ATV History - Part 2

In 1975 the hubless wheel design was replaced with steel hubs and a wheel lined with a tough fabric on the inside. More durable plastic fenders were added. This time they produced fenders in bright colors for better visibility out in the bush. As the ATV’s popularity grew the Japanese engineers didn’t stop their research and development. They had a good thing going and they were determined to make it better. Their engineers went into the field to see how the ATV’s performed and started gathering data to help with the next round of modifications.

By the 1980’s, ATVs had gone the same route as dirt bikes and motorcycles. The ATV’s were being used as a utility vehicle and for racing. More and more people were buying ATV’s for riding off road trails and competing in races similar to motocross events. By 1985 ATV usage had gone from only 30% in the 70’s to the whopping 80%. In the 1988, Honda made another groundbreaking leap with the ATV’s design, the introduced the FourTrax 300 and a second model called the FourTrax 300 4x4.  Up until this point the ATV still had the three wheels, now Honda added an extra wheel and gave the ATV four wheel drives, which provided more stability and power. They also fitted the FourTrax with a four stroke single cylinder engine which was air cooled and gave it a five speed transmission, automatic clutch and a maintenance free drive shaft. Honda also thought to give the FourTrax an extra low gear for hauling particularly heavy objects as big as 850 lbs.

Today, ATV’s are fully ingrained into our way of living. You can find ATVs on the dirt bike trails, on farms, on construction sites and a host of other places. Now countries all over the world are discovering the same thing Americans have; the ATV is a fun and efficient vehicle for handling a wide array of jobs in almost any environment.

The end.

ATV History - Part 1

The ATVs (all terrain vehicles) we know today had very humble beginnings in the mountainous farming regions of Japan. The muddy mountain roads became difficult for the farmers to travel during spring thaws and were almost impossible to drive over with conventional vehicles or big machinery. The Japanese, always a culture to modify and tinker with something until they could improve it, created the three wheeled ATV. This vehicle did wonders for helping the local farmers. The ATVs were less expensive than the larger farm vehicles and it proved to be an excellent little workhorse.

The Japanese didn’t stop there, though. ATV manufacturers took it a step further and realized that they could market these ATVs to Americans. America had nothing like the ATV and the first ATV arrived on our shores in the early 1970’s. Honda was the forerunner of the ATV, and had a proven track record with motorcycle sales in America, having introduced the Honda Cub to millions of Americans only a decade before. The successful marketing slogan “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” came at a time when bikers had a bad reputation and proved to people that the average Joe could enjoy motor sports as well. By the 1970’s, Honda had a reputation for building reliable, state of the art machines and their ATV was no different. This time the marketing scheme would be to show people how thrilling recreational ATV riding could be.

Over thirty years ago the Honda US90 made its debut and was called the ATC90. Oddly enough, the initial intent of the ATVs may have started out at the opposite end of the spectrum from Japan’s working class ATV, but in the end the results were the same. After gaining popularity as a recreational vehicle, the ATV soon became popular as a working vehicle as Americans began to realize exactly how versatile this little three-wheeled vehicle could be.

The ATV proved to have several advantages for the working class man. First and foremost, the ATV was cheaper to operate than a tractor or pickup truck and during the gas crunch of the 70’s that was a big plus. The ATV was also easier to maneuver in tight spots and could travel over practically any type of terrain.  The only problem people found was the tires. The tires of earlier ATVs were low-pressure and while this worked fine on mud or sand, the tires punctured easily when going over sharper terrain, like a harvested field or sharp rocks. Overall, the ATV did work that no other piece of heavy equipment could do. The original tires weren’t repairable either.

 To be continued...

Mountain Dirt Bikes

How do mountain dirt bikes differ from other dirt bikes?

Mountain dirt bikes are fundamentally dirt bikes for use in climbing & descending rocky & grassy mountains. They can be motor or peddle models & it is up to you which you go for. The motor versions are different in design & look to other dirt bikes because of the use they are designed & built specifically for.

Specifically, the frame is a lot higher than on a standard dirt bicycle so that you get more ground clearance; the additional ground clearance will help you avoid mud build-ups, rocks & other such debris when traversing a mountain or hill. The frames themselves are also much more sturdy so in the event you do happen to clip a rock or something similar they are unlikely to snap in half & will provide you & your bicycle with more protection. The brakes are stronger, making it feasible to cease your bicycle rolling down the hill or off a rock & they usually come with both rear & front suspension to make the trickier terrain associated with mountain riding simpler to handle. The suspension also makes the ride much more comfortable because you will face numerous bumps & sometimes some manic descents down the mountain.

Usually speaking a mountain dirt bicycle is much more rugged & rough than a standard dirt bicycle because of the beating & battering it will take in the work of it's life.

