bike crosses, the skill and strength of the bike rider and the size of the bike too. A single-speed bike is completely rigid having tough steel frames. If you want to ride a single-speed bicycle on mild to moderate cross-country terrains you have to be strong and active.
North Shore Mountain Bike
North shore mountain bike is genuinely constructed for rough and rugged land surfaces. A rider of this particular bike type has to exhibit lots of skill and balance while riding the bike. This bike is a wonderful combination of freeride and downhill bikes.
The other mountain bike varieties include Enduro Mountain Bike, Downhill Mountain Bike and Dirt Jumping Bike.
Most modern bikes meant for mountains have lighter and stronger frames with innovative design and form. The geometry of these bikes encourages vigorous riding over several obstacles like logs, rocks, wooden bridges and manually fabricated ramps. In the front, the bikes have three gears and it has 7, 8, 9, or 10 gears at the rear wheel position.
Some notable companies who have introduced the latest models of mountain bicycles include Fox, Manitou and Rock Shox along with other significant bike manufacturers. It is quite likely for you to make mistakes while riding a mountain bike. The mishaps generally take place due to equipment failure or misjudgment on the part of the rider. Thus, several companies have come forward with protective gears referred to as armors to provide full protection from injuries. Some essential upper body protectors for riders include spine protector, full-face helmets and backpack hydration system.
It is quite an established fact that mountain bicycles are aptly designed following the present trend and demand. They are in fact the dream of every spirited and efficient mountain biker.
|
Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert and read more about bicycles at http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/Mountain-Bikes.html |
–
Reconditioned exercise bikes offer great value for those on a limited budget who still want to expand their home gym. Used, reconditioned equipment provides an affordable and increasingly popular way to develop and outfit new or existing facilities at your home or office.
Used exercise bikes, especially top-end models, hold their value since the parts that are worn are replaced during the reconditioning process. If you buy from an established dealer (recommended), your exercise equipment will be examined by a qualified technician who will physically inspect all moving parts, and any bike part that shows more than 25% of wear will be replaced.
The old bike is taken apart and will have a new chain, drive belt, and hardware/clips installed. The exerciser is then put back together and cleaned, painted and polished. Finally the reconditioned bike is tested and shipped out or ready for pick up. Oftentimes you won?t be able to tell the difference between a used bicycle and a new one ? except, of course, in the price you pay.
The top brands of upright and recumbent exercise bikes have a proven track record for durability and reliability, so in addition to their great features and ease of use, once the used bicycles have been reconditioned they are virtually maintenance-free.
You can choose a used stationary bicycle for your indoor exercising regimen, or hit the road on your two-wheeler when the weather is nice, but don?t miss out on biking as a complete exercise that goes easy on the knees and provides a good cardio workout. You?ll soon find that biking increases your endurance and energy level — and the pounds will melt away. Just like aerobics, an hour a day on your exercise bike will burn around 400 calories or more. No matter what your fitness level, you?ll add enjoyment to your home gym workout with the addition of a used or reconditioned exercising bicycle.
TKO Home & Gym Folding Exercise Mat 3′ x 6′
TKO Home & Gym Folding Exercise Mat 3′ x 6′ For an easy way to work out in comfort and cleanliness, at home or in the gym, look no further than the TKO Home and Gym Folding Exercise Mat (3 x 6 feet). This TKO exercise mat is built with long-lasting foam that is [...]
