Brain Cooling Motorcycle Helmet On Sale Soon

A new type of motorcycle helmet will shortly be available that could save lives in an accident. It is a ‘brain cooling’ motorcycle helmet invented by Jullian Preston-Powers and marketed under the name ThermaHelm. The idea is that the inbuilt device will act like an ice pack and cool the brain to prevent swelling and injury if there is a sudden impact.

The helmet will be sold for around $480 by the British creators in May. The ThermaHelm is a carbon fibre helmet that contains twoo packs, one filled with water the other ammonium nitrate. On a sudden impact the packs break and the solutions mix to form a cooling solution that lasts for around forty five minutes. This will keep the brain cool and help to increase the chances of survival in a serious accident.

There has been a huge response to the idea says the inventor Jullian Preston-Powers with inquiries world wide and he is also looking at other uses for his invention. One option is to use it in military helmets.

There is also a more expensive version available that includes extras such as Bluetooth connections, GPS and video and will retail for around $800.
For more information see : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1242886/Brain-cooling-motorcycle-helmet-save-thousands-lives.html#ixzz0cZdNHlZw

Dirt Bikes – Tips on Choosing Your First Bike

If you are thinking of buying your first dirt bike, you’ll need to consider several factors. There are so many choices offered by dirt bike manufacturers, so choosing the best bike for yourself can be a difficult decision. You’ll need to find out about the different types of bikes on the market so that you can pick one that is a good match for your skill level.

The first thing to ask yourself is whether you will be using your dirt bike for recreational use or racing.

Some manufacturers specialize in bikes for one purpose or the other. If your dirt bike riding is going to be strictly a recreational activity, you need to decide if you’ll be riding on tracks, trails, or both.

Some manufacturers offer a wide range of bikes for both trail riding and racing, so you’ll need to find out which manufacturers produce which kinds of bikes. If your interest is in racing, you can attend local races and ask the riders which bikes or manufacturers they prefer, and why.

Age, size, and experience level of the rider are also important factors in deciding which dirt bike to buy. Buying a bike beyond your skill level can be risky. Along with choosing the correct size of your bike, you’ll want to decide on the optimum power level. Rather than trying to look cool on a bike that is too big or powerful for you, it is much safer to be a good rider on a bike that is suited to your experience.

The next question to ask yourself is whether you want a new or a used bike. If you are a new dirt bike rider, and haven’t yet discovered if you really enjoy it or not, buying a used bike will save you a significant amount of money over a new one. The resale value of any new dirt bike plummets as soon as it leaves the store. And if you decide that dirt bike riding is not your thing, you’re not likely to get a good return on your investment if you try to sell it.

On the other hand, if you end up not enjoying it after buying and riding a used bike a few times, you should be able to get pretty much what you paid for it when you decide to sell it right away. You should also keep in mind, though, that used dirt bikes are similar to used cars in that you never know for sure what you’re getting. It would be good to be somewhat mechanically adept in case something goes wrong on your bike soon after purchase, so that you can troubleshoot and repair it yourself.

The advantage of buying a new bike is that it will probably come with a warranty and won’t require much maintenance in the beginning. But if you enjoy the work, it can be very exciting and satisfying to buy a used bike and make it “new” again.

Whether you buy used or new, it’s almost certain that your bike will be completely disassembled and reassembled at some point, either by you or by your mechanic. If you do your own maintenance, problems are much easier to fix on the spot when you’re riding. Something will eventually break, even on the most well-maintained dirt bike! So it’s a good idea to always have some spare parts, like spark plugs, and a good set of tools on hand.

photo credit: Martin Pettitt

Dirt Bike Maintenance

In order to be sure you are getting the maximum performance and longevity out of your dirt bike, you need to perform regular maintenance on it. Due to the fact that each brand has its own quirks, you will want to refer to the service manual for each type of bike when performing the maintenance. However, every bike has some areas that need to be regularly checked on to keep the bike preforming optimally. The main areas being referred to are the oil, air filter, tires, oil filter, brakes, and carburetor. It is important that you care about how your dirt bike is maintained.

The oil in a dirt bike needs to be changed a lot more often than the oil in a street bike or a car. When you change the oil, you should also change the oil filter. These changes should take place according to the specification of hours in your owner’s manual. When you do this regularly using the proper motorcycle specific oil, you will be able to increase the longevity of your dirt bike.

You also have to remember how dirty the environment you bike is run in when it comes to your air filter. After every trip, you should check your air filter and may even need to clean it. By not checking and cleaning your air filter after every trip or two, you will allow dirt to get into your engine, which will ruin it over time.

One of the things you need to do when you are checking the tires is to assure the tire pressure is at the level recommended by the owner’s manual. You also need to make sure that the tire is free of cuts and that the thread or knobs are in quality shape.

Make sure there are no missing spokes on the wheels, and that none of the spokes are loose or bent when spinning them. You also want to be sure there are not dents or chips in the rim which will allow air to leak through.

You also want to make sure that the wheels cannot move at all when pressure is applied to the brakes. You want to make sure there is enough brake fluid in the master cylinders and that the brake fluid is clean. Check to be sure that the brake pads and liners are in good condition.