In the event you own or are thinking about purchasing a mountain dirt bicycle you ought to know that you can't purchase normal dirt bicycle parts & expect them to do an equally lovely job on your mountain dirt bicycle. They basically aren't designed for the same purpose. Yes, it's true that a dirt bicycle is built to resist a battering & a beating but it's also designed for riding around a dirt track. However, a mountain dirt bicycle is designed to be ridden over mountains & through rocky, grassy & muddy terrains. The tires are such that they can withstand all of these terrains as is the remainder of your bicycle. The suspension, brakes & frames are different when compared to other types of dirt bikes so you ought to be cautious when purchasing parts or repairing your bicycle.

What else ought to I do know about my mountain dirt bicycle?

History of Car Pinstriping

Custom pinstripes started appearing on automobiles in the mid-1950s. Although pinstriping had been on cars long before that, the last American automobile to appear with auto pinstriping had been made by General Motors in the late 30's. For those individuals with muscle or sports cars, customizing their ride is an important part of owning and showcasing the vehicle, and pinstriping is a final touch.

Did you know pinstriping has a long history? Even before the invention of automobiles, pinstriping was used as a decorative decoration for horse and buggy carriages.

Mechanical pin striping is the best way to stripe larger vehicles- trucks, vans, or station wagons. The benefit is it lays down stripes of constant width, letting you focus attention on getting the stripe oriented properly along your working surface. You can set up your stripe lines using magnetic pinstriping strips with middle grooves designed to be paint templates. They hold fast to steel surfaces, and can also work as guidea for your hand.

Pinstripes are often painted in colors: that sets off the body color, and another, narrow line, in a color contrasted with the stripe to make it stand out.

Freehand pinstriping is the most difficult process, requiring the most practice to master, but permits unrestricted creativity. The simplest plan for a freehand striping beginner is to lay a strip of masking tape down about a quarter inch from where you require the completed line to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Whatever you do, don't use regular masking tape, or your pinstriping paint will bleed under the edge. Get some auto body masking tape from an auto supply store.

Striping with stencil tape is also popular. There's several types of stencil tape that are suitable for auto pinstriping applications. Stencil tape striping makes use of brushes, and a specialized pinstriping brush is an essential ingredient in a successful project. Stencil tape lets you apply different color stripes without needing the other stripes to dry.

No matter what process you use, pinstriping is of the finest ways to make your vehicle unique. like anything else worth doing right, practice makes priceless results but having the best equipment you can get your hands on helps .

Recycled Car Parts

So you are mechanically inclined? Fabulous! You probably know a lot about fixing and installing car parts. When working on vehicles, there are certainly times when parts need to be replaced, costing you and, in turn, the customer a lot of money. But there are ways to cut your costs. Have you considered applying recycled car parts?

Automotive recyclers offer great deals on used car parts. There are numerous recyclers out there than you might think. And their prices are hard to beat. One reason is that insurance companies can save money themselves by dropping off wrecked vehicles at a recycling yard. There are many other incentives, though, to shop from these guys.

Did you know that purchasing used car parts from auto recyclers helps keep pollution caused by producing new parts? A lot of oil is used to manufacture new car parts-resources that are saved by recycling. Reusing raw materials is beneficial to the environment. And finding the right car parts should not be too hard. Currently, more than 4 million cars are recycled every year in North America. That's a lot of available car parts!

Recycling car parts saves a lot of space in landfills. Why throw something away when it can still be used? Also, buying used car parts allows you to use quality parts made by the original manufacturer. Recyclers are skilled in checking which car parts are damaged and which are reusable.

And it is true: used car parts help you save money. Clearly, this is a cheaper option to purchasing new car parts. But are you getting the same quality? Good question. Actually, most automotive recyclers give guarantees on car parts, so you will not need to worry about buying a lemon. Better yet, recyclers can often find car parts faster than other dealers, as they have developed an electronic network to communicate quickly with other recyclers. If they do not have what you need in stock, chances are they can find it in no time.

Next time you are searching car parts, consider your local automotive recycler. You will be satisfied with the product, and also with the price.

Customizing Your Car Pinstriping

Did you know pinstriping has a long history? Even before the invention of cars, pinstriping was used as an ornamental decoration for horse and buggy carriages.

Custom pinstripes began seeming on cars in the mid-1950s. Although pinstriping had been on cars long before that, the last American automobile to appear with auto pinstriping had been made by General Motors in the late 30’s. For those individuals with muscle or sports cars, personalizing their ride is an important part of possessing and showcasing the vehicle, and pinstriping is a final touch.

Pinstripes are commonly painted in two colors: one that sets off the body color, and another, thin line, in a color counterpointed with the stripe to make it stand out.

