Links to Automotive Business

Are you being bitten by the scooter bug?

You’re not alone. Motor scooters are generating a lot of interest right now. The most obvious reason for this, of course, is the ever-rising cost of fuel. Many scooters can achieve upwards of 100 miles per gallon.

But there are many other great reasons to consider a scooter for your transport needs. Here are just a few:

• They are perfectly suited for urban travelling. Think of how many people are using empty SUV’s for all those little, local journeys because it’s all they have. Do you really need to sit in the traffic in a 3,000 pound car just to get the bagels on a Sunday morning?

• They are nimble, and easily manoeuvrable in traffic. A scooter can often go many places a car can’t.

• They are easy to park. There are many places you can find to park a scooter close to your destination that simply cannot accommodate a car.

• They are good for the environment. Obviously, one or two people on a motor scooter are going to use much less of our precious resources than a full-size car.

• They are fun! Sometimes, this one comes as a surprise to a new scooterist, but there is nothing like that feeling of freedom and being “at one” with your surroundings that a scooter or motorcycle gives. It is the nearest thing to flying, and it is something of which car drivers are largely unaware.

• Some people really get “the bug”, and become life-long riders who would rarely choose any “lesser” form of transport.

So, having decided that you’d like to try the scooter lifestyle, how do you go about choosing which scooter is right for you?

The scooter craze has officially reemerged on the American market. Gas prices and urban crowding have forced more and more people to look for less expensive transportation. This includes everyone from college students to office workers to retirees. Unfortunately, owning a scooter may seem quite a bit easier than it is. Their relative lack of power and price of entry makes them deceptive. Although they may not take quite as much knowledge, money, and training as a regular motorcycle, there are many things that you need to know before you run out and buy a new scooter. Here are five of them of the most important things to keep in mind.

1. You will need a special license for your scooter, but the type of license depends on how big your scooter’s engine is and the state that you live in. In most states, if your engine is larger than 150cc, you will need a motorcycle license. This will typically require both a written and practical test. Be sure to check with your local DMV. In some states, the road test cannot be taken on a scooter! You have to have (or rent or borrow) a motorcycle.
2. Helmets are not required in some states, depending on engine size and the scooter’s top speed. That does not mean the a helmet is not a good idea. Helmets reduce your risk of life-altering head trauma by leaps and bounds. This is not anecdotal; it has been proven statistically.
3. Some states do not regulate whether or not a scooter can be operated in a bike lane, but scooters travel at 40-70 mph. That makes them dangerous to others in bike lanes.
4. Some scooters can legally travel on highways. Your scooter must be capable of the posted speed limits in order to be considered safe for the roadway.

The Honda CD250 was first launched in 1988 by Honda. This motorcycle was one of a kind for its petrol consumption (65mpg) and its tank range (185 miles). When you incorporate those numbers with the Honda CD250 petrol capacity (10 litres) some people may describe it a miracle on both the cost of petrol and the length before the need of a pit stop. The Honda CD250 is a small but fast bike that can serve many bikers needs.

When the Honda CD250 was first introduced it started its life with another idea and can first find its start in the early 1970′s. Though the power and torque is not as to-notch as others, it still rumbles on without a hitch. Only when you top out at high speed (80 mph) will it start to show its weakness. Keeping your Honda CD250 under its limits will help your motorcycle maintain a long life and an almost maintenance free experience as well. When you jump on one of these rebel models your experience of riding will change in a matter of no time.

The Honda CD250 has a single front disc break and a rear drum as well. This Honda modeled motorcycle also has a two in two exhaust that helps provide a reasonably high level of both torque and handling. The engine that this machine is stoked with is an air cooled 233cc four stroke 180 parallel twin. The cylinders equipped provide an incline of 15 degrees and a useful chain driven overhead cam. These added features helped present the CD250 in a whole new light and many collectors are still proud to be the owners of such a rare masterpiece.

Car talk is usually “strictly for men” but there are also sanguine women who have a definite passion for cars. They can also be as fearless and skilful as men and they can drive you crazy. These women are not “driven”, they drive! They are not the kind of sexy women employed by car promotion companies just to pose beside flashy cars to enhance saleability.

Cars are a necessity for both men and women, especially in big cities. The highly urban atmosphere of the fast-paced metropolis even brings the car beyond its practical use. They become expensive toys flaunted for flashy looks, price value and speed. We are talking about the filthy rich who do not really care about money they spend on their cars. All they care about are cars and the heady excitement they get from their powerful plaything, such as car racing and power driving. They seem to be living in a world all their own, flying their cars to the unknown like space crafts as if beyond our earthly atmosphere.

Getting back to the real world, cars are so indispensable that a family has to have at least one in the garage. Busier families have two or more depending on their income levels. The number of cars owned is in direct proportion to how demanding their lifestyle and stature are.

Cars are used primarily for business or work and have to be properly maintained so that their functional lifespan can be optimally stretched. Otherwise, the owner will have to restructure his budget if and when a replacement becomes necessary which, to the average citizen, is essentially expensive.

In the 1970s, Japanese motorcycles were becoming a common sight on UK streets. Simple machines with excellent fuel efficiency, they were also much cheaper than the larger UK bikes or US imports. The CB125 entered the arena in 1972 as a basic commuter motorcycle that could also quicken your heartbeat! A single-cylinder, four-stroke bike, the CB125 had an overhead camshaft (OHC) engine with a 122 cc displacement (increased to 124 cc in 1976).

Honda designed this to be a rev-happy engine, with a 9500 rpm red line encouraging you to twist the throttle. For a small motorcycle in the 1970s, it performed brilliantly. Riders managed to cross 65 mph at top speed, while the bike could effortlessly cruise at 55 mph. A real beauty, the Honda CB125 engine could last forever, provided you kept a close eye on the oil levels. Most owners stuck to oil changes every 1000 km to keep everything in tip-top condition.

The Honda CB125 provided exciting performance to the average biker, yet managed to stay frugal. Part of the reason was that it was light with a kerb weight of less than 90 kgs. Depending on how it was ridden, a 1970s Honda CB125 could manage over 40 kilometres on a single litre of petrol. The 5-speed transmission also helped improve both control and mileage. With a torque of something like 18.5 bhp @ 9000 rpm, the Honda CB125 was a versatile motorcycle that could be used for commuting, work or just riding pleasure!

Honda did not make a lot of variants and most survivors bear CB125, CB125S and CB125J designations. Interestingly, the US-manufactured models (1976-89) all carry the Honda CB125S model designation. In any cases, the changes were minor, such as the upgrade of the electrical system from 6V to 12V in the 1980s. Also, from 1974-79 the CB125 came with disc brake as standard for the front wheel. Later models reverted back to the rather weak drum brakes, a strange decision for such a zippy motorcycle.