Next, look at the hoses in the carburetor to make sure they are not melted or clogged with mud. Be certain to check throttle cable. It should not be frayed or kinked. It is important to occasionally rebuild the carburetor, especially before you begin a new off-road season. You have to use caution when you take the carburetor apart to make sure no fluids have gotten into the floats. Be sure the float needle is in good shape, and air passages at the bottom of the bell mouth are free of dirt and oil.

Don’t forget to wash your dirt bike as a part of routine maintenance. It is especially important to wash it down after a day of cross country biking. You can do this quickly using a garden hose. You just have to watch that you do not get any water into the air box or seals. Each time you wash your bike, you should also dry it with a towel or using compressed air. You can dry the exhaust pipe, engine, and carburetor by starting the engine briefly. Once you have completely dried your bike, it is wise to lubricate the chain, and spray the bolts and other exposed steel with rust inhibitor.

There may be occasions when you cannot complete necessary maintenance or repairs for yourself, and may need to get a technician to do it for you. You want to put consideration into any person or company you use for servicing your bike. You want to make sure they offer quality service, can do the work you need done, have a good turnaround time, and have a fair price for parts and labor. You may also want to get references and advice from friends and fellow dirt bike buffs as to which companies or individuals will provide you with the best service.

photo credit: BotheredByBees

Dirt Bikes – a Short History

Dirt bikes, the common name for off-road motorcycles, have evolved from a simple beginning long ago through quite a complex history. The first “motorcycles” were simply bicycles modified by attaching gasoline engines to them. People around the world were intrigued by this amazing mode of transportation, but early attempts proved unreliable. The development of paved roads was still in its infancy at the time, so these “motorcycles” were actually “dirt bikes” from the very beginning. There is no single person or company we can thank for inventing the dirt bike. The evolution of off-road motorcycling can really be credited to the many individual riders through the years who attempted to achieve a better experience by using better tires, suspension, and seats, stronger frames, and improving the control features of their bikes. While it is not identified as the very first dirt bike, Triumph Motorcycles did build a motorcycle in 1914 designed specifically for dirt riding.

These early motorcycles were raced through wooded trails or on mountainous roads in Europe for publicity purposes, which gave rise to the sport of motocross racing, and this most likely began in France. Rather than speed racing as we know it now, these early types of racing were geared more toward individual competitions against time. Motorcyle production, and thus the sport of racing, really took off when scrambles and cross country events were added for spectators’ excitement and entertainment. The word “motocross” evolved at this time from combining the words motorcycle and cross-country. To make it easier for spectators to watch the events, and for racers to be better monitored, these races were eventually moved to shorter, closed tracks. Through two world wars and the Great Depression, off-road motorcycle events took a back seat in most people’s minds, but interest in dirt racing always remained strong among some of the population.

Then, in 1946, after World War II, Soichiro Honda decided that he wanted to produce cheap individual transportation for people. Honda subsequently became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world, and the most familiar name in motorcycles in general and dirt bikes in particular. Other manufacturers joined the ranks through the decades and also became household names. The first motorcycles launched by the other companies were Suzuki in 1954, Yamaha in 1955, and Kawasaki in 1960. The concept of dirt bike racing now seemed long forgotten by the big four, and wouldn’t re-emerge for quite some time, but the seeds of this unique motorsport were now planted. One of the most popular motorsports around the world today is dirt bike racing.

Honda experimented with both two-stroke and four-stroke motors in many different motorcycle models throughout the years; then in 1972, the company produced a competitive two-stroke motocross motor. The Elsinore CR250 hit the U.S. market in 1973. Honda immediately leapt to the top of the motocross racing heap, with the CR250 becoming the fastest production off-road race bike in its class. Finally, in the 1970s, motorcycle manufacturers began to see, because of motocross racing, what they had hoped they’d see. The general public, in large numbers, began to embrace off-road motorcycling as a recreational activity, just like bicycling. A wide variety of dirt bikes, in many different sizes for many different ages and racing classes, were eventually produced by Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki. Dirt bikes for children emerged on the market, and dual-use motorcycles were manufactured with both dirt-ready and street-legal tires and features. Dirt bike manufacturing became a specialized market with Maico, Gas Gas, and KTM entering the field.

Dirt bikes are now on a constant evolutionary trajectory, with manufacturers offering new ways to reduce weight and improve suspensions, engines, and overall performance. Millions of people throughout the world enjoy dirt bikes as weekend recreational vehicles. And motocross racing has increased in popularity because dirt bike racing has essentially become an art form. Manufacturers continue to create high quality dirt bikes with cutting edge features, in response to the younger generation’s interest in freestyle and stunt riding.

photo credit: Martin Pettitt

Buying a Dirt Bike for Your Kid

For a child, riding a dirt bike is an exhilarating and gratifying event. They like to go fast, enjoy the atmosphere, and relish the challenge that dirt bikes present to them. When a child starts riding a dirt bike at a young age, they will probably enjoy riding for the rest of their life.

Prior to purchasing a dirt bike for your kid, though, you should think about the suggestions outlined here in order to give them the greatest opportunity for enjoyment as possible.