Mechanical pin striping is the best way to stripe larger vehicles- trucks, vans, or station wagons. The benefit is it lays down stripes of constant width, letting you focus attention on getting the stripe oriented properly along your working surface. You can set up your stripe lines using magnetic pinstriping strips with center grooves designed to be paint templates. They hold fast to steel surfaces, and can also work as guidea for your hand.

Striping with stencil tape is also popular. There are various types of stencil tape that are suitable for auto pinstriping applications. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a specialized pinstriping brush is an essential component in a successful project. Stencil tape allows you to apply different color stripes without needing the other stripes to dry.

Freehand pinstriping is the most difficult technique, requiring the most practice to master, but permits unrestricted creativity. The simplest plan for a freehand striping newbie is to lay a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you want the finished line to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Whatever you do, do not use regular masking tape, or your pinstriping paint will bleed under the edge. Get some auto body masking tape from an auto supply store.

No matter what technique you use, pinstriping is one of the finest ways to make your vehicle distinctive. Just like anything else worth doing right, practice makes priceless results but having the best equipment you can get your hands on helps too.

Lexus GS 450h: Full Hybrid Technology Car

The Lexus GS 450h is the world's first hybrid luxury sedan and the first full hybrid vehicle with a front engine and rear wheel drive.

'Once again, we have applied our formula of no compromise engineering - this time to a luxury sport sedan which proves to us that hybrid power trains can work superbly in virtually any application,' said Lexus Vice President of Marketing Mark Templin. 'It's very important to continue pursuing substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, while continuing to improve performance and driving pleasure. Our customers would not have it any other way.

It will be a rear wheel drive full hybrid making it able to travel at low speeds under electric propulsion alone. Lexus says the GS 450h will have gas mileage similar to the average 2-liter, 4-cylinder compact sedan.

The Lexus GS 450h is a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle or called SULEV. A SULEV-rated vehicle is 90% cleaner than the average new car.

The GS 450h will have a 3.5-liter V6 engine mixed with a high-output electric motor--all driving the rear wheels--to pack HP at the level of a V8 engine. Lexus says it will have HP equal to a 4.5 liter V8. 0-60 acceleration is expected to be less than 6 seconds. For perspective, the 2006 GS 430 has a 4.3-liter V8 that has 300 HP.

It is built on the GS 430 platform and offers similar standard equipment and options, including a sunroof and perforated leather seats. It's visually identical to the GS 430, except for a large air dam on the front bumper to cool the electric motor, a power meter on the dashboard instead of an odometer, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels.

Hybrid technology, driving dynamics, motoring comfort and generous space inside redefines the new Lexus GS450h. Featuring more powerful and fuel efficient engines, innovative assistance systems, a wide range of safety features, as well as a superior standard of equipment, the new Toyota Lexus of today need no less than superior BMW replacement parts when the need arises.

Helmet: The Head Protector

The weather is fair enough and inviting. The sky is as clear as blue crystal. The sun is flaming hot offering a warm and exciting motorcycle ride. Your well-maintained motorcycle is ready in the garage hoping to be of service to her master. But are you ready for an action-packed adventure either with or without a helmet? Are you willing to compromise? Last night you're disturbed by the revelation of a fact that helmets has its drawbacks. Now you are more bothered. Which is which?

Today, contradictory data about wearing helmets are widespread. Some studies are saying that wearing helmets has caused neck injuries that aggravate the condition of riders after encountering an accident. Some studies are on the exact reverse. They prove that a lot of lives are saved just by the reason of wearing helmets. Which of these two is more alarming? Which is to be set aside in order to yield outstanding security?

By virtue of these conflicting studies, riders are now bewildered which study to believe in. The indecision is blatant that the urge to ride a bike has been affected. This shouldn't be happening. We must make a choice. This choice can be guessed by the facts around us.

Helmets are designed to protect our head. Our head is vital not only because it has our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth and to let it be wounded will render us blind, deaf, deformed and less productive. It is vital because inside it is our brain. Our brain is soft and fragile while the road and cars are hard. Hits, bumps and terrible mishaps happen unfortunately, if our head is not well-protected, it will meet the hard road or vehicle parts and that may mean our doomed end.

Our brain controls every part of our body thus, it must be protected at all times. But how do you choose the best motorcycle apparel to protect your head? Does cost matters? Do ratings matter?

Helmets must pass a very dogmatic test involving real collisions. After that, augmentation in its structure can be done. The outer shell of the helmet must not be easily perpetrated or scratched. Another factor is that it must even out the impact so as not to damage the head by the rapid deceleration of the collisions.

Mostly, price has no relation to the overall features and work of a helmet. You can get a good-quality helmet at a fair price. Bear in mind that price is not a standard.

Ratings, on the other hand, can be a viable standard. If it passed the hardest test then it is well likely to have a good rating.

Safety and protection must be prioritized. Thus, always wear helmet to be safe and protected.

