Archive for June, 2011
June 30th, 2011 | 
Author: The Top 6 Reasons To Get New Motorcycle Tires
Motorcycle tires are very important on your motorcycle. They are one of the few things that comes between you and the road in the event of an emergency stop. They also keep you from hydroplaning in wet conditions and can keep you comfortable on that long trip. So how do you know if you need new tires?
1. Hole or Leak
This probably seems like a very obvious choice but sometimes you have to state the obvious. It is possible to just plug a hole but this should be done from the inside out not the outside in. When you plug a tire from the outside in motorcycle tires have a tendency to lose the plug. While this doesn’t always happen it is safer to plug from the inside out.
2. Worn sidewall
This also seems like an obvious one but to someone who is new to the motorcycle game motorcycle tires can be confusing. They are not the same as the motorcycle tires on a car. The sidewall can get worn for several reason. One of the top reasons for a worn sidewall is that the driver is leaning awkwardly. If you are not leaning and you still notice unusual wear in your sidewall it might be in your best interest to verify this with a mechanic.
3.Wearing tread
How can you tell if there is little tread grooves on the tires? If you can stick a penny in with Lincoln’s head down and the top of the head can still be seen after sticking it in the groove then you probably need new tires. Tread is what makes it possible to stop in wet weather the grooves move water away from the center of the motorcycle tires so that the motorcycle tires can get a better grip on the road.
4. Age of tires
Motorcycle tires can degrade and erode with age. Just because you have a motorcycle sitting in a storage room for ten years does not bean that the motorcycle tires are still in good condition. If the rubber is soft chances are the material used to make the motorcycle tires has become worn after ten years.
5. Mileage
The harder the rubber on the tire the longer the motorcycle tires will last. In contrast the softer the rubber is on the tire the better the traction on the road. If you want more mileage get harder tires if you want better traction get softer tires. Both types of motorcycle tires has its advantages. Traction means quicker stops and better turns. More mileage means less money paid out for new tires.
6. PSI on tires
To increase the life of the motorcycle tires remember to check your tires on a regular basis. If you consistently keep your PSI lower then directed by the manufacturer chances are you will wear out your tire your tread or your sidewalls. The longer you can keep the tread and sidewalls in good condition the longer your tires will last.
About the writer: Click here to learn more about new motorcycle tires at The MotorcyclePedia.
Posted in 
Theory Test Driving Theory Test
DSA has released new driving theory test questions for the Car and Motorcycle theory
test from 3rd September 07.
The Driving Theory Test is a test which United Kingdom learners must pass to obtain a full
driving license. The test was introduced in July 1996. There are two subtly different tests one for
car drivers and one for motorcyclists.
In Great Britain it is administered by the Driving Standards Agency DSA and in Northern Ireland by
the Driver amp; Vehicle Agency DVA.
The car and motorcycle theory test lasts 57 minutes and involves answering 50 multiplechoice
questions about a wide range of ‘driving topics’ such as car or bike mechanics the Highway Code
and driving law. 43 of the 50 questions must be answered correctly in order to pass. For lorries and buses 60 questions are asked over a 70 minute period in which 51 out of 60 must be answered
correctly to pass.It is immediately followed by a hazard perception test. Having passed these two exams a certificate is issued which can then be used to book the practical driving test within two years of the theory pass. It is necessary to pass all three parts theory hazard perception and practical in order to obtain a driving licence.
DSA has released new driving theory test questions for the Car and Motorcycle theory
test from 3rd September 07. The Driving Theory Test is a test which United Kingdom
learners must pass to obtain a full driving license. The test was introduced in July 1996. There are two subtly different tests one for car drivers and one for motorcyclists.In Great Britain it is administered by the Driving Standards Agency DSA and in Northern Ireland by the Driver amp; Vehicle Agency DVA.The car and motorcycle theory test lasts 57 minutes and involves answering 50 multiplechoice questions about a wide range of ‘driving topics’ such as car or bike mechanics the Highway Code and driving law. 43 of the 50 questions must be answered correctly in order to pass. For lorries and buses 60 questions are asked over a 70 minute period in which 51 out of 60 must be answered correctly to pass.It is immediately followed by a hazard perception test. Having passed these two exams a certificate is issued which can then be used to book the practical driving test within two years of the theory pass. It is necessary to pass all three parts theory hazard perception and practical in order to obtain a driving licence.
The theory test was last revised on the 3rd September 2007 to include 50 questions with a pass mark of 43 instead of the previous 35.
Hazard Perception Test
Examinees watch fourteen oneminute clips filmed from the perspective of a car driver and have to
indicate usually by clicking a mouse button or touching the screen when they observe a developing hazard. All of the clips will include one developing hazard and one will include two such hazards.
The sooner an examinee reacts to a developing hazard the more points are scored from five down to one with no score if the examinee reacts too late. The maximum score possible is 75.For the purposes of the test a developing hazard is defined as something which requires the driver to adjust speed and/or direction. Potential hazards are hazards that no immediate action needs to be taken but are worth observing in case their status changes. Clicking on potential hazards is acceptable but the scoring window only opens if that hazard develops thus examinees have to remember to react if the status of a hazard changes and not just when the potential hazard is first spotted.
The hazard perception test and the theory test are taken together and must both be passed in the
same sitting for the applicant to become lligible to take the practical driving test in order to obtain a full driving licence.