Due to cutting edge developments in the areas of dirt bike construction, safety, and education, kids are starting to ride earlier all the time. Sometimes, a kid who hasn’t even turned 6 years of age is already riding their first dirt bike, which wouldn’t have been allowed ten years ago. As the child’s mom or dad, you can gauge whether or not your kid is responsible enough to start engaging in the sport.

Examine what kind of dirt bike riding your child wants to do and determine if they are ready to begin riding. If you don’t think they are , you should probably give it some time until you believe the proper readiness has been achieved.

In order for your child to ride the dirt bike safely and correctly, you must ensure that the bike you choose fits him/her well. Since the dirt bike will be taken through really rough courses and terrain, you will want to get the proper-sized bike for your child. If you get one that is too big, you could be placing your child in danger. Another aspect of the dirt bike that you must think about is how much horsepower is right for your child.

Taking into account your child’s body size, find the dirt bike that has the proper horsepower, and is the correct height and weight for your rider.

Your child should definitely dress in adequate safety gear in order to ensure that your rider is safe and remains as free of injury as possible. Your rider should know that all safety gear is to be worn whenever they rides. Do not be lax about this and your child will simply get used to wearing it. Your child will undoubtedly fall or crash into other dirt bikes or obstacles at times, but this is a common feature of dirt bike riding. If your young rider is dressed in adequate safety equipment, they will only be minimally hurt, or, better yet, not hurt at all.

Dirt bike participants who have been riding for a long time state that what has made them great riders are practice and knowledge. Your child will undoubtedly earn experience as they continue to ride, and they will gain ton of knowledge as they practice. However, a decent plan to get your child familiar with riding fundamentals is to match them up with an experienced rider. Sometimes allowing a child to gain experience on his/her own will work, however, this method is not recommended if the rider wants to learn how to ride correctly.

Practicing with an experienced rider will give your child the fundamental riding knowledge they will require as they continue to ride in the future.

Image by Shutterhack

Supercross Motorcycle Racing

Are you thinking about getting involved in supercross motorcycle racing yourself, or for your child? It doesn’t matter if it’s going to be you or your child racing a local supercross track, outdoor motorcross track, or if you’re just going to be practicing in your back yard, it’s important to have the correct equipment. The reason for making sure you have the right equipment isn’t just about performance, but for your safety as well as your child’s.

When it comes to buying the correct equipment it won’t be as simple as it looks. When you get involved in supercross motorcycle racing you will discover that everyone you meet is not necessarily an expert about the sport. A lot of kids tend to idolize, and then want to be like the supercross racers they admire. Lots of adults have favorite racers as well, but they want to get into supercross motorcycle racing more often because they think it looks like lots of fun. The problem comes if you’re not a avid fan of the sport, or not really familiar with it, you can find it difficult to know what equipment you really need to buy.

It would be a good idea to become more familiar with supercross motorcycle racing ahead of time, especially to know more about equipment you will need. Besides the off-road bike itself, there’s quite a bit of safety equipment, including helmets and knee pads, that would be necessary for you to buy. And if you, or your child, are brand new at off-road racing, you will want to consider a greater amount of protective gear for yourselves to start with. Once you get the hang of it, you can always cut back on the additional safety gear, but with some caution.

It’s a good thing to take the time to study and understand how supercross motorcycle racing works and why the safety equipment is needed so you know what you need when you go shopping. Depending on the area you live, it’s possible you could find an outdoor recreational store, or sports store that handles and knows about supercross equipment. You will find it’s better to deal with an outdoor recreational sports shop if you plan to be using off-road bikes. When you’re shopping for off-road bikes that are specifically designed for supercross motorcycle racing you should check out Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki stores as they handle these types of bikes. All of these dealers tend to carry a large selection of youth motorcycles, and if you have a store nearby you’ll be sure to locate the kind of bike you’re looking for.

Any store where you can buy an off-road supercross motorcyle will most likely have the safety equipment you need to have as well. Even if you currently have an off-road motorcycle, or have already decided to buy one from a private party, you can still check the sports, or outdoor recreational stores, for your safety equipment. However, as we said before, it might all depend on the area you live in. Know ahead of time that not every town or city in the US has recreational sports stores, and if they do, there’s no guarantee that they’ll carry the equipment you’re going to need. If that’s your current situation, then consider going online to shop around.

You will have a much greater selection of products to pick and choose from when you do your shopping online. However, as with everything else, there are pros and cons to shopping on the internet. Obviously one disadvantage is not being able to try on the safety equipment or test ride the off-road bikes. Most of the equipment you’ll need for supercross motorcycle racing is a “one size fits all” when it comes to adults, but with children that’s not always the same deal. Because kids are not like adults, with an average weight or height, you will discover that the youth bikes are built in wide range of different sizes. While you are still able to buy the supercross equipment online for your child, there is still a need to be cautious.

Just keep the points mentioned about in mind when you are ready to start looking and buying equipment for supercross motorcycle racing, and you will do just fine. If you find that you still have questions, whether you decide to go online or shop locally, there should be a company rep who should be more than happy to answer any and all questions that you might have.

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