Durable Radiaor

Your car radiator is the primary cooling mechanism for your engine. A small leak on your Radiator can be signaling a greater trouble. A cooling system that runs low too often is less efficient and you can damage your cooling system by letting the coolant level get too low. Too little coolant flow can be bad, but at normal and high operating temperatures, the rate at which coolant runs through the radiator doesn't change the amount of heat that is dissipated by the cooling cores. The amount of cooling won't be reduced even when the mean temperature of the coolant rises and flows faster.

Many cheap coolants do not have the corrosion protection, PH balancing, or sediment prevention that the high-grade coolants do. These low quality coolants do not have the same additives of name brand coolants. To help your engine stay cooler, rev up your engine slightly when you're overheating in traffic jam to help push more air across the cooling cores and more coolant through the engine.

All water-cooled radiators have an automatically controlled blower on the radiator. The way the system is supposed to work is that, after the engine is started, the thermostat on the engine stays closed until the coolant temperature at the ENGINE reaches 87C (189F) degrees. It is the responsibility of the Radiator to keep the coolant temperature from running too high. However, if the temperature is too high it is not necessarily the radiator.

A poor radiator cap won't last as long or stay properly calibrated, and either open at too low or two high a pressure. Make sure your radiator cap is the proper one for your cooling system. Higher pressure implies a higher boiling point, which means more efficient cooling. A new radiator cap is usually all that is required for this (but don’t over pressurize your radiator cores and wreck the whole system).

Most Radiators' cooling system failures develop from poor radiator maintenance. Many radiator problems can be prevented with regular maintenance and periodic professional inspections of you car radiator and cooling system. The most common radiator problems are: leaky fittings or seams, fin deterioration and bond failure, electrolysis, cracked tank, and fan damage.

5 Auto Scams You Absolutely Must Avoid!

People hate automobile dealers. Of course, there are always nice guys, but numerous car dealers just have to cheat their way to benefits. Here are the top 5 auto scams that you absolutely must avoid, or risk paying way too much for your car.

Scam 1: The Yo-Yo Financing Scam

The dealer deals you a car and allows you to take it home at once. You finance your car through the dealer, but a few days later, the dealer phones and tells you that your financing has fallen through. You are then ordered to set up new financing through the dealer, at a much higher cost to you, and a much higher income to them. Avoid this at any cost! If you have bad credit, do not finance at the dealer. Arrange your own financing. If you finance through the dealer, never drive off your car immediately. You should hold at least 24 hours before taking your new car, so as to make sure funding is complete. This allows the dealer no way to play the scam on you.

Scam 2: The Window Etching Fee

This is one of the most ridiculous but usual scams I have heard off. Basically the dealer offers to window etch your VIN number in the window of your car for you, at a price ranging from $300 to $1000. Some people have tried to talk down the cost, and they often succeed, but the dealer still draws a few hundreds off you. The easiest way to solve this problem? Just purchase a do it yourself window etching kit at any decent auto parts store. It only costs $20.

Scam 3: The Dealer Preparation Fee

The dealer charges you a preparation fee to prepare your car. Some often charge an unconscionable $500 or more just to peel off the plastic protection on the car, test drive the car and put in the fuses. Most MSRP stickers show that these costs have already been covered by the manufacturer. In fact, some car dealers permanently print it on the buyer's order to make it seem mandatory, but one way you can get it removed is by telling the dealer to add a credit (of the equal amount as the dealer preparation fees) on the next line. If they decline to do so, you should simply walk out of the dealership.

Scam 4: The Market Adjustment Fee

In this scam, the dealer tells you that your car is a genuinely popular vehicle, and so to sell you the vehicle they have to add "Market Adjustment Fees" of several thousand dollars. This sum of money is commonly indicated on an orange sticker next to manufacturer's MSRP sticker. A car possibly popular, but if it is in stock, it is not worth paying extra for it. Many buyers, especially trade-in buyers, have been ripped off before. They focus only on what they get for their old car, and so they do not see the big picture. They may get an extra few thousand for their car, but they do not notice that they're bucked a much higher Market Adjustment Fee. The dealer sells the car, gets the trade-in, and makes an extra off the buyer. Never pay more than the manufacturer's MSRP.

Scam 5: The Extended Warranty Scam

The Extended Warranty scam is quite old but it's still in use. And many people still do fall for it. Basically, when you take a loan on your car, the dealer will say that you have to purchase an extended warranty because the bank requires it for the loan. Deflecting this scam is very simple actually. Tell the dealer to write down in black and white that the extended warranty is required for the loan and they will most probably find some excuse to remove the extended warranty. If they refuse to do so, then please do not buy from that dealership. Actually, the extended warranty is a great thing to have, but do not ever get it from the dealer. You can get far better deals elsewhere, especially online.Don’t get cheated by car dealers!