Shift Into High Gear Safely
(ARA) - The Energy Department estimates that the average gas prices between April and September 2004 will average $1.76 per gallon nationwide, a record high. When it costs $30 to fill your car’s gas tank, you may start to think of canceling your summer travel plans. Instead of staying home due to high prices, why not add a new twist by traveling by motorcycle instead of car? Your gas money will go a lot farther, and you’ll experience a whole new sensation on wheels.
Motorcycles are by far the most fuel-efficient class of highway vehicle, getting about 50 miles per gallon, so you can see lot of the open road. Before you take that road trip, though, make sure you’ve taken time to do some safety planning.
“If your bike has been in storage over the winter, don’t overlook the basic safety checks,” cautions Dustan Hahn, chief technical officer for Big Dog Motorcycles. “Be sure to recharge your battery, and check your brakes, lights and tire pressure before you even go around the block,” he says. Hahn also stresses that experienced riders know it’s safest to assume that they’re invisible to other motorists and operate their motorcycle accordingly. “This is especially true in early spring when motorists aren’t used to seeing motorcycles on the road yet,” he says.
New riders should take a rider safety course that will cover everything from what to wear while riding, to basic operating procedures, street-smart driving strategies and how to avoid collisions. An added benefit is that many states waive portions of the motorcycle endorsement test if riders have successfully completed a safety course. In addition, many insurance companies offer discounts on motorcycle insurance to riders who have taken a safety course. “Many community colleges or local continuing education programs offer these courses,” says Hahn. “Riders who take these classes have more fun on their motorcycles by riding safely.”
If you’re in the market for a new motorcycle this summer, look for those that incorporate safety features such as 4-piston brakes for superior stopping power and vibration-resistant mirrors for improved visibility. Even something as simple as a kickstand can play a role in safety. Look for a rear-mounted kickstand that is spring loaded so it remains retracted while the motorcycle is in operation and will pop up if the driver fails to lift it before riding.
“Our motorcycles and wheels, brakes, mirrors, controls and all components are designed and tested to meet or exceed federal transportation requirements,” says Hahn. Among the features unique to Big Dog motorcycles are a two-button starting procedure that eliminates unintentional engagement of the starter and a disabling start button so the starter is disabled after the engine is running. Big Dog bikes also feature LED turn signals and brake lights which provide both brilliant luminosity and improved longevity and reliability. “LEDs are less susceptible to vibration than lights normally used on motorcycles,” says Hahn.
Although all the ten-year old company’s cruisers offer the same quality and safety features, each one is truly unique. Big Dog Motorcycles offers customers a myriad of choices for their custom bikes. Choose from one of six models, then add a bigger engine, custom graphics and paint, full polished motor and transmission, painted struts, accessories like a luggage rack, and more. “Each bike we turn out is truly custom,” says company president Nick Messer. “Your bike will stand out even among other Big Dog motorcycles.”
The leading designer and manufacturer of high performance, highly-styled custom cruisers, Big Dog Motorcycles is celebrating ten years of perfecting custom bikes. The company’s network has grown to 90 dealers and 120 authorized service centers nationwide.
“There is an adrenaline rush that comes with riding a bike of this caliber, not just from the power and the thrill, but from the looks you’ll get,” says Messer. To see one of its bikes in person, you can visit a dealer near you, or look for the 2004 Pitbull that is part of the “Run for the Wall,” a cross country motorcycle ride to raise awareness and money for families of Vietnam Veterans. The black Pitbull features a custom paint job with ghost flames and the POW/MIA insignia on the dash.
The Run for the Wall starts May 18 and reaches Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day, when 300,000 motorcycles parade through downtown Washington en route to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Along the way, the ride stops in 12 cities where people can donate $20 for an opportunity to take the Big Dog Motorcycles Pitbull home on May 31.
For more information on Big Dog Motorcycles, visit www.bigdogmotorcycles.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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