Practical Driving Test
A Practical Driving Test is a test which United Kingdom learner drivers must pass to obtain a
driving licence. Different tests are available for users of different vehicles from car rivers to motorcyclists and HGV drivers. In Great Britain it is administered by the Driving Standards Agency DSA and in Northern Ireland by the Driver amp; Vehicle Agency DVA. It is necessary to have passed a UK Driving Theory Test and a UK Hazard Perception Test before sitting this exam. Passing this test then entitles one to hold a full UK driving licence.
Practical Driving Test Format
The practical test is taken on the road with the examiner directing the candidate around a predetermined but unknown to the candidate route. The examiner marks the candidate for driving
faults commonly called minor faults or minors serious faults and dangerous faults collectively
ferred to as major faults or majors. A candidate will fail the test if he or she accumulates any
major faults or more than fifteen minors. If a candidate acquires several three or more
driving faults in the same category the examiner may consider the fault a recurring and dangerous
habit and mark a serious fault in that category. The test usually lasts 30 to 48 minutes in a
standard test or one hour when the candidate is taking a test after having their licence revoked.
Eyesight Test
Before getting to the car the examiner will ask the candidate to read a car’s number plate at a
distance. The distance required is 20.5 metres for an oldstyle plate A123ABC and 20 metres for a new style plate AB51ABC. If the candidate needs glasses to do this then these must be the ones worn whilst completing the rest of the test. If the candidate fails to read the first number plate correctly then the examiner asks the candidate to read a second number plate. If the candidate cannot correctly read the second number plate then the examiner must use a tape measure to measure the correct distance between the candidate and a third number plate. If the candidate cannot read the third number plate then the candidate is deemed to have failed and the test will not continue.
Show me tell me
Before the candidate is taken out onto the road the examiner asks two basic questions about car
maintenance and safety. These are always phrased in the form Show me… and Tell me…; for
example:
bull;Show me how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
bull;Open the bonnet identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would
check that the engine has sufficient oil. A failure to answer one or both of these questions
correctly would result in a minor driving fault being marked against the candidate.
Maneuvers
During the test the examiner will ask the candidate to carry out any TWO manoeuvres from the following list:
Turn in the road
Reverse around a corner to the left or right
Bay park only in test centre car park
Parallel park by the side of the road
The examiner may also optionally ask the candidate to carry out an emergency stop exercise.
Maneuvers are selected at random by the examiner selecting a sheet at the test centre which also
determines the test route and if an emergency stop is done 1 in 3. Candidates taking the test
after having their licence revoked must carry out ALL manoeuvres.
General driving
Usually the time taken in finding an appropriate place for the candidate to carry out the two
manoeuvres and driving to an appropriate stretch of road bearing the national speed limit atisfies
the minimum amount of time required on the test. This naturally involves a certain amount of general town driving during which faults can be gained. If the minimum amount of time has not been satisfied the candidate may be asked to drive around to satisfy it. The candidate will also be asked to pull up on the left of the road and stop before moving off again on a gradient on the flat and behind a parked car.
Feature Of Theory test
1.Driving Theory test questions will increase
2.No. of questions in the exam currently 35 will increase to 50
3.Pass mark will be 43
4.Allotted time to complete test will be 57 min
5.DSA exam fees increase from pound;21.50 pound;28.50
6.No change in HPT.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;For More Information Please Visit :
The Lambretta SX – A Sixties Icon
The Lambretta SX scooter has always been close to my heart ever since the mid to late sixties when you had to be either a Mod or a Rocker. At that time I was just too young to ride a motorcycle or scooter but loved the whole Mod fashion thing.
My friends were in the main older than me by a couple of years which meant they were allowed to own those beautifully polished Vespa’s with chromed bubbles which are great scooters but better than that a couple of them had the stunning Lambretta 200 SX. The thing I liked most about the SX was that it seemed longer than the Vespa which not only enhanced and streamlined it but also seemed to give more room for a pillion to ride in comfort.
The whole Mod thing was great living Newcastle meant there was a real buzz however if we wanted to try these wonderful machines for speed we had to head to the country probably into Northumberland. As a passenger I felt as if we were doing 90 mph however in reality the Lambretta SX was only capable of speeds around 75mph.
I recently discovered an article about a guy called Nathan Redfearn who renovates and rebuilds scooters. The thing caught my eye was a picture of a perfectly restored Lambretta SX 200 with Union Jack side panels; it was absolutely stunning. Reading on I discovered that he had moved to Vietnam in 2003 whilst working for ICI his background being in car restoration in both Britain and America.
It was great to read that he felt he owed his existence to the Lambretta; apparently in the sixties his Mother was a young Mod cruising around Torquay on her blue and white SX. These days he has a passion for restoring and has set up a business in Ho Chi Min City formerly Saigon.
With his Vietnamese wife and a fully trained workforce of around sixty people they import and strip the scooters down to their component parts before lovingly restoring them to look like new. They replace any rusted or worn parts before putting them on a jig for trueness then finally reassemling and painting. All parts are genuine replacements sourced from the likes of Piaggio.
As a company they are aimed squarely at the motorcycle and classic car enthusiast although you can tell that his first love is the Lambretta. Restoring between 30 and 40 scooters a month they will ship anywhere in the world and guarantee satisfaction. It really is great to see someone so passionate about scooters being able to turn a hobby into a thriving business.
About the writer: The Labretta was a sixties icon. Find out more with motor scooter There is a huge range of Motorcycles mopeds and scooters together with apparel and accessories at http://www.mopedsscooterbike.co